The Fifth Season (17 page)

“Don’t you need to go direct or something?”

“Probably,” she said. “But I’d much prefer to stay here and play with you.”

His chest rumbled with laughter, and he pulled her closer. “I told you this party was a bad idea.”

“Right now, I’d have to agree with you.”

“Wow, I must’ve been extra good this time around.” He stroked her back and kissed the top of her head. She glanced up and smiled at the light in his eyes. She never wanted to see that steely look again.

A knock on the door signaled an end to their privacy. “Stone?” Tilly’s muffled voice could be heard over the raucous activity of the kitchen.

“We’ve been caught,” he said to Emma, making her giggle. He sighed and yelled back. “Yeah?”

“Um, there’s a man here to see you. I think he said his name was Lazarus or something like that.”

Emma felt every muscle in his body tense. His expression darkened and he pulled away both emotionally and physically. “Show him to the dining room. I’ll be right there.”

“Okay, boss.”

“Who’s Lazarus?” Emma asked, wanting to know the person responsible for his personality reversal.

“He’s helping me with that little investigation we started in July.”

“Adams?”

“That’d be the scumbag.”

Emma scrambled out of bed, tugging on her jeans and looking frantically for her bra. “Hold on, I want to come with you.”

Stone paused at the door and shook his head. “He won’t meet with you, honey. I need to see him alone.”

“But this is all about me. Why wouldn’t he want to meet with me?” Emma frowned.

“Trust me, okay?” Stone strode back and planted a kiss on her lips. “Go boss Tilly around.”

“But…”

He silenced her with another kiss. “Please?”

“Okay,” she agreed. “But I want a full report when you’re done.”

Stone waved at her, and tossed her a crumpled piece of satin he’d retrieved from his pocket. She caught the object and blinked when she opened her palm to find her missing bra. “I’m not even gonna ask…”

“I’d planned on using it to make sure you changed in my rooms this evening.”

“I have other bras.”

“I know. They’re all in my suite. This was your last one in here.”

She smiled and shook her head. “All you have to do is ask.”

He leaned against the jamb and stared hard into her eyes. “I’m asking.”

“I’ll warm your bed tonight, Stone Connor.”

“What about after tonight?”

Emma smiled, knowing her heart shone brightly from her eyes. “For as long as you want me.”

He nodded. “That’d be forever then,” he said softly, his words barely audible. With a wink and grin, he left her standing alone, his promise wrapping around her heart.

***

Stone strode into the dining room, closing the sliding glass partition behind him. Lazarus paced in front of the floor to ceiling windows, ignoring the scenic vistas stretched beyond the paned glass.

“Hey, Rex. I’m honored by this personal visit.”

Rex Lazarus paused his incessant movement and glanced at Stone, shaking his head. “Don’t be. You’re not going to like anything I have to tell you.”

“No how are you? I’ve missed you?”

The sly grin that crept upon his best friend’s face warmed another area of Stone’s heart he’d doubted still existed.

“You look good, buddy.”

“Yeah, well I’m feeling better every day.” A sudden pang of regret pricked his chest. He never should’ve blamed Rex for the last mission or cut him out of his life. This man was like a brother to him. And he’d just proved it. One call and Rex Lazarus delivered.

Laughing softly, Stone signaled for Rex to take a seat. He hadn’t changed a bit in the year since Stone left the military, still immaculately dressed, salt and pepper hair shaved short, and a piercing gaze that allowed no mistake as to his seriousness.

“I’m glad you called, for my sake at least.” Rex said a little sheepish smile playing around his lips.

“Me too.” Stone admitted. That’s enough of that junk, he decided and pulled a chair away from the table and sat down.

Rex also sat and tossed a file and package of documents across the table.

Time for business.

Stone opened them and read the contents, glancing up only once when a name caught his attention.

“He’s still alive?”

“As far as we can tell.”

Stone nodded. “Is it Kabila’s faction?”

“Yes,” Rex said. He leaned forward and spread out several papers that when connected displayed a map of the Congo-Uganda border. “Adams contacted the ALiR five years ago when the US-UK alliance began supporting the Rwanda government. He sent funding to the Laurent Kibala regime in the Congo for training, arms, and supplies of ALiR. In return, ALiR provided jails for the bodies Seamus Adams no longer wanted around.”

“ALiR,” Stone allowed the name to roll around his mind for a moment. “Army for the Liberation of Rwanda. My favorite jungle jerks. Why would Adams expose himself like this? Why not just dispose of the men permanently.”

“Who understands the inner workings of a mad man? My guess would be that they were still politically powerful and might become useful in the future.”

“Hugh Gallagher?”

“He’s there. Kuffuor’s got him.”

Stone felt a cold wash of hatred run through his veins. Asense Kuffuor ran the group of Rwandan terrorists responsible for the massacre of his men. “I see.” He pinched the bridge of his brow in an attempt to hold off the impending headache. “This all seems a bit contrived to me.”

Rex lifted his brows and grinned. “That’s because it is. Hugh Gallagher arrived in Kuffuor’s camp two weeks ago. Me thinks Mr. Adams has done his homework.”

Stone nodded. “He’s picked the wrong man to bait.”

“Honestly, I don’t think he expects you to go after Kuffuor. Apparently, when Laurent Kabila died in 2001, Kuffuor stepped into his place. He’s more powerful now than on your last little visit to the jungle. I believe Adams moved Gallagher there to keep him away from you.”

“How long will it take for you set this operation up?”

“About eight weeks. Are you sure about this?”

“Positive.” The burning sensation in his gut screamed loudly against returning to the Congo. The screams of dying men intertwined with high-pitched squeals of monkeys disturbed by gunfire sang to him every night in an orchestra of horror. “But there’s a condition.”

“Other than rescuing Gallagher?”

“Adams needs to go down.”

Rex stared long and hard at Stone. “We’ll find a way of publicizing his connection with the IRA and ALiR. That’ll be enough to damage his political career.”

Stone shook his head. “No. He needs to be taken out.”

Rex sucked in a deep breath. “He’s a huge political figure in Northern Ireland. How do you propose we accomplish that?”

“I don’t care.” Stone stared hard at his old friend. “You know he won’t stop until he’s exacted his revenge…on Emily, on River Run. Whatever he chooses. This will all be gone.” He inhaled a deep breath. “Besides, I’m owed.”

Stone knew that the political miscommunication of his mission into the Congo two years ago resulted in the blood bath. It didn’t stave off the guilt, but it allowed him to direct his anger somewhere. If he finally delivered Kuffuor’s head, it’d certainly help heal some old wounds.

Rex nodded. Rising from the table, the government front man frowned as snow poured from the sky. “I guess flying out tonight is out of the question.”

“Stay,” Stone said. “We’re having a party.”

Rex laughed. “A party? Man, I can’t wait to meet the woman who’s finally whipped you into a human being.”

Stone smiled then held up a hand in warning. “She’s not to know anything about this.”

“Is that wise?”

“It’s top secret isn’t it?”

“You know what I mean. She should know her father’s still alive.”

“No.” Stone stood and moved next to Rex. He towered above him by more than several inches. “What if I fail?”

“You won’t,” Rex answered quietly. “Not this time.”

***

Stone stood within a quiet alcove, silently watching people arrive and converse with one another. Emma moved among the crowd with the grace of a feline, soothing egos, creating conversation, catching every man’s eye with her dress. He wanted to hide her from everyone.

She’d be furious to discover how deeply he’d meddled in her affairs. It hadn’t taken long to trace Clover’s investigations in Ireland. His father had been right, Hugh Gallagher lived. Damn his old man. He hated thinking he’d almost ruined Emma’s life. It made him wonder what other decisions she was making in order to appease him.

“You’ve got it bad.” Rex Lazarus said, sidling up to stand beside him.

Stone snorted. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“The way you’re staring at the man talking to Emma, it looks like he’s at the top of your hit list.”

“He’s my cousin.” Stone bristled as Seth Connor placed a large beefy paw on Emma’s arm. “If you’ll excuse me.”

***

Emma watched Stone cross the main living room. Death in his eyes. She smiled nervously, wondering what could make him so angry.

“Stone, I’ve been looking for you,” she said, her stomach tightening at the heat in his gaze.

He eyed her then turned to the man on her right.

“Seth.”

“Stone.”

Emma’s eyes widened as Stone glared fiercely at the hand Seth had resting on her arm. She’d grown up with Stone’s cousin and loved him like a brother. Seth tossed his head back and laughed loudly, then clapped a glowering Stone on the shoulder.

“I didn’t know, man. I’m sorry.” He walked away and began a lively conversation with Tilly.

“What on earth…”

Stone grabbed her around the waist and held her tightly against his chest. She didn’t know what to say. He dipped his head and assaulted her mouth, demanding surrender, sparking a fiery passion that flushed her face and left her knees trembling. “Stone,” she said, trying to control her breathing. “What’re you doing?”

“Marking my territory.” Releasing her, he stepped back, flourished a bow to the gaping guests and exited onto the back deck.

A round of light applause began followed by howls of laughter and wolf whistles. Emma couldn’t prevent the mortified blush marring her face. “He doesn’t like parties,” she explained. “I think he’s a bit uptight.” Alexa Connor, Seth’s sister, stood beside her shaking her head.

“You’ve done it.”

“Done what?” Emma straightened her dress, her hands still shaking from Stone’s assault.

“Wrangled the best looking Connor in Jackson Hole. He’s a tough one, our Stone, but when he loves…it’s with all his heart.”

“And when he hates,” Emma said softly.

Alexa nodded. “He’ll never forgive Nate.”

“Why? What happened the year before I arrived?”

“No one really knows. All I can say is whatever Stone’s feeling, he’s probably got the right. Nate was a mean SOB, and that’s putting it lightly.”

Alexa’s words pulled a few more threads from Emma’s already unraveling heart. Nate needed her, she couldn’t forsake him, but she feared that if things continued the way they were, someday she’d be forced into a choice.

Laughter rang from every corner of River Run. Despite her troubled thoughts she smiled, and focused back on the progression of the party. She made certain the buffet was being met be hungry partiers then stepped outside in search of Stone.

He leaned against the side of the house, encased in shadows. Emma stepped close, and he opened his arms for her.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, stroking her curls and tracing them down her back.

“No need. It’s not every day a woman can claim to be ravished before a houseful of guests.”

“I’m no good at socializing.”

She laughed. “Now that’s an understatement if ever I heard one.”

“Are you mad?”

“No. Are you?”

“Maybe at the world, but not at you. Never at you.” He tilted her chin up and kissed her lips gently. She leaned into his warmth, deepening the kiss and twining her arms tightly around his neck.

Stone pulled her closer, teasing her lips with his tongue. She wished everyone would go home. He’d been right, the party was a bad idea.

“I’ve a present for you,” Stone said.

“It’s not even Christmas yet.”

“Close enough.” He pushed her away a little, then reached into his pocket and handed her a small brown envelope. She frowned and looked at him. “Open it.”

Stepping into the light glowing through the French doors, she split the lip of the envelope. A passport fell into her hands, along with a social security card and birth certificate. Emma couldn’t prevent the slight trembling of her fingers as she cracked open the stiff blue booklet to see her name and picture scrawled across the inside.

“What’s all this?”

“Your freedom.”

Tears welled, and she struggled against allowing them to flow. He’d handed her something she never knew she coveted until this very second. Always accepting her fate of being unknown, in hiding, beyond the simple privilege of ever attaining a driver’s license, finding a job, and buying her own home.

Somewhere deep inside, Emma must’ve dreamed about this day because a rainbow of happiness flooded her soul, making her lightheaded. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. The look on your face will carry me for a long time.”

“How did you know?”

“That you didn’t have any of this? It wasn’t too hard to figure out.”

“No.” She shook her head, trying to put all her emotions into the right category. “How’d you know to do this? How’d you know I needed these?” She grinned and moved her shoulders suggestively then slipped the treasure into the bodice of her dress. “Safe.”

He gathered her close, crushing her treasures between their bodies. “I wanted to show you that you’re a separate entity from River Run, that you’re Emma O’Malley…period. And that this is only a job.”

Something about the way he said that sunk a hook of doubt into her heart. What exactly did he mean?

Before she could question him, the decking shook and a deep rumble reverberated from the bottom of River Run. A loud explosion filled the air, followed by a blast of searing heat. She felt herself sliding, away from Stone and into a fiery blaze.