Chapter Eighty-Four

The gleaming cascade of black hair and well-defined body were unmistakably Morgan’s. Rory smiled inwardly. Married life suited her. She was still quite the vision. Dressed in summer-island chic, she wore a white halter top, wide-legged pants, and sandals. A colorful sarong was tied loosely under her slightly rounded belly, the only visible indication of her pregnancy.

Her eyes skimmed the docks with discriminating precision as she approached the rail. She might not look the part, but she was vigilant as ever.

Cade raised his arms to help her down onto the dock. “You look great, honey.” With his back turned, Rory caught a glimpse of the heavy duty Desert Eagle pistol tucked in his waistband. Cade, too, had come prepared.

She braced her hands on his shoulders and allowed him to lift her from the yacht. “Thank you, Commander,” she said affectionately. “I’d like to say the same, but I’m afraid you look like a bum. I brought you a clean shirt.”

The tableau was touching. Rory watched the husband and wife almost glow as they shared the private joke. He had to shove aside a stab of jealousy for their easy closeness.

Morgan’s warm, chocolate-colored eyes settled first on the admiral. “Hello, Simon. How’s Julia?”

“Fine, fine.” He gave Morgan a quick hug. “How are you feeling?” He gave a meaningful look at her belly. “Are you taking good care of my future godchild?”

Morgan smiled. “Of course.” She turned to Rory. “It’s been a long time, Rory.”

“Good to see you again,” he said with a smile. “You look well.”

It was true. She looked happy. At peace. Which was something, all things considered.

“Fat is the word you’re looking for,” she corrected with a loving touch to her baby bump. “But thank you. Cade and I debated bringing her big brother along but decided it was safer to leave him at home for this trip.” She sobered. “Tell me, how’s Nina?”

The concern in her eyes was sincere. Rory knew Morgan cared deeply for Nina.

“Better,” was the only answer he could manage to push past the sense of betrayal that threatened to rise once more.

“Thank you for saving her, Rory. We owe you a great deal.”

The way she said “we” reminded him of how Nina used it. He’d always assumed it referred to her multiple personalities. But maybe it was simply a remnant of Rising Sun doctrine?

“It’s what you hired me to do,” he said, uncomfortable with any kind of gratitude. “And something I had to do to be able to look myself in the mirror again.”

Cade’s hand settled at the small of his wife’s back.

“I understand,” she said. “But we still owe you. More than you’ll ever know.”

He remained silent. The tendon in his jaw flexed, but he was unable to stop it.

“Nina didn’t give you an easy time, did she?” The look Morgan gave him was one of understanding, which surprised him.

His cheek muscle ticked again. “We’ve had some…issues.” He tried but just couldn’t keep his bitterness under wraps. Not smart with the admiral watching so closely.

“You’re angry,” Morgan guessed.

He clamped his jaw and kept silent.

Her dark eyes searched his face intently. “What happened?”

He hesitated, but she was watching him, waiting for an answer.

The words burst from his lips, soft yet fierce. “She lied to me. Time and again, she lied. She risked everything and everyone just to get to that son of a bitch, Creed.”

“Ah.” Morgan didn’t jump to her friend’s defense. She just nodded. “Have you forgotten who she is? Who we are?” She placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Trust is a luxury we never possessed. You know that better than anyone, Rory.”

Something inside him deflated. “She should have trusted me. She shouldn’t have lied.”

Morgan gave him a faint smile. “In hindsight she’d probably agree.” She shook her head regretfully. “But subterfuge comes too naturally to us. It’s what we were taught from the very start. It’s our specialty, our strength. Think about it. Her very survival depended on it.”

He thought about the psych profile he had put together on Nina, and everything he had learned about her since.

“She stayed with you, Rory. Despite all the hard lessons the past had taught her about not relying on anyone. Can you imagine how hard that must have been?”

“I was there to help her.” It was a weak counter, and he knew it.

“Yes. But she didn’t know that, did she? The fact that she stuck with you tells me more than you can possibly imagine.”

He didn’t know what to say to that. He just shook his head.

“Don’t give up on her yet, Rory.” Morgan’s hand brushed lightly across his arm again. “Shall we go? I’m eager to speak with Nina.”

They were about to head for the cluster of cars when the six marines on the dock suddenly tensed, apparently responding to something said through their earpieces. Weapons came up, and they shifted position to face a possible threat.

“Admiral. We’ve got movement to the north, sir,” the lieutenant cautioned.

Of the five looming buildings lining the dock, one hangar entrance gaped wide open. From its obscured recesses Jericho and Westlake unexpectedly emerged.

Rory stiffened in alarm. By his side, Cade swiftly stepped in front of his wife.

“Hold your fire!” shouted the admiral.

With a frown, he watched the two men come closer.

Why the hell had they left Nina? They were supposed to be keeping her safe back at the base.

In the shadows behind the men, he detected more movement. A third person was still partially hidden from view.

Rory’s thoughts stuttered to a screeching halt. Fuck.

“Are we late?” called a chillingly familiar voice.

Trepidation swamped over Rory. Shit, shit, shit. Why had he not seen this coming?

Sure enough, as the stoic men continued forward, Nina materialized behind them. The gentle afternoon breeze had messed up her hair, and dressed in jeans and a gray top, she looked deceptively harmless.

But as they drew nearer, Rory saw that her eyes were vacant. Dead.

Ada.