Betrayal (34 page)

“How…”

“He will.”

“And your father?”

“Oh, I am certain he knows everything by now, but that is exactly how I want it.”

“Claire….If Agent….”

She laughed and collapsed onto the bed. “You were never here, Congressman. And, my father will know I took control. Relax…it’s time for a changing of the guard.”

“Coffee?” Ian Mitchell asked.

Steven Brady bristled. “What is it you want?”

“Why do you think I want something, Agent Brady?” The NSA agent shifted in his chair uncomfortably, his left hand bound to it securely. “I am not such a terrible host; am I?” Mitchell smiled. “So, Agent…coffee?” Brady nodded. “We have things to discuss. I want to be certain I have a
captive
audience.”

Brady watched as Mitchell politely handed him his coffee. “I suppose I should thank you then?” Brady asked sarcastically.

“Well, that is courtesy, after all,” Ian Mitchell smiled and took a seat across from the American agent.

“You really should let me help you with that,” Brady observed, nodding in the direction of the bullet wound on the MI6 agent’s arm.

“This?” Mitchell shrugged. “A scratch.”

“What is it you want to discuss, then?”

“You have a family, Agent Brady?” The NSA agent shifted again. “Relax,” Mitchell smiled. “Brothers? Sisters? Children?” Brady nodded. Mitchell stood and paced across the floor. “As do I.” He stopped his movement and turned back to the agent in the chair. “What would you do to protect your family?”

Brady’s answer came swiftly. “Anything.”

“Yes, and if your father; if he killed your brother…if your sister; if she killed your brother...what then?” Brady watched the man before him carefully. Ian Mitchell’s jaw had become taut and his eyes seemed to have grown a shade darker. The MI6 agent nodded and made his way back to the table. “A question, Agent.” Brady narrowed his gaze as Mitchell continued. “Agent Toles, is she your family?” Brady was confused. “Agent?”

“Not as…”

“But is she your family, Agent Brady?” Brady sighed. “You love her, not as a partner, not as a friend, as a sister?”

There was a bond between agents that few could understand. It was similar to what soldiers often formed during war. Facing violence and death, lies and betrayals required a trust that sometimes seemed to supersede traditional family. Brady began to understand the questions. “Yes, she is.”

Mitchell took a deep breath. He made his way to the agent and knelt beside him. Brady momentarily felt his body stiffen. The British agent pulled a key from his pocket and held it in front of the American. “I don’t think we will be needing that anymore,” he said.

Ian Mitchell began to remove Brady’s restraints. Steven Brady looked to him with questioning eyes. “I don’t…”

“You would trust me? If I leave you tied to a chair?” Brady nodded his understanding. “Families can be complicated, Agent Brady. They can change. I did not bring you here to kill you. I brought you here to help me.”

“Agent Toles…”

“My brother has that well in hand,” Mitchell assured.

“You mean Krause. Agent Toles and I have been….”

“You think you understand things you do not, Agent. Your sister, I promise you she will be safe. He will ensure that.”

“Why? What does Alex…”

Mitchell laughed. “Families are complicated, Agent…but those who deserve our loyalty will always have it.”

“Are you telling me that Alex is…”

Mitchell shook his head. “Agent Brady, it would serve you to drink your coffee and listen to what I have to say. This is not as simple as it may seem to you. I suspect we have similar goals, as does my brother. Not everyone in this family shares that vision. You understand?”

“You want me to believe that you and Jon Krause have the same objective as Alex and me?”

“Hum. Well, yes…perhaps not for all the same reasons, but yes. To betray the trust of those you claim to love…”

Brady was not certain what was happening but two things had become clear: Ian Mitchell was not a threat to him and Ian Mitchell wanted his help. “I’m listening,” he said.

Cassidy reached the front door when the agent stopped suddenly. “Alex?” Cassidy turned and took hold of Alex’s arm, concerned that she might be faltering. “Are you all right?” The agent looked forward blankly and Cassidy could see her trembling. “Alex?”

Alex looked off to the side and noted Nick’s car. “Cass…”

Cassidy took a deep breath and let it out. She quietly pulled Alex aside on the front porch. “Alex, they were all worried. I didn’t know Nick would be here.” Alex nodded. “What is it?”

“Dylan…”

Cassidy understood immediately. She had shared the same concerns when they first arrived at Nick’s after her abduction by Carl Fisher. “He will be all right when he sees that you are all right. Didn’t you tell me that once?”

Alex looked down at Cassidy and smiled. “Using my own words against me, huh?”

“Did it work?” Alex nodded. “Come on, you need to get inside and get off your feet.” The lack of protest from the agent assured Cassidy that she was correct. Alex was still weak, she was tired, and Cassidy knew the reality of attention from all
that awaited them inside was adding to the agent’s stress. Alex stopped her as she was about to open the door again. “Alex?”

“Thanks,” the agent said.

“Let’s go,” Cassidy winked as she opened the door.

“ALEX!” an exuberant voice bellowed. In seconds Dylan was barreling down the hallway.

“Dylan James! SLOW IT DOWN!” Rose called.

Dylan paid his grandmother no mind and headed for the agent, plummeting straight into her. Seeing Alex wince, Cassidy began to pry Dylan away but she stopped when she noticed that Alex was pulling the small boy closer. “You’re home,” he said still holding onto the agent.

“Looks like it, huh?” she said, trying to keep her balance.

He pulled away slightly and studied her arm in the sling, his small face dropping in what was quite obviously a mixture of concern and fear. Cassidy and Alex had explained that Alex had gotten hurt, but that she was safe and would be home the next day. They left out most of the details, but when Dylan pointedly asked if someone shot Alex, they answered truthfully. Alex had hoped it would be a conversation that could wait for her arrival home, but Dylan had been worried since Alex had left and Cassidy was determined they would neither lie to, nor keep it a secret from him. It had been a difficult conversation for them all, made more so by the distance between them. The small boy looked at the agent and whispered, “Does it hurt?”

Alex smiled, and although she could feel the pain traveling through her body with the slightest motion, she squatted to meet his eyes directly. “Only a little, Speed. I’m pretty tough,” she winked.

Dylan wrapped his arms around her neck and Alex took the opportunity to lift him onto her with her good arm. “Alex,” Cassidy warned. The agent looked at her lover and shook her head. The message was clear. Cassidy sighed in protest but remained silent as the agent gritted her teeth and propelled herself and the boy forward onto the couch a few yards away.

“Alexis,” a familiar woman’s voice called.

“Mom?”

“You sound surprised,” Helen Toles said as Nick followed her into the room; Barb and Cat close behind.

“You didn’t say anything when I called you yesterday,” Alex reminded her.

“No. I didn’t,” she turned to the blonde woman who was laying her jacket across a chair. “Thank you for that, Cassidy.” Cassidy smiled.

“You didn’t have to come,” Alex started.

Dylan was pressed up beside the agent and Helen took note of how her daughter’s hand absentmindedly continued to run through his short hair. “Of course, I did,” her mother answered. “I was worried about you.” Helen looked back to Cassidy. “All of you.”

Alex heard the sincerity in her mother’s voice. Between the boy next to her and her mother’s words, she began to struggle with her own emotions. Cassidy studied the scene and sighed softly. “How about I go make us all some cocoa? Dylan?”

“I can do that,” Barb said. “Sit down and relax.”

Cassidy winked at her friend. “I’ve been driving for over three hours. I need to stretch,” she said. Alex looked up at her lover, silently pleading for her to stay. Cassidy just raised an eyebrow. “So, Alex; what do you say? You and Dylan want some hot chocolate?” she asked, leading the agent. Dylan just nodded, staying close to his hero.

“Sounds great. Maybe we can watch a movie, Speed.” Alex said. He nodded again. Helen looked at Cassidy and mouthed the words, ‘thank you.’

“All right, we’ll be back. Cat, do you think you could help your dad get a couple of things outside?” Cassidy asked.

“Cassidy, Rose and I will go return the rental. Cat? How about we to go for a ride?” Nick asked. Cat shrugged. “Go get your jacket.”

“Thanks,” Cassidy said as she made her way to the kitchen with Barb. “Sure you don’t mind?” she asked her mother as they passed one another.

“Nope. I cannot watch anymore Batman, Cassie. I actually dreamed I was Catwoman last night. It was not a pretty visual.”

Cassidy laughed and touched her mother’s arm. “I see.”

Rose called ahead to Nick. “How about we pick up pizzas on the way back?”

“Works for me!” he answered as Cassidy handed her mother the keys to the rental car.

Rose leaned into Cassidy. “When you see what Helen brought, well, you won’t need to cook for a week.” Cassidy was grateful for her family. And, she was glad Helen had come. As much as a part of her wanted to simply be with Alex, this gave her some time to process her own emotions; or perhaps to avoid them a while longer. She kissed her mother on the cheek and made her way into the kitchen.

“Cocoa and pizza it is, I guess,” she said.

Helen Toles sat down across from her daughter in a large chair. Alex was still ruffling Dylan’s hair and every so often she would kiss the top of his small head. The older woman watched contentedly and curiously as the tender display continued to unfold. “Speed,” Alex whispered. “Why don’t you go get one of your action figures? You can show my mom.” He looked up to her, his eyes conveying that he was torn. “Secret? I’ll be right here. Plus, you know Mom; she might use too much milk.” Alex raised an eyebrow. Dylan finally smiled and scooted himself off the couch. He had missed his mother too, and part of him was happy to have an excuse to see her.

“He’s adorable, Alexis.”

“Yeah, he is,” she agreed as she watched Dylan sprint from the room. “Like his mom,” Alex said softly as if to herself.

Helen smiled. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay,” Alex answered as her thumb pressed her temple.

“Alexis, you have never been a good liar. At least not to me.” Alex looked at her mother in surprise. “You’re worried.”

“I am.” Alex let go another sigh. “I didn’t want to tell Dylan.”

“No?”

Alex shook her head. “Cass…well, she’s handled it so well. All of it.”

“She loves you, Alexis. So does that little boy.” Alex looked at the older woman and then closed her eyes. “What is really bothering you?” Helen asked her daughter.

“I shouldn’t have….”

“Shouldn’t have what?” The agent exhaled, looked at her mother and shook her head. “Alex,” her mother continued, soliciting a surprised glance from the agent at the use of Alex’s preferred name. “They love you for who you are.” Alex nodded again. “You’re not used to it; having to think of someone else first.” The agent reluctantly smiled. “Mm…not so easy; is it?”