Betrayal (64 page)

“Shit. She’s grabbing something.” Alex moved carefully around the corner of a large crate. “No way, Brackett. Not this time.” Alex moved closer, swiftly and silently until she was directly behind her former lover. “Didn’t your daddy ever tell you it’s not nice to take other people’s things,” Alex breathed in the redhead’s ear.

“Miss me?” Brackett fluttered her eyelashes as she turned.

Alex scoffed at the notion. “Sorry.”

“Oh, now Alex, did you want something?” Brackett smiled seductively.

“From you?” Alex asked. Brackett smiled and placed both of her hands on Alex’s chest. “No,” Alex said pointedly. “Just for you to leave.”

“Oh, come on, Agent; before we even dance? I mean shouldn’t I get at least one before you are off the market.”

Alex arched her brow and rebuked the woman’s suggestive offer with a smile of disdain. Brackett shrugged and turned back toward the container. “Step away from the container Brackett, or we will dance.”

“Promise?” the redhead dripped with excitement. Alex watched as Brackett reached forward. She grabbed the redhead’s fore arm and spun her around swiftly. “OOO….Alex, I forgot how forceful you can be,” she growled as she began to raise her hand toward Alex’s neck.

“Too bad I didn’t forget how overanxious
you
are,” Alex shot and swiftly caught Brackett’s hand, pulling it behind her back.

“Like the rough stuff, huh?” Brackett winced. “That teacher must have some talent. Never would have guessed that from her ex-husband.” Brackett moved her left leg sideways and swiped Alex off balance. Each now stood staring at each other,
warring with their eyes and words and seeking to anticipate the next move.

“Leave Cassidy out of it,” Alex hissed. She saw Brackett’s kick in motion and caught it in the air. “That all you got?” Alex asked. Brackett chuckled but her anger was growing hotter. She swung at Alex with her right hand. Alex avoided the contact and placed a kick to the younger woman’s thigh. She continued forward and placed another kick against Brackett’s opposite hip, knocking her backward. “Don’t test me, Claire,” Alex warned. She moved toward the container as Krause reached the door.

“Brady, I need a code,” Krause said. Brady shook his head. “Brady!”

“I don’t know. Can you pry off the panel?” Brady suggested.

Krause looked at it closely. “Yeah, I think so.” He heard the sound of crashing behind the door. “Shit. TOLES!!” he screamed in the earpiece.

“Kinda busy right now, Pip,” she answered accepting a kick to her ribs.

“What the hell is going on?” Anderson yelled into Brackett’s ear. “Just get the damned package!”

“Working on it,” Brackett answered just as Alex managed to land a punch to her left cheek.

“Pull your sidearm, Brackett!” Anderson demanded.

“No, no,” she soothed. “This is my show.”

“Show, huh?” Alex licked her lips. “You are a piece of work, Claire.” Alex moved closer and tipped her head. “Just curious; what is it you see in that asshole anyway?”

“Jealous?” Brackett asserted as she threw a punch at Alex.

“Did you get it off yet?” Brady asked Krause.

“Yeah, shit….does Brackett know what is in there?” Krause asked.

“No idea,” Brady answered.

Alex gave Brackett a cocky smile. “Why do you want that case so badly?” she asked in the hopes Claire Brackett would give up the contents.

“You don’t even know what you are after,” Claire cooed.

Krause pushed the door open and Alex turned slightly to see him approaching when she felt a hard kick to her abdomen. Brackett flew toward the small container and grabbed it. Alex reached her feet. She grabbed another box and slid it across the floor, sending Brackett and the case crashing to the ground. Immediately she was in motion toward them both. “NO!” Krause’s voice bellowed. Suddenly, two strong arms had hold of Alex as Brackett made it to her feet. Brackett fumbled with the container in her hands and then sprinted away. Alex struggled to free herself from Krause’s grasp. “Let her go, Alex.”

“What the hell are you doing Krause?”

“Did it open?” Brady asked with urgency.

“What?” Alex asked, hearing his question in her ear.

Krause loosened his grip and put his hands on his knees to catch his breath. “Did the container open?” Brady asked from his location.

“Why?” Alex questioned. “What the hell is going on?”

“Cesium, Toles.” Krause regained his footing. “Cesium-137.”

“You let Claire Brackett leave here with nuclear material? Are you insane?” she asked. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“You asked me something the other day,” Krause answered.

“What the hell does that have to do with this?” Alex demanded.

“Everything,” he said calmly. Alex looked at him and shook her head.

“Krause, you and Brady just let Claire Brackett leave here with the key ingredient for a dirty bomb.”

“Yeah, I know. But we know what it is and we know who took it. We’ll find its destination, Alex,” Krause said calmly. “And you’ll live to do that.”

Alex pinched the bridge of her nose. “Jesus.”

“We need to make sure we weren’t exposed,” Krause said.

“The case wasn’t open,” Alex said definitively. “Looks like I’ll be home late again,” Alex shook her head.

“At least you’ll be home. Thanks for that, by the way,” Krause said.

“What?” Alex asked as they walked toward the exit.

“I really would hate to tell Cassidy why you were glowing in the dark at her wedding. Much less why you failed to show up.” Alex laughed. “Next time just listen to me,” he suggested.

“Don’t count on it, Pip,” she answered.

“I’m not,” he admitted assuredly. “I’m not.”

Alex stretched out on the bed and closed her eyes. “You okay?” Cassidy asked.

“Hum? Yeah, just tired,” Alex answered.

Cassidy sighed and sat down on the bed. “Alex, I need to talk to you about something before tomorrow. You’ll be at Nick’s and I’ll be at the hotel…”

Alex opened her eyes at the seriousness in Cassidy’s voice. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Cassidy answered. “Nothing is wrong. I just.” She took a deep breath. “Alex, can I ask you something?’

“You can ask me anything.”

Cassidy was suddenly very nervous. “I met with my lawyer on Monday.” Alex was puzzled. “About custody of Dylan.”

Alex sat up. They had discussed this, but she did not want to press Cassidy on the issue. “You did?” Cassidy nodded. “And?”

“We both know that Chris is likely to make it, well…messy.” Alex chuckled. “I started the process. Whatever happens, I want him with us, where I know he is safe and where I know he is happy.” Alex nodded. “There is something else though.” Alex looked at Cassidy curiously. “Well, we will likely have to establish that Dylan is not Christopher’s biological son. He won’t relinquish rights; you know that. Even if he doesn’t exercise them.”

“I know. Are you okay with that, Cass?”

“Yeah, I am.” She moved closer to the agent. “Alex, once that happens. I…well…”

“What is it?”

“I want to know if you would want to adopt Dylan.” Alex lost her breath. “You don’t have to answer now. It will take months before…”

“He would be my son,” Alex said quietly.

“Legally, yes.”

Alex looked up. “What if he doesn’t want that?”

“Well, I don’t think that is a concern, Alex. I truly don’t.”

“You would really want that?” Alex asked.

“Of course,” Cassidy said.

“Thanks, Cass.”

“For?”

“For being you.” Cassidy smiled and kissed Alex’s forehead. “My last chance you know,” Alex said.

“Last chance for what?” Cassidy asked.

Alex smirked. “Last chance to make love to Cassidy O’Brien.”

“Oh, I guess it is, isn’t it?” Alex raised her brow suggestively. Cassidy kissed the agent’s neck and began caressing her sides. Alex winced and jumped. “Alex?” The agent smiled sheepishly. Cassidy lifted Alex’s T-shirt and her mouth flew open at the sight of the black and green bruise that adorned Alex’s ribcage. “What the hell happened?” Cassidy asked.

“It’s nothing,” Alex said. “I’ve had worse. I’m fine.”

“I call bull shit,” Cassidy said somewhat harshly.

“Honest, I am okay.”

“Yeah…you’re not shot. I wouldn’t call this okay,” Cassidy asserted. “Just tell me that the other guy is worse off.”

“Oh, I am sure she is,” Alex said with some satisfaction.

“She?”

Alex sighed. “Umm…Brackett.”

“You fought with Agent Brackett? When? Why?” Alex pinched the bridge of her nose and Cassidy took a deep breath. “You know what…I don’t want to know.”

“No, you don’t,” Alex said. “Now, come on; where were we?”

“Ohhhh no….
that
is nasty. Your ribs aren’t even fully healed from France. No way.”

“Cass…”

“Uh-uh. Sorry, Agent…you will just have to wait for Cassidy Toles.”

“You are not serious?” Alex complained. Cassidy fluffed her pillow and laid down on her side.

“Cass? Come on, you are not really mad; are you?”

Cassidy turned over and looked at Alex. “No, Alex. I’m not mad.” She caressed the agent’s cheek. “It scares me sometimes. Seeing you hurt…”

“Cass, it’s just a bruise.”

“This time,” Cassidy’s voice dropped.

“Hey,” Alex lifted Cassidy’s eyes to her own. “I’m not going anywhere.” Cassidy sighed and Alex could feel her tension. “Cassidy, listen to me. Sometimes, yes…I might get a bit banged up. It happens. Trust me when I tell you I have people watching my back. I’ve got way too much to live for.”

“Good,” Cassidy said as she planted a light kiss on Alex’s lips. Alex tried to pull her closer but Cassidy pulled away. “Before you say it…no, I am not angry. But I fully intend to have you one hundred percent Saturday. No arguments.”

Alex conceded her defeat. “At least, just let me make love to you,” she practically begged.

“Nice try, Agent.” Cassidy gently patted Alex’s stomach. “You have the rest of what had better be a very long life to make love to me. Tonight, just hold me. Okay?”

Alex immediately heard the fear break through Cassidy’s voice. She wrapped her arms protectively around her lover and mentally slapped herself for not just listening to Krause. It was selfish. She couldn’t deny that she had taken some pleasure in her altercation with Claire Brackett. Whatever momentary satisfaction she felt earlier had evaporated the moment she saw the fear in Cassidy’s eyes. “Cass?”

“Hum?”

“Still want to marry me?”

Cassidy pulled the agent’s arms around her firmly. “Yes, Alex. The answer will always be yes.”

Alex took a deep breath. “Je t’aime, Cass.”

“Je t’adore. Go to sleep.”

Friday, May 30
^th

“Hey,” Krause greeted Alex. “How are you feeling?”

“I’d feel better if Brackett didn’t have her hands on Cesium.”

He acknowledged her feeling with a smile. “We’ll find it, Alex.”

“How do you think she knew? My father?” Alex asked.

“Maybe, maybe not. She could have gotten the same info as Brady.”

“Except I think she knew what it was,” Alex explained. Krause shook his head. “I swear to God…”

“How are the ribs?” he inquired.

Alex rolled her eyes. “Sore. Not as sore as Cass was when she saw the bruise last night.”

“Ouch,” he chuckled. “What did you tell her?”

“The truth, just a really slimmed down version.”

“I’m headed back to D.C. tonight,” he said. Alex looked at him as he stared out the front window of his sedan. “Callier made contact with Ian. Something is going down. I need to meet with the admiral.”

Alex nodded. “Are you going to see Cass before you leave?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“Not my place, Toles.”

Alex sighed. “I disagree.” He looked at her. “Look, I’m not going to lie to you. I still don’t know what to make of all of this. And, truth be told I am still not convinced you are being totally
honest with me. But,” she looked at him and smiled. “You compromised a mission for my safety yesterday. It’s not the first time you have compromised yourself. You love her. I get it.”

“Toles…”

“Krause, you mean something to Cass. Maybe it isn’t what you wanted, but you do. I’ll never understand how she ended up with O’Brien.”