Private Melody (3 page)

Vaughn, in fact, seemed to have forgotten all about Therin's presence. He leaned close to take Kianti's hand. “I enjoyed your playing very much,” he told her.

Kianti bowed her head graciously. “I appreciate you saying that. I thought I may have sounded a bit rushed last night.”

“Nonsense.” Vaughn's entranced expression turned woeful. “I do apologize for the interruption. I'm gonna have to steal this guy.” He glanced toward Therin before smiling again at Kianti and stepping back to offer the couple privacy.

Therin took her hand next. “This was nice.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“This must be important or else he wouldn't be here. Always on my back for not relaxing more.” Therin spoke the last sentence a bit louder for Vaughn's benefit.

Kianti bit her lip playfully to stifle her laughter. “It's okay. I understand, really.”

“When do you leave?” he asked.

“This afternoon.”

He let her see his frown. “I'll see you before you leave.”

She placed her hand across his. “Handle your business.”

“I promise,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze and standing as the waiter returned. “This is on me.” He tossed several bills to the table and pushed several more into the young man's hand.

Kianti's eyes followed Therin until he was gone from the dining room.

“This had better be damned good,” Therin growled to Vaughn as they rounded the corner.

Vaughn's voice was uncharacteristically hollow. “It's not. It's not good at all.”

 

The weight which had lifted from Therin's shoulders during the time spent with Kianti fell like an anvil when he and Vaughn returned to the suite. The conversation he'd escaped from earlier, and hoped would be over by the time he returned, seemed to have taken on new life. It wasn't long before he discovered why.

“Dammit,” Therin growled upon viewing the file on one of his staff assistants, Ruby Loro.

Absolute silence settled in the suite for the first time that morning.

Therin Rucker's calm demeanor was a constant that his staff respected and thrived in the midst of. Though he often preferred to step back and do more observing,
Therin encouraged discussion and debate. He felt they were the greatest tools in running effective campaigns and encouraging loyalty. Witnessing a loss of temper from someone so focused and deliberate was as fascinating as it was disconcerting.

“This is bullshit.” Therin's voice was a little more than a whisper. He massaged the back of his neck and slanted Vaughn a dark look.

“Agreed.” Vaughn raised his hands defensively. “But it's still gonna have to be dealt with…on several levels.”

“I should talk to her.” Therin rifled through the file. “Has she seen this mess?”

“No, um…it was uh—stuck inside your complimentary copy of this morning's
USA TODAY,
” Morgan Felts explained.

Therin began a pace of the suite's living area. “Anybody contact the office to confirm that?”

“Ther, nobody's heard a damn thing,” Gary Bryce chimed in.

Peter Stanson used the pen he held to gesture toward the file. “I think it's safe to say that whoever left that crap meant for you to see it first and to decide how best to keep it quiet.”

“By keeping my damn mouth shut,” Therin guessed, walking past the table and swiping a stack of papers to the floor.

Vaughn took advantage of the clean area of the table and helped himself to a seat. “I don't think it's as much about keeping your mouth shut as it is about using it to promote other interests.”

“Screw that.” Therin's voice was monotone.

The other four men in the room exchanged looks.
They'd known Therin long enough to know that the flat tone of his voice signified his mood shifting into dark territory.

“Would it really be that much of an issue to throw a little chatter toward your other endeavors?” Peter asked.

Therin turned, pushing hands into the deep pockets of his sweats.

“The pockets you open…there's enough to go around, right?” The look Peter received then had him swallowing uncomfortably while lifting his hands in submission.

Vaughn reached for the file and perused the lurid film shots. The webpage printouts showed covers of adult DVDs featuring Ruby Loro when she'd come to the U.S. illegally and willing to do anything to stay there.

“We suspected all along that these folks you're rattling were sons of bitches. All of our research into what few leads we have proves their allegiance is to the manufacture of the weapons and military strength over the education of the nation's kids,” Vaughn said while shaking his head at the damaging items inside the file. “What they've just done proves they're willing to go to any lengths to draw you over to their side but this…” he groaned. “She's a sweetheart, Ther. She doesn't deserve to have this tossed up in her face. She's not this woman anymore.”

“Hell, you don't think I know that, V?” Therin's mood had journeyed into an even darker abyss. “Get her on the phone, G.”

“What are you gonna do?” Peter asked, while Gary made the call.

Therin's expression was unreadable. “I'll know that when I talk to her.”

K
ianti's shoulders slumped when she returned to her suite and found it filled with her travel companions. They each turned to fix her with unfriendly looks when she strolled into the room.

Cube even ceased his raid on the snack safe. “Well, well, look who decided to show up and let us know she wasn't somewhere havin' a heart attack!”

Winton was on the phone and only remarked with a slow shake of his head to illustrate his irritation. “Yeah…yeah we should be in by six,” he continued.

“Mmm-hmm.” Khan didn't look up while he surfed channels. “No note or nothin'. Your
cook
wasn't sure whether to start breakfast.” His slanted stare narrowed further when he and Cube dissolved into laughter over the dig at Brody.

Dr. Brody Parker simply leaned against the doorway to the bedroom, arms folded across his chest.

“Can't I even eat breakfast on my own?” Kianti tossed aside her black tote.

“Ah, breakfast.” Brody pushed off the doorway. “You mean that stuff we practically have to force you to eat?”

“Can't a person improve their eating habits?”

“Of course, but this is
you
we're talkin' about,” Brody countered.

Kianti threw up her hands. “I don't want to waste time going back and forth over this.”

“Oh, we know that.” Khan chuckled. “Obviously you prefer spending your time with the ambassador.”

“Hmph.” She folded her arms over her sweater. “And did your spies tell you I was at the table long before he got there?”

“Maybe y'all planned it that way last night,” Cube chided with a sly wink and a mouthful of Skittles.

“Did you take your pill?”

“Yes!” Kianti snapped at Brody's question.

“That's funny since, according to my count it doesn't look like you've taken one in over two weeks.”

Kianti stilled but for a moment. “You went through my stuff?” She exploded, her dark gaze more brilliant in the wake of anger.

Feathers unruffled, Brody merely shrugged. “Are you trying to kill yourself?”

“Yes. Yes, Brody, that's exactly what I'm trying to do. Didn't you see the coffin catalog on the nightstand when you were going through my things?”

The room quieted. Winton had finished his call. Khan shut off the television. The group had had their run-ins regarding Kianti's outlook toward her health, but never had she gone so far as to shun the pills which
kept her heart rate stable. The sudden spikes in pulse had plagued Kianti since childhood.

She hid her face in her hands and inhaled deeply for a moment. “Guys…I'm trying to live. I don't want to be tied to those things my entire life.”

“Those
things
help keep you alive.”

She smiled over Brody's soft reminder. “And I stopped taking them four weeks ago.” She studied the surprise in his dark eyes. “Guess you didn't bother to check my previous bottle.”

“Dammit, Key!” Khan threw the remote to the coffee table. “Hell, that's just stupid!”

“And I don't expect any of you to understand.” She pointed a finger toward the floor. “You don't know what it's like not being able to do what you love without some crutch—not to be able to have someone to love for fear of…”

The guys exchanged meaningful looks over the top of Kianti's head. Slowly, they crowded her. Cube was first to draw her close and kiss the top of her head.

Brody squeezed her arms. “Don't you know they'd have to bury us, too, if anything ever happened to you?”

“You're our meal ticket, girl.” Cube shook her gently. “Not to mention our pass to all the best parties.”

Soft laughter rose among the five. Brody and Kianti had known each other since childhood. Kianti met Cube, Khan and Winton in college where she'd tutored Winton in English Lit while he'd tutored her in Advanced Calculus. Cube, Khan and Winton shared a dorm suite with Brody. Despite the unorthodox dynamic, the group had developed a close-knit relationship that bordered on familial.

Kianti knocked her fist against the denim shirt covering Cube's wide chest. “Guys, I've been off the pills for four weeks. Can't we just wait and see what happens?”

As a response, Kianti heard all sorts of curses and other low sounds of disapproval.

“Hell, Brody's the doctor.” Winton rubbed his fingers across the faded haircut he sported. “I have to agree with Khan though, this is plain stupid.” He tugged Kianti out of Cube's embrace and into his own. “We hear what you're sayin', babe, but this is only one pill. Some folks have to take ten times as much medication.”

“And people overcome their need for medication every day.” She tugged the zipper dangling from his windbreaker. “Like you said, some people take ten times as much as I do.”

Bested, Winton waved his hand and turned Kianti toward Brody. “
You
talk to her.”

“All right, Key, we'll do it your way.” The doctor stunned everyone, including his patient. “But understand—” he wagged a finger “—you're backing me—all of us—into a corner here. We can't force you to do a damn thing when it comes right down to it. This is your life, but you've put us in charge of protecting it. Look for us to be even more aggressive in keeping you safe, calm and rested. Even if we have to tie you down in a bed to make it happen.”

Khan nudged her side. “That part'll be easy since we've all thought of doing it at one time or another.” He winked, waiting for the smile he was trying to rouse from her. He succeeded, joining in when she grinned.

“If none of this works, you're back on the pills.
Agreed?” Brody brought the seriousness back to the moment.

Kianti's nod came slowly but with a great deal of relief. She no longer had to hide.

“All right, y'all, we should go,” Brody told the guys and squeezed Kianti's hand. “You rest up. We're out of here in a few hours.”

 

“Are they around her all the time?”

“Pretty much from what I gather.”

“Well, who are they? To her, I mean?”

Therin began questioning Vaughn about Kianti Lawrence shortly after the rest of the staff left them alone in the living area.

“She's not…
involved
with them all, is she?” Therin smiled, knowing the idea was ludicrous. Still, for a woman like that…it wouldn't be a difficult thing to keep a man
or four
dangling.

“It's not like that, man,” Vaughn said through his chuckling.

“From what you gather?” Therin countered, watching as Vaughn shrugged.

“What's got you so interested here?”

Therin's expression was incredulous. “Did you take a good look at her this morning?”

“Damn straight I did.” Vaughn swore while raising his hands for confirmation. “She's a goddess but she doesn't live in this hotel. Neither do you. You don't even live in the country—technically.”

Therin had moved over to the windows and sat on the back of the oversize chair facing them.

Vaughn followed. “Talk to me, T. What is it about this one?”

“Hell, man, what's the big deal?” His grin was forced. “I only asked if she's attached to her bodyguards.”

“Simple as that, huh?” Vaughn rubbed at the receding edge of his hairline. His handsome honey-toned face was a picture of disbelief. “How many times did you zone out this morning, man?”

“Understandable.” Therin tapped his hand to the front of the sweatshirt he wore. “I wasn't particularly interested in the conversation when I walked out of here earlier.”

“Mmm-hmm, and you weren't all too pleased that I interrupted your breakfast to ask you to join us back up here.”

“Like I said, just didn't want to be part of the discussion.”

“What do you expect could come of this, T? All right, all right,” he said when Therin flashed him a cold look. “May I at least ask if you're trying to make sure you're not playing with someone else's toy?”

Therin smiled then. “No. I only want to know whose toy I'm about to take away.”

Vaughn burst into laughter and nodded when his boss asked that he check out Kianti Lawrence and her crew.

 

Kianti bit her lip and tried to cast covert glances around the lobby. She and the guys would be leaving for the airport as soon as the car was packed. Therin had promised to say goodbye.

She bowed her head, snuggling into the high collar of the black cashmere coat she wore.
Idiot,
she chastised
herself. That brief acquaintance was over and done with. What else could it have been?

Distance wasn't the only deciding factor there, either. She was sick of involvements that dissolved because of a weak heart. She smiled unamused and wondered what had done more damage to her heart—her illness or the amount of times her heart had been broken. She felt hands squeeze her arms and masked her disappointment when she saw Winton at her side.

“We're all set. You got everything?”

Kianti risked another glance around the spacious lobby and then nodded. “Let's go home,” she said.

 

“Ruby? Ruby, calm down. For the third time, I didn't call to fire you.”

“Sorry, Therin. Sorry,” Ruby Loro blubbered, sniffled and gasped over the phone. “I shouldn't have done it—keeping my past a secret like that. I just—just felt like I didn't have a choice. Stupid!” she called herself and hiccupped on a few more sobs. “I thought…the movies were the easiest choice—quickest path to success, or so I thought. God…” she moaned and broke into another stretch of tears. “I'm sorry…”

“Ruby. Calm yourself.” Therin's voice was patience personified.

“I'll resign.” Ruby hiccupped the words. “I'll resign my post. The last thing I want is to cast a shadow over all the good you're doing.”

“And you know me well enough to know I don't want a resignation any more than I want to fire you.” Leaning forward on the sofa, Therin braced elbows to his knees. “What I want is for you to think. Did anyone approach
you about this? Who knew Ruby Loro was once Spanish Heat?”

“Jesus,” Ruby hissed at the sound of the name she'd filmed under. “No one knew my real name. Not even the movie people.” She laughed shortly. “They really didn't care about background checks, or whether I knew English for that matter. Knowing lines wasn't a big issue, you see?”

“Right…” His hand flexed around the slim cordless. “I'm sorry, Ruby, for making you remember this crap.”

“I don't have any family or friends except for the ones I've made while living and working in Canada.”

“Does that mean you could handle this coming out?” Silence met Therin's question. “I don't intend on bending over for these fools.”

“And I'm tired of hiding. You can rip them a new one for all I care.”

“Don't you have vacation time you've been hoarding?”

“Almost a month,” Ruby boasted.

“Take it and longer if you need it.” Therin left the sofa and went to look out over the Spokane view. “I'm about to call the bluff on these jackasses. I don't need you caught up in it yet if it's not necessary.”

“Thank you, Therin. Thanks for believing in me. Most…” She sniffled lightly. “Most would have judged and not given another thought to firing me.”

“Well, I happen to know, like and respect Ruby Loro too much to lose her.” He turned his back on the view then. “You get lost and I'll be in touch when the coast is halfway clear.”

“Right. Oh! Therin? You had a call come in from a Shepard Yale. Is he—?”

“Yeah…one and the same.” Therin confirmed Ruby's suspicions on the caller's identity while wondering what the retired general wanted with him. He didn't realize he'd spoken aloud.

“The general was a military liaison toward the end of his career. He smoothed more ruffled feathers and thwarted more potential uprisings than anyone who held the post before or since.” Ruby sighed after giving the rundown. “Maybe something's about to go down and he wants to consult with you.”

“Maybe…” Therin tapped his cleft chin and considered the words briefly before turning his focus back to Ruby. “You go pack. We'll talk soon, all right?”

“All right, and Therin? Thanks.”

Vaughn came to the living area just as the call ended. “How'd she take it?”

“Not well.”

Vaughn nodded. “Did she have any idea who could've leaked this about her past?”

Therin tossed the phone to the sofa. “Not one. Folks she knew back then weren't really interested in her past, but what she could do for 'em in front of the camera, you know?”

“Right…” Vaughn's mouth tightened.

“Ruby said a call came in from Shep Yale.”

“The general?” Vaughn dropped to the sofa and listened as Therin shared Ruby's idea about the man wanting a consult on something about to pop off. “Could be,” he agreed, realizing the only way to know anything for sure would be to meet with the revered general.

“Hell, V, the man's been retired for how long?”

“And someone with that kind of power never fully retires. Those connections, all that knowledge—it's always relevant.”

Silence fell while the two contemplated. Suddenly, Therin's curse was filling the room.

Kianti flashed through his mind. “What's the time?” he asked even as he checked the Swiss timepiece around his wrist. “Hell…”

“What?” Vaughn stood.

Therin was already halfway out the door.

 

“I'm so sorry, Mr. Ambassador.” Nenda Watts apologized for the third time since Therin arrived at the front desk. She'd just told him he'd missed Kianti, who had left for the airport ten minutes earlier with her entourage.

“Shit.” Therin brought a fist down to the glossy maple front desk while grinding the muscle in his jaw. Turning slowly, he stared absently past the windows lining the bright, elegantly designed hotel lobby.