The Agent's Surrender (12 page)

“We look forward to your next visit. Perhaps next time you can enjoy a walk around the lake. It’s so pretty.”

Selena led them out of the building and waited until they were in the car to disappear back inside Tessara Pharma. Jane turned to Holden. “That was weird, right?”

“Very.”

“Tessara...they don’t, like, create people, right? That’s not even possible. Please tell me that’s not possible.”

“Who knows what they do in that building. All I know is that place houses something bad and it’s up to us to figure out how it’s all connected.”

Jane nodded, but a pinch of tension followed. “People connected to Tessara end up dead. Let’s not become part of the body count.”

Holden put the car in Drive, and it wasn’t until Tessara was in their rearview window that Jane could breathe again.

Chapter 11

W
hen they returned to Nathan’s house, they were in a lengthy discussion about the creepy factor of Selena the robo-babe when Nathan and Jaci walked into the living room to greet them. The worried tension in Jaci’s expression immediately made Holden wary. Something was going down. “Everything okay?” he asked. “You look like you’re about to be the bearer of bad news.”

“Can we talk to you for a minute?” Jaci asked.

Nathan wore a different kind of tension, and when he reached for Jaci’s hand in a show of support, Holden was momentarily envious of their devotion to one another. It must be amazing to have someone always watching your back, no matter what. Almost without thought, his gaze strayed to Jane and she seemed wary, watching the exchange with open speculation.

“Let’s do this over a beer,” Nathan said, going to the kitchen to grab a few cold ones. “There’s no way to pretty up what has to be said, but it’ll sure as hell go down a lot easier with a little alcohol.”

“Sounds serious. Are you dying?” Holden quipped, a tingle of apprehension jangling his nerves. It wasn’t like Nathan to beat around the bush, so he fully expected to find out quickly what all the fuss was about.

“Not dying. At least not yet, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“You and me both, brother.” Holden swigged his beer, taking a moment to enjoy the crisp taste. “So out with it. What’s up your tail?”

“It’s not him. It’s me,” Jaci said, coming clean as she folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t want to sound like a jerk, but I’m scared about this investigation into Miko’s case and where it might lead. I don’t want Nathan to get caught up in your search for the truth.”

“I tried to tell her nothing’s going to happen to me,” Nathan said. “But she has the right to be concerned. Some hinky stuff has happened when Tessara is involved.”

“Your concerns may be warranted,” Jane said gravely. “I understand your anxiety. However, there’s an equal chance we won’t dig up anything and this investigation will end as it started—with Miko declared guilty of treason.”

“Yeah, we get it,” Holden grumbled, hating the possibility. He understood where Jaci was coming from. She and Nathan had gone through hell the last time Tessara was involved, and if Tessara was truly involved again, who knew what lengths they’d go to protect their secrets?

Nathan spoke up, looking intensely uncomfortable. “Listen, I’m not asking you to give up, but Jaci has a good point. What if there’s a bigger threat? Both my brother and I almost died the last time we went up against Tessara. Jaci doesn’t want me to take that chance again.”

“I get it, man. I do,” Holden assured Nathan, because the guy looked like he was ready to vomit. It wasn’t because Nathan was scared but because he thought he was taking the coward’s way out and Holden knew it. The code of honor was ingrained in them all. “There’s no judgment. This could be dangerous. I shouldn’t have involved you. It’s my fault.”

“It’s just that, look what happened to Jake,” Jaci said, miserable. “He’s never going to be the same. People who tangle with Tessara come out dead or damaged. And I don’t want that to happen to either of us or
you
. Have you even thought of that? You might have a huge target on your back just for poking around.”

Holden couldn’t argue with Jaci’s logic. It was true Tessara had a long reach.

Jane jumped in before he could. “We don’t even know that Tessara is actually involved,” she said gently, trying to calm Jaci’s fears. “Penny Winslow is the only connection to Tessara at this point. We could be wrong and there is no big conspiracy...just a sad story of a man with a guilty conscience.”

But Jaci shook her head. “As much as I want to believe that, my gut says something else. I have a bad feeling about this investigation. Let’s just say, for argument’s sake, that Holden is right. There’s a possibility that the person actually pulling the strings is far more dangerous than Penny Winslow ever was. And if Nathan almost died going up against her—who was a lesser threat—what does that say for this newer threat? It scares me, Holden. Not just for me and Nathan, but for you, too.”

“Miko was my closest friend,” Nathan said. “He always had my back and he protected me when everything turned to shit. I know I owe him more than what I’m doing and that makes me want to punch myself in the face.” Nathan folded Jaci into his arms, holding her tight before continuing. “But I have to think of Jaci’s safety, too. We’re planning on starting a family soon, and the threat hovering over our heads with you here...it’s more than I can allow. I’m sorry, man.”

“No apologies needed,” Holden told Nathan, shaking his head, feeling for his friend’s predicament. “I know you always had Miko’s back and he wouldn’t want you to put your life in danger over something he’d done.”

Jaci’s eyes sparkled with tears. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be harsh because you seem like a good guy, but I didn’t know Miko and I barely know you. All I know is that I love this man right here and the thought of losing him for someone else’s fight is something I can’t handle. That’s not fair to either of us. I want a normal life, one that isn’t punctuated by moments of sheer terror because someone is trying to kill us. And now that I’ve said that, I sound totally selfish, don’t I?”

“No, you don’t,” Jane said. “You have every right to assert your feelings into this situation. If I were you, I would, too. There’s potentially a lot at stake. And you’ve already been through enough. No one would fault you for wanting to step outside the ring for this fight.”

“You sure?” Jaci asked, sniffing back tears. “I wish I was more badass, like you. Then maybe I wouldn’t so scared.”

Nathan pulled away with mock incredulousness. “What are you talking about? When we were holed up in the cabin and our safe house had been made, you beaned a guy with a frying pan. I’d say that’s pretty badass. We might be dead if not for your quick thinking.”

Jaci giggled in spite of the gravity of the conversation, and once again Holden was envious of their bond. Damn, he was turning into a weepy woman. Holden finished his beer and placed the empty bottle on the counter. “That does sound pretty badass to me.”

“Oh, my God, you guys know how to soothe a woman’s ego,” Jaci said, smiling, then added with the tiniest amount of pride, “It was pretty awesome.”

Nathan hugged her tightly. “Damn straight.”

The tension broken, Jaci said, “When times are different, you’re totally welcome in our house, I promise. I’ll even cook dinner and make a pie, but until then...you’re going to have to take your spy stuff elsewhere, okay?”

“Can you recommend a good hotel?” Jane asked.

“That I can do,” Jaci said, brightening. “Come with me.”

* * *

While Jane and Jaci hunted down a suitable hotel, Nathan and Holden went to the garage to pound down another beer, taking advantage of the bro time. “You know I feel like shit turning you out like this,” Nathan admitted.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing to lose sleep over.”

Nathan shook his head. “I want you to find the answers you’re looking for, but I’m in a lose-lose situation. On one hand, I want there to be a bigger answer, something other than what we know to account for Miko’s actions. But if that’s the case, then that means a bigger threat is hanging over all of us. And I have to protect Jaci.”

“Want to know a secret?” Holden asked, pausing for a second. “I envy what you have with Jaci.”

“Yeah? You, the lone wolf?”

“Hey, as I recall, you were a card-carrying member of the lone-wolf club, too,” Holden said with a smirk.

Nathan laughed. “So what’s the deal with you and Fallon?”

“Deal? No deal. We’re partners.”

“Nothing else?”

“Naw. She’s all business, and hooking up with her is the last thing I need right now. I mean, she’s hot but comes with too much baggage.”

“Baggage? I sense a story. You’ve already hooked up, haven’t you?”

He grinned, unable to deny it, but his smile faded quickly enough. “Listen, don’t say anything. We didn’t part on good terms and it’s hard enough working together without our past mucking things up.”

“Hey, I understand. You got feelings for her?”

“Whoa! Where’d that come from?” Holden asked with nervous laughter. “Feelings? Sure, she’s my partner and I’d take a bullet for her. That’s what you’re supposed to do for your partner. Do I want to pick out China patterns together? No.” He rolled his eyes at the thought. “We’d end up shooting each other in the housewares aisle.” He finished the conversation with “She’s difficult,” and left it at that.

“The best ones always are. Did I ever tell you how Jaci and I got back together?”

“No. Is it a long story? Because I bore easily,” he quipped.

“Shut up and listen. It’s a good story. You’ll love it. And if you don’t love it, too bad—you’re listening anyway. Okay, so there was a hit out on her—”

“Ah, the way all good love stories start,” Holden interrupted with a grin.

Nathan snickered, saying, “I know, right? Anyway, there’s a hit on her life and I basically kidnap her moments before the hitter buries a bullet in her skull, just like he’d done her best friend seconds earlier.”

“Jeez, Nathan, this is one helluva story. You might want to edit out the gore when you tell your future kids about how Mommy and Daddy met.”

“Yeah, yeah, good advice. My point? She freaking hated me because I did some messed-up shit in a backward attempt at protecting her and, well, ultimately she was unable to resist my manly charms and the rest is history. The thing is, chemistry won’t be denied, no matter what you try to do to squelch it and you, my friend, and your partner...you’ve got chemistry. I can see it coming off you in waves. Like pheromones and shit. That stuff’s real, you know.”

“Thank you, Love Doctor. I had no idea you were so versed in human biology. Chemistry or not, she’s got issues that I don’t think I can handle.”

“Such as?”

“For starters? Her dad.”

“Who’s her dad?”

“Brace yourself—retired Major General Gregory Fallon.”

Nathan whistled in recognition, then shook his head in commiseration. “Damn, that sucks. I heard that man keeps a box of other men’s testicles as war prizes. Highly decorated and scary as hell...that’s a tough break. I take it a meet with the pops didn’t go so well?”

“You could say that. Anyway, there’s no future between me and Fallon. I don’t have time for that kind of drama.”

“Yeah, I hear you. However,” Nathan added with a shrug, “if I’d given up on Jaci the first time she punched me in the face, I would never have the love of my life right now.”

Holden rolled his eyes, a moment of disquiet filling him. Should he have fought harder for Jane when they’d broken up? Maybe he’d run too quickly. Hell, maybe if he’d stood his ground, they might’ve found a way around that mountain of opposition known as The Major. Then again, maybe not. Maybe it would’ve ended the same way, only later and with more damage.

“Thanks for the pep talk—I think. I need to ask you something related to the case. You up to answering a few serious questions?”

“Sure, buddy. It’s the least I can do after tossing you out on your ear.”

“Did you happen to remember anything from that day, anything you didn’t tell Jane when she interviewed you?”

Nathan’s smile dimmed as he shook his head. “I’ve been racking my brain, trying to remember every detail. But everything I can remember I’ve already told Jane for her report.”

“I appreciate you trying.” Holden finished his beer. “We visited Tessara today. We have some reading material to go over.”

“Should I even ask?” Nathan asked. “I can’t believe they let you walk out with personnel files.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t tell if they’re trying to cooperate or if they’re trying to throw us off the scent. Either way, I’m interested in seeing what Penny Winslow had her fingers on.”

“Knowing that sneaky bitch, she probably had her fingers on everything. She was not only greedy, but also consumed with her own ego. To this day, I’ll never know what Tom saw in her.”

“The heart is often blind,” Holden said softly. “I’d say he paid for his error in judgment.”

Nathan nodded. That was all that needed to be said about that. Tom Wyatt had been like a father figure to Nathan, and when he had been implicated in the illegal activities, it had damn near broken Nathan’s heart. To make matters worse, Nathan had been in the room when a sniper took out Tom in his own den with a single bullet whizzing through the glass straight to the man’s skull. A perfect hit. Tom was also on Miko’s list of crimes.

Nathan settled a reassuring hand on Holden’s shoulder. “Hey, try to remember that even if you’re wrong and Miko is truly guilty of everything he’s been accused of, he was still your brother and my friend. And we knew him as a good man. Nothing can take that from us.”

Holden nodded, appreciating his friend’s quiet wisdom. “Me and Jane better get to the hotel so we can start going over the Tessara files,” he said, giving himself the chance to exit gracefully.

Nathan and Holden embraced like men—rough and hard—and then sprang apart with quick goodbyes.

Once in the car, Jane looked to Holden. “You okay? You two were in the garage for a while. I was starting to run out of things to talk about with Jaci. She’s nice, but we don’t really have a lot in common.”