Chapter 9 #2
A decade had been good to him. He was even more strikingly handsome.
The few lines on his face that hadn’t been there before only added more character.
As if he needs more. If anything, he was bigger, more muscular than she remembered.
His face was harder, leaner, his thick, wavy jet-black hair shorter.
But his eyes were the same. Piercing gold orbs that could always see right through her.
Images of the past came spiraling upward from a deep, dark chamber, exploding all around her like a nightmare. She’d long ago erected a steel barricade topped with barbed wire to keep those memories locked down. Now they escaped with frightening speed.
She’d thought he was dead, that his body lay somewhere in a cold, unmarked grave. Nearly ten years ago, he’d disappeared without a trace. Now she knew where he’d gone and where he’d been. He was an FBI agent, for God’s sake, and had always been one.
She inhaled, her breaths shallower and now filled with his familiar, woodsy aftershave.
Agent Gates—Kyle—flipped open a portfolio.
“Miss Kelly,” he said in that deep, sexy voice she hadn’t forgotten, either. “Are you all right? Can I get you anything? Water, soda?”
“No, no. I’m fine. Thank you.”
Pull yourself together. You’re stronger than this. She forced a smile, hoping no one would see how flustered she was.
“Shall we begin?” Michael Morrison asked, his brows meeting as he glanced to Kyle, then back to her.
The next hour passed in a blur. Victoria could barely concentrate on the testimony being discussed.
Greg Washington had already prepped Aly but was concerned her emotional state might deteriorate during heavy cross-examination when she had to face her husband for the first time in over three months.
Victoria could well understand that fear. She understood it all too well.
Kyle stayed mostly silent throughout the meeting, giving her the opportunity to compose herself. When he finally spoke, she nearly jumped out of her seat.
“Miss Kelly.” He swiveled his chair to face her. “We could use your advice.”
Victoria’s heart raced again as she stared into the face of the man who could expose her real identity any second. He’d saved her life, but how could he have been so callous as to deceive her and leave without a word?
Because he’d been playing her the entire time.
She fisted her hands beneath the table, doing her best to hold back the grief, resentment, and anger that had once been so overwhelming she thought she’d never get over it. That last emotion—anger—won out.
“I’m happy to help,” she replied in a tone laden with saccharine sweetness. “And please, call me Victoria.” If he could play this little game of pretending not to know her, then the least she could do was get in a few good digs before he shit-canned her career.
“Victoria.” He didn’t exactly smile. It was more of a lip quirk.
“As you know, Boris Kolbayev has made death threats against Alyona, and she knows her testimony will most likely send him to prison. Going over her testimony with her in a controlled environment is one thing. We’re concerned she’ll cave under the pressure of testifying against her husband in open court.
Do you have any suggestions as to what can we do to keep that from happening? ”
“Agent Gates, or may I call you Kyle?” She smiled angelically, resisting the urge to bat her lashes, so there’d be no doubt in his mind she didn’t like the game he was playing.
No lip quirk this time. His eyes narrowed. “Either one is fine.”
“Kyle,” she continued. “Perhaps, you should take a moment out of your very important day and try putting yourself in Aly’s shoes.
Perhaps, you should try to understand what it means to a woman to have her entire world collapse.
To lose everything, including her husband, her belongings, her home.
” Her voice rose. “To have to leave town in the middle of the night under the cover of darkness like an escaped prisoner, never knowing when your husband might drag you back and beat the heck out of you. When this is over, she’ll have to pick up the pieces and try to make it on her own.
I doubt anyone in this room has ever experienced that. ”
To her horror, her lips trembled. She pressed them together tightly. If she didn’t stand firm, she’d lose what little self-respect she had left. Misrepresenting her own personal battles as Aly’s hadn’t been her intention. Seeing Alex Tarankov aka Kyle Gates again had brought it out in spades.
“Forgive me,” she continued, now addressing everyone else.
“I didn’t mean to be so abrupt, but I think it may be difficult for you to understand what Aly is going through.
She’s fragile, but with our support she’s discovered the courage to help you, along with herself.
” Victoria took a steadying breath. She could get through this.
She had to. “Please try to remember Aly can’t be legally compelled to testify against her own husband.
She’s doing it so she can move on with her life and close the door on this terrible man she was unfortunate enough to marry.
” She looked straight at Kyle, wondering what was really going on inside that handsome head.
“You want her testimony, and she wants to escape a horrible marriage. Permanently. It’s lucky for the government her goals and yours happen to mesh. ”
Four faces watched her with shocked and slightly curious expressions.
Kyle clenched his jaw, then gave her a curt nod.
Because he knew. He knew everything. Again, she fisted her hands beneath the table, willing the pent-up emotions pinging around inside her head like a pinball machine not to break free.
Greg was the first to speak. “You have valid points, Victoria, and we’ll all try to remember them.”
Kyle thrummed his fingers on his portfolio. “Are you suggesting we handle Alyona differently than we have been?”
“I suggest you don’t allow that defense attorney to walk all over her. She’s not the one on trial, but you know darned well Kolbayev’s attorney will make it seem as if she is. Once she feels that way, she may lose it and break down.”
“Your advice is well taken,” he said. “I’m sure Greg won’t give the defense an opportunity to sink their teeth into her.”
Greg nodded. “We’ll be prepared with objections the minute things get nasty.”
“I should be there.” The words were out before she could stop them.
Kyle’s brows snapped together. “Be where?”
“With Aly, at the trial.” It was a risk, but it was the professional and human thing to do.
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “No.”
“Yes.” She smacked her hand on the table, surprising herself at how adamant she was on the subject.
He leaned in. “You’re not thinking this through.”
“I have thought it through. The FBI is paying for my consultation, but she’s still my client, and I take my professional obligations very seriously. Unlike some people, I won’t abandon her.” She knew that barb would dig deep. Sure enough, the muscle in his jaw ticked faster.
“I think it’s an excellent idea.” Greg nodded his approval, as did Morrison.
Kyle glared across the table at his boss. The deep breath he took stretched his suit jacket over his broad chest.
“I think we’re all in agreement, then,” Morrison said. “We’ll see you at the trial on Monday. Agent Gates will make arrangements with you.”
Adrenaline raced through her veins. Kelly – 1. Special Agent Gates – 0. She resisted pumping her fist in the air.
Then reality settled in like the plague.
She’d just made things worse. Horribly worse.
What she ought to do was put as much space between her and Kyle and her former life as possible. Instead, she’d accomplished the polar opposite.
A wave of dizziness hit her, and her hands began to shake.
Everything important in her new life was now in serious jeopardy.
Her job, her friendships with Brad and Tracee, even her very identity.
She’d worked so hard to get where she was now, and one man could end it all with the snap of his fingers.
Worse, if he ever discovered the secret she’d been keeping all these years…
She had to get out of there. As far away from Kyle Gates as she could possibly get.
“If you’ll excuse me, I have other appointments this afternoon.” A lie, but whatever. “Please call my office with instructions about Monday.” Without looking at Kyle, she gathered her things and headed for the door. With every step, she felt his piercing gaze burning into her back.
Once in the hallway, she searched for the ladies’ room and slipped in just as another woman was leaving. She rushed into the closest stall and locked the door. After setting her briefcase on a ledge, she leaned over the toilet and threw up.