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Virginia's smile was loving, understanding. "You learn how to deal with it," she said softly, "when you're married to them. I love them both, Marty, but sometimes I can't wait for my vacation just to get away from them. "
Wrapping her arms around her chest, Marty dipped her head for a long moment as a sense of helplessness seemed to steal over her. "I think leaving the Bureau is best," she finally said. "They can't watch over me like a mother hen if I'm not there. And I doubt Braque Sawyers will give a damn what my fathers want when it comes to the assignments I get. "
Braque's private security and investigation firm was a multinational enterprise. Marty knew for a fact that Braque wouldn't consider the salary she was demanding if there was a chance of giving in to the FBI director's controlling impulses where Marty was concerned. Nor would he give in to Khalid's.
"You're growing up," Virginia stated sadly. "Just remember, Marty, they love you. They love us. "
"And I love them, Mom. " She sighed. "But if I'm going to keep loving them, then I need to get the hell away from them. "
"And Khalid?" Virginia asked. "Do you need to get away from him as well?"
Did she? "I rather hope he's trainable. " Marty groaned; she knew the chances of that were slim to none. Well, slim actually wasn't in the equation.
She doubted very seriously that Khalid was trainable in the least. If her mother's skeptical look was anything to go by, then she doubted it as well.
Marty's lips quirked with a bit of mocking amusement as she fought back a rueful laugh. Her mother didn't bother to fight back her own amusement, nor her laughter. They both knew exactly the battle Marty was facing.
She reached for her mother, gave her a tight hug, then moved toward the door. "I'll call you tomorrow, Mom. "
"Do that," her mother commanded gently. "After all, I cut short sun, fun, and sand to come home and try to control your fathers for you. I, at least, deserve a call, as well as a few luncheons and a day of shopping. "
Marty groaned as she left the house and closed the door behind her. She hated luncheons and shopping days with her mother. They wore her out.
Ignoring the two men awaiting her, she moved down the steps and strode purposefully to her father's black Jaguar, which was parked at the side of the circular drive.
She was aware of them getting into the limo, just as she was aware of the limo following
her every step of the way as she headed home.
She was aggravated, tired, and holding on to her temper by a thread. Dealing with not one but two impossibly arrogant men wasn't her idea of a fun night tonight. But it appeared it wasn't something she was going to get out of, either.
Chapter 13
Khalid watched the taillights of Joe Mathews's car as it sped through Alexandria's sparse, late-evening traffic. From his position in the back of the limousine, facing forward, he kept his gaze centered on those lights and the woman heading away from Joe's home and to her own.
Shayne sat in the opposite seat, his back supported by the corner, his gaze shuttered as he watched Khalid.
There was much about his past that this man had been privy to, Khalid knew. At a time when Khalid had felt invincible, indestructible, Shayne had been on the fringes of his life.
As a deep-cover agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Khalid had worked with Shayne in the border area of Saudi Arabia and Iraq several times. Shayne had been the CIA agent in the area. They had exchanged information several times, worked together, and fought to identify terrorists and uncover the various plots to strike against America and its allies.
Until that last brutal, bloody day. Until Khalid had realized that nothing was sacred, and that no one lived forever.
"We should have never taken her onto the club grounds," Shayne said thoughtfully. "I knew she wouldn't stay put. I think you knew it as well. "
Khalid shot him a withering look. "You believe I wanted to deal with this tonight? To have the woman I am trying to convince to move into my bed see that I am still conspiring with her fathers behind her back?"
He couldn't believe something so insane could have passed the other man's lips. They had endangered their own memberships by allowing her the chance to slip into the club. The only assurance they had that there would be no repercussions was the fact that both Joe and Zach were on the judicial committee that oversaw possible punishment for such offenses.
"What better way to drive her out of your life?" Shayne asked, as the limo made a turn onto the residential street where Marty's apartment was located.
Khalid's lips curled in disgust at the observation.
"It would be no hardship to choose another third, Shayne," he informed the other man sharply.
Shayne's expression never changed. The amused condescension was firmly in place.
"Try choosing one who will put up with your demands as I do," Shayne laughed, as he lifted the fingers on one hand and began counting. "Forget about her heart. Don't touch her unless you're present. You're to know every move she makes. He shook his head. "Hell, I know there's more, but it's beginning to piss me off. "
