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Brody’s mouth twisted into a smirk that gave him the look of being impressed. “Who are you and what have you done with Kianti Lawrence?” He sobered quickly once they’d shared a laugh. He moved over to pull Kianti into a hug. “I’m proud of you.” He kissed the top of her head.
Kianti relished the hug. She’d shied away from closeness over the past two weeks. She knew the guys had noticed the change in her demeanor. It wasn’t hard to do as she was usually the one initiating so many of the hugs and kisses that flowed between them on a daily basis.
The closeness made her think of Therin. She’d made a promise to herself to forget him, which was useless as well as stupid. Why would she want to forget one of the sweetest times in her life? She squeezed her eyes shut and snuggled deeper into Brody’s embrace. It was better all around to shut out such memories. However, it was well-known that doing what was best wasn’t her strong suit.
Gary and Peter sent Therin a knowing look across the table where the staff meeting had just taken place. Ruby Loro was last to leave and had just shut the conference room door behind herself.
“V, man? Do you have a few minutes?” Therin asked just as Vaughn was rolling his chair back from the table.
“What’s up?” Vaughn obliged, slanting quick glances toward Peter and Gary.
“Why’d you do it, V?”
“Come again?” Vaughn fixed his oldest friend with a confused look.
Therin’s smile was small while he studied his friend. “No one but you knows what I mean when I say I’m ‘getting lost.’” He looked up in time to see clarity emerge in Vaughn’s eyes.
“Those were the very words I used the night I left the party with Kianti. You knew I meant I was heading to the apartment.”
“You’re paranoid, you know that, right?” Vaughn chuckled, though his nervousness was evident. “All this mess going on’s got you paranoid as hell.”
“Let’s talk about ‘all this mess.’” Therin maintained his reclining position in the chair at the end of the table. “Ruby didn’t tell a soul what she’d done when she first got to the country. But checking backgrounds is your job and you’re too good to let somethin’ like that slip past you. You knew, didn’t you?”
Vaughn refused to answer one way or another.
“Then there’s the comment made by Rick’s attacker.”
“Now hold up a damn minute! You don’t think I—”
“The way it was said. Rick thought a staff member may’ve attacked him.”
“This is craziness!” Vaughn stood. “I can’t believe you’re losin’ it with me—me of all people!”
“Don’t play me for a fool any more than you already have. I’m way too pissed off to deal with it.”
“Drop it, T. You’re only pissed off over Kianti leaving. Hell, get over it—there’ll be others.”
“Every bit of it points to you.”
“What?” Vaughn slammed his palms down on the table. “Some coincidences involving the staff, a CD and you making some cryptic comment about the condo?”
Therin smoothed both hands over his head. “I didn’t mention a CD. How do you know about that, V?”
The silence then was heavy, yet meaningful. Therin waited to see whether his oldest friend would take responsibility or play the innocent. Apparently, Vaughn Burgess decided on a combination of both.
“Is it so difficult for you to give an inch, here? To share the wealth?”
“And who shares the wealth with us?” Therin’s brittle temper snapped.
“To hell with you, Therin! Idealistic and proud—closed off to what all of your good intentions do to those on the sidelines of your life.”
“The staff knew what they were in for when they came to work for me.” Therin left his chair.
Again, Vaughn slammed his hands down to the table. “Dammit, Ther, not your staff! Your friends. Hell, your own damn family!”
Therin’s shoulders stiffened and he turned.
Gary and Peter exchanged looks across the table.
“What, Vaughn? What about my family?” Therin’s voice had softened to a deadly whisper. “What do you know about my parents?”
Vaughn’s anger wilted into a bit of disbelief. “Are you asking— Are you accusing me of having something to do with—”
“Did you?”
“Son of a bitch!” Vaughn kicked away his chair. “I don’t have to put up with this shit!” He moved for the door only to have Gary and Peter block his way. He looked toward Therin again.
“You placin’ me under arrest, Mr. Ambassador?”
