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“Neither do I. She didn’t send the threatening messages. That much I know.”
He turned his head toward me and I didn’t need to look at his face to know he felt the same. “Then who did?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out. I can guarantee it’s someone from our past.”
“Why wait this long to try and destroy us?”
“The big question. Garrison died only three months ago. Maybe that was the catalyst.”
“Or my release.”
“That too. Whatever the case, the real killer will strike when we least expect it,” I said, hating the sound of my own voice. Hollow. No emotion. But anger continued to boil away, churning my insides. “This is supposed to be paradise. Why does it feel like a prison of our own making?”
“Because that’s exactly what it is. Tasting her was nothing but a reminder. I’ve fucked up my entire life.”
I took a deep breath, holding the salty yet sweet air in my lungs before releasing. While the scent was fragrant, it was nothing like the refreshing, powerful fragrance Dahlia carried. “You didn’t beat that man to death just because he accosted a woman. Did you?”
He didn’t react or say anything at first, but I felt the tension in his muscles increase. “As with everything, there’s always another side to the story.”
“Let me give you a piece of advice. Search your memory and your heart. I have a feeling that the reason you reacted the way you did is connected to the recent threats.”
“And Dahlia?”
“She’s the wild card. But we will determine her real identity. Only then can we unravel this bizarre game.”
We both felt Alexander’s presence behind us. I had nothing else to say to the man.
He’d made himself a drink and casually walked onto the deck, easing into one of the chairs like it was his own personal throne, just like he’d done countless times before. “We’re secure here. I hired the best.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re only interested in protecting your own skin, not learning the truth.”
“That’s not true, Daniel, but I can see why you think that. I’m not the arrogant kid you remember. I have goals and values as well as needs. However, no one is allowed to threaten me and get away with it.”
Brogan and I shot each other a look.
There was nothing to say in retort to the man, especially since he wouldn’t listen to anything including logic. I’d made a mistake coming here. That much I did know.
“Do you remember the women we shared?” he asked, an entirely different sound in his voice.
“We did enjoy it.” Brogan’s answer brought a smile to his face.
I wasn’t certain I wanted to have the memories brought to light, but the simple truth was that we had shared some good times together, even making a second ridiculous pact that we’d find the right woman we could all share, enjoy, and keep.
Forever.
“This isn’t college or a bizarre fantasy. This is real life,” I answered.
“Get off your pedestal, Daniel. Just because you’re a CIA agent doesn’t mean you’ve changed entirely. You even found the perfect girl, as you called her. Do you remember her?”
Goddamn Alexander. He had to bring up the most horrific moment of the time we spent together. She’d been an angel, a beautiful creature so innocent that we knew by seducing her, we’d destroyed her.
“Emily,” Brogan whispered, staring off into the sky.
“Emily. She was our everything, the same lightness that Dahlia brings,” Alexander mused.
“And we destroyed her like everything else in our lives. She didn’t deserve what happened to her.” My grip on the railing was so tight that my knuckles were white.
“She regrouped, Daniel. She’s doing fine. She’s a damn doctor with a senator for a husband, for fuck’s sake.” Alexander snorted. “And she enjoyed every minute she spent with us.”
