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He waited for that to sink in, then added, “The usual methods will not work. Not this time. Especially since time is so critical. Our sources say they do not know where she is.” He named no names, but Vishenko knew who those sources were, knew just how highly placed they were in the various branches of law enforcement. If they didn’t know where Caterina Mateja was, then there could only be one agency guarding her.
Which meant Vishenko had no options left—except one. He would have to bet his last chip on one roll of the dice. A chip he’d never gambled with before. A chip so valuable it could only be used once.
* * *
After Cate and Liam’s military plane had landed and they’d been met by one of the agency’s agents with the promised SUV, they drove to a hotel not that far from the base. Cate wanted to wait in the SUV while Liam checked in, but he refused. “I need to keep you in sight at all times,” he explained. “I don’t think there’s much of a risk here, but I can’t take that chance.” He smiled at her in fading daylight. “It won’t take long.”
Ten minutes later Liam had the keys to a two-bedroom suite. The clerk had wanted to swipe Liam’s credit card for incidentals, even though he’d paid cash for the suite, but a two-hundred-dollar cash deposit took care of that. There wouldn’t be any incidental charges—no long-distance phone calls from the room, no movies rented, nothing taken from the honor bar. But the clerk couldn’t know that. He probably thinks Cate and I are having an affair, Liam thought with a touch of amusement, since I don’t want to give him my credit card.
Fifteen minutes after that they were in the room, luggage stowed away. “I know it’s not that late here, but my body is still on East Coast time,” Liam said, “and I’m starved. What do you say to having dinner in the restaurant downstairs? It’s not a four-star restaurant, but it’s convenient.”
One corner of Cate’s mouth turned up in a little smile. “Anything is fine. I’m not in the habit of eating out at all, much less four-star cuisine. I doubt I’ll be able to tell the difference.”
* * *
Cate was touched by how Liam put himself out to keep her entertained over dinner—and to keep everything light. After this afternoon’s conversation, she’d been afraid he would try to question her again, but he didn’t. He kept her laughing with the misadventures of Alec and Liam in their tween years. “All I can say is, your poor mother,” Cate gurgled.
“She’s forgiven us.” Liam crossed his heart and held his hand up. “Honest.”
“What’s she like, your mother? The way you talk about her, she sounds wonderful.”
“She is. We’re lucky to have her. She wants a few more grandchildren—and don’t think she hasn’t thrown out hints! But so far Alyssa—Keira and Cody’s little girl—is it. Although Alec says he and Angelina are trying.”
Cate beamed. “Yes, I know. Angelina told me. I would be so happy for them if it happened.”
“So it wouldn’t bother you?” Liam put his fork down. “Forget I said that.”
Cate put her own fork down, her smile fading, and wiped her mouth on her napkin. “Why would you ask me that question?” In the back of her mind was a suspicion, one she’d had ever since this morning.
“Forget it.”
“No, I want to know why you think it would bother me if Alec and Angelina had a baby.”
Liam stared at her for a minute, his mouth tightening. Then he said, “Because of the way you feel about Alec.”
She started trembling. She couldn’t help it. She clasped her hands in her lap so he wouldn’t see them shake. “Because of the way I feel about Alec?” she asked. “What way is that?”
“You...care about him,” Liam said roughly. “I’m sorry, Cate, but it’s obvious whenever you say his name. He’s something special to you. He’s my brother, and I love him—I know he’s a hell of a guy. But he’s married. And he loves his wife very much. So...”
Cate went hot and cold with embarrassment and something more. Hurt. Hurt that Liam would think badly of her when she wanted so much for him to... She quashed that thought, as ruthless with herself as she could be.
Although she was embarrassed, she wasn’t ashamed. Not about this. “I care about Alec, yes,” she said very quietly. “Meeting him changed me for the better. But I’m not in love with him. I never was. I never will be.” Her breath caught in her throat. “And you have no right to question me about this. About him. About what I feel for him. I have never done or said anything that gives you the right.” She placed her napkin on the table and stood. “Even if he is your brother.”
