Agent M4: Riordan (11 page)

“Do you think he’s telling the truth?”

Jaydan dangled a bottle of beer in front of Riordan’s face, another in his opposite hand. He hadn’t heard Rose walk outside. A full moon over the Pacific Ocean had drawn his gaze, the imposter’s words, his mind.

Make that Frederick Richey. His identity thief’s real name was Frederick Richey. The blackmailer.

Riordan sat up on his motorcycle seat to take the beer. “If I was Luke Powers’ son, it would make sense. What better way to get the fast track inside his tight organization?”

Rose took a sip of his beer. “So, you don’t think you’re Powers’ son?”

Riordan swallowed back a long draw on his bottle. “Hell, if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s not to dismiss anything until I have proof otherwise. But damn…
me
, the son of one of the wealthiest men in the world? Not likely.”

Pulling out his phone, Rose pressed a button and handed it to Riordan. “I thought you’d want to see what you’ll look like in twenty years.”

He stared down at a photograph, the caption beneath,
Technology Billionaire, Luke Powers
.

Riordan’s shoulders slumped. Hell. He looked so much like Powers, there could be no doubt.

With a small chuckle, Rose said, “I’ve seen both of you but never registered the resemblance. I’d be shocked if it turned out to be a lie.”

He handed back the phone to Rose. “You’d think he would’ve run DNA tests.”

Rose shrugged. “Maybe. But, if he’d been searching for you and Richey provided enough proof otherwise, why would he? He could’ve gotten caught up in the excitement, too.”

“Excitement? If he was so damned excited to find me, where was he my entire life? We could’ve used a billion or two to get out of my grandfather’s drug-infested house.”

Taking another swallow of beer, Rose said, “Maybe hitting fifty gave him some kind of guilt trip. Maybe he needs a bone marrow transplant or something. Who knows?” A slow smile filled his face. “But damn, Saint. You’re going to be a rich sonovabitch.”

Riordan gave a slight shake of his head. He didn’t need Powers’ money. He wanted back the money he’d earned and Richey blew.

“So, if Meeks put me away a year and a half before he inserted Richey into Powers’ organization, he’s had a master plan all along.”

Rose held a finger in the air. “He couldn’t have known Naylor would bring you back.”

Riordan shrugged. “Maybe not. But, now that I’m here, he’s had to figure out a way to keep tabs on me without alienating Mitchell.”

Stilling, Rose slowly turned to face him. “You’re not implying that Natalie is in on this…?”

He held out his hands, palm up. “It’s perfect. He calls his buddy, Mitchell, to see what’s going on. Jacobs tells him about me. He offers Natalie’s help, she tries to seduce me and boom… he’s on the inside.”

Rose stared at him with a get-serious look. “Are we talking about the same woman that tried to jump out of a moving vehicle yesterday because she wanted to keep you safe?”

“She was running on adrenaline, Rose.”

Beer bottle in hand, Rose pointed at him. “You know, you do need to see a psychologist about this trust issue you have going on.”

He glared at Jaydan. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That you’re crazy if you think Natalie Meeks is playing you. Have you seen the way the woman looks at you?”

He pulled back his head. “What do you mean, the way she looks at me?”

His phone rang. Reaching into his jeans pocket, he pulled it out and stared at the screen.

Natalie Meeks.

His gut immediately went into panic mode, wondering if she was safe, if she’d discovered more injuries.

His mind followed a second later, wondering what kind of con she planned to pull on him today.

Holding up the phone so Rose could see who called, he pressed the speaker button. “Hello?”

“Can you guess who this is?” Her soft voice held a humorous lilt. Talking and loud music blared in the background.

He shared a frown with Rose. “Meeks?”

She gasped. “How did you know?”

A reluctant grin blossomed on his face. “Caller ID, maybe?”

“Oh, shoo-“ The line went dead.

Rose chuckled. “What the hell was that?”

He frowned at his phone. “I don’t know. Did she sound…
drunk
to you?”

His phone rang. Rachel Monroe. He held it up to Rose before pressing the speaker button.

“Hello?”

“Do you know who this is?”

He looked at Rose and grinned. “Meeks?”

“Dammit, he still knew it was me.” Her voice sounded distant, like she spoke away from the phone.

Rose sputtered with laughter. Riordan didn’t know what to think. This sounded so unlike the Natalie Meeks he knew, he wondered if he talked to another imposter.

“What are you doing?” Her voice sounded nearer this time, though a little slurred.

Really? She called just to talk?

“I’m having a beer with Rose.”

He wanted to laugh with her, but what he’d learned today sat forefront in his mind. She was the daughter of the man that had put him away. The daughter of the man that wanted him gone.

She screamed into the phone. His heart took off like a rocket.

“Meeks? Are you okay?”

Peals of female laughter sounded in the background. Dammit, she’d scared the shit out of him.

“
Meeks
. Where the hell are you?”

She spoke away from the phone again. “Rachel, where am I?”

Rachel spoke in the background. “D.I.R.E.”

Natalie spoke into the phone. “D.I.R.E.”

Rose busted out laughing. Riordan couldn’t contain his smile. It hit him that she’d had alcohol on top of her painkillers. She would have one helluva headache tomorrow.

“Meeks, are you drunk?”

“
No
. Absolutely not. I only had one drink.” She sputtered with laughter, the others joining in. “And, then one after that, and one after that.”

Rose roared with laughter. Riordan couldn’t help but join him. He liked
this
Natalie Meeks. A lot.

Crunching sounded over the line. “Cassandra made some killer nachos, Riordan. Did you know Jocelyn used to live in the past?”

He couldn’t contain the humor in his voice. “Yes, I did. How is your leg, Meeks?”

Her voice sounded matter-of-fact. “It doesn’t hurt a bit right now.” Another screech ripped over the line. “OMG, is he
twerking
?”

He? There’s a
he
there?

Rose spoke in a low voice. “Damn, I miss all the fun.”

Riordan scowled at him before speaking in a clipped voice. “Sounds like you have quite a party going-”

“It’s crazy, Riordan. We just came out to the pool to enjoy the evening and next thing we knew, there were agents everywhere.”

Jealousy, pure and lethal, singed his nerve-endings. How the hell could he be jealous of her spending time with other men when he thought she was trying to deceive him?

Damn, he
did
need a psychologist.

The background noise faded on the line. Her voice sounded whisper soft. “I miss you, Riordan.”

Pressing the speaker button, he turned it off and walked away from his bike and Rose. His heart thundered against his ribs, the smile vanishing from his face. Surprise washed away the jealousy, his gut telling him her words rang true.

However, his mind told him he couldn’t be wrong about her, he’d been deceived too many times in the past to fall for something so obvious again.

Yet, he wanted to believe.

“I slept in your bed this afternoon,” she said, her tone seductive.

Frustration warred with the raw hunger rushing through his blood, making him hard. She’d slept in his bed – while he worked in San Diego.

You don’t want her, remember? She’s working against you.

“I wished you were there with me.”

Running his fingers through his hair, he paced the helicopter pad beside the office. “What is this, Meeks? You didn’t want to have anything to do with me the other day.”

She sighed into the phone. “I was trying to do the right thing, Riordan. I’ve made so many stupid mistakes… you have no idea.”

God, he could relate. Was it a coincidence she had a change of heart the same day they brought in Richey? He knew all about stupid mistakes. He just couldn’t tell if his mind or his body made one now.

“Riordan, I’m
so tired
of trying to be someone I’m not. Trying to do what I’m supposed to do instead of just being me. I don’t even know myself anymore.” She gave a sad chuckle. “Wow, that sounds selfish, doesn’t it?”

Maybe Dan Meeks had forced her to get close to him. Maybe she didn’t want to do this at all.

Then again, maybe Rose was right and she really did miss him.

“No Meeks, it doesn’t sounds selfish at all.”

“You’re just being nice because I’m hurt.” She chuckled softly. “I know I have to act the part of a senator’s daughter and professional doctor. It’s what’s expected of me.”

Her voice came across stronger, more determined. “But, you know what, Mr.
Saint
?”

“What, Meeks?”

The loud music and voices returned in the background. “Not tonight.”

#####

Natalie lay on her side by the pool, head in her hand. Two male agents bobbed in the water below her, flirting outrageously. Jocelyn sat to her left, sipping a margarita and talking to one of the technicians that worked with her.

On her right, Rachel and Cassandra sat with their feet in the water, talking to the nurse that worked on her leg and another female agent. Several others talked and splashed in the pool, while
Theory of a Deadman
played over the speakers.

She couldn’t recall having so much fun, and all while she hid from a madman. The night would’ve been perfect if Riordan had been there.

Cassandra laughed at something Rachel said. Natalie didn’t know if she’d seen a more perfect woman than Cassandra Naylor. Wearing a baggy D.I.R.E. t-shirt and shorts, Natalie felt dumpy and plain in her company, her wrapped leg adding to her lack of appeal. Even
Barbie
would feel inadequate next to Cass, she had no doubt.

Not that Cassandra had been anything but nice and fun. In all honesty, she’d been very attentive to Natalie by mixing her drinks and bringing her food so she wouldn’t have to walk too much.

She could see why Riordan had fallen in love with her.

Cass had told her the story of her father and Aidan, how he’d given her the strength to escape her father’s oppression. Her story rang of true love, just as Jocelyn and Rachel’s stories. They each wore an engagement ring, a smile, and a confidence she hoped to find one day.

“Right, Natalie?” Cassandra winked at her.

Shaking her head as if to clear it, she said, “I missed that. Sorry.”

“I said, what happens at D.I.R.E., stays at D.I.R.E.”

She tilted her head toward the mildly hot agents below her.

They had nothing on Riordan.

“I had always thought Mitchell ran a tight ship,” she said. “If this kind of thing goes on all the time, I might apply.”

Rachel shook her head. “This is all your doing, Natalie. We never have parties like this. I can see why your friends wanted to hang out with you in college.”

Her? Miss boring and conservative doctor?

She waved away her compliment. “I had nothing to do with this.”

The blonde agent below her said, “So, you weren’t responsible for sending out a text from Rachel’s phone that said party at the pool in ten?”

Jocelyn laughed. “Yes, she was – and the one that said BYOB.”

Natalie had to admit that she’d felt no pain earlier. The pain medication she’d taken had helped the margaritas to loosen her tongue, and obviously, her fingers. Now that it had started to wear off, she felt rather self-conscious. She didn’t know these people. Her actions could get back to her father and the papers in no time.

The agent stared into her eyes. “I may have to take her in for a private interrogation.”

“Keep your wet dreams to yourself, Haskins.”

Natalie looked over her shoulder. Riordan stood behind her, looking angry, gritty and unbelievably hot in biker boots, black t-shirt and jeans.

“
Riordan
. I thought you were in San Diego?”

He frowned down at her. “Obviously.”

Rachel shot up from her seat by the pool. “
Tris
.” She rushed to Tristan, who stood beside Riordan. “I thought you weren’t due back until Monday?”

“Saint called in a favor.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “I couldn’t resist an opportunity to see you.”