Agent M4: Riordan (4 page)

Letting his hands fall to his sides, he stared outside again. “The next day, a guy approached me in the same parking lot and asked if I wanted a job as a bodyguard. It paid more money than I’d ever make as a cop, so I took it.” He looked at her, his eyes turned down at the corners. “The business is all I’ve known.”

The business. As a senator’s daughter, she knew all about
the business
. No one stood beyond bribery or above blackmail. Yet, something told her Riordan St. James, if given the chance, would choose the right thing if it came down to it.

“Have you ever struggled with doing the right thing?”

A hurricane swirled in his eyes, his nostrils flared. “When I got back and they told me Robert Naylor was responsible for sending me away, all I could think about was getting strong enough to kill him. Naylor’s death was one hundred percent premeditated. I flat out knew what I was doing. That should tell you everything.”

Natalie caught her breath. A part of her didn’t want to believe it. Another knew him capable of that and more. He’d proven to be the toughest, most daring man she’d ever met.

Knowing he’d killed his enemy didn’t shock her as much as his defensive tone. Riordan had satisfied his thirst for revenge and killed Robert Naylor.

However, where revenge had resided for so long, guilt, heavy and dark, remained.

“How did it happen?”

Riordan ran his fingers through his newly-cut hair. “It was a team effort. The other three super agents entered the compound to draw out Naylor. I set up on the roof, waiting for him to arrive. Once he showed up, the bastard actually got into a fist fight with his own son.”

Riordan shook his head, apparently deep in memories. “When I got a clear shot, I took it.” He stared at his hands again. “I knew I’d hit my mark. My new hands were steady.” He stopped to look at her. “I could’ve made him suffer, Meeks, but I didn’t. I went for the head shot, more to put Dar out of his misery than to give Naylor a quick, easy death.”

Anguish and self-admonishment thickened his voice. Riordan had killed Robert Naylor but his death hadn’t given him the satisfaction he’d sought.

“How did you feel afterwards?”

He glared at her. “I was pissed off.”

“Why?”

His brows lifted high on his forehead. “
Why
? I’d just taken a life. How did you expect me to feel?”

She softened her voice. “Let me put it this way. How did
you
expect
to feel?”

He gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I don’t know. Satisfied, maybe?”

“And were you?”

His solemn blue gaze roamed over her face. “No.”

He’d been honest with her.

She spoke the next words with care as her gaze gauged his reaction. “Do you think, maybe, you wanted answers more than revenge?”

He started shaking his head before she finished her question. “No, Natalie. I had to get back at him. It’s all I’d thought about for three, freaking years.”

“And, you did. He’s dead. But, obviously, it didn’t make you feel any better.”

Hands on hips, he turned to stare at her dead-on. “I’ll never feel
better
again, Natalie. He took that away from me. But, I brought relief to his kids and the others that he’d hurt like me, and I did help save Dar’s life. It wasn’t a totally selfish act.”

A good man, acting like a bad one. That’s the life he’d lived.

Riordan had waged an internal struggle of right and wrong, his moral code telling him murder was wrong, his pride and self-worth shoving him toward revenge. She firmly believed that if Naylor hadn’t been a danger to the others, he wouldn’t have pulled the trigger. His own suffering wouldn’t have been enough to justify it.

As for feeling better, Natalie knew no one that deserved happiness or contentment more. He may come off as an outspoken hard ass, but inside, Riordan carried more integrity and gallantry than anyone she knew.

Apparently, Cassandra Naylor saw that.

“So, Naylor had a physical fight with his own son yet, he cared for his daughter so much that he imprisoned a man he didn’t approve of?” Tilting her head, she pursed her lips. “Was she a daddy’s girl?”

He barked out a laugh. “Hardly. Naylor didn’t give a shit about Cassandra or d’Artagnan. He’d raised them under an iron fist and emotional abuse.”

Natalie frowned to herself. “Something doesn’t add up, Riordan. If he didn’t care about his children, Cassandra in particular, why would he go to the trouble of getting rid of you?”

#####

That afternoon, Natalie strolled into her office and shut the door. Her father stood at the window, staring out at the traffic while he talked on the phone. His hand rubbed the white hair at the back of his head, his narrow shoulders tense.

“Yes, dammit. When I get back tonight, I’d better have some answers.”

A feeling of apprehension swirled in her stomach. Dan Meeks didn’t let much ruffle him.

Today, he sounded downright anxious.

Standing in the middle of her office, Natalie cleared her throat. Her father whipped around. Worry shown in the creased brows and deep lines of his face. Pressing a button, he shoved his phone into his breast pocket.

“Kitten, I want you to stay away from Riordan St. James.”

Shutting her eyes, Natalie let out a sigh. After years of working for her father, Josie still felt the need to report to him. Never mind, doctor/patient confidentiality.

It explained why she’d taken so long to retrieve a bottle of water.

“Mitchell Jacobs asked me to work with him.”

His hazel eyes widened in surprise. “Mitchell? St. James works for D.I.R.E.?”

Nodding, she crossed her arms over her chest. “He does.”

Her father grumbled under his breath as he picked up a sofa pillow and squeezed it between his hands. “I’ll put a stop to that.”

Natalie stilled. “Why? What’s the problem, Dad?”

He slammed down the pillow on the chair. “He worked for Robert Naylor, Natalie. A world-renowned criminal. What is Mitchell doing hiring someone like him?”

She studied her father with narrowed eyes. He hid something from her. Something big. Her father had dealt with some of the biggest criminals in the world, having worked in the D.A.’s office and politics for the last thirty years. Why did Riordan cause this kind of reaction?

“He’s making a new start, Dad. Riordan is one of Mitchell’s top agents.”

He stopped to stare at her. “
Riordan
?” He shook his head vigorously. “No, Natalie. Do
not
become involved with him. That would be the biggest mistake you ever made.”

With that kind of response, Natalie almost wanted to become involved just to see what happened.

“I don’t think anything could be a bigger mistake than Paul Warner.”

He stabbed a finger at her. “Paul Warner was a good man.”

Natalie did a double take. “Really, Dad? He blew himself up at Harold Mills’ campaign fundraiser. You don’t consider that a mistake?”

Clearing his throat, he looked away. “That was an unfortunate accident.”

Accident? How could he say that when Paul had been the only person on the scene they’d had to pick up in pieces? And, why was he there in the first place?

Knowing Harold Mills ran against her father in the next election, she still couldn’t dismiss her father’s involvement. It wouldn’t be the first time her father had been caught on the wrong side of justice. It also wouldn’t surprise her to find the investigation that had cleared him, had been compromised.

Granted, that didn’t dismiss her own guilt in the entire mess. As Paul’s doctor, she should’ve seen his suicidal tendencies long before the incident.

She’d never picked up on them. Not once.

At the time, she’d thought their relationship had given him a drive in life. A reason to move past his abusive childhood and troubling adulthood.

Obviously, she’d given herself more credit than she deserved.

Her father stood before her now, hands on hips, wedding band glinting in the sunlight filtering through her window. He’d never lacked for purpose. Her mother, on the other hand, had lost purpose when they’d lost her sister, Keegan. Natalie wondered if he’d ever struggled with her mother’s death.

“I mean it, Natalie. You are not to go near that man again.”

Lifting her chin, she matched his stance. “He’s my patient. I’ll help him as long as he needs it. And, don’t you
dare
interfere and call Mitchell.”

His voice lowered to a menacing pitch. “Well, well, I’d wondered when my little rebel would show her head again.”

Taking a step back, she swallowed hard. Yes, her father possessed a severe aversion to Natalie showing anything other than a serene, professional appearance. However, sometimes, she just couldn’t hold back.

“I’d thought this ridiculous rebellious streak was gone forever. You’d been doing so well the last few years. But, I see it’s still here, trying to buck the system.”

Dammit, she hated when he spoke to her in a condescending tone. “Who’s system?
Yours
? Is the world expected to live by
your
system, Dad?”

“No, not the world. But you, yes.” He held out his hand to encompass the office. “You wouldn’t have all of this without my world, Natalie. You seem to forget that rather easily.”

She waved her hand in the air. “Then take it. Take it all, if it means I have to be stifled by
your
system. You’re the one that wanted me to have a respectable career - to help
your
image.” She pointed at her chest. “
I’m
here to help people – including Riordan St. James – and I will do it.”

Natalie let out a deep breath. Damn, it felt good to stand up to her father. It’s no wonder she’d gone on such a hellacious streak back in high school and college. The rush felt better than Space Barley beer with whiskey chasers.

He started to the door. “Helping people is a noble philosophy, Natalie. Helping St. James is a waste of your time.” Turning around, he said, “If you won’t put a stop to it, I will.” He walked out the door.

She growled, long and low, her fists clenched. Inhaling, she forced herself to open her hands and shake them loose. If she wanted to maintain any kind of sanity, she should avoid Riordan. He was a danger to her in more ways than one, but…

He flat out
scared
Dan Meeks. There weren’t many men that could pull off that feat.

Why
Riordan scared him was the twenty-thousand dollar question.

At this early stage, her best option was Mitchell Jacobs. He usually had the answers and if he didn’t, he had the resources to find them. However, he wouldn’t hand them over without a good reason.

Natalie bit her bottom lip to stifle a grin. Oh, that’s right. She had one – his new agent.

#####

Natalie hit the checkout button on the handbag website as she waited for Mitchell to answer the phone. Between her ridiculous attraction to Riordan and her father’s ridiculous reaction to
him
, yesterday had shot her stress levels to marked peaks.

A major purchase was in order.

After a fitful night of tossing and turning, with dreams of Riordan laying her back on the concrete and making love to her by the pool, she’d decided to come into work early. Lying in bed had only served to enhance her dreams to near virtual reality, so she’d gotten up, determined to keep herself busy with work.

Only now, her work
was
Riordan.

Purses bought, she closed her web browser before she gave into the urge to peruse tattoo websites.

“Natalie.” Mitchell sounded winded. “How did yesterday’s session go?”

Leaning back in her chair, she propped her legs on the desk. “Very well, I think. He actually opened up to me.”

“Good. I ordered him to cooperate. If he acts like a jackass in any way, let me know. I won’t tolerate behavior like that again.”

Natalie had dreamed bad behavior between her and Riordan that would put his initial escapades to shame. She felt her face heat.

“Well Mitchell, he showed up with a new haircut and a tie.”

“Saint?”

She laughed into the phone. “Yes.”
And, he looked damned fine, too.

“Good to hear.”

Taking a deep breath, she sobered. Her gut warned her that making this request ensured trouble. She uttered the words anyway.

“Mitchell, I need a favor.”

His silence reminded her of the Senator’s standard issue response of quiet, rather than outright
no.

“What is it?”

She took a mental breath. “I’d like all files you have on Riordan.”

No response.

“If you want my help, I need any and all information you have on him. His case is a bit unusual.”

After her father’s reaction, her gut told her
unusual
didn’t quite cover it.