Live to See Tomorrow (33 page)

“It did affect him,” Erin said. “I could feel his pain as he did mine. But he won’t betray what he believes in. I wouldn’t want him to do that.”

“Erin, I don’t know what to say to you,” Catherine said helplessly. “What the hell is so worthwhile to you that you’d go through what you did to keep from sacrificing it? I can’t comprehend it.”

“I think you know more than you did when you left here this morning,” Erin said shrewdly. “Cameron has a way of blowing away the mist and making things clear.”

“That’s Cameron. He’s in a class by himself. I’m talking about you. What makes it that important to you?”

“The dream,” she said softly. “And the people who are willing to work and sacrifice to keep it alive. I wasn’t brave enough to do it. What Cameron goes through must be terrible at times. I think that’s why I wore the lotus necklace when I knew I shouldn’t. I wanted to show support even though I didn’t have the courage to become one of them.” She met Catherine’s gaze. “You’d have the courage. I can see you and Cameron together fighting for a cause.”

“Only if I believed in it.” She added gently, “And you have an enormous amount of courage.”

“I have endurance. It’s different from having the guts to take a step into the unknown.” She paused. “But I’ve been thinking about it, and I may have grown during the last months. I hope that’s true.”

“You didn’t need to grow. You’re a person who—”

“I just talked to Blake,” Cameron said as he strode into the library. “Sen’s flight took off ten minutes ago. He’ll arrive in Hong Kong in eighteen hours and be taken to a secure hospital just across the Tibet border. We won’t know about the security disks for several hours.” His eyes were glittering, his face taut. “But by that time, we should have most of the preparations made.” He looked over his shoulder. “Isn’t that so, Luke?”

Good God, Catherine thought as she watched Luke come into the room. Her son had the same expression of barely restrained excitement as Cameron.

Luke smiled at Catherine as he stopped beside Cameron. “He’s trying to make you think that he and I are planning this together. It’s not true. But he promised to make sure I’d be part of it.” His smile lingered as he looked up at Cameron. “And that’s enough for me.”

Cameron returned his smile. “Smart boy. You see right through me.”

“No.” His brow furrowed. “But it’s funny you should say that. I’ve been thinking that sometimes I get a crazy feeling that
you
see right through me.”

Cameron’s smile faded, and he gave a low whistle. “You might have to give him to me for a few tests, Catherine.”

“No way,” she said flatly.

He shrugged. “We’ll talk later.” He turned to Hu Chang. “The first thing to do is get the Mercedes away from the front of Celia’s house and placed in a spot that will throw out a red herring for Kadmus to pick up as soon as the Mercedes is identified from either the security cameras or any witness accounts. I’ll take care of it. By now that cabdriver who brought you to Chinatown will have given a description of all of you to Kadmus’s men. We don’t want you to be seen again until the right time. Stay here with Celia.” He glanced down at Luke again. “Take care of Catherine. I’ll be back soon.”

“You told him that before. We’ll take care of each other. Just as we always have,” Catherine said coolly. “Where are you going to drop the Mercedes?”

“I’m not sure. I have an idea, but I’ll have to call and have a little research done.” He smiled as he turned and headed for the door. “But I’ll be sure and ask your approval.”

Bastard, she thought as she watched the door close behind him. What research? She hated that he had left her behind. He was right that it wasn’t smart that they be identified, but that hadn’t stopped him from practically yanking her out of this house this morning.

But that hadn’t had anything to do with cool calculation. That had been fire and smoke and lust that had driven both of them to the brink.

She could feel her body start to ready as she remembered just how intense that lust had been.

No. Don’t think of it. Particularly with Hu Chang’s gaze fastened on her. Cameron wasn’t the only man who could read her emotions. She turned to Luke. “I haven’t had breakfast yet. Cameron and I were a little busy. How about going with me to the kitchen while I fix something?”

He nodded. “Cameron told me how good you were at being a getaway driver.” He followed her out of the library. “He said he thought you enjoyed it.”

“Did he? It was serious stuff.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Maybe. A little.” He was looking at her. “Okay, maybe a lot. But it’s not something that most people with any intelligence would want to do.”

“But you’re very intelligent.”

“You’re grinning. Are you making fun of me?”

“Yes.” He paused. “And I like it that you told me the truth. Truth is important.”

“And do you think that Cameron told you the truth?”

“Yes, there are things he’s hiding, but he’s mostly telling the truth.”

“You might have to give him to me for a few tests, Catherine.”

Oh, shit. It’s not going to happen, Cameron.

“And do you trust him?”

“I believe that he won’t let you be hurt.”

“I’m not the only one involved in this, Luke.”

“I think everyone else will be all right, too. I just know that you’ll be okay, and Hu Chang is always fine. And that’s the only thing that’s important to me.”

“Then widen your horizons.” She stopped at the kitchen door. “Erin is very—”

“I thought you might be coming for a snack.” Celia smiled from where she was standing by the AGA stove. “Cameron said that you hadn’t eaten. I tried to convince him to let me fix him something, but he was in a hurry. But now I have you.”

And Catherine had forgotten that Celia might still be in the kitchen. She could feel herself instinctively tensing. “Thank you, but I can fix myself something to eat. We’ve troubled you enough.”

“I wouldn’t think of it.” Celia’s smile was both brilliant and genuine. “I love to cook. I took a Cordon Bleu course in Paris, and I scored off the charts. You can’t cheat me out of the satisfaction. Luke will tell you how good I am.”

Luke nodded. “Breakfast was great.”

“You see, and he’s a very tough critic.” She turned to the refrigerator. “I’ll make you an omelet par excellence. Luke, please go out to my herb garden and pick fresh rosemary and bring me a garlic bulb.”

He nodded and moved toward the kitchen door.

“He’s a sweet boy,” Celia said as she took out eggs and milk and set them on the granite bar. “And very smart. If I was able to have children, I’d wish for a son just like your Luke.”

“You can’t have children?”

“No.” She shrugged. “When I was sold into that whorehouse in Calcutta, they performed an operation that made it impossible. Pregnant whores are not commercially profitable, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know.” She was appalled. “I’m sorry.”

“So was I.” She broke a egg into the bowl. “Not at first. The last thing I wanted was to become pregnant by any of those men who used me. But later, when I was in control of my life, I felt cheated. No one had a right to take that from me.”

“I would have been furious. I would have killed someone.”

She nodded. “I was angry and sad. But I couldn’t let it dominate my life. It’s not who I am.” Her glance shifted to the door through which Luke had vanished. “But every now and then, the sadness comes back.” She stirred the second egg into the mixture. “You’re lucky, Catherine.”

“I know that.”

Celia raised her gaze. “But you may not be lucky with Richard Cameron. Be careful.”

Catherine stiffened. “It’s obvious you were lovers.”

“I’m sure that Cameron told you that it was a sexual liaison only.”

“Why do you assume that?”

“Because I saw him with you. I can read his expressions, his movements. I studied him for a long time when I was with him. He became something of an obsession with me because I couldn’t get him to commit.”

“You mean that you couldn’t control him.”

She nodded. “He’s fantastic sexually.” She made a face. “I hate to admit it, but maybe better than me. I might have given him a second week free if he’d agreed to—Nah, that wouldn’t have been professional. I keep personal and business strictly compartmentalized.” She glanced at Catherine. “But I could handle Cameron. I don’t know if you can. You’re strictly an amateur, and I’ve never seen Cameron as aroused as he was with you this morning. It was … unusual.”

“Most people are amateurs compared to you.”

“But most people don’t have to deal with Cameron.” She frowned. “Look, don’t fight him or push him away. It will only make him more intense and determined to get his own way. Just take him and enjoy it.” She added ruefully, “And I promise you
will
enjoy it, Catherine.”

“Thank you for the advice,” she said reservedly.

“Which you’re not going to take.”

“I have other things to do than worry about Cameron’s sexual needs and attitudes. That’s not why we’re here, Celia. The entire world isn’t about sex.”

“No, but it rules.” She added softly, “Everything else comes and goes, but sex and passion are always there. For a moment, an hour, a decade.” She repeated, “It rules, Catherine.”

“I don’t agree.”

“You will.” She stirred the mixture. “You have your son here in the house. There’s a summerhouse on the other side of my little garden that will allow you and Cameron privacy. You’re welcome to use it. I’ll tell Cameron.”

“Don’t you dare.”

“I always dare. It makes life more interesting.” She turned to Luke as he came into the kitchen. “Ah, you’ve brought some fine specimens.” She took the garlic. “Could I talk you into eating another small omelet, Luke? Your mother won’t want to eat alone. That’s one of the things that I learned in cooking school. Everything tastes better in good company.”

He nodded and sat down at the table. “I’m hungry again.”

“Young boys are always hungry,” Celia said. “Or so I’ve been told. It will just be a few minutes…”

DAKSHA
PALACE

“I’ve just heard from San Francisco.” Brasden threw down a photo. “No word on the interior security cameras yet. But this was taken by the outside camera by the garage entrance. Nagle was able to negotiate a copy on this one while the police are examining the others. It’s a shot of the car that pulled up shortly after the ambulance took off. It’s a little hazy and dark from the rain. Familiar?”

“Cameron.” Excitement was soaring through him. “The bastard looks like he’s having a hell of a good time.” He looked closer. “And the driver is Catherine Ling.”

“Right.”

“Did you get the license?”

“It didn’t show up in the videos, but it’s a rental car. We’re checking.”

“Find it. Find him. You were looking in the wrong place. He’s not here in Tibet.” His hand crushed the paper on which the photo was printed. “He followed Erin Sullivan. She must mean more to him than I thought. She was free of me. Why go after her?”

“But he’s with Catherine Ling,” Brasden pointed out. “Maybe he has business with her and not Sullivan.” He smiled. “Or not. She’s a beautiful woman. Not everyone is obsessed by your mystical city.”

“But Cameron is obsessed by Shambhala. No woman could take its place.” He glanced at Ling. “Still, it would do no harm to probe a little deeper into Ling and see if we can use her as a weapon. See to it.”

“Please,” Brasden said. “Say please, Kadmus.”

Restraint. He had been looking into Brasden’s claim that he could take over his forces at any time. There was some evidence that Brasden did have some influence with the men and he had to be careful. He did not want an uprising at this crucial moment. But he had already started to reinforce his power, and he wouldn’t have to put up with Brasden for much longer. “Please, see to it.”

“I’ll do it right away.”

“And arrange for me to get to San Francisco right away. I’m not going to trust anyone else to zero in on Cameron.” He smiled gently, imagining all the torture he was going to inflict on this asshole. “If you please, Brasden.”

CHAPTER

15

“Aren’t you two going to bed soon?” Catherine shook her head at Luke and Hu Chang sitting over the chess board before the fire in the library. “It’s almost midnight. You’ve been playing for hours.”

“I almost beat him the last game.” Luke didn’t look up from the board. “I’m close this time.”

“Not close enough.” Hu Chang smiled. “But you’re making it interesting.” He glanced at Catherine. “Run along to bed. I’ll tell you how I triumphed in the morning.”

Luke snorted. “Someday I’ll beat you. Maybe tonight.”

“A competitive spirit is good. A humble spirit is even better.”

“I don’t think so.”

Hu Chang chuckled. “Actually, neither do I.” He moved his knight. “No word from Cameron, Catherine?”

“No,” she said curtly. “Not unless he contacted you.”

Hu Chang shook his head. “I believe any communication will be with you from now on. I sensed a change today.” He waved his hand. “Now go away and do not distract me. I’m having to concentrate on this game. I did not think he’d reach this degree of expertise for another year.”

She shook her head ruefully as she left the library and closed the door. Luke had been changing, making all kinds of advancements, since the day she had arrived in Hong Kong. It was even surprising Hu Chang. He was busily adjusting and accepting. She must do the same.

God, it was hard. It was like dealing with an adult and she wasn’t ready for that yet. She needed a little time to—

“Good. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to search the house for you.” Cameron had blown into the hall like a strong wind. His eyes were glittering, and Catherine could almost feel the tornado of excitement and exhilaration that surrounded him. “Come on.” He grabbed her wrist and was pulling her toward the front door. “I have something to show you.”

“What?” They were outside, and she was having to half run to keep up. “Where are we going?”

“The trap. I’ve found the trap.” They had stopped beside an orange-and-blue motorcycle, and he handed her a helmet and large-lensed protective glasses. “Tuck your hair under the helmet.” He was putting on his own orange-striped helmet and dark glasses. For the first time, she noticed he was still in the jeans he’d worn earlier in the day but had somewhere acquired biker boots and a black leather jacket. He got on the bike and revved up the engine. “Jump on.”