Master No (49 page)

Yes, his monogamy was so valiant. “So much that you had her killed.”

“I wasn’t happy to do that. It was necessary, but I’ve lived with that guilt and pain ever since.” He held up a needle and smiled her way. “Luckily, I don’t have to make the same mistake with you, princess.”

Faith took a step back. “What is that?”

“This? It’s your sister’s miracle. When coupled with the right therapy, she believes it can be used to reprogram a mind. I’m going to use it to erase all the bad memories. We’re going to our place in Munich for a few months. We’ll tell the press you’ve gone into rehab after that horrible incident at your clinic in Africa.” He tsked, shaking his head. “Really, sweetheart. You were drinking so much you didn’t recognize you gave those patients the wrong drugs and then tried to hide it. You’ll lose you medical license, but it’s all right. I’ll make sure you have a job helping out your dear old dad.”

“Why?” Her hands were shaking. How far away was Ten now? Had they already gotten him on a plane? How would she ever find him? He’d seemed certain Taggart and his crew were alive, but her father seemed awfully good at killing people. How many more people would die today? “Why would you take away my career?”

“You’ve left me with no option. They’re asking too many questions, and Kronberg stock would take a hit if it was known they’d supplied those vaccines that made people sick. It’s the media’s fault. They make a big deal out of everything. They can’t see the point of true innovation.”

“Apparently it’s drugging your child so she turns into some kind of lobotomized automaton.”

“Now that’s not at all true,” her father corrected. “I love you the way you are, Faith. But you’ve seen too much. You’ll be in therapy until the memories are wiped cleaned, and then you’ll be on the drug for the rest of your life. Can’t have those memories resurfacing, can we? No torture, princess. I promise. According to your sister, we can wipe your memories out and you’ll get to start over. How many people get that kind of chance?”

He was insane. Completely insane. Or completely amoral. He clearly had no idea that what he was doing was evil. Not that it mattered. He had to be stopped. Her sister had to be stopped.

“So Hope’s gone back to Kronberg headquarters like a good little psycho.” She backed up again because he was still holding that needle.

“I believe your sister has gotten everything out of Kronberg that she can. After how close that Agency fucker came to outing us, they declined to fund her further experiments, but it’s all right. I have plenty of money stashed all over the world and we’d planned for this. She’ll join us in Munich when everything cools down. I need her to help retrain you.”

“I’m not going to let you do this to me.”

“Oh, princess, you don’t have a choice.” He started toward her but that was when she heard the explosion.

It was enough to make her father turn around, and she picked up the nearest object she could find—an IV pole—and clocked him with all her strength.

He cursed and the needle slipped from his hand, crashing to the floor.

“Faith, don’t make me hurt you.”

She tried to get around him, but he’d kept himself in decent shape. He put an arm out, curling it around her waist.

“Not going to happen,” he whispered in her ear. “It’s time we get out of here. Guards!”

She fought, but her father was quite strong. Within seconds, two guards had joined them and one handed her father a pistol, which he immediately put to her forehead.

“Very fatherly of you.” She hated him. All that teenaged angst she’d had over an absentee father melted in comparison to the loathing she had for him now.

All the people he’d killed. All the lives he’d ruined. He’d done it all for money and power.

If he took her memories, she wouldn’t have Ten. Even if they never saw each other again, she would have the memory of loving him, of being in his arms.

Her father wanted to take that away from her, too. She couldn’t let him. She couldn’t forget Tennessee.

“What the hell’s happening?” Her father pushed her toward the stairs.

One of his hired guards got in front of her while the other brought up their rear.

“Apparently the Chinese didn’t manage to take out Taggart,” the guard in front explained. “I told you we should have handled it ourselves. Actually, I believe I told you we should have left the minute we figured out who the hell we killed the other night. Ian Taggart wasn’t going to leave his brother behind, and he won’t give a damn that his brother was shooting at us.”

“I’m not going to let some bit of cannon fodder ex-soldier scare me off,” her father said.

“He won’t stop,” the guard in the back explained as they moved up the stairs. “That’s what the rumors are. They say once Taggart wants to kill you, he won’t stop until the job’s done. I didn’t fucking know it was his brother. I didn’t know.”

Apparently, the guards were spooked about Ten’s friend. She would use that to her favor if she could. “I don’t think he’s going to care. You should probably run. I’ll tell him it was all my father’s fault.”

Her father forced her to move. “They won’t run, Faith. I pay them too well and they both know what I would do to their families if they did. Now get up those stairs. We’re going to make it to the car and get the hell out of here. Stan, be sure the plane is ready. Have the pilot start her up. It’s time to leave.”

She blinked as they walked out into the daylight. Up ahead, she could see the main house was on fire.

She wished she’d been able to tell Ian Taggart to go after Ten. Once MSS got into the air, there would be no way to save him until they figured out where he was being held in China. One of the wounds she’d found on his body was from where her sister had pulled his tracking device. If they’d gotten Ten off the island, he would disappear.

“I’ll kill Taggart myself,” her father swore. “How dare he. I’ll ruin that man. I want a full work-up on him and his family and everyone who works for him. By the time I’m done, he’s going to be ground into dirt along with everyone he cares about.”

Faith dragged her heels as they made it to the lawn. She couldn’t get into that car. If she did, her father would take everything from her. She wouldn’t remember who she was. She would be his puppet and his pawn.

Stan got on his phone and asked about the plane. After a second he turned back, completely ashen. “They blew up the plane, sir.”

Her father’s arm tightened around her. “Looks like you might be the only card I have left, missy. Let’s see if Taggart minds killing women.”

He put the gun right to her head.

“Stop!”

She looked up and Ten was walking across the yard, his hands held up.

“Don’t hurt her.”

All those guns were suddenly trained on him.

“I won’t if you tell Taggart to call off his dogs,” her father growled.

“As soon as I can find him.” Ten met her eyes. “Are you all right, Faith?”

She nodded. “But you have to go. He’ll kill you.”

“Not if he wants me to talk to Tag. He was right behind me. He’ll be here in a minute and I’ll talk him down. I’m the only one who can do it,” Ten promised.

“How the hell did you get away from the Chinese?” Her father sounded flustered, his usual authority fleeing as they were inundated with the sounds of gunfire.

“You have your friends and I have mine,” Ten stated enigmatically. “All that matters is the Chinese agents are all dead and MSS is going to have some recruiting to do. Why don’t you let Faith go? I know you don’t want to hurt her. I’ll take her place.”

“No,” Faith insisted even as her father tightened his grip. She couldn’t breathe.

Her father wasn’t backing down. “I will hurt her, Smith. I’ll kill her. I’ll do it before I let you have her so you better get Taggart out here or I’ll have my men kill you and we’ll make our own way.”

“I’m here.” Ian Taggart came out of the shadows, his big body moving through the smoke. He carried a long rifle, the kind she’d seen soldiers use, and he didn’t lower it as he moved in.

“Put the gun down, Taggart,” her father commanded. “Or I’ll kill my daughter.”

“The way you killed my brother? Do you honestly think I would negotiate with you? I just needed time to get my team in place.” Taggart touched his ear. “Erin, Nick, you have a go.”

She heard the sound, pings through the air, and then she felt her father’s body shudder, felt the warm spray of blood touch her skin. The two men guarding her father went down as well and Faith was left, the only survivor.

Ten had her in his arms before she could really look around. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t risk him getting away with you. I’m sorry we had to kill him.”

She wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his neck. “You saved me. I would have done the same to save you.”

“You’ll never have to. I promise.”

She looked back at the wreckage of the house she’d once loved and then clung to him again. Nothing would ever be the same, but she wasn’t alone.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Dallas, TX

Six Weeks Later

Ten stared at the computer screen, the headlines flashing like a big neon sign. Contacting his old bosses at the Agency and turning over the evidence that Karriker was a double agent had been simple. The man had disappeared a few hours later, but the business with the senator had taken a few weeks to play out. This morning, the
New York Times
had broken the story of the recently deceased Senator Hank McDonald and how he colluded with five named corporations to profit off wars around the globe. It came complete with pretty pictures of CEOs and board members being hauled out of their offices by the police.

Including the entire board of directors of Kronberg Pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, Hope McDonald wasn’t among them. She’d disappeared off the face of the earth, and that didn’t sit well with Ten. Until he found Faith’s sister, he wasn’t sure she was safe. He kept a watchful eye on his wife. He had to because two weeks into her new life she was chafing and needed something to do. Luckily, Karina Mills ran a community outreach in one of Dallas’s neediest neighborhoods. She provided counseling and services, and now she and Faith were planning a free clinic.

The world needed saving and his fiancée was determined to do her part.

A babbling sound caught his attention and he found himself smiling.

Ten was getting used to having babies invade his space. He glanced up and Adam Miles was holding his toddler’s hand as he passed out the morning’s agenda.

“Sorry. He wanted to make the rounds with me. He’s been clingy lately. I think he’s wondering where Theo went, you know.”

Theo Taggart had left a massive hole in McKay-Taggart. Every single person felt his loss, even the kiddos. “It’s not a problem. You’re welcome here, buddy.”

He didn’t flinch when the toddler crawled up into his lap. Tristan Dean-Miles was a sweet kid with a penchant for climbing things he shouldn’t. At least once a week, the women who ran the daycare had to call one of the taller men in to rescue Tristan.

“Thanks. I kind of thought you didn’t like kids,” Adam said.

“I’m getting used to them. Faith wants a couple.” He put a hand on the toddler’s head and the kid leaned into him. “I think I do, too. And hey, I’m sure I’ll be an uncle soon the way my sister and Jesse go at it. Could you make an announcement at the meeting this morning to lock the doors? I didn’t need to see that.”

Adam chuckled. “I’ll put it on the agenda. Tag wants to see you before the meeting. He’s waiting in the front conference room.”

Ten stood, picking up Tristan as he did. He looked down at the child in his arms. Yesterday, he’d walked in and found Case sitting in the middle of the nursery, letting every kid in the room use him as a jungle gym. Something about the little ones calmed Case, made it easier for him to move through the day without his brother.

He wished Erin would sit with the babies. She came to work and then went back home to the house she’d shared briefly with Theo. She claimed she needed to prep it for sale because she didn’t need or want the space, but as far as he could tell, she hadn’t packed a thing. She hadn’t changed a thing. Theo’s clothes were still in the closet, his coffee mug exactly where he’d left it. Erin was living in a shrine to her lost love.

Ten passed Tristan back to his father. “He’s a good kid. Oh, he’s going to get beat up for that name you gave him, but he’s a good boy.”

Adam’s eyes rolled as Ten passed him. “Hey, it’s a McKay-Taggart thing. We pick weird names. Carys? Yeah, like she’s going to be able to teach people how to spell that. How about Cooper? The kid sounds like he walked out of a Western. I won’t even go into Kala. Still trying to figure that one out.”

Ten stepped out into the hallway. How had Adam—who claimed to be the smartest man in the building—not figured that one out? “Kick A Little Ass. What the hell else would Tag name his kid?”

Adam’s jaw dropped. “Holy shit. You’re right.”

Ten turned toward the main conference room, leaving Adam behind. Tag was standing in the lobby. Up ahead, Ten could see someone was sitting in the conference room. It looked like a man. Ten would guess an older man, and he was with a younger guy. Likely his son. Were they new clients?