WATCHING (14 page)

“
Fifteen years, give or take
.
”

“
Almost a lifetime ago
.
”
The same as it had been for her.

“
Yes. Almost
.
”
He shifted against her, this time invading her space even more than she thought possible.

“
So...tell me
.
”
She pushed against his knee with her foot.

“
You
’
re relentless aren
’
t you
?
”
She heard the obvious frustration in his voice and smirked, grateful the darkness hid her from his view.
“
Now, I understand the menace nickname
.
”

“
I love Dan. He
’
s been like an uncle to me for the last six years. I
’
m glad he is on the CCU
.
”
The teammate who
’
d given her the nickname was another man she admired. Dan had been like an uncle to her for several years. He was one of her father
’
s closest confidantes, despite working for Hellbrook.

“
Me, too. He
’
s a good man
.
”
Hellbrook genuinely believed that. Georgia could hear it in his voice.

“
Hellbrook...you
’
re stalling
.
”

Chapter
16

****

“
Fifteen years ago, your father was my unit chief. My first. I was probably one of those agents bringing files over to your father
’
s house. I don
’
t recall ever meeting you, but I did meet your mother once
.
”

She could almost picture him, a young, good-looking wild man of an agent. She
’
d heard plenty of rumors of a younger Hellbrook, who
’
d been hell in the field and with the women. He would have caught her mother
’
s eye. Probably would have appealed to her. That thought made Georgia frown.
“
My apologies
.
”

“
Yes, I was less than impressed. Let
’
s say I never vote for her
.
”
His voice was hesitant.

“
Neither do I. She actually referred to Mattie once as that little adopted boy
—
can you believe it? Can
’
t even call him by name. Anyway, go on
.
”
She didn
’
t hold his dislike of her mother against him. Not at all.

“
You
r
father was a new U.C. and I was a new probationary. We were both struggling to outline our fit within the team and unit. I admit it, I was probably reckless as...well, hell. He stuck me with a partner named Stanislaski. We called him Stan, of course
.
”
Georgia could hear the admiration in Hellbrook
’
s voice-and the sense of loss. She tensed.
“
He was a decent agent, enough that people both liked and respected him. I certainly did. He had the respect without the fear. People feared your dad and his reputation back then
.
”

“
They still do. I
’
ve never understood it. My dad is shy in many ways
.
”
Like her. Her father preferred to do his job, to not be the center of attention. Or the one with all the responsibility. But he took responsibility when it was given to him, and he carried it well. Honorably. Nothing Hellbrook could tell her could change that. Nothing.

“
He presents with intensity, dedication, drive, often cold and ruthless. Powerful
.
”

“
Surely you didn
’
t fear him
?
”
Not the wild lion that was Hellbrook. People feared him, not the other way around.

“
No. I was arrogant enough not to fear anyone back then
.
”
Now his words were rueful.

“
Still are
.
”
As arrogant as the lion he reminded her of. He was an arrogant, bold lion and her father a sleek, controlled panther. Two predators destined to battle each other. Georgia hid a snicker.

“
To a lesser extent. But I do have an adult
’
s fears now
.
”
He must have been truly uncomfortable. He was so damned big and the SUV seemed to have shrunk as he kept twisting his legs.

“
Don
’
t we both
.
”
She had even more since becoming a parent.

“
I did respect your father
’
s position and trusted him as a leader
.
”
Truth was evident in his tone.

“
What changed that
?
”
Earning Hellbrook
’
s admiration was a tough process, Georgia knew that. She
’
d never managed the task.

“
I...are you sure you want to hear this
?
”
He stilled.

“
Yes
.
”
He couldn
’
t see her nod in the darkness but she nodded anyway. His reticence made her twice as curious about their history. What was he trying to hide?

“
Your father assigned Stanislaski and I a task that put us directly in the line of fire. We were under the impression that he, and two other agents would be providing backup. So Stan and I went in
.
”

“
Ok. Then what happened
?
”
It was par for course. Every agent knew the inherent dangers associated with the job. Hellbrook and Stanislaski would have. Something must have gone horribly wrong.

“
The exchange went down much earlier than we anticipated. About three in the afternoon. We
’
d expected it to be around nine p.m. We were made, covers blown
—
which we expected to happen. But we counted on backup. They
’
d rigged the entire building to explode. Had it been rigged right I wouldn
’
t be here. But the room we were in and the one next to it went up quick. Only one of our backup agents was there to pull us out. To pull me out, as I was closer to the door. By the time that agent got back inside for Stan he
’
d died from smoke inhalation
.
”

“
My father
?
”

“
Said he got unavoidably detained. Gave a story that the deputy director and his assistant confirmed. But I knew he was lying through his teeth
.
”
She could hear a remnant of the hostility in the back of his words.

Georgia would admit to being a bit confused. Something about his story was...off.
“
And the third agent
—
you said there were supposed to be three
.
”

“
Emmons? Ironically, he was killed in a traffic accident on his way in that afternoon
.
”

“
Oh, God.
”
Now it made sense. Fifteen years ago. Agent Stanislaski. She
’
d known Stanislaski
—
she could recall that now. Big and
blonde
, a gentle giant who
’
d had two daughters near her age. Friend of her father
’
s. He
’
d died? The same day as..
.
“
No. He wasn
’
t
.
”

“
What do you mean
?
”

“
I mean...my father shot him. Shot
Emmons
that day
.
”
Shot him after he
’
d held her down on the kitchen table, after he
’
d ripped her softball jersey from her body, after he
’
d touched and bruised her. After Agent Emmons tried to rape her.

“
Georgia, what are you saying
?
”
Hellbrook knew. She knew that as soon as he asked the question.

“
I
’
m saying Agent Mark Emmons was the one. He was my mother
’
s lover. My father shot him when he tried to rape me. The deputy director decided to keep it out of the main knowledge, to keep it private because of me. Because my mother was in the public eye and it was her lover
.
”
Georgia
’
s stomach clenched, nausea threatened as the far-reaching consequences of that day became even more clear. It was
still
affecting her life.
Hellbrook and her father had hated each other since that day...
“
All this time you despised my father for protecting me
.
”

***

She said little else in the minutes after that, but neither did Hell. What could he say? It hadn
’
t taken a profiler to hear how the entire story had rocked her. Her voice had trembled and he
’
d felt her body shiver where his knee rested beside her thigh.

It had devastated her to learn that someone else besides Emmons had died that day. To hear that Hell had almost died. She hadn
’
t had to say it.

He heard the quiet sound of her tears a half an hour later and he knew she was crying.
No
. He didn
’
t want her crying because of him.

“
Georgia..
.
”
He lifted one hand, turned on the overhead book light. Tear tracks glistened on her pale cheeks and her eyes were filled with emotion.
“
Don
’
t cry
.
”

“
Dammit
.
”
She attempted to wipe the tracks away.
“
It
’
s not fair!
”

“
I know
.
”
Hell felt like shit. He hadn
’
t wanted to tell her, but not for this reason. Not so she could suffer again fifteen years later.
“
Stop crying. I don
’
t think I can handle it
.
”

“
I
’
m not crying
.
”
Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparked. Her eyes continued to well with tears that she furiously wiped away. The sight hurt him.
“
I don
’
t want to cry. I hate crying. It
’
s pointless. I don
’
t want to know that a man I knew and liked
—
I played softball with his daughters, slept over at his house, painting my nails and playing with make-up and talking about the cutest boys on the basketball team
—
died because...that-that everything that
’
s happened between you and my father, between you and me is because of what happened that day!
”

“
Not you!
”
Hell had his hands under her arms and lifted her closer before he realized he
’
d moved. They were crushed together, her knees bent between his, his head even with hers. He held her six inches from his face. Her eyes widened and she stilled, held in his hands like a rag doll. She didn
’
t pull away.
“
Because of what that bastard
Emmons
did! I never would have blamed your father if I
’
d known, Georgia. Never. You can
’
t seriously blame yourself for what happened
.
”

“
I don
’
t, but it still hurts. Had my father not been taking care of me that day, he would have been there to pull Stanislaski out of that fire, right
?
”
She took several deep breaths and he admired the way he could see her composure returning. She was as controlled as her father, yet he admired that fact in her.

“
Yes. But if Emmons and your mother hadn
’
t been having an affair
—
would Emmons have gone for you? Georgia, you were a child. A defenseless child. You know that. And your father was doing what any father would do to protect his child. I can
’
t blame him for that, wouldn
’
t even if I could
.
”
Hell would blame him if he
’
d done the opposite that day. Stan had died because of Emmons.
Not
Dennis. It would take some getting used to, Hell thought, but he wouldn
’
t have it any other way. Dennis had saved his daughter and Hell would always be thankful for that.

She nodded, pulled in several deep breaths. Her hands pressed against his chest, small and hot through his shirt.
“
Put me down, please. I think...I think we can both agree that what happened fifteen years ago was horrible. And the only ones to blame are...are Agent Emmons. And my mother
.
”

“
It was something your father couldn
’
t control
.
”
Hell came to the realization and he felt some of the hostility
—
most of the hostility
—
he felt for the older man sliding away as he gently released his hold on the daughter.
“
And truth be told, Stan would have made the same decision as your father that day had the roles been reversed. He was a father, too. If I had been your father, I would have done the same. It
’
s time it was put to rest and if you want, I will apologize to your father for the things I
’
ve believed as soon as we return to St. Louis. And I want to apologize to you for the things that have happened between us in the last six months
.
”

She stared at him a moment and he wondered if he
’
d struck her speechless. She shook her head.
“
Don
’
t tell my father I told you. He still feels so guilty for what happened. It was as hard on him, you know? I don
’
t want to dredge up the past
.
”

Hell nodded. She was as protective of her father as the senior Dennis was of her and her son. Hell could see that now. For a moment, he envied them their close little family. It had been a long time since he
’
d belonged to anything resembling a family.
“
Understood
.
”

“
As for the last six months
—
I think we both have a clearer understanding of where we stand. I think we can move on, form a mutual respect from here. Don
’
t you
?
”

“
Agreed
.
”
Hell attempted once more to relieve the growing tension in his legs.
“
But Georgia..
.
”

Wariness hit her face.
“
Yes
?
”

“
Do you mind if we turned a bit? My legs are killing me
.
”