Illicit Intuitions: Sensory Ops, Book 3 (25 page)

“It wasn’t. Until we were able to talk with a Whitestone operative who’d gone missing for awhile. Then the NSA’s expert listener, who was helping us as a favor to his new fiancée, heard you listed along with Channing and Trevor Masters as targets.”

His pulse thumped.
 

Even after facing his intended killer, it was a shock to hear he’d been targeted. To have verification that Ava had been sent in to protect him.
 

Everyone had made their moves. It had worked out okay for most. “Things didn’t end so well for them.”
 

“Trevor is recovering nicely. Channing…” She shook her head. “We couldn’t allow your suffering if we could do anything to stop it.”

“So you infiltrated my lab. How did you know my real name?”

“That was tougher to find, and without insight into Whitestone, and Eston White, I might not have put it all together.”
 

“Go on.”

Her answers rang true, but hesitation flashed through her gaze. She was holding back. “You look good on paper. At first. But you showed up out of nowhere with your mysterious identity and degrees in tact. You need powerful connections to pull that off. Connections like Whitestone.”

He shrugged and half smiled. There was no point in a denial.
 

“Anyway, connecting dots between Channing, Trevor, Lori and you, I dug deeper into Whitestone, focusing on the Eston White branch since you were so involved in empathic studies. I discovered where they got most of their…test subjects, and then went into the Bureau’s missing children archives. Paternal twins, one boy and one girl, Hermes and Dana, were reported kidnapped two days after you and Dana were moved into Eston White.”

“No. Our parents took us to them.”

“For a man so intent on the truth, you’re lying to yourself.” She narrowed her eyes and shot him a this-is-a-no-bullshit-zone sort of look. “You tell yourself that’s true out of emotional self-preservation, but you know differently. They took you there once out of concern. They didn’t choose to send you away.”

Ava’s certainty, her faith in his parents, rolled through him like a calming balm over past torments.
 

“They never stopped looking. For their daughter. Dana. For their son. You.” She paused. Her eyes softened and she gripped his hand resting on her thigh. “They never stopped looking for you, Hermes.”

“I told you not to call me that.” His voice croaked worse than when he’d gone through puberty.

“You did, but I wonder if you’ll always prefer the distance your current name gives you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You gave up your name when you realized your parents weren’t coming for you. When you were told they were dead.”

“Yes.”

“They’re not dead.”

He jerked back. His heart hammered twice and then stalled. “Ava, don’t play jokes like this.”

She covered his hand and squeezed. “I think I know what your parents meant to you. This is no joke.”

“We were told they gave us up and then were dead.” His brain pounded with doubts and hopes and questions. With fear to believe all the rose-scented hugs from his mother and the gruff tumbling from his father chasing away monsters in the closet could have been avoided. With fear to believe they could rediscover French toast Sundays. “How can you know this?”

“They tried to get you back from Eston White. The FBI searched for you and Eston White cooperated by allowing them to search the property. You weren’t there. Your parents were discredited in the eyes of the Bureau. They had no proof. There were no leads to follow.” She paused. Her finger rubbed his knuckles. “Later, there was an attempt on their lives which forced them into hiding.”

Of course they hadn’t been found. They’d been kept underground in a sort of maze, until their teens. His life had sucked, but hearing about his parents’ suffering sliced open the wounds he’d thought had healed.

“How did you learn all of this? Do you know where they are?”

“I can’t reveal my informant.” She covered his lip when he would have argued. “I can give you the information I have.”

It was a secret, but she was being honest about it. He couldn’t, wouldn’t argue. “Okay.”

“Apparently one of the agents who met your parents believed them. After they survived the attempted murder, she helped get them new identities and put them into a sort of witness protection program. One where only she knew they existed. She continued looking for you. When she was diagnosed with ALS, she revealed everything to her child. She put them in contact with your parents and secured the promise the search for you would continue.”

“You’re being especially careful to not reveal whether this person is a him or her.”

“I am.”

“Because I know this person. Because Dana does. Because our lives were infiltrated by more than just you and an operative from Whitestone.” Now he wanted to argue and demand she reveal her source. But damn it, he wanted her information more. He wanted to know about his parents, and would uproot the mole in his life later.

“Yes. There was a sort of bottleneck.” She squeezed his hand. “I will tell you anything you want to know about my life. I can tell you this person is not in your life to bring you harm, but I can’t divulge their secrets or identity.”
 

“So you trust them? You’re certain this isn’t an elaborate ruse from someone at Whitestone you missed.”

“I personally verified the information I was given.” She shrugged. “I used my new abilities to read the signals being given off and though I felt a darkness and secrets, I also felt pure sincerity. I don’t think the darkness or secrets are about you or Dana. Though we’re keeping our eyes open.”

He grappled with everything she was giving him, but two phrases repeatedly popped to the forefront of his mind.
Your parents aren’t dead. I personally verified the information I was given.
“Ava, have you spoken with my parents? Are you one hundred percent it was them?”

“More like two hundred.” She brushed a hand over his cheek and smiled. “I did a live video conference with them. You look like your mom. Dana looks like your dad.”
 

Tears bubbled in his throat. His heart shook with each blood-pumping beat.
 

“It seems you’ve always loved the water. Your father used to take you kayaking.” She leaned forward and traced a finger along his hairline, just behind his ear. Along a small, bumpy scar. “You have a scar from being flipped out once. The water was shallow. You hit a rock.”

His hand shook and fell limp to the couch back. He hadn’t thought of that scar in years. It was completely hidden beneath his hair, but she’d touched it immediately. She couldn’t have known about it. No one did. “How many stitches?”

“It bled like crazy, but no stitches were needed. Though your mom shaved your head to keep it clean and medicated.”

Vibrations of hope rippled across his skin. His fingertips tingled as if something he’d reached for his entire life was almost within his reach.

“They’re hoping you’ll meet them and forgive them for failing to protect you.”

Tears burned his eyes and blurred his vision. A need to call Dana snapped into him, but was squashed by a need to protect her. To verify they weren’t stepping into an elaborate trap. He swiped the tears from his eyes. “You make it tough for a man to be strong.”

Ava scooted closer and kissed the corner of his mouth. He leaned into her for a moment, lingering. “You’re stronger than any man I’ve ever met.”

“This is why you won’t commit to me.” Why she wouldn’t answer his demands about them not being over.

She sat back and shook her head. “I just dumped a heavy load on you. You should come to terms with that before planning your future.”

“You’re missing a point.” He pulled her fully onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Secrets, dangerous job, future maybes and newly discovered empathic abilities aside, I’m in love with you, Ava Malia. Have been for awhile now.”

“H.”

He covered her mouth with his fingers like she’d done to him. “Your spine and determination to kick ass, your willingness to let loose and have fun, and your generous spirit called to me before your abilities. From the beginning, your brilliant eyes and quick wit appealed to me. And you make me love you more every time I’m with you. You just gave me the one thing I thought I’d never have.”
 

He stopped long enough to swallow the tears thickening his voice. “My future is filled with amazing possibilities. With you by my side, they can only be better.”

She fingered the collar of his shirt and chewed on the right corner of her top lip—a habit he was just noticing. “If you’re stringing me along for security I’ll kick your ass.”

“I welcome it should I let you down.” He grinned and kissed her until she moved her shields and opened to him fully. Until their love danced and blended in their hearts through their shared connections.
 

She leaned back, pulling him with her to the couch cushions. “I love you, Dr. H.”
 

Her robe fell open to the waist, taunting him with a welcome distraction. He slid his hand up her thigh and shifted her beneath him. Finding new ways to love her was going to be fun. More fun than her finger vibrator or their flirtations in the ocean had been.
 

“You can call me Hermes.”

Epilogue

He’d debated leaving it alone, but couldn’t dislodge thoughts of Ava’s revelation. Harmful intentions or not, he’d been deceived. The deceiver was still in his midst.

“Simon.” Hermes shoved nerves and frustrations down and stayed on the desk’s edge as the adult study group participants filed out. “A moment please.”

“Yes, Dr. H?” Confident, Simon stepped away from the young woman he’d been partnered with during their latest exercises.

Hermes regarded the other man, reading his seemingly candid gaze, until the last person out closed the door. “I’m dismissing you from the study.”

“Excuse me?” Simon stepped hastily forward two steps before stopping himself. “Is there a problem?”

The man actually looked and sounded surprised, which in itself surprised Hermes. “I’m here to find and assist empaths with their abilities. You’re not one.”

“I—”

“Have a gift of intuition,” Hermes interrupted and pointed to a desk before him. Once he sat, Hermes continued. “Your gift comes from excellent training, making it more of a well-developed skill. You are not a true empath.”

Confusion, relief and suspicion swelled like a darkening storm inside Simon and echoed in Hermes. “I’m—”

“Not sorry to hear the news.” Hermes cut him off again. “You’re preoccupied when you should be focused on what we’re doing, because you’ve accomplished your goal here.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You’ve tracked me. You’ve verified my identity. You’ve relinquished the information to the FBI. I’m sure you have other cases to wrap up.”

Simon leaned back in the chair he’d claimed and cocked his head. “Did Ava tell you this?”

“You’re not a true empath.” Hermes smiled and shook his head. “But I am. You knew Ava would bring me the information you offered, or you wouldn’t have insisted on anonymity.”

“Clearly that did no good.”

“Ava didn’t give me your name. She even refused to designate her source as a man or a woman.”

“Then how did you find me out?”

“I feel your intentions as clearly as your distractions. And I respect your decision to not lie about it.”

Simon shrugged. “Apparently there’s no point in it. Though I am curious what you intend to do next.”

With his shields slightly lowered to sense Simon, vibes from Ava closed in. He stood and gathered the papers on the desk. “I’m going to extend an invitation.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sure you’re aware Ava will be here soon with my parents.” Hermes slipped the papers into a file and tapped the folder against his leg. Simon hadn’t been the only one struggling to concentrate all afternoon. “Given the time and effort you’ve put into our reunion, I would like you to join us.”

Simon opened his mouth and closed it. He scratched his neck and rolled his shoulders back before clearing his throat. “I’m not...”

“Comfortable with the attention?” Hermes jerked a shoulder and moved to the door. “Consider it a favor to make up for your deception. Besides, avoidance isn’t possible. They’re here.”

Simon’s throat jumped as he stood and joined Hermes. “You’re not holding this against me?”

“I’ve learned a few things since beginning this study.” He offered Simon his hand, hoping the man would accept. “Not all lies are harmful. And we all have to embrace discomfort if we want great rewards.”

“Thank you.” Simon put his hand in Hermes’s and squeezed. “For what it’s worth, you don’t need to be nervous. They never stopped loving either of you.”

Simon stepped back and waited for Hermes to lead the way out. On the way to the lobby, Hermes slipped his shields back into place, needing to focus on his own feelings. When they rounded the corner into the lobby, Dana and Ava sat on the couches with an older couple.