Private Melody (15 page)

 

“Key…” Shelton called, directing his gaze above her head.

Kianti's laughter softened and she studied Shelton's
pointed expression for a moment before turning to see what had him so subdued.

The scent of Therin's cologne had her swallowing around an emotional ball that had formed in her throat even before she looked up into his face. She could only hold eye contact for a split second before she looked away.

Shelton cleared his throat and quietly made his exit. Kianti didn't notice he'd gone. She didn't notice much of anything except that Therin was within touching distance. After all that had happened, she couldn't make herself forget the feel of his body against hers.

“May I talk to you?”

“You can do whatever you like and you seem to take a lot of enjoyment in it,” she muttered, turning her back on him in the chair she occupied.

“I expected you to be gone already.” Therin kept his voice as cold and as guarded as his gaze.

Kianti folded her arms over her chest. “Sorry to disappoint you. Don't worry, though. The guys gave me your message. I got it loud and clear.”

He took the seat Shelton had left vacant. “Then you understand?”

She could have laughed over his nerve. “Don't worry yourself, Therin, I'm not hanging around to appeal to your sensitivity. You've shown me what you're made of.”

Her words cut Therin deeper than they would have had he actually deserved them. Somehow he managed to hold on to his aloofness.

“I could say the same.” He slid a pointed glance toward Shelton, who was across the dining room talking
with his group and a few other musicians. “You seem to be moving on.”

“You're an ass.” She barely raised a brow. “If you don't mind leaving now? I think I've let you waste enough of my time.” She feigned sudden interest in the contents of her coffee mug and tried to wait him out.

When Therin left the table, she forbid herself to cry.

 

The impromptu concert party was a success. There was varied conversation among the crowd regarding the scandal rocking the organization and the arrest of Marley Terrio. Thankfully, the unrest was tempered by a slew of great performances.

Most of the performances were artist's collaborations. Only a few acts performed new work. Kianti had hoped her appearance with Shelton and the group from Scottie's would suffice. The audience wanted more. Not to be outdone by the other acts who'd shared original efforts, Kianti gave the audience a taste of her own original piece, “Stolen Moment.”

Of course, Therin was a part of the audience. After their
chat
earlier that day, he'd decided to remain absent from the evening's festivities. The decision held up all of five minutes. Taking in the beautifully haunting melody she'd first played for them during their private moment together, it was all he could do to remain there and toss back one gin and tonic after another.

Kianti took her bows and Therin headed out. Something led him backstage. To do what, he had no clue. When he got there, however, her back was toward him and she was crying.

Instinctively, Therin made a move toward her but he stopped himself short.

By the time Kianti had sensed she wasn't alone and turned, he was gone.

 

“Where is she?”

Brody grimaced and looked over at Kianti slumped on the passenger side of his Denali. “She's sleeping.”

“Where is she?”

“Hell, man, isn't it better to just break it off clean?”

Therin muttered something foul.

“We're driving her back to her place in Dakota.” Brody's tone was clipped.

“How is she?”

“I gave her something to help her sleep.”

“Good.” Therin sighed on the other end of the phone line. “Good… Does she hate me?”

Brody's resulting laughter was short and without a trace of humor. “We said everything we could think of to make sure she does. Are you sure that's the way you want it?” he asked after silence met his words.

“No.” There was another indecipherable mutter of a curse. “But the last thing I want is to have her hurt over this.”

“And isn't that just what you're managing with this stunt of yours?

“Listen, Brody, thanks,” Therin said once he'd considered Brody's words for half a minute. “Thank the fellas for helping me take care of it this way.” He ended the connection without another word.

 

“They've got him on suicide watch,” Marley Terrio's attorney, Claude Pressman, explained as he and Therin
followed the guard to a conference room where they were to meet with the man.

“Suicide watch.” Therin clutched Claude's arm. A frown darkened his features when the older man smiled and shook his head.

“Just for show, kid.”

“Did he do this, Claude?”

Claude's expression darkened.

“Then what the hell is he doing in here?” Therin hissed.

Claude nodded toward the guard who was heading farther down the iron-bar-lined corridor. “We decided it was best to take advantage of this opportunity,” he whispered once he and Therin had fallen back in step behind the guard. “Out of sight, out of the prying eyes of the press and others…give us time to work on our strategy.” His expression harbored a smug undercurrent. “Right now the opposition's waiting on our move. Let 'em wait.”

Therin massaged new tension from his neck and loosened the black tie he wore. He followed Claude into a fluorescent-lit concrete room. The tension he'd attempted to ease from his neck renewed itself when he saw Marley Terrio waiting in shackles and a gray jumpsuit.

“It's all right, son.” Marley's shackles clattered when he raised a hand to quiet Therin's outraged curses.

“What the devil is this shit all about?” Therin tamped down his anger until the guard walked out. His temper was already in a frightful state and answers were of the utmost importance.

“Is Claude right? Are you planning to wait? To hide
out here and do nothing except give people the impression these accusations are true?”

Marley and Claude exchanged shrugs.

“Until we can figure out a better way,” Marley said. “Don't worry, son. We've got a lot of heads working on this. We've been in this game a long time, kid. If sacrificing ourselves turns out to be best for the greater good of the organization, then so be it. We'll take our chances.”

Therin studied the men in disbelief and then slumped back in the steel chair he occupied. “I just don't get why this is such a hot button for these fools. I mean, did they all hate school as kids?” He left the chair as quickly as he'd claimed it.

Marley chuckled as Therin paced. “Ah, Claude…remember how it felt to be that young and idealistic?”

Claude let out a satisfied grunt. “Good times, good times…”

Therin turned with disbelief filling his eyes. “I'm glad to find you so jovial behind bars.”

Marley sobered and smoothed one hand over the other. “Therin, it all goes back to what you just said. Education
is
a hot button. I've seen evidence of that before
and
during my time working for EYES.”

“But for these idiots to go to such lengths to shut us down?”

“Therin, son, you've seen it yourself. Education is always the first pot to dip out of when the budget's in trouble. Everything else is more important than it is. But what if that belief started to shift?” Marley wagged a finger in Therin's direction.

“What if the thought of a child's education stirred
the hearts of those who never before took stock of its true worth?” Marley looked over at Claude who nodded his agreement. “What if that
thought
filled them with passion? A passion for education. The educating of a child's mind—the nurturing which could inevitably affect change on the grandest scales.”

“That's terrifying to some folks, Therin,” Claude interjected. “To have the masses see the true importance of education over corporate aspirations, military endeavors…scary stuff…”

“And to have young champions such as yourself leading the crusade, is the cherry on top.” Marley slapped his hand against the cold chrome table he sat behind. “You've already got the support from stuffy old coots like Claude and me. But then there's the glamour set from the movie and music communities—talk about affecting change on a grand scale!” Marley reclined in the uncomfortable chair and held the look of a man at ease. “Sure, I was terrified when those fools slapped cuffs on me over that concocted nonsense. But I'd gladly take the heat if it means keeping you guys in play.”

“What will you do?” Therin asked once he'd considered the man's opinion.

Marley grinned. “What I've always done, son. Ride out the storms. One comes round every five to ten years or so. 'Course I'm getting older now so I tend to expect them every two to three years.”

The words sparked Claude's infectious laughter. Therin wasn't immune, yet the humor didn't quite reach his eyes when he laughed.

F
rom his office window, Therin stared down at the Vancouver traffic. He couldn't see anything but Kianti's face. His focus was on her, as it had been for the two weeks since he'd brought an end to their involvement. She hadn't tried to contact him, but then he hadn't expected that she would. She was too gracious…and tough for that.

She had accepted his wishes without argument and any second thoughts on his part were moot then. He was certain her hatred for him ran deep. That was the way he wanted it…right?

Rick Dubose had stopped talking about the speech he was drafting. It didn't take much for him to tune in to the fact that his boss was in another world.

Rick closed the folder he'd brought to the meeting. The crinkling of the papers must have brought Therin's
attention back to the matter at hand. He turned and fixed his speechwriter with a sheepish look.

“Sorry, man, you think we could do this later?”

“No problem.” Rick was already standing to collect the rest of his things, which were spread out across the coffee table he was using. “Can I make a suggestion, though?”

Therin waved a hand and turned back to glare out the windows.

“Take a break,” Rick urged, stacking his folder and pens to the laptop he'd brought along.

Therin bowed his head as a smirk curved his mouth. “Thought I'd been doin' all right pretending I'm good.”

“Sorry, sir, but you're no good at pretending.” Rick's tone was playful.

“I should've asked you before I tried it.” Therin laughed. He folded his arms over the gray pinstriped shirt he wore and leaned against the sill.

“That's what friends and speechwriters are for.” Rick gathered up his things. “You just need to get lost.”

“What?” Therin's sleek brows drew a smidge closer.

“Get lost,” Rick called over his shoulder as he made his way to the office door. “Go someplace and clear your head, hide out for a few days—heck, a few weeks. Get away from the press and all this drama.”

“Sounds like good advice.”

“Hmph.” Rick turned the doorknob. “I suggest you jump on it because good advice doesn't come out of my mouth very often.”

Rick was gone soon after. Alone then, Therin collapsed to the edge of his desk.

“Jesus,” he whispered.

 

Brody walked into the kitchen in time to see Kianti taking her pill. His surprise was unmistakable and Kianti dissolved into laughter at the sight of it.

“Did I just miss out on a chance to see one of the guys bullying you?” he asked, coming to lean against the counter.

“No.” She set aside the water glass while shaking her head. “I've just been taking all this time to put things in some kind of perspective.”

Brody hid his hands in his jean pockets and stepped closer. “Rucker have anything to do with it?”

“At first,” she admitted and took a seat at the breakfast nook. “But even then I was still against taking the pills.”

“So what changed?”

“Me.” She propped both fists beneath her chin and smiled serenely. “I always let that feeling of being different…of being
less
overshadow what was really important—my health, my life. Once I stopped to think about that, I realized what I was a slave to hadn't been the pills, but letting myself feel belittled by having to take them.”

Brody's mouth twisted into a smirk that gave him the look of being impressed. “Who are you and what have you done with Kianti Lawrence?” He sobered quickly once they'd shared a laugh. He moved over to pull Kianti into a hug. “I'm proud of you.” He kissed the top of her head.

Kianti relished the hug. She'd shied away from closeness over the past two weeks. She knew the guys had noticed the change in her demeanor. It wasn't hard to
do as she was usually the one initiating so many of the hugs and kisses that flowed between them on a daily basis.

The closeness made her think of Therin. She'd made a promise to herself to forget him, which was useless as well as stupid. Why would she want to forget one of the sweetest times in her life? She squeezed her eyes shut and snuggled deeper into Brody's embrace. It was better all around to shut out such memories. However, it was well-known that doing what was best wasn't her strong suit.

 

Gary and Peter sent Therin a knowing look across the table where the staff meeting had just taken place. Ruby Loro was last to leave and had just shut the conference room door behind herself.

“V, man? Do you have a few minutes?” Therin asked just as Vaughn was rolling his chair back from the table.

“What's up?” Vaughn obliged, slanting quick glances toward Peter and Gary.

“Why'd you do it, V?”

“Come again?” Vaughn fixed his oldest friend with a confused look.

Therin's smile was small while he studied his friend. “No one but you knows what I mean when I say I'm ‘getting lost.'” He looked up in time to see clarity emerge in Vaughn's eyes.

“Those were the very words I used the night I left the party with Kianti. You knew I meant I was heading to the apartment.”

“You're paranoid, you know that, right?” Vaughn
chuckled, though his nervousness was evident. “All this mess going on's got you paranoid as hell.”

“Let's talk about ‘all this mess.'” Therin maintained his reclining position in the chair at the end of the table. “Ruby didn't tell a soul what she'd done when she first got to the country. But checking backgrounds is your job and you're too good to let somethin' like that slip past you. You knew, didn't you?”

Vaughn refused to answer one way or another.

“Then there's the comment made by Rick's attacker.”

“Now hold up a damn minute! You don't think I—”

“The way it was said. Rick thought a staff member may've attacked him.”

“This is craziness!” Vaughn stood. “I can't believe you're losin' it with me—me of all people!”

“Don't play me for a fool any more than you already have. I'm way too pissed off to deal with it.”

“Drop it, T. You're only pissed off over Kianti leaving. Hell, get over it—there'll be others.”

“Every bit of it points to you.”

“What?” Vaughn slammed his palms down on the table. “Some coincidences involving the staff, a CD and you making some cryptic comment about the condo?”

Therin smoothed both hands over his head. “I didn't mention a CD. How do you know about that, V?”

The silence then was heavy, yet meaningful. Therin waited to see whether his oldest friend would take responsibility or play the innocent. Apparently, Vaughn Burgess decided on a combination of both.

“Is it so difficult for you to give an inch, here? To share the wealth?”

“And who shares the wealth with us?” Therin's brittle temper snapped.

“To hell with you, Therin! Idealistic and proud—closed off to what all of your good intentions do to those on the sidelines of your life.”

“The staff knew what they were in for when they came to work for me.” Therin left his chair.

Again, Vaughn slammed his hands down to the table. “Dammit, Ther, not your staff! Your friends. Hell, your own damn family!”

Therin's shoulders stiffened and he turned.

Gary and Peter exchanged looks across the table.

“What, Vaughn? What about my family?” Therin's voice had softened to a deadly whisper. “What do you know about my parents?”

Vaughn's anger wilted into a bit of disbelief. “Are you asking— Are you accusing me of having something to do with—”

“Did you?”

“Son of a bitch!” Vaughn kicked away his chair. “I don't have to put up with this shit!” He moved for the door only to have Gary and Peter block his way. He looked toward Therin again.

“You placin' me under arrest, Mr. Ambassador?”

“They're taking you to your office.” Therin nodded toward Peter and Gary. “Clean it out. You're fired.”

“Hmph.” Vaughn's lip curled into a snarl and he regarded Therin with nasty intent. “All we tried to do to get you to break, to play ball, and the only thing it took was us threatening your latest piece of ass.”

“Come on, Vaughn.” Gary tugged the sleeve of his suit jacket.

Vaughn jerked away. “And she's a prime piece, don't get me wrong, Ther.”

“Get him out of here,” Therin growled.

“Does she play a tune for you once you've screwed her brains out?”

Therin leapt across the table. He snagged the front of Vaughn's shirt in one hand and used the other to slam his fist into his jaw. Gary and Peter's combined efforts broke Therin's vise grip minutes later.

Despite a busted lip, Vaughn struggled to break away from Gary and Peter as they pulled him out of the conference room.

“You're just a small fish, Therin! These folks play to win! They won't stop until EYES is done, finished, over! I'm the least of your problems!”

“Get him out!” Therin's fist hit the table, threatening to splinter it.

 

Outside her home, Kianti shook the snow from her black ski boots. She'd been standing in the same spot for almost seven minutes and had only just realized that her feet were numb despite the fur insulation.

Of course, thoughts of Therin were to blame. It had become increasingly difficult to keep her mind off him since the guys had returned to California. She knew it was unhealthy and that she had to get over it—over him. A few more days of moping and then it was back to the land of the living, she swore to herself.

A crunch in the otherwise-silent early evening caught her ear. She whirled around to find Therin making his way toward her.

“They threatened me with you,” he said when there
were only a few feet separating them. “They threatened me with you, Key.” His voice was hushed that time as he lifted his hands in a show of defenselessness.

“Hmph.” She rolled her eyes and studied him with disdain. “You should've asked the guys not to be so honest when they told me what you said. I already know the truth.”

Therin smiled. “The truth, right…” He took a small step closer. “About how I thought I could handle it, but I couldn't. How the sex was incredible but I couldn't take knowing you could die on me.”

She gasped.

“I knew I couldn't get you to leave me any other way. If I'd told you someone had gotten into the condo while we slept that morning and left a threat on your life, I'd have never gotten you to go, would I?”

“So instead you…
arranged
for my friends—my…my family to hurt me that way?”

“It was stupid, but I was afraid. It's true,” he confirmed when she watched him in disbelief. Again, he stepped closer. “Knowing you're alive and hating me is way more acceptable than having you dead. You may not approve of my methods, Kia. Hell…
I
don't approve of them, but they were all I had.”

Kianti pressed a hand to her throat to hold back a sob. “Couldn't you have trusted me to—to let you handle—”

“No. No, baby, I couldn't.”

But for the limbs snapping and the brush creaking beneath the weight of the snow, there was silence.

“My parents died in a car accident. I never thought it was an accident.” He walked past her to look out over the property. “It happened about two years after I
got the ambassador's post. Just after I connected with EYES.”

Kianti hugged herself and observed the rigid set of his broad shoulders as he talked.

“I brought a lot of big names on board with me when I came to the organization. It was the first real exposure the group got on a…cultural stage.” He shrugged. “They'd been around for years, but in the shadows.” He kicked at a stone with the tip of a black hiking boot.

“When I brought in my
friends,
it was suddenly cool to support education. The notice brought in tons of money. A lot of people didn't like that. I had no idea how much, not even when the threats started. Then my parents…” He began to rub his hand rapidly back and forth across his forehead as though that would drive out the memories. He turned back to Kianti.

“I didn't take threats seriously back then. I'll never make that mistake again. Never again with someone I love.”

She blinked. “Someone you…what?”

“I love you.” He laughed but the gesture carried no amusement. “I love you, Kianti, and I should have told you that a very long time ago. Instead, I played this stupid game and wound up having you hate me.”

He stood there looking so rattled and Kianti could only stand there hugging herself as she absorbed all that he'd said. Her heart pounded and not from anything having to do with illness—far from it. She was opening her mouth to confess the emotions she'd held back long enough.

Therin grunted suddenly. Before Kianti could say a word, he crumpled to the ground right before her eyes.