Slaying the Dragon (Deception Duet #2) (18 page)

Closing my eyes, I fought against the memory, trying to forget it. The ghost of Mackenzie’s spirit surrounded me here, tormenting me. I could almost smell her scent of cinnamon and it broke me more than I thought possible.

I grabbed the scotch and poured more into my glass. My world spinning, I dashed up the stairs, wishing I could find somewhere in my house that hadn’t been tainted by my betrayal and deception, but I knew it wasn’t possible. It surrounded me, mocking me, reminding me that I didn’t deserve her forgiveness.

Hesitating outside the door to my master bedroom, my hand hovered over the handle. A voice urged me to open it, to face my demons, to live with the reminder of what I had done. That was my penance for using Mackenzie.

Tentatively, I turned the knob and pushed the door open. I stood frozen in place as my eyes fell on my bedroom, everything exactly as I remembered, as if it was suspended in time. The bed still had a rumple on the duvet from where Mackenzie had been reading when I came back from picking out her engagement ring. The shadows of her soul, her heart, her love were everywhere, torturing me, reminding me, punishing me.

A low glimmer on the nightstand caught my eye and I went to it. I grew breathless when I saw the jeweled cross she always wore. I picked it up and my eyes scanned the room to see what else had been left behind. Her suitcase was still in the corner. I opened the closet to see the clothes she had brought with her hanging neatly. At the end of the rack was the dress she had worn the night of the dedication dinner. I ran my hand along the lace, Mackenzie’s words replaying in my mind.

“I love you for you. I don’t care about the man you wanted me to think you were. I know the real Tyler, and I love all the sides of that man. I love the caring side, the controlling side, the side that takes, the side that gives, and the side that loves. And I’m so grateful you opened your heart to love me.”

The pain was back. It had never really left, but being faced with reminders of how I destroyed everything was too much and I sank to the ground, throwing back the scotch, her cross scorching my flesh. I needed the burn to dull the rest of the heartache coursing through my veins. I had distanced myself from any physical memories of Mackenzie, but now that I was back in Boston, it all came rushing forward and the remorse was overwhelming. I physically felt it in my throat, in my chest, in my heart.

I reached into the pocket of my jeans and pulled out the email she had sent me, reading it once more. I had lost track of how many times my eyes had read over her words, absorbing them, trying to find the meaning behind them. I put all my hope in the last line…
The truth is, despite it all, I still love you. And I always will.

I prayed her love was strong enough to give me the forgiveness I needed.

Jumping to my feet, I shoved the email and her cross in my pocket, then dashed down the stairs, grabbing my bags as I rushed out of the house. The city of Boston was quiet and still as my footsteps echoed in the alley behind my house. I unlocked my Mercedes SUV and sped away.

As if on autopilot, I found myself making the drive out to my mother’s house. It was the only place I could think of that hadn’t been tainted by memories of Mackenzie. Pulling down the long driveway of the house we had lived in most of my teenage years, I continued past the fountain and put the car in park just outside the rear garage. My bag clutched in my hands, I ran up to the front door, trying to be as quiet as possible as I used my key to let myself in. Silence greeted me, the house still. I padded through the foyer, past the formal sitting room, and into the kitchen. Opening the refrigerator, I grabbed a bottle of water, my mouth salivating when I saw my mom had made her famous lasagna for dinner. My stomach immediately began to rumble and I pulled out the casserole dish, cutting out a small portion.

Just as I was retrieving my snack from the microwave, the overhead lights snapped on and I spun around to face the doorway.

“Tyler, baby,” my mother whispered almost in relief as she rushed toward me. She enveloped me in her arms and I bent down to match her short height. “You’re home.” She rocked me, planting a kiss on my cheek. “I’m so glad you’re finally here.” She hugged me tighter, her arms strong around me.

“Yeah,” I said, my loud voice echoing in the kitchen.

She pulled back abruptly, her eyes growing wide. “Shhh, baby. Quiet.”

I furrowed my brow, confused about why I had to lower my voice if she was awake. I nearly cringed at the thought that maybe she had an overnight guest. I was more than aware that she had occasionally dated since my dad died over ten years ago, but it still didn’t make the thought any more comfortable.

“Sorry, Ma,” I said, not wanting confirmation of my suspicions.

“Tyler, there’s something–”

I held my hand up. “I don’t want to hear it. There are some things better left unsaid.”

“What do you–”

“It’s okay if you have an overnight guest, Ma,” I explained, praying my face wasn’t turning a brilliant shade of red. I pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and sat down. “I get it. I just don’t want to hear about any of it, okay?”

I avoided her eyes, shoveling the lasagna in my mouth as if I hadn’t eaten in days. Truthfully, I hadn’t. It had been
months
since I’d had a good meal, having to survive on the limited rations provided to the refugees at the camp. We all ate the same thing, and everything was bland and simple. This lasagna was decadent and filling. Now that I was back home, I couldn’t wait to eat my weight in cheese and meat.

“If that’s what you wish. If you really don’t want me to tell you all about my overnight guest…” She shrugged.

The tone of her voice struck me as odd and I raised my head to see her standing there, arms crossed in front of her chest, a smug look on her face.

“Why would I want to hear about any of that?”

“Suit yourself,” she sang, pulling the chair out beside me and sitting down. “I’ve been expecting you. William stopped by with a copy of your itinerary indicating you’d be flying in tonight.”

“How did he know?”

“Do you really need to ask that question?” She paused and I remained silent, knowing how much information our company had access to. “Now, tell me… How are you doing?”

“Good.” I avoided her eyes as I swallowed a large bite of lasagna.

“You can fool a lot of people, young man, but I gave birth to you. Tell me how you’re
really
doing.”

I sighed, leaning back into my chair. I savored the last bite of lasagna, contemplating having seconds. “Shitty,” I finally admitted and she nodded in understanding. Her intense dark eyes bored into me, goading me to continue.

“I thought being away from it all was the right thing to do, like you suggested, but I don’t know. I think I was away too long.”

“Why didn’t you come back sooner?” she inquired, placing her hand on mine.

“I wanted to, but every time I brought it up, Alexander insisted I stay put, claiming I was needed, that he didn’t think it was safe for Eli or me to return yet. I’m starting to think he kept me there on purpose to keep me away from…” I trailed off, her name causing a lump to form in my throat.

“Yet, here you are. What happened?” Mom asked.

I snapped my eyes to her. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re back, aren’t you? Why now? Something must have changed for you to disobey your brother’s asinine orders. What was it?”

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the folded email, sliding it across the table, eyeing my mom as she unfolded and read it. She had almost the same reaction I did when I first read those sorrowful words. Her chin quivered and her eyes moistened with unshed tears.

When she finally finished absorbing the words on the page, she looked up. “What do you intend on doing?”

“Whatever I have to. I can’t go another day without her, Ma.” I stood up from the chair and placed my plate in the dishwasher, then began to retreat from the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” she called out.

“To get a few hours’ sleep,” I said over my shoulder. “Then I need to get back to Texas.” I headed out of the kitchen, briskly walking toward the elaborate staircase.

“Tyler, baby,” she whispered, running after me in her bathrobe. “Wait…”

I spun around. “What, Ma?”

She searched my eyes. I couldn’t help but think she was hiding something from me. “You need to go, I understand that, but do me one favor.”

“What is it?”

Her nervous expression softened. “Wait until after breakfast, okay? I need one of your father’s frittatas and you’re the only one who knows how to make them right.”

I planted a kiss on her forehead. “You got it, Ma.”

I tiptoed up the stairs, praying I didn’t wake my mom’s “special friend”, and headed down the long corridor to the last door on the left…my old bedroom. I looked across the hall, a low glimmer of light coming from beneath the door of one of the guest bedrooms. Too exhausted to care, I entered my room, closing the door behind me. An unexpected waft of cinnamon washed over me, and I only hoped it was a sign of things to come.

Tyler

T
OO
EARLY
FOR
MY
liking, the morning light started to peek through the shutters. I had barely slept since going to bed just a few hours before. The smell of cinnamon haunted my dreams. I felt an intoxicating electricity that now invigorated me with a renewed sense of determination to do everything I could to make Mackenzie mine once more.

Stretching in my bed, I fought the temptation to close my eyes and go back to sleep. It had been months since I had slept on a proper bed and I didn’t want to leave the comfort surrounding me. My eyes drooping, I threw my legs over the side of the bed and padded to the en-suite bathroom. After splashing some water on my face, I rummaged through my bag and found some gym shorts and a t-shirt. I tossed them on and laced up my sneakers, heading quietly from my room and out of the house for an early morning run.

Time passed as I escaped into my thoughts, running through thousands of different scenarios as to why our agency contact had disappeared, whether Charlie had any involvement in his disappearance, and whether we were all being played. I wondered if Alexander had made any headway into what was really going on. I had so many questions and was anxious to get back to Texas so I could pick up where I had left off…with the job
and
Mackenzie.

Before I knew it, the sun began to beat down on me with more intensity. When I left my mother’s house, the sun was just starting to rise. Now, it was shining brilliantly, and I knew I had probably been gone for a few hours. I circled back toward the house, putting in another few miles, and entered the foyer, hearing voices from the kitchen. Not ready to face Mom and her special overnight guest, I dashed up the stairs and hopped in the shower. After shaving and dressing in a pair of cargo shorts and a light green linen shirt, I found the email I had kept with me since receiving it and placed it in the pocket over my chest…over my heart.

Checking the clock to see that it was nearly ten, I hurried through the remainder of my morning routine. I still needed to cook my mom breakfast, then get to the airport in time for the noon flight Eli had arranged on one of the company jets.

Dashing down the stairs, I entered the kitchen and came to an abrupt stop.

“Alex…,” I said nervously when I saw him sitting at the table. I felt like an employee who had been caught in a lie after calling in sick. “What are you doing here?” I sat down opposite him, studying his every move.

“Tyler.” He raised himself from his chair, a knowing smirk on his face as he straightened his crisp suit. Heading toward the coffee machine to prepare a cup, his expression remained fixed. “Mom called and asked for a family breakfast this morning. I tried to say I had work to do, but she mentioned you were home, which certainly got my attention.”

My eyes narrowed at him, my blood boiling every second I was in his presence. His odd demeanor made it readily apparent he was not happy I was home. I would have rather had him shout at me. I could handle that, but the fake smile, the niceties, the even temper… I just wanted him to get on with it so I could get on with what
I
needed to do.

“I was going to wait until you were settled, but I have a new assignment. You’re on a transport to Afghanistan tomorrow at sixteen hundred hours.”

I remained quiet as he returned to the table with two cups of coffee, placing one in front of me.

Sitting down, he reached into his laptop bag, retrieved a file, and slid it across the table toward me. “We’ve opened a shelter for girls who have been the victim of abuse and are at risk of further harm, possibly even death. Honor killings and all that. These girls–”

“Just stop,” I interrupted. My voice was soft, my lips barely moving.

He snapped his head up, his green eyes meeting mine. “Ty–”

“No. Enough, Alex!” My voice rose with the anger that was slowly building within me. “I’m not going to be told what to do by you anymore, not when it’s readily apparent you only have
your
best interests at heart and no one else’s!”