Triple Infinity (6 page)

“It’s fall.
It gets cold at night at this elevation.” Triaten turned and looked past Shiv out the back window, sending the jeep in reverse down the drive to the main road.

They went up the mountain, Triaten giving Shiv a lesson in higher altitude weather patterns
along the way. She didn’t really listen, but did give the courtesy, “uh-huhs” when appropriate. After crawling into the front, she huddled close to one of the heating vents, clearly more interested in warming her hands, than in any conversation.

As they pulled into the circular drive at the front of the ranch, they slowed and stopped behind a large black suv with tinted windows
— parked, but idling, right by the front door. Just as Triaten put on the brakes, a man in a crisp navy suit stepped from the front door, flanked by two men in black suits.

Shiv’s mouth dr
opped. “Holy shit, is that the Secretary of State walking out of the ranch?”

Triaten looke
d over at the man just as he stepped from the ranch’s front steps. Without a look around, he and the bodyguards got in the suv and took off.

“Ah, hell...it is.”
Triaten hit the steering wheel with his palm. “That’s not good. Not good at all.”

Shiv’s mouth still hung
open. “What’s the Secretary of State doing here?”

Triaten shot her a no-
questions look. “Discrete — remember? I have to get in there.”

Triaten exited
the jeep. Halfway to the ranch’s front door, he turned and stepped back, opening the passenger door. He leaned over her. “Just go in through the kitchen and take your shower, okay?”

Shiv instantly took offense. “The kitchen? So I’m the whore that can’t go through the front door?”

Confusion blanketed Triaten’s face before the understanding hit. “No — not in the slightest. I just don’t want you messed in with whatever snake pit I’m walking into.”

“Oh. Sorry. That was a bit much, huh?”

Triaten gave her a quick smile. “A bit.”

He turned and
walked into the ranch. Horace was waiting for him in the study. He didn’t turn to Triaten, instead, looked out the front window, arms crossed against his chest. Triaten closed the door of the study behind him as he walked into the room.

“Father.”

“Negotiations elevated in a poor way and broke down last night.” Horace’s eyes didn’t leave the window as he spoke.

Out of the corner of the window, Triaten could see Shiv walking
around the side of the ranch, directly in sight-line of Horace. So much for discreetness.

“What happened?”
Triaten asked.

“The usual. An implosion of the
negotiations. One snide comment, and it escalated out of proportion. DeLisio left for the airfield. Luckily, the Secretary was in town, and we got him to intercede. He convinced DeLisio — threatened, to be more precise — and got him back here, if not yet in the same room as Shafar.”

“So negotiations are back on?”

“In theory, but ten steps back.” Horace finally turned from the window, eyes narrowed at Triaten. “Where the hell were you? We’ve been working on this for weeks, and you decide to disappear? Neutrality was what was needed last night. It’s your job to supply it. It’s why we put them here to begin with.”

“All was peaceful when I left for town to give
you and the elders the report last night. And then I was at Joe’s. Why didn’t someone get me?”

“Joe’s was closed, and you were nowhere to be found.”

Triaten didn’t answer. His jaw tightened, but he bit his tongue. He was screwed on that account.

“Who was that woman outside?
And don’t tell me you’re abolishing your duties for some human tryst. You being involved with a human is not acceptable.” Coming from Horace, it was a scolding, not a question.

“No worries on that front. Just using her for sex, father. You taught me that well.”

“You’re walking a fine line, Triaten, and you’ve already cashed in all your good will with the Aiden and Skye debacle.”

Horace moved past him to the study door. Hand on the doorknob, he turned back to Triaten. “You right t
his today, Triaten. You get Shafar and DeLisio back at the table. I don’t need to remind you what’s at stake.”

Triaten shook his head. Just tens of thousands of lives, he filled in silently.

He felt Shiv behind him before she spoke. Her scent, clean jasmine soap, had filled the room, even before her footsteps thudded in on the library floor.

“What in the world are you staring at?”

Triaten blinked. He hadn’t really been staring at anything, eyes just glazed over in thought. He looked over his shoulder at Shiv.

She kicked the floor with her bare toe. “I mean, clearly, it’s an unfinished floor. But why are you staring at it? You’ve been standing there for a while.”

Triaten’s eyebrow rose. “I have?”

“Am I looking at you like you’re a crazy person?” She stepped around in front of him. “Because I’m starting to wonder. I walked by here ten minutes ago, and you were in that same spot, staring at the floor. I walk by again, and you haven’t moved a muscle.”

“Hmm,” Triaten didn’t pay h
er crazy comment any mind. “I was just thinking.”

“About the flooring?”

He looked down at the gut of the floor. “Oh yes, the floor.” He scuffed the rough planks with his shoe. “I haven’t figured out what I want to do with it yet. Wood inlays, tile, not sure. Something dramatic, but I don’t know what.”

“What was down here before?”

“Wood planks.”

“Didn’t like them?”

Triaten shrugged. “They got stained.”

Shiv nodded as a shy smile crossed her
face. “I didn’t tell you last night how I knew my ex — the asshole — did I?”

Triaten had no idea where this conversation was going, but he was game. “No
— I think you said he was an artist, maybe?”

Shiv nodded. “He was, which is actually how I met him. I was looking for something creative to do, since work is so
— blah — it pays the bills quite well, but blah. So I took a tile mosaics class. He was a guest master teacher — didn’t really teach, actually, just stopped by as a favor to the teacher. Let’s just say he took a liking to me, and I loved the art form so much, that I ended up apprenticing with him for months, before, well...”

“I can imagine. And this has to do with what?”

“Well, he learned from Italian masters. And I learned from him. He may have ruined my life, but I did get a skill out of the deal.”

Triaten’s eyes swept along the wide floor. “So you’re thinking a large-scale tile mosaic?”

Shiv shrugged. “It would be quite beautiful in here, with all the dark wood bookcases. Very old-world European. Maybe a large scale pattern or a labyrinth? The asshole usually did Greek hunting scenes for the rich clients, but they were never my speed. Or maybe a goddess motif? I took over on a couple of those, and they turned out kind of impressive. I think I could do something quite elegant with the space.”

Triaten couldn’t stop a smirk from forming when she mentioned “goddess.” The Panthenites worked so hard to remove themselve
s from god-status, that it would be humorous to put in a goddess theme here at the ranch. An homage to the past. And just enough to rankle the elders a bit.

“Oh, well it was just an idea. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. You don’t know anything of my skill. Sorry to interrupt.” Shiv turned to leave the room, cheeks red. She had clearly misread his smirk, not that she could have known what
made it appear.

“Shiv, no wait.
I think it’s an intriguing thought. I like the goddess idea. What do you think it could look like?”

Shiv turned around, half out the doorway. “Really? I can sketch something out for you. Got a napkin?”

“Why don’t we splurge and I’ll get you a piece of paper.”

Twenty minutes later, Shiv had a rough drawing of what the mosaic could be. She had it on the fl
oor of the library, and both she and Triaten stared down at it, trying to imagine it full-scale.

It was t
wo goddesses. One arched back, white gown flowing, and she gazed at a dark cloud in sky. A scarlet gown wrapped the other, and she was bent over, hand in the ground and fingers full of dirt. Both had an arm outstretched to the other, fingers not quite touching. It was as though each goddess was trying to pull the other into her journey. Triaten was impressed at the speed Shiv whipped it out, and in the simple beauty of the outline.

His feet
circled the paper, considering the angles, and then he glanced at Shiv. “How did you come up with this?”

Shiv shrugged. “Not sure, it just popped in my head when you said
a goddess might do.”

Triaten nodded, decision made. “I’m in. If you have the time, of course. And I’d happily pay you.”

Shiv waved a dismissive hand. “Please, you are not to pay me a dime. You’ve already been sheltering and feeding me for days, so this is the least I can do. Besides, with my work done, I need something to fill my time while I’m waiting for Skye to come back.”

Triaten wasn’t going to argue money with her. “Fine. But the se
cond you want to charge me, give me a bill — or drop it in the study.” He picked up the sketch from the floor. “Alright, where do we get the tile from? I imagine it doesn’t come from the hardware store?”

“There’s a supplier in Venice that the asshole-ex used quite exclusively. I can go dig out the number, and then it’s just a matter
measuring and ordering the smalti tiles.” She took the sketch from his hand.

“Just give me the number and a lis
t of what you need, and I’ll have it over-nighted.”

“What?” She looked up
from the sketch. “No, it takes days, if not weeks.”

Triaten offered her a reassuring smile. “Everything can by over-
nighted, love.”

Her eyes widened. “Hmmm
— that’s cocky. I wasn’t expecting that out of you.”

Triaten shrugged. He
didn’t bother to defend what was true for him.

“You sound pretty sure about ge
tting them over-night.”

“I am.”

Shiv shook her head, still not believing. “Who the hell are you?”

Triaten laughed. “Doesn’t matter, love. My
job is pretty much just to get people what they need in life. And I’m pretty good at it.”

“That’s a job?”

“It is for me.”

She considered his words for a moment. “Okay,
fine, but don’t look so smug — I can’t imagine that’s much of a life. Even if you have the Secretary of State tromping through here.”

“It is, and isn’t, I guess.” An idea popped into Triaten’s head. “Hey...I’m not sure this will work, but did you have any plans today?”

Suspicion crossed Shiv’s face. “No. But I reserve the right to make up some fake plans.”

“Understood.” Triaten said with a n
od. “Since you already saw the Secretary walking out this morning, you’ve probably figured out there’s something important going on here?”

“Yes, but I was told not to ask questions, if you remember.”

Triaten was pleased with her ability for discreetness, even if she was mocking. “Well, I’m still not looking for questions, but I could use your help.”

“What can I do?”

“I have to get two impossibly narcissistic men together — alone. And make them like each other.”

Shiv did a double-take, her eyes narrowing at Triaten. “Hmmm. Okay, no questions, save one. Why?”

“The men are at a stalemate, and aren’t even at the table with each other right now. We’re talking precious land — essentially, billions that they’re fighting over.”

Triaten didn’t continue. He
planned to give her the least amount of information possible.

Her hands went to her hips,
and the sketch crinkled in her hand. “Okay then, I get a follow-up question. Why are you involved?”

Triaten sighed. Women. They rarely failed to demand
that the “why” be answered. And then it was always followed up with another “why.” “I’m involved for the human aspect. If this doesn’t go down peacefully, we’re talking ongoing warfare in the territory they’re fighting over. Rogue factions, innocent clans in the middle. People just trying to live and feed their families getting terrorized and killed. The strong are taken and the weak disposed of without a second thought.”

“Really?” Her voice
was soft in shock. “You can stop that?”

“If I can get these two together, alone, talking without their
crap minions in the room — then yes, I think I can stop it. I’m pretty sure they both want a peaceful accord to the territory ownership and rights — it’s just that neither will own a weak position, or what’s perceived as a weak position, in front of their men.”

“Well
,” Shiv’s hand dropped from her hips, “no wonder you can get anything over-nighted. Do you do this thing often? Work on world peace? Should I be a little bit intimidated by you?”

Triaten chuckled. “I doubt intimidation would help me with you.”

“Yea...” her words were drawn out in tease, “probably not.”

Triaten brought them back to his plan. “So can I use you?”

“Sure. I’m all for helping. What do you need me to do?”

“Excellent
. I need to get the two of them alone together, away from the main ranch and their posses. And they’re both — let’s just say both of them are lusty fellows, even a bit on the lecherous side. And since you’re the best-looking thing on this mountain, if I strut you by, and then dangle, maybe an ATV trail ride with you in front of them, I think they’ll take the bait. It’ll just be the four of us.”

“Seems simple enough,” Shiv said. “I suppose you’re going to request the charming side of me, though?”

“Might help. Although I imagine you won’t have to participate much, other than some well-timed smiles and laughs. My best guess is that it will be an embarrassing display by those two, trying to step on the other in effort to entice you to bed. You game?”

Shiv grinned. “I’ll hold onto my fake excuse for another day. Happy to bring out the girls for a good cause.” Her arm swept with a flamboyant hand in front of her chest. “They usually are all the charm I need. Just let me go dig out a low-cut shirt from the car.”

The shirt Shiv found, really, the whole outfit, screamed seduction. An emerald green top, displaying an almost obscene amount of creamy bosom, led down to tight jeans, accentuating the smooth curve of her backside. Triaten honestly didn’t mind the view either, and knew it would work as intended.

Shiv was right about the girls bein
g all the charm needed. She and Triaten played out the scene twice. A casual walk-by, an enticing smile from Shiv, and the mention of a trail ride by her to Triaten. Triaten then offered, as an afterthought, an invite to each the Arab and the Frenchman. Of course, no mention was made that other was invited.

The Arab was portly, and the Frenchman had thin bones.
Both were clearly out of shape — a rarity for either that they lifted more than a fork. So neither one was a natural on an ATV, which suited Triaten just fine. Get them in an awkward position, and then as far away from the ranch as possible. Something was bound to happen.

Once th
ey were on the trail, one piece of the plan became suddenly clear, that Triaten hadn’t considered. And that was Shiv speeding along as fast as she could. She led the foursome, and even though she’d never been on the trail before, she was a natural at pushing her machine to the limit up the steep mountain. She set a pace that both DeLisio and Shafar were having a hard time keeping up with. Triaten rounded up the back, just to make sure neither fell too far behind.

At least when their eyes were focused on the dirt in front of them, they weren't
ogling Shiv’s backside. Triaten recognized Shiv's attributes — he had a hell of a good time exploring them last night — but he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the two. Shiv was out of their league.

Sure, each owned plenty of gorgeous women around the world, but that was just it. They own
ed them. Triaten was pretty confident Shiv was not the type to be impressed with money and power, and aside from those two things, neither the Frenchman nor Arab had much to offer a woman. That much was obvious from the time they'd been at the ranch.

The group switch-backed up the mountainside on the trail for
an hour, before Triaten asked Shiv to stop via their helmet headsets. They were at one of the dramatic vistas that the trail led to, and with it, came a “v” in the path.

After parking the four-wheelers in a row, t
he group set off to the edge of the cliff to take in the sight, but Triaten stayed by his ATV, leaning against the seat, arms casually crossed against his chest. He ignored the banter — or rather, what the two men thought was playful banter with Shiv — and instead, concentrated on reading the two men. It didn't take him long to delve into their minds, and to find out that the Frenchman still harbored anger about whatever happened last night — some insult about his taste in clothing — but was not nearly as set in his position about the land, as he had been when he first arrived. 

The Arab had always been open to negotiations, as long as the price
suited his sensibilities. But he still had no regard in his mind for the well-being of the people in the area. Actually, neither did. Triaten rubbed his cheek, disgusted at the two. Why were the ruthless always in power? No matter how many times he saw it, it was still the hardest thing for Triaten to understand about humankind.