The Gentlewoman (23 page)

“How do you know he’s not for real? He seemed totally in
love with you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Rory replied, looking Nicole in the
eye. “I need to get on with this.”

Nicole and Rory sat next to EPA Director Hammond in the
second row of the gallery as the committee was called to order. Rory looked at
Jackson once. When his eyes met hers, she trained her stare on the committee
chair and only moved them to look at whoever was speaking.

She had missed him so much while he was in Maine. She had
missed the touch and feel of him, just being with him. And now her heart ached
because she would never feel him again. She blinked as she recalled the words
he said to her, that they were together, that everything was real. She’d been
in this situation before and found that nothing had been real.

One by one the agenda items were covered, and as was
customary, testimony on each item was given. When they came to the EPA
appropriations, Director Hammond rose and gave a synopsis.

Congressman Powell, feeling the sting of defeat for the
shipyard, spoke up. His Southern drawl seemed as syrupy as his fake smile.
“Perhaps the Gentlewoman from Ohio would like to say a few words. This is the
first time such has been granted in fresh waters and does change the landscape
of the industry considerably.”

She approached the podium, holding herself together tightly.
She reached deep, put up her shields and raised her head high. To the outside
world she would never show fear or hurt. That was her deal with herself.

“Thank you, Congressman,” she began. “I would like to thank
the committee for including this appropriation in the budget measure and for
the support that has been shown for the Northern Ohio community. Together, we
have not only shown that we can compromise and cooperate to develop and move
forward, but we can also utilize existing infrastructure and resources to…”

Blah, blah, blah, she thought as she delivered the nice
words. She looked into the eyes of the committee members, but steered clear of
Jackson’s baby blues. She could feel them on her like a weight. She wondered
who else she stood before knew of how he had used her. She glanced past Duncan
and Powell and wondered if they all knew. She felt the heated blush of shame
rising to her cheeks and forced her head higher.

Rory grabbed her bag and immediately headed to the livery
car. She asked the driver to get her home quickly and stared out the
windshield, trying to hold off her imminent breakdown. She would let it all out
when she got into her condo. She hit the button on her phone to ignore Nicole’s
call. She had told her she wanted to be alone and made her swear not to follow
her.

You’re my girl
. She closed her eyes as his words
repeated back to her. He didn’t have to drag her down this path, make her
believe he cared so much. Each time she thought of it a fresh pain sliced
through her chest.

The tears were threatening as she thanked the driver and
quickly let herself into the building. They started falling as she unlocked her
door and threw her bag down. She carried herself into her bedroom and slowly
curled into the fetal position on the bed. Tears streamed down her face and
onto her pillow.

Thoughts of the things she and Jackson had done together
presented themselves to her mind. She inspected them for any hint of the
impending betrayal she felt now. She found nothing she could pinpoint; instead
they provoked intense feelings of longing.

“Why, why,” she whispered. “I was so happy.” That was the
first mistake.

Jackson silently closed the door to Rory’s condo. He could
hear her crying. He removed his suit jacket and dumped it on the chair as he
walked to the open bedroom door. He paused and his chest clenched at the sight
of her. This was his Rory, and he had hurt her. It killed him. She had been
hurt enough. He was never going to let this happen again.

Slowly he approached the bed, putting his hand on her
shoulder. She stiffened and sat up, her back going against the wall.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, sniffing and wiping
her eyes.

“You’re here, why wouldn’t I be here?”

“You have what you apparently needed. You don’t have to do
this anymore.” Her big brown eyes were filled with grief.

“Rory, stop this. I told you this is real.” He reached
forward and caressed her silk-covered knee.

“Stop saying that.” She jerked her knee away. “It just makes
me sick. You only met me because you needed to put me on a committee you
already knew I wanted nothing to do with.”

He sighed. “Yes, you’re right. I was going to meet you come
hell or high water and figure out how to get you on that committee. That’s what
the party needed and that’s what I wanted.” He stared into her eyes. “But then
I met you, and as I’ve told you already, I fell in love with you. That is real,
and it’s how I feel. I love you. I want what we’ve been building together. It
exists, and I want it. Please, Rory,” he breathed as he tried to take her hand.
She pulled away. “Remember what we are to each other.”

“A means to an end,” she muttered.

“No, Rory.”

He could see all the pain behind her fierce expression.
“Yes, you’re just like him. I can’t believe a word you’ve told me. I’m a way to
further your interests; that’s all. I’m disposable. I knew not to trust you. I
ignored my usual caution because I was horny. I didn’t question as much or
consider the ramifications, and all things political left my mind. I just went
with it, like Devon and Nicole told me to, and look what it got me. I’m a fool
again…” Her sob caught in her throat.

“You were real with me,” Jackson said. “You needed this; you
needed something besides politics and work. That’s why you went with it. And
it’s wonderful. What we have is like nothing I’ve ever found.”

“You used me like the fool I am. What’s the saying? Fool me
once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me? And that’s what I am. I can’t
be with someone who did that to me.” She stood and walked toward the bathroom.
“Leave,” she said. “This is finished.”

“No, I’m not going to let you do this! You can’t throw this
away. You said you had feelings for me.”

“I’ll get over them.”

“Rory, let’s put this into perspective, this isn’t that
bad…”

“Leave,” she said solemnly, turning to the bathroom. “I’m
going to shower.”

“Rory, I love you.”

She looked at him for a moment. “Yeah, that’s what my
husband told me too.” She turned and locked herself in her bathroom.

Jackson stared at the door for a long time before he rose to
leave. He wanted to punch a fucking hole through it. He took a deep breath. He
wasn’t going to be deterred. He was convinced she would get over this. She just
needed time.

He locked and closed her front door and let himself into his
own condo. He wasn’t looking forward to spending time alone here. He had gotten
so used to living with her. He wanted to feel her in his bed, her head on his
chest and her body against his. He didn’t know how he’d sleep without her.

He undressed and lay on the bed, heartsick. It hurt so much
to hear her say she would get over him. And it hurt like hell for her to
compare him to that monster she married. He didn’t want to be separated from
her, but he would give her some time. She would come back to him.

Rory closed and locked the bathroom door and listened for
Jackson to leave. When she was sure he was gone, she slowly undressed and
stepped into the shower. He said he loved her with such ease, and she wanted to
believe him. She slid down the shower wall and hugged her legs, burying her
face in her knees. She wanted so badly to believe him.

She had no parents anymore, no children and no siblings. She
was grateful she had Devon and the kids, and her friends. But it had been so
nice having Jackson. He had made her happy with his generous personality,
caring, and fun demeanor. It was too good to be true and she should have known
better.

She didn’t cry anymore. She hugged her knees and stared at
the water going down the drain. She stayed in the shower for a long time. When
she finally dragged herself out, she eased herself into her bed on the floor,
the one Jackson hated. She arranged the pillows so that one was on either side
of her and she lay staring at the wall. She missed him already. Getting over
him was going to be another hell.

Over the next two days, Rory fondly remembered the numb
existence she had led before becoming involved with Jackson Dorn. It was much
more preferable than the heartache that plagued her now. Every breath hurt.

She came awake before dawn after sleeping only a few hours.
She dragged herself up and prepared for work, taking a cab to the Hill before
there were any signs of life from across the hall. She hadn’t wanted to see
Jackson or deal with him in any way. The incessant replay in her head of their
shared moments was torture enough.

She went on autopilot, focusing on her work. She didn’t
stop, not even to eat, and she didn’t go home until after ten at night. She was
happy her door was still shut and locked when she arrived home but gave her
former brother-in-law and the FBI only a fleeting thought.

She grew angrier with herself for her stupidity and with
Jackson for being dishonest. She now sat on a committee she wanted nothing to
do with. She ignored emails regarding Homeland legislation and a request for
her to meet with the chair. She knew she’d have to pay the piper at some point.

On Thursday afternoon Rory returned to her office in a foul
mood. She hadn’t eaten and was feeling lightheaded. As she bent in front of the
refrigerator, she heard Jackson’s voice and froze. She closed her eyes as her
body convulsed.

She rose and stepped into Nicole’s doorway, leaning against
the jamb. “Why is he here?” Jackson was standing directly in front of Nicole’s
desk. His head snapped around and Nicole jumped up, pulling Rory inside and
closing the door.

She took Rory by the elbow and led her toward Jackson. Rory
stopped short. “What the hell?”

“Ror, did you see the people in your office?” Rory shook her
head, eyeing the two of them. Jackson looked concerned and exhausted. He looked
as if he hadn’t slept in a week.

He spoke to her and she was sucked into his blue eyes before
she really focused on what he was saying. His voice caressed her skin.

“FBI Director Hearn is in there with two agents. He asked me
to meet them here with you, saying they have news they need to tell us.”

“It’s Tagg and Shane,” Nicole added, biting her thumbnail
nervously and staring at Rory with trepidation.

Rory looked dispassionately between them. “Well that doesn’t
inspire confidence. Did they say why they wanted to see us?”

“No, they wouldn’t answer any questions,” Nicole said.

Rory squeezed the bridge of her nose and considered the
situation. “Let’s go find out,” she finally said. Nicole stepped away and
opened the door. Jackson turned and looked into Rory’s eyes.

“I’m here for you,” he offered.

“Oh well, thank God!” she said sarcastically. “I just don’t
know what on earth I’d do without you.” She narrowed her eyes at him before
leading them out of the room. Jackson followed, hiding his smile.

The bastards had made themselves right at home. “Gentlemen,”
she said as she walked in and stood behind her desk. The sense of déjà vu was
overwhelming. As they all shook hands with the FBI director and Agents Tagg and
Shane, it was like reliving the past. She expected to see her father enter the
room. She unconsciously glanced down at her left hand. No wedding rings. She
looked at Jackson, who leaned against the opposite wall. Just checking.

“As nice as it is to see you again, I’m sure there’s a
reason for this visit.”

FBI Director Hearn was sitting in one of the two seats in
front of Rory’s desk. He glanced at Tagg next to him. “Congresswoman, I know
Agent Sutton had shared with you the news that there was some activity on a
passport believed to be an alias for Roan Sullivan. And that we were going to
surveil you.”

Rory’s eyes darted to Shane, who was standing behind the
director. He held her gaze. “Agent Sutton advised me of the passport activity;
however, he mentioned drive-bys, not surveillance.”

There was a knock on the door and more men were ushered into
Rory’s office. She was swiftly introduced to the head of Homeland Security, two
Homeland agents and a representative from the secretary of state’s office. Two
Secret Service agents rounded out the crew. Rory was growing anxious and
impatient. All these testicles in one room couldn’t be a good thing.

“Gentlemen,” she called above the din of voices. “May I have
an explanation as to this meeting please?” The room silenced. “The basement
accommodations here are hardly spacious enough to hold a party this size.”

Director Hearn spoke. “Agent Tagg, please debrief the
congresswoman.”

“Certainly, sir.” He turned to Rory. “Congresswoman, the
passport activity is in fact that of an alias used by Roan Sullivan and we have
cell phone intelligence to suggest that it is indeed your former brother-in-law
who has entered the country.”

Rory’s entire body clenched.

He continued. “Intelligence tells us that Roan Sullivan has
been placed in DC and the Cleveland, Ohio, area within the last two months.
He’s been placed in Bay Village. More recent placements have proven that
Sullivan is not only in the country to revive his business interests, but has
also taken an interest in your whereabouts and activities.”

She felt the air leave her lungs and her knees go weak.
Several people rushed forward to catch her, but it was Jackson’s arms that held
her up and helped her into a chair.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She looked into his concerned eyes, not quite hearing. It
was good to feel his hands on her and breathe in his masculine scent. She had
missed him so. She felt that familiar transfer of heat from his body. She
stared into his beautiful eyes but she was dizzy, and thoughts of Roan being
near her made her sick. Bile rose in the back of her throat and her stomach
roiled. The metallic taste of fear filled her mouth and she flashed back to the
farmhouse and the blood.

Jackson grabbed her head and forced it between her knees to
keep her from completely blacking out. He held it there until Nicole came
forward with water, and she felt better after a couple sips.

“How do you know?” Rory choked at Tagg. Jackson remained
kneeling beside her chair. “How do you know he’s interested in me?” She was
embarrassed by how weak she sounded.

“Intelligence got a lead on a few cell phone numbers that
have been linked to him and another man.” Tagg looked sympathetic. He leaned
forward and spoke more gently. “Congresswoman, Lon Doward is with him.”

Every hair on her body stood at attention at the mention of
that name. Aidan’s assistant. The one who drove as Aidan beat her. She closed
her eyes. He had never been caught.

“How do you know they’re taking an interest in the congresswoman?”
Jackson asked as he held her arm. His voice was loud and strong. He sounded
angry.

“We’ve pulled the records of cell tower pings. We can place
them both in DC and in Bay Village, Ohio. In all instances, and there are more
than just a few. We have pings close to both of the congresswoman’s residences.
We have patterned pings from last Saturday in particular that we wanted to ask
about, as that was the day we know you were at the state dinner.” He pulled
some records from a file on his lap. “We have pings from locations on Fourth
Street and at the InterContinental Hotel. Any significance to you, ma’am?”

Jackson answered. “We were staying at the InterContinental
last Saturday. Rory spent some time at a spa on Fourth Street. The bastards
were following us?”

“It appears so, and it wasn’t the first time. I have the
file here and we’d like you both to review it and match it to your whereabouts
on the dates notated.”

Jackson took the file. “Son of a bitch. So why not get a
current ping and pick him up?”

Rory answered, her voice stronger, pissed off. “Because they
haven’t done anything yet, that they can prove well enough anyway. Isn’t that
right, Agent Tagg?” She looked at Tagg and then Director Hearn. “We’ve been
here before, haven’t we, fellas?” She leaned forward and braced her hands on
her desk.

“I’m guessing since there are so many important people in my
office that there’s a plan afoot. I’m guessing my ass is bait again. Am I
wrong, gentlemen?” Jackson stood and leaned against the credenza. Rory looked
at the Homeland secretary and the man from the secretary of state’s office.
“This must be big if you guys have been pulled in. I’m sure this isn’t just a
courtesy for the newly appointed Homeland Committee member. Why don’t you tell
me what I’m in for?” She wasn’t feeling dizzy anymore, just sick.

David Benedict of the SoS office spoke up. “Congresswoman,
we need your help to bring Roan Sullivan down. His criminal enterprises are
vast and a major threat.”

Homeland Secretary Reynolds added his two cents. “Congresswoman,
Roan Sullivan has doubled the trade of weapons and women trafficked prior to your
husband’s death. We need your help to stop him.”

“Define my ‘help’,” she snapped, and waited for someone to
respond. When nobody did, she addressed the Homeland Security secretary again.

“Secretary Reynolds, are you aware of why nobody is
clamoring to apprise me of the details required of me?” She waited a moment and
continued. “It’s because they’ve been here with me before—and it didn’t work
out so well.” She gazed at the very uncomfortable Tagg and Hearn. “We sat
together in an office not much better than this one about three and a half
years ago. They told me about my husband’s crimes and prevailed upon me to work
with them to gather evidence to stop him. They promised me and my family
protection and told me to maintain appearances. All the while they would be
taping conversations and surveilling. And do you know what happened?” More
uncomfortable silence. “Well, let’s just say that the day I needed that
protection, they weren’t there. And you probably know the rest. I had to take
care of things myself, but only after he took everything but my own life from
me.”

The silence was deafening. She looked them each in the eye.
“So is that it, gentlemen? Is it appearances as normal? You’ll be watching for
Roan to take me and finish what Aidan couldn’t?” She pounded on the desk loudly
with her fist and shot up to pace to the far wall, blinking back tears.

To his credit, Secretary Reynolds seemed downright approving
of her anger. “I have reviewed how the case was handled three years ago, Congresswoman,
and I want to tell you how I intend to handle it this time.” He waited for her
to turn to him.

“You are correct; appearances must stay the same. You and
Congressman Dorn have appeared several times in the media and, with all due
respect, seem quite distracted with each other. We’ll need to use that. The
subject has been following you and surveilling you and has learned your life
here. We can’t determine if he or an accomplice has entered your home. I intend
to station two men there, specifically Agents Tagg from the FBI and Manus from
my own team. They will run on ghost crew, giving no outward appearance of their
existence. We want you to stay with Congressman Dorn, as we assume, and we’re
sure the subjects also assume you have been doing. We will protect you both. There
will be others watching your back, including the Secret Service. But for the
most part you won’t see them. With any luck, Sullivan or one of his men will
enter your condo with criminal tools and we’ll have them on enough for
attempted capital murder. That will open all kinds of nice worm cans that will
help us take down the international rings. They’ll fall like dominos.”

So very tidy.
“What if I don’t want to stay with
Dorn?” She felt panicked and pissed off.

Benedict chimed in. “Ma’am, the secretary of state asked me
to impress upon you the importance of breaking the threats of these
international rings. I’m afraid we must insist.”

For the second time in a week, somebody was insisting she
circumvent her own will. She flopped down in her chair and rubbed her forehead.
She marveled at how quickly all control over her own life had evaporated. It
was also the second time in the same week that she thought of running. She
snickered to herself as she considered what Larry Page would think of her
disappearing. Who would he con to fill that Homeland seat then?

She laughed at the absurdity of her thoughts. “I’m exhausted
and I’d like to go home.”

“I’ll take you.” Jackson straightened.

“No thanks.”

Secretary Reynolds interjected. “Actually, that’s an
excellent idea. Tagg and Manus will set up shop. You can gather a few things to
take across the hall to the congressman’s condo, if they aren’t already there.
Your presence in your own condo should be kept to once in the morning and once
in the evening, just enough to maintain the appearance.”

Rory shook her head as she gazed at Reynolds. The other men
began to rise as he came forward to her. He took both of her hands in his and
looked into her eyes.

“We’re going to protect you this time, Congresswoman. I
promise.” He squeezed her hands and left before she could tell him that she’d
been made that promise before.

“I’ll be right back and then I’ll take you home. Stay with
her,” Jackson said to Nicole as he left the office.

“I’m going to follow you home and stay with you tonight,”
Nicole said gently.

Rory’s hand dropped from her forehead. “No, it’s too
dangerous. I don’t want you anywhere near me. Take a few days off. Stay with
the kids.”

“I’m not going to do that, Ror. You’re my family. I love
you.” She took Rory into her arms. It sent them both over the edge and tears
streamed down their faces. “I can’t believe this is happening to you again.” Nicole
pulled back and looked into Rory’s eyes, speaking gently. “It makes me feel
better that you’re staying with Jackson. Talk to him. He’s in love with you and
I think you’re in love with him too.”

Rory was too tortured and exhausted to respond. She gave a
curt nod and rose to collect her bag. “I’ll be back in the morning.” She turned
back to Nicole. “Really, don’t come anywhere near my house. I wish you’d stay
home tomorrow; it’s Friday anyway.”