Rayven's Keep (30 page)

All her life, Tru had tried to emulate her elegant mother, with little success. Whatever she felt showed on her face and in her actions, whereas Katri dealt with the normal upheavals of the household with a serene smile and gentle voice. When Tru had been younger, she would sometime do or say something outrageous just to see how her mother would react. Katri’s calm words of reproof and mild disappointment would alternately frustrate and make her ashamed of her actions. In the long run, it was just easier to do as her mother asked.

“Let’s retire to the solar room while the gentlemen talk.” Katri’s voice soothed Tru’s jangled nerves, and she meekly followed behind her mother to her favorite retreat in the huge house.

Dusk settled over the city, adding a warm red glow to the cream-colored walls. The room was elegant, inviting and imbued with Katri’s personality. Tru could feel herself begin to relax and flopped with boneless abandon onto the nearest soft couch. Her mother took a seat across from her and picked up her latest tatting project. With her long, pale fingers, she worked the threads into what Tru knew would be a beautiful piece of lace when she was done.

Her sister, Amali, settled on the window seat, her movements languid and graceful like their mother’s. Tru slouched a little lower on the couch and twirled one of her wayward curls around her finger. Her mother looked her way, and she straightened, dropping her hands onto her lap.

“Your father and grandfather have spoken of Captain Rayven and his business Rayven Security,” Katri said, a slight smile playing about the corners of her full mouth. “He appears to be well respected by clients from what your father tells me. I met his associate, Callen Bluestone, and he spoke highly of him as well.” She looked up from her work and Tru was startled by the speculation she saw in her mother’s pale blue eyes. “It seems he has taken good care of you.”

“That’s what grandfather paid him to do,” Tru answered, avoiding her mother’s eye.

“Your Captain Rayven doesn’t strike me as the type to do anything unless he wants to, Tru. It is obvious he cares for you. Even your father, who never notices what is under his nose, picked up on the attraction.”

Amali leaned forward to get a better look at her sister. “What happened, Tru? Do tell.” Her expression was mischievous as she added, “He’s one fine-looking man, if you ask me.”

“Well I’m not...asking you, that is,” Tru replied swiftly and crossed her arms under her breasts.

“It was only an observation. There is no need to be defensive,” Amali responded, doing a remarkable imitation of their mother’s dignified tones.

“Enough, girls. Do not tease your sister, Amali. She has had a difficult time of it lately. Now, Tru, I would like to hear exactly what happened from the time you disappeared until you returned safely home.”

There was steel under the velvet of her voice, and Tru stiffened. Her mother wouldn’t be satisfied until she told her everything. It wasn’t easy trying to explain why she’d gone to Lodestone. Her words got tangled up with all the guilt, determination and gut wrenching fear she’d experienced but her mother didn’t interrupt or add to the jumble of emotions Tru tried to untangle as she went.

Picking at her tunic hem, she kept her head down and explained how she’d met Nick, blaming herself for his reaction to being followed and the relief she felt once they were away from Lodestone. Her story unfolded with many stops and starts.

Her voice choked up when she talked about Anto Geir, and her mother’s inarticulate exclamation of anguish made her lips tightens to stop the trembling. She didn’t realize she was crying until Amali pressed a soft cloth into her hands to blot the tears.

A tray of sandwiches and a pot of tayberry were brought in by a quiet housemaid, but remained untouched while Tru talked herself out. Her eyes still shimmering with moisture, she finally ground to a halt, her last words hanging heavy in the air.

Katri placed her tatting on the table beside her. Tru was surprised to see the work wasn’t up to her mother’s usual standards and would need redone. Katri rose from her seat and settled next to Tru on the couch. She brushed a tear from Tru’s cheek and then slipped her arms around her to cradle her close.

“I owe your Nick more than I can ever repay for keeping you safe,” Katri murmured against her hair, in a voice choked with emotion. “I can see why you love him so much.”

“I do love him, more than I thought I would ever love anyone, but he’s determined we stay apart for a while so I can be sure of my feelings. How stupid is that? My feelings won’t change. He’s just being stubborn and autocratic.”

Tru straightened out of her mother’s arms, sniffed indelicately and scrubbed her hands over the moisture leaking from her eyes.

“I know you don’t see it right now, my love, but he has given you a wonderful gift. You have only known each other a brief time, a very intense time, I admit, but gratitude can easily be mistaken for love. Use this time apart to really know your heart and mind.”

“None of this will matter if Father takes it in his head to kill him first,” Tru muttered. “He didn’t look at all pleased when he forced Nick into his study.”

Amalie giggled, breaking the tension. “Your Nick doesn’t look like he would go down without a fight. I don’t think you have to worry. Father is a reasonable man, you’ll see.”

Tru snorted and prayed her sister was right.

“Now then, who would like slightly stale sandwiches and a lukewarm drink?’ Katri said, her smile belying the strain around her eyes.

* * * *

Nick reluctantly followed Reid into his office, knowing Maddox was close behind. Something in Reid’s eyes hinted he was on thin ice where it concerned his daughter and Nick couldn’t say he blamed him for his concern. He owed a full accounting, but he didn’t have to like it.

Reid settled behind his large desk, leaving Maddox and Nick to seat themselves in the chairs facing it. Elbows on the immaculate surface and hands interlaced together, he impaled Nick with his shrewd blue gaze.

“I want to know if you took advantage of my daughter while she was in your care,” he said.

“I love your daughter,” Nick replied, doing his best to keep his voice even and respectful.

“That isn’t what I asked,” Reid shot back, leaning closer.

“Tru has a mind of her own. I don’t think anyone can take advantage of her unless she wants them to.”

“Not my girl,” Maddox said with a chuckle, refusing to wipe the grin from his face when Reid glared at him. “Son, you know it’s true.”

“Are you saying you condone his behavior?” Reid asked through his teeth, nodding at Nick.

“I would never hurt your daughter and did my damnedest to protect her even when she refused to listen and went out of her way to drive me crazy,” Nick said. “When she wants something she goes after it, or haven’t you noticed? It was damned difficult to prevent her from getting herself killed.” He ran a hand through his short hair and frowned at no one in particular. “Your daughter can get herself in trouble faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. She doesn’t even need to try.”

Reid sat back and sighed deeply. “As much as I hate to admit it, you’ve described my daughter fairly well. Tell me what happened. All of it.”

Maddox rose and went to a sideboard to pour drinks. He brought back small crystal glasses filled with the potent liquor his son favored and handed one to Nick and Reid before taking his seat again. Nick swirled the drink for a minute watching the amber liquid and then tossed his drink back in one gulp. The only sign of distress he allowed himself was the slight widening of his eyes when the liquid burned all the way down to land in a fiery ball in his stomach. Reid did the same and then slammed his glass on the desk.

“I hear this is much better if sipped,” Maddox offered mildly, hiding his grin behind his glass. He ignored their glares and continued to sip his drink.

Nick pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “I know Callen has filled you in on some of what happened,” he began, and the other two men nodded in agreement. “I went to Lodestone for a business commission. It should have been a quick in, quick out deal with plenty of credits to show for my efforts. A storm was moving in and I needed to get off-world fast or be stuck for the duration. Tru followed me.”

The silence was complete by the time he finished. Few questions had interrupted the flow of words. He had to admire their composure given what he’d just told them. Unfortunately, he wasn’t feeling as calm. Tru did that to him with little effort on her part.

“You killed the bastard. It was better than he deserved.” Reid’s voice was strained, its normal, well-modulated tones absent.

“I’d do it again, given the chance.”

“Do you think this is connected to Malvin Sonne’s death?” Maddox said after a moment’s thought. He lifted his glass and took a sip. “We wondered about that at the time.”

“Callen believes it might be, and I trust Callen’s instincts implicitly.” Nick leaned back in his chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him, ankles crossed. It was a deceptive pose; his insides coiled into a tight knot.

“I want Rayven Security to find out what the connection is.” Reid pushed out of his chair and crossed the room to the liquor cabinet. He carried the bottle back and refilled their glasses before he eased himself into his seat behind the desk. “I informally hired Callen with the understanding he would run it by you first.”

“Callen already has my instructions to follow the lead he has. There is no need for you to hire us.” Nick sipped the drink and decided he could get used to the warm burn as it slid down his throat. He planned to ask Reid what the drink was called before he left. “I’m just as eager to see this through as you are. I don’t want anyone else coming after Tru.”

“Regardless, I feel it necessary to hire you. Creighton Mutual is well known in this system, it can open doors for you and make it easier to get into places you might have difficulty accessing otherwise.”

Nick raised his eyes to meet Reid’s steady gaze. Maddox might be a force of nature, but Reid was no pushover and his respect for the man rose. A grin kicked up the corner of his mouth. “You do realize Rayven Security is not a detective agency, right?”

“Could have fooled me,” Maddox scoffed. “You’ve done a damn fine job in what you have uncovered so far. Take a chance, boy, and branch out a little. If the rest of your crew is like you and Callen, then you are missing an opportunity here.”

After only a moment consideration, Nick spoke. “Fine. We’ll take on the job, but we handle it our way. This is outside our normal expertise, but I guarantee we will get you results. I have a vested interest in this.”

“Excellent.” Reid relaxed in his chair, relief easing some of the lines from his face. “We can work out the details later.” In a swift change of subject, he demanded in a hard voice, “Now, what are your intentions toward my daughter? And I’d better like them.”

Nick choked on his drink.

Maddox laughed and Reid’s lips twitched. Maddox rose from his chair and pounded Nick on the back until he quit gasping for breath.

“Honorable, I assure you,” Nick wheezed.

“See that they are.”

The three men talked until dusk had given way to full dark. By the time they rose to stretch limbs cramped from sitting too long they were in total accord with one another. Maddox tried to persuade Nick to delay his departure until morning with little success. He was already irritable and on edge just thinking about leaving Tru behind. Staying one minute longer would be torture, particularly with her sleeping in another room and knowing he couldn’t touch her. It was better he left before he could change his mind and give in to her desire to go with him.

* * * *

“I wish I could leave with you,” Tru murmured against his shirtfront. She was snuggled against him, her arms wrapped around his waist, his encasing her in their warmth. Her family had said their goodbyes moments earlier and then discreetly left them alone.

“I know, sweetheart, but this is the right thing to do. I’ll be back before you know it.” Nick swallowed a sudden lump in his throat, surprised by the emotions engulfing him now his departure was imminent. “Your father has invited me to the Solstice Ball. I’ll be back then for your answer.”

Before she could protest one more time, to say she’d already made up her mind, he leaned down and captured her mouth with his. He poured everything he felt into his kiss, alternately coaxing and demanding, delighting in her response. Heartbeat thundering and his breathing ragged, he finally broke away. He forced himself to loosen his hold and take a step back. Unable to resist he dropped one last quick kiss against her swollen lips.

Taking one of her hands in his, he kissed its palm. “Until then,” he said and then turned away before he could change his mind. He didn’t look back until he was at the transport.