She blinked once, twice, absorbing that information. “And where is the real Amira Peres?”
His guard went up this time. The change was so abrupt, she blinked and looked again just to make sure she’d read it right. “That’s classified,” he said tightly, “but, rest assured, she’s alive and well.”
“We gotta go,” Fran said as she tugged Ami toward the door.
Ami’s gaze locked with Tanner’s one last time before the door closed between them and she knew for absolute certainty where she stood then.
She was on her own.
JACK KICKED THE WALLin frustration.
How the hell could he let this happen again?
He braced his hands against the wall and closed his eyes as he struggled to regain his composure. He had to keep it together here.
There was nothing he could do to stop any of this. He’d tried to keep her safe. If that damned assassination attempt hadn’t gone down and Nathan Olment hadn’t ended up in the ER where Ami worked, none of this would have happened.
She’d still be dead as far as the world knew.
That had been her only protection.
Now the only hope of survival she had was Arad.
Jack laughed a self-deprecating sound. It was just too damned ironic. Arad was the only hope she had of staying alive andshewas the best shot the CIA had at seeing that Arad didn’t.
CHAPTER NINE
NO MORE…
Ami pushed back from the table and stood. She couldn’t bear another day of this.
The intense discussion of those around her, the clatter of silver against stoneware and the slosh of wine as it spilled into stemmed goblets abruptly ceased. The eyes of all those seated around the table instantly turned in her direction.
Michal’s gaze collided with hers.
Before he could put voice to the question reflected there, Ami rushed from the dining room. Blood pounded in her temples. She couldn’t think…couldn’t tolerate the perpetually building tension a second longer. She slammed the door shut behind her as she fled into the bedroom that was both hell and heaven on earth.
Night after night he lured her into his arms and made love to her so infinitely tenderly and yet with such intensity that she was certain each time that she would not survive the next. And each night she dreamed of the past they had shared, more and more pieces of the puzzle that was her former life falling into place. Then Jack Tanner’s voice would haunt her, sending ice through her veins.
They had another mission for her.
Ami pressed her fingertips to her forehead to stem the insistent pressure there and dropped onto the foot of the bed. She couldn’t do this. She’d told Tanner as much four days ago when he’d appeared in the ladies’ room of that restaurant like some kind of ghost who could materialize and vanish at will. But that wasn’t the case at all. He’d gotten to France—to her—by the usual means and he’d left that way, as well, without once offering to take her with him.
She was a hostage, dammit! Fury whipped through her, momentarily blotting out the skull-shattering tension. She was an American citizen who needed rescuing. But he’d left her here, insisting that she had to follow his orders exactly.
Or else.
No matter how hard she’d tried, she couldn’t remember being a spy. Didn’t they understand that? No. No, they didn’t. Or maybe they simply didn’t care. The only thing she knew for certain was that she had to give it her best shot. A moan of agony wrenched through her. She hugged herself and rocked forward with the fierceness of it. Her baby. Dear God, they were using her baby for leverage to blackmail her into doing their bidding.
Where were her rights? She was the victim here! How could they qualify her freedom? Her safety?
Ami looked around the room, at her prison, and a stillness fell over her. She had to be stronger than this. Survival…getting back to her child depended on her and her alone. She had to do whatever it took. She squeezed her eyes shut and tamped down another wave of agony. But the waiting… It was pure hell. She could feel herself drawing closer to Michal—couldn’t stop it. He was like an obsession. She exhaled a weary sigh. How could she feel this way about a man who committed murder for money? There was no explanation for it. Her emotions were a total wreck. Her physical reactions to the man confused her so completely that she could scarcely think straight most of the time.
The CIA was counting on that. Ami stilled again. That was it.For now, stay put, and keep Arad happy.Tanner’s words sifted through her head. Michal was some sort of weakness for her. She toyed with that concept for a moment. As she was to him. Like kryptonite to Superman. That’s why he hadn’t killed her already. Dread swelled in her stomach. He couldn’t…
Whatever her mission was to be, it undoubtedly involved keeping Michal distracted.Happy.But why? What purpose did that serve?
Ami wiped her eyes and clenched her jaw. What did it matter? She had to follow orders or risk losing her son forever. That was a risk she wouldn’t take.
