“No. I’m being sincere. I know it’s hard for you to recognize the difference. I think I may have to teach it to you.” She met his eyes. “Because if this is a good-bye present, you’ve wasted it. I’m not saying good-bye to you.”

“You’re not? You may not have a choice.”

“Bullshit. I’m not intruding into your life, but I’m in it now, and I won’t be thrown out. You did that when I was ten years old. It’s not going to happen again.”

He smiled faintly. “You’re intimidating me, Eve. And your judgment is very, very faulty. Do you really want to have anything to do with a lost soul like me?”

“I don’t know. It depends on you … and me. But it’s not good-bye.” She started up the path. “So we’ll see how it goes.”

He chuckled. “Because your Bonnie believes in second chances?”

“Because your granddaughter believes in second chances.” She didn’t look back. “And so do I, Zander.”

Epilogue

Lake Cottage

Atlanta, Georgia

Four Days Later

“DÉJÀ VU,” CATHERINE SAID to Kendra as she gazed down from the porch at the guests milling on the grounds below her. “It reminds me of the day that I was here for that phony memorial service for Eve.” No, not really, she thought. There were no public figures or media at Trevor’s funeral. Only the people who had been on the hunt for Eve and a dozen or so friends of Trevor’s who had flown in from Europe. They were all moving from group to group, talking soberly. Except for Seth Caleb, who was standing apart and alone, drinking a glass of wine. Her gaze rested on him for an instant before moving on. That fascinating face always made her pause, and particularly today, when she could sense the tension behind it. “I was so angry and bewildered when I showed up here that day…”

“And relieved when you found out she was still alive,” Kendra said. “God, it’s good to have her back. I only wish to hell that this was a celebration and not a genuine funeral.” Her gaze was focused on Eve and Jane, who were standing together down by the lake. “Jane is managing to hold it together, but I don’t know for how long.”

“As long as she has to do it.” Catherine had watched Jane all through Trevor’s funeral and burial this morning, and her heart had ached for her. She had been pale, tragic, but there had also been strength and endurance. “And she has Eve. You can almost see Eve…” She tried to find the words to describe the bond between the two women. “She’s kind of spreading invisible wings to enfold her Jane.” She suddenly stiffened. “There’s Venable. I wasn’t sure he’d be here. He was pretty pissed off at Jane for not letting him know about Harriet sooner.” She headed for the steps. “I’m going to intercept him and make sure that he doesn’t say anything to her.”

“He wouldn’t be that insensitive, would he?” Kendra asked.

“I don’t think so, but I’m not taking any chances.” Catherine glanced back over her shoulder. “And he should thank you for figuring out where those nukes were located. Who knows how long it would have taken him to find out where Kevin placed those devices? It could have been a threat for years.”

“Stop it,” she said testily. “I don’t want thanks. I had my fill of it with Eve when I got here. She’s free and back home, and that’s all that matters.” Her gaze returned to Eve and Jane. “And we can only hope that the healing begins soon.”

Catherine silently seconded that wish as she ran down the steps. Healing for Eve, who had been tortured mentally and physically. Healing for Jane, who had lost even more than Eve.

Venable was gazing at her with a sardonic smile as she came toward him. “Catherine to the rescue?”

“It depends on how much of an asshole you turn out to be,” she said soberly. “You’re not getting near Jane if you’re here to give her even one word of condemnation. She’s had enough.”

“I agree,” he said. “Though she was wrong, and I was right.” He added, “And, by complicity, you were also wrong, Catherine.”

She lifted her chin. “Then fire me, Venable. You could make a good case.”

“I thought about it.” He shrugged. “But I’d be cutting off my nose to spite my face. You’re the best of the best. I’ll need you next week when I send you to Guatemala City.”

“I’m not going anywhere next week but home to my son. Find someone else.”

“I could hold your disloyalty over your head and—” He broke off, then said wearily, “But I won’t do it. I’m tired of being the bad guy. Someone’s got to do it, but not me. Not right now. I’ve got to go over there and try to explain to Eve why I was willing to risk her life. I like Eve and Joe and Jane, and I let them all stay under the gun. They may never forgive me because I can’t even say I’m sorry.”

“Maybe,” Catherine said. “You’ll just have to try. You might begin by expressing your condolences to Jane for losing the man she loved. It might establish a rapport that could carry you through.”

“I was going to do that,” Venable said. “I’m not that much of a bastard.”

“No, you’re a good guy when you’re not trying to save democracy.” But she was suddenly bone weary of dealing with Venable and his agendas. “But I don’t care about jumping back on your bandwagon right now. Go do your duty and clear the way for me to say my good-byes. By midnight, I’m going to be on a jet to Hong Kong, and tomorrow I’ll be with Luke and Hu Chang.”

“Really?” His brows rose as his gaze wandered through the crowd to a table where Gallo stood talking to Margaret. “And what about him?”

Catherine’s gaze followed his, and she felt the familiar jolt of pure sexuality as he lifted his eyes and saw her. He smiled faintly and inclined his head.

Heat.

Electricity.

Both of which interfered with what she had to do. He was a complication. She needed her son and her best friend in the world and not to be swept away by Gallo. She turned away. “I’m leaving for Hong Kong,” she repeated.

“He’ll follow you,” Venable said softly.

“I can’t stop him. He’ll have to do what he has to do. He won’t have an invitation.”

“You could avoid him by going to Guatemala City.”

She ruefully shook her head. Venable was as obstinate as a mule. “No way.” She started to make her way through the crowd toward Joe, to say her good-byes to him. “Find someone else, Venable.”

*   *   *

“YOU’RE EXHAUSTED, JANE,” Eve said in a low voice. “Go on up to the cottage and go to bed. There are only a few people left, and they’ll understand.”

Jane shook her head. “I’ll wait. I don’t want to leave it up to you. Trevor was my—” For an instant she lost track of what she had been about to say. He was my heart. My life. My love. “All of this is my responsibility. It was kind of you to offer this service, but you shouldn’t have to—”

“Oh, be quiet, Jane,” Eve said. “This has nothing to do with kindness. This has to do with family, and if you weren’t in shock, you’d realize that. Joe and I only want to get you through this. That’s all that’s important.”

“No, what’s important is that I have you and Joe beside me,” she said unsteadily. “You’ve kept me from falling apart during these last few days. I know I’ve been behaving like a sleepwalker. It’s not fair to you.”

“You’d have gotten through it on your own. You’re tough.” Eve touched her arm affectionately. “It was our privilege to be with you. But now it’s my privilege to send you to bed. Scoot.” She gave Jane a quick kiss on the cheek. “If you won’t go to bed until everyone has gone, I’ll see that they take the hint.” As she started to turn away, she stopped and glanced at Seth Caleb, who was standing alone a few yards away. He had a glass of wine in his hand and he lifted it to Eve as he met her gaze. “But I’m not sure that Caleb will take the hint. I may have to send Joe to reinforce it. He’s been hovering over you like an eagle who’s spied prey.”