Part 18 (1/2)
”Seth was the target. Someone had planted a bomb on board one of his boats, a catamaran called Strictly Business. He and his wife, Emma, were nearly killed.”
”I remember hearing about it. The media called it an accident.”
”We don't have any proof DeBruzkya or his henchmen are responsible.”
”So the police never made an arrest.”
He nodded. ”DeBruzkya doesn't care who gets hurt, Alison. He's crazy and dangerous and wants the plans for the sub at any cost. He's building up his navy now that Holzberg is under his control. He's no longer landlocked and wants this sub in his fleet.”
”My G.o.d.”
Drew shook his head. ”Seth never should have offered you the job.”
”This isn't Seth's fault. All he did was mention the job in pa.s.sing, and I jumped on it. I pressured him.” When he didn't look convinced, she added, ”Come on, you know I can be persistent.”
”He had no right to involve you.”
Ignoring him, she continued to make her case. ”Seth told me things had settled down. He said he couldn't go into specifics as far as why, but he'd hired extra security.”
”All that extra security sure had a huge impact on the thug who just about took off your head, didn't it?”
Alison leaned back on the sofa, her mind reeling with everything he'd told her. She thought about how this would affect her life, how it would affect Kevin's life, and the fear she'd felt earlier began to transform into anger. She'd worked hard to give her son the security he deserved. To have someone threaten that security infuriated her.
”I can't go back to Evans Yachts,” she said after a moment. ”I have Kevin to think of. I won't risk his emotional security.”
”Or his safety.”
The thought of her precious son being in danger made her feel nauseated. ”Maybe we should just go to San Diego right away.”
His gaze burned into hers. ”I don't want you out of my sight.”
”Drew...”
”I mean it, Alison. At least until things quiet down.”
She stared at him, unsettled and angry and suddenly very frightened. ”Look, if this DeBruzkya nut is only after the plans to the sub, and I no longer work for Evans Yachts, I don't see how that could put me in danger.”
”Maybe it doesn't, but I'm not willing to risk his going after you when you're almost three thousand miles away and I can't keep you safe.”
”Surely you don't expect me to put my life on hold until-”
”That's exactly what I expect you to do.”
”The decision isn't yours, Drew.”
”I know that,” he growled. ”But you know I'm right.”
Needing to move, needing a few moments to think things through so she could figure out how to handle this, she rose abruptly and walked to the kitchen where she checked the bolt lock on the back door. She heard Drew behind her, but she didn't look at him and she didn't stop. She could feel a firestorm of anger building inside her. d.a.m.n it, she didn't need this. She and Kevin had enough to deal with just going about their daily lives. She didn't have time to worry about maniacs trying to hurt her.
”How long am I going to have to put our lives on hold?” she asked sharply.
”Until we're certain you're not a target.”
Frustrated, she walked to the front door, checked the bolt lock, then engaged the security chain. When she turned, Drew was right behind her and she came within a hair of running smack dab into his chest.
”I'm not trying to frighten you,” he said.
”You've done a pretty good job of it,” she said angrily. ”My son could be in danger. That scares the h.e.l.l out of me.”
He flinched, but didn't look away. ”I'm not going to let anything happen to either of you.”
Alison had wanted him to deny the possibility that Kevin could be in danger. When he didn't, the encroaching fear turned her blood to ice. Shoving away from him, she headed toward Kevin's room. She wasn't sure why she was so angry or why she was directing that anger at Drew. Maybe because she'd worked so long and hard to give Kevin a stable life after Rick's death. Maybe because the safe life she'd known before was gone.
Or maybe she was angry because Drew himself represented a different kind of danger, and she didn't have the slightest idea how to keep herself safe from him.
In Kevin's room, she pulled the blanket up to his chin, then crossed to the window where she double-checked the lock. Pulling the curtains closed, she walked quietly through the room, checking every dark corner, leaving his door wide open.
”I thought you deserved the truth,” Drew said when she reached the living room. ”So I gave it to you straight.”
”I appreciate your filling me in on the dynamics of the situation,” she snapped. ”What I'd really appreciate is for you to tell me how the h.e.l.l I'm supposed to keep my son safe.”
”Seth has a security staff. Ex-law enforcement. A couple of ex-military guys. They're good.”
”Where were they this afternoon, d.a.m.n it?”
”Alison-”
”This wouldn't be quite so terrible if it were just me. But we're talking about my son!” Furious, she glared at him, aware that her heart was pounding, that her breaths were coming short and fast. She knew she was overreacting. That this wasn't his fault. But he was close, and she needed someone to lash out at. ”That little boy is my world, Drew. He means everything to me. For a lot of months he was the only reason I got out of bed in the morning. I won't let anything happen to him.”
”I'm not going to let anything happen to him,” he growled. ”I'm not going to let anything happen to you.”
She stared at him, unwilling to admit even to herself that in a small, ridiculous corner of her mind she was glad it was Drew who was there. But at the same time the more logical side of her brain knew how dangerous it would be for her to get any closer to him, to let her son get any closer. When the time came for her to walk away-and Alison knew it would-sweet, innocent Kevin would be hurt. She would not let that happen.
”d.a.m.n it.” She turned and walked into the kitchen where she stood for several long minutes, listening to the patter of rain and the distant rumble of thunder, trying to put things into perspective.
When she walked back into the living room, she was calmer. Drew was standing just outside of Kevin's room, watching over him like a sentry. The image of him standing there so protectively softened the hard edges of her anger, and she regretted taking her fear and anger out on him.
”I'm sorry,” she said. ”I know this isn't your fault.”
He joined her in the living room. ”I'm a big boy. I can handle it.”
”I'm glad because I seem to be having a difficult time of it.”
”You're handling things just fine.”
She crossed to him on shaking legs and stopped less than a foot away. ”I don't know how to keep Kevin safe,” she whispered. ”That terrifies me more than anything else in the world.”