Deadly Games - Cate Noble [68]
And if Rocco got word she’d fled to Texas and went after her, Harry would have an even harder time interfering.
No, Harry needed to keep Gena here. He watched her sip the tea as he toyed with a new idea.
“Why don’t you come and stay at my place a while? Give yourself a chance to think it over. I’m gone a lot, so you’ll have the place to yourself most of the time. And it won’t cost a thing. In fact, I’d pay you what I pay the house sitter who usually stays there.”
“That’s sweet, Harry. But I don’t know….” She set the tea down, pushed it away.
Harry picked it up and placed it back in her hands. “Come on. Don’t insult my tea making now.”
He cajoled her into drinking more. When she emptied the cup, he took it from her. “For what it’s worth—and you might not believe me right now— I bet you’ll meet someone who will love you and be proud to give you and the baby a name.”
She shook her head and leaned back, eyes closed.
“Someone like me, Gena,” Harry said.
He smiled. If he could keep Rocco out of town for a few months, let Gena’s belly get nice and fat … Rocco could come back and learn she was married to Harry. And just to watch Rocco squirm, Harry would touch her stomach in front of him and talk about how excited they were.
Granted, it wouldn’t even the score between them, but it would be a start.
Chapter Twenty-Five
East of Monterrey, Mexico
October 5, 8:17 P.M.
Something wasn’t right.
Rocco closed his eyes but the drone of the plane’s engine interfered with his ability to concentrate. Listening to his gut, his instincts, had saved his life innumerable times. It was that edge, that difference that made him successful as an agent for justice.
At least it usually did. Right now the sensation was similar to free-floating anxiety. Unable to define what was off-key, he back-burnered the feeling and shifted in his seat.
Gena hadn’t relaxed either, was still staring out the window at the dark sky. He debated taking her hand in his, something a normal, concerned husband would do. Except he wasn’t her husband, and the circumstances weren’t normal.
Something was eating at her, too. Earlier, when he’d asked, “What’s wrong?” she’d snapped, “Nothing.” His favorite nonanswer.
Certainly nothing about the circumstances was pleasant. But the sooner they both put their grudges aside—past and present grudges—the sooner they’d find common ground.
Rocco had thought they were making progress at dinner. Gena’s frankness about why she’d moved to Texas had encouraged him. In the past, the topic of her drinking had been a touchy one. He was also curious about her decision to return to school, but he hadn’t had a chance to ask where. Or why.
Then Rocco had received the news about Maddy. That Maddy was alive gave him hope, even as the other news—Maddy was pregnant—increased his apprehension. That Minh Tran had threatened Maddy’s child shook Rocco to the core.
Had Minh Tran’s new threat against an innocent baby made Gena realize just how ruthless Rocco’s enemies could be? Was she now even more concerned about her own safety? About Rocco leaving her with a virtual stranger?
Rocco couldn’t imagine what Travis Franks was feeling right now. Forty-eight hours wasn’t much time, yet compared to Tran’s previous ten-hour deadline, it was huge.
Rocco and Dante felt certain that Travis was in Southeast Asia right now. Perhaps Travis even knew where Maddy was being held. God, Rocco hoped so. He wanted Maddy free.
Same with Erin Houston. Max was in the same boat as Travis right now. The woman Max loved was in the clutches of a potential madman.
Rocco recalled those moments back in Texas when Gena had been snatched by the man in the black truck. The urge to kill had been strong. The truth was, Rocco had been damn lucky to get Gena back. Which was why it bothered him to consider leaving her again.
Rocco eyed Clay Watkins through slitted eyes. Despite the fact Clay had come highly recommended, Rocco didn’t trust