Magnificent Folly - Iris Johansen [31]
“We will,” Andrew said quietly. “But we have to go slowly. Gunner says that the first reaction these agents will have if cornered is violence. Kalom particularly has a reputation for viciousness. They’ll strike out and won’t care that what they’re destroying has value to them.”
“Cassie,” Lily whispered. “They’ll hurt Cassie.”
“No harm will come to Cassie. I’ll just have to be careful to make sure Cassie’s protected before Gunner moves in.”
“And how do you propose to do that?”
“I’ll find a way. I’m leaving for the inn immediately. Gunner is sending a helicopter to pick me up.”
“I’m going with you.”
Andrew nodded. “I thought you’d say that. I suppose I can’t convince you to stay here and let us handle it?”
“No.”
“Or that after the bang on your head you shouldn’t do anything but rest?”
“No.”
“All right.” Andrew held up his hand as she started to speak. “But there are conditions.”
“Conditions! My daughter is—”
“You do what I tell you to do.” Steel edged Andrew’s voice. “No questions, no arguments.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then you don’t go with me.”
“I could follow you to this Edelweiss place.”
“And if you did, I’d use any method at my disposal to make you do as I said. There’d be no option then.”
All trace of boyishness had vanished from Andrew’s demeanor, and the hard-edged toughness of which Lily had caught only fleeting glimpses had come to the surface. “I could lie to you.” She paused. “As you lied to me.”
“I never lied to you.”
“The hell you didn’t. You came here and conned me while persuading Cassie you were the greatest thing since sliced bread, and all for some purpose of your own.”
“I didn’t con—” He stopped, and then broke out with violence, “Lord, you don’t even know what conning is. I could have shown you. I could have—” He halted again and then shook his head wearily. “There’s no use trying to convince you while you’re so worried about Cassie. Will you give me your word you’ll let me lead, if I take you?”
She gazed at him, frowning. “Okay,” she said slowly. “But if I think you’re moving too slowly I may change my mind and go my own way.”
He smiled crookedly. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” He turned to leave the room. “I’ll go down to your cottage and pack your bag and get a few things for Cassie. Should I bring anything in particular?”
“No, anything will—Wait, there is something. Her music box.” Lily felt the tears sting her eyes. “It’s a little-girl pianist sitting at a baby-grand piano that revolves and plays a Bach prelude. I bought it for her when she was only three, and she takes it with her everywhere she goes. She plays it every night before she goes to sleep, and …” She stopped and tried to steady her voice. “It should be on the nightstand beside her bed.”
“I’ll get it.” He glanced back over his shoulder. “Will you keep still and rest? I’ll help you get to the bathroom to clean up and brush your teeth when I get back.”
“I’ll lie here.” Lily closed her eyes. “And I’ll let you help me. I’m not about to waste my strength on a useless gesture of independence, when I may need it later to help Cassie.”
“Very sensible. I hope to hell you continue in that vein.”
She heard Andrew’s retreating footsteps, then the closing of the door.
He was gone. She was alone. The knowledge sent a surge of depression through her that she knew was completely unreasonable. Except for Cassie, she had been alone for many years, and this was no different. The closeness she believed to have been forged between her and Andrew she now considered a mirage that had vanished. She had to accept the fact. Thank heaven she hadn’t fallen completely under his spell. Yet if she hadn’t come perilously close, then why was the hurt of his betrayal such a throbbing wound?
Good heavens, she was worrying about a relationship that had scarcely started to bud, when she should have been thinking only of Cassie. In her mind Andrew and Cassie seemed bound together, and she was having trouble isolating one from the other. Andrew had given her Cassie, and now because of