More Than a Mission - Caridad Pineiro [73]
Chapter 25
Elizabeth sat on the couch in the hotel room that Aidan’s crew used as their base of operations. Not the Leonia Inn as Aidan had mentioned, but the more upscale Lion’s Heart Lodge.
A series of tables lined one wall, their surfaces littered with monitors and other surveillance equipment, computers and assorted phones.
Aidan and Lucia were huddled over one computer, intently reviewing something that had been sent to them by Lord Southgate, the Duke of Carrington. The man who would be king now that Prince Reginald was dead. As Aidan bent over the monitor, the holster with his gun dangled between his body and outstretched arm.
A gun.
If she had one in her hands right now, she could see herself killing the man who had hurt Dani. She understood better how her sister had taken a dark path on her way to avenging their parents.
Her sister the assassin. Or so the Lazlo Group claimed.
It had been nearly an hour without word, but she could sense Dani still. It gave her hope that her twin was hanging on.
She rubbed her arms against the chill from the air conditioning in the room. It was set on high, probably to deal with all the equipment within. As she did so, she roused the smell of blood.
Holding her hands out in front of her, she realized her sister’s blood still clung to one hand. Glancing downward, she noted it on her shirtfront, as well from when she had cradled Dani in her arms.
“Lizzy?” Aidan questioned and took hold of her bloodstained hand with his own. “I’m sorry. I should have thought to get us cleaned up.”
His hand also bore the remnants of Dani’s blood as did his shirt from when he had carried her to the floor. “Thank you,” she said and raked back a lock of his hair with her clean hand.
A puzzled look came to his face. “For what?”
“For keeping your promise. For helping Dani.”
His eyes hardened. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop whoever shot her, Lizzy. But I promise—”
“Don’t. Not that I don’t want him dead, but…It just brings more death. More violence, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. It does,” he said and she could see in his eyes that he was thinking about Mitch.
Mitch, who Dani had said she’d loved. The pieces of part of the puzzle fell into place. “When Dani and I were in Rome, she told me she had met someone special. She was so happy for the first few days.”
“Mitch, as well,” Aidan admitted as he knelt before her.
“Then she came home one night…She was crying. Almost as inconsolable as when our parents had died. I figured Mr. Wonderful had broken it off with her.”
“Maybe he did, but not for the reasons she thought. Maybe he was dead,” he said.
“She loved him,” she said and Aidan inclined his head in agreement.
“I think he loved her, only…The kind of lives we lead don’t hold out many promises for happily ever after, Lizzy.”
She hadn’t needed him to tell her. Maybe it was his way of reminding her that he, too, had that kind of life. That he was a wanderin’ man in a dangerous job who would move on as soon as this assignment was over. A man who one day, might end up like Mitch.
She wouldn’t say, like Dani. No, not like Dani. Dani was still alive. Still with her, Lizzy believed with all her heart.
The door opened then and Walker Shaw stepped in, the planes of his face like granite. His blue eyes shuttered until he looked her way and said, “I’m sorry, Ms. Moore.”
They were the last words she heard as Aidan caught her in his arms.
A tender touch skimmed the skin along her cheek, rousing her.
She opened her eyes and Aidan was there. “I’m sorry,” he said and once again stroked his finger across her cheek.
Shaking her head, she said, “Dani’s not dead.”
“Lizzy—”
“She’s not,” she insisted and popped up. She realized someone had changed her shirt and cleaned her hands. It defused the situation immediately. “Did you do this?”
He nodded and took hold of her hand. “Are you okay?”
She would be better if she could see Dani. See for herself that Dani was dead since her twin instinct was telling her otherwise. “I want to see Dani. Say goodbye.”
He rose and held out his hand to help her up. “I’m told