“I need Holstrom’s money,” he said. “But the truth is, I could get money elsewhere. Holstrom has corporate and government contacts it would take me years to make on my own. But as a subcontractor, I’ll be granted credibility just for being under Holstrom’s umbrella.
“I know what good I can do with it. So don’t ask me to join in Kensey’s scheme. A lot’s at stake and there are repercussions to everything, Sam. Everything.”
Sam got up, walked over to him and threw her arms around his neck. He jerked in surprise first, then held on tight to her, too. They didn’t say anything for a long while, and he was glad of it because it gave his racing heart a chance to slow down.
“I’m sorry if you think I don’t believe in you,” Sam said, pulling back to look into his eyes. “I do. You’re a superhero, and always have been. And you’re my friend. So knock him dead, Logan. Get all the money you need from him to make your company great.”
“Good advice. Now go back to your booth and shake up that place. And try not to worry about Kensey. Holstrom’s place must be a fortress. She’ll never even get inside.”
Sam kissed him on the cheek, then headed for the door. “Kensey won’t have to break in,” she said, looking back with a small smile. “She has a dinner date with Holstrom tonight. At his place.”
* * *
“I ADMIRE YOUR work ethic,” Holstrom said, watching Logan like a hawk, ready to pounce as soon as Logan missed his footing. “So what is it exactly that you think I can do for you by subcontracting your company?”
“I think we both know the answer to that.” They were ten minutes into the meeting. It felt more like an hour. “The real question is what I can do for you. Besides solidify your presence on foreign soil.”
Holstrom’s slow patronizing smile told Logan that he had about three seconds to show he wasn’t bluffing. “Money, you have. But that’s not all you want. I can make you look good. Show everyone you’re the sort of patriot the public just loves to place on a pedestal.
“Not only will you get the kind of publicity that makes for big awards ceremonies, but I’m also involved with three different international veterans’ organizations, and I’ll make sure you’re on each board of directors. All without you having to do much more than pose for the covers of the American Legion Magazine, circulation 2,284,729. VFW Magazine, circulation 1,264,347, Family, circulation 501,543, Airman, 500,000, G.I. Jobs, 360,000. I can go on.”
“I’m sure you can, Mr. McCabe. How much money will this venture of yours cost?”
Logan had no qualms when he doubled his already inflated fees. Holstrom didn’t even look too surprised. If he had reacted negatively, Logan wouldn’t have cared. No way this egotistical asshole was going to talk him down, not when Logan was dangling a very important missing piece in Holstrom’s portfolio.
Barney had given Logan a lot to go on with Holstrom, but Logan had done some poking around himself. The goodwill of the armed forces was important to the man, and there was no way Holstrom hadn’t figured out Logan’s CIA connections. Logan may not have the lesser government contacts he needed to expand, but he did have access to the highest echelons of power. In fact, he’d thrown out his entire playbook the moment he’d seen Holstrom. He really disliked the sleazy bastard.
Every time he opened his mouth it reminded Logan of those obscene words the prick had said about Kensey. Not that Logan was changing his mind about helping her. But just imagining her entering the lion’s den tonight made it very easy to push hard and take no prisoners. Manipulating Holstrom was a piece of cake, now that Logan knew what to look for. And if or when Holstrom offered him the contract, Logan didn’t have to take it.
“If I were to bring you into the fold, I would want you only for foreign security business. Nothing domestic.”
“Well, that’s a problem,” Logan said, lounging back in the leather guest chair and noting the irritation in the man’s face. “Granted, most of the vets I employ excel at operations on foreign soil. But not all of them want to go back to the Middle East or be sent to South America, certainly not for any extended periods of time. I’ll need the ability to offer them some assignments right here at home.”
Holstrom tightened his mouth but he didn’t say anything. Yesterday Logan would’ve been pleased with the grudging admiration in the man’s eye. Today he didn’t give a shit what Holstrom thought of him or his spiel.
Goddamn Kensey. Though he should thank her. This new attitude was working in his favor.
They went back and forth for another hour, and by the time Holstrom’s lackey du jour had come in twice to remind his boss he had other obligations, Logan had everything but the signed papers. It was still difficult to shake the man’s hand.
As soon as he got out of Holstrom’s booth, he called his sister. He’d asked her to dig deep, using every connection she had to find out more about Holstrom and his relationship with the art world.
He’d been so busy doing the same for Kensey, he’d almost been late to his meeting. But more and more pieces of a puzzle he hadn’t known how to solve were becoming clear.
Her stellar reputation identifying forgeries had been confirmed in enough ways that Logan was convinced it was true. And so were her boarding school years. In fact, there were a lot more avenues to follow once he was back at the apartment.
He wasn’t about to let anyone pull his strings again. But now that he’d been dragged into this mess, he was determined to discover the truth about the woman and her mission. He rarely used his own special resources. The Big Guns, as Lisa called them. Still, it was nice to have friends in the army and the CIA. He had a few more in the NSA, but something told him not to invite anyone there to start probing into Kensey’s life.
Damn her. Why couldn’t he shake this ridiculous need to protect her?
16
KENSEY STARED AT her reflection and saw a stranger. How had she gotten here? What on earth was she doing?
Ian Holstrom expected to have sex with her. Because she’d made him believe it was what she wanted, too. She doubted very much that he was the kind of man to live by the “no means no” rule. Or any rules, for that matter.
She closed her eyes and pictured what her father would look like behind bars. Each time she imagined him there, which was far too often, it was a little bit worse. She may not succeed with her plan, but if he was in prison, at least she’d be able to go see him.
It wasn’t as if she loved him. She didn’t know him. The father she’d loved would never have walked out on her. So tonight she’d better think things through before Holstrom’s car arrived. Was all this worth pleasing the idea of a father? One who would explain everything. Who would have the best reason ever for abandoning his daughter? Not that she believed in fairy tales.
But she desperately wanted to believe in the one.
Make that two. In the second tale, Logan would forgive her, and they’d get together in New York when all of this was over. She’d cook dinner for them. Or they’d meet at the coffee bar down the street from her office. And they’d make out on a bench in Central Park, alarming the Tai Chi gang and the pigeons.
Yep. That was the dream. In reality, she might find herself in a hell of a lot of trouble tonight.
Maybe she should just tell Holstrom straight out that she had black belts in two different martial arts. But that wouldn’t get her into the secret room. No, she’d have to play her part, and play it well.
She checked the time. The car wouldn’t arrive for an hour and a half. Holstrom called it a car, but that was just billionaire speak for limo. Like the mansions in Newport being called cottages. She knew from her research that he lived on a large estate. Even though it might have raised some red flags, she should have insisted on taking a cab. But she wasn’t fooling herself either. Taxi or not, he could make it difficult for her to leave before he collected on her unspoken promise.
Nothing about Holstrom led her to believe he was a gentleman when it came to women. But if he pushed too hard, well, she had a few tricks up her sleeve.
Anyway, knowing Neil, he’d probably be tracking her movements from the moment she stepped outside the apartment door. Even if she were taken to a place other than Holstrom’s residence, she could always send out a text SOS. It sounded gross, but she knew a woman who had gotten out of a frightening situation by barfing on her attacker’s shoes. That maneuver might shut things down real quick. And she wouldn’t have to physically hurt him.
She slipped her robe on over her underwear and took three outfits from the closet. They were the final contenders and she laid them on her bed. Taking a few steps back, she stared at each one, imagining what it would be like for him to see her for the first time.
Of course she imagined Logan first. That was a recurring theme. She’d try to focus on Ian Holstrom, but Logan always barged in on her thoughts. It was taking a lot of numbing concentration to stay on point.
The first outfit was a cream-colored formfitting dress with dolman sleeve and an off-the-shoulder neckline. But it was tight all the way down to the hem past her knees. If things got rough, she’d have a difficult time.