Private Melody

“Please forgive the wait, Mr. Ambassador.” The waiter was flushed and out of breath.

“Not a problem. Just juice and whatever Ms. Lawrence is having.”

“Yes, sir.” The young man scribbled the order furiously. “Right away, sir.”

“I feel like such an idiot.” Kianti shook her head and watched the server sprint away. “Everyone knows who you are and I didn’t have a clue.”

“And you have no idea how pleased I am to hear that.” He cast a disinterested glance across his shoulder and smirked. “Besides, they school the staff on the so-called ‘big wigs.’ Better tips, you know?” He winked.

When she threw her head back to laugh, Therin decided he was in need of conversation to keep the moment from growing too charged. “So why do you consider yourself other than normal?” he asked.

“Well, prodigies aren’t exactly the norm, are they?” Kianti rested her chin to her palm.

He nodded, realizing her point. “Hard life?”

“I suppose.” She studied the pattern embroidered into the white tablecloth. “But what are you gonna do? It’s the only life I’ve ever known—didn’t know any better until I had something to compare it to.” She fixed him with a whimsical look. “Kids playing in the street while I’m in the house playing Bach.”

Laughter rose heartily then.

“So may I question your ‘only son’ remark?” she probed once the waiter had brought out Therin’s juice and topped off her decaf.

“Mmm.” He winced while taking a sip of the drink. “Was hoping you hadn’t caught that.”

“Come on, fess up.” She waved her hands in a beckoning manner. “It’s only fair. I rarely share my child prodigy stories.” Her gaze softened as she studied the pensive look on his very handsome face. “Did you regret not having brothers or sisters?”

“Maybe, but it’s the only life I’ve known—nothing to compare it to, as you said.”

“Touché.” Kianti sent him a mock salute.

Food arrived and soon the two were dining on over-easy eggs, steak strips and toast.

“Guess that’s why I took up the interests I have,” Therin said around a bite of steak.

Kianti nodded. “Politics.”

He smiled. “Education.”

She tilted her head at a cocky angle. “Now you’ve really got me interested. Talk, man!”

They dived into the incredible breakfast of fruit, seasoned browns and scrambled eggs. Seated next to an enviable view in a peaceful dining room they chatted like longtime acquaintances.

“Growing up…privy to dedicated teachers and fine schools made me naively think that was the norm,” he shared. “Then I realized that too many parents, and kids, for that matter, wouldn’t put dedicated teachers and fine schools together in the same book. It made me sick to my stomach.” He held his fork poised over the plate and glared out at the view. “No child should be denied a fine education, and no parent should feel it’s beyond their power to claim it for their child.”

Silently, Kianti marveled how there could be any education woes with a man like the one seated across from her as its champion.

Therin noticed her set expression and closed his eyes in playful regret. “Sorry about that.” He tapped the tip of the fork to the cleft in his chin. “I tend to get carried away.” His voice lowered an octave on the last word.

“That’s not it.” She waved off the excuse. “You’re very persuasive in your arguments. My guess is that you’re a fundraiser’s dream.”

“Hmph.” Therin returned his attention to breakfast and didn’t appear to appreciate the assessment. “So I’ve been told,” he grumbled.

“Did I offend you?”

“No, Kianti.” He tapped his fingers next to her plate and waited for her eyes to meet his. “No. I’ve just got a lot of friends and…acquaintances who tell me the same thing. Many times they don’t mean to flatter me with it.”

“Well, that’s crazy. What could be more admirable than taking up such a cause?”

He smiled at the innocence he’d once been a victim of. “Kianti, everything pales next to the cause of raking in obscene amounts of cash for the next war.”

“Ah.” Enlightenment dawned and she nodded. “So is that why you gave up your ambassadorship? To devote more time to your cause?” she asked, following several moments of easy silence.

“One of many reasons,” was his only reply. His thoughts drifted toward his parents. His involvement—er—obsession over his cause had cut short that relationship far too soon. At least, he had always suspected that was the case.

Kianti caught his grimace again and decided to call a halt to the Q&A.

“Someone once told me that with power comes the ability to make change in addition to suggestion,” he eventually added somewhat prophetically.

“I’ve always thought of ambassadors and such as figureheads. Sorry,” she said demurely before sipping her coffee. She was pleased to hear him chuckle.

“You’re not too far off.” He helped himself to his last forkful of eggs. “As ambassador, I found that I could suggest ’til the cows came home, but affecting change—” he brushed the back of his hand along a sideburn “—affecting change eluded me until I left my post.”

“You left your post yet you remain in Vancouver? No desire to return home to the States?” A teasing element made her eyes sparkle.

Therin shrugged. “Canada’s not so far away. I’m in the States off and on. But I really like where I am—many diplomats aren’t so lucky.”

Kianti added a bit more cream to her coffee. “It would seem you could do more for the cause on this side of the border, that’s all.”

“Well, that’s what’s so impressive about the organization.” Therin settled in more comfortably. “We’re everywhere. EYES members and branch offices across the country go a long way to give the impression that we’re a strong united group. Everyone works equally hard which is another reason we’re so successful.” He thanked the waiter who’d returned with a fresh glass of juice. “Education’s my passion, and while I’ve been labeled as the face of EYES, I’m not its leader. That’s a joint responsibility.”

“It’s a different outlook.” Kianti studied his very handsome face with unmasked appreciation. “Guess the opposition doesn’t quite know how to take you all.”

Therin chuckled, causing his provocative gaze to narrow. “I think that’d be the case no matter who we were. Politics is a nasty game. You have to be…creative to get things done.”

“I see…creative here being akin to corrupt?” she guessed.

He raised his juice glass. “Smart lady.”

Kianti shrugged. “Things aren’t much different in the music world.”

“Yet you remain a faithful contributor?”

It was her turn to mull over a response. “I feel an obligation to continue. There’re a lot of talented kids out there but this is not an easy business to break into. Instrumental performing—piano, orchestra, symphonies—there’s a fair amount of politics at play and getting your shot isn’t always as easy as knowing how to play the hell out of an instrument.” She smiled but there was little humor in the gesture. “Many kids have the raw talent,” she extended her hand, “and nowhere to cultivate it. No proper pedigree, if you get my meaning.”

Therin did.

“Portions of my CD sales go into a fund. I and many of my colleagues hope to open a school based on talent, financed by the artists who’ve made it instead of the ones trying to make it.”

“Admirable.” Therin leaned back in his chair. His smirk held tinges of regret though. “I wish it were so easy to get a group of politicians on the same page like that.”

The two would have delved back into the rest of their meals to further conversation. The laughter and easy mood, however, was interrupted when Vaughn Burgess approached the table.

“Accept my apologies…please.” Momentarily taken aback by Therin’s breakfast partner, Vaughn was undoubtedly captivated.

“Kianti Lawrence, my right arm, Vaughn Burgess.” Therin enjoyed the man’s mesmerized expression.

Vaughn, in fact, seemed to have forgotten all about Therin’s presence. He leaned close to take Kianti’s hand. “I enjoyed your playing very much,” he told her.

Kianti bowed her head graciously. “I appreciate you saying that. I thought I may have sounded a bit rushed last night.”

“Nonsense.” Vaughn’s entranced expression turned woeful. “I do apologize for the interruption. I’m gonna have to steal this guy.” He glanced toward Therin before smiling again at Kianti and stepping back to offer the couple privacy.

Therin took her hand next. “This was nice.”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“This must be important or else he wouldn’t be here. Always on my back for not relaxing more.” Therin spoke the last sentence a bit louder for Vaughn’s benefit.

Kianti bit her lip playfully to stifle her laughter. “It’s okay. I understand, really.”

“When do you leave?” he asked.

“This afternoon.”

He let her see his frown. “I’ll see you before you leave.”

She placed her hand across his. “Handle your business.”

“I promise,” he said, giving her hand a squeeze and standing as the waiter returned. “This is on me.” He tossed several bills to the table and pushed several more into the young man’s hand.

Kianti’s eyes followed Therin until he was gone from the dining room.

“This had better be damned good,” Therin growled to Vaughn as they rounded the corner.

Vaughn’s voice was uncharacteristically hollow. “It’s not. It’s not good at all.”

The weight which had lifted from Therin’s shoulders during the time spent with Kianti fell like an anvil when he and Vaughn returned to the suite. The conversation he’d escaped from earlier, and hoped would be over by the time he returned, seemed to have taken on new life. It wasn’t long before he discovered why.

“Dammit,” Therin growled upon viewing the file on one of his staff assistants, Ruby Loro.

Absolute silence settled in the suite for the first time that morning.

Therin Rucker’s calm demeanor was a constant that his staff respected and thrived in the midst of. Though he often preferred to step back and do more observing, Therin encouraged discussion and debate. He felt they were the greatest tools in running effective campaigns and encouraging loyalty. Witnessing a loss of temper from someone so focused and deliberate was as fascinating as it was disconcerting.

“This is bullshit.” Therin’s voice was a little more than a whisper. He massaged the back of his neck and slanted Vaughn a dark look.

“Agreed.” Vaughn raised his hands defensively. “But it’s still gonna have to be dealt with…on several levels.”

“I should talk to her.” Therin rifled through the file. “Has she seen this mess?”

“No, um…it was uh—stuck inside your complimentary copy of this morning’s USA TODAY,” Morgan Felts explained.

Therin began a pace of the suite’s living area. “Anybody contact the office to confirm that?”

“Ther, nobody’s heard a damn thing,” Gary Bryce chimed in.

Peter Stanson used the pen he held to gesture toward the file. “I think it’s safe to say that whoever left that crap meant for you to see it first and to decide how best to keep it quiet.”

“By keeping my damn mouth shut,” Therin guessed, walking past the table and swiping a stack of papers to the floor.

Vaughn took advantage of the clean area of the table and helped himself to a seat. “I don’t think it’s as much about keeping your mouth shut as it is about using it to promote other interests.”

“Screw that.” Therin’s voice was monotone.

The other four men in the room exchanged looks. They’d known Therin long enough to know that the flat tone of his voice signified his mood shifting into dark territory.

“Would it really be that much of an issue to throw a little chatter toward your other endeavors?” Peter asked.

Therin turned, pushing hands into the deep pockets of his sweats.

“The pockets you open…there’s enough to go around, right?” The look Peter received then had him swallowing uncomfortably while lifting his hands in submission.

Vaughn reached for the file and perused the lurid film shots. The webpage printouts showed covers of adult DVDs featuring Ruby Loro when she’d come to the U.S. illegally and willing to do anything to stay there.

“We suspected all along that these folks you’re rattling were sons of bitches. All of our research into what few leads we have proves their allegiance is to the manufacture of the weapons and military strength over the education of the nation’s kids,” Vaughn said while shaking his head at the damaging items inside the file. “What they’ve just done proves they’re willing to go to any lengths to draw you over to their side but this…” he groaned. “She’s a sweetheart, Ther. She doesn’t deserve to have this tossed up in her face. She’s not this woman anymore.”

“Hell, you don’t think I know that, V?” Therin’s mood had journeyed into an even darker abyss. “Get her on the phone, G.”

“What are you gonna do?” Peter asked, while Gary made the call.

Therin’s expression was unreadable. “I’ll know that when I talk to her.”

Chapter 3

Kianti’s shoulders slumped when she returned to her suite and found it filled with her travel companions. They each turned to fix her with unfriendly looks when she strolled into the room.

Cube even ceased his raid on the snack safe. “Well, well, look who decided to show up and let us know she wasn’t somewhere havin’ a heart attack!”

Winton was on the phone and only remarked with a slow shake of his head to illustrate his irritation. “Yeah…yeah we should be in by six,” he continued.

“Mmm-hmm.” Khan didn’t look up while he surfed channels. “No note or nothin’. Your cook wasn’t sure whether to start breakfast.” His slanted stare narrowed further when he and Cube dissolved into laughter over the dig at Brody.

Dr. Brody Parker simply leaned against the doorway to the bedroom, arms folded across his chest.

“Can’t I even eat breakfast on my own?” Kianti tossed aside her black tote.

“Ah, breakfast.” Brody pushed off the doorway. “You mean that stuff we practically have to force you to eat?”

“Can’t a person improve their eating habits?”

“Of course, but this is you we’re talkin’ about,” Brody countered.

Kianti threw up her hands. “I don’t want to waste time going back and forth over this.”

“Oh, we know that.” Khan chuckled. “Obviously you prefer spending your time with the ambassador.”

“Hmph.” She folded her arms over her sweater. “And did your spies tell you I was at the table long before he got there?”

“Maybe y’all planned it that way last night,” Cube chided with a sly wink and a mouthful of Skittles.

“Did you take your pill?”

“Yes!” Kianti snapped at Brody’s question.

“That’s funny since, according to my count it doesn’t look like you’ve taken one in over two weeks.”

Kianti stilled but for a moment. “You went through my stuff?” She exploded, her dark gaze more brilliant in the wake of anger.

Feathers unruffled, Brody merely shrugged. “Are you trying to kill yourself?”

“Yes. Yes, Brody, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. Didn’t you see the coffin catalog on the nightstand when you were going through my things?”

The room quieted. Winton had finished his call. Khan shut off the television. The group had had their run-ins regarding Kianti’s outlook toward her health, but never had she gone so far as to shun the pills which kept her heart rate stable. The sudden spikes in pulse had plagued Kianti since childhood.

She hid her face in her hands and inhaled deeply for a moment. “Guys…I’m trying to live. I don’t want to be tied to those things my entire life.”

“Those things help keep you alive.”

She smiled over Brody’s soft reminder. “And I stopped taking them four weeks ago.” She studied the surprise in his dark eyes. “Guess you didn’t bother to check my previous bottle.”

“Dammit, Key!” Khan threw the remote to the coffee table. “Hell, that’s just stupid!”

“And I don’t expect any of you to understand.” She pointed a finger toward the floor. “You don’t know what it’s like not being able to do what you love without some crutch—not to be able to have someone to love for fear of…”

The guys exchanged meaningful looks over the top of Kianti’s head. Slowly, they crowded her. Cube was first to draw her close and kiss the top of her head.

Brody squeezed her arms. “Don’t you know they’d have to bury us, too, if anything ever happened to you?”

“You’re our meal ticket, girl.” Cube shook her gently. “Not to mention our pass to all the best parties.”

Soft laughter rose among the five. Brody and Kianti had known each other since childhood. Kianti met Cube, Khan and Winton in college where she’d tutored Winton in English Lit while he’d tutored her in Advanced Calculus. Cube, Khan and Winton shared a dorm suite with Brody. Despite the unorthodox dynamic, the group had developed a close-knit relationship that bordered on familial.

Kianti knocked her fist against the denim shirt covering Cube’s wide chest. “Guys, I’ve been off the pills for four weeks. Can’t we just wait and see what happens?”

As a response, Kianti heard all sorts of curses and other low sounds of disapproval.

“Hell, Brody’s the doctor.” Winton rubbed his fingers across the faded haircut he sported. “I have to agree with Khan though, this is plain stupid.” He tugged Kianti out of Cube’s embrace and into his own. “We hear what you’re sayin’, babe, but this is only one pill. Some folks have to take ten times as much medication.”

“And people overcome their need for medication every day.” She tugged the zipper dangling from his windbreaker. “Like you said, some people take ten times as much as I do.”

Bested, Winton waved his hand and turned Kianti toward Brody. “You talk to her.”

“All right, Key, we’ll do it your way.” The doctor stunned everyone, including his patient. “But understand—” he wagged a finger “—you’re backing me—all of us—into a corner here. We can’t force you to do a damn thing when it comes right down to it. This is your life, but you’ve put us in charge of protecting it. Look for us to be even more aggressive in keeping you safe, calm and rested. Even if we have to tie you down in a bed to make it happen.”

Khan nudged her side. “That part’ll be easy since we’ve all thought of doing it at one time or another.” He winked, waiting for the smile he was trying to rouse from her. He succeeded, joining in when she grinned.

“If none of this works, you’re back on the pills. Agreed?” Brody brought the seriousness back to the moment.

Kianti’s nod came slowly but with a great deal of relief. She no longer had to hide.

“All right, y’all, we should go,” Brody told the guys and squeezed Kianti’s hand. “You rest up. We’re out of here in a few hours.”

“Are they around her all the time?”

“Pretty much from what I gather.”

“Well, who are they? To her, I mean?”

Therin began questioning Vaughn about Kianti Lawrence shortly after the rest of the staff left them alone in the living area.

“She’s not…involved with them all, is she?” Therin smiled, knowing the idea was ludicrous. Still, for a woman like that…it wouldn’t be a difficult thing to keep a man or four dangling.

“It’s not like that, man,” Vaughn said through his chuckling.

“From what you gather?” Therin countered, watching as Vaughn shrugged.

“What’s got you so interested here?”

Therin’s expression was incredulous. “Did you take a good look at her this morning?”

“Damn straight I did.” Vaughn swore while raising his hands for confirmation. “She’s a goddess but she doesn’t live in this hotel. Neither do you. You don’t even live in the country—technically.”

Therin had moved over to the windows and sat on the back of the oversize chair facing them.

Vaughn followed. “Talk to me, T. What is it about this one?”

“Hell, man, what’s the big deal?” His grin was forced. “I only asked if she’s attached to her bodyguards.”

“Simple as that, huh?” Vaughn rubbed at the receding edge of his hairline. His handsome honey-toned face was a picture of disbelief. “How many times did you zone out this morning, man?”

“Understandable.” Therin tapped his hand to the front of the sweatshirt he wore. “I wasn’t particularly interested in the conversation when I walked out of here earlier.”

“Mmm-hmm, and you weren’t all too pleased that I interrupted your breakfast to ask you to join us back up here.”

“Like I said, just didn’t want to be part of the discussion.”

“What do you expect could come of this, T? All right, all right,” he said when Therin flashed him a cold look. “May I at least ask if you’re trying to make sure you’re not playing with someone else’s toy?”

Therin smiled then. “No. I only want to know whose toy I’m about to take away.”

Vaughn burst into laughter and nodded when his boss asked that he check out Kianti Lawrence and her crew.

Kianti bit her lip and tried to cast covert glances around the lobby. She and the guys would be leaving for the airport as soon as the car was packed. Therin had promised to say goodbye.

She bowed her head, snuggling into the high collar of the black cashmere coat she wore. Idiot, she chastised herself. That brief acquaintance was over and done with. What else could it have been?

Distance wasn’t the only deciding factor there, either. She was sick of involvements that dissolved because of a weak heart. She smiled unamused and wondered what had done more damage to her heart—her illness or the amount of times her heart had been broken. She felt hands squeeze her arms and masked her disappointment when she saw Winton at her side.

“We’re all set. You got everything?”

Kianti risked another glance around the spacious lobby and then nodded. “Let’s go home,” she said.

“Ruby? Ruby, calm down. For the third time, I didn’t call to fire you.”

“Sorry, Therin. Sorry,” Ruby Loro blubbered, sniffled and gasped over the phone. “I shouldn’t have done it—keeping my past a secret like that. I just—just felt like I didn’t have a choice. Stupid!” she called herself and hiccupped on a few more sobs. “I thought…the movies were the easiest choice—quickest path to success, or so I thought. God…” she moaned and broke into another stretch of tears. “I’m sorry…”

“Ruby. Calm yourself.” Therin’s voice was patience personified.

“I’ll resign.” Ruby hiccupped the words. “I’ll resign my post. The last thing I want is to cast a shadow over all the good you’re doing.”

“And you know me well enough to know I don’t want a resignation any more than I want to fire you.” Leaning forward on the sofa, Therin braced elbows to his knees. “What I want is for you to think. Did anyone approach you about this? Who knew Ruby Loro was once Spanish Heat?”

“Jesus,” Ruby hissed at the sound of the name she’d filmed under. “No one knew my real name. Not even the movie people.” She laughed shortly. “They really didn’t care about background checks, or whether I knew English for that matter. Knowing lines wasn’t a big issue, you see?”

“Right…” His hand flexed around the slim cordless. “I’m sorry, Ruby, for making you remember this crap.”

“I don’t have any family or friends except for the ones I’ve made while living and working in Canada.”

“Does that mean you could handle this coming out?” Silence met Therin’s question. “I don’t intend on bending over for these fools.”

“And I’m tired of hiding. You can rip them a new one for all I care.”

“Don’t you have vacation time you’ve been hoarding?”

“Almost a month,” Ruby boasted.

“Take it and longer if you need it.” Therin left the sofa and went to look out over the Spokane view. “I’m about to call the bluff on these jackasses. I don’t need you caught up in it yet if it’s not necessary.”

“Thank you, Therin. Thanks for believing in me. Most…” She sniffled lightly. “Most would have judged and not given another thought to firing me.”