Неизвестный - 06. Honor Under Siege

Diane touched the loose curls at the base of Valerie’s neck. “You’ve cut your hair.” She fingered the soft blond strands. “It’s nice.” She was used to seeing Valerie in stylish slacks, silk blouses, and designer jackets. Today she wore a navy T-shirt, low-cut Levi’s, and scuffed brown boots. Her worn brown leather jacket was oversized, hiding her full breasts and slender torso. She looked younger. And she looked very tired. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Valerie drew a shaky breath. “God, I want to kiss you.”

Diane smiled. “That’s good, because I feel the same way. Do you think we could get out of the stairwell?”

Valerie shook her head. “I shouldn’t even be here, but I just had—I just wanted to see you.”

“You’re in trouble, aren’t you?”

“I’m not sure.” Valerie leaned forward and brushed her lips over Diane’s. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” Diane gently caressed Valerie’s face again, then drew closer and kissed her softly. She’d left her coat in the car, and the heat of Valerie’s body penetrated her silk blouse and slacks as if they weren’t even there. Diane’s nipples tightened instantly and she moaned softly. “Oh, I’ve missed you. Where are you staying? Can I come to you?”

Valerie shook her head. “No. You can’t right now.”

Diane slid her hand inside Valerie’s jacket and clasped her waist. “Then come to me. We need to talk. I need to understand what’s happening.” She kissed her again, harder. “I need you. Please.”

Valerie skimmed her fingers into Diane’s hair, her body trembling. “You can’t. It might be dangerous, and I won’t have you hurt.”

“Being away from you hurts me,” Diane whispered. “Not knowing what’s happening to you is driving me mad. Please. Give me a number to call, somewhere to meet you.”

“I’m using disposable phones. I’ll call you.” Valerie curled her hand behind Diane’s neck and pulled her close. Her tongue slid possessively into Diane’s open mouth. She groaned, the sound mingling with Diane’s echoing moan. When she pulled away, her ice blue eyes sparkled with tears. “I love you. No matter what happens, I want you to know that.”

Diane pressed her fingertips to Valerie’s mouth. “There won’t be any goodbyes. Whatever has happened, Cam can help you. You know how to reach her. Call her.”

Valerie shook her head. “Not yet. Not until I know more.”

“You can trust her,” Diane said insistently. “I know you can. You know you can.”

“Cam can’t control everything, Diane,” Valerie said wearily. “There are powerful people involved. Dangerous people.”

“And that’s all the more reason for you to have help. You can’t do this alone.” Diane kept both arms around Valerie’s waist, afraid that she would bolt and disappear. “I don’t want you to be alone.”

“I’ve always been alone,” Valerie whispered, “until you.”

“And I’m not going to let you go,” Diane said urgently. “I’ll only be here a few more days. Let me come to you.”

“Are you going back to Manhattan?”

“I don’t know. I’m probably going…” Out of years of habit, Diane hesitated mentioning anything about Blair.

Valerie stiffened. “Never mind. You don’t have to tell me.”

Diane shook her head. “It’s not what you think.”

“You don’t have any reason to trust me.” Valerie gently disengaged Diane’s hold on her and backed away. “I should apologize for ever involving you.”

“Don’t you say that,” Diane shot back. “This isn’t just about you, and what you need and what you’re afraid of. I’m in this too, because I chose to be.” She closed the distance that Valerie had created. “I chose to be with you.”

“How can you choose when you don’t even know what’s going on?”

Diane’s heart clenched at the uncertainty in Valerie’s voice and the tormented look in her eyes. She sensed Valerie struggling not to pull away and risked sliding her hand inside her jacket again. When she rested her fingertips against Valerie’s side, Valerie trembled.

“Oh, don’t,” Diane breathed. “Don’t hurt so much, my darling. Help me understand. Tell me, so that when I say I love you, you can trust me.”

“I can’t seem to think straight when you’re near me,” Valerie murmured before kissing her again. When the door behind them opened, she spun Diane to the wall, shielding Diane’s body with her own, and pushed her hand into her jacket pocket. “Keep your head down.”

Diane held her breath, her heart jumping in her chest. Valerie’s face had gone completely still, her blue eyes intently focused, and her body coiled as if it were poised to explode. Footsteps passed behind them and started down the stairs, clattering loudly in the enclosed space. Diane’s breath whooshed out. “God.”

“Do you understand now.” Valerie backed away until their bodies didn’t touch. “That’s what you’re asking me to bring into your life. I can’t.”

Diane’s gaze dropped to the bulge in Valerie’s jacket pocket, which she now realized was a gun. Having been around Blair since they were teenagers, she’d seen men and women with guns before. But she’d never sensed the lethal menace of one as acutely as she did now. “Are you saying that someone wants to kill you?”

“I don’t know.” Valerie moved to the stairs leading down. “And until I do, you can’t be anywhere near me.”

Diane followed her and grasped her jacket tightly. “I’m not going to let you walk away from me so easily again, Valerie.”

“I’ll come back,” Valerie said, her voice choked. “I have to. I can’t get you out of my head.”

Diane kissed her, hard and long. Then, though it wrenched her heart so badly she felt like she was bleeding inside, she let go of Valerie’s jacket. “Come soon.”

“I’ll try. I promise.”

Then Valerie turned and hurtled down the stairs until all that remained was the distant echo of her footsteps.

“Hey!” Blair said. “You missed the fashion show.”

“Sorry,” Diane said breathlessly. “I got… lost in the shoes.”

“So what do you think.” Blair held up a strapless black silk chiffon dress.

“Nice,” Diane said, running her fingers over the sheer fabric.

Blair frowned and cast a glance in Paula’s direction. Paula appeared not to be watching them, although Blair knew she was. She lowered her voice. “You’re shaking. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Of course,” Blair said, loud enough for Paula to hear, “now I have an excuse to buy more shoes.” She moved closer to Diane. “Bullshit. What happened?”

“I just saw Valerie.”

Blair slipped one arm around Diane’s waist and draped the dress over her free arm as she guided Diane through the dress department and out of hearing range of her security team. “Here? When?”

“Yes. Just a few minutes ago.”

“You talked to her?”

“Briefly. She’s scared, Blair.” Diane’s voice broke. “She scared, and she’s alone.”

“What did she say?”

Diane shook her head. “Not much. It was only a couple of minutes.” She laughed unsteadily. “And I was kissing her about half the time.”

Blair rolled her eyes. “Why am I not surprised. Jesus, Diane. You have to be careful.” When Diane started to pull away, Blair tightened her grip. “I’m sorry, I know you love her. And I love you. And if she’s in trouble, you could get hurt.” Blair felt Diane shiver. “What? What happened?”

“Nothing,” Diane said quickly. “Really. It’s just…”

“What?”

“Someone came into the stairwell while we were together, and Valerie acted as if she expected someone to try to hurt her. She was armed and—”