Page 20 of Exacting Vengeance

Agent Gates either didn’t recognize her, or he was keeping it to himself. But how could he not know her? Predatory, hawklike eyes scrutinized her as if she were prey about to be grabbed in his talons. Her heart thudded so loudly he had to hear it. His forehead furrowed, then he sat in the chair next to her at the head of the table.

Oh Jesus. She gulped. This was worse than she could have imagined. Not that she actually wanted him to recognize her, but how could he have forgotten her? She’d never forgotten him. He wasn’t a man a woman easily forgot. He looked the same yet different.

A decade had been good to him. He was even more strikingly handsome. The few lines on his face that hadn’t been there before only added more character. As if he needs more. If anything, he was bigger, more muscular than she remembered. His face was harder, leaner, his thick, wavy jet-black hair shorter. But his eyes were the same. Piercing gold orbs that could always see right through her.

Images of the past came spiraling upward from a deep, dark chamber, exploding all around her like a nightmare. She’d long ago erected a steel barricade topped with barbed wire to keep those memories locked down. Now they escaped with frightening speed.

She’d thought he was dead, that his body lay somewhere in a cold, unmarked grave. Nearly ten years ago, he’d disappeared without a trace. Now she knew where he’d gone and where he’d been. He was an FBI agent, for God’s sake, and had always been one.

She inhaled, her breaths shallower and now filled with his familiar, woodsy aftershave.

Agent Gates—Kyle—flipped open a portfolio.

“Miss Kelly,” he said in that deep, sexy voice she hadn’t forgotten, either. “Are you all right? Can I get you anything? Water, soda?”

“No, no. I’m fine. Thank you.”

Pull yourself together. You’re stronger than this. She forced a smile, hoping no one would see how flustered she was.

“Shall we begin?” Michael Morrison asked, his brows meeting as he glanced to Kyle, then back to her.

The next hour passed in a blur. Victoria could barely concentrate on the testimony being discussed. Greg Washington had already prepped Aly but was concerned her emotional state might deteriorate during heavy cross-examination when she had to face her husband for the first time in over three months. Victoria could well understand that fear. She understood it all too well.

Kyle stayed mostly silent throughout the meeting, giving her the opportunity to compose herself. When he finally spoke, she nearly jumped out of her seat.

“Miss Kelly.” He swiveled his chair to face her. “We could use your advice.”

Victoria’s heart raced again as she stared into the face of the man who could expose her real identity any second. He’d saved her life, but how could he have been so callous as to deceive her and leave without a word?

Because he’d been playing her the entire time.

She fisted her hands beneath the table, doing her best to hold back the grief, resentment, and anger that had once been so overwhelming she thought she’d never get over it. That last emotion—anger—won out.

“I’m happy to help,” she replied in a tone laden with saccharine sweetness. “And please, call me Victoria.” If he could play this little game of pretending not to know her, then the least she could do was get in a few good digs before he shit-canned her career.

“Victoria.” He didn’t exactly smile. It was more of a lip quirk. “As you know, Boris Kolbayev has made death threats against Alyona, and she knows her testimony will most likely send him to prison. Going over her testimony with her in a controlled environment is one thing. We’re concerned she’ll cave under the pressure of testifying against her husband in open court. Do you have any suggestions as to what can we do to keep that from happening?”

“Agent Gates, or may I call you Kyle?” She smiled angelically, resisting the urge to bat her lashes, so there’d be no doubt in his mind she didn’t like the game he was playing.

No lip quirk this time. His eyes narrowed. “Either one is fine.”

“Kyle,” she continued. “Perhaps, you should take a moment out of your very important day and try putting yourself in Aly’s shoes. Perhaps, you should try to understand what it means to a woman to have her entire world collapse. To lose everything, including her husband, her belongings, her home.” Her voice rose. “To have to leave town in the middle of the night under the cover of darkness like an escaped prisoner, never knowing when your husband might drag you back and beat the heck out of you. When this is over, she’ll have to pick up the pieces and try to make it on her own. I doubt anyone in this room has ever experienced that.”

To her horror, her lips trembled. She pressed them together tightly. If she didn’t stand firm, she’d lose what little self-respect she had left. Misrepresenting her own personal battles as Aly’s hadn’t been her intention. Seeing Alex Tarankov aka Kyle Gates again had brought it out in spades.

“Forgive me,” she continued, now addressing everyone else. “I didn’t mean to be so abrupt, but I think it may be difficult for you to understand what Aly is going through. She’s fragile, but with our support she’s discovered the courage to help you, along with herself.” Victoria took a steadying breath. She could get through this. She had to. “Please try to remember Aly can’t be legally compelled to testify against her own husband. She’s doing it so she can move on with her life and close the door on this terrible man she was unfortunate enough to marry.” She looked straight at Kyle, wondering what was really going on inside that handsome head. “You want her testimony, and she wants to escape a horrible marriage. Permanently. It’s lucky for the government her goals and yours happen to mesh.”

Four faces watched her with shocked and slightly curious expressions. Kyle clenched his jaw, then gave her a curt nod. Because he knew. He knew everything. Again, she fisted her hands beneath the table, willing the pent-up emotions pinging around inside her head like a pinball machine not to break free.

Greg was the first to speak. “You have valid points, Victoria, and we’ll all try to remember them.”

Kyle thrummed his fingers on his portfolio. “Are you suggesting we handle Alyona differently than we have been?”

“I suggest you don’t allow that defense attorney to walk all over her. She’s not the one on trial, but you know darned well Kolbayev’s attorney will make it seem as if she is. Once she feels that way, she may lose it and break down.”

“Your advice is well taken,” he said. “I’m sure Greg won’t give the defense an opportunity to sink their teeth into her.”

Greg nodded. “We’ll be prepared with objections the minute things get nasty.”