You Only Love Twice (Masters and Mercenaries #8)(88)

He knew what his real problem was. “She’s already lost one husband.”

“Exactly. I wouldn’t spend my time railing at her for scaring you. She’s doing her job. Praise her for it.”

“He touched her.”

“And she handled it.” Simon seemed determined to be the voice of reason. “She wasn’t alone. She had Erin to back her up, and for all of Erin’s foibles, she’s a damn fine agent. She wouldn’t leave a teammate in the field to save her own life. They can handle things.”

It would be easier if Phoebe was behind a desk like Chelsea, or so pregnant she couldn’t work like Charlotte. Maybe Ian had the right idea. Just keep her pregnant so he could keep her safe. Except pregnancy wasn’t exactly totally safe, and then there were kids. Kids weren’t safe. Kids were small, crazed maniacs who thought playing in traffic and eating shit they shouldn’t was fun. Then he would spend his every waking hour terrified he would lose not only Phoebe but his kids, too.

Nope. Tag was an idiot.

“Are you all right?” Simon asked.

“I was just thinking about family.”

“And it made you turn slightly green?” Simon laughed, slapping him on the shoulder. “Don’t think about it. Just do it. There are no guarantees in life except that if you waste it, you’ll regret it. Take it all—the good, the bad, the risky. This is yours and it’s all you have. Having a family is the most frightening thing in the world if you really let yourself think about it. All that pain waiting out there if you lose one of them. And still, it’s meaningless if you don’t have them. We find our families, Jesse. Some of us are lucky to find them when we’re born, but a lot of us have to look. So be grateful and welcome every single person who becomes family to you. Hold them close and yes, mourn them when they’re gone, so at the end of all of this you know you had a life.”

He took a long breath, forcing his emotions deep because he was going to do everything he could to have those troublesome, frightening children with Phoebe. Neither one of them had good parents, but it didn’t matter because he did have a family to rely on. When he had questions, he could ask Simon or Jake or Alex. His children wouldn’t be alone like he’d been. They would be surrounded by cousins who would occasionally have to help fend off office attacks if their Uncle Ten and Uncle Tag couldn’t get along.

He just had to convince Phoebe it was worth the risk.

“It doesn’t look like our night is over.” Hutch pointed to his computer screen as Jesse turned back around. “Who is that, boss?”

Ten stepped up behind them. “Can’t tell. Do we have a better camera angle?”

Hutch hit a couple of buttons, grimacing. “Nah. I don’t have anything that picks up his face. Phoebe and Erin were moving toward the elevators when he stopped them.”

Jesse moved to his side, trying to get a good view of the feed. At least she was back in the ballroom. There was less chance of something bad happening to her with the entire conference crowd surrounding them.

On the camera feed, Phoebe was talking to a man in a thawb, the traditional Arab robe. It was long and covered every part of the man’s body with the exception of his hands. His head was covered in a keffiyeh. He was standing right in front of Phoebe, but Jesse couldn’t see his face. Phoebe’s was clear on the camera and there wasn’t a hint of distress. She seemed calm and pleasant.

“Can you get audio?” Ten asked.

Hutch nodded and Phoebe’s voice came over the line. “Thank you so much for asking. I am well. There was a moment’s distress, but it’s all been handled.”

“I saw you leave with the American. He was not in his right head.” The voice was dark, rich. It sent a shiver down Jesse’s spine. It made his stomach curl.

“He was drunk.” Erin stood beside Phoebe. “It was embarrassing. We couldn’t find his friends so we got him upstairs.”

“Did you?” That deep voice asked. “Clever girls, but you should be careful here. Next time, ask a man to help you. You shouldn’t be required to see that part of the world. It could also give the rest of the attendees the wrong impression of your character. They might not understand that you were trying to help. They would only see two women alone with a man who is not their husband.”

Jesse forced himself to stay standing. It was right there, the impulse to hide, to make himself as small as possible so no one noticed him. He could hide from that voice. It didn’t have to find him.

“Thank you, Mr. al Fareed.” Phoebe gave the man a polite smile and elbowed Erin, who looked like she wanted to say something.

Don’t say anything. Don’t talk. Don’t argue. Just survive.

The man’s head bent slightly, as though acknowledging her gratitude. “You are with the Loa Mali contingent?”

“Yes, sir.” Phoebe’s accent was crisp, and he liked the fact that it was one more bit of armor she could put between her and the man in front of her. “My friend and I are in public relations and marketing for the king.”

“He’s an interesting man.” Al Fareed bowed slightly. “And he has interesting friends. Be careful. It would be a shame for nice women like yourselves to get caught in a war.”

“A war?”

“Business is always war and war is always a matter of business. Don’t ever forget that. And stay away from the Americans. They drink too much. Men, I’ve found, are nothing but dogs to be trained. That one needs a tighter leash. Good evening.”