An Act of Persuasion(71)

“Yes. That’s exactly what I want to do most days with Anna. It’s...unnerving. Unfortunately, we find ourselves with two people who wouldn’t particularly appreciate that experience.”

Mark could see that, maybe for the first time, Ben understood what drove Mark to compete with him. They were more alike than they were different.

“It was ridiculous to use Anna’s past as some kind of wager between us.”

“It was.”

“Are you going to tell her?”

“No. You weren’t trying to be insensitive. You’re simply having trouble adjusting to civilian life. And the reason why you’re making this adjustment doesn’t seem to be giving you a break.”

“A break? Try not a crack. She hasn’t given a smile or word freely. I don’t know what the hell to do because I don’t think she understands that this is about more than only letting me into her life. This is about us making a life together.”

“What are you saying? You want that room you’re making for her in your home to be permanent?”

Mark could hear the surprise in Ben’s voice. Because it was one thing to have a relationship with his daughter. It was a completely different thing to want to finish raising her. Did he want that? Had Dom and Marie been fifteen years younger and in better health, would he have been okay with letting Sophie stay with them while he continued to watch her life from the sidelines? He’d like to think he wouldn’t have. He’d like to think that no matter what, now that Helen was gone, it was time for Sophie to be with him.

“She might not have a choice. You haven’t met her grandparents. They’re in their seventies and not in very good health. I might be the best option for Sophie at this point.”

“Then you’ll figure it out. If you want it to work as badly as I can see you do, then you’ll make it happen. You’re not a quitter and I’ve yet to see you not get what you want.”

“Thanks.” That meant a lot coming from Ben.

“Will you back off Anna’s case and let me handle tracking down her parents?”

Mark could have accepted what Ben had said earlier. It didn’t make sense for both of them to look for the same thing. He had no doubt both of them would find whatever information was out there to learn. They were too good at what they’d done in their former lives to not be able to handle a basic request for information, even with an obstacle like false names.

But something in Ben’s expression made Mark pause. Despite playing it cool, Ben wanted him to back off. Badly. This was more than suggesting Mark would be wasting his time by doubling Ben’s efforts.

“Will you tell me the real reason why you want me to back off?”

Ben tilted his head. “No.”

Wrong answer. It meant Ben had an agenda and, for Anna’s sake, Mark couldn’t live with whatever consequences came from that agenda. At least he could provide Anna with some neutrality. For everything she’d done for him, he felt as though he owed her the simple courtesy of finding her parents.

“Sorry. I made a promise to her. She asked me to find them. I’m going to find them.”

“You won’t. Not before I do.”

“I’ve had the birth certificate for weeks longer than you’ve had it. What makes you think you’ll beat me to the information?”

“A hunch.” Ben shrugged.

“Okay, well, we said no bet. But I don’t see anything wrong with using your little statement there as...motivation.”

“You’re pathetic, Sharpe.”

“Don’t I know it?”

Mark left the office feeling lighter than when he’d gone in. For a few moments there, it had felt as though Ben were a friend. There simply to listen and let Mark get some of the shit he was feeling about his relationship with this daughter off his chest.

Two old adversaries who could see how their lives had changed and take comfort from each other in knowing that neither would forget the past. Maybe Anna wasn’t his only friend in the states after all.

* * *

“CAREFUL, CAREFUL.”

“Lady, we got it.”

Anna stared down the mover and he stared back hard. Considering he was holding up one half of her dining-room cabinet, she let him win. “Sorry. I’m a little anal about this stuff.”

“Really,” he muttered. “Couldn’t tell.”

Deciding it best to avoid the surly moving man who was sweating through his blue uniform shirt, Anna left the dining room and made her way to the living room where Ben was carefully measuring the wall.