He hadn't been near a gym for weeks and felt like a good work out, to get rid of some of the excess energy that was making him feel agitated and restless. Anticipation always made him feel like this, the adrenalin rush of knowing that he was back in the cut and thrust and, better still, pulling the strings. It had been a satisfying day, scattering about a few little warnings and putting the wind up certain parties. Nick doubted whether he had made any friends today but he had definitely ensured his safety and had got a few current problems off his back.

Warming up with a few stretches, he dropped to his hands and toes and began a quick hundred, strong enough to clap his hands together between each press. He began to zone out, let the rhythm carry him, the steady thud of blood and the drip of sweat from his body lulling him as his mind drifted and he thought of her...

The boot on his neck forcing his chin to the ground came out of nowhere. For a second he steeled himself to the cold metal of a gun at his back of his head and readied himself for the shot. How had he missed it?

Then he heard the familiar voice. "Sloppy, Nick. Wouldn't have done in the old days. I'd have had your bollocks for a slip like that...."

He lay with his face pressed into the mat as Terry ground his heel down. Relaxing, he contemplated the moves he could make and then decided to play this one out. Thorne must have found out about him and Zoe. Fair play if he was angry. You couldn't blame the bloke.

"Come on, mate, you made your fucking point..." Nick gasped.

The pressure was eased and he felt himself being hauled up and then flung back. He hit the wall and the slamming impact winded him. But he did nothing, just bending over, resting his hands on his thighs and breathing deeply to recover his poise.

"Point? I think not. I haven't even fucking started yet, mate."

Nick raised his eyes and looked at Terry. "What's this about?"

"You know what this is about." Terry was sitting on a bench, his arms folded, dressed casually, jeans and a leather jacket. Looked like he hadn't slept much, if at all. Needed a shave. But he was holding it together. Steely and sombre. At his most dangerous. There was something about his calm demeanour that Nick recognised as the very opposite of that. This was one very pissed off Terry Thorne.

"How did you find out?" Nick countered, manoeuvring for time.

"Immaterial."

"They got to you? Don't let them play you, man. Do their dirty work for you? Who's slipping now?" Nick laughed balefully.

Terry gave him a searching look. "Leave her alone. That's all I want. I don't give a fuck about the rest..."

"Too late. You told me 'Go get the girl.' I did."

"You shit!" he shouted. "You knew I didn't know it was her when I said that!"

To that, Nick straightened up and gave him a challenging stare. "You knew she was someone's wife, girlfriend, daughter...you didn't give a fuck then, though, did ya? You're all hypocrites, Terry."

"She's twenty two. She has her life ahead of her. Don't destroy that. If you care about her at all, let her go. I'm begging you, Costello... And I don't beg easy. Let her go." A nerve twitched in Terry's cheek; it was costing him a great deal to say this.

"I can't." It was honesty on Nick's part and yet it seemed to be the one thing that Terry would not accept. He bridled and anger flashed in his eyes.

"Can't? Or won't? You've had them all, Nick. Any woman you wanted. Why her? She's a baby. What can she do for a man like you? Amuse you for a while? Go find another little girl. Leave mine alone."

Nick closed down, his eyes narrowing malevolently. "She isn't yours... She's mine."

He didn't expect the reaction. Terry moved with a speed he hadn't expected from a man of his size and age. A fist rammed into his face and he felt his head knocked back hard against the wall. Another man using the gym stepped up. "Hey, man, leave him alone...you okay there?"

Terry growled, still holding Nick by the throat. "Get out! NOW!" His voice was enough to make the guy hold up his hands and back off. It wasn't his problem. This man meant business.

"Leave her alone, Costello, or I'll turn the dogs on you! They're baying at your heels already. And I'll kill you myself before I let you touch her again..."

Nick laughed despite the hand constricting his breathing. "They can't. I've got too much on them. Nor can you. Kill me? You're only holding me now because I let you. Give it up, Terry. She's mine now. You did a good job... alpha genes there, mate... She's a beautiful woman..."

"...You fucking bastard...!" He raised his knee and rammed it into Costello's groin; Nick groaned and curled up in a ball, Terry dragging him back up to land his fist into the man's solar plexus. This time he hit the floor hard and was kicked hard in the ribs. Nick grunted and raised his hands before his face.

"I'm warning you, Thorne, ya bastard...!" 

Terry hauled him to his feet again and spat out in his face. "...You better have used something, you fucking animal...you've given her anything, I'll take you apart piece by fucking piece..."

Nick laughed mockingly in his face. "Sure we did, safe sex, ya know? The first few dozen times...Since then? Well, she doesn't go much for rubber....likes the feel of hard, hot flesh...know what I mean...?" The thud of the punch into his face knocked his head back against a piece of equipment. For a moment he literally saw stars - and then he moved, his anger too great now to hold back any more. Nick kicked Terry's legs from under him in one lightening movement and threw himself on top as he fell, his hand now at the other man's throat. And this hand was capable of snapping a man's windpipe with only the slightest pressure.

"...Okay, now you listen to me, Thornie! You feel that? I could throttle you in seconds... You've had your fun, mate. That's the last free shot you get. Take me out? You serious? I could have wasted you ten different ways already - and you know it. You can't beat me, Terry. I'm younger, stronger, fitter and meaner. I've got your daughter and she wants me. She wants me, Terry. Not you. Does anything I ask. You want me to spell that out? Anything. Get out while you still can, mate. Because, you come near me again, and I will kill you next time. And you know that I will. That I can. So go home to your pretty little wife and don't even think of playing the hard man with me. You will lose - and I am sure you do not want to make Annie a widow. Not with me on the loose, hey?" He added with a sneer.

Nick relaxed his hold and stepped back. Terry put his hand to his neck and breathed again, gulping for air, coughing and retching. In one move Costello had shown his capabilities and Terry was in no doubt that he was ruthless enough to make good on his promise.  He looked up to see Nick standing above him, smirking. Costello held all the cards. There was nothing he could do to stop him.

"I'm sorry, Terry. We tried to keep this from you. But you had to find out sooner or later, I guess. I mean her no harm. I love Zoe. I'll never hurt her. Terry...I love that girl. I want to marry her..."

"What?" Terry just stared up at him.

"I mean it. I gave up the job for her..."

"She knows what you do?" His voice sounded incredulous.

"Well...of course not...but I resigned...as you know...I'm not gonna to do that shit anymore...I don't want her to be involved in all that..."

"She fucking is, you ignorant bastard! Just by association with a cunt like you! Keep her safe? What are you talking about? They'll take you out and her with you - and think nothing of it...Nick...you cannot realistically believe that you can walk away now and ride off into the sunset for some domestic bliss with my daughter..."

"...They can't touch me. Nor can you. No one can. Fuck off, Terry! Kids grow up. They leave. You had her for twenty years. Now she's mine. And be very careful how you handle things from now on. One word from me and you'll never see her again. Try explaining that to Annie. Use your brain. Your legendary negotiating skills. It's in your interest to keep me sweet...or I could do so much damage..." Nick spat blood from his mouth; it trickled down Terry's face.

Wiping it off with the back of his hand, he drew himself to his feet and straightened down his jacket. "In the end there will be a reckoning, Costello. Everybody always pays. I swear I will hound you for the rest of my life for what you have done to me and my family. And you are wrong. No one is untouchable. Not you. Not me. No one! One day someone comes along younger, fitter, stronger, meaner. And who in this world would even give a fuck for you, now?"

He walked to the door, shoulders sunk in dejection. He had had little hope of success when he had decided to have it out with Nick but anger and desperation had made him grasp at the slim chance that somewhere inside he might feel he owed him something for all the times he had been there for him in the past. It had been nothing but foolish optimism. Nick's self-preservation and utter callous ruthlessness had made him incapable of altruism or sacrifice. Hadn't he always recognised that in Costello from the start - even encouraged it for his own ends in the past? It was what they had nurtured in him to make him the weapon he had become.

There is always a reckoning. Too right. Nothing you do goes unrewarded in the end.

"She would."

Terry stopped at the door, frozen by the quiet certainty in Costello's voice. Glancing over his shoulder, he observed Nick, face badly bruised already, his eye darkening; blood oozing from where his lip was split and swollen. "What did you say?"

"I said she would. Give a fuck. You want to see her crying over my grave one day? That gonna make your girl happy? She loves me, Terry. You cannot change that now. It's the way it's gonna be..."

He slammed the door and walked out, a cold sweat settling on his skin, the sour taste of loss and defeat in his mouth. When it had come to the test, he couldn't even protect his own daughter from the danger that threatened to destroy her life. And he himself had brought the vampire into their home, even encouraged him to feast on her. The irony was not lost on him. An inside job. Even the most elementary field agent knows that is always the most effective way to bring anyone down.

"Mum! Oh my God, I am so sorry you had to wait! Hi, everyone! Happy birthday, Shauna...!" Zoe burst in like a whirlwind, kissing the birthday girl, handing her a beautifully wrapped gift box and then throwing herself on her mother. She acknowledged Brook with a vague smile. "God, you look great, Mum! Did you get some sun in Baja? How's Dad? Missed you all so much! Give me all the news!"

She spoke in a rapid burst of exclamations. Annie thought there was something false about the over-effusive welcome. Zoe wasn't that gushing sort of girl at all, not much given to air kissing and lovey behaviour. It only confirmed her suspicions that her daughter had something to hide and that she hadn't in fact missed her family one little bit. Must be quite a guy, Annie smirked to herself.

But her daughter looked wonderful. She was healthy and tanned, radiant and somehow seeming older, more self-assured. There was an awareness about her that Annie couldn't quite identify. "You look so well! How come you're so brown? Has the weather here been that good?"

Annie didn't miss the swift glance Zoe gave to Jana before she grinned over at her mother. "Tanning lounge. Everyone came back after the hollies so brown that I felt too pale. So I've been on a course..."

It was so absurd. Just the sort of thing Zoe would never even think of doing. Well, that solves one mystery, Annie said to herself. The boyfriend had taken her away somewhere and she'd been cutting classes - no wonder the library excuse was featuring so much.

"Is that so? Well, it suits you. I've never seen you quite so brimming with health. Studying must agree with you."

Zoe smiled primly. Annie barely stopped herself from laughing. Okay, sweetie, play it like that. But at the same time, she wondered exactly why Zoe was so reluctant to divulge any information about this man. A nagging doubt assailed her. I'll bet he's married, Annie decided. Damn, had she really got involved with some bastard who was cheating on his wife?

The lunch broke up shortly afterwards. Brook offered them a ride home and the two women accepted, chattering in the back while Brook drove. At the apartment block, they stepped out and thanked their driver. He said it was no problem, any time. "See you around, Anna. It was good to meet you..."

"Yes, you too. And thanks for the ride and making me feel so welcome!" she added as he raised a hand in farewell and pulled away.

Zoe rolled her eyes. "Wooo....you two obviously clicked! Mummy's got a boyfriend...!" she hooted. Annie swatted her playfully.

"Don't be so silly! He's a nice boy. Mannerly. Spent the whole lunch making sure I didn't feel left out. I like him. And he likes you - well, I got the impression anyway..."

Her daughter giggled. "He's okay. I know he's got a bit of a crush. But I don't encourage him. We're just friends. I wonder if he likes older women? I must introduce him to Dad next time he's down. That'll put him off a bit. Dad would eat him for breakfast if he thought he'd been making up to you...."

"He was NOT making up to me! He was just being friendly. You've got a dirty mind! He might be cute but I like my men a bit chunkier than that. With a few days' stubble, no shirt and a distressed pair of jeans...preferably called Terry..." Annie licked her lips and Zoe squealed.

"Please, spare me the details! You two need putting on something. Do you ever get enough?"

Arm-in-arm they ran into the flat. Annie breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever was going on, Zoe was fine, happy and old enough to decide for herself. Her worries seemed ridiculous now. Liam was busy and excited with the prospect this unexpected opportunity in England had given him. Zoe was settled back at Harvard and in love with some new guy. Terry would be back in a day or two. It was time she shook off this blue funk and sense of foreboding. Maybe Mel was right. It must be her age. If the worst came to the worst, she would have to go and get some HRT, she supposed. Just another treatment to add to the list of things she was using to stave off the aging process.

It rained that night. Deborah sat at her desk in the study of the elegant turn-of-the- century townhouse her grandmother had bequeathed to her in her will. She had used a substantial part of her inheritance to renovate and furnish it to her impeccable taste but it had been worth the investment. It was already becoming a popular political salon, a meeting place for the great and good, where policy was often discussed and careers forged. People were beginning to actively seek Ms. Stavin's favour and an invitation to her monthly dinners. She was working on a guest list for the next one when she heard the distant tinkle of the door bell.

It was ten forty-five. Rather late for a social call although not for a business one, she mused. On the other hand it could be an entirely different sort of visit. It wouldn't be the first time she had been disturbed late night with some off the record request from the highest quarter. It might even be Baumgarten, the president's private secretary preparing the way for another nocturnal visit from the man himself. She smiled at the title 'private secretary'. Pimp, more like. With a sigh, Deborah mentally girded herself for another night of faked passion. He made her flesh creep.

She set the smile of welcome on her face as Patrizia, her housekeeper, announced the guest.

"A gentleman to see you, Miss Deborah. He said his name was McKenzie..."

Her heart thudded at the realisation of who had actually come knocking. It had to be Thorne. She wasn't sure if she ought to be pleased or scared in view of the outcome of their last meeting. Either way she felt a surge of lust course through her. Imagine a night of real passion with him?

"Show him in. And if anyone else calls...I'm out..."

The woman nodded and slipped out to usher in the new arrival. Terry stepped in and waited for the door to close behind him. Deborah rose from the desk and came forward to greet him. He was wet, his leather coat saturated as if he had been out some time in the heavy summer storm, his usually neat hair damp with a wayward curl falling on his forehead. He needed a shave. The urbane sophisticate she had met earlier had given way to some more rugged, dangerous version of himself. She found this image even more appealing.

"To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure, Mr. Thorne? Come on in!  Would you like a Scotch? It's a foul night for this time of year..."

"Cut the crap. I'm not here for the social chit chat. I came to bring you this...." he pulled a disc from his pocket and slung it on her desk. "That should complete our business."

"You saw McKenzie?"

"Yeah."

"I hope you didn't do anything rash...things have changed a little since yesterday..."

Terry had turned towards the door but her comment made him swivel back round. "Changed? What's that mean?"

Deborah shrugged. "You were right. He's smarter than they anticipated. It appears it would not be in our interests to take him out of the game permanently. Let's just say, he has a few insurance policies we didn't know about. They mature if anything suspicious should happen to him...so, I really hope you left him in one piece, Terry..."

Deborah advanced on him, standing close and stroking his rough cheek provocatively. He shied away from her touch. 

"He's okay. We talked....The general outline is that his motives are not driven by anything that need worry you. He wants out because...because he's planning a few lifestyle changes. He's had enough. He won't be working for anyone else. His active days seem to be over. Leave him alone. If you know what's good for you..."

She smiled. "I can't imagine why you're still defending him. After what he's done..."

"There are worse things than love... most of which he's done with the blessings of your people in the past..."Terry muttered in reply as he made a second attempt to leave.

"...Remarkably understanding of you, though, in the circumstances. He's a lucky man to have you in his corner..."

"...I am not in his corner," Terry growled through gritted teeth. "Nor am I in yours. The truth is the truth. Not that I suspect you could tell the truth if it jumped up and bit you in your sweet little arse..."

They stared at each other for a few moments and then, as if some primal signal had been given, he pulled her towards him and she reached for him. His kiss was bruising, the raw bristle of his cheek rasping against her and his teeth nipping at her tender lips. He sucked hard on her tongue as she ripped off his jacket and shirt, desperate to run her hands over his naked chest.

Terry dragged her to a leather couch across the room and threw her against it, plunging down on top of her, pulling off her skirt roughly and tearing her blouse, the buttons pinging and flying off in all directions.

She yanked down his fly and ran her fingers along his shaft. He was so hard. "Get on your knees. Suck it..." he growled, forcing her to slide down and pushing the full length of his erection into her mouth. She swallowed him slickly; he groaned as she suckled lustily on him, massaging his testicles in her perfectly manicured hands. He watched her and thrust hard against her mouth in rhythm with her motion, holding her head firm, forcing her to take him all.

And she did, her eyes fixing him steadily all the time, almost mocking him to do worse.

Terry pulled away and dragged her thighs apart, ripping off her silk panties, running his palm along the naked expanse of her sex. She was so wet. The bitch wanted it rough. She liked it rough.

He'd give her rough.

Thrusting his fingers inside, two at once and then forcing in another, he fucked her and watched her writhe crudely on his thick digits. She was muttering vague profanities, encouragement, even tendernesses. It made him angrier than ever. This bitch had tried to use all of them and thought now she could catch him in her web with her tainted beauty. Pulling out, he took his cock and rammed that into her, giving her small body no time to adjust to his girth. He knew it hurt her. He wanted to hurt her. He was only a technicality away from a violent rape and was fully aware of it. His behaviour disgusted him but it didn't stop him. Her cry as he penetrated her spurred him on. But she wasn't frightened of his assault. Her hands circled his neck and she rode him as hard as he rode her, begging him for more punishment.

He gave it to her. It made her wilder. It made him wilder. In a frenzy of deep thrusts and crude language, they both came, suddenly falling quiet, the only sound their gasping breaths as he pulled out and threw himself back on the chair. Deborah lay sprawled out by his side.

She rolled over and stroked his face, snuggling into his half naked body, threading her leg through his. Her touch nauseated him. Sitting up, he cast her aside and began to rearrange himself, zipping up and thrusting his arms back into his shirt.

"Don't go! Stay the night...I want you to..." Deborah purred, satiated now, still lying there, his spent semen glistening on her pale gold pubic hair, her slender white thighs and the black leather upholstery beneath.

"Stay? In the lair of the witch? You gotta be joking. This was business, honey. Payback. I whored for you. You whored for me. Thought that was the deal." He threw on his leather jacket, poured himself a Scotch from the decanter set out on a side table and tossed it back.

"WHAT?" Deborah knelt up and roared at him. "You think you're just going to walk out now? Who do you think you are? We just made love..."

"...I fucked you because you fucked me over. Don't come near me again! Next time, I might not be so delicate..."

He walked to the door as she screamed after him. "You fucking arrogant bastard! Have you any idea what a dangerous enemy I could be to you?"

He laughed coldly without even turning his head. "...Not anywhere near as dangerous as I can be for you, sweetheart. Try it. Just try it...I'd love nothing better..."

"Your wife? You want me to drop her a line about us...?"

"Go near her and I will kill you! Slowly. And with great pleasure. Count on it..." He threw back the door and stormed through the wide hallway, ignoring the presence of the housekeeper and striding back out into the rainy night. Taking a deep breath, he ran his hands back through his hair, the stench of her sex still all over him. He wasn't sure why he had done it.

Nor did he intend to give his behaviour much further analysis.

It was a fun few days. Just like old times. Long chats late into the night over cocoa, days spent taking long walks or shopping when Zoe got back from college. In the evening they went to a good restaurant and spoiled themselves. They got tipsy and talked about love, life, men, women, culture, films, books...but Zoe never referred to her boyfriend even once. Not even when her mother asked her point blank.

"It's too soon to say. I'm seeing someone. He's okay. Nothing else to say." And she closed down. Annie shrugged and decided to leave it at that. It might be better then that she did not know too many details. It would only give her more to obsess about.

On Friday morning, she was packing to leave. Zoe had gone to a class and had left her alone in her room. It was a warm morning and she had opened all the windows. Below the room on the verandah at the back of the house, Jon and Brook were sitting having coffee with Dawn and Summer. Their voices carried through into the room above as she was filling her case.

"...Don't know. She won't talk about him. Not since she went to Fiji. I think she's got it bad. Can't say I blame her. Christ, he's a class act. He's got it all - and he's crazy for her...you can tell..."

Annie moved closer and sat down, aware that she was eavesdropping but almost unable to stop herself. 

"He's a fucking arrogant bastard..." she recognised Brook's voice, a lot less well-modulated and polite than when he had spoken to her. Poor guy, she thought, he must be feeling it if he was carrying a torch for Zoe.

"You're just jealous. He's rich, handsome and some sort of world traveler. Don't know what he does but it's dangerous and exciting. I know he's arrogant but in a really cool way...."

"Cool? He's a user. She better watch her step..." Brook added. Annie felt a shiver of fear at his assessment. Brook had struck her as a young man who had his head screwed on. On the other hand, he was a rival in love and young men can be very unreasonable where that sort of competition is at hand.

"Thought you had a hard on for her Mum anyway, saw you sucking up the other day at the lunch." Annie blushed when she realized that the others had noticed.

Brook snorted. "Think it was the other way around. She was pretty obvious about it. Needy, you know? Her old man probably can't get it up. If I'd taken her up on it...well, she's a good looking woman for her age...it wouldn't actually have been a charity case. I've boned less desirable options than that in my time..."

"...You would have been up there like greased lightening if you weren't too busy courting her to get at Zoe. But yeah...know what you mean. She's a gorgeous woman. For her age. How old you figure she is? Probably need a fair bit of lube, though...But she'd be on her knees begging for it...Young cock...those old chicks love it...! Bet she gives great head too...and swallows...good for wrinkles..."

"Jon, that's gross! Shut up! She's only upstairs, you know? She could have heard that! You are such a horndog...!" There was an outburst of laughter.

Annie stepped back in shock at their casual dismissal of her. To be the object of their derision was something she had not expected. Had she looked like she was asking for it? Was she really coming over as needy? Pathetic? And is that what young men really thought of women of her age? Tears welled up in her eyes. Not so long ago she had been a woman that most men stopped and noticed. Now she was just an 'old chick' who was making eyes at men young enough to be her son. Making a fool of herself.

She stood up and searched for a tissue on the dressing table. As she fumbled to pull one out of the box, she carried it all with her. Underneath she saw a few snaps. Her eye caught the white sand beach and her mind recalled what Jana had said "...since she went to Fiji..." Picking them up, she leafed through them. Zoe in a variety of poses, mostly fairly erotic, tastefully done nudes of her on the sand and in water. She smiled. God, she was a beautiful girl, her body flawless and her skin like pale golden satin. The boyfriend, whoever he was, must be completely besotted with her. You could tell from the mood of the photographs that this was not meant to be pornographic. It was glorious, sensual and alluring. His feelings for her seemed to shine through.

The last picture was different. Taken by a third party, no doubt. The man was with her on this, standing smiling, dressed in loose white linen pants and an open shirt of some fine white material He was staring down at Zoe, now dressed in a pale blue sarong, and she was looking up at him. Their eyes were locked.

It might not be a typical pose of this particular man but it was immediately obvious who he was.

 Nicholas Costello.

Zoe was having an affair with Nick Costello?

For long moments she stood there staring at the evidence it was irrefutable. There was no explanation for it that could excuse it. Her mind went back and recalled snippets of conversation from the past weeks and with a sickening comprehension she realized that it had been plain to see if she had only looked clearly at the evidence.

'He's gorgeous. I mean seriously gorgeous...he's about 35...It's time I had an older lover.'

'...Have you ever met a guy who was just so much a man that he blew you away and you couldn't stop yourself...?'

'Black hair, swarthy, hairy but not gross....tall, broad, buff and lean...uncut...'

Sounds like Nick. Okay, could be any number of other men either but together with the picture, there wasn't much doubt. That night of the dinner in walks Nick. Dreamy lovesick Zoe is replaced by one in abject shock as she realizes who she has actually slept with. Annie groaned. She didn't imagine either of them had meant for it to happen. If Zoe hadn't recognized him twelve years on it is unlikely he would have recognised that this beautiful woman was the skinny little girl who had followed him around one summer like a pet lamb. They must have talked somewhere that night and decided to call a halt. That is why she was in such a state later. But apparently he had not left her alone after all and somehow they had got back together...and here they were now. A couple. Looking for all the world like they were hopelessly in love. No wonder Zoe wouldn't divulge the identity of her mystery lover. No wonder the other men were feeling the heat of the competition. Nick Costello as your love rival?

Nick Costello as your lover?

Annie blood ran cold. This man was remorseless where everything but himself was concerned. What exactly did that mean for Zoe? Would he hurt her? Dump her when he got bored? Be unfaithful? Introduce her to that wild depraved lifestyle he seemed to indulge in where sex and drugs were always available on demand? Would he get her pregnant and leave her stranded? Or even worse, would he marry her and ruin her life?

Images of Nick assailed her. She knew what he was, even if Terry had never actually spelled it out. He was black ops. He was a killer. A ruthless and soulless machine who would do almost anything for money. He was also a handsome rogue who could charm the birds off the trees if he so wished and a sexual predator who had even tried to have sex with her in her own home with her husband on the beach outside with the children. A memory of that day passed through her mind. It made her feel almost ill. Say she had let him push her into it? What if she had had sex with him and now he was sleeping with her daughter? Terry had brought this man into their lives and given him so much support, almost been a father to him. How could he have done this to her? It was too much. Just too much for her to take.

What if Terry found out? 

He must never know. It would kill him. Liam had been bad enough - but this? His precious little girl with a man like that? Annie shuddered. Terry would do something foolish. She knew his usually controlled capacity for violence had its limits and recently he had had a hard time; this would push him over the edge. What if he went after Nick? He hadn't a chance against him. Annie was not blinded by her love for her husband. Terry Thorne was still an impressive man but he could not take on a younger man in his prime - especially not one who was match fit and in the game like Nick. God, he must never know. She prayed that this would end before he had a need to find out. Surely it couldn't last?

The only course open to her was to watch carefully and only intervene if it got too involved. Say anything now and Zoe would simply be driven further into Nick's arms. It was the way young people were. You just couldn't corner them and try to tell them what was good for them.

But how was she to sit on this information? She told Terry everything. He might tell that she was lying or hiding. He always could read her so well. Annie sighed. Time to try and pick up a few hints from him at how to conceal things. Whatever her misgivings and however much she needed to confide in someone, Annie decided that this time she had to bear this burden alone. He had suffered enough already in his life. If she could spare him this, then she would.

Replacing the pictures carefully, Annie closed her case and carried it downstairs. She made her farewells to the kids and left fairly promptly. Down the road she parked the car and called her daughter. Her phone was off. She sent a text message:

'Got the flight time wrong. It's two hours earlier. I have to leave now. Sorry to go without a proper goodbye. Thanks for everything. Will call from New York. Take care... Mumx'

She just couldn't face her today. Today her face would have given the game away.

Zoe flew into New York Friday early evening to be met by Nick at the arrivals hall. He was slumped against a column, his head down when she spotted him, wearing shades. It seemed an odd thing even for him to do inside the building.

Breezing across, she saw him glance up, grin and move quickly towards her as she began to run to him. In his arms, he swung her round and kissed her, exhaling softly against the skin of her neck. "Missed you, gorgeous..."

"God, not as much as I missed you!" she gasped and hugged him tight. He put her down, took the carryon she was toting and slung his arm round her, leading her to the car park.

"What's with the dark glasses? You in hiding or just being uber-cool?"

Nick grinned but his answer was evasive. "Something like that..." Then she noticed his lip was swollen and on closer examination saw the purple trace of bruising below the edge of the sunglasses. Pulling them from him, she stared in horror at his black eye and the rest of the damage to his face. "What the hell happened to you?" Zoe exclaimed.

He shrugged and took the glasses back, replacing them. "Nothing...I ran into a door..."

"WHAT?" she asked incredulously. "You think I'm stupid or something? You've been in a fight...! What did you do? Nick...are you in any trouble?" She stroked his face; he shied away.

"Of course not...I just had a little visit from someone who didn't quite see eye to eye with me... It's nothing...forget it...it was just a guy thing...don't make a fuss, okay?" She detected the hint of annoyance in his voice and thought it might be something to do with his career. She had already observed how he always seemed very agitated when the subject came up. Even though she was still not satisfied, she decided not to push him further but slipped her hand round his waist as he hit the elevator button and they waited to ride to their floor, hugging in close.

Desperate to change the mood that had suddenly soured between them, Zoe  waited until the lift doors slid closed and then snaked her hand down to tenderly massage his groin. "Ever made it in a car park?" she giggled.

He rolled his eyes and gently removed her hand, with a hint of a grimace. "The answer is yes but I would still be up for it, normally....however..." He cleared his throat and ran his left hand back through his hair. "...Zoe, I think we're going to have to lay off for a day or two...well, I mean...I can still give you what you need but...ya know?"

She frowned, unsure what he meant. "What do you mean? What's the matter? Nick?"

He shrugged. "It wasn't just my face that got kicked in...my testicles are bruised...I don't think I can...get it up....for a day or two...too painful, you know?"

"Some guy kicked you in the balls? Who did? What happened, Nick? This is serious! You cannot expect me to just accept that half-baked explanation when you're in this state!"

"Just some guy..."

"What guy?"

Nick bit his lip and looked pensive before turning to her and reluctantly admitting. "...Someone who has found out something about us and wasn't very pleased..."

"Us? This was about us? What do you mean? Who...?"

Zoe stopped and thought. The elevator doors parted but she didn't move. Her face suddenly seemed to clear as the penny dropped.

"My Dad? He found out about us? How?"

Nick shrugged. "No idea. He just turned up and, as you can see, was not too happy..." he led her out of the elevator. She turned to him.

"He beat you up? My Dad kicked you in the groin? Nick, are you seriously saying my Dad did this to you? I just can't believe it!"

"He was angry. Can you blame him? I'm not exactly the catch of the month..."

Zoe groaned and took out her phone. "Yes, actually I can bloody blame him! Not liking it is one thing - but to act like that? Like some mindless brute?"

She suddenly paused as if something else had dawned on her.

"What did you do to Dad, Nick? Is he alright?"

Nick laughed. "Not a mark on him, love. Don't worry. Your Dad's fine. I didn't touch him. I mean...hey, I understood his reservations about me and well, what good would it do anyway? I didn't think you'd actually be too pleased with me if I put him in the hospital..."

"...It's a pity he didn't think like that, isn't it? Jesus Christ! Sometimes, I just HATE him! First he tries to stop me following the career I choose and now he interferes in my private life! How dare he! And to use his fists on a man who doesn't even fight back...!"

She opened her phone and banged out a number. Nick shuffled around while she waited to be connected. He was repressing the urge to smile. Someone was very unhappy. Terry Thorne was going to have to speak to one very pissed off daughter now.

"Mum? You got back safely? Great...." Zoe listened, tapping her foot impatiently while her mother went on talking. "...It's okay, I got your message...just wanted to check you were back. Dad with you? No? Washington? Still there? Same hotel? Just, didn't like to think you were left on your own again...look, Mum I have to go...I'll call you later..."

She hit the elevator button again, this time for Departures.

"Where we going, princess?" Nick asked softly as she marched inside.

"Washington. I am, anyway. I'm going to give him a piece of my mind..."

Terry lay back on the bed in his hotel room staring at the ceiling. It had been a bitch of a day on any number of levels. They had been in another meeting all day long, this time a smaller and more select grouping in the course of which he had been asked to undertake a negotiation he didn't really want to accept and was looking for a way out. It was dirty and he needed some time with Annie; the events of the past few days had left him feeling adrift and guilty, ashamed and in need of her love. There was nothing quite like climbing back into her arms to heal whatever was ailing him. It was a long time since he had felt this low and last night's little meltdown suggested to him that he was on a very short fuse; this was not the time for any field situation.

Dino had also been prodding; that guy had a sixth sense when he knew something was not right. 

"Where were you yesterday?"

"Nowhere. Out. What's it to you? I had some business..."

"This to do with the lovely Deborah?"

"What the fuck? No, it did not."

"Hear you had dinner with her the other night..."

"That a crime?"

"Depends. On why."

"You my fucking keeper?"

"I sure am not...just watch your step, friend. She's hungrier than a tank full of piranhas...strip a man clean in seconds...so they say..."

"I wouldn't know. Gossip's your department..."

"Oooh....bitch, bitch....someone getting too close to home? I'm saying no more...but you stop and think before you go and do something you'll regret...you hear me?"

"Loud and clear. Was just wishing I could switch you the fuck off..."

"Never gonna happen..."

He sighed and ran his hands down his face, taking another swig from the tumbler of malt. He should have flown back to New York tonight. He could have been with her now. Not here. Replaying the events of the past two days. Wondering what the fuck he was going to do next.

The room bell rang. He glanced at his watch. Ten. Swinging his legs off the bed, he thrust them into a pair of jeans and zipped up roughly; he had been wearing just a towel, not having bothered to dress after taking a shower. Grabbing the shirt he had stripped off earlier, running a hand through his unruly damp hair, he slung it on, fastened one button then took a look through the peep hole.

 Shit! 

Stavin. She looked cool and elegant, her clothes impeccable and her hair perfectly arranged, the epitome of a lady of taste and intelligence. What did she want now?Opening the door, he rested his arm on the frame and blocked her entry. "What the fuck you want?"

"To talk. Let me in. I just want to talk, like two civilized adults. I don't particularly want to do that out here in the corridor..."

"I don't give a fuck what you want. Get out of here and leave me alone! I've nothing to say to you, nor do I wish to listen to anything you might want to say to me. Case closed..." He went to push the door to but she stuck her foot out.

"Please...just a few minutes of your time...I came to apologise...Terry, what I did was truly awful. I shouldn't have used your daughter as a pawn. I understand your anger..."

"...You have no idea about my anger...Nor ever will. I don't want your apology, your sympathy, your pity; I don't want anything to do with you. I have no idea what little scam you're working on now but, I assure you, you will not draw me in again. Good evening..."

Deborah reached forward but he placed a hand on hers and eased her out of the door. The lift door opened and both of them turned to see who was approaching.

"Jesus Christ!' he muttered as he saw his daughter striding along in the direction of his room. He dropped Deborah's arm as if it his hand was on fire and tried for a smile that refused to form on his lips. "Zoe?"

"Who are you?" Zoe addressed Deborah Stavin.

She smiled slickly and held out her hand. "Deborah. I am a colleague of Mr. Thorne. And you are...?"

Zoe brushed her hand away. "Go away, love..." She looked at her father and his hastily donned clothes... "I think you've had what you came for...the night is young...plenty more aging men with more money that sense waiting out there, hey?"

Deborah flushed slightly but Terry nodded to her to leave. She stepped back.

"Good evening, Terry. It was fun. Let's do it again sometime, huh?"

And she sashayed down the corridor.

Zoe gave Terry a look of disdain and walked into the suite. He followed, closing the door softly and composing himself before he turned round to face her.

"Can I get you a drink? Something to eat? What are you doing here, Zoe?"

She said nothing, just paced around the room a moment. Now she was here she seemed at loss for words.

"Princess? You okay?"

"Don't you dare call me that!" Her anger was seething as she spat out her retort.

He held up his hands. "That woman...it was not what it looked like. She is a member of a committee I've been dealing with. She had some information for me and dropped it off...Zoe, you cannot think..."

"Oh, spare me your clever talk...I'm not Mum. I see right through you. I came here to tell you what I thought of you. Since I arrived my low opinion has sunk even lower. You know, all my life I've looked up to you. I thought my Dad was the best father any girl could have. There was no one like him in the world. Have you any idea how you have let me down? You are a complete and utter bastard....a sleazy, brutal, overbearing bastard! And I do not know why I never saw it before..."

"Zoe...you're hysterical...! Come on, calm down...let me get you a brandy...?"

She spun round. "I am NOT hysterical! I am ANGRY. So angry I could spit! You refused to entertain my ambitions for my career!  You nearly threaten to cut Liam off for pursuing his own dream! You beat up the man I am in love with! You send out for hookers when you're away from Mum! And you wonder what's wrong with me?"

"Zoe...she was not a hooker...that was not what it looked like....please, believe me... do not do something you're going to regret....Think...did she look like a hooker in that outfit? You think hookers dress for the office?"

"I wouldn't know. I guess they come to order. Whatever turns you on. But if she's not a hooker, then what is she? A mistress? You're having an affair? I'm supposed to prefer that to you boning some tart?"

He drew in a breath at her comment, trying to keep his temper. "...I am not having an affair and talk like this is dangerous. It isn't true and I do not want you making irrational accusations about me to your mother..."

"...I'll bet you don't! Too bloody bad. You should have thought of that before you beat Nick up. How dare you do that to him! How dare you think you can dictate who I can or cannot see!"

Was there any way to reach her? He knew that his hands were tied. She was not going to believe anything he said without some real proof - and there was so much he could never tell her anyway. "Zoe...I went to see him...Nick...and he said things I didn't like. I lost my temper. I went for him...Jesus, love, I was under pressure and I'm not particularly proud of myself either. But I did it for you...I was scared for you...."

"Scared? What do you mean scared?"

He sighed. "It's hard to explain..."

"..So try..." She shot back. 

"Nick is...a difficult man. I'm not sure you understand what you're getting into..."

"...Nick loves me. I love him. He's your friend. Okay, he's older than me - but so what? You're even in the same field...he was special forces just like you..."

"...Nick is...in a dangerous profession..."

"...So were you. Mum dealt with that. So can I."

He snorted. "I'm afraid there's nothing remotely similar in how I lived my life and how Nick lives his..."

"...What does that mean? Are you referring to the fact he's been a bit of a stud, ladies' man, that sort of thing? I know all about it...but it's changed now. He's settling down. He loves me... And he tells me everything...I know him better than you do...Are you trying to frighten me with tales of his legendary screwing around? You think he hasn't come clean about his past?"

Terry repressed the urge to comment on her naivete. His past? She would only know the surface dirt. There was no way he would ever have revealed the real depths he was capable of sinking for kicks. "No...well, I hardly think he engenders real confidence in a father as a prospective son-in-law but no, that is not quite what I meant..."

"...Then what do you mean?" Her tone was caustic and he knew her mind was already set against believing anything he said. He recognised a negotiation that was going to hit an impasse any second.

Taking a deep breath. "Do you know what he does for a living?"

"What?"

"Do you?"

"Not exactly. Government work. Secret stuff..."

"You know everything about him but can't even tell me what his job is? I know what he does, Zoe. I know exactly what he does. And I also know a helluva lot of other things about him that I will hazard a guess he has not told you. Just ask him. About his career. He won't tell you, of course, but at least it will prove one thing - that he hasn't been straight with you...and maybe he hasn't told the truth about other things as well...

"...You're trying to make me doubt him! You want to put a rift between us with your snide insinuations...!"

"Think what you like...but just ask him and maybe then if you ever find out you might understand why I had some justification in what I did. You know me! Give me a chance, Zoe...I'm still the same man I was before he walked into your life..."

"...I don't know you at all...maybe it's you who's the one with the double life...you make me sick! I came here to tell you this much: Keep out of my life! If you ever stick your oar into my affairs again, I swear I will never have anything to do with you again. Do you hear me? NEVER!"

Terry advanced on her, taking her arm, she threw him off. "Don't touch me! Don't come near me! I know what I know... You.... Mum... You're all the same. Underneath you're not the cosy image you pretend to be. I always thought you were the finest people in the world. I looked up to your marriage like it was the shining example of how love could be. But it's just a front, isn't it? You're running around with women behind her back and she's making passes at younger men...?"

"WHAT?" Terry shouted. "What the hell are you talking about? How dare you talk about your mother like that?"

"I dare! She was sniffing around some of my friends at Uni this week. I thought she was just being nice but when Nick told me..."

"...Nick told you what?"

"...About what happened in Chile...I suppose you don't know? Mum hit on him one day while you'd taken us out in the boat. He was lonely and frustrated and mixed up and the next thing he found himself in bed with her...He was really ashamed afterwards...he looked up to you so much and when he realised what he had done to you...what she had done...Well, that's when he left...Remember it was fairly sudden in the end...?"

Terry stared at her in shock. "Nick told you this? Tonight? The lying little bastard...where is he...where is that...!"

"...What, so you can beat him up some more...?"

"Beat him up? He was toying with me yesterday...he could have killed me with one flick of his wrist - and would have done..."

"Yeah? Well, I can't see you're suffering from busted lip, black eye, bruised ribs and swollen balls...enough! I have had enough! You....and Mum...stay out of my life...you got that? OUT!"

She ran for the door and wrenched it open, running out as Terry ran after her.

"Zoe...for Christ's sake...!"

But it was no use. She was not going to be reasoned with. Costello had done the complete number on her. That story about Chile? Had to be a lie. There was no way Annie and he...no way...never...that little bastard....But try as he might, he could not quite stop his brain from running through his hazy memories of that time. Had he missed something? Annie had always had a soft spot for Costello. He himself had always had the slight niggling feeling that she had always been hiding something about Nick's stay with them at their beach house twelve years ago.

Even as the lift doors closed and he walked slowly back to his room, he had to feel a sneaking admiration for Zoe and the way she had taken him apart. Not many people could get him on the run and give him no room to manoeuvre. But she had hit him with Deborah and his own guilt had slewed the whole dialogue. Had Stavin not been there, he knew he could have pacified her, played on her as her Daddy's little girl, got her crying and dried her tears. But once Zoe had the ace card - his own apparent infidelity- then it took any position of advantage that he had and shot it to hell. And she had played it like a pro. She was sure going to be one hell of a political journalist if she could get an old hand like him on the ropes in seconds. He smiled sadly at the thought of his fiery daughter, her sharp wit and even more rapier-like tongue. Maybe one day she might just turn all that on Costello. That was all he could hope for now - that his comments might just raise some doubts in her mind and set her thinking. In the end the only one who could really end this nightmare now was Zoe herself.

He poured out another Scotch and threw himself back on his bed - but sleep did not come. As daylight lightened the sky he had made up his mind. He decided to ignore the taunt about Nick and Annie. He doubted the story was true but, even if it were, twelve years later it had no significance on their life. It was a mistake that he would bury and forget.

God knows he'd make enough mistakes himself in his time - and much more recent than a dozen years ago.

His handling of Liam.

His disaster with Nick.

Deborah Stavin.

And now this total break with Zoe.

Annie deserved a certain amount of slack in the face of that, not to mention the support she would need when all this came out. For if she had ever had sex with Costello then the discovery of his seduction of her child would destroy her. And she wouldn't have anyone she could tell of her pain.

But he'd be there for her. Anyway he could. Always. Now more than ever.