He stepped aside as she blew past, his gaze coolly assessing, but Tess wasnt in any mood to be reasoned with. Or worse yet, placated.
Before you rip me a new one, hear me out, he said softly.
Tess whirled around, anger tensing every muscle in her body. How dare you promise them that Id go with them. Are you totally nuts?
I gather you heard everything we discussed, he said calmly.
Tess pulled a face. I was less than three feet away. Of course I heard everything. And from the looks of things, you bought every outlandish lie he fed you.
Not entirely.
You could have fooled me.
He leaned one broad shoulder against the doorframe and folded his arms. Im not left with a lot of choices, Tess. They have evidence to show that Flynn is your father. He has a pretty detailed psychiatric file on you and a court document giving him guardianship. If you can disprove any or all of this, Ill stand by you to the end. But you need to give me something to work with.
So a lousy piece of paper is more important than what you feel in your gut?
Be reasonable, Tess. They-
Be reasonable? She leaned in, poking her finger into the center of his chest, her sense of betrayal so intense, so hurtful that it seemed to shred her insides. You mean you want me to accept what that man is saying about me? Believe that Im some kind of psychotic nutcase? A person so dangerous and so deranged that I cant even be trusted to make my own decisions?
Her hand tightened into fist against his chest. She closed her eyes, trying desperately to regain control. If she lost it now and started screaming, shed never prove anything. Hed believe Flynn.
Easy, Tess.
She sucked in a calming breath. If you think, for even one minute, that Im going anywhere with that man, youre crazier than he says I am.
Look, youre getting too worked up over this. We need to sit down and talk about this rationally.
She dropped her hand, her shoulders slumping. Im as rational as I can be in the circumstances.
All Im asking is that you go along with them until I have a chance to figure out whats going on. Flynn is not going to hurt you. He thinks hes rescuing you. Humor him. He ran a hand through his hair, as if stalling while he tried to figure out how to convince her to do things his way. Hell, if you cant humor him, humor me. Give me a little time to track things down. Let me do a little investigating. I promise you, Im not turning my back on you.
Im not in a mood to humor you or anyone else. Tess moved to stand in front of the patio doors, not caring if the general saw her through the glass or not. She stared defiantly out at him.
Although the morning sun reflected on the glass and probably blinded Flynn from seeing what was going on inside the house, he stood facing the door, his shoulders braced, his hands clasped behind him at parade rest. His gray eyes seemed to bore holes of white heat through the glass, and Tess stared back at him.
She could feel his impatience soaking into her body, tightening her stomach. She wasnt sure how, but she knew that theyd been engaged in a similar mental standoff in the past. This had an all-too-familiar feel to it.
She swallowed against the fear rising in her chest. A fear so raw and intense that she knew that, in spite of not remembering Flynn, of not recognizing him, she couldnt trust him under any circumstance. No matter what Ryan thought, cooperation was impossible. Dangerous even.
She turned and faced Ryan again.
I promise you, I wont walk away. Ill stay with you, he said. Ill dig until I find out whats going on. I have contacts-people I can call to get information on Flynn. I can call the hospitals he says you were treated in. I can talk to the doctors who have worked with you over the years. But you need to give me more time, Tess. I cant make it happen just like that.
He snapped his fingers, and his eyes, those brilliant blue eyes pleaded with her to see things his way.
Tess sighed and shook her head. For a shrink, you really dont listen too well, do you? I dont have time to waste waiting for you to figure out whats going on. I cannot go with that man. I cant explain it and I cant make it any clearer than what Ive already tried to say. I just know that if I go with him, Im lost. There will be nothing left of me when hes done.
She could see the disbelief in Ryans eyes. She knew that at that moment he believed she was lost to him, that shed drifted away and lost touch with reality.
Tess felt as though her heart might shatter into a million pieces of fragile glass. There was no way she was going to be able to reach him. Its all right, Ryan. I appreciate all youve done for me up to this point. Ill take it from here.
She brushed past him, headed for the front of the house and freedom. Ryan fell in step behind her.
Running isnt going to solve anything, Tess. Theyll only come after you. Cant you see that theyre concerned about your welfare. He grabbed her shoulder, halting her retreat.
Tess whirled around, anger replacing the pain shed felt a minute ago. My welfare? You think that man out there, the one claiming to be my father, cares one whit for my welfare?
She could see a flicker of something, perhaps confusion, maybe even uncertainty, cross Ryans face. She knew, without him saying anything, that he was bothered by Flynns attitude, too.
You have to help me understand, Tess. Help me support you. I cant do that unless you spell things out. Frustration clouded his face. All youve given me are a bunch of vague, unsubstantiated reasons for believing that Flynn wants to harm you. You have to know on some level how crazy all of this sounds. Give me some hard facts to hang those feelings on.
But Tess didnt have anything to give him other than her raw emotions, her deep-seated fear that if Flynn managed to get her to go with him, hed destroy her. She would cease to exist.
She turned and put her hand on the doorknob, pausing for a moment. Can you honestly tell me that you trust those men implicitly? Her voice trembled slightly. Cant you put aside your skepticism, your suspicions, for one minute and just believe me?
Ryan reached out and covered her hand with his. She felt his sincerity, his need to make things right pulse with the heat of his hand. I want to, Tess, I really do. But you havent given me anything. I know youre hurting right now, but youve said yourself that your memory is gone. Wiped clean. How can you trust the feelings youre having, knowing those feelings could be flawed?
Tess shook her head, a deep sadness threatening to swallow her whole. He couldnt trust her any more than she could trust him.
She reached up and touched the side of his face, the briefest brush of her fingertips along the roughness of his jaw. You should shave, she whispered.
He reached up and covered her hand with his, holding it to his cheek. The roughness of his skin scraped as he turned his head, his lips pressing intimately against the center of her palm. She felt the scorching heat of his mouth touch the center of her hand, his tongue lightly tracing her lifeline as if memorizing it.
She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of him, knowing that it might be the last time she ever felt his lips on her skin.
She leaned her head forward and touched her forehead to his chest. Is your job so important to you that you cant believe what your own heart is telling you? she asked. Is it really that easy to sell me out?
He had no answer.
Tess slipped her hand from his, opened the front door and walked out onto the front steps.
RYAN BRACED HIMSELF against the surge of pain that raced through him at Tesss comment. His hand dropped to his side. How could he make her understand that he wasnt selling her out? That he wanted with all his heart to believe what she was saying to him.
He heard the patio door slide open.
Stop right there, Tessa. Dont even think of running.
Ryan saw Tesss spine stiffen in response to her fathers demand. Obviously Flynn had gotten impatient.
Stop her, Donovan!
She shot Ryan a quick glance. Decision time, Doc. Whose side are you on?
Ryan held her gaze but addressed Flynn, I thought I made it clear that you were to wait outside, General. Tess needs to make this decision on her own without any pressure from you. Now back off.
He could see surprise register on Tesss face, the slight widening of her eyes and the small arch to one eyebrow. She hadnt expected him to stand up for her. She had expected him to simply step aside. It hurt to know that she expected him to feed her to the wolves.
He moved to block Flynn.
There are no decisions to be made, Doctor. Tess is leaving now and with me. He crooked his finger and motioned for her to come.
The arrogance of the gesture grated on Ryans last nerve. If the man was indeed her father, Ryan could well understand Tesss distrust of the man.
When she didnt immediately obey, a silvery flash of anger darted into Flynns eyes. Theres no need to make this more difficult than it already is, Tessa.
This isnt going to be difficult at all, General, Ryan assured him. Mainly because Tess will be leaving with me. If youre set on her going to see a doctor of your choosing, so be it. But Ill accompany her to that appointment.
Get out of our way, Donovan, Flynn said curtly. He snapped his fingers at Bloom, and Ryan watched his boss move up to stand next to Flynn. There was a syringe in his hand.
Rage heated Ryans insides and he stepped out onto the steps, sheltering Tess with his body. All right, this has gone far enough. You are not going to take her by force. He pointed at Bloom. Put the syringe away. This is not the way to handle things.
Beside him, Tesss hands tightened into fists, and he felt her body shift, her weight coming forward onto her toes. She was going into fight mode. The situation was escalating out of control. He needed to get everyone to calm down. To think things through.
You had your chance to convince her to come quietly. Now well take over. Flynns cold eyes settled on Tess. Dont fight me, Tessa. Just let Dr. Bloom give you some medication to help you relax.
If you come any closer, Ill shove that medication where itll do the most good, Tess snapped, moving backward, one step at a time.