Meridio's Daughter Part 20

Tessa knew she was in deep now. It would all be over because now that she started, she knew she had to confess everything.

Tessa needed to explain who she was and most of all...who Casey's father was.

"I can only tell you that he's alive, but I can't demonstrate that fact right now. If you'll trust me until Monday, I'll prove it to you." It was the only thing Tessa could say, the only answer she could give. "Do you still trust me?" she asked in a vulnerable- sounding voice, so low that it was barely a whisper.

Casey looked into Tessa's face and saw something new there.

She looked tired and defeated, as if for the first time, Tessa was experiencing what it was like to be unsure and afraid. As gently as she knew how, Casey kissed the lips in front of her.

"I'll do more than trust you, my love. I'll believe in you,"

Casey whispered.

Tessa held Casey to her in a fierce hug and kissed her temple.

"You are everything to me, Casey...everything."

Tessa laid her body down alongside Casey's naked figure, and they did nothing more than kiss for a long time. Their lips'

caresses were sensual and unhurried, neither woman wanting to rush into the flames, rather they wished to enjoy the smoldering *embers of their pa.s.sion. Tessa began by stroking the smooth skin of Casey's body, from mid-thigh to her waist. Slow and relentless, Tessa ran her fingers in feather-light strokes across Casey's body.

Casey was amazed at how gentle Tessa could be. Looking at Tessa from afar, one could only see the hard edge of her demeanor.

Her body, cut through with its muscles and sharp angles, looked as though it had been chipped from stone. Casey's hands found appearances to be deceiving, however. Tessa's skin was smooth as silk, her lips warm and inviting, and her touch so much more tender than anything Casey ever felt before.

Tessa lavished Casey with more attention than Casey had ever experienced from all her past lovers combined. Tessa seemed to take her pleasure in pleasing Casey, who after hours of delicious torture was eventually begging for release. Tessa held Casey's body on the edge for what seemed like an eternity, bringing her pa.s.sion to a peak, then slowly drawing back, time and time again until Casey could no longer hold back the tide that welled inside her. When Casey's body shook with the first tremors of o.r.g.a.s.m, Tessa followed her lover over the precipice. It wasn't enough for Tessa, and once again, she slowly built the fire within Casey, this time encouraging her release. Again and again, Tessa slowly brought her to another peak. She wanted to give everything to this woman who had slipped past the defenses of her dark heart, just as she wanted everything from her. Tessa asked for Casey's complete surrender as she eventually brought her body to a point of delirious exhaustion.

This was all Tessa had left to give, so that Casey would at least have memories of their tender lovemaking. Casey would always be able to look back on one night and know that Tessa had given her everything of herself.

It was nearing dawn and Casey slept soundly in Tessa's arms.

Tessa watched Casey in sleep, running her fingers through the impossibly soft, golden hair. At length, Tessa slipped from the bed and listened as Casey murmured a protest at the loss in her sleep.

Tessa placed a kiss on Casey's cheek and the half-smile returned to her sleeping face.

*Tessa walked out the sliding doors of the second-floor bedroom onto the wooden balcony, followed by the two Dobermans. She sat on the floor of the deck and leaned her back against the house.

The dogs padded over and lay pressed against her. As she leaned her head back and looked up into the gray early morning sky, the tears fell. Tessa did nothing to try to stop them.

So there is penance to do in this life, after all, she thought.

This would be hers, to finally give her heart away, only to lose it. To experience the ecstasy of someone as wonderful as Casey loving her, ready to forgive her dark past, only to have to give it up. In her life, she had been beaten and shot, but the pains of those incidents were nothing compared to the anguish that poured over her at that moment.

She couldn't lie to Casey any longer. She could no longer pretend that they would have a life together. The next day, she would give Casey the last piece of herself. She would take her to the center and show her who she was, what Casey's father was, and where Casey fit into the chess game. They wouldn't like it at the center. They weren't too happy when she showed up with Mikolo, but Tessa thought Jack could explain it to Casey. If she tried, she might lose her nerve halfway through or she would be tempted to take the woman in her arms and sugarcoat it. Jack would know what to say and how to say it. He had daughters; he would understand Casey's pain and confusion. Then again, Jack could be a heartless b.a.s.t.a.r.d when he wanted to be.

Tessa absently scratched behind Cinnamon's ears as the animal lay her head in her lap. Still the tears fell, and Tessa closed her eyes tight to the pain as realization washed over her. She just made love to Casey for the last time.

Chapter 15.

Tessa woke with a start, lying in the middle of the king-size bed alone. It was at least midmorning by the way the sun streamed in through the windows.

"Casey?"

"Down here," Casey said from the floor below.

Tessa breathed a sigh of relief. She thought Casey was gone.

She pulled on a robe and wandered downstairs, catching the tantalizing aroma coming from the kitchen.

"You got out of bed last night...I mean, early this morning,"

Casey accused, once she felt the warm presence at her back.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I couldn't sleep."

Casey turned and slipped her arms around Tessa's waist. She looked up into red-rimmed eyes and suspected the reason for Tessa's early departure. They kissed, and Tessa closed her eyes at the sweet taste of Casey's mouth. When they ended the kiss, Casey wrapped her arms tighter around the slim waist and rested her head on a soft, warm chest. Tessa kissed the top of her head and held her tighter.

"So what are we having for lunch?" Tessa asked.

"Something I think you'll like," Casey said secretively.

"Do I have time for a shower?"

"Yep, if you make it a quick one."

By the time they sat for their meal, Tessa was cleaned and dressed, and Casey set the table outside. When she set the plates of food down, Tessa's eyes widened and she grinned.

*"Keftedes! These are my favorite," she cried, referring to the fried, meatball-like items made of pork. "How did you know and where in this house did you find the ingredients?" Tessa asked in wonder. "You know the only person who makes these for me is my mo-" She stopped abruptly, catching herself, but Casey didn't seem to notice.

Casey served the keftedes on a bed of fresh mint along with saffron rice. "I'd love to say it was kismet or something, but Olympia told me. I learned to make these a long time ago in her kitchen. I've already been down to the market and back this morning, sleepyhead."

"I'm sorry, honey. I could have gone with you."

"You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you."

"I can't believe I didn't wake up when you left. I've never felt comfortable enough around anyone to let down my guard like that," Tessa confessed.

"I know." Casey smiled. "I hope it was okay, but I took Cinnamon with me. She just sat in the car with the top down and looked menacing whenever some guy would hit on me."

"Good girl, Cinny," Tessa said to the animal, scratching under her chin and looking up with a lopsided smile at Casey.

"Go on," Casey said with a smile. "Eat before it gets cold."

The lunch was wonderful and Tessa ate more than she had in a long time. She supposed part of her was making such a prolonged affair of the meal to put off telling Casey the truth about herself.

She realized that she put it off as long as she could.

"I need to take you somewhere today." Tessa placed her coffee cup back onto the table, afraid to look up.

"To tell me more about who you are?"

"Yes." Tessa finally looked up, the fear evident in her eyes. "I need for you to know the whole truth about me. There are things you'll hear...about me...and about your father that you won't want to hear. I'd like to give you the chance to back out if you want. I won't think badly about you. Frankly, I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to call it quits...between us...right now."

"I'm not about to give up on you. I told you before, I love you... all of you."

*"You won't after today," Tessa said ominously.

Casey took a deep breath and wondered if she really was up for this. "It's so terrible then...what I'll hear?"

Tessa nodded, that same wounded look haunting her expression. "I'm going to bring you to meet some people I know, that I work with. The things they tell you will all be true, you have to trust me on this. I want you to at least hear them out, then I'll answer every question you have."

"All right," Casey said, not realizing yet that day would be the last day she would proudly call herself Meridio's daughter.

The car ride into the historic district of Kolonaki was a relatively silent one, both women lost in private thoughts. Tessa pulled the car into a modern underground garage, and they walked the two blocks to a four-story brick building.

"A travel agency?" Casey asked when she saw the sign, then wondered why a travel agency would need such a large building.

"Not really." Tessa held the door open for Casey to enter.

They exited the elevator on the fourth floor, and Tessa led the way through a small maze of offices. Finally, she stopped in front of an older woman's desk. The stranger had thick-rimmed gla.s.ses and auburn hair that had long ago lost its natural color.

"Tell Jack I'm here, I'll be in the conference room," Tessa said briefly, then ushered Casey into a room that could be considered a conference room.

"Have a seat, I'll be right back. Do you want something to drink?" Tessa asked.

Casey shook her head and watched as Tessa closed the door behind her. Casey surveyed her surroundings and couldn't put it together. The supposed conference room looked the part, a large table surrounded by high-back chairs and an ornate mirror on the wall. A travel agency that looks nothing like a place of business?

Casey silently pondered.

Tessa stood with her arms folded in an adjoining room that was completely dark. The mirror in the conference room allowed her to view Casey without Casey seeing her. She watched and could see the wheels turning inside Casey's brain.

*"Are you out of your f.u.c.king mind?" a male voice hissed from behind her.

"Afternoon, Jack," Tessa said, not taking her gaze off Casey.

"I'd really like to know, have you completely lost that Greek mind of yours bringing her here?"

"She needs to know the truth."

"Bulls.h.i.+t! You need redemption and you think because you're s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g her, it's time to come clean."

Tessa turned her head and her blue eyes went pale. "You're watching me now?"

"I'm watching out for you. You happen to be a valuable commodity within our organization-"

"Which is why I ought to be able to make a few demands now and again," Tessa interrupted.

"I think you're wearing them out. Just what in the h.e.l.l did you think that Mikolo business was?"

The man walked closer to the mirror and rubbed his face with the palm of his hand, sighing heavily. "Yeah, well, it's easy to see what the enticement is. Tell me, Tessa, how bad is it?"

"I'm in love with her," she said. There, I said it. So why can't I say it to her? "This wasn't the way this was all supposed to go down, you know?" she said almost to herself. "I want you to tell her the truth."

"You know, she's going to tell her old man once I do. No way is she going to just sit back and watch. No, forget it."

"This is not a negotiable point," Tessa hissed, turning an angry face to the man.

"And just which truth do you want me to tell her? The way I see it or the way you see it?"

"What in the h.e.l.l is that supposed to mean?"

"It means, do I tell her you plan on whacking her old man?"

He growled.

"You only need to tell her what she needs to know."

"So I tell her you're setting up Meridio, but I don't tell her that in return, I'm gonna turn my head while you put a bullet in his brain for what he did to your old man."

Tessa grew silent and lowered her head, bringing her hand up *to rub the back of her neck. Jack was harsh, but she knew the man dealt in harsh truths every day. She admired him, and Jack told her numerous times that he was sorry the Bureau hadn't found out about her sooner. He said they would have made a great team on the right side of the law.

"Just don't say anything about my father, okay?"

"She was there, how can she not know about it already?"

"She was a kid. She doesn't remember what happened that day. She has nightmares, and I don't want to set anything off we're not equipped to deal with," Tessa said truthfully.

"Oh, wonderful," Jack said. "I get stuck with the tough d.y.k.e and her loony girlfriend."

So fast he never saw it coming, Jack's body was slammed against the wall, Tessa's strong arms holding him in a vise-like grip."She's a lady, and you d.a.m.n well better treat her that way,"

Tessa rasped.

"All right...all right," Jack said hoa.r.s.ely.

Tessa loosened her grip, and Jack tried to collect himself.

"Come on," he said at last.

"I thought maybe you dumped me here," Casey said.