“Jude? What the hell are you talking about?”

Lily closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Jesus H., you’re so far out of the loop, you’re on Pluto.”

“I’m in mourning here,” he said coolly. “If there’s a point, get there or hang up.”

“I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect, but we have a serious problem here. And before you tell me that’s why you left Dietz in charge and to go to him, he is the problem.”

“How so?” At least she had his attention now.

“A couple of weeks ago, he ordered me to eliminate Jude. Said he had hard evidence linking him to the theft and sale of a weapon of mass destruction to one of our enemies.”

“But… that theft occurred three months ago. It was kept hush-hush, no press.”

“Right. It was stolen right about the time Jude sent six worms containing information on the theft to six different hard drives. Dietz then had Jude picked up, his brain swept of all memory of being an assassin, or of SHADO. He declared Jude the master-mind behind the theft, but wouldn’t kill him outright because he didn’t know where all of the files had ended up. Jude wouldn’t tell, even under torture.”

“He kept Jude around for insurance?”

“Yes, temporarily. In the meantime, he ordered me to find all the files to keep the press from getting wind of the theft. I’d found four of them and we figured the other two were here somewhere, in his home.”

“So he finally lost patience and sent you in to locate them and eliminate your target.”

“Yes.”

“But now you’re convinced Jude is innocent.”

“Right again. Dietz is getting desperate to see Jude dead, and is getting nasty. He’s already hurt one of Jude’s good friends, a man I’ve come to care for, in order to keep me in line.”

“I see.” He was silent for a moment. “What have you done with the files you’ve found? Given them to Robert?”

“Yes, five of them, which I’m sure he’s destroyed. Actually, I’d kept the last one to try to decipher and he stole it when he orchestrated the attack on our friend. There’s one more, but I have no idea where it could be. I’ve searched every inch of this place.”

“Lily, Robert’s actions are questionable at best. Suspicious. But what makes you so positive Jude isn’t guilty?”

“You’re asking me? He was one of your best.”

“Even the best can go bad.”

“Not Jude,” she said firmly. “I’d stake my life on it. Dietz is frantic to get rid of Jude before the mind sweep breaks down. Jude is already recalling stuff about his jobs and it’s only a matter of time.”

“You realize, without proof, it’s your word against Robert’s?”

“Michael, Robert is the one with the burden of proof. He’s the one hot to kill a good agent, after ruining his sight and derailing his life. What right did he have to make a decision like that without your approval?”

Take the reins. Please, for God’s sake.

“All right,” he said after a long moment. “I believe you. You’re a damned fine agent and so was Jude. Neither of you has ever let me down.”

She sagged in relief. “Thank you.”

“But we have to tread carefully on this. If Robert is the one behind the weapons conspiracy, then we need solid evidence. We need that remaining file, or for Jude’s memory to return. Preferably both.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Get Jude out of the country, fast. Go someplace warm and tropical, hole up for a bit, and try to jog his memory. Carefully, because there’s no telling how he’ll react if he does recall everything. And let me know where you’re going. Only me. If something goes down, one of us will call the other and we’ll meet at the safe house in Tennessee.”

“What will you be doing?”

He gave a humorless laugh. “I’m going to keep an eye on Dietz. And while I’m at it, I’m going to take my company back.”

“I’m glad, Michael.”

“It’s past time, apparently. Get back to me with your des ti-nation as soon as you know it.”

“I will, and thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. The fat lady is nowhere near the stage.”

He hung up and she set the phone down, burying her face in her hands. Thank God. Finally, someone on their side. That someone being the boss, and one of the most powerful, fair men she knew. Things would be fine now.

If only he could keep tabs on Dietz.

Lily spent an hour on the Internet, researching tropical resorts, discarding one after the other until she hit pay dirt-a fabulous adult-only resort in Los Cabos that catered to the sexually adventurous. The place sounded like heaven.

She spent another half hour on the phone with the resort, wrangling for a last- minute reservation, but in the end wound up with their best luxury suite, boasting a built-in hot tub, a fully stocked bar, and all sorts of other naughty goodies.

Last, she booked a flight for the three of them. No way in hell were they leaving Liam here, since he wasn’t ready to deal with Dev and Geneva. He needed this impromptu vacation as much as, if not more than, she and Jude.

Done, she went in search of the men and found them reclining by the pool in shorts and no shirts. She drank in the sight of them, such a striking pair. Even the bruises on Liam’s back and throat didn’t detract from his beauty. They, along with the head wounds, were already starting to heal, but would take a while to completely disappear.

The inner scars would take much longer.

“What’s up?” Liam glanced at her, trying to smile. His poor voice was still scratchy.

“Los Cabos, that’s what.”

“Huh?”

Jude inclined his head toward her with a puzzled smile. “ Mexico?”

“Bonus points for Edgar.”

“Funny. What about Los Cabos?”

“Reservations. Ours. For two weeks,” she said, taking in their stunned faces. “At a five-star adult resort that redefines the word debauchery.”

“Holy shit,” Liam said, mood lifting. “When are we going?”

“Pack your bags, gentlemen, because our plane leaves at nine in the morning.” She grinned. “And I’m going to be on it with my favorite guys.”

Los Cabos gleamed like a jewel, with pristine sands and blue green water, the fresh salty air inviting.

Or at least that’s how Jude imagined it-except for the breeze, the rush of waves on the shore, the call of gulls, lively conversation. Those enabled him to form a better picture. But what was so special about a place you couldn’t see?

The woman you’re with, big guy.

The bellboy rolled their bags to their suite and brought them in, exclaiming about how much they’d love their stay, all the fun activities to do, the nightlife, blah, blah. Jude figured the guy wanted a good tip, so he gave him a fat one.

That shut him up and he scurried away, leaving Jude and his companions to explore their new surroundings. Jude had to admit, at first he hadn’t thought this was such a good idea. Well, a great idea with bad timing, maybe. He hadn’t taken a vacation in years, and certainly hadn’t planned on one now.

And then there was Liam. Battered and heartsick, his sleep broken by terror, he was only just beginning to heal. Jude had almost nixed the tropical excursion, but after the way his friend lit up like a Christmas tree at the idea, depression lifted, Jude had relented. This could be just what they all needed.

“Hoo-boy!” Liam exclaimed in a scratchy voice. “I love it here already!”

“What is it?”

“There’s a bowl of condoms on the coffee table! Purple, red, green, blue… ribbed, lubed… flavored!”

“You are such a horn dog,” Lily teased. “You’ll probably have tried them all by the end of our stay.”

“Me? I’m as pure as a nun. Sex, ewww.”

Jude chuckled. This was the Liam he knew.

Lily twined her fingers through Jude’s. “You guys want to change, check out the bar, and get a drink, then walk down to the beach?”