Disclaimer: While I would love to own them, I don't. As I've said before, I do own Dani and her crazy extended family, but they're not really worth anything.
A/N: Sadly this chapter really just serves as plot advancement with no H/M or D/J interaction, but I promise more will come later. Thanks to Bite Beccy, Joanoa, Emma, Andonly, Fran Thurston for the reviews and to anyone else who may be lurking out there reading.
1930 ZULU
ARKADA INDUSTRIES
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
"Mr. Arkada, Mr. Webb and Major MacKenzie are here to see you," a soft female voice filtered through the intercom in Paul Arkada's office.
"Send them in," he set the files he was reviewing aside and waited for his guests. Webb he had been expecting, but the major was a surprise, albeit not a very unexpected one.
"Mr. Arkada," Webb walked in followed by Mac.
"Have a seat," he gestured, "Sarah, how are you?"
"Fine, and yourself?"
"I'd be better if you and Mr. Webb came bearing good news," the tone of Paul's voice switched from social to business, "But I can tell from your faces that Mr. Webb's people are no closer to neutralizing the threat against my niece than they were two months ago."
"I can assure you--" Webb began.
"I do not want any more of your assurances, Mr. Webb. I want results!" he snapped, "Daniela cannot spend the rest of her life in some secluded chateau in France."
"Mr. Arkada," Webb held his ground, "This will all be over by the end of the embassy ball."
"That is not good enough. Do not forget, Mr. Webb, that I will not hesitate to hand that money over if it means protecting Daniela."
"It will not come to that."
"And what measures are you people taking to ensure my nieces safety? I do not want to find any more bombs wired to her car," he delivered firmly, and Mac Raised an eyebrow at Webb in concern for her sister's safety.
"You won't. There will be a security team checking all vehicles and Major MacKenzie along with Lieutenant Commander Rabb will act as personal body guards."
"Very well," he eyed Mac's slender frame with skepticism, but directed his comment at Webb, "They are both lawyers."
"Commander Rabb is a former Tomcat pilot," Webb defended, "And Major MacKenzie--"
"Is tougher than she looks," Mac said firmly. A man doubting her abilities was nothing she was not used to.
"I do not doubt that," Paul responded, giving Webb a cursory nod as the agent's pager went off, "You are a marine."
"More importantly, I'm an older sister."
"Excuse me, but I have to take this," Webb walked to the corner of the office to answer his page.
"I have to ask your discretion on the matter then you speak with Daniela," Paul told her seriously, "She has no knowledge of the threat and I would like it to remain that way."
"You can't be serious," she looked shocked, "You want her walking into this blind?"
"That is not my intention, but it is necessary for her safety."
"I don't think you're giving her enough credit, Paul. Dani is more than capable of handling this."
"That is precisely why she cannot know. It is her independence that puts her at risk," he paused, "Has she told you about her love for horses?"
"Why?"
"Well, when she was ten we found this stable in the Greek countryside. There was this wild horse that no one could ride, and the owner was going to put it down. Despite all the warnings and as trite as it sounds, Daniela was convinced she could save him, so she snuck off to ride him. The horse threw her and the doctors said it was a miracle that she suffered only temporary paralysis," he stopped briefly allowing the story to sink in, "That is why Daniela cannot know everything. She's too independent for her own good."
"All right," Mac acquiesced, "But if a situation arises where I have to tell her--"
"Then by all means do. I trust your discretion."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," he gave a somewhat grim smile, "Meanwhile, I have done everything in my power to prepare Daniela for any contingency."
Dani stood before the full-length mirror in her room at the chateau. The dressmaker had just finished the final alterations on her gown for the ball, and Dani was trying it on one last time before it was packed onto the jet for the trip to the states. The dress was a deep emerald and it hugged her curves then flared out into a full skirt. It had a folded over, off the shoulder neckline, that left accented her collarbones.
With her eyes closed, Dani imagined what Jason's reaction would be when she showed up on his doorstep after the ball wearing the dress. She was so caught up in the fantasy that she didn't hear her door open and jumped when she felt a hand on her bare shoulder. Opening her eyes with a start, Dani saw Luka's reflection standing behind hers in the mirror in front of them, "Luka, you startled me."
"I'm sorry," he stepped back and she turned to face him, "Your door was open and when I saw you I was speechless."
"I'm sure," she laughed lightly.
"I'm serious," he gave her a dashing smile, "You look gorgeous."
"Thank you," she eyed the ornate wooden box under his arm, "What's that?"
"It just arrived by messenger," Luka handed her the box, and she set it on the vanity to look inside, "It's from your uncle."
"They match my dress perfectly," she whispered as she peered into the box at the emerald and diamond jewelry nestled gingerly within the soft crushed velvet of the box, 'How did he know the color of my dress?"
"My tasteless brother probably sent him the bill."
"Luka," she admonished, but smiled when she met his playful eyes, "Be serious."
"I am, mostly," he gave her a boyish grin, "You know as well as I do that you Arkadas have more money than us poor Radicans could ever dream of having."
"Oh because you have it so hard," she rolled her eyes, "Besides these belonged to my grandmother, so it's not like he went out and bought them for me."
"You don't see any of my uncles sending me diamonds, heirloom or otherwise."
"And you look so good in them," Dani teased, but stopped herself when she realized how easily she was falling into their old pattern from boarding school. She reached to close the box intending to stop the conversation as well, but Luka stopped her from lowering the lid.
"Aren't you going to try it on?"
"Why?" she laughed with exasperation, "Knowing my uncle, I am sure they are perfect."
"Try them on," he dangled the earrings before her and taunted in a sing-song voice, "You know you want to."
"Fine," she snatched the earrings and put them on followed by the ring. She reached for the necklace, but he stopped her.
"Allow me," he picked up the delicate necklace and she swept her hair to the side, "Wait, you have to be in front of the mirror."
"Why?"
"So you get the full effect."
"Fine," she rolled her eyes and stood before the mirror. Mentally, she told herself that this was nothing; he was just helping her with her necklace, "Happy?"
"No," he came up behind her, "Close your eyes."
"Luka!"
"Come on, indulge me," her eyes fluttered close and he whispered, "Thank you."
This is nothing, Dani repeated to herself, but as she felt his warm breath on her ear and his hands brushing against her smooth skin while he placed the piece around her neck, her resolve weakened. What she had told Mac about her relationship was only partially true. Yes, she and Luka did first sleep together after their spring formal, and they did break it off before college, but the idea of it being a youthful mistake could not have been further from the truth.
When they first met, she was twelve and he was thirteen, and they became fast friends bonding over similar families. While at boarding school, Luka remained her best friend, and when it finally developed into more Dani fell hard. Luka was her first love in every sense and she could easily have seen them getting married. At school they were seen as the ideal couple and Dani loved it, until she stumbled into a secret deal that blew the relationship apart.
One night, Dani overheard a conversation between her uncle and Luka's now deceased father. Her intention had not been to eavesdrop, but when they began discussing her and Luka, she could not help it. She learned that when the two families saw how close their children had become, they strongly encouraged Luka to make the friendship a romantic one. Hearing this, Dani confronted Luka, who reluctantly admitted that what she heard was true but that his feelings were real. Nonetheless, she was outraged that their entire relationship was based on a lie and broke it off. She went to Yale and he went Oxford, and a year later they had reconciled via e-mail. They by no means resumed their previous relationship, but they agreed to remain platonic friends, nothing more.
Dani felt Luka fasten the tiny clasp and shivered as he set her hair back into place. It's over she reminded herself for the tenth time, you are happy with Jason; Luka's a friend, nothing more. She opened her eyes to see Luka's dark gaze on her through the mirror and felt a familiar tingle reminding her that she could never get Luka Radicans fully out of her heart, although Dani swore she would never let him get back in.
"They're perfect," Luka smiled, "You're perfect."
"I knew it, and thank you," she walked to the door, "But now you have to go so I can change."
"All right," He obeyed, "I'll see you in a bit."
"Bye Luka," she closed the door and leaned her back against it. It was going to be a long weekend.
To be continued…
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