Page 107 of Agent's Integrity

Julia looked anxious. “Check the camera and make sure you know who it is first.”

“I know.” Alexi was already disappearing down the hallway.

Even Jordan seemed a little concerned. “You weren’t expecting anyone, right? You haven’t been home.”

“No.” Julia stood up and headed for the hallway herself.

I could hear Alexi’s voice talking and then she squealed. It was a happy squeal, not a scream of terror. Julia raced down the hall, and Jordan and I got up and followed. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but after everything that had happened, I was still on edge. There was no way to know for certain someone wouldn’t still be after us.

Alexi stood with her arms wrapped around a woman in her late forties with dyed blonde hair and wrinkles around her mouth and on her hands. She was dressed, rather tastelessly, in a matching skirt and blouse that was too short and too tight.

“Victoria.” Julia sounded shocked.

Victoria released Alexi and turned to Julia with a big smile. Too much lipstick covered her mouth, and her eyes were heavily painted, making her look more like a doll than a person.

“Julia, darling.” She wrapped Julia up in a brief hug that she did not return. “How are you, dear? Alexi told me you’d been kidnapped.”

Alexi tugged on the woman’s arm. “She got back a few hours ago, Mom.”

Mom? This is Julia’s mom?

Julia swallowed, hard. “What are you doing here?”

Victoria gave her an affronted look. “When someone says my daughter has been kidnapped, I’m on the first flight out. Of course, it took some time for my counselors to arrange for a special release, but I wasn’t about to let them keep me from making sure you were safe.”

There was genuine concern in her eyes. Julia merely blinked at her, looking unsure of what to do. “I’m fine.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear it. Alexi couldn’t tell me any details about what was going on, but it sure sounded serious.” Her eyes moved to Jordan, and she smiled coyly. “Agent Blaze. Wonderful to see you again.” She moved in for a hug. Jordan looked reluctant, but he returned it. Victoria stood a little too close to him, as though she was trying to make him uncomfortable. Or trying to hit on him.

“Victoria.” Jordan rubbed his arm, obviously feeling awkward. “Glad to hear you’re still doing well in rehab.”

She nodded. “Oh yes, things are going splendidly.” She looked at me for the first time and I saw her spine straighten. I knew what that meant, and I wished I had stayed at the table.

“Well, now, young man, I don’t think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you before.” She elbowed past Jordan and stopped directly in front of me, eyeing me up and down. “You do the Novem proud with those gorgeous looks.”

Julia visibly flinched behind her. “Victoria.”

Victoria ignored her and ran her hand down my arm. “I mean, look at that flawless skin. And your bone structure.” She leaned closer to my face, and I couldn’t help but lean back to compensate. She smiled again. “Simply stunning. And I love your hair.”

Julia’s jaw set and she slid around Jordan and her mother until she was standing at my side. She took my hand in hers and then deftly moved between us. “Victoria, this is my boyfriend, Ethan. Ethan, this is Victoria. My mother.”

Victoria blinked, obviously surprised as she looked between the two of us. “Oh. How lovely.” She took a small step back and reined in her flirting. She offered me her hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Ethan.”

I shook her hand, nodded, and said nothing.

Alexi, not oblivious to the tension but probably trying to compensate, stepped forward. “How long are you staying?”

Victoria turned around and sighed dramatically. “I could only get a weekend pass. I have to be back by tomorrow night.”

Julia’s face tightened further. “You’re just here to check on me?”

“And to see my family, of course.” She smiled, but it seemed a little forced. “I haven’t seen my girls in forever.”

Julia folded her arms. I could tell she was trying to restrain herself. “We’re doing fine.”

Victoria gave her a look that said she understood exactly how little Julia wanted her there. She looked back at Alexi. “I know we talked about it on our call, and I was thinking how marvelous it would be for you to come back to Arcadia Prime with me tomorrow.”

Alexi’s face lit up. “Really? That would be great!”

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