“It’s okay, Bita,” Marin said quietly. “We were all doing what we had to.”
“But your mouth.” Bita’s brown eyes swam with tears. “I hate myself for doing that to you. We must get some ice. Clark, can you look at Chef Marin’s wounds and make sure she’s okay?”
Marin flinched again. Griffin wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder.
“No need, Clark,” the First Lady interceded. “I’ll take care of Marin’s cuts and bruises. She’ll be our guest tonight so I can keep an eye on her.”
Mrs. Manning gently took Marin’s arm, presumably to lead her away. At the same time, Griffin’s own arm tightened over Marin’s shoulders. He didn’t want to let her go. Not when he needed to talk to her. Privately. He needed to tell her...something. Griffin just wasn’t sure what he would say. Or even if he could say what needed to be said.
Her eyes held a silent question when they met his.
“Agent Keller,” the director called from across the room. “You have a seven o’clock flight to Greece tomorrow morning. The Secretary of Homeland and I would like to go over some things with you before you leave.”
Marin’s expression seemed to dim. She stepped out from beneath his arm.
“Thank you for rescuing me, Agent Keller. Again,” she called over her shoulder as she followed the First Lady in the direction of the Queen’s bedroom.
The loss of contact with her body made Griffin uneasy. He would only be gone to Greece for a couple of days. Griffin would make sure his return flight brought him back here to Washington so he could see Marin again. They would talk then. So why did it feel that with every step she took down that long hall, he was losing her forever?
“I’m afraid I owe you an apology.” Bita’s voice interrupted Griffin’s troubling thoughts.
“She’s the one you need to apologize to,” he snapped. “I only heard excuses coming out of your mouth a minute ago.”
Bita nodded deferentially. “You are correct. I will apologize to Chef Marin properly. But I think she will be more forgiving than you, Agent Keller.”
“You got that right.”
“Still, I must apologize for the wrongs I have committed against you.”
The hairs on the back of Griffin’s neck stood up. “Against me?”
She nodded again.
“Go on.”
Bita sighed dramatically. “It’s about Farrah. She is aware of my association with the committee trying to locate our country’s stolen possessions. On occasion, she assists me in my pursuit of justice.”
Griffin didn’t like where this was going. Not one bit.
“She assists you how?”
“My daughter is beautiful, yes? Some men, their tongues are looser around a gorgeous woman. Farrah flirts. These men, they say things perhaps they shouldn’t.” Bita’s smile was sanguine.
“I have never, ever, flirted with your daughter,” he replied hotly.
The woman’s face blanched. “Oh, no, that was the problem. You were too inscrutable. No matter what Farrah did, you wouldn’t leave your post.”
His jaw dropped and he couldn’t seem to close it. “That was all a setup?”
Bita nodded again. “Once the Mannings arrived in the White House, I began baiting Yerik with the artwork here. But you were very knowledgeable of art. Too knowledgeable. You had to go.” She actually had the nerve to shrug.
“Youcame up with the idea to steal from the US government?”
“As Chef Marin said, we do what we have to.” Bita’s tone was so smug it was condescending.
“You’re right,” he finally choked out. “I’m not as forgiving. The only reason you are still standing here is because I made a damn promise to your granddaughter that I’d bring both you and Marin back. Don’t you dare put that child or anyone else in my orbit in danger again. Or else you’ll answer to me.”
Griffin stormed off without giving her the opportunity to reply. It was either that or strangle the damn woman.