Keep Me Safe (14 page)

“It was you. You rescued me
…..in Iraq. I knew I recognised those eyes. It
was
you.” I thumb each eyelid in turn.

He slowly pulls himself away from my body. He runs a slow hand through his hair.
Taking my hand in his, he begins to circle his thumb in the palm.

I reach out to cup his jaw turning him to face me. “Look at me, Kane. It was you, wasn’t it? I’m not wrong.”

He shrugs each shoulder in turn. “What if it was? What difference does it make?” He narrows his eyes in a challenge.

I sit up wrapping my arms around his narrow waist. “Oh, it makes a big difference, Kane.” I smile up at him.

Cocking his head to the side, he eyes me. “How?”

I throw myself back against the pillows crossing my hands behind my head. Beaming widely, I arch an eyebrow. “Well, if you have come to my rescue twice now……I can only arrive at one assumption….”

“Which is?” He growls playfully.

“You have a big soft spot for me…….maybe you even love me a little.”

He shakes his head, a soft chuckle playing on his lips. “Never going to happen, sweet cheeks.”

“Oh really, big guy?” I run a toe along his thigh, dragging my tongue slowly across my bottom lip.

Grabbing my foot, he turns himself towards me. He smirks. “As I said, never going to happen, sweet cheeks. Now spread those damn fine legs, I’m coming in!”

***

Jack Mercer scrapes a hand across his bristle
d jawline. It has not escaped my notice that he is deliberately stalling before getting to the point he wants to raise. I indulge him for a few more minutes answering questions regarding my wellbeing and emotional state. But now, I just need to hear what he has to say.

“Jack…..please just spit it out. What is the latest with the investigation?” I lean forward emphasising my need for news.

He pulls a long drag of his cigarette and slowly shakes his head. “You know we can’t go any further at this time with regards to Alexei’s father. The man has been dead for nearly five years. But the case is not closed, Sky. I promise you. It’s in the hands of the Politsiya in Moscow now and we are in constant communication with them.”

I nod quietly. “
I understand. I have as much closure as I need for now. I still haven’t worked out how to tell my mother all of this yet.”

Jack leans back into his chair
stabbing his cigarette butt into the ashtray. “Do you plan to tell her everything? Even the affair? Think on it, Sky.”

I scowl at him frustrated. “I’ve done nothing but think on it, Jack, for the last three days!”

At the sound of my shout, Kane marches abruptly into the living room closely followed by Storm and Dalton. Throwing a glare at the two men, he squats down onto the arm of my chair. “So what’s the new development, Jack? Or did you just come here to upset her?”

Jack presses his lips into a tight line. “You know me better than that, Kane. But what I do have to say may upset all of you….”

I feel Kane tense beside me, a low growl bubbling in his throat. “Well?”

“We have information that Natalya and Georgy still remain in the UK and….”

John Keaton leaps to his feet. “We need you to act as bait, Sky....to draw out them out of hiding.”

***

I heard the sickening crunch even before my eyes registered that Kane had moved.
I watch aghast as DCI Keaton’s body crumples into a mass of loose limbs onto the floor. Jack makes to stand before Kane swings his body to face him. “One more inch, Jack, and you’re next!” He snarls.

I am frozen to my seat. I stare wide eyed as Storm lolls his huge frame to lean over
Keaton’s lifeless body. He smirks with a slight shrug of his shoulders. “Brains, we need an ice pack in here!” He chuckles loudly.

Moments later, Brains appears with a towel filled with ice cubes. She bends before Keaton who slowly sits himself up, dazed and bloodied at the mouth. He pulls a thumb across his bottom lip cursing at the metallic taste. He scowls at Kane, before his lips stretch into a small smile.

“I’ve got a date tonight, you bastard, now look at me!”

Jack Mercer pulls another cigarette from the packet stuffed low in his pocket. He lights himself and nods to Keaton. “If you’ve quite finished dancing on the floor, maybe we can continue our conversation.”

Kane clenches both fists balling each at his sides. “There is no conversation to be had, Jack. You are not using Sky as a lure. End of discussion.”

“I’d like to hear what Jack has to say, Kane. It’s not your decision, it’s mine.” I wrap a hand around his clenched fist.

“I said no!” He barks wrenching himself free.

I stand beginning to pace. “And I want this over
. I have to do this.” I screech deep from my lungs. “Tell me what you want me to do, Jack.”

Chapter Nineteen

I haven’t been in front of a camera for weeks. But, standing here in the open air recording my news report, it is not the camera that is the cause of my sweating palms but the knowledge that I have agreed to be a human target – a lure, bait. I have agreed to remain ‘visible’, to return to the glare of the public, in full view.

The cameraman grunts loudly before setting the lens on the tri-pod. “We’ve lost you again, Sky. You’re fidgeting. Do you want a short break?”

I pull my focus back towards his frustrated face, nodding quietly. “I’m sorry. I was miles away. Maybe just five minutes?”

As I sit my sh
aky legs onto the nearest seat, my eyes dart in every direction looking for him, hoping to just catch a glimpse of him. My teeth bite harshly into my bottom lip to halt the tremor. I need him here.
Kane.

My mind wanders back to my last night at the Safe House
and the subsequent return of my protection into the hands of the Serious and Organised Crime Unit at Scotland Yard. By my very own arrangement, I had unknowingly terminated the contract with Elite Defence in agreeing to become the lure that will hopefully draw out Natalya and Georgy. The team were not happy. And I was the cause.

I had tried to
help them understand my decision but it fell on deaf ears. I couldn’t walk away now. I couldn’t. Yes, I had the answers to my years of searching. Alexei gave me that closure. That surreal gift. And now……now I must help him.

As I had gathered up my belongings that night
, Kane had leant against the doorframe of the bedroom we had shared. His face was set hard, his whole demeanor stiff and cold. I had tried to walk into his arms, to feel his warmth around me, but he had held me at a distance.

“Please understand my decision, Kane.” I had said, searching his eyes
.

“Putting yourself deliberately at risk for someone you barely know?” He spat.

I offered a small smile in response. “Isn’t that what you do every day, Kane?”

He snorted. He had leant to pick up my bags and turned away from me ending the conversation.
As I hugged the team, he had held back, his arms folded across his chest. I looked at him for several moments before running to him wrapping my arms around his waist inhaling his scent. I had peeked up into his emotionless face.

“Will we see each other again?
What about…..you know….?” I gulped back a sob.

He lifted my chin, his eyes narrowed and dark. “My contract has been terminated. Jack is waiting for you.”

So I had walked out into the waiting car squeezing my eyes tight to prevent the stinging tears from falling into view.

And now as I nurse a coffee carton between my fingers sitting alone on this park bench, I close my eyes for a brief second, and he is here beside me. A singular finger lifts from the cardboard carton imagining the trace
of his tattoo, its inky lines that kiss each muscle, curling and caressing his skin. I inhale deep through my nostrils drawing in the scent of his masculinity. I lick my lips and I can taste him once more…..

“Are you ready to roll again?” The gruff voice causes me to leap to my feet spilling coffee all over my lap. I scowl at the cameraman. He returns the gesture.

“You startled me! But yes, I’m ready.” I mutter, mopping away the coffee from my skirt.

Once more, I stand in front of the lens. I take one more look around searching for a face in the crowd, a dark goatee and smoky eyes, but I see no-one. Taking a deep breath inwards, I nod to the camera and begin to roll the report.

***

In the shadows cast by the late afternoon sun, he stands there silent as a hunter, watching her; the curve of her plump mouth, the swing of each hip, the rise and fall of each eyelid as they cloak the ocean blue of her eyes. The light summer breeze catches the underside of her golden hair flicking and whipping across her cheeks before wrapping itself seductively in a collar around her neck. She brushes a slender hand through the silky strands before allowing it fall against the swell of her breasts.

Momentarily, he removes his eyes from her to scan the surrounding landscape. To his right, he notes the dusty haired
city dweller reading The Times. To his left, a couple of joggers approach. He steps back deeper into the shadows until they pass without notice of his presence. Straight ahead in his line of sight, a woman stands gently scolding a young child.

He smirks folding his arms across his chest. His finger traces the cool metal of his gun hidden in his shoulder strap. And
once again, his eyes return to fall upon the blonde beauty.

***

Storm hisses as the hot liquid burns his mouth. A gentle giggle behind him meets his scowl before his mouth breaks into a wide smile. The very sight of her instantly calms him. Out of habit, hell no lust, his eyes scan her hourglass frame taking in every delicious curve. As he is lost in her, he misses the swift swipe of the dish towel as it catches at his arm.

“Hey!” He growls playfully at her.

Brains arches an eyebrow. “When are you going to stop checking me out every morning?”

He throws a shy smirk. “When you stop assaulting my eyes with that cock-teasing body.”

Dalton coughs, spluttering coffee down his chin. He sniggers as he wipes himself clean.

Brains narrows her eyes threateningly. “Don’t you encourage him!”

Dalton raises each hand in surrender. “He doesn’t need any encouraging, Brains. Just sleep with the poor man and put him out of his hell. Can’t you see how you torture him daily?”

Storm stands wrapping his huge frame around her waist. He nuzzles the top of her head as she squirms and wiggles in his arms. “Dalton has a point, you know, Brains. It’s only your feminine stubbornness that stops you from letting me have my wicked way with you. Give in and make me a happy man.”