Targets Entangled (28 page)

*

Daegan brushed the
back of his fingers against Ferrin’s flushed cheek, imprinting this memory in his mind. He wanted to join her in the comfort of his rack, but he needed to check in with Starr regarding any information she may have found about Matthew Bell. He gently pulled the sheet higher and tucked in his sleeping, well-satisfied woman. Something inside of him had shifted tonight as he’d listened to her talk about her childhood and he now felt the need to always be there for her as that anchor he’d promised to be.

Pressing a tender kiss against Ferrin’s forehead, he let her sleep as he walked out of his stateroom and made his way to the team ready room. He had no doubt that Starr was working late and he hoped she had an update on his inquiry. It was unlikely since she would have contacted him, but it was better to check suspects off the list before they set their plan in motion.

“I figured you’d be here,” Daegan said, finding Starr in her usual seat at the conference table. Papers and files were spread all around her, including a half empty cup of coffee. He snatched it before she could say anything, walking over to the coffee maker. “Anything on Matthew Bell?”

“The COC watch officer confirmed that he’d ordered food and asked that it be delivered.” Starr tapped a pencil against the arm of her chair. “I don’t think Bell is responsible for these incidents.”

“I take from your tone that nothing else has happened or that you haven’t found anything of interest?” Daegan finished pouring what looked like fresh coffee into her mug. He took it back and handed it off, not bothering to sit down. He wanted to be back with Ferrin now that he had his answer.

“Lieutenant Irvine and I went over the other personnel records that were flagged with no results.” Starr sipped her coffee, keeping it in her hand with a nod of appreciation. “Nothing so far, but as you and I both know…there’s a thread somewhere that will unravel once we tug on it hard enough.”

Daegan glanced down, noticing that the majority of paperwork was the personnel files she’d been going through, but there was one manila folder off to the side that was open to photographs with red markings. The location written across the bottom denoted the area. He wasn’t one to pry, but he couldn’t prevent himself from tapping the top picture with his finger.

“This is where Red and his team were attacked.”

“Yes.” Starr straightened and carefully set her coffee onto the table. She offered nothing else as she quietly shifted her chair back toward the table. “You should get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow.”

“If you—” Daegan cut off his statement, knowing it wouldn’t come out the way he meant it to no matter how he said it. He clenched his jaw as he formulated his words. “If you ever want to go in and retrieve his body, the team would there for you. I think you already know that.”

Starr didn’t look up from the files in front of her, but her tightened grip on the pencil gave way to the fact that she’d heard him. She nodded and then picked up a paper, looking at the one beneath it. The silence weighed heavy over the room and though he didn’t want to leave after making such an offer, he didn’t have much choice. Anything said after this would just be a smokescreen and neither one of them would appreciate it. He’d meant what he said. It was up to her to take the offer or not. He understood about closure and if he were in her shoes, he would have already gone into enemy territory to retrieve a resolution that would allow him to go on.

“Good night, Starr.”

‡

F
errin picked up
her eyeglasses and would have slipped them into the front pocket of her shirt had Daegan not wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. She laughed at the ticklish sensation his warm lips were producing and tilted her head against his.

“You’re going to be late,” Ferrin said once she had her breathing under control. She turned so that she could place a kiss on his clean-shaven cheek, almost wishing he hadn’t shaved. She liked his whiskers against her skin. “And I need coffee from the galley before I start my shift.”

“Do you remember your promise?”

Daegan seemed to still his movements as he waited for Ferrin to answer. The tension had mounted with each passing hour and more so as they approached their AOR without any further incidents. He was preparing her for something and yet he wouldn’t say exactly what. She slowly and gently covered his arms with hers, holding him tightly in reassurance.

“Yes,” Ferrin whispered, leaning her head back against his shoulder. “I promise to follow any and all orders that are given today, but you have to look into Matthew Bell for me as I requested. He really scared me yesterday.”

“I already confirmed he was delivering food to the watch officer.” Daegan loosened his grip and turned her around to face him. He slid his warm hands up to cheeks, staring into her eyes. “Until you hear from me though, stay away from Matt and follow orders from your supervisor. Understood?”

Ferrin nodded her agreement even though her anxiety level rose and an ominous air blanketed the room. Daegan knew something he wasn’t telling her and each time she’d asked him about it last night, he avoided her questions. The only place she felt safe aboard this ship was in his stateroom…which they were just about to leave.

“I’ve got to get to the team ready room.” Daegan slowly lowered his head until his lips met hers, not rushing their kiss. Ferrin leaned into him, wanting to draw on his strength and belief that this would all turn out okay. The coldness settled back in when he pulled away. “Be careful.”

With those two words, Daegan left his stateroom and she was alone. She’d never minded being by herself before and yet there was something very comforting in knowing that each night she would be in his arms. They’d yet to speak about where their relationship was heading since he’d told Starr they would, but that was by Ferrin’s choice. Had she made a mistake? She did trust him, so then why was she afraid to commit to something more? The tables had been turned and now that he was willing to see where this thing between them could lead, she was the one avoiding commitment.

“Shit,” Ferrin whispered to an empty room, aggravated with herself for having lost control of her own life. She took a moment to consider what her mother and sister would think of Daegan and then quickly dismissed that thought. Both of them would love him on sight, as they always said she needed to loosen up a bit. “No help whatsoever.”

Ferrin finally put her glasses into the pocket on the front of her blouse, wishing she could stow away the doubts that plagued her just as easily. She figured out what her problem was last night, lying awake in the warmth of Daegan’s embrace. She was falling in love with him and she couldn’t help herself. Every caress, stroke, and brush of his hand was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. She finally found a home within his arms and she was scared to death that she could lose him to circumstances she had no influence over.

The stateroom became a little too stifling now that she’d admitted to herself why she was holding back emotionally. She needed coffee and to keep busy before she did something reckless and sought Daegan out. Looking around one more time to ensure that she hadn’t forgotten anything, Ferrin opened the hatch and stepped out into the corridor. She was halfway around to where the ladderwell was located when she noticed someone appear. She abruptly stopped and stared at Matthew Bell, waiting for him to move. Time stood still until he took a step forward. Her flight or fight instincts kicked in and she turned on her heel and ran.

Ferrin heard him call out her name, but all she could envision was the K-Bar fighting knife that was currently inside Daegan’s desk within his stateroom. If she could get there before Matt reached her, she’d have a weapon with which she damn well knew how defend herself. Her vision tunneled in line with the passageway and she ran as fast as she could, adrenaline pushing her farther than what she was normally capable of. She didn’t turn to see how close Matt was or if he’d gained on her. She swung herself against the hatch, almost tripping over her own boots as she pushed forward.

“Ferrin, stop!”

Matt snatched her arm, trying to stop her from getting away but she managed to get loose. There was no way she’d be able to get into the drawer without giving Matt an opportunity to stop her. She grabbed the first thing she saw, which was Daegan’s Edison lamp and swung around with all her might. The sound of it thudding against Matt’s head made Ferrin nauseous, but she’d done what needed to be done. His body fell to the ground and blood immediately pooled around his face.

“Fuck,” Ferrin whispered, dropping the lamp. Even though she knew that Matt wasn’t getting up from such a blow, she stumbled backwards until she felt the desk behind her. With trembling hands, she was able to open the drawer and pull out the K-bar that Daegan liked to keep in there. Sitting down to try and collect herself, she found it really hard to breathe. Her lungs weren’t working properly and she couldn’t get her heart rate under control. Giving up, she jabbed at the intercom system and finally made contact with the bridge. “S-send Captain Hensel down to Daegan Murphy’s stateroom.”

Ferrin immediately disconnected and then dialed the extension for the team ready room. Matt wasn’t moving at all but she wasn’t about to reach down for a pulse to where he could hurt her should he be faking, although with the strike he took to the head it was doubtful. She exhaled slowly, albeit shakily, and was grateful when Starr finally responded back.

“The team n-needs to come to Daegan’s stateroom.” Ferrin didn’t take her eyes off of Matt. “Now. I don’t know if he’s still alive.”

Ferrin ended the call and put a hand over her mouth, trying to stop the tears that came to the surface. She’d fought back and was safe, but her body was having a harder time believing that. It wasn’t long before she heard footsteps pounding in the corridor through the open hatch. Daegan came in the stateroom, his disconcerted gaze sweeping the area to take in what had happened. He was at her side in an instant, pulling her up and into his arms.

“Jesus Christ, woman,” Daegan breathed into her hair, holding her tight. “And you think I have a death wish.”

“He came after me,” Ferrin said, barely above a whisper as she soaked in the security of his arms. “I saw him exit the ladderwell and he came after me. He chased me in here. I think I may have killed him.”

Daegan kissed the top of her head before pulling back to look her over. Spotting the knife, he gently took it from her hand and placed it back on the desk. She heard voices behind them and when Daegan stepped to his left, she saw Gunny leaning over Matt and pressing two fingers to his carotid artery. After a nod of his head, Starr was on her radio calling for the ship’s doctor. Ferrin felt a rush of relief that she hadn’t killed him, yet she would have taken any course of action to survive.

“Ferrin, did he hurt you in any way?”

“No, but he tried to grab me,” Ferrin replied, shaking her head adamantly. She was still having trouble controlling her movements. Her heart was beating heavily against her chest and her fingers still tingled where she’d held the lamp. She wiped her palms down her khakis and a sudden surge of anger swept through her. She was getting tired of being the one targeted and always ending up in the middle of things. “I’m fine, but he stepped out of the ladderwell and came after me. I did what I had to do to protect myself.”

“I would have done the same,” Starr agreed softly, sharing a look with Daegan. “Take Ferrin to the officer’s wardroom and get her something warm to drink. Doc will go with you. Ferrin, please let him look you over. In situations like these the body isn’t always aware of any injuries until later. The ship’s doctor will be here to tend to Mr. Bell and once we’re assured that he’ll be fine, we’ll see what answers he can give us.”

Two things happened at once. Captain Hensel and Lieutenant Irvine appeared in the doorway while Matt started to come around. Gunny was telling the man not to move as he had somehow managed to grab a towel and hold it to the man’s head. Ferrin wasn’t feeling so compassionate after what Matt had put her through.