Dangerous Connections (Aegis Group Book 9)

by Sidney Bristol

  She unfolded her legs and stood. “Want one?”

  “Can’t.” Silas was looking at the screen now, making the selections for his avatar.

  “Oh.” The obvious reasons came to her on the heels of his answer.

  Of course he wouldn’t have a beer, not with it being the three of them and him shouldering the weight of protecting them.

  “Help yourself though,” he said.

  “I just might.” Ekko got up and walked into the kitchen, both for a drink and a little space.

  They were here because of what she’d done. All of this was a disaster of her making. From her poor planning to the underlying sexual tension with Silas. And she couldn’t fix any of it. At least not on her own, and that was the rub. Ekko had always been self-sufficient. Her parents had raised her and her brother to never rely on anyone. They had to do for themselves. And here she was in a situation where she alone didn’t have the answer. It was humbling and frustrating, and while she was grateful that Silas was there, he was half her damn problem right now.

  9.

  Saturday. Safe House, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

  “No!” Silas wailed as his avatar stumbled then died.

  Again.

  Ekko tossed her head back and laughed.

  Despite her starting a new character she hadn’t died more than one or two times when they got in over their head.

  “I thought you said you’ve played this before.” She snickered and wiped at her cheeks.

  “I have. On console.” He grumbled and turned from the computer at the sound of creaking wood.

  There was a loose floorboard in the hall that gave a slight squeak whenever it was stepped on.

  Chayan shambled into view.

  The man wore baggy sweatpants and his long coat. His salt and pepper hair stuck every which way and his glasses sat precariously on his nose.

  Ekko glanced at Chayan then Silas. Her eyes were worried and she bit her lip.

  Silas didn’t bother to revive his character. He pushed away from the table, picked up his empty glass, and stood.

  “Hey, man. How you feeling?” He headed toward the kitchen, doing his best to act casually.

  Chayan’s face rumpled. “Don’t talk so loud.”

  Silas stifled a laugh and patted the older man’s shoulder. “You had any water? Eaten anything since lunch?”

  Chayan shrugged off Silas’ hold and didn’t answer, though he did grab a bottle of water from the fridge before doing an about face and heading back down the hall.

  Silas leaned against the counter and watched the other man shamble away.

  Chayan wore grief like he wore his coat. Silas was actually grateful for this downtime when he’d never been grateful for a hiccup like this in a job before. If Chayan was going to withstand questioning at the hands of the UN, he needed to be in better shape. He had to get through this. And sometimes the only way through was to plod along.

  Ekko came to stand next to Silas and they peered at Chayan’s bedroom door together. Chayan was a quiet man, and his grief was, too. Silas hadn’t heard more than soft sobbing coming from behind that door. He couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have everything he loved taken from him. And he feared Chayan’s story was not unique.

  It would be arrogant to wonder why a country so oppressed didn’t rise up against the people holding the stick. If a person grew up all their life being told the world was one way and all the research at their disposal supported that view, why should anyone believe differently?

  Silas had no doubt that someday things would change, but that kind of change would be bloody and he doubted it would happen soon. Even stopping Dauria from attaining a seat at the UN wouldn’t do much to hinder them. They weren’t really a world player. Likely it was China who wanted to secure Dauria a seat to ensure they had someone who would always vote their way.

  He shook his head. Right now he had a simple job to do and it would be best if he kept his mind on that rather than the world stage.

  “He’ll be okay.” Silas rubbed Ekko’s back before he could think better of it. His memory supplied those moments on the sofa in her room far too quickly.

  “You think?” She leaned toward him and lifted her chin, concern glistening in her eyes.

  How had he ever thought she was selfish? Her heart was huge. He’d been an idiot to not see through her facade sooner. His boss’ wife was good people. If she wanted him here, he had to know it was for not only the right reasons but because the person he was protecting was like her.

  “I can’t say for sure. We’re all different in how we grieve. A loss like this takes time. You have to allow yourself to work through it.” Old wounds ached and he tried to hide his grimace.

  He’d been a love-blind fool.

  She arched a brow at him. “And how do you know this?”

  “I told you I was married once.” He smiled to keep from grimacing.

  “That’s right.” Ekko tilted her head to the side. “What’s that story?”

  Silas shook his head. For the most part he was used to those old hurts, but seeing Chayan grieve made Silas remember another time. “Stupid kid fell for the pretty girl who didn’t know what she wanted in life.”

  Ekko leaned against the kitchen counter and studied him. “You loved her?”

  “I loved the version of her I wanted to believe in. Turned out I didn’t really know her.” He opened the refrigerator for something to do.

  “Fine. Don’t tell me.” There was no judgement in her voice.

  “It’s not that big of a story.” Silas turned to face Ekko. “Her name was Lyssa. She was beautiful and superficial. We met just after graduation. I thought we fell in love. Turned out she wanted away from her parents. Maybe she had feelings for me, but it was never the same.”

  “What happened?” Ekko asked softly. She mirrored his post, leaning against the wall, watching him.

  “The short version? Lyssa and I lived together for almost a year. Then she cheated. Things got ugly. It ended.”

  “And the long version?”

  He shrugged. “The long version is ugly. Two stupid kids that didn’t belong together trying to make a life.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It’s ancient history.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yeah.” Silas felt the lie.

  Lyssa was ancient history, but he still resented beautiful woman on sight because of her.

  Ekko continued to study him and he had a good idea she knew he wasn’t being honest.

  “I would be an idiot if I thought she hadn’t changed me.” He studied her picture perfect face. Even without the make-up she was lovely. He had to stop judging based on appearances. Ekko had taught him that. “I was a blind, stupid fool when I was with her. I like to think I’m better now.” Or would be after this, but that was because of Ekko.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “Nah, it’s fine.” He glanced down the hall. “The best advice someone gave me was to pretend like the Lyssa I loved had died, and to grieve for her in that way. They were right, because in the end that Lyssa had died. She never was who I thought she was.” Silas looked at Ekko. Really looked at her. “I owe you an apology.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah. I... Well, I guess you could say I’m prejudiced against beautiful women. After we met, I wrote you off as being like Lyssa. That was my mistake and it wasn’t fair to you.”

  “Please.” She chuckled. “I did my best to come off that way.”

  “I should have seen it.” Looking back, he could easily identify all the small ways Ekko hadn’t held up that act. “You gave up your aisle seat for that guy on the plane. You tip serving people well. You knew at least one thing about every crew member. Hell, you spoke to the crew and the journalists. And you always had a dollar for people asking for it.” He’d even tried dissuading her from going out of her way to put money in worn paper cups because in his mind that was a security risk, but she’d snubb
ed him and kept doing it.

  “I was just being nice.”

  “You were being you, and all I saw was how you looked.”

  She smiled at him. “Is that your way of trying to say I’m pretty?”

  “Flowers and pictures are pretty. You’re beautiful.”

  Ekko opened and closed her mouth before whispering a soft, “Thank you.”

  “Just speaking the truth.” Another truth hit him. Or at least a question he didn’t want to answer.

  Was the reason he resented his best friend’s girlfriend because she, too, was beautiful?

  Silas blinked at nothing.

  That question was a razor slicing into a balloon that had been taking up far too much space in his head.

  Shit.

  “What? What is it?” Ekko took a step toward him.

  “I’m an asshole.”

  “Sometimes, but I’m not holding it against you.” Ekko put her hand on his arm. “Silas, what is it?”

  He grimaced and glanced down at her. “I’ve got shit to do to make up to my best friend after this trip.”

  “Coco and Paxton?”

  “Yeah.”

  She smiled up at him and slid her arm through his, hugging it to her. “They’ll understand.”

  He nodded, though he fully expected Paxton to kick his ass.

  “Have I apologized yet?”

  “What?” He frowned down at her. The way she was holding onto him, with her breasts pressed against his arm, was quite distracting.

  “You said you pre-judged me.” She let go of him, but didn’t put any space between them. If he moved in the slightest he’d bump her. “Well, I pre-judged you, too.”

  “Comes with the job.”

  “Doesn’t make it right.” She smiled a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You are a really great guy. I’m sorry your ex didn’t see that, but I’m also glad you aren’t saddled with her anymore. You should have someone in your corner that believes in you. If I’ve learned anything from watching my parents, it’s that.”

  Her face warmed and relaxed, her tawny brown eyes lighting up. He liked her without all the crazy colored contacts. She was more than physically beautiful. It was that inner quality, the one that made her risk her life to bring attention to injustice. She was different. Though she wasn’t a soldier, she shared the same goal as he did. They both wanted to make the world a better place. They’d just gone about it in different ways.

  “Yeah.” He nodded, vaguely recalling what she’d been speaking about. “Mine, too.”

  She chuckled. “Tired?”

  “Not really.”

  No, he was...hungry. That kiss from the other night was in the forefront of his mind. He’d been able to squelch his attraction to her then easily enough, but the more he learned about her the more he remembered just how soft her mouth was, how she tasted, the way she’d sighed and pressed against him.

  Ekko stared up at him, the silence drawing out. She licked her lips and he watched the path of her tongue, mesmerized by the glossy sheen.

  He wasn’t sure which of them moved, but he was suddenly aware of her breast pressing against his arm. Had he done that? Or her?

  This was not where he should let things go. He was the protector. The one who needed to watch out for them.

  Silas turned to face her and searched his mind for words that wouldn’t hurt her.

  Ekko’s hand slid up his chest.

  He should tell her to stop. So why was he leaning toward her?

  His lungs burned from holding his breath. The only thing he could see or think about was her. He dipped his head and breathed in her smell. It was the lip balm, a sort of spicy scent that he’d thought was perfume until recently.

  “Ekko...” He knew this was a bad idea, and yet he wanted her.

  “Just shut up and kiss me,” she grumbled, her breath warming his face.

  He settled his hand at her waist and pulled her to him, their lips meeting in a firm kiss. Her arms slid up over his shoulders and around his neck. It was the memory of the other night all over again, only better.

  Silas turned, putting her back to the wall and pinning her there. One of her hands rose, cupping the back of his head and pulling him down to deepen the kiss. Her tongue teased his lips then tangled with his own. She was heat and need in one sexy package.

  He dug his fingers into her hair, letting the silken strands slide through his fingers. She tipped her head back and groaned. He slid his knee between her thighs and leaned into her. She was trapped there, between him and the wall, all his.

  All of a sudden the clattering ring of his phone sounded from across the room. Warning bells went off in his head.

  Silas let go of her and whirled, slightly off-balance what with all his blood rushing south. He strode across the room, far more aware of his groin than he’d like to be, and grabbed the phone.

  It was Zain.

  Of course.

  “Yeah, boss?” Silas got out. His voice was rough to his own ears.

  Christ, would Zain know?

  “How’s it going?” he asked.

  Silas glanced over his shoulder. Ekko was still leaning against the wall, her eyes wide, sucking down air.

  “Good. Everything’s going fine,” Silas said.

  “Ekko not giving you any problems?”

  “None I can’t handle.” He barked a laugh, unable to hold that in.

  “I’ve got things lined up on my side. How confident are you that your location is secure for a few days?”

  Silas grimaced. “I’m not confident at all. With just me, how sure can I be?”

  “Yeah, I get that.”

  “I assume whoever supplied our gear isn’t someone we’re contracted with?”

  “No, it’s a third party. I wouldn’t want them to know too much.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of.” Silas sighed and eased down onto the dining chair in front of his laptop.

  Ekko seemed to collect herself and began digging around in the freezer before selecting a silver pan and setting about to heat up their dinner. It was damn distracting for her to be moving around like that, but he focused on every word Zain said and he said a lot of them. Not that much had changed. They were still stuck where they were. Backup was coming. No, Zain wasn’t sure who yet and neither did they have an exit strategy, but it was all in the works.

  All Silas had to do was keep the two most wanted alive for a few days.

  A job that simple shouldn’t sound ominous, but somehow he felt like it might be the most difficult thing he’d ever done.

  EKKO’S SKIN FELT TIGHT and even her shirt seemed to chafe.

  Ever since that kiss earlier she had a one-track mind. Food and rooting Chayan out of bed to eat hadn’t distracted her from constantly being aware of Silas. Every bite he ate, each shift of his body drew her.

  She scrubbed at her face with the washcloth and shivered. The cool water was nice against her heated flesh, but she wanted relief of a different sort.

  Who had kissed who?

  After Silas pushing her away at the hotel, she’d promised herself that she wouldn’t be the one doing the kissing. At least not the first kiss. But she couldn’t say for sure she hadn’t been the one to kiss him there in the kitchen.

  At the very least he’d kissed her back, that was for damn sure.

  Just thinking about that kiss made her body hot all over again.

  Damn him.

  She wasn’t going to get an easy night’s rest this time, and of course she’d promised her viewers to start early her time. It was going to be a miserable night staring at the ceiling. That was her way though. Any time something bothered her or hooked her fascination she obsessed over it and lost sleep turning the thing around. And she’d studied Silas from every angle. The man didn’t have a bad one.

  Ekko hung the washrag up to dry and turned toward the door.

  Maybe the best thing would be to limit her Silas exposure. It would be tough given the cramped quarters and
their situation, but she could actively try to spend less time around him. Would that work or was she grasping at straws? Were Chayan and Silas still chatting?

  She’d left them talking to take a quick shower and get ready for bed, hoping that Silas might have wisdom for the other man. She hadn’t exactly needed a shower. Sitting in a chair playing video games wasn’t taxing, but it had felt good and was about the only place she could be alone in the apartment and not feel silly, like she was avoiding the man.

  She peered out of the bathroom. From this angle she could partially see into what passed as their living room, though they’d taken up most of it with the dining table extension. It was quiet. Too quiet for two people to be having any kind of conversation.

  She sighed and padded forward.

  Chayan was nowhere to be seen. He’d always been a man of few words. It was his wife who’d filled his silences with her cheerful chatter. Once more her heart ached for Chayan’s loss. Everything dear to him was gone and he was utterly alone.

  Silas sat with his back toward her. He was focused on the laptop. No doubt he was peering at those camera feeds, examining pedestrians. She’d seen him do it before. There was a laser focus that came over him and the air around him seemed to grow cooler. She shivered, glad that he was on her side.

  If she went over there would they pick up where they’d left off? Did he want to kiss her? Had it been her doing the kissing? Or would he have another let-her-down-easy speech?

  She didn’t want to know the answer to that, not with her heart beating for him. He struck her as the responsible type and she knew he’d push her away if he thought it compromised their safety. What she wanted to know was, if it was just them would he kiss her? And why did his focus on their safety frustrate her? She should appreciate that about him, and yet she wanted to throw caution to the wind a little. Not a lot. She did want to make it out of here and get Chayan to New York City.

  No, it was better to slink off to bed and nurse her girlish obsession with him in the privacy of her own bedroom. Things were moving too fast in her head and all they’d done was kiss a little.

  How could she have such strong feelings for a man she’d barely met?