Which was probably why he was better suited to his role in things. His cousins shared their father’s antiquated views.
“Hey, boys.” Luke nodded at them.
Neither spoke a word to Luke.
Those two were going to be trouble. Luke just hoped they weren’t going to become his problem.
Luke let himself into the house.
His aunt must have redecorated recently. The floors were a dark, polished mahogany and the walls a pristine white. The sofas were a pale gray while bright, coral pillows decorated nearly every flat surface.
The glass doors leading out onto the patio were shut so he couldn’t hear the men outside, but he could see them.
Uncle Johann sat back at the wicker table, a cigar in hand. Overhead a fan spun, creating a bit of a breeze. Several of his friends were gathered around, enjoying their own cigar or drink.
From somewhere deep in the house Luke could hear a video game being played. His cousins, no doubt. They were Luke’s age, and yet they lived at home, doing nothing more than a pittance of work to earn their keep. And somehow, they occupied a place of preference in the scheme of things.
It wasn’t fair, but everyone knew how things worked. At the top was Uncle Johann. The wealth trickled down from him to his family, then everyone else. Luke lived in a between space, not quite family and not quite a grunt.
Uncle Johann spied Luke and waved him out.
Great.
There was going to be an audience.
Luke let himself out onto the porch. His aunt must not be around or she’d have pushed food on him.
“What you got for me, boy?” Uncle Johann finally asked.
“Just a little something.” Luke set his offering on the table. The expensive bottle of whisky was a gift from one of the representatives who knew Uncle Johann’s tastes. Too bad Luke was going to get the credit for this.
That got Uncle Johann’s attention. “Trying to butter me up?”
“Not at all, sir.”
Uncle Johann leaned back, his attention fully on Luke now. “I hear you’re losing control.”
“From who?” Luke snorted.
“Lots of people.”
“Lots of people who know the same people I do and the things I’m doing?” Luke shrugged. He couldn’t let on that things weren’t that great. He knew he was an easy target for blame because people didn’t see his work or what he did.
“I invested a lot in setting you up, boy. I expect more from you.”
“Am I not delivering? Have I not done what I said I would do? I’m promised you—”
“I don’t want your promises. I want results. Besides, the way I hear it, they’re about to have you by the balls.”
“They” being the National Council of Provinces. But it was Coco De Jong who was really coming for Luke.
“I’m handling it,” Luke said.
Uncle Johann pulled the cigar from between his lips. “Cops took our shipment headed to Asia. I thought you were taking care of it.”
“I am.” And if anyone had confided in Luke about where the shipment was being held, he’d have greased the right hands.
“One of your clients is very upset. Came to me about it.”
“Who?” Luke grit his teeth.
“Bekker and his gang.”
“The ones who deal with the arms dealers I told them would land them in hot water? Okay. Yeah. That’s my fault.”
“I thought you were going to bend some ears, make some changes.”
“And I have. These things take a while.”
“You better smooth things out. These boys talk. If you don’t take care of them, they’ll stop payment.” Uncle Johann leaned back.
Truth was, more and more of Uncle Johann’s money came from extorting other gangs, be it for protection or smoothing things out for them. The kind of negotiating the old man did wouldn’t work in this new day and age. He needed Luke he just couldn’t see that.
Which meant Luke needed to do something his uncle could see. It was time to go after Cane De Jong for real.
12.
Tuesday. Mlilo Research Center, South Africa.
The sun was barely peaking over the horizon. Grit was still stuck in Paxton’s eyes. He’d barely slept between wanting to keep an eye on Coco and listening for danger. He shouldn’t have played with the kids. The visions of danger were all the more terrifying when he could put names to the precious faces in those nightmares.
Coco squeezed Paxton’s hand as they walked the distance from the main road toward the old resort where she’d made her home.
There was going to be a lot to account for once they crossed through the gates. He needed to enjoy these fleeting moments of calm before the storm. Somehow, despite all the bad going on, they’d landed in a really good place. Sure, they’d had to sleep on the floor of someone’s kitchen on a thin mattress, but the atmosphere and kindness had made up for that. The only other place he’d ever felt welcomed like that was with Silas’ family. Paxton had been a stranger to those people, and they’d treated him like a long-lost friend. And then there was the fact that he’d gotten to sleep next to Coco. She’d curled up next to him, snuggling closer in her sleep. He’d liked that.
“You think the others are okay?” Coco asked.
“I’d bet on it.” Paxton wouldn’t allow himself to think otherwise. Silas dead or injured just wasn’t an option.
They reached the curve in the hill and the newly renamed Mlilo Research Center came into view.
Was it too much to hope for a shower and an hour of sleep before they had to account for their whereabouts yesterday?
The gates opened and one of the shuttle busses shot out, headed straight for them. Coco slowed, and they stood on the side of the road as familiar faces grinned at them from the front seats. Daluxolo sat behind the wheel and Silas shotgun.
“Oh thank God,” Coco muttered.
The cold fist he’d clenched around his doubt released and he nearly staggered as relief surged through him. He’d believed his buddy was fine, but now he knew.
Silas stepped out of the open-sided shuttle bus before it came to a complete stop. He wrapped an arm around Paxton’s shoulders and beating his back.
Silas let go of him and grinned. “I told you they were on the move.”
“When’d you guys get in?” Paxton asked.
Coco stepped up into the first row of seats. “Is everyone okay?”
Daluxolo twisted to stare back at her. “You were the two missing.”
Silas climbed into the back with them and sat facing Paxton, his face serious. “You two okay?”
“Fine, just tired.” The full weariness was finally hitting Paxton. His thoughts were muddy and his limbs heavy. “Headed to that village D told us about, the Sotho one? Stayed there till a delivery truck ran by and gave us a lift.”
“Thank God for those trackers, am I right?” Silas gestured at the seat next to Coco. “Get in. You’ve got two hours before Zain’s hauling our asses up for an account of yesterday.”
Two hours was plenty of time.
Paxton slid in next to Coco, looping his arm behind her shoulders.
“Trackers?” she peered up at him.
“Most of us opted to have tracking devices implanted, in case something happens in the field.”
A lot of somethings had happened over the last few years to push them to make this call. It was good to know someone back here had been monitoring them the whole time.
“What happened with you guys?” he asked, pitching his voice louder, over the breeze as the minibus headed back into the research facility.
“We cut east, took their Land Rover and got out of there.” Silas twisted to look back at them. “Circled around looking for you two, but couldn’t find you.”
Paxton ran his fingers along the back side of Coco’s arm, easing the memories with the feel of her skin, reminding himself she was okay. “We wound up in some kind of animal den. Holed up there for a bit until we realized t
hat wasn’t a good spot to hang out in. You get anything on those guys?”
“No.” Silas grimaced. “We got out of there.”
Paxton nodded. They’d been outnumbered at least three to one, if not more. Add in the terrain and no escape vehicle, the best thing for each of them to do had been to flee.
Daluxolo eased the bus to a stop outside Coco’s. Paxton wanted to follow, but he was fairly certain after the last twenty-four hours, she’d want some time alone.
“Thanks. You said we have something in two hours?” She leaned forward, her hand on his knee.
“Yeah.” Silas pulled out a phone charger and passed it to Paxton. “Boss had some guys head out at first light to go look at the ambush point and then go find you if you didn’t show back up. He’s going to want to talk to all of us.”
Coco sighed and glanced at Paxton. “Okay. We’ll be there, right?”
He nodded.
She gave his knee a squeeze. “Come on, let’s sleep while we can.”
Paxton didn’t have to be told twice. He nodded at Silas as he slid out after Coco. “Later. Thanks for the ride.”
By the time he was out of the minibus Coco was at her door, twisting the lock free and pushing the door open. He followed her inside, watching her calm features for any clue, a sign of what had changed, why she wanted him here now.
She turned toward him, her brow furrowed.
“You don’t have any clothes here. Shoot. I didn’t think about that.”
“It’s fine.” He unclipped the strap securing his rifle to his vest. “Mind if I put this stuff on the table?”
“Go for it.” She stepped out of his way, clearing the path to the little writing desk that only had a lamp on its surface.
Paxton crossed to the flat surface and laid out his rifle and handguns. An itch developed between his shoulder blades. The rules had changed.
He watched her face in the mirror above the desk. “I would have thought you’d want some time to yourself.”
Coco crossed her arms, staring at the floor, and shrugged.
He pealed his vest off for the first time since they’d gotten out of the truck yesterday and set it on the floor. The cool air tickled the soaked fabric.
Paxton turned to face her.
Coco had held it together like a champ. She’d been afraid, but she’d pushed on when others would have fallen to pieces.
He reached out and hooked his finger in hers, prying one arm from across her chest and tugging her toward him. She came willingly, wrapping her arms around his waist. He bent his head and kissed her brow.
This was his life. People shot at him on a regular basis. Not exactly normal, but he’d weathered this before. It was all new to her.
“Let’s get you cleaned up and in bed, okay? Come on.” He took her hand and led her through the bedroom and into the bathroom.
Once he was satisfied she was okay, he could pass out himself.
Paxton turned on the shower and cracked the window to let the steam out. That done, he sat Coco on the vanity long enough to help her out of the teal boots and socks. Her shirt came next. Her movements were weary, weighted with the kind of exhaustion that came from running for your life. She slid to her feet, and he stepped back. He wasn’t enough of a gentleman to look away as she stripped off her sports bra, shorts and underwear.
He swallowed and looked her over, admiring the curve of her body, the tight furl of her brown nipples. Damn, but she was beautiful.
She glanced up and caught him watching her. She lifted her hands to her hair while her eyes traveled up from his chest to his face. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”
His mouth dried up.
She tossed the elastic band on the vanity, freeing her curls, then dug her fingers into her hair, massaging her scalp.
“Coco, I...” He swallowed, trying to find the words.
Facts were he didn’t get involved with women the way some of the guys did when he was on a job. There were no clear-cut rules when it came to Coco’s role in all of this, what they could be to each other. Escorting her into danger had ridden the fine line of his control. He wanted to scoop her up, lock her away, assure himself that she wasn’t hurt, that yesterday hadn’t left a mark on her. He didn’t know how to be on the job and with her.
She grabbed a handful of his shirt and pulled it up over his head. He lifted his arms, allowing her to strip him of the T-shirt.
“Are you going to make me ask?” She tipped her chin up and looked at him.
Whatever she wanted he’d give it to her. Short of helping her risk her life again, he knew he’d do anything she asked of him.
He loosened the catch of his jeans.
Coco took a step back, then another, before turning and stepping into the deep tub.
He didn’t want to ask, because then she might change her mind. Right now he wanted to be near her, to assure himself she really was okay.
Paxton’s boots hit the floor, socks still inside, laces barely undid. He got undressed in record time.
A small voice in the back of his mind asked, what are you doing?
Truth was, he didn’t know. From the moment that crowd had parted, and he’d first seen Coco, he’d been caught in her orbit. They were from different parts of the globe, and yet so much of their stories was the same. She was a lost, lonely soul just like him looking for a place to belong, and right now that was with each other. He knew that might not always be the case, but for now it was. And he intended to hold on to her.
Paxton stepped into the tub and was treated with the best visual ever. Coco had her hands in her hair, frothy white soap suds running down her dark arms and stomach as she rinsed her hair. He hated the angry red scratches that stood out as a reminder of everything she’d been through yesterday, the reason her eyes still looked haunted every now and then.
Paxton grabbed a bottle of soap and poured some in his hands, lathering them up before he set his palms on her shoulders and stroked down her body. Coco’s eyes drifted shut, and she dropped her arms, letting the water and Paxton do the work for her.
He bent his head and brushed a tender kiss across her lips. She leaned into him and for several long moments they stood there, him holding her, her leaning against him. They’d survived. Together. It was all he could ask for.
“Your turn,” she muttered.
“You’re what I care about.”
The corner of her mouth quirked up. She pushed at his shoulder and reached past him for the soap. Paxton grit his teeth as she swiped her slick palms down his chest and arms, the suds taking away the grimy, sticky sweat feeling.
Coco’s lips curved up, and the shadows retreated from her eyes. She edged closer until her breasts pressed against him. His stiffening cock drew lines on her hip. She lifted up on tip toe and kissed him under the spray of water.
Was this what she wanted?
When he’d brought her in the bathroom she’d retreated into her head. He could see it in her distant gaze, the way her fingers fumbled. Now she was reaching for him. The only brain cells he had still operating were quickly losing out to his desire to keep that smile on her face regardless of the reason behind it. He couldn’t question her actions, only go along with them.
Her hand wrapped around his cock and slid slowly to the tip. He groaned into her mouth, wanting nothing more than to lose himself in her, hold her, give her something better to think about. They were alive after all. Yesterday could have had a much different ending.
Coco leaned back, breaking the kiss and let go of his erection. She reached up and swiped her thumb across his lower lip. “You need to wash off.”
He didn’t want to touch her, not when he still had sweat and grime on him though.
She slid past him and he backed under the spray of water, doing a quick scrub down with a single-minded determination to get it over with. He borrowed her shampoo, pausing to inhale the fragrance he’d thought of as hers. It was now on him and he didn’t care. Coco slipped past the curtain and i
nto the bathroom, leaving him to finish his shower. He tipped his head up, letting the cool water douse his body. It did nothing to tamp down on the heat inside of him.
She did things to his insides. He wanted her with an intensity he didn’t fully understand.
He turned the water off and shook his head. Coco hummed on the other side of the curtain and for a moment he wondered, what would it be like if this was normal? If this was his life? It was a crazy idea, and yet he liked it.
Paxton jerked the curtain back a little too hard. Coco stood at the vanity, doing some female magic stuff with her hair. This was when she was the most beautiful to him, these moments when she wasn’t even conscious of how fucking amazing she was.
He eased up behind her and kissed her shoulder. She straightened, leaning back against him, her ass cradling his cock. He slid his hand around her waist, pulling her back, hugging her tight for a moment.
She was safe.
Coco reached back and took his other hand, guiding it to cup her breast. He kissed a trail from her shoulder up her neck. The fragrance of her shampoo and something else tickled his nose.
“What are you putting in your hair?” He toyed with her nipple, enjoying how it tightened under his fingers.
She tensed. He might not have noticed it if she weren’t pressed up against him. “Jojoba oil. Why? Do you not like it?”
He inhaled, drawing it in. “Makes me think of you. I like it.”
“Oh.” She shivered. “Lacey sends it to me.”
Paxton slid his other hand up to lavish attention on her other breast. She groaned and turned her face toward him, but he was too intent on exploring her.
While he teased her nipple he reached down and cupped her mound, stroking her damp folds. Coco gripped his arm, her nails digging into his skin.
Did she want him to keep going or stop?
Dangerous Heat (Aegis Group, #8) Page 12