I raised my hands, palms out. “Hold on. Let’s take a breath.”
He fell silent, watching me worriedly.
I followed my own advice, sucking in a long breath and letting it out slowly. “Okay. Sorry, I didn’t mean to freak out-”
“You don’t have any reason to apologize, I shouldn’t have-”
“No, it’s fine.” I raised my voice a little to make sure he was listening. “It’s okay. I’m not upset, I know you weren’t trying to put the moves on me, I just… I wasn’t awake yet and I thought you were Arnie.”
I dragged my courage up from where it was attempting to ooze out the soles of my feet and met his eyes despite the burning in my cheeks. “I didn’t… um… grope you or anything last night, did I?”
He laughed, his shoulders relaxing. “Not that I noticed.”
Relief made me close my eyes momentarily. “Thank God.” When I opened them again, I caught his disconcerted expression. “It’s not that I’d mind groping you… I mean…”
Now my face was really on fire. “Not that I… I just meant if I was going to grope you, I’d want to know it was you. And I’d want to be awake when I did it.”
He chuckled. “I’d rather be awake when you did it, too.” He extended his hand, still smiling. “No harm done?”
“No harm done.” I took his hand and squeezed it. “Thanks for babysitting me. I had a good sleep.”
“Good.” He glanced at the bedside clock. “Well, I’d usually get up in twenty minutes anyway. I’ll get dressed and start breakfast.” He padded out, closing the door behind him, and I collapsed onto the bed to beat my head against the pillow.
We got through breakfast without too much awkwardness, and by the time we loaded the dishes into the dishwasher, we were back to our usual easy camaraderie.
Tom stretched and moved toward the door. “I have to do some chores, and then we can go over to your place and get started. Why don’t you go back to bed for a while? I’ll be about an hour, and you can probably use the extra rest.”
“Thanks, Tom, but…” I eyed my watch. “I’m sorry, would you have time to drop me off before you start your chores? I have to go to work this morning and I need a shower and change of clothes. The cleanup can wait ‘til tonight.”
“If that’s what you want.” He frowned. “Are you sure you should be going to work today? Can’t you take the day off?”
I sank onto the bench with a sigh and reached for my boots. “No. I’ve got a really important project… with a deadline,” I added, hoping I sounded convincing. “I have to go in today.”
“Okay.”
When we pulled up in front of my house a few minutes later, I reached for Tom’s hand. “Thank you. I really appreciate you going to all this trouble for me.”
His callused hand tightened on mine. “It’s no trouble at all. All I did was give you some food and a bed for the night.”
“It was a lot more than that. Thanks.” I squeezed his hand and slipped out of the truck before I could do something truly stupid like kissing him.
I turned to plod through the snow toward the garage, and the truck’s passenger window hummed down. “Is everything okay?”
“Fine. I’m just going to get my spare key from the garage. Arnie isn’t much of a morning person. If he worked late last night, he’s probably still sleeping.”
“Okay. See you later. Have a good day.”
“You, too.”
Yeah, right. As his truck churned away through the snow, I pulled my jacket tighter around me and hunched my shoulders against the icy wind. My chances of having a good day were approximately on par with a snowball’s chance in…
“What the hell?”
I stood in the doorway of my garage, my mouth gaping. A moment later, reality sank in and I closed the door behind me, a grin stretching my face.
“Yes!” I did a fist-pump and happy-danced across the garage to the shiny blue Subaru Legacy parked in the far bay.
Okay, so it wasn’t red like the one that had blown up, but the blue was very pretty indeed. I glided a palm over its sleek fender and tried the driver’s door. Letting out a hum of satisfaction when it opened, I slid into the driver’s seat, delighting in the new-car smell and the well-bred subdued thump of the closing door.
“Mine, mine, mine,” I sang, caressing the steering wheel. I blew myself a kiss in the rearview mirror and let out a giggle before reluctantly getting out again.
Just in case my truck’s feelings were hurt, I offered it a pat on the fender as I went past. “You’re still my favourite truck,” I assured it, and went to unearth my hidden key.
All was silent when I let myself into the house. My mop and bucket leaned in the corner, silent guardians of the clean kitchen floor. The remaining undamaged contents of my kitchen were laid out neatly on the table and counters, and a quick inventory made me breathe a sigh of relief. A few plates and mugs had survived, and none of the appliances or cookware seemed to have been damaged.
The living room looked exactly as it had before the break-in, and for a moment I thought it had been spared. But a closer inspection revealed that although everything was in its place, my dead husband’s photo had a gash across it and the glass was missing. Other items showed damage, too, and I realized Arnie must have consulted his phenomenal memory to replace everything exactly as it had been the last time he’d visited.
My heart swelled with gratitude and I smiled as I tiptoed down the hall, following the sound of quiet snoring. Peeking into the bedroom, I discovered that his herculean effort hadn’t extended that far.
The bed floated like an island amid mounds of my tangled clothes. Hellhound sprawled on his back in the middle of the bed, one muscular tattooed arm flung out across the white sheets like a splash of paint on a clean canvas.
As if some sixth sense had alerted him to my silent presence, he let out an aborted snore and his eyes snapped open.
“Hey, darlin’,” he mumbled, his eyelids drooping again as he relaxed. “Mornin’ already?”
“Afraid so,” I agreed, and picked my way through the chaos to slide into bed beside him.
“Mmm.” He wrapped his arms around me and treated me to a kiss that left me breathless. “Missed ya last night.”
“I missed you, too. Thanks for all your work. It looks so much better.”
“No problem.” He grimaced. “Still a helluva lot to go. No wonder ya were upset after walkin’ in on this shit.”
“Yeah… it wasn’t really that, though.” I cuddled closer and tucked my head under his chin so he couldn’t see my face. “I had… a really bad day yesterday…” My voice trembled into silence, and I took a slow, deep breath to dispel the memory.
His gentle fingertips smoothed my hair away from my cheek. “What happened, darlin’?”
I drew another deep breath and let it out slowly. “I… can’t tell you. But it was pretty much my worst nightmare…”
Renewed anger at Stemp displaced my residual fear and stiffened my spine. I leaned up on my elbow to drop a kiss on Arnie’s lips. “Anyway, I’m okay now. The bastard probably did me a favour. Now I know I can handle it.”
A memory of Doytchevsky’s vicious smile made me shudder.
Dammit, I could handle him, too. As long as I kept my promise, Lola would be fine. And Stemp had ordered me to cooperate with Doytchevsky anyway.
Arnie eyed me with concern. “Don’t like the sound a’ that, Aydan. Are ya really okay? Or are ya just hidin’ it like ya always do?”
“I’m okay.”
Maybe if I said it firmly enough, I could start believing it, too.
He frowned at me for a moment before speaking again. “What the hell really happened here? What the fuck were the surveillance analysts doin’, sittin’ around with their thumbs up their asses while these assholes trashed your place?”
I sighed and flopped down beside him again. “The analysts knew I wasn’t home, so they didn’t scramble right away. When they found out the intruders
were from Fuzzy Bunny, Stemp decided to let them finish their search to convince them I didn’t have what they were looking for. He thinks they’ll leave me alone now.”
Hellhound sat up abruptly. “What the fuck, Aydan? They know where ya live, they’re breakin’ into your place, an’ Stemp’s doin’ fuck-all? He’s got his head up his fuckin’ ass!”
“No, probably not.” I tugged gently on his arm to get him to lie down again. “He knew they wouldn’t find what they were looking for, and it’ll make them believe my cover story. It actually makes me safer.”
“Bullshit.” He scowled down at me for a few moments before succumbing to my pull. He slid an arm around me and cuddled me close. “Ya shouldn’t hafta do this shit.”
“I don’t want to, but I have to.”
His arms tightened around me. “Let somebody else do it. Stemp’s got lots of other-”
“I’m the only one that can do it.”
“Bullshit.”
I blew out a long breath. “Unfortunately, it’s not. I’m literally the only person in the world who can do it.”
Hellhound drew back, studying my face for a long moment. At last, he spoke. “Well, shit.”
I made a face. “You can say that again.”
He dropped back onto the pillow beside me and we lay in silence for a while before he turned to face me. “How can I help?”
I kissed him. “You’ve already helped.”
“Ya know that ain’t what I mean.”
“I know. But there really is nothing else you can do besides what you’re doing.” I kissed him again, longer and slower, before drawing away to smile at him. “And you’re very good at what you do.”
He grinned and pulled me against him.
“Ya got too many clothes on, darlin’,” he mumbled against my lips a few minutes later.
“Very true.” I kissed him and made as if to get out of bed. “But I have to go to work. I only came home to shower and change.”
His hand wandered up under my top. “Guess that means ya gotta take your clothes off, then.”
“I guess it does.”
Somewhat later, I flopped onto my back and stretched luxuriously, still warm and tingling. “This day just keeps getting better. First I find a new car in my garage and then I find you in my bed.”
Hellhound leaned up on his elbow to run a hand over my stomach. “I figured you’d be all tuckered out from ridin’ a cowboy last night.” He followed his hand’s path with whisker-kisses that made me twitch and giggle. “What’s the matter, couldn’t he get his little dogey rounded up?” he rumbled against my belly button.
I reached over and smacked his ass. “Be nice. I didn’t give him a chance to try. That cowboy’s happy trails are off limits for me.”
Hellhound grinned. “Hey, if it gets ya naked with me, it’s all good. An’ if ya spank me, hell, that’s just bonus.”
“Pervert.” I bounced my eyebrows at him. “If you’re a very, very good boy, maybe I’ll spank you again.”
“Hmm.” His growl vibrated my belly as his mouth moved lower. “How good do I hafta be?”
I squirmed regretfully out from under him. “You’re already so good I’m going to be late if I don’t get out of here in the next twenty minutes.” I perched on the edge of the bed, smiling at his smug expression. “What are you going to do today?”
He yawned and stretched, letting me enjoy the flex of his bulky muscles. “Gonna head over an’ sit on Kane so he doesn’t do anythin’ stupid. He’s goin’ nuts. Gonna need a new punchin’ bag by the time this’s over. I barely managed to talk him outta followin’ ya yesterday.”
A chill slithered down my spine. “Thank God you did. Don’t let him follow me. No matter what.”
Hellhound sat up, his gaze sharpening. “Why not?”
I bit back my urge to pour out the story of Doytchevsky’s threats. Kane could help me, but dishonourable discharge and prison was too high a price if he got caught.
“He just needs to stay far away from me. And… just… tell him to watch out. There’s somebody out there who wants to harm him. I don’t know how far he’ll go.”
“Tell me who it is.”
I sighed. “I can’t. Just… if Kane starts interfering, innocent people are going to get hurt. Tell him I said so.”
Hellhound swung his legs over the edge of the bed to sit beside me, his arm settling around my shoulders. “What about you?”
“I’m fine.”
He turned my chin to face him. “Look me in the eye an’ tell me ya ain’t in any danger.”
“I’m not in any danger that I know of. Tell Kane that, too. Tell him I’m fine, and as long as he doesn’t interfere everything will be okay.”
Arnie searched my face in silence for a moment before letting out a long breath. “I sure hope ya ain’t lyin’ to me.”
I met his eyes. “I’ve never lied to you. And I never will.”
His smile made his ugly face almost handsome. “Thanks, darlin’.”
Another lingering kiss later, I rose reluctantly. “I’ve got to go. At least it’ll be an easy drive this morning in my nice new car. When did it get here?”
“I called Stemp before I came in the house last night. Didn’t wanna show up on his cameras without warnin’. When he found out I was gonna be here, he said he’d send it out. Guess it’d been ready for days but ya ain’t been here.”
“Thank you so much. For everything.” I gave him another quick kiss and pulled away before he could tempt me any further.
Chapter 26
My new car’s all-wheel drive handled the snowy road with assurance, leaving me time for intense thought. I wanted nothing more than to tell Stemp everything, but Doytchevsky’s malevolent smile hovered in my mind’s eye.
He had to be bluffing. He wouldn’t risk attacking a little old lady. That would attract too much attention, especially in a small town. And holding a captive would make it impossible for him to hunt Sherman.
I swallowed sudden nausea. Which meant he wouldn’t leave Lola alive if he did carry out his threat. She would just disappear, never to be seen again…
But surely it was only a threat. He couldn’t be so crazy that he’d torture and murder an innocent woman just to get what he wanted…
I unclenched one hand from the steering wheel to turn up the heat against my sudden chill. He had been nurturing his obsession for years. I shuddered, remembering the glitter in his eyes. That was the look of a man who was past the point of reason.
But Stemp was known for instant action. If I told him, he’d take Doytchevsky down before he could ever get to Lola.
My breakfast squirmed uneasily in my stomach. Stemp was a ruthless bastard. He might risk Lola if he thought it would give him a strategic advantage. What if he decided not to act? And what if Doytchevsky found out I’d reported him?
My mind cowered away from the thought of Lola’s impish smile and too-big laugh lost to screams and pleas for mercy.
That wouldn’t happen, goddammit. I wouldn’t let it happen.
A sudden blinding thought made the breath catch in my throat.
What if I killed Doytchevsky?
Tremors spread up my arms until I was shaking so violently I pulled the car over onto the shoulder and stopped. Staring through the windshield, my mind ricocheted around the possibilities as if trying to escape the inevitable conclusion.
I had a gun.
I could tell Stemp that Doytchevsky had attacked me and I’d killed him in self-defence. Stemp would believe me. No trial. No consequences. Everybody I cared about safe.
The hardness of my gun pressed against my waist like some alien creature intent on invading my body.
Simply kill a man in cold blood, and this could all be over.
Decree a death sentence just like Stemp. Plan and carry out a murder just like Kane.
For the safety of others.
I gulped down rising bile, clinging to the stability of the steering wheel. Could I do it? Walk up
to him and just… pull the trigger?
My churning gut answered the question. Not in cold blood. I would shoot without hesitation if he attacked me or if he was harming another person, but I wasn’t a murderer.
Not yet.
I leaned my forehead against the steering wheel. What made that tiny switch click inside a person’s brain? When had Kane become capable of killing a man like my husband without confronting him, without any direct personal threat? What made him able to dispassionately execute someone for the sake of the ‘greater good’, whatever that meant?
Was that stone-cold killer lurking inside me, too?
Unwilling to even think about the answer, I jammed the car into gear again.
I was being silly. If anybody could keep a secret, it was Stemp. Doytchevsky would never know I’d ratted on him. Everything would be fine. I’d tell Stemp, he’d arrest Doytchevsky, and Lola would be safe.
And even if Stemp didn’t act, pinpointing Sherman’s location was the next-best option. Play along and give Doytchevsky what he wanted. I could do that. No bloodshed required.
I spent the rest of the short drive planning my strategy and trying to ignore the insistent pressure of my waist holster.
Stemp laced his fingers together, leaning back in his chair. “No. I’m sorry.”
I held my temper in check with all my might and tried again. “But he threatened her. That’s illegal.”
“I thought I had made my position clear.” Stemp’s flat tone sounded Lola’s doom. “National security is and has to remain my top priority. While I sympathize with your concern for your friend, arresting Doytchevsky on such a minor charge would be a waste of our setup. We’ll go forward with our original plan. Your friend will be safe because you’ll be ostensibly cooperating with Doytchevsky.” He rose. “You have your orders. The rest of the team is waiting.”
Clamping down on the need to yell and pound my fist on his desk, I rose, too, blocking his way. “If anything happens to Lola…”
A Spy For a Spy Page 19