by K. S. Ruff
“So you understand my predicament,” Rafael surmised.
Kadyn leaned back and folded his arms over his chest. He knew Rafael was about to request something of him.
Rafael reached for his glass. “I’ve asked Brady and Jase to move into Kristine’s townhouse until I return. They’ll be sleeping in the guestrooms and accompanying her to work.”
Kadyn rose from his chair when Brianna returned. He dropped back into his seat once she was settled. “What do you want me to do?”
Rafael glanced at Brianna. He seemed uncertain as to how much he should divulge in front of her. “I know this is awkward, Kadyn, but there isn’t a man on this planet I trust more than you. I know you have your own career, your own life, and responsibilities but would you mind serving as their back up?”
Kadyn folded his elbows against the table. “Define ‘back up.’”
Brianna studied the three of us over the top of her wine glass. The waiters removed our salad plates.
Rafael set his wine glass aside. “I’d like you to strategize with them, serve as a sounding board, check on Kristine regularly, and establish a presence at her place when Maxim is in town. You can stay at my place if you’d like.”
Kadyn stilled. He locked eyes with Rafael.
Kadyn had once confessed that he wished Rafael didn’t trust him so much because it made him feel obligated to maintain that trust when he preferred to act less honorably. I fidgeted nervously. Less than two months had passed since Kadyn kissed me. I wondered whether either man was considering that misstep.
“Who knows about this?” Kadyn finally asked.
Rafael waited until the waiters set the dinner plates in front of us, topped off our drinks, and walked away. “Ethan, Brady, Chance, and Jase.”
“I’d like to tell Cenia, Roger, Phil, and Marie. Not here. Elsewhere. So we aren’t overheard.” Kadyn looked at me. “How long do you think you can keep this from Shae?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose before rubbing my forehead irritably. “I don’t know. A month… maybe two?” I glanced at Rafael. “I’ll tell her you’re tied up with an assignment if she comes over. She doesn’t have to know you’re working out of town. I hate lying to her, though.”
He reached for my hand. “I know, but if she says anything in front of Konstantin, it’ll get back to Maxim. If Maxim thinks you’re vulnerable, he’ll take advantage of the situation.”
“What am I supposed to do about Oni?” I asked. “Maxim is bringing her on the tenth. You’ll be in Portugal by then. How do I explain your absence over the ten days that she’s staying with me? And how do we know she won’t report your absence to Maxim?”
Kadyn feigned interest in his food. “Have you heard anything more about this favor Maxim’s planning to ask?”
Rafael blew out a long, frustrated breath. “God. I just don’t see how I can do this.”
“You have to nail the creeps who’ve been sexually abusing those children,” I insisted. “This case meant everything to you. Rafael, you have got to see this through.”
“I’ll do it,” Kadyn interjected. “I’ll help protect Kri, but I have some conditions.”
My jaw fell slack.
Rafael stared at him. “Name the conditions.”
“I’ll stay at your place while you’re gone, check in on Kri, consult with Brady and Jase, and serve as their back up should either of them become unavailable… under three conditions.”
Rafael nodded.
Kadyn’s face proved completely unreadable. “I stay at Kri’s place during the ten days that Oni is there and every night that Maxim is in town.” He looked at me. “Brady and Jase will both be accompanying you to work?”
I choked down a mouthful of loaded baked potato. “Yes.”
“Then you’ll do nothing without one or more of us joining you.” Kadyn’s tone brokered no room for argument.
Slowly, I nodded. A massive pool of dread had taken over my stomach, making me feel nauseous.
“And?” Rafael prompted.
Kadyn’s shoulders relaxed. “I get to drive the Enzo and the Vyrus while you’re gone.”
Rafael didn’t even blink. “Agreed, but I’m going to add my own condition.” His eyes slid toward Brianna. “I’d prefer to discuss that condition in private.”
Kadyn studied him. “I know what the condition is. You don’t want a repeat of McAllen.”
Rafael nodded.
Kadyn looked at me. “Done.”
Rafael breathed a sigh of relief before settling in to eat.
All of their negotiating and strategizing over my security was making it difficult for me to breathe. I excused myself from the table and walked downstairs to the restroom. The door swung closed. Thankfully, I was alone.
I clung to the vanity. Haunted eyes regarded my ashen face as panic bubbled up inside of me. Rafael was leaving in three days. Three. I trembled violently. Horrific things happened every time we parted. A number of violent images set out to prove this very thing. The madman who tried to drown me… the Russian operative who interrogated me while his comrade shoved a stun gun between my legs… men dressed in camo, khaki, and black hanging out of SUVs with machine guns while bullets ricocheted all around me.
I splashed cold water on my face in an attempt to drive the images away. I thought about the little boy who was raped while Rafael kept his abuser safe. Those children at the Casa Pia Orphanage wouldn’t be safe until every last criminal in that pedophile ring had been locked away. I reached for one of the face cloths that had been stacked in neat little rolls inside a silver tray next to the faucet. I dabbed at my face. As much as I wanted Rafael to stay, there was no way I could ask him to abandon this investigation. Rafael needed to see this through or he’d never forgive himself for allowing that child to be abused on his watch. I had three extremely capable men planning to stand guard over me while those children were a million miles from safe. My shoulders and spine straightened as I turned from the mirror.
Rafael was pacing along the hallway. “Your hour is up.”
My eyes widened. I’d totally forgotten about the rain check. “You want to…” I swallowed nervously. “Here? Now? With all of our guests upstairs?”
He planted his hands on either side of my head as he cornered me against the wall. “Yes. Here. Yes. Now. And I don’t care who’s upstairs.”
I grasped his wrists. My heart beat wildly as he lowered his lips to mine. The kiss he stole was inexplicably soft given the aggression and the possessiveness rolling off his unyielding frame.
My hands fell to his chest, then linked behind his neck. I pulled him toward me so I could deepen the kiss.
Rafael’s restraint crumbled. He devoured my lips… my chin… my neck. His hand carved a trail from my breast to my hip. His fingers slid beneath the slit in the dress.
He nudged my foot aside, forcing me to widen my stance as he stepped between my legs. In one fluid motion he had my legs around his waist. The kiss grew frenzied as he stumbled down the hallway. He slipped inside a bedroom, threw the lock, and pinned me against the door.
His tongue thrust deep inside my mouth as he tore my thong. Rafael shifted me in his arms while freeing himself from the tux. Still, he kissed me. With a groan, he drove deep inside of me.
“Rafael!” I stilled, mortified that someone might hear us.
His hands raked over my breasts. He shifted the bodice so he could play with my nipples through the thin, sheer fabric. Slowly, he began to thrust.
My breath caught when Rafael’s eyes pierced mine. Something primal was lurking just behind his eyes. He thrust even harder. “Mine,” he growled. “You’re mine, Kristine. Not Maxim’s. Not Kadyn’s. Mine.”
“Yes.” My breath rushed through my lips in short panting breaths. The amount of force he was using was frightening, but it felt so amazing I no longer cared who was listening. God, I thought, how will I live without this… without him… for the next five months? I locked my arms around his neck and kissed him frant
ically.
I lost myself in that exquisite place between pleasure and pain. Rafael was no longer capable of gentle. He was every bit as lost as I was. “Kristine,” he cried. He tilted my hips and slammed inside of me. I shattered deep inside. The room sheeted white. Pleasure pulsed between his body and mine. Like a rag doll, I collapsed against his chest.
Rafael took his time releasing my legs. “I will never get enough of this… of you,” he rasped. He kissed every square inch of my face before gently pulling away. “God help me. I don’t know how to live without you.”
I burrowed into his chest as tears threatened. “I promise, we’ll get through this.”
“Every chance,” he whispered. “Every chance I get, I’ll come back to see you.”
We straightened our clothes. I grasped his hand when he unlocked the door. “I love you, Rafael.” I wasn’t sure I said that often enough.
He planted a tender kiss on my swollen lips. “I love you too.”
We stepped inside the bathroom to freshen up before walking arm in arm to the main floor. Kadyn and Brianna were dancing by the time we returned. We visited with some of our other guests before joining them on the dance floor.
Before I knew it, we were filing outside so we could watch the fireworks explode against the night sky. As we counted the last remaining seconds before the clock struck midnight, my heart swelled with joy. I’d never felt safer or more loved than I did in that moment. There was no questioning how blessed I truly was.
* * * * *
“I’m sorry,” Rafael whispered for the hundredth time.
I memorized every angle and shadow that formed his face before my eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t apologize. As difficult as this is, we both know you’re doing the right thing.” The words were hollow, even to my ears.
Rafael shook his head. “Promise me you’ll be safe, that you’ll listen to Brady and Jase.”
A soft sigh escaped my lips. “I’ll be safe. Promise me you’ll do the same. You’re not allowed to jump in front of any bullets or take any unnecessary risks.”
“I’ll do my best.” He brushed my tears aside with his thumbs. “Please don’t cry.”
I forced back my remaining tears. “Call me as soon as you land. I want to know you arrived safely.”
“I won’t land in Lisbon until after six o’clock your time. Are you cooking dinner for Brady and Jase tonight?”
I shook my head. “Jase said he was taking care of dinner tonight.” I doubted I’d even eat. I was planning to crawl straight into bed.
Rafael chuckled. “So you’ll be eating burgers from Five Guys.”
I laughed. “That sounds about right.”
He held me tight. “I’ll try to be here when Maxim arrives. Hopefully, he won’t stay for more than a day or two. Please, don’t agree to anything without speaking to me first.”
I nodded my consent.
“Hey,” Rafael whispered. He lifted my chin toward his. “You’re in good hands with Brady and Jase. We’ll Skype every night, and I’ll come back just as soon as I can.”
Another tear stole down my cheek. I was trying to be strong so it would be easier for him to leave. “I love you,” I whispered hoarsely.
Rafael brushed a kiss on each cheek before slanting his lips over mine. He demanded nothing. Instead, he poured every emotion imaginable from his heart into mine. We clung to each other for the longest time. Grudgingly, he released me. “You should head to work. Brady and Jase are waiting downstairs.”
We tromped downstairs to the garage. Rafael opened the passenger side door to my Jeep and popped his head inside. “Don’t worry about retrieving the SUV from the airport. Ethan and Chance are going to swing by and pick it up this afternoon.”
Jase nodded. Once. “Travel safe.”
“Take good care of my girl.” Rafael pulled me in for one last hug. “You, behave.” He fastened my seatbelt.
I made a big show of rolling my eyes. “Like I don’t behave.”
Brady barked out a laugh. He was sitting in the back seat. “You weren’t behaving in Ukraine.”
“She wasn’t behaving when she tried sneaking into Mexico behind Kadyn’s back either.” Jase frowned. “If you so much as look mischievous, I’ll chip you in your sleep.”
Rafael chuckled. “Now why didn’t I think of that?” He nipped my bottom lip and kissed me one last time. With a gentle shove, the door closed between us.
Rafael’s eyes held mine while Jase backed out of the garage. He followed us out of the garage, then waved as Jase pulled away.
I burst into tears when Rafael disappeared from sight.
Brady handed me a box of tissues.
Jase continued driving. “Where’d you get the tissue?”
“From the townhouse,” Brady answered. “Come on. You had to know she’d cry.”
“Do you need me to pull over or anything?” Jase offered uncertainly.
“No. I’ll be okay. Just… drive.”
Brady shoved a white paper cup at me. “Grande skim toffee nut latte, extra shot, extra hot.”
Jase spun toward the back seat. “You went to Starbucks?”
He laughed. “You’ve been her bodyguard for how many months? Seriously, Jase. How could you not know that she’d need coffee on a day like this?”
Jase scowled at the road. “I was planning to stop at the coffee shop next to her office.”
A grateful smile tugged at my lips while I dabbed at my eyes. “Thanks, guys. For everything.”
Jase merged onto I-395. “How are you going to explain Brady’s presence at the office? Shae’s going to know something is up when you walk in with two bodyguards.”
I took a sip of coffee. “I’m going to tell Shae that Rafael insisted on having two bodyguards at the office since Chance isn’t there protecting her anymore.”
He glanced at me admiringly. “That sounds believable enough.”
“Because it’s the truth,” Brady chimed in. “Rafael would have insisted on having two men assigned to her office regardless. She’s more vulnerable at the office than anyplace else since the SVR knows where she works.”
I turned around in my seat. “It’s been six months since we fled Ukraine. If the SVR was going to pursue me, wouldn’t they have shown up by now?”
He shook his head. “That’s not how SVR operatives work. They watch and wait until the moment is ripe so they can maximize their gains.”
“That’s why we call them ‘sleeper agents,’” Jase explained. “They’ll spend months building a cover, establishing their position, blending in, and building trust. If anyone new applies for a job at your office or tries to strike up a friendship with you, he’ll be our first suspect.”
My heart sank. I’d mistakenly presumed I’d be safe once a decent amount of time had passed.
“If the SVR suspects that Maxim still cares for you, then they’ll be monitoring you. They won’t hesitate to use you in order to manipulate him, and he’s just powerful enough for them to want to do so,” Brady added.
Jase turned onto Constitution Avenue. “Maxim killed the operative who shot Michael and the ones who tortured you and Shae. Those acts won’t go unpunished.”
I shivered as those memories reared their ugly heads. “Why hasn’t Rafael mentioned this?”
“He didn’t want you feeling any more frightened than you already were,” Jase admitted softly. “This is why he doesn’t want Maxim near you. It’s not the threat posed by Maxim that concerns him. It’s the SVR.”
“What about Oni?” I inquired hesitantly.
“Rafael doesn’t trust Oni, and neither should you,” Brady stated matter-of-factly. “Even though you facilitated her admission into your degree program, and she’s moving to the United States, she still has family in Ukraine. The SVR can and will manipulate her to get to you.”
My gaze shifted to the window. Maxim was delivering Oni next Tuesday, precisely one week from today. She’d be living with me until the dorms opened. I really
liked Oni, and I wanted to trust her, but I couldn’t argue Brady’s point. If someone threatened to kill my family, I’d do just about anything to ensure their safety.
Jase parked the Jeep. “I know you consider Maxim and Oni friends, but the sooner you distance yourself from those two, the better.”
I unfastened my seatbelt with a harsh sigh. I felt even more miserable now than when I climbed inside the Jeep. I hadn’t a clue how I was going to survive the next two weeks.
Brady and Jase escorted me into the building.
“Welcome back, Kri,” Alyssa greeted cheerily. She was standing next to the reception desk. She raised a single eyebrow in Brady’s direction.
“This is Brady. He’s assisting Jase since Chance is no longer assigned to Shae,” I explained. “Alyssa is our administrative specialist. She’s the glue that holds our office together. She also manages the office calendar.”
“Are you expecting any visitors today?” Brady asked.
“No. It should be quiet around here today.” Her eyes slid toward me. “You have a team meeting on Rwanda in thirty minutes. Paul has blocked off the entire morning for that meeting, so you might want to grab some coffee before you go in there.”
“Thanks, Alyssa.” Jase followed me to my office. Brady hung back in the lobby. “Feel free to use my desk and the computer.” I stashed my purse inside the file drawer. “I’ll be in the conference room the rest of the morning.”
“Unless Paul objects, I’d prefer to sit in on that meeting. I want to know what your plans are for Rwanda so I can plan the security detail.” He walked me to the break room.
I pulled three mugs from the cupboard. “Hey, Sammi. How’s the coffee?”
She eased away from the coffee pot. “Not bad. I was just debating whether I should brew another pot.”
“We’ll probably finish this off, so I’ll start another pot.” I poured a cup for Brady and Jase, replaced the coffee grounds, and brewed another pot while Jase delivered Brady’s coffee. I sent a text message to Rafael, poured my own cup of coffee, and joined the rest of the staff in the conference room.
Shae stood and gave me a hug. “That was one awesome party, Kri.” She tugged me into the seat next to her.