Without waiting for her reply, he turned and walked out of her room. Before he slammed shut the connecting door, he told her, “I’ll see you downstairs in ten.”
Rei went straight to the shower, praying the frigid water would cool his aching cock and raging soul. The first powerful spray of icy water cooled off his anger, but it failed to calm his desire for her or his guilt for not being there when she needed him the most. With a loud roar, he punched the shower wall. A few tiles were shattered, scattering down just like his heart had been when he thought Elizabeth had died, when he saw his father and brothers perish in the battlefield.
•●•
Skyla’s heart was still racing from what just happened with Rei. Just one ferocious, soul-searing kiss, and she was almost pudding in front of him. Her body remembered him, remembered them together. There was not a shred of doubt about that. Yet she was resisting the idea of losing herself to him, a man whom she just met. She nor the Agency knew his true motive yet. It couldn’t be just about her…or could it?
A loud thud from Rei’s room startled her from her conflicting thoughts. Her body wanted desperately to go to his room and finish what he had started, but her mind refused to give up who she had become. She wouldn’t go back to being a meek, helpless girl having no choice but to run for her life. Even after the director confirmed with her that the life she had known these past twelve years was just a government cover, her heart wouldn’t accept that it had all been a lie—because it hadn’t been. She had lived it and known it. And if she were truly the Elizabeth that Rei told the director about, it would explain her relentless drive to be strong physically and mentally. Elizabeth was weak and helpless. She had been physically and mentally threatened by a psycho. To the girl’s credit, she hadn’t just rolled over and accepted the hand that she had been dealt. Elizabeth was actually ballsy, taking on the unknown risk of the time machine and escaping to the late twentieth century.
She went to the bathroom to put some cold water on her face. Her reflection in the mirror still showed the face she thought she knew intimately—until Rei showed up. Now it felt like a stranger staring back at her. Letting out a loud sigh, she headed downstairs for their little evening breaking and entering endeavor.
Chapter Sixteen
“Skyla, run!” Rei pushed her forward and reached for the lever at the same time, releasing the crates suspended above them to stop the guards for at least a few moments. His men had scouted the loading dock over the past week and reported that the number of guards remained the same each night. But tonight there was a second set of guards waiting for them. His original plan had been to quietly break into the warehouse and retrieve the device he had taken from the bank vault. An easy job, neutralizing Mr. X’s assassination plan for the time being and gaining Skyla’s trust. A firefight had not been part of his plan.
The crates came crashing down just as the first group of guards caught up behind them. The loud crashing noise muffled some of the screams.
He grabbed her arm and rushed them forward even faster. “Go! Go! Go! The crates will not hold them long.”
“The warehouse door is open. We should double back to get the device; otherwise, there will be more men on guard next time.” Without waiting for his response, the hellcat shrugged off his hold and skipped around the corner, back to the warehouse direction.
“Shit.” He would have yelled for her to come back, but he knew there was no use, so he ran after her instead. No doubt there would be more guards waiting for them. Evidently, someone had tipped off Mr. X about their plan. When he caught up with Skyla, she was hiding behind a car about fifty feet from the back of the warehouse. Taking a defensive crouching position next to her, he kept his voice low, barely audible. “Skyla, forget the device, we’re out-manned and out-gunned.”
“No, they’ll move the device now that they know someone wants it. We don’t have the time to track it down again. For all we know, they could be using it tomorrow to assassinate the congressmen.”
Again, the infuriating woman did not wait for his lead. She simply moved toward the warehouse using the surrounding crates and heavy machinery as cover. As he feared, shadowy figures emerged from their left almost instantly. Without any second thought about the stretch of open space between him and Skyla, he kicked up his legs and ran for her. Just as he was pushing her to the ground behind a block of concrete, a round of rapid gunfire thundered around them. Debris from the grounds and cement blocks rained all over them like an angry hail storm. Then a searing pain rocketed through his left thigh. “Dammit.” The velocity of whatever just hit him was so strong it almost knocked him to the ground.
“Rei!” She tried to pull him away from the stretch of open space, but he was a good hundred pounds heavier than she was. There was no way she could drag him away fast enough from the continuous rain of bullets. He leaned on his good leg and pushed backward with all his strength. With Skyla ferociously pulling him, they quickly reached the cover of the concrete slab.
In the next heartbeat, she was ripping open his pants, which were already soaked in blood from the bullet wound.
“This is not good. There’s no exit wound.” Skyla calmly pulled off her thin black thermal sweater, using it as a makeshift bandage and wrapping it around the bullet wound, attempting to stop the gushing blood flow. That left her in only her utilitarian black sports bra. The sight of her silky smooth skin, the contours of her breasts, and the indent of her narrow waist was enough to tempt him even now. Unaware of his heated stare, she continued on. “I can’t use the blood clotting plasma to stop the blood flow. We need to get you out of here fast so Knox can get the bullet out.”
“Dammit, woman!” He clenched his teeth in response to the pressure she exerted on the wound. “What did I say about the next time I see even an inch your of naked body?” He wanted to reach for her, to make sure she was not hurt, but he was losing more blood than he realized. His vision was becoming blurrier by the second, and a chill was slowly spreading through his body. The last time he felt the chill, he was dying on the battlefield with his family and his countrymen.
•●•
Before Skyla could tell him to stop talking nonsense so she could think of how to get them out of this blunder, another set of gunfire came from their right. She lifted her head just a little above the barricade and saw Rei’s second-in-command, Sloan, charging into the area with his men. They were firing at the warehouse guards methodically, clearing the parameters and forming a protective circle around Rei and her.
As Rei’s men continued pushing back the guards, Sloan came over and lifted Rei over his shoulder without a word. He motioned for Skyla to follow him. She was about to refuse, just as she had a few minutes ago when Rei told her the same. However, his cold, broach-no-argument stare was enough to change her mind. Sloan would have no quarrel leaving her behind if she refused to follow his orders. Reluctantly, she gave him a consenting nod and started moving out with him and Rei. She stayed behind them, covering their backs. To her amazement, Rei’s men had already taken down most of the guards. Very efficient. Even though the danger was not as overwhelming as before, Skyla remained on alert and continued scanning the area, making sure there were no more surprise attacks.
Soon after, they reached the car that was parked in a deserted alley on the outskirts of Chinatown, about a quarter mile north of the docks. Sloan laid Rei down on the backseat and took a quick look at his injury. “The bullet is definitely inside his leg, and the bleeding is coming faster than he can heal himself. We need a surgeon, fast.”
The odd comment about Rei healing himself registered in Skyla’s mind, but she was more concerned about the extent of Rei’s injury and her guilt over causing it. “It should’ve been me. Rei used his body to shield me from the bullets.” She looked down at Rei, and her voice was low.
Sloan tensed. “I am not your priest to absolve your sins. Let’s go. He is bleeding out fast.”
Ouch. His accusatory tone was harsh, although not uncalled for, especiall
y since she had decided to go back to the warehouse against Rei’s order. He could have lost his life back there. But she didn’t want Rei’s second-in-command to think he held any power over her mission. She drew up her smaller frame to give Sloan a piece of her mind when she suddenly noticed how similar Rei and Sloan looked. They could have been brothers. Both were tall, over six feet, with the same stubborn, square jaw, and thick, ink-black hair. The differences were in their eyes and builds. Rei had cold, steel-gray eyes, and his muscles were lean like a panther’s. Sloan had aquamarine-green eyes, which sparkled with mischief and easy laughter, and his build was bulkier. In his aqua-green eyes, she saw genuine concern for his commander. She decided to let his rudeness slide, instead choosing to quietly say, “I didn’t ask him to protect me. I could’ve protected myself.”
A feral sneer left Sloan’s throat. “Dollface, I hate to give you a rude awakening. Rei would die before letting any harm come your way ever again—” He was about to say more, but their attentions were drawn to Rei’s grunts.
Sloan frowned deeper at the continued, rapid blood loss from Rei’s leg wound. It had already soaked the makeshift bandage from her sweater. Dammit. Why was she wasting time arguing with his thick-skulled second-in-command when she should’ve jumped into the driver’s seat and gotten him to Knox already? She was about to do just that when Rei managed to partially sit up. “Stop.” He took a shallow breath. “Both of you.”
“Lie down, you fool.” She went to him immediately and tried to get him on his back again. Rei’s face was as white as a sheet. He winced at the pain from trying to sit up. Yet he gave her a reassuring smile. He covered her hand, which felt so small underneath his. Then he turned to Sloan. “Someone gave away our plan tonight. There was a second set of guards armed to the teeth waiting for us as soon as we passed the gate.” A deep rumble sounded from his heaving chest. His tone was laced with cold fury.
Sloan nodded curtly in agreement. “Yes, someone called the townhouse fifteen minutes after you left and told us to move our asses or you two would die.”
“Any idea who made that call?”
“No, the voice was disguised, and there was no background noise.”
Rei tilted his chin forward slightly, signaling to Sloan to start the car before he turned back to her. “Love, you can let go of me now. I’m okay.” He gave her hand a firm squeeze. “I promise I won’t die from this.”
Skyla realized too late that she was bending close to him, fussing like a mother hen. Quickly, she stepped away from the backseat. “Good. I’d hate to have to fill out paperwork for the Agency explaining why you were dead.” Not sparing him another glance, she went to the front seat.
•●•
Rei knew he needed a surgeon fast. His body should have healed itself partially by now, but for some reason it had not. It happened a few times in the past, when he was severely wounded. This single bullet wound was more severe than he thought. Rei saw Sloan looking back at him from the rear mirror with concern and disapproval. After the Last Battle, he and Sloan were the only surviving members of the once-great Serbian House of Dusan. He knew his brother wanted vengeance even after all these centuries, and he knew Sloan partially blamed Elizabeth for Rei’s failure to protect their father’s empire. And now, once again, he put Elizabeth before his own well-being, before the welfare of his men, men who had been loyal to him all these centuries. No doubt Sloan was going to have plenty to say about this when they were alone later. But that would be later. Now, he could feel his blood pressure getting dangerously low. His immortality would prevent him from dying, but the low blood pressure was quickly rendering him unconscious. He had no choice but to lie back down, praying that when he opened his eyes again, Elizabeth would still be there.
Chapter Seventeen
Skyla held the car door handle with a death grip as Sloan sped through the silent streets of the city. There were virtually no cars on the street, and even if there had been, she doubted Sloan would have slowed down. They were driving in a 1932 Ford, a sleek, shiny black automobile that she had seen only once at the Smithsonian Museum back in the twenty-first century. The ride was surprisingly comfortable and smooth, and she was acutely aware of Sloan’s silence. He did not ask her a single question about what had happened at the dock or how they were ambushed. When she first met him earlier this evening, she vaguely sensed some animosity from him. Now she was certain he did not like her. She was about to broach the subject when she noticed the speedometer showing 100mph. “Sloan, slow down. You’ll get us killed before Rei has a chance with the surgeon.” She turned to look at the backseat, making sure Rei was okay Good thing he was completely passed out. She was sure he wouldn’t like to see his former girlfriend arguing with his second-in-command so openly.
Sloan did not bother to answer her. He continued speeding down Sixth Avenue toward the townhouse. Thankfully, the dark silhouette of Central Park appeared a few blocks in front of them. Seconds later, the car screeched to a halt in front of Rei’s townhouse, and she would have been thrown across the dashboard if her grip were any less tight.
“Jesus Christ! Are you crazy?” She turned to yell at Sloan, but he had already left the driver’s seat and was pulling Rei out from the back. Rei looked even paler now. A lump formed in her throat. So instead of yelling at Sloan more, she followed them into the townhouse.
Once they stepped inside, Herbert, Rei’s butler, took one look at Sloan and Rei and immediately snapped his fingers for other house staff while he swiftly followed them up the stairs. If the butler was shocked at seeing his master unconscious, he hid it well. In fact, his swift, efficient actions showed that he was accustomed to seeing his master coming home hurt. Her mind was too preoccupied by Rei’s injury to notice Knox was standing just at the entrance of the war room farther back in the house. He was talking with a few of Rei’s men when they apparently saw the commotion. They ceased whatever discussion they were having and ran quickly upstairs. She strode up to Knox and led him into Rei’s study on the second floor. She gave him a quick update. While she was doing that, Sloan came into the study, impatiently waiting for their conversation to finish.
Knox’s usually calm voice gave Skyla some degree of comfort. “This sounds like an inside job.” He turned to Sloan. “Did you guys have any new recruits on the team or new staff in the house?”
Sloan looked at Knox blandly. “Doc, that’s not your concern. Rei is bleeding to death as we speak. Either you operate on him, or I’ll have to get a surgeon here. Don’t waste my time.”
A muscle twitched on Knox’s clean-shaven jaw, but as always, his impeccable control over his emotions allowed him to otherwise hide his anger. Instead of telling Sloan where to shove it, Knox just glared back at Sloan for a few seconds and then nodded. “Have the house staff prepare some hot water and basic medical supplies. I’ll get my bag and meet them upstairs.” With the same bland expression, Sloan nodded and left the library.
“Who else knew you and Rei were visiting the dock tonight?” Knox turned back to her, and she could see strain on his usually calm face.
“It was only Sloan and you. And I didn’t see anyone else on our way out. Could this place be bugged?”
“Highly unlikely. Modern technology doesn’t work outside of its era. Modern medicine is an exception because as long as the same chemical ingredients can be found in the era, the meds could be replicated. We tested that many times in our past missions. That’s why all of us are rigorously trained in historical weapons, and we’re always packed for medical supplies which have chemical components common in the past.”
“Then it has to be a leak from within. But maybe not intentional?” Pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace, she frowned. “From the little we know, all of Rei’s men have sworn allegiance to him. And it seems he trusted each of them implicitly. So it leaves the household staff.”
Before they could discuss further, the butler appeared at the doorway. “Master Knox, Master Rei’s bedroom is ready.”
<
br /> Knox gave her a reassuring look before following Herbert out.
She looked up at the portrait above the liquor cabinet again. This time her mind kicked in with sufficient detachment to notice that the similarity between her and the girl in the portrait began and ended with their physical appearance. The girl—Elizabeth Magini, as the director had told her—in the portrait had sparkling, innocent eyes along with a warm, contented smile. Skyla, on the other hand, had never felt innocent. She always seemed to know evil intimately. Given the new information about her past in the sixteenth century, she had definitely known evil intimately.
Even deep in thought, she was alerted by the quiet footsteps approaching the library. She reached for the daggers tucked in her waistline utility belt. As she turned toward the door, Sloan emerged from the hallway. His eyes flicked down to the pair of daggers in her hands and gave her a curt nod. He looked amused and dismissing at the same time. “Not bad. Who’d have thought Rei’s delicate Elizabeth was no shrinking violet.” Then he walked up to the liquor cabinet and poured two glasses of scotch.
More than annoyed but deciding she needed more information, she reached for one of the two glasses. Before she raised the cool crystal glass to her lips, she reminded him frostily. “I’ll not repeat myself again. My name is Skyla. Whoever this Elizabeth you and Rei keep referring to was, doesn’t exist anymore.” It was a declaration, not a request. She watched Sloan over the brim of the glass, and without blinking, she chugged down the fiery amber liquor. Sloan did not dispute her declaration; he simply raised his glass to her as a salute and then went behind the massive mahogany desk, flipping through blueprints and documents, ignoring her brave words, her truth.
Skyla always hated sounding needy, but she needed answers. And she could not stop remembering how Rei had used his body to shield her from the rain of gunfire, barely an hour ago. “How is he?”
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