The Assassin

by Tricia Andersen

  Except he wasn’t there.

  Abbey looked in his office and their bedroom. Finally, she checked the garage for his car. Both he and the vehicle were missing. Her heart fell. He hadn’t even tried to talk things out.

  Then, a determined grin cracked across her face. She retreated to his office and shook the mouse of his desktop computer to wake the system. Clicking open Sloan’s e-mail, she found nothing. Frowning, she searched his personal files. He had to keep some communication with Agent Dunham. She clicked on an unnamed folder and was met with a password request. Abbey pressed the button to see the hint. “My Home” popped up on the screen.

  Abbey was puzzled. Sloan’s home? She typed in “Belfast.” It was rejected. She followed with “Northern Ireland” then “Ireland.” Nothing. She typed in “Minneapolis,” “New York City,” “Minnesota,” “Mount Vernon,” “Iowa,” and “New York.” She still couldn’t access the file.

  Abbey sat back in the plush leather desk chair as she thought. They owned many houses all over the world. Which did he consider home? She huffed. Really, none of them. None held any more importance than the rest.

  Frustrated, Abbey’s thoughts drifted to her failed date the night before. It still hurt that Sloan hadn’t come to find her, even if to lecture her about her behavior. His silent treatment was getting to be too much.

  The conversation they’d had at the restaurant played in her mind. One phrase stuck like glue. “‘Because the bastard took my life, my home, away from me. It was almost for eternity. I sure as bloody hell am not going to give him a chance to do it again.’” Her brow creased as she concentrated. His life? His home? Torelli nearly took it away?

  She sat up and placed her fingers on the keyboard. With a deep breath, she typed “Abbey.” She exhaled, defeated, when it was rejected. She paused then typed again—“Abigail.”

  The file opened, revealing at least three dozen different documents and e-mails. Nearly all of them contained one word in the file name. Dunham. Abbey near squealed as she clicked on the first archived e-mail. Searching through it, she found Agent Dunham’s contact information. Her fingers trembled as they flew over the numbers on Sloan’s desk phone as she dialed. Her heart thundered in her chest. She felt terrified, satisfied, excited.

  “Sloan,” Agent Dunham answered. “I didn’t think I’d hear from you again.”

  “It’s not Sloan.”

  “Abbey. What a pleasant surprise. What can I help you with?”

  “Have you found Torelli yet?”

  “Unfortunately, the trail has gone cold.”

  She slammed her hands against the desk. He couldn’t see it but she was sure he could hear it. “I want back in.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “I was with him. I know what he was planning. I can be of some help.”

  There was silence on the other end. “Sloan made it clear that all of you were done.”

  “He didn’t speak for me.”

  “Abbey…”

  “Do you have a better idea? Torelli’s still out there selling guns to insurgents who are using them against the men and women of our armed forces. I saw the shipping manifests. I know the most from Afghanistan. I can help. Let me. I am the best option you have.”

  There was a heavy sigh on the other end of the line. “You make an excellent argument. When can you leave?”

  “As soon as you want me.”

  “I’ll have a jet waiting for you at the airport in an hour.”

  “Sounds great. See you later.” Abbey hung up then called her mother to babysit. Once Mary was on her way, she rushed to her bedroom to pack a bag.

  Chapter Nine

  Sloan stormed through the front door, slamming it shut behind him. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on his work all day. His argument with Abbey the night before and its aftermath had dominated his mind. Why does the woman of my dreams have to be just as stubborn as I am? He’d spent the day devising a way to make his beloved wife see his point of view and each scheme ended with her naked beneath him.

  Sloan stopped short in the living room when he found Mary reading to Ame while bouncing Colin on her knee. Bartholomew and Gordon were lounging on the couch, chatting, while Maggie sat on the floor coloring with Ethan, leaning over the book the best she could with her pregnant belly.

  “Where’s Abigail?” Sloan questioned.

  Mary looked up from what she was reading to Ame. “She said she had something to do. She didn’t say what. All she told me was that you would be home before her.”

  Sloan heaved a sigh. With everything that had happened in the past couple months, he was uneasy when Abbey left by herself. “Let me set my things down, and I’ll be back to take over.”

  Sloan opened the door to his office then crossed to his desk. His family wouldn’t mind if he checked his e-mail first. A sharp jolt of fear burned through him at the sight of Abbey’s cell lying next to the flat screen monitor. He collapsed in his leather chair. Without a phone, she couldn’t reach him in an emergency. Why couldn’t she have remembered it? Didn’t she know he would worry? Worry was an emotion Sloan detested. He hadn’t known what worry and fear were until he met her. Now, it seemed he was plagued with those emotions every day.

  Sloan shook the mouse next to the keyboard to bring the system to life. A violent growl rumbled from his throat. On the screen was an e-mail sent to him from Agent Dunham discussing the mission to Afghanistan. He breathed a few curse words as he reached for his phone. Hitting redial, he waited for an answer.

  “Sloan,” Agent Dunham answered.

  “You seem pretty confident it was me,” Sloan remarked.

  “Of course I did. This number is assigned to you in my phone. The only other person it could be would be Abbey, and I know it’s not her.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “Because she’s here with me in Langley. We’re interviewing her to figure out what she knows.”

  Sloan’s Irish temper flared red hot as he clenched the receiver in his hand. “Dunham, put my wife back on a flight to Minneapolis. I told you we were done with this.”

  “Sloan, this was all Abbey’s idea. She called me. I didn’t call her. Besides, she has valuable information we can use. The little we’ve gotten has already proven a lead. And when we find Torelli, I need an assassin to take him out.”

  “Not my wife,” Sloan spat out through gritted teeth.

  “I’m very sorry, Sloan.” The line went dead.

  Sloan picked up the phone and threw it across the room, shattering it into pieces. Rage coursed through his veins. Abbey had not only disobeyed him, but Dunham had positioned to put her in danger. There was only one way to fix this.

  The door to the office gradually opened. A moment later, Bartholomew’s head popped around the corner. “Everything all right?”

  “Abbey didn’t run to the store. She’s in Langley with Dunham looking for Torelli.” Sloan growled.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Sloan stood, slowly straightening himself. “The only thing I can do. Go get her.”

  Bartholomew glanced over his shoulder toward the living room then back to Sloan. “I’ll go with you in case you need someone else to talk reason into her.”

  “B, Maggie is due in a couple weeks. You shouldn’t leave her.”

  “It’ll be all right. We’re only going to fly to D.C., right? Besides, Maggie will want our baby’s aunt and godmother here for the birth. So, we better go get her, huh?”

  Sloan chuckled appreciatively. Even though he was furious he was glad to have his friend. “I suppose so. I’ll arrange the jet. Can you be ready to leave in a couple hours?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Excellent. I’ll pick you up on the way to the airport. Let me say goodbye to my sister before you leave.”

  “Certainly.”

  Sloan followed Bartholomew to the living room. Helping Maggie to her feet, he wrapped her in a careful bear hug before she and Ba
rtholomew slipped out the front door. Once they left, he sat on the edge of the ottoman to talk to Gordon and Mary. As he did, Ethan crawled into his lap, watching him intently with little blue eyes.

  Sloan’s heart fell. He wanted nothing more than to stay home with his kids, to build them forts out of sheets and make them his famous French toast. Things in his life needed to change soon. But first, he had to get their mama back.

  “Are you leaving again, Daddy?” Ethan asked quietly.

  Sloan sighed. “Yes. But only for a little while. And then, I’m staying for a good long time. Long enough that you’ll get tired of me. How does that work for you?”

  Ethan hugged him. “I could never get tired of you, Daddy.”

  Sloan held the little boy tight. All the mercenary-for-hire adventures he had lived his whole life doing seemed pointless, he realized. Living the covert life wasn’t the life he craved. This life was what he wanted. He wanted to be his children’s hero. He had one mission left. Get Mommy and come home. Forever.

  Gordon and Mary quickly agreed to watch the children. Sloan thanked them softly. He truly was appreciative having the two of them. When his Da had died and he’d left his Ma to serve in the IRA, he’d never thought he would know what having loving, supportive parents was like. It was now something he couldn’t do without.

  He pushed to his feet, setting Ethan beside him, and then gently kissed each of his children. With his mood low and heartbroken, he shuffled off to his room to pack.

  »»•««

  Abbey studied the display in front of her as she cradled a cup of coffee in her hands. She had been staring at one screen after another since four o’clock that morning. She nibbled at an apple and banana when she had a moment. Finding Torelli was far more important. She watched the soldiers around her compute the information they had on hand.

  Shortly after her interview at the CIA headquarters in Langley, they had moved her to Fort McNair. Here, they could leave immediately if they got a location on Torelli. Plus, Abbey was sure the CIA wouldn’t appreciate her using their office for rifle practice.

  Agent Dunham approached her with a chuckle. She gave him a half-smile. “What’s so funny?” she asked.

  Dunham put his phone on speaker for her to listen. The voice of a very irritated Irishman blared out, demanding to be let in. Abbey sighed.

  “You knew he’d be coming,” Dunham reminded her.

  “Yes. I suspected he would. I would have liked to find Torelli first though.”

  Dunham turned as the gate guard pleaded for orders. He laughed again as he took the cell off speaker and held it to his ear. “Let Mr. O’Riley and Mr. Evans in. Show them to their barracks and then bring them here. And make sure they are officer barracks, please.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Dunham hung up his phone and slipped it in his pocket. He patted Abbey on the shoulder. “Only a matter of time. Good luck.”

  “Thanks.” Abbey turned back to the screen ahead of her, scrutinizing the lines across the world map indicating the confirmed paths Torelli and the weapons had taken. She squared her shoulders back preparing for the upcoming fight. She was here and she wasn’t leaving until she found Torelli.

  Abbey knew he was there before he said a word. The dominating presence, the electricity his body gave off, sent shivers through her. Her heartbeat sped up, not from fear, but sweet anticipation. It was how her body reacted around the Irishman.

  “I thought I said we were done with this,” Sloan warned. “Dunham showing us to barracks was pointless. We’re going home immediately.”

  Abbey took a deep breath to settle her quaking nerves then spun to face her husband. “I don’t think so. Thank you for checking on me. You can go home now.”

  “Like hell I will!” Sloan roared.

  “Then grab a file and help.”

  Sloan took hold of her arm and pulled her against him. Abbey sucked in her breath. The sensation of his body against hers set her on fire. It was difficult for her to keep her bravado.

  “What is it going to take to get through that thick skull of yours, Abigail?” His brogue was pure silk.

  “Whatever it is, you don’t have it, Sloan.”

  “Are you sure of that, little girl?” Sloan wrapped his fingers around her bicep and tugged her against him. Without another word, he spun on his heel and escorted her from the control center.

  Abbey dug her heels into the ground the best she could as she pulled away from him. “Let me go!” she screamed.

  Her protests were met with a firm glare. “Quiet,” Sloan ordered.

  Abbey was furious as she stumbled along beside him. Despite the scene they were making, no one around him noticed. “How dare you show up here—?”

  He snapped his fingers and pointed at her. “You took off and worried your entire family.”

  ”Let me go!”

  She lurched and he tugged her. He snapped again the fingers that were free. “You made me chase you halfway across the country.”

  “I didn’t ask you to follow—”

  She stutter stepped again as he pulled. “You disobeyed a commanding officer. I told you to be quiet. And believe it or not, Abigail, I am your commanding officer in whatever faction we belong to.”

  Abbey swallowed back a growl. She went limp and followed as he stormed into his barracks, not stopping until he reached his bedroom.

  Abbey pulled from his grip and crossed her arms over her chest. Her breathing was ragged and harsh. “Screw you.”

  Sloan turned to her. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. I’m tired of you bullying me. I’m going to find Torelli and end this.”

  “This vendetta will get you killed,” Sloan roared.

  “No. It’ll get you killed. I can’t live with that.”

  He stared at her for a long moment before he stalked across the room and pulled her to him. Her heart seized in fear of him, of giving in, of the pleasure she knew he could bring. She knew what this man was capable of. Her body melted against him as his mouth enveloped hers. He followed one kiss after another as he spoke.

  “This is for losing you. This is for collapsing at your gravestone and realizing I would never look into your eyes again, or kiss your lips, or make love to you. This is for listening to your confession on your knees on that ridge in Afghanistan. Abbey, baby, forgive me for what I’ve done. Please.”

  Sloan’s wandering lips set Abbey’s nerves ablaze. She shuddered as his strong hand tenderly massaged her ass bringing her even closer. Part of her wanted to pull away and storm off to her own barracks. She was furious at him. But she couldn’t move. She could only surrender to him, needing him, wanting him. She nudged him to the bed and pushed, landing him on the mattress. She climbed on top of him and straddled his hips. She heard him moan in surrender.

  Abbey struggled to tug her T-shirt off. Once she accomplished it, she tossed the fabric on the floor then unzipped her pants. “Please, Sloan.”

  ”You’ll have to let me up, luv. You can have your spot back when I’m naked.”

  She hopped off him. “You on top.”

  Sloan’s grin grew wider as he stood. He discarded his own T-shirt then shrugged off his pants and briefs. In the amber glow of the setting sun, his naked body was breathtaking. He drew her pants and panties from her body and threw them on the floor. His mouth roamed her breasts as his fingers wandered down her body until they slipped inside her. His teeth tugged on one nipple then the other until she was a breathless, whimpering mess. Slowly he pulled his hand from her. Descending on her, he penetrated her, gently thrusting until the entirety of him was buried deep inside.

  Abbey whimpered as Sloan caught her nipple between his teeth again, suckling softly as he caressed her butt and entered her over and over. Each time he rolled his hips into her, he filled every delicious part of her. The sensations were too much. She cried out as she peaked, her body shaking as pleasure burned through her. As she settled, she felt Sloan’s pace quicken, his breath coming in ru
gged gasps. As he throbbed inside her, another wave rushed through her, leaving her trembling in his arms.

  He braced himself on his forearms, hovering over her. His hands cupped her face as he gazed at her, his ice-blue eyes softening. “Abbey, you are my everything. You were right about my jealousy. The thought of another man touching you in any way drives me insane. I need to trust you. I know you would never betray me.”

  Abbey lifted herself up to kiss his lips. “Yes, you need to trust me. Just because a guy leers at me doesn’t mean I’m going to stray. You’re forgiven. And I’m sorry too. I should have been more sensitive to how you were feeling.”

  Sloan returned her gesture with a smile.

  Abbey laughed then sighed. “That doesn’t solve our current issue though.”

  Sloan sighed, too, as he shifted his hips. Abbey gasped then softly moaned as she became well aware that he was still deep inside her. “I want Torelli as bad as you do. I really do. But I don’t want him enough to put you at risk.”

  “Sloan, please trust me. Trust the fact that you trained me to the best of your ability. Our problem in Afghanistan was that we butted heads. We didn’t work together. If we cooperate, we can get him without either of us getting hurt.”

  Sloan cocked a grin at her. “I married myself a wise woman, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, you did.”

  He pushed her back down and kissed her once more. He paused for a moment. “Now what do we do?”

  Abbey’s fingers slid down Sloan’s shoulders until they reached his behind. She arched against him. “More,” she pleaded.

  He purred as he nestled his mouth against the curve of her neck while he rocked his hips against hers, driving him even deeper. “As you wish, my lady.”

  »»•««

  The roaring engines of a helicopter overhead startled Sloan out of a dead sleep. It was the first good, hard rest he’d had in months. He searched around, disoriented, and found himself alone. The cotton sheets caressing his naked body told him the night before hadn’t been a delicious dream. But where was his wife?