“What are we saying about all of that?” Kat asked.
“Just that you paid the cabbie to take the footage because you were handling it on your own, unaware of what was being said to the guest.”
“So they won’t be checking on us then—” Jason started.
“Better to err on the side of caution,” her mother interrupted. “Keep all of your things in here, but from here on in, make sure that unless you have company you two live and act the way we’re supposed to.”
“Mother, that’s so unfair, what if we disable—”
“Baby, the High Council is systematically killing Hybrids showing signs of being different—”
“Yeah,” Jason took Kat’s hand into his. “The weapons expert on Andrew’s team had even taken out his locator and they still tracked him.”
“Locator?” Lauren asked.
“Yeah,” Jason nodded. “We apparently have one at the base of our skulls. If we remove it, we blend in with the humans…”
“Okay,” her mother said breaking the silence that had fallen among them. “You two get some sleep. I’ll make sure to fix your teleporter before Lauren and I leave so no one gets suspicious. Your upcoming mission is in Russia, so Lauren and I have some things we have to go over. Come to the house later and if anyone wakes you up because they’re nosy, tell them you came home after the party, did some reading, and went to bed.”
Her mother stood from the bed after kissing her and backed away to the door. She signaled Lauren to follow. Lauren waved before walking toward the door.
“Mother—”
“We’ll talk about what happened last night.” Julianne assured her. “And about our powers, I promise. But you need to get into the regenerator, both of you, and then you need at least another four hours of sleep. Especially since I think people are going to show up and it would be suspicious if you have those bruises and are exhausted.”
“Okay,” Jason answered.
“I’m glad you’re one of us,” her mother said to him. “It really is a relief knowing that you love her as much as I do.”
“I do,” he nodded.
“Get into the regenerator,” Julianne said after they stared at each other for another moment. “Then get some sleep.” She waved just before she disappeared through the door.
“Do svidaniya,” Lauren said in Russian as she left the room.
“Hey,” Kat reached for Jason’s hand after a moment. “Are you okay?”
“Your mom…” He looked at the now empty doorway then at her.
“She’s one of us. I know, isn’t that cool?” She whispered.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “Come on. Let’s get you into the regenerator. I hate seeing that bruise on your neck. It looks like you were making out with Godzilla.” He laughed.
They walked into the spare room that Jason used as a home office. They maneuvered around the furniture and stepped in front of the walk-in closet. He retrieved the key from his desk, unlocked the door, and then guided her to the regenerator. “You do realize that we’re going to have to make sure that we’re spending a lot of time surrounded by humans,” he helped her into the machine then leaned over and kissed her. “I’m not going to like having to pretend we’re normal.”
“Neither am I. So we stay on campus more often?”
“Uh-huh, and do a lot of eating out,” he stood back and closed the lid.
The soft lights turned on the second the latch was in place. She closed her eyes as the humming increased and sighed when the machine repaired her body, the fatigue and weariness gone after a moment. Jason lifted the lid and helped her out. He lay down and she waited as he healed. They walked back to their bedroom and she reluctantly got into bed. He gave her a lingering kiss then left the room. She tossed and turned and after a half hour, she pushed the covers back and got out of bed.
As she got to the door, a blinking light caught her attention and she walked toward it when she realized it was her cell phone. She stared down at it for a long moment and sighed as she strolled over the twenty missed calls from Vanessa. Changing her mind, she got back into bed.
She sent Jason a text message saying she missed him. Then she debated calling Vanessa back. The hollowness in her chest didn’t feel quite as heavy as it had earlier, but it was still considerable, large enough that she knew she couldn’t talk to her just yet. She smiled at the incoming text message that stated that Jason was tossing and turning too.
“Come on,” he walked into the room a few minutes later.
“Where are we going?” She pushed the covers back and took his hand.
“Living room,” he guided them downstairs. “If we can’t sleep together then we can at least fall asleep on either end of the couch.”
“And that helps how?” She chuckled.
“I, at least, get to see you, and we can play footsies,” he teased as he covered her with a blanket. “That’s better than nothing.”
“Yeah, I guess…”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” she stared down at the lit screen of her phone, Vanessa calling her again. “No. I hate this.”
“Me too, I’m sorry she hurt you.” He flicked her foot with his. “And maybe one day you’ll be able to forgive her.”
“Maybe,” she shrugged then dropped the phone on the coffee table. “I love you.”
“Love you, too,” he yawned, his eyes drooping.
She watched as he fell back to sleep, the shadows of the television giving her just enough light to admire his face. She looked over at the phone when it started vibrating again and sighed. She didn’t think there would ever be a day when she would forgive Vanessa. Her feelings had changed so entirely that she didn’t know where she stood with her sister after last night.
She didn’t want to talk to her ever again and be reminded of the pain that sat in her chest. Of course, she knew that couldn’t happen. But as she allowed herself to drift to sleep, she thought of Lauren’s parting words. She wished more than anything that she could tell Vanessa, and her life as Hybrid, do svidaniya.
Chapter Eight Tango
Her wig itched. They normally didn’t bother her, but when she did things that caused her to sweat it would start itching, and dancing always made her sweat. The song ended and she sighed with relief when Wyatt escorted her off the floor. They stood in the corner of the room and watched the guest. Kat pretended to laugh every few minutes and sip from her champagne glass, so no one would become suspicious of them.
Kat spotted Lauren across the room. She lifted her glass in response to Lauren’s wave. Kat scanned the room and located the director’s wife. The woman appeared drunk and was hanging all over a much younger gentleman that Kat couldn’t place. The young man was apparently not worth mentioning in their two-hundred page brief that held photos of all the Russian dignitaries. Kat assumed he was the child of one of the guest, since he was in his early twenties, and wouldn’t have been allowed in otherwise.
“Security rotating positions in two minutes,” Jason said. His voice sounded husky and totally sexy in her earpiece.
“Copy that,” she said.
“Be advised,” Wyatt put his arm around Kat’s waist. “Lauren has yet to coax the eagle out of the room.”
“Give her a few moments,” Kat stepped away from him because the feel of Wyatt so close disgusted her. “His wife is still in the room. Our brief stated that she usually disappeared shortly after the party got going,” she looked toward the wife. “It looks like she might be ready to go with that young man.”
“May I have this dance?” a handsome older gentleman asked her in Russian.
“That’s very sweet of you to—”
“Say yes,” Ariel interrupted, which caused Kat to stumble over her Russian.
Kat pretended to cough. “Of course,” she smiled as she placed her hand into his and handed Wyatt her glass.
“Your hair is lovely,” he guided her toward the dance floor. “I’m Nicolas,” he pulled her into his arms.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Anastasia,” Nicolas gave her a good once over. “Do you tango?”
“Katarina,” Jason’s voice came over her earpiece. “Orders dictate you remain with Wyatt so you can get downstairs—”
“Of course, it’s my favorite dance.” Kat said to Nicolas, really hoping Jason picked up on the double meaning. Of course she knew she was supposed to stay with Wyatt.
“Where are you from, Ana?” Nicolas asked. “Do you mind that I call you that?”
“Lauren is striking out,” Ariel interjected. Her voice curt because she clearly didn’t like that Jason was trying to undermine her authority. “I need Kat to see if she can get this guy to take her upstairs.”
“No. I prefer being called Ana.” Kat forced a smile for Nicolas despite her horror over the situation between Jason and Ariel. She was not okay with going upstairs with him.
“Kat,” Ariel’s voice came through her earpiece again. “Nod if you copy.”
“I’m from Moscow,” Kat finished for Nicolas after they completed a basic tango step and moved into a turning corte. Reluctant, but unable to convey any kind of alternative in her current predicament, Kat nodded slightly in Ariel’s direction.
“Good,” Ariel said. “Get him upstairs—”
“Dammit, Ariel,” Jason snapped. “Our orders are clear—”
“And what do you do in Moscow?” Nicolas whispered by her ear, which caused an ear-piercing feedback. Kat turned her head to eliminate the painfully loud sound.
“Jason,” Ariel said taking advantage of the distraction. “I understand that you and Wyatt have been trained to follow orders—”
“That’s right, and orders dictate that Katarina stays with Wyatt.”
“I’m a teacher,” Kat said as she searched the room for Ariel. Nicolas was an amazing dancer, so keeping up with him was taking entirely too much of her concentration.
“I am team leader and you will obey me.” Ariel said matter-of-factly.
“I am the communications expert, so I run the show,” Jason yelled, which caused Kat to flinch, her eardrum sure to rupture if they continued arguing. “And if that isn’t enough to—”
“That is a very noble profession,” Nicolas said.
“Can we play nice, folks?” David interjected. “We all know where we stand in the pecking order. I’m the lowly hit man and referee,” he laughed. “Let’s plant these devices any way we can, so we can get home…you in, Kat?”
“Yes!” Kat shouted then cleared her throat, “It’s a very noble profession, thank you. What do you do for a living, Nicolas?”
“Wonderful.” Ariel said with a hint of sarcasm. “Katarina, see if you can get him to take you upstairs and Lauren, keep working Vladimir, the wife appears to be getting ready to leave.”
“I’m an entrepreneur,” Nicolas guided her around the dance floor. “And you are an amazing dancer.”
“Thanks, so are you.” Kat studied his face. He was quite handsome. He was probably in his early forties and very distinguished looking with his blonde hair cut short and sideburns that were just starting to gray. And he had the prettiest light brown eyes. “Tell me, Nicolas, where does an entrepreneur find the time to learn how to dance?”
“I am very wealthy,” Nicolas whispered by her ear. “So I have lots of time to learn many things.”
“Like dancing?” She asked, his double meaning making her anxious.
“Yes,” he chuckled. “And many other things that might interest you…” He nodded toward Wyatt. “Who is this man you’re with?”
“Just a friend,” she said stealing a glance in Wyatt’s direction.
“He is watching you quite intensely,” Nicolas said.
“Only because he envies you,” she answered and noted that Wyatt was indeed watching them a bit too closely.
Wyatt could hear everything they were saying over his earpiece but, of course, didn’t take the hint. Even with him hearing that Nicolas was uncomfortable by his glaring, he kept looking anyway, which was typical Wyatt. He didn’t fit in with the Hybrids or the humans.
“Because I have you in my arms?”
“No.” Kat hoped that wasn’t it at all, “Because you dance so well.”
“That is not all that I do well.” Nicolas smiled mischievously.
“Well,” she swallowed passed the lump in her throat. Ariel watched Kat closely as she and Nicolas made their way off the dance floor. “It’s quite the shame there isn’t some place more private so that you could show me how well versed you are in those other areas.”
“Did I not mention that Vladimir and I are close friends?” He wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her toward the doors of the grand room.
“Vladimir?” She asked. Kat caught a glimpse of Ariel and David walking onto the dance floor and avoided looking at them. Kat was sure Ariel would be able to pick up on the venom in her eyes for putting her in such a horrible situation.
“Yes, the host of the party.” He chuckled as he stared down at her.
“Oh, that director guy?” Kat looked toward Vladimir and Lauren. “He invited Natasha.”
“I see,” he guided her out the room and down a corridor. “She must be his newest obsession.” He chuckled. “He has quite the thing for redheads.”
“That’s funny…” Kat scanned the hallway as she headed for the stairs. The blueprints of the house burned into her memory so she knew she had to go up, “Seeing as how his wife is blonde.”
“As is mine,” Nicolas said. He pulled her around and against him. “Is that a problem?” He brushed the blonde hair out of her face.
“Why would it bother me?” She asked innocently. She started up the stairs at a pace that required him to follow behind. “There’s nothing wrong with a married man having a friend.” She said absently as she made it onto the landing. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her against him again. She kissed his cheek and managed to get out of his grasp, then walked backward toward Vladimir’s office door.
“Is this what you do with your friends?” He asked. When she stopped by the office door, Nicolas started to pull her farther down the hallway, but she stopped abruptly and reached for the office doorknob. “I can see why your friend looked so upset.” He chuckled as he studied her.
“He’s just a friend. You, on the other hand…um, I’d like to think that maybe we could be special friends…” She grabbed a hold of his tie and pulled him toward her. “Did you want to be my friend?”
Kat gasped when he pinned her against the door, then squeezed her eyelids shut when he kissed her. She had never hated being on a mission more than she did at that moment. Or so she thought, because she realized a second later that the only thing worse than being on a mission that required kissing a strange man, was being on mission that required her to kiss a strange man while listening to her lifemate chat away in her ear. Jason’s voice captured her attention and made her cringe.
There was no way she could do what she needed to with her lifemate barking commands in her damn ear. And the fact that he could watch everything from the camera installed on the diamond barrette that sat in her hair added a creep factor that the mission could definitely do without.
Nicolas lifted her off her feet and carried her to the bedroom next door to Vladimir’s office. He shoved the door open and they tumbled into the room. Nicolas had panther-like reflexes and caught their misstep. He had the door slammed shut and her in his arms as if he had planned it that way.
“Why don’t you slip off my shoes?” Kat pushed away from him and leaned her weight onto the dresser and lifted her foot.
Nicolas swept her hair over her shoulder, kissed her neck, and then worked his way toward her leg. She switched off her earpiece, ripped the barrette off, opened a drawer, dropped it in, and then adjusted her bracelet. She scanned the room and after he slipped her shoes off, she
moved toward the bed.
Nicolas grabbed her wrist and pulled her against him. Not wanting to have to kiss him, Kat pressed her hands against his chest to stop her momentum. She grabbed his tie. It was the only thing she could think of to stall him long enough to get him on the bed. She slowly slid his tie off as she pushed him closer to the bed. Then she started unbuttoning his shirt, but he interrupted by kissing her. Before she could get him seated on the bed, he had her dress unzipped and with one tug it fell to the floor.
She stared at it for a second in disbelief. The differences between an inexperienced teenager and Nicolas were so vast that she began to panic. She definitely didn’t want to think about Roger, but she couldn’t help wishing that Nicolas could be as reserved as Roger used to be.
Council hadn’t prepared her for the likes of Nicolas. Human sexuality was one of the many lessons taught to agents that could potentially end up in her current predicament. But they missed the part about passion. Foreplay, they said, was a slow process that was an agent’s opportunity to set up an exit. Nicolas wasn’t doing anything slowly, and his passion wasn’t affording her the opportunity to breathe, let alone find a way out.
She pushed him off of her. Desperate, she reached for his shirt again and fumbled with the buttons. Nicolas gripped the shirt and ripped it open, which sent buttons flying everywhere. He pulled his arms free of it then cleared the undershirt that she started to pull over his head in an attempt to slow him down. No such luck. He lifted her into his arms, took several steps toward the bed, then lay on top of her.
Crushed and two seconds shy of panicking, Kat was grateful that he rolled so that she was on top of him. Of course, it was only to remove her bra, so she shifted and grabbed both of his hands, and raised them above his head. She didn’t really know what to do with them, but it was better than him getting her bra off. She kissed him long enough to feel him completely relax again, then she rolled onto the bed and pulled the covers over her.
Disregarding standard policy, Kat pressed her finger against his lips when he tried to kiss her again. Every agent was taught to get their subject completely undressed while they were still conscious. It was easier, as the logistics of getting someone undressed when they were drugged was no easy feat.
Sleeper Cells Page 12