Kaeden squeezed Sky's shoulder and backed away giving mother and daughter a few moments. He saw Doctor Cassidy out of his peripheral vision and spoke to him. "Thank you for being here." He was able to breathe, finally. He'd masked his emotion all day to remain strong for Sky, but the thought of his little girl under the knife eviscerated him. The inside of his cheek was bloody because he'd stopped himself from asking all the questions Sky had already asked. He was walking a tightrope without a net. He wanted to know the answers, but to let Sky know he was so emotionally invested… fuck, that wouldn't be fair to her.
"I've got a little girl. Elizabeth. We call her Lizzy. She's four. If anything ever happened to her, I'd want to make sure she had the best care possible. You never have to thank me for taking care of anyone in the Guardian family."
Anubis nodded. He'd spent so much time on the fringes of the organization, the outpouring of help was overwhelming. "Thank you for taking care of my…" Kaeden swallowed hard and cleared his throat, "…my daughter." The words were no more than a whisper. Sky couldn't have heard him.
"Oh, and I have a message for you. Fury says your family will be safe with him. Take care of your business. I'm going to add my two cents. Whatever it takes, brother."
Anubis turned his head to look at the doctor. The man concentrated on the tablet he held. Thank God, because the tightrope just got a fuck-ton thinner. Anubis nodded and cleared his throat again before he spoke, "For as long as it takes, brother." Anubis extended his palm and shook the hand of a fellow warrior.
Damn near twenty-four hours later, Anubis finally convinced Sky to go to the cafeteria to get something to eat. Kadey had been placed in a private room, and Doctor Cassidy had assured him Kadey was doing well. He sat down in one of the oversized chairs that came with the private room. He saw the door open and watched as a woman slipped in. She wore scrubs and had a tablet in her hand, but she didn't move toward Kadey. Instead, she leaned against the wall. She was average height and average build and of oriental descent. She'd pulled her thick black hair back into a ponytail. The assassin he knew as Moriah jacked up her foot and propped it against the wall as she fished out something from her pocket. "Your woman met up with Cassidy. She's in good hands." She tossed the object at Anubis.
He caught it as it flew toward him, and lowered his gaze to it before lifting his eyes and raising his eyebrows. Moriah shrugged. "Asp told me to give that to you as soon as I could. This is the first time I've had the opportunity to make contact."
Anubis lowered his chin once in acknowledgement. "Thank you." He examined the tin of peanut butter crackers as he spoke. "Are you following us back to the complex?"
Moriah nodded. "I have orders to make sure your woman and child remain safe. I'll travel as a nurse. Cassidy knows. I would appreciate it if you didn't tell your woman."
"She knows nothing about us." Anubis opened the tin and devoured the first cracker sandwich in one bite.
Moriah scratched her arm in a lazy fashion as they watched each other. "She will find out eventually. When she does, wouldn't you rather that you were the one to control the information?"
Anubis shrugged and popped another sandwich. Asp sending him food was a new trend, but one he would not object to. "The only thing she needs to know now is that her daughter is safe and receiving the care she needs."
Moriah swung her steady gaze from Anubis to Kadey. "Children deserve to be healthy and happy."
"They do." Anubis's mind flitted back to his sister and the horror of her death.
"Do you believe we will ever be happy?" The question drew his eyes from his daughter.
"Bengal is happy." He knew Fury was happy too, but that was one secret he'd take to his grave. Bengal was open about walking into the light. Fury had "died" in order to escape the Shadows. Each had a different path and different circumstances. Anubis wondered if they would be the only two who would escape.
Moriah nodded. "I heard. I'll keep the three of you safe tonight. Get some sleep. I have a feeling you're going to need it."
Anubis inclined his chin in acknowledgement as she slipped from the room. He closed his eyes momentarily, committing the woman's facial features to memory. She'd given him her trust. The gift was rare, and he understood how much it took to lift the veil they lived behind. He'd revealed himself to Bengal, Thanatos, Asp, Lycos and now Moriah-five of the deadliest people in the world with whom he shared an alliance only they could understand. Moriah's revelation of her appearance was a binding gesture not easily given, and it was coupled with respect that came from an acknowledgement of his years of succeeding where others had failed. Their Shadow World lives were interwoven and yet solitary. He opened his eyes and stood up; stretching before walking the few steps required to stand at the bedside of his baby girl.
Anubis pushed her dark brown curls off her forehead and leaned down to kiss her mop of brown hair. Somehow, he had to find a way to merge his world and Sky's. He needed a way forward, a way he could walk toward the light, but not be exposed by it. He needed a path where Sky and Kadey could walk near the shadow but not be consumed by it. Anubis took his little girl's hand in his, careful not to move any of the tubes or wires that ran to the machines. "I'll figure it out, princess. I promise. Somehow."
Chapter Twelve
Sky hugged the nurses that followed Kadey's gurney down to the ambulance bay. Her sincere, exhausted 'thank yous' weren't nearly enough for the loving care they provided. She watched as her daughter was carefully loaded into a waiting vehicle. Kaeden helped her into the back with him as Doctor Cassidy joined the driver in the front of the ambulance. It was still dark when they parked a short time later.
"Where is the plane?" Sky yawned and leaned her head back against the hard, interior wall of the vehicle.
"It isn't due for about ten minutes." Kaeden put his arm around her and tugged her into his warmth.
She nodded and gazed at her daughter. They were through the worst of it now, or at least that what the doctors were saying. She closed her tired, burning eyes.
Sky's head lolled to the right and rolled, waking her with a jerk. She blinked rapidly and whipped her head up checking on Kadey. How could she have fallen asleep? Rolling her shoulders, she yawned and shifted in her seat.
"You could have slept. You haven't had more than a couple hours sleep in days." Kaeden's arm dropped around her.
"Neither have you." Sky shook her head trying to clear the cobwebs out of her brain.
"I'm used to it." Kaeden glanced at the watch on his wrist. "The plane should be here shortly."
Sky sighed and dropped her head on his shoulder. She glanced at the pirate doctor's profile. The man was attentive and kind. He'd showed her pictures of his daughter. She liked the man even though the eye patch made him look sinister. The biggest thing was Kaeden trusted him and knowing that made this transport a little easier.
"I'm going to miss you." She whispered the words. They'd been with Kadey almost non-stop since her surgery without any privacy. Sky wanted Kaeden to know before she and Kadey flew away.
He pulled her tighter against his side. The comfort and warmth of his big frame filled her tired body. A loud roar drew her eyes out the window towards the flight line. A shiny black jet taxied toward where they waited. Gold lettering and insignia adorned the nose and tail of the aircraft. She'd seen private aircraft on television, but this one made the ones the movies depicted look like children's toys.
"That would be our ride." Doctor Cassidy and the medical technician who was driving the Air Force Ambulance exited the vehicle.
Kaeden turned her toward him. "I need you to take care of yourself and Kadey. Stay at the compound while I take care of the situation here."
"You are going after the people who killed the doctor and the other person, aren't you?" Kaeden had told her that he was a mercenary. Mercenaries killed people… or at least they did in
the movies.
"I'm going to make sure you and Kadey are safe." The non-answer didn't escape her attention. Kaeden's lips dropped to hers. "Don't worry about me. You focus on Kadey's recovery. I'll take care of things here."
Sky lifted her hand to his jaw and stared into his eyes. She still felt the same insane attraction to him even though she knew that this could be their final goodbye. "Promise me you'll stay safe."
"I promise I'll be careful."
"Not the same."
"Best I can do."
Sky smiled and rose up on her toes to reach him. He lowered his lips and brushed a soft, sweet kiss on them. The back door opened up pulling them apart. "Okay, let's get this angel onto the plane." Doctor Cassidy helped the medical technician… airman… sergeant… whoever, with the gurney. Sky and Kaeden followed them out of the ambulance. She walked close beside her daughter as they approached the aircraft. Two identical men in black flight suits walked around the outside of the plane. Sky glanced from one to the other. No, she wasn't seeing double.
"Ma'am, I'm Dixon, this is Drake. We'll be taking you and the little one back home." The man smiled at her and extended his hand.
"I'm Sky, and that is Kadey." She shook his hand before she motioned toward where Doctor Cassidy, the attendant, and Kaeden worked to get Kadey moved into the aircraft.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. We want to get you back in time to get you settled in and comfortable before dinner. Why don't you go ahead and follow them onboard? We're going to finish our flight inspection and get going." The man extended his arm toward the open doorway. While he was polite, Sky knew the request was more of an order, not a suggestion. She nodded and headed up the stairs after her daughter.
Kadey was awake and smiling when Sky walked through the door. Doctor Cassidy had quickly become Kadey's favorite, especially after telling her all about the dogs, cats, horses, and cows that awaited her in South Dakota.
Kaeden lowered and gave Kadey a kiss. He whispered something in her ear. Kadey smiled wide and nodded her head. She carefully lifted her arms and hugged her daddy. Sky's eyes pricked with tears again. She never thought she'd see the day where Kadey knew her father, let alone hug him and share whispered words with him. Kaeden kissed her cheek one more time before he stood and moved away.
Doctor Cassidy slid in where Kaeden had been standing. He showed Kadey the safety belt he was going to use and was answering the first of hundreds of questions the little girl would undoubtedly have for him. Kaeden grabbed Sky's hand and moved her toward the door. He waited until the medical technician deplaned before he spoke. "There are so many things I can't tell you, but I want you to know the things that I can share. I will always regret leaving you when you were pregnant-"
"You-"
Kaeden slid a finger over her lips with a gentle touch.
"I didn't know I was going to be called back, but it is a regret that I have, and it will always live with me. I also regret that you didn't think you could tell me about Kadey." He shook his head as she started to speak again. "I understand why you didn't. You are a wonderful mother to her. I'm sorry you've been touched by the danger that surrounds my job, but I'm not sorry for the time I spent with you, and I'm not sorry about Kadey"
The emotion in his eyes told her that the words he spoke were true. A certainty settled in her heart that knitted together a few of the fractured pieces of her soul. The scattered remains of their past were held together with a precarious bond and absolutely no promise of a future. His kiss lingered light upon her lips.
"Kaeden," His name left her lips on a sigh as he pulled away.
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Take care of my little princess." A breath of a kiss touched her cheek before he turned and walked out of the aircraft.
One of the pilots entered and announced they were ready to start the engines. The other followed him in within minutes and closed the cabin door. Sky moved to a seat near Kadey and buckled in. She smiled nervously at the Doctor Cassidy who sat next to her and the stand-offish nurse that had been working with him.
The doctor returned her smile. "I know telling you not to worry would be pointless, but that man is one of the best at what he does." Sky's head whipped toward the doctor. "And what exactly does he do, Doctor Cassidy?"
The man turned and leveled a one-eyed gaze at her. "He makes the world a safer place. Most of the world's population is ignorant of the horrendous evil that exists. He is a weapon against that evil."
Sky opened her mouth and then closed it before she finally asked, "What does that mean? How is he a weapon?"
Doctor Cassidy glanced over at Kadey who was once again napping thanks to the mild sedative he had given her at the hospital before they loaded her into the ambulance for the ride to the flight line.
"Weapons can be defensive or offensive. You can use a weapon, in this case a person, to remove the threat before it becomes a danger to the innocent-or you don't and the countries of the world play janitor and are stuck mopping up the mayhem and destruction left behind. He and a few others are tasked with ensuring the evil in this world stays in the shadows." The doctor turned in his seat, leaned back and closed his eye.
Sky glanced from him to her daughter. Kaeden was a mercenary, he'd told her that. He'd never told her what the job entailed. She rolled her head and looked out the window sightlessly. The last days were a blur of emotion and adrenaline. She'd prayed for salvation for Kadey, and it was dropped into her lap when Kaeden appeared in her kitchen.
Sky glanced back at her daughter, then took in the rich appointments of the private aircraft rocketing her to some complex where free healthcare and safety awaited. Her reality had morphed into something she didn't recognize, all because of Kaeden.
"You don't have to solve the problem today. Relax and grab some sleep while you can." The doctor didn't move or open his eyes when he spoke.
"Will I ever know the answers to the questions?" Sky spoke to herself.
Doctor Cassidy rolled his head toward her and opened his eye. "I believe the question you should be asking yourself is: in the grand scheme of things does it really matter he can't discuss the specifics of his job?"
Chapter Thirteen
Anubis stalked to the waiting vehicle parked next to the ambulance on the ramp of the flight line.
"Where to?" Asp's question pulled his attention away from the aircraft that was powering up.
"Nowhere until that plane takes off." Anubis kept his eyes on the plane as it powered up and then exited the parking apron where it had stopped. The two men sat in silence until the rev of the engines at the end of the flight line rattled the windows in the vehicle. The bird screamed down the runway and took off in a high arc. Anubis felt his heart leave his body and go with his women, and the physical separation felt as if it snapped his humanity from his body. He turned to Asp and an evil sneer threaded its way across his face. "It's time I go after this son of a bitch."
"Awesome. Where are we going?" Asp started the Air Force vehicle and drove off the parking ramp through one of the side gates that meandered through the various maintenance areas by the flight line.
"We?" Anubis shook his head. "You're still on the sideline."
"That's bullshit, and you know it. Besides, you could be walking into your death. This guy is hunting you. He made a mistake going after your woman with three men. I'd bet my off-shore account that he sends a fucking army after you next time."
Or an assassin or two. "Not taking that bet. Head back to my DV quarters. They have a secure landline in the office. I need to contact Bengal and find out what he knows about Faas."
"Didn't you get that information when you went against his uncle?" Asp signaled his left-hand turn and waited for a push-back tug to pass in front of them.
"I got enough to know Haghen had been coded and that he was the scum of the earth. Beyond that, I don't give a shit.
" Anubis stared out the window watching the trees and buildings pass.
"Huh."
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Anubis knew he was wound tight and tried to rein in his attitude, but he wasn't sure he managed it.
"In order for me to do an assignment, I demand the entire brief. I want to know the exact type of scum I'm working against, down to the body count and where he buried them."
"Why the fuck do you need to know that?" Honestly, Anubis was surprised Asp would be given the information.
"I used to work for another agency. I completed a mission where my handler told me the man was a traitor and that he was selling national secrets to the enemy. I found out six months later he was innocent. He'd been a pawn in the handler's political climb up the agency's ladder. That's when I punched my exit ticket."
Anubis snapped his head toward Asp. "Holy fuck." He had complete and total faith in his handlers at Guardian. He knew when they handed him an assignment the targeted individual was guilty and evil. He couldn't imagine being placed in the same position as Asp. "How did you end up with Guardian?" Anubis tossed the question out as they pulled up in front of the DV quarters he'd been assigned.
"Long story."
Obviously, Asp was done sharing for the day. Anubis closed the conversation, "Roger that."
They made their way to the small apartment, and Anubis headed for the office. Asp stopped in the kitchen. "I'm going to eat. You want your food?" Asp asked with his head buried in the refrigerator.
"No." He'd eaten before he'd met up with Sky at the hospital. Moriah was watching his family, so he was able to come back to the apartment, shower and eat. He dialed Bengal's number and put the phone on speaker.
"Reynolds."
"Still not used to that name, man." To Anubis, he would always be Bengal.
"Takes a hot minute, that's for sure." Bengal's voice sounded distracted. "Give me a minute to secure the connection and get Alpha on the line."
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