“We will have enough time to get you there.”
“We aren’t going to Command in Paris?”
“No. Change of plan. Command wants you both on that ship when it leaves port with a team. We can’t stop the ship leaving, we have received no direct threat but with you on board and the others we will be able to flush them out and neutralize the threat. This is our only chance to get them. If we stop the ship leaving they will go to ground and find another way.”
“Antonia is not coming with me,” Gabriel told him flatly.
“Yes, I will. I can do this,” she said as she was listening in and frowning at the way he was speaking for her.
“You aren’t going and that is final. You have been through enough and I work better on my own.”
He wanted to keep her safe and if he needed to be cruel to be kind then so be it.
“I don’t want you in any more danger,” he told her firmly ignoring the hurt look covering her beautiful porcelain features. He turned back to Bastien. “I want her taken to Command in Paris and protected.”
The agent was watching him with amusement as he spoke. It irritated Malinov. He hated working with Berger he was an exceptionally good manipulator as an intelligence organiser and always got what he wanted.
“You can’t speak for me,” Antonia rebuked him.
“I can,” he returned bluntly. “I am in charge of your protection,” he said standing to look her directly in the eye.
“Command wants her on that ship with you,” Bastien spoke with equal firmness. “She is the only one who can clearly identify the bombers and draw them out. They will want to kill her for Aalam. We need her as bait.”
Malinov glared at him and pulled him up from his seat by the front of his suit jacket ready to force him over the table and begin fighting with him.
“Antonia is not going to be bait. She isn’t expendable.”
Berger lost his temper and tried to remove Malinov’s grip on him but Gabriel wasn’t going to let go.
“We have to take a chance. She is the only one who can do this,” he shouted back. “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you in love with her or something?”
Gabriel growled and raised his fist to punch him out but Antonia was pulling him back.
“Do you think for one minute I am going to let you go on that ship without me? This is my call, Gabriel. I want Nazila and Qaifa back and nobody is going to stop me getting on that ship to find Aalam and make him tell me where they are. You don’t own me, Mr Malinov. I speak for myself,” she said putting him down and in his place. “I am the only one who can identify the bombers. All you have to go on is an artist’s impression. I know some of these bombers. Let me try and stop them. I failed with Laraib but I need to try again. This is my fight with Aalam and I mean to finish it.”
Antonia wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Gabriel let go of Bastien secretly admiring her for standing up to him but boy, was he going to spank her backside hard for it when he got her alone. But it still made him all the more determined to protect her.
He let go of Berger and moved away.
“I don’t like it,” he said.
Bastien sighed.
“I wouldn’t like it either if I was in your shoes. But it is all we’ve got. If you don’t agree, you will be replaced by another agent. You will both pose as a honeymoon couple.”
Gabriel stood with his back to them both breathing slowly, trying to calm his fear for Antonia and his anger. He felt her arms sweep around his body and hold on to him from behind. The tension in his body softened with her gentle touch.
Antonia pressed her forehead against his back. She didn’t speak. The caress of her hands on his arms communicated her need for him and he ached to respond to it. Defeated, he turned around and pulled her into his arms. He stroked her cheek forgetting Bastien’s presence.
“I am just trying to protect you,” he whispered to her suddenly tucking his fingers underneath her chin to raise her face up to him. “If I let you do this, we do it my way or not at all. You stay by my side at all times and do exactly as I tell you. Do you understand, Antonia? Or you will feel the sting of my belt over your ass, just like I promised.”
“I understand.” There was relief and a tinge of fear he would punish her in her tone. “I will be good. I promise,” she smiled. “I let everyone down today and I don’t want to fail anyone again.”
“You didn’t let anyone down. Laraib chose not to listen to you. Why do you feel as though you have to save everyone? What about you? You don’t seem to care about yourself? I am going to make you care.”
It angered him the way she thought of others and never once considered her own needs. He was going to look out for her even if she couldn’t or simply wouldn’t.
His words made her pull away from him. He watched Antonia sit down on the long sofa and become silent. Running his hand through his hair he felt like a fool for speaking out of turn and helping to put distance between them again. He asked the stewardess to fetch a pillow and blanket. Berger sat down shaking his head at him and then smiled. He took a sip of the coffee the stewardess put down in front of him.
“Young love,” he joked shaking his head again.
“How about you get some rest?” Gabriel suggested to Antonia refusing to rise to Berger’s comment. He took the pillow and blanket from the stewardess. “Why don’t you lie down?”
She looked up at him.
“Sit with me, please,” she asked timidly.
Gabriel understood what she was really asking from him and he was more than willing to give it to her. He wanted nothing more than to hold her and be allowed to protect and support her in his arms.
Malinov sat down next to her. Kicking off her shoes she curled her legs up on the sofa. He covered her body in the blanket and then raised his arm so he could place it around her body. She snuggled into his chest seeking his warmth and rested her head against the solid wall of muscle.
Gabriel kissed her head and tucked the blanket around her shoulders. He wove his hand through her silky hair dampened like his own from the sprinklers in the airport. She closed her eyes and softly moaned with contentment. Not long after she fell asleep safe and secure in his arms.
Chapter 13
The Explorer was a large ship but not the biggest in the exclusive Alexander & Pert Cruise Line. However, it was a more controllable size for the terrorists. It was ready to set sail for a cruise around Norway. Security had been through the ship and found nothing, no weapons or anything else. A quick check by Antonia of photographs of the crew did not produce any results either.
The suicide bombers had no doubt entered the country on false passports and had changed their appearance as much as they were able to or they simply weren’t on the ship yet.
“We know this ship is definitely a target but I am surprised we haven’t found anything. We still need you both on there. I can’t work out their plan but I know something is going to happen,” Berger told them glancing through the passenger list again as he did so.
Gabriel and Antonia barely had enough time to wash and change before boarding the ship. In the Terminal building a United Global Defence doctor gave Antonia a quick physical check-up. He spoke to Gabriel on the side to warn him.
“Her body is still weak and exhausted from malnutrition. Make sure she eats and she will hold up. Small amounts and often. But I am concerned about her mental health. When I questioned her about what happened in the Marco Polo airport she closed down and would not talk to me.”
Malinov frowned.
“I don’t want her on this operation. I know she is fragile.”
“Adrenaline, anger and determination are driving her at the moment but very soon she is going to be exhausted by it and possibly break down. If you believe she is becoming unstable you need to bring her out of the operation. It will be your call.”
Gabriel nodded grateful for the control the doctor was giving him over Antonia’s health on the mission.
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��She is going to explode at some point. The human body and mind can only take so much and she has been pushing it beyond the extreme.”
“I think she blames herself for not being able to talk the bomber down in the airport and I know she already self-harms.”
“Yes, I saw the marks when I examined her. She is likely to attempt to do so again. It appears Aalam El Hashem is not just terrorising her externally but also internally.”
Gabriel felt his heart sink thinking of the pain Antonia was experiencing. He looked over at her sitting silently, lost in her thoughts again, on one of the Terminal’s first-class lounge sofas. All he wanted to do was pick her up in his arms and carry her away to somewhere safe where he could be alone with her and help her heal.
Three suitcases had been packed by the London team. Two were filled with clothes Gabriel had requested for them both. They were secretly taken on board with only the Captain’s knowledge and stored in a secure place in the cabin they were to inhabit for the duration of the trip.
The journalist was dressed in a navy suit with a silk blouse and a matching Prada bag. It reminded him of when he first saw her small figure running from the men sent to kill her in London. Despite being able to rough it in a refugee camp, the woman he was falling in love with, also liked to dress smartly. Her make-up set off the twinkle in those emerald eyes and the cherry red lipstick on her plump lips made him want to kiss her passionately. Her appearance was complemented by sexy, killer, navy heels with nude stockings that tapered her legs off to perfection and her silky blonde hair piled neatly on top of her head. Fastening his black suit jacket he walked towards her and held out his hand.
“It’s time to go,” he said softly.
She tried to smile at him but it was forced. Antonia took his hand and allowed him to help her up. He took her holdall from her and lifting her hand into his, he led her through security to board the ship. As they walked along the gangway to the ship’s entrance Gabriel raised her hand to his lips and kissed it, unable to help himself. He was enjoying the charade of being a honeymoon couple and genuinely proud to be seen with Antonia on his arm. She blushed, making him grin.
Gabriel made sure he kept hold of her hand conscious she needed to feel his presence and his protection at all times. They were led to the suite cabin they were to occupy by their own personal Butler. Once they were in the cabin and the door was shut, Gabriel greeted the man warmly and introduced him to Antonia as another UGD agent working undercover, one of many on the ship alongside the small military force hidden as passengers and crew.
The large prestigious suite was on two levels. Downstairs contained a large welcoming seating area and a dining table. The bedroom was on the second tier and surrounded by large circular windows overlooking the sea. The bed was huge and all Gabriel could think about when he saw it was picking Antonia up and throwing her on top of the silk sheets to make love to her after he had taken her to task for challenging him on the jet and putting her damn life in danger.
When left alone Gabriel couldn’t resist drawing her into his arms and away from the task of unpacking the clothes that had been chosen for her. She rested her head on his shoulder and gave a sigh.
“I wish this was all over,” she said quietly.
“I know. It will be soon. How are you holding up?” he asked.
“I’m okay. I promise I won’t give you cause for concern. I heard some of what the doctor was saying to you and I promise I will be careful. You can rely on me. I won’t break down,” she urged desperately, lifting her head to face him.
“Shh. Relax,” he whispered tucking his fingers beneath her chin. “I know how strong you are. Sometimes I think you are too strong for your own good. You seem to be keeping a lot of pain locked in that pretty head of yours. You can talk to me if you need to.”
“I know but I am not ready yet. I have to keep going and I am afraid if I start opening up, everything around me will collapse and I will lose my focus. When this is over I will go and see a counsellor. I promise.”
Malinov smiled.
“Good I will hold you to that.”
He leaned towards her and brushed her lips with a kiss. She opened her mouth and allowed him to probe deeper. Gabriel swept his hands around her face and drew her closer to him. The kiss became harder and more demanding. His hand slipped downwards and cupped her breast through the blouse. At first, she was more than happy for him to caress her intimately but then she suddenly pulled away from him.
She fastened her jacket.
“I’m sorry. I keep seeing him…”
Gabriel put his hands on his hips feeling remorseful at having pushed her again. Was Aalam always going to come between them? He nodded watching the tears of frustration gather in the corners of her eyes turning them glassy. To give her some space, he made his way back downstairs to check on the suitcase containing the weapons under lock and key in a cupboard in the dining area.
The ship sedately made its way through the Solent towards the English Channel and Antonia kept out of his way upstairs unpacking. He finished his check and noticed a bottle of champagne chilling in an ice bucket on the table. Maybe having a drink would relax Antonia. He was about to carry the glasses and bottle upstairs to suggest it when she appeared on the stairs. She looked embarrassed after what had occurred between them. He dismissed it and boldly took hold of her hand. He led her out onto the large balcony.
“Come and look at the view,” he said. “It is a beautiful early summer’s evening and I always find watching the sea soothing. You stay here while I get you a drink.”
He opened the champagne and poured them both a glass. He carried the glasses out to find her leaning over the rail breathing in the fresh air listening to the seagulls. Gabriel stood with her watching the gentle roll of the waves and the sunlight dance like a shower of diamonds on the surface of the water.
Malinov took a gulp of champagne and rested his hand on the rail looking out to sea. His father had once been a submarine captain in the Navy and the sea was in his blood. It always made him feel content and at peace with himself and the world when he got the chance to take out his own small yacht moored in Christchurch in the UK. Maybe someday he would get to take Antonia out on it. Perhaps she would find her own peace out amongst the waves.
He felt the touch of her hand on his own and looked down. She smiled sweetly and allowed him to hold it. If this was all the intimate contact he could have with her right now until she felt safe enough to allow him closer, he would take it. He desperately wanted to spank her and assert his authority again to ensure she respected his boundaries on her safety but it would have to wait.
The first night on the ship was a formal evening requiring black tie and a ball gown for Antonia. Gabriel inserted his cufflinks in his shirt sleeves then pulled on his black evening jacket before fastening his bow tie in the mirror downstairs. He heard a creak on the stairs and turned around to see Antonia coming down them. She took his breath away.
Her dress was black silk and high around the neck with Swarovski crystals around the neckline. It was cut away over the shoulders and almost backless apart from the sweeping bands of crystals crossing the top and lower parts of her back. A black skirt brushed the floor. Her hand lifted it as she walked down the steps to reveal black and silver heels.
“You look stunning,” the words were out of his mouth before he could even think of them.
“You think so?” she questioned unsure, a small blush lighting her cheeks as she did all she could to hide her embarrassment at the scars from the cuts she made to her arm while self-harming. She quickly placed the wrap she carried around her shoulders and arms to hide them.
“Yes, I most definitely do,” he said walking towards her sweeping the wrap off her shoulders to pull it from her.
“Don’t hide them,” he whispered, lifting her arm to stroke his fingers over the small scars. “Consider them war wounds and don’t be ashamed.”
Antonia blushed and glanced away still embarrassed.<
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Quickly, she turned around and looked at the back of the dress in the long mirror next to the stairs. “I have never been in a dress that is so revealing,” she said touching the exposed part of her slender back determined not to speak to him about her self-harming.
Gabriel let it go. He stood next to her and touched her bare back lightly skimming his fingertips across her satin skin.
“You look beautiful in it,” he whispered close to her ear.
Surprisingly, she did not object to his caress or pull away from it. Encouraged he moved closer and swept his lips across the nape of her neck unhampered by her hair that was once more piled up on top of her head and dressed with small crystals woven through it. She let out a satisfied purr of pleasure but the moment was to be cut short when there was a knock at the door.
Malinov wanted to ignore it but when their Butler Vikktor told them it was him, he reluctantly broke away and went to answer it. Gabriel didn’t like the way Vikktor’s eyes lecherously assessed Antonia in the dress.
“Take a look at this photo, Antonia,” Vikktor instructed handing her a photograph. “Command has flagged this person. The British authorities have him marked as a person of interest with online links to suspected terrorist accounts on Twitter and other social media in the last few days.”
Antonia studied the photo.
“He does look vaguely familiar. It could be Laraib’s twenty-three-year-old brother but I can’t be sure. His hair is cut far too short and he has no beard. It could be Fayyaad but I am not sure.”
“We will watch him. They are on this ship, I can feel it,” Vikktor told them. “Keep your eyes peeled on everyone tonight especially on the bar staff and any passengers acting strangely,” he told them.
Malinov gave him an impatient look.
“I know, I know. I shouldn’t tell you how to do your job,” he grinned. “But with you on Malinov’s arm in that dress, Antonia, he just might forget how to do his job,” Vikktor joked.
Gabriel led Antonia to the exclusive dining room where they enjoyed a meal together away from the crowds of people in evening dress milling about the ship. When they were finished they decided to walk along the deck and check out the passengers. Strolling hand in hand they walked along the promenade deck in the warm evening sunshine just like a newly married couple. Up ahead a woman was carrying a small child and leading an Arabic girl wearing a hijab through a door back inside the ship. The older girl turned her head to look down towards them. Her haunted brown eyes widened in acknowledgement when she rested them on the journalist. She started to walk forward but the woman took her arm and pulled her through the door.
The Masterful Russian (The Masterful Series) Page 10