Keeping the Spy

by Victoria Pinder

  He took her elbow and said, "I've not turned on the heat. It's over here."

  He brought her to a state of the art house generator and switched it on.

  The room had a small kitchen area, a computer hook up, a small bed, and a back wall of supplies, "Do all the Collins family have these rooms? Could we survive a nuclear attack?"

  "Yes to both." He folded his arms. "This is one of my three panic rooms in the house installed. If someone makes it through the front door, this room will protect you. Titanium walls, including the lock that cannot be melted, rammed, or opened in any way from the outside."

  She gulped. "Do you think we'll need to use this if you don't find the people after me?"

  "It's a safety precaution. I'll show you the others upstairs as well so you always have a place.”

  He backed toward the door. The last thing he'd ever do was frighten her. He'd find who wanted the info in her leg and ensure no one else might ever target her again.

  "We should go."

  A knot grew in his gut. Going out, even to his parents, should be avoided. He pressed his lips together. She walked to the door and threw him his jacket.

  "I don't keep your mother waiting."

  Joe barked and he went over to pet him while Sherry straightened herself out. He whispered to the dog, "I wish we stayed with you."

  Joe wagged his tail and barked as Sherry beckoned him to put his jacket on. He let the dog go and followed her orders, despite how every cell in his body screamed that they should stay here, where they were safe.

  Sherry tugged on his hand and led him. Right. He promised his mother and Sherry wanted to go. His fingers clutched the door knob for a second and he said a silent prayer.

  Once he opened the door, the cold wind whipped him in the face hard. The sting of the wind knocked some sense into him. He kept her close, as he gazed up and down the street. Something hard hit him and he imagined someone turning the corner with a gun.

  Sherry squeezed his hand and he rushed her across the street. His ears buzzed as they made it to the other side. Someone else was near. The smell of gun powder rushed in his lungs.

  Without warning, he picked Sherry up and rushed her inside. Once he closed the door, he could breathe. Someone was out there. He squeezed her hand and his heart still raced in his chest. He'd find the missing information, report it in, and clear her of any danger.

  No one would ever get to Sherry. She was too important.

  10

  Sherry

  A black Lincoln town car came around the curve. Sherry's high heels clicked on the driveway as Liam rushed her forward and into the house in less than two seconds. Her heart raced as Liam slammed the door behind her.

  As she breathed, wrapped in his arms, Liam smelled like the woods and ocean that surrounded Hyannis port. Time stood still. Liam kept her safe, once again. If only this Valentine's day, he'd kiss her. She'd forget everything and let the world stop for those few seconds.

  Then she blinked. She had horrible taste in men. She stepped out of Liam's arms. She was in trouble because of Victor and the stupid tracer. Oh, she knew he was trouble. At the museum benefit, the moment their eyes met, she saw he was untamed and wild. She walked willingly in his arms to feel something she never experienced.

  Liam's life clearly went too fast for her and she needed to fall in love with a banker or a farmer or someone steady who never wanted to run. Bad boys were too much trouble.

  She took off her jacket and tried to pretend this wasn't Valentine's. The danger she lived in was of her own making and she'd never make these choices again.

  "You're awfully quiet."

  Liam offered his hand but she shook her head no.

  "I shouldn't be here."

  "We should have stayed at my house, but here we are. My family already likes you."

  He must have seen she was nervous. Who wouldn't be after running in stilettos that probably cost her entire week's salary. She gulped then told the truth.

  "Now that I’ve realized how much I love my life here, I want this all to end, so I can go back to the library and never complain about cleaning up after students."

  "We don't know if that car was anyone dangerous."

  It didn't matter if the car was or wasn't a threat. There was someone out there who wanted her dead. Hopefully now that she turned the stupid tracer into the CIA, interest in her would wane. If she was left alone, she'd be brave and go home. Valentine's day could be overcome.

  The double white doors opened and the party noise complete with happy children hit her hard. The servant stated, "Mrs. Collins asks that you both come inside now."

  Her hands shook. Liam placed his hand on her spine, and warmness spread through her. A shiver fought against the calmness she felt in his arms. Then he let her go and hugged his mother.

  The coldness enveloped her spine the second he left. Oh, goodness. She couldn't go through with this, but she couldn't go anywhere. Outside someone might try to kill her.

  Liam reached out and took her hand. A warmness entered her skin instantly from him. Liam pressed his lips together as he saw his entire family around the table. He directed her to the bar.

  "You'll need drink to survive this."

  "Liam, hello." Gigi, Sean's wife, came over and touched his shoulder. "Sherry, won't you both sit down and join us?"

  "Would you like a drink, Geegs?" Liam asked while pouring the wine.

  She shook her head as she nodded at Sherry, "No. I can't drink anything for a few months." Then Gigi patted her stomach. "I'm excited for another."

  Sherry's eyes widened. "Congratulations."

  If the Collins family trusted in the security system enough to all gather, she was safe too. She took the drink Liam offered her.

  "And thanks."

  Liam again placed his hand on her arm to direct her toward a chair and she felt part of him. She swallowed the thought with her sip of wine. Once she sat, she realized she was next to Nicole Wyland, though she was Nicole Collins now, as she sat with the Senator.

  Nicole tipped her glass and said, "You were the first person to ever cry over my acting." She then leaned closer to whisper. "And you should have told him in high school about your crush, but no fear. You're both free and I'm positive he likes you."

  Crush? Liam had hated her and she had been steamed on why he never talked to her. She might have mentioned it a lot as her soul felt the denial, but crush? No. That was the wrong word.

  Sherry placed her glass on the table and whispered, "We're friends, nothing else."

  Liam then brushed her arm for her attention and her face heated. She glanced away and picked her glass up again. Nicole whispered as she sat straight, "Right. Friends. If you say so."

  Sherry massaged her neck and then met Liam's gaze. He placed his hand on hers and for that one second the rest of the world went black except him. Liam was her whole world.

  Then a glass shattered in the distance and the hum of her ringtone caught in her ear. This was how she must be traced now. She should have turned her phone in or thrown it out the window ages ago, especially in that moment she had a tracer in her leg. Yet when she dressed, she carried as she always had. She fumbled, pushed back her chair, and fished out the lightweight phone.

  Liam stood and placed his hand on her shoulder as she did. "Who is it?"

  "Unknown."

  She swallowed as her entire body became like icicles except where he held her.

  "What should I do?"

  "Answer. Put it on speaker and everyone else, be silent."

  The entire room full of people stilled as her hands shook. She did not want to answer this.

  Liam brushed against her arm, which somehow empowered her to answer, "Hello?"

  A click reverberated in the room from the other end of the call. A moment later, a heavy Russian accent said, "Ms. Worthing, you probably don't remember me, but I'm Vlad. Victor's brother."

  Her mind scrambled. In New York, they had lunch with his brother.

&
nbsp; Liam motioned his fingers in a circle. She blinked and realized she had to say something.

  "I- err......yes?"

  Vlad's voice was deep and made her skin feel like someone stabbed at her heart. "My brother's remains did not have something important."

  Perhaps he wanted to kill her. Perhaps he cared about his brother. She hadn't been able to find him. Now he called? She swallowed, unable to think. What should she say?

  Liam stared at her like she should say something. But what? This needed to end. She took a breath. "That's too bad. I have to go."

  She ended the call and then tried to turn off her phone. Her palms were sweating and she couldn't breathe. It took too long and she gave up holding the button.

  Liam placed his hand on her hip.

  "You did fine. Relax."

  Yeah right. She gripped his hand so he wouldn't leave her. She was afraid she'd fall.

  "It was Vladimar, Victor Kravenski's brother."

  "I've programmed him into my phone database as you spoke." Liam's hand brushed her back in a hug. "Now we have a name to investigate. Everything should be over soon."

  Joe. She needed to hug her dog and disappear. None of this should be happening to her. She knew the moment her skin electrified near Victor to stay away from him. Liam made her heart thump, but there was no way she should be in his arms. She stepped away and pushed her hair out of face.

  "I'm good now."

  Then her phone rang and she grabbed his arm. Oxygen wasn't making it into her lungs, at the moment. She glanced at the number and then let Liam go. Slowly she felt her gut untwist.

  "It's the library. I'll call back tomorrow."

  At first no one said a word. Then slowly his family whispered to one another. The sounds brought her back.

  Liam held out her chair and she slid in and stared at her empty plate.

  Maggie, his mother, walked to the kitchen and then led a maid out as they both carried a plate.

  "Dinner is served. Let's enjoy each other at the table."

  The food that was placed on her plate looked good. She should take a picture; however, she couldn't eat anything. Even the biscuit looked good but it was like she tried to eat stones. The food must be delicious as everyone else ate, but she couldn't.

  Once this was over, she'd head to Liam's house and hide in his safe room until Vladimir or whoever was after her was caught. All she needed was Joe and Liam's safety net. Nothing else mattered.

  After the course ended, her phone rang again. She should have turned off her phone when she had the chance.

  The table went deadly quiet. Liam raised his eyebrow and placed his hand on her lap. She closed her eyes and wished this wasn't happening to her.

  "Liam, Vladimar is calling."

  "Put it on speaker again. I want to know everything so we can plan to protect you."

  This was too much. Liam's presence and his voice guided her actions. Her body stiffened as she pressed the buttons and said, "Hello."

  "You hung up on me, Ms. Worthing."

  Liam needed to end, no scratch that. She needed to stop this. She made a bad choice in Victor once, but that slip wasn't going to ruin her. She held Liam's hand under the table, and then said, "No. It must have been a bad connection." The words came out of her automatically, "How can I help you?"

  "Bring me all of Victor's things that you still have."

  No, she'd not go anywhere and carry anything. "I gave most of Victor's things to him months ago. I don't think I have anything..."

  "Victor went to your house that day and gave you files that are mine."

  The tracer wasn't given, but she kept silent.

  "I know they are still in your possession at the Collins home. I don't want to hurt the entire family."

  Liam must have the tracer now. Her heart beat grew wild, but she'd not let anyone hurt his family. She squeezed Liam's hand,

  "I'll look for it in my things and meet you at the library in town. I assume you're close."

  Liam's face went white as his eyes widened. She didn't say anything to him, but kept her head down and held his hand.

  "Fair enough Ms. Worthing. See you at four o'clock today near the left marble stairwell of the old entrance."

  "Great. Four o'clock."

  She sounded like she was meeting a friend to go to a movie. This wasn't normal. She clicked off the phone without another word. Then she took the minute and turned it off.

  Liam didn't say anything near his parents. She swallowed but at least he stood beside her.

  When she went to sit down in her seat, he nodded, "Okay. I'll set up heavy surveillance. You'll be surrounded and wear a wire. We need to know who is after the information and what they think you have left."

  His brothers all said, "We'll help. Tell us what to do."

  "Let me form a plan." Liam then dropped his napkin on the table, "We need to get home so I can get the wire on you."

  "Don't do this alone, bro." Gerard stepped forward. "We're all here for you."

  His brother said, "Security says you are all clear on the street."

  Liam threw his jacket on and handed hers to her. She quickly zipped up.

  This Valentine's day ended one of two ways, either she died or she lived. Either way her last moments were with Liam and she had to tell him that she cared about him. If she died and didn't say it, she'd go to the heavens with regrets. She shouldn't do that. It was time to tell Liam that Victor was a cheap duplicate of the real thing she always wanted him. Him.

  11

  Liam

  The door slammed behind him and Liam gulped for air. Now Sherry was safe. If they had to live in a bunker for the rest of their lives, it would be better than how he felt right now. The CIA drilled in his head not to care, but that was impossible when it came to Sherry. All his life he thought about her and wanted a chance to prove himself to her.

  The library was the last place they should go.

  Joe, her huge dog, jumped up to her shoulders as she struggled to unzip herself. The second her jacket was open, she leaned down and petted him, "Are we taking your car in the garage?"

  Her curves were clear in that skirt in her position. He sucked in his lips for a moment as he tried to think of his argument.

  "We're not going to meet Vladimir."

  Joe's tail wagged as she stood up and crossed her arms.

  "Yes we are."

  "No, absolutely not."

  She had to be safe. Nothing else mattered. He stood taller. There was no way she'd meet Vladimir. As he outed himself, the CIA just needed time to capture him. The FBI and Secret Service also now had jurisdiction as his brother, the US senator, was threatened on a recorded call.

  "Let the authorities handle this."

  "Yeah right." She widened her stance and gazed into his eyes. "Look, I don't want to die today, so I want your protection, but I can't live my life wondering what's around every corner. I need you with me but I will go alone."

  "Don't be crazy."

  If he drugged her again, even if it was to keep her safe, he'd never see her again. His mind raced to find a way to keep her here, where he could protect her.

  She lifted her chin, "I won't, as long as you're there to help."

  No. She trusted him. Now he had to honor that trust with his life. His skin grew cold.

  "We can't give him the files."

  She shook her head and tapped her foot.

  "I can't spend my life in hiding."

  The plan to meet a criminal face to face was on the list of bad ideas. There had to be a way for her to see that.

  "The files are government property."

  She shrugged, "Then think of something to do because I want this to end."

  He raised his eyebrows without otherwise moving. "So you will risk your life?"

  Without blinking, she held out her hands and said, "I don't see it that way if you come with me."

  Her ice cream sundae flavor wafted in his nostrils. His skin tingled with nerves, and he couldn't th
ink. No, he'd not turn into who he was in high school again. Years of training should go in his head, but all he could see was her walking out the door and then dying in his arms. He reached out and took her hands.

  "I won't let anything happen to you."

  "I know."

  She leaned into his chest and he licked his lips to quench his thirst for her. Her smile told him that she believed in him, and he couldn't let her down.

  She then said, "Liam..." she inched closer to him, her soft skin near his sent a vibration through him. "this Valentine's day..."

  If only they were having a simple day, where he could shower her with flowers and tell her that he always loved her. It was too soon, and he was usually so carefree when it came to women. Everything about Sherry was different. He licked his lips. "We'll celebrate tonight, when everything is done."

  Her eyes widened and he stepped away. She followed. "Good. So, do you have a plan?"

  No. Nothing came to mind. Her plan made no sense. He'd have to figure out a way to make her bullet proof as he'd not lose her. The clock struck three and the grandfather clock in the corner chimed. When the sound ended, he let her hands go.

  "I'm working on it. Let's get going."

  She tugged his arm and pulled him close again.

  "Wait."

  He tilted his head, "What for?"

  "This." Her hands wrapped around his neck and she pressed her lips to his. Embers coursed through his blood, making him hard but eager. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her.

  She tasted better than berries. He suckled on her lip and a deep sigh came out of her tender lips.

  His heart beat fast.

  The moment she stepped out of his embrace, he was powerless to say anything. He licked his lips to get the extra taste of ice cream.

  He struggled to say something, but quietly asked, "What was that for?"

  She smiled as she hugged her waist.

  "I don't want to die without having kissed you."

  "We should stay here then and be safe."

  Sherry should not put herself in any danger. She should stay in his home. He'd protect her.