Secured by the SEAL

by Carol Ericson

  “Who was she? What did she say? Tatyana has a baby?”

  “I don’t know who she was.” Britt lifted her bare shoulders. “The caller had a Russian accent, and she knew I was Lee’s sister. She said something about finding Tatyana’s baby.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Alexei drilled two fingertips into his temple where a sharp pain lanced him. “How’d she get your number?”

  “Leanna must’ve given it to her.” She tipped the phone back and forth. “I can call her back.”

  “No!” The force of his exclamation startled Britt, causing her to drop the phone.

  “Why not? She knows me, she knows Leanna and she knows Tatyana has a baby somewhere. I’d say she’s a good place to start.”

  “You don’t know who that was or whose phone she was using. What did she sound like, other than the Russian accent?”

  “She was whispering. She sounded scared, nervous. I heard a man in the background.”

  “Exactly.” Alexei bent forward and swept up the phone from the carpet. “Maybe she wasn’t using her own phone. Do you really want to call back someone else’s phone? Tip him off?”

  “Whoever that is already has my number in his phone.”

  “If he notices the number and calls you back, you can play dumb. If it really is this woman’s phone and she wants you to find Tatyana’s baby, she’ll call you back.”

  Britt crossed her arms, her balled fists digging into her sides. “What does it mean? She said find Tatyana’s baby and bring them all down.”

  “Bring them down? If Tatyana was pregnant, she wouldn’t be much use to the Belkins.” Alexei tapped the phone against his forehead. “Maybe that’s why they got rid of her.”

  Britt’s face blanched, and she plopped down on the edge of the sofa. “We couldn’t figure out before why the Belkins would harm one of their women if she could turn a profit for them. Maybe that’s what happened. Tatyana got pregnant, and the Belkins had no more use for her, but I still can’t figure out where my sister fit in.”

  “Tatyana made the mistake of confiding in Leanna, and the Belkins found out.”

  She slumped against the sofa back. “Do you think there’s a chance Leanna knew they were onto her and got away? When she sent me that text, she was worried about something. Leanna never worried about anything.”

  He knelt in front of her and tucked the towel more firmly around her body. “Let’s keep that hope alive. Now, get some pajamas on and crawl between the sheets. It’s late.”

  She jerked her head up, and the bun loosened, her blond hair falling around her shoulders like a cloud. “Y-you’re joining me?”

  “Britt.” He took her hand and pressed a kiss in the middle of her palm. “That’s probably not a good idea right now.”

  A smile trembled on her lips. “We’ve already sort of seen everything there is to see of each other. You can at least share the bed with me.”

  He folded her hand against his heart. “Believe me, it’s a sight I won’t soon forget, but if I’m lying next to you in that big bed, I don’t think I could resist you.”

  She blinked at him.

  “And I need to resist you.”

  She snatched her hand back and bounced up from the sofa. “Yeah, that’s a good line. I’m sure you use it often. We’ll discuss strategy tomorrow.”

  Brushing past him, she nearly toppled him over. She shut the bedroom door with a sharp click, which was way worse than a slam.

  He fell face-first into the sofa and pounded his fists on the cushion. What the hell had he been thinking? If that phone call hadn’t interrupted them, he’d be making love to Britt right now in that bedroom. That sounded great, better than great, at the moment, but what would happen when he left? When he got his next assignment? He didn’t want anyone waiting for him.

  His pregnant mother had waited for his father...and his father had never come home.

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, Alexei woke up and pulled the tangled blanket to his chin, exposing his feet to the chilly air-conditioned room. He’d slept naked since he didn’t dare go into the bedroom last night after Britt flounced out of here.

  The bedroom door cracked open, and she stuck her head out. “Are you decent?”

  He was about to remind her that she’d already seen his indecent side but thought better of it. Neither of them needed any reminders of last night.

  He sat up on the sofa, pulling the blanket around his waist, eyeing her long legs extending from her shorts. “Yeah. Whoa—you’re already dressed and ready to go. Where?”

  “I have to buy a dress for tonight. Sergei doesn’t want the waitresses wearing our usual uniforms.” She walked farther into the room, swinging a pair of sandals from her fingers.

  “Yeah, I’ll bet he doesn’t. You need to be careful tonight, Britt. This is a party for the Belkins’ associates to meet young, accommodating ladies working for the Belkins.”

  “Well, I’m not accommodating.” She tripped to a stop and dropped one of her sandals, red flags flying in her cheeks. “I mean, I won’t be accommodating to any of Sergei’s friends.”

  He cleared his throat. “I hope you have a choice. I’m going to be doing my own thing there and might not have a chance to look out for you.”

  She snatched the sandal up from the carpet. “I can handle myself.”

  He had no doubt Britt could handle herself under normal circumstances, but the Belkins were anything but normal. He didn’t want her slipping away from him.

  “Can we meet for lunch and discuss that...strategy?”

  Steadying herself with one hand on the credenza, she shoved a sandal onto her right foot and, like a stork, switched to her other leg to put on the left. “All right. I’ll be in the area since I’m going to take advantage of shopping in Beverly Hills while I’m here.” She dropped her cell phone in her purse. “Should we pick a time and place now since you don’t want me calling your phone?”

  She made that security measure sound...bad. Maybe it was best he’d raised her prickly side and she’d decided to keep him at arm’s length. It would make leaving her so much easier. “Patio of The Ivy at noon.”

  “See you there.” She left the room with a flourish and a cloud of floral perfume.

  Alexei blew out a breath and dropped the blanket to the floor. Teaming up with a woman was a lot different from working with his SEAL team members. He sneezed. None of them wore perfume, for one thing—at least not that he knew of.

  He yanked his phone off its charger and thumbed through the messages. What he wouldn’t give to have one of his buddies here. He’d even take Slade Gallagher.

  He strode into the bedroom and glanced at the tumbled bedclothes. Had she had a restless night, too? He fell across the bed, dragging a pillow over his face. He inhaled the same scent that was floating around the sitting room right now—sweet, feminine, desirable. Closing his eyes, he pictured Britt in the shower, water beading on her soft skin, her lips parted as he skimmed his hands across her body.

  The vision gave him an instant erection, and he shoved off the bed and headed toward the shower. He needed a cold one if he hoped to maintain his resistance to Britt Jansen’s considerable charms.

  * * *

  LATER THAT DAY, Alexei sat across the table from Britt as she toyed with her salad. “I ended up spending too much money, but at least I can wear the dress again.”

  “It’s not too—” Alexei waved his fork in the air “—sexy, is it?”

  She wrinkled her nose and stabbed at a tomato. “It’s a little black dress, elegant.”

  “I’m sure that’s not what Sergei had in mind, but good for you. You don’t want to be mistaken for anything other than a waitress.”

  “I don’t plan on it. Do you know the layout of the banquet hall?”

  Alexei tapped his phone on the table next to hi
s plate. “There’s a Russian restaurant in the front. The restaurant is separated from the banquet hall by a foyer or anteroom with restrooms. There’s a stage in the hall, tables and chairs and private rooms off the main area, down a hallway.”

  “Are those actual pictures?” She jabbed at his phone with her finger. “Have you been there?”

  “I found some pictures of it online and downloaded them, although maybe it will be set up differently for this event.” He took a sip of ice water. “I’ll be assessing the guests, but mostly I’m going to ingratiate myself with one guest in particular—a supposed arms dealer. I’ll also be getting on Sergei’s good side.”

  “Is Sergei really involved in the—” she ducked her head and looked both ways “—terrorist activities? Somehow I just can’t picture him hobnobbing with committed terrorists.”

  “You’re probably right. I can’t imagine old Olav Belkin would trust his son with operations of that magnitude. That’s what makes Sergei ripe fruit for plucking. He’s a fool.”

  “You don’t think the FBI has already tried plucking that particular fruit?” She hunched forward, burying her chin in her hand. “It is the FBI that would handle a crime family like the Belkins, isn’t it? Or are you already working with the FBI? You never really told me how a navy SEAL sniper wound up in LA.”

  And he wasn’t planning on it now. He didn’t want to scare her off at this point—or maybe he did. If she knew the truth, she might back off, go home.

  He shrugged and picked up the second half of his burger. “I can’t tell you that.”

  “Not sure why.” She narrowed her green eyes. “It’s not like I’m going to reveal secrets to the press or anything. I’m assuming you haven’t told the agencies involved in this about me.”

  Chewing slowly, he placed his burger back on the plate. He slid the napkin from his lap and wiped his mouth and then his hands, folded it over and positioned it next to his plate.

  Britt’s gaze tracked his every movement. “Well, have you?”

  “I have not.”

  “I didn’t think so.” She flipped her hair back from her face. “You’d be in a world of trouble if they found out, wouldn’t you?”

  A muscle ticked at the corner of his mouth. “I’m going to be in a world of trouble anyway.”

  “What do you mean? I’m not going to rat you out.” She ran her fingertip across the seam of her lips. “If you help me find out what happened to Leanna, even if you don’t, nobody will ever hear a peep out of me. W-we can pretend we never met.”

  He toyed with the edge of the napkin. “It’s not about you, Britt.”

  “I don’t get it. Why are you going to be in trouble?” She tilted her head to the side, and her golden hair slid over one shoulder.

  “Because I’m not working with an agency. I don’t have much of a plan, and I don’t have any backup...except you.”

  He closed one eye, formed his fingers into a gun and aimed it over Britt’s shoulder. “I just want to kill Olav Belkin.”

  * * *

  ALEXEI’S WHISPERED WORDS sent a chill racing up Britt’s spine, and she gripped the edge of the table. Oh God, she was sitting across from a maniac.

  “I... You... Who are you?” She half rose out of her chair and then thumped back down.

  He covered one of her hands with his, and if she’d given in to her first instinct, she would’ve snatched it away. But Alexei’s hand felt warm, secure. He’d protected her, kept her safe...and lied to her.

  “I’m Alexei Ivanov, US Navy SEAL sniper. That’s all still true, but I’m also the son of Aleksandr Ivanov, who was murdered by Olav Belkin, and I’m here to avenge that murder.”

  She licked her dry lips and sucked down some iced tea through her straw. “So, there’s no connection between the Belkins and terrorists? You’re just trying to get close enough to Belkin to...kill him?”

  “There is a connection. The Belkins have worked with terrorists before, in Russia. It’s not new territory for them. If I can take down Olav Belkin, his terrorist connections will run scared.” He spread his hands. “It’s a win-win.”

  “Except what you’re doing is illegal. If you’re caught, it will end your career, regardless of the favor you’re doing the world.” She grabbed his hand, digging her nails into his skin. “Is your vengeance worth that? Everything you worked so hard to achieve?”

  His gaze dropped to his hand in her possession. “You know, I never even met my father. My mother was pregnant when my father was murdered, and I was born in New York after relatives got her out of Russia.”

  “How did it happen?” Maybe if she could get him to talk about it matter-of-factly, putting his Russian passion aside... “How did your father know Belkin, or was it random?”

  His head jerked when the waitress showed up to take their plates. “Anything else?”

  “Coffee for both of us.” Britt wagged her finger between herself and Alexei.

  He shoved his dark hair back from his face with one hand. “It wasn’t random. My father was a shopkeeper in Saint Petersburg. Belkin was a member of the Vory v Zakone.”

  Britt raised her eyebrows. “The what?”

  “Vory v Zakone. The Russian mob in the old Soviet Union. It literally means ‘thieves in law.’ They were involved in all criminal activities—drugs, girls, extortion. And my father—” he lifted one shoulder in that very Russian manner of his “—objected to those activities. The Vory answered his objections by slitting his throat one night in his shop.”

  Britt covered her mouth with both hands. No wonder Alexei wanted revenge. She’d been ready to do violence against Sergei for lying about her sister, and she didn’t even know if he was involved in Leanna’s disappearance yet.

  “That’s awful. I mean, I have no words, really.” She pressed her lips together when the waitress returned with their coffee.

  Alexei dumped some sugar in his coffee with a shaky hand, his jaw tight.

  So much for tamping down that Russian temper.

  “Alexei.” Britt stirred some cream into her cup. “What did your father want for you?”

  “Are you going to psychoanalyze me?” His lips twisted. “No need.”

  “Would your father want you to avenge his death at the risk of your own future? What about your mother? She left the Soviet Union, raised you here away from all that, away from the old grudges.”

  “I had my chance once.” Alexei held his coffee cup aloft and stared over the rim into the distance, into some other time and place. “I had an opportunity to take out Belkin, had him in my sights.”

  “What stopped you?”

  “Duty and country. I had a different assignment at the time. I completed the assignment, and shooting Belkin at that point would’ve compromised everything, compromised the safety of my teammates.”

  “And now?”

  “I’m on my own.”

  “What is your official reason for being in LA?”

  “I don’t have an official reason. I’m on leave between deployments.”

  “Your...unit...” She waved her hand in the air. “The navy doesn’t know where you are?”

  “They know I’m vacationing in LA.”

  She drove the heel of her hand against her forehead. “You can’t do this, Alexei. I won’t let you. You’ll destroy everything you’ve worked for.”

  “On the contrary, this is everything I’ve been working for. The terrorist group Belkin is courting is one controlled by someone my team has been after for a very long time. Someone who captured and tortured one of my teammates.” He snapped his fingers. “Like I said, a win-win for everyone.”

  “Except you.” She ran her finger along the rim of her cup. “Is your mother still around?”

  He threw her a sharp glance. “She lives in Florida with her second husband.”

  “And how do you think she’
d feel if you were arrested for murder? Court-martialed? She must be extremely proud of her navy SEAL son.”

  “You—” he leveled a finger at her “—don’t play fair. Is this how you beat your clients into submission?”

  She folded both of her hands around one of his. “Think about it. Think about her. Do you really believe she wants you to revisit those old hurts from the old country?”

  “It’s not right.” The corner of his eye twitched, and his hand in her possession clenched into a fist. “My father tried to do the right thing, and not only was he murdered for it, the police did nothing to bring his killers to justice.”

  “Paid off?”

  “Paid off and scared. The Vory v Zakone controlled that whole area. That’s why my mom had to get out.”

  “I understand that thirst for revenge. Why do you think I basically gave up my life in Charlotte to come out here? I want to find out what happened to my sister, I want the people who threatened her, the people who killed Jerome, to be punished, but there are ways—legal ways.”

  Alexei snorted and disentangled his hand from hers. “Legal means are useless against people like this. Didn’t you discover that already with your sister?”

  “What you and your team of snipers do is legal. You don’t run off and go rogue...do you?”

  “We can’t. It would get us a court-martial.”

  She smacked the table. “Exactly. Don’t do this, Alexei. Your sense of satisfaction will be short-lived, and if the authorities figure out who killed Belkin, your career will be over. You’d be hurting so many people—your mother, your teammates...me.”

  His gaze jumped to her face. “I never want to hurt you, Britt.”

  The heat sparking from his eyes melted her insides. Even if she couldn’t have this man, she wanted to know he was free and doing the job he was supposed to do.

  She spread her hands on the table, her two thumbs meeting. “It would hurt me to know that you were in some military prison serving time for killing that dirtbag Belkin. There has to be another way.”

  Alexei pinged his fingernail against his coffee cup. “Maybe if I can get some serious evidence that Belkin is working with Vlad, the task force will give me the go-ahead to pursue the investigation.”