by Carter Blake
She breaks out into a smile that could stop wars. For a second, I’m completely lost and enraptured by it. And then her expression slowly changes to concern.
“Are you okay, Janus? You seem a little less cool than normal.”
If only you knew the half of it, Dani.
I put my game face on.
“Of course, I’m okay. I just don’t like this at all.”
Her eyes search my face for another glimpse of what she had just witnessed—that chink in my armor.
And then she’s suddenly all business, and letting go of my hand. She stands and makes her way to the bathroom.
“We need to talk next steps. I have a few leads, but it’s going to be tough to remain unnoticed,” she calls out from behind the closed door.
My god, I swear this woman has a death wish.
“Danielle, there’s no moving unnoticed,” I warn as I move across her hotel room to the bathroom. “They already know who you are. You’re on their radar.”
Without realizing what I’m doing, I push open the door and step in. And then I do a double take.
Of course, she went into the bathroom to get changed. Of course, she’s standing in front of me wearing nothing but a bra and pants. And of course, her body is utterly perfect.
Is that a nipple I see poking through the top of the lacey cup?
This is completely unprofessional. Everything about this situation is completely unprofessional.
Dani actually laughs.
“Get a good enough look?” She asks with a coy smirk before pulling a simple cotton shirt over those wonderful nipples.
Between her tone and smirk, I can’t help it but grin in response.
“Look,” she walks towards me and I force composure back through my body. It’s harder for some body parts than for others.
“I get it, and I’m moved by your concern. But that’s what you’re here for. My safety.”
She leans up to plant a small kiss on my cheek and walks out of the room.
I swallow.
I’m definitely in deep.
Chapter 14
Danielle
There’s something different about Janus now.
Something intense and serious.
“Do you want a drink, Janus?” I ask tentatively.
“Definitely,” he replies, locking his intent eyes on mine.
It gives me shivers.
Even in South Sudan, I never saw him even close to being this involved.
It’s the children, I reason. But there’s something more to it. Something about Janus, and his past, that those orphan children have struck a chord with.
I’m dying to know—not just because I’m an investigative journalist, but because I desperately want to know more about the man in front of my eyes.
I toss him a bottle of pinot grigio from the minibar, which Janus flawlessly catches in mid-air. He quirks an eyebrow at the drink.
“You think I’m a white wine person?”
“Not particularly, but I’m fresh out of red. My apologies,” I reply, incredibly unapologetically, as I take the last bottle of Merlot for myself and retrieve two wine glasses.
“Hmm,” is all Janus says as I pour the wine.
I hesitate for a second. “How about we take these over to the balcony, Janus? It’s been a long day.”
I expect him to refuse, given how much he’s kept me at arm’s length so far, but, to my surprise, he nods his head in agreement.
“Yes, I could do with the fresh air.”
We move over to sit by the tiny table on the balcony, watching the sun set and drinking wine as if we were a couple on holiday just like any other.
The thought makes me freeze.
Stop thinking like that.
Janus notices, of course.
“What’s wrong, Dani?”
“It’s nothing, it’s just…the severity of the situation may have started to hit me,” I lie flawlessly.
In reality, the severity of the situation we’re in hit me a while ago, but as if I’d allow Janus to see me truly fearful. He’d only want to send me home again—and I only just got him to stay.
He laughs humorlessly. “It’s about time you became a bit more self-aware, Miss Reporter. How many times have I told you that you could very well die looking into this?”
“I know, I know,” I reply dismissively, talking a gulp of wine as I do so. “No need to rub it in my face. As if that would make me turn back at this point, though.”
“I’d be incredibly disappointed if you did,” Janus remarks quietly, staring at his wine glass as he swirls the liquid round and round, almost hypnotically so.
I stare at him, surprised. This is most certainly a change of tune for him.
But then I remember—this is personal for him now. I don’t know why, even though I want to, but it’s personal nonetheless. This is a Janus O’Connell who won’t let such frivolous notions as danger and death get in his way.
And it makes me all the more attracted to him. I don’t even understand how that’s physically possible.
But then I pause, thinking.
This change in his attitude hasn’t made me more physically attracted to him; it’s his emotional core that suddenly seems to resonate all the more with me.
Which makes Janus a very dangerous man indeed.
“Why are you looking at me as if you’re hoping I won’t notice, Miss Robinson?” Janus inquires, giving me a sidelong glance.
I flinch.
“It’s getting late, and we have a lot to do tomorrow,” I say, getting up suddenly. “You should probably get back to your own hotel, Janus, and we can get back to work tomorrow. I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted.”
He gives me an unreadable look before standing up himself.
“I guess you’re right. I have some forgery to start on, anyway.”
“I meant that we should both be getting to bed, not for you to drown yourself in more work.”
“Both get to bed? Was that an invite, Dani?” Janus asks suggestively, clearly amused.
I roll my eyes as I walk him to the door of my hotel room.
“You’re hilarious. Good night, Janus.”
I hold the door open for him, but he pauses in the door frame to regard me, a curious and intent look in his eyes. Though I can feel my face heat up in response, I force myself to hold his gaze.
For one unbearable moment, I truly believe that he’s going to kiss me, and I truly believe that I’ll reciprocate.
But then he looks away.
“Good night, Dani,” Janus says before heading for the elevator.
I close the door, heart pounding as I back up against it and slide to the floor.
That was too close. Far too close.
“What am I doing?” I scold myself aloud.
I can’t afford to indulge my incessant attraction to Janus. I can’t.
There are so many more important things for me to do. The case, for one. I can’t let anything interfere with the case.
So why do I wish I had simply leaned in and kissed Janus myself in the doorway? Why do I feel such keening regret that I simply stood there and did nothing?
Today has shown me a whole new side to Janus—a part of him that I never knew existed—and I love it. I want to see more of it. I want to know more about what makes him Janus.
I already know what makes him The Jackal, after all, and though I’m very obviously attracted to that side of him, it’s the deeper connection to his more vulnerable, serious side that is the much more dangerous attraction.
I don’t know why I’m so surprised to discover that there’s more to Janus than meets the eye. It’s not as if I had known him for long enough in South Sudan to understand every aspect of him, after all.
It’s the same line I’ve thrown at him, too—that he doesn’t know me well enough to know I won’t back down.
When did I become so arrogant to assume that all there was to Janus was what he had allowed me to see thus far?<
br />
I sigh. I won’t make the same mistake again. Not when the consequences will invariably end up with me in bed with him.
I can’t mess up my career, not now. Not that love, or relationships in general, are completely off the cards for me. I trust myself to be able to balance my personal life and my career goals.
Just not with Janus. He’s stealing my thoughts, distracting me from the abject and senseless brutality of the people responsible for running this damn trafficking ring, simply by existing.
For a moment, I consider whether it was a mistake to seek his help, but in the same moment, I’m forced to acknowledge that I’d never have gotten this far if it wasn’t for Janus being The Jackal.
And we make a great team, we really do. A great business team.
Just because I’m fairly certain we’d make a wonderful personal team, too, doesn’t mean I should indulge such a belief. Our lives and goals are ultimately too different.
He’s a thief, after all. Compassionate or not, his life is shrouded in illegal and inherently selfish dealings, no matter the ‘gentleman’s code’ that he and his associates swear by.
And I’m an investigative journalist, hell-bent on uncovering the cruelty of the world. To be with Janus personally would be a perversion of my entire moral code.
And that’s more important to me than anything else.
I stand back up from my place on the floor, resolute.
I can withstand my ever-growing attraction to Janus O’Connell. There are people depending on it. My career is depending on it.
I can withstand it.
I have to.
So why don’t I believe a word I’m saying to myself?
Throwing myself onto my bed in frustration, I curse the fact that there’s no red wine left in the room.
I’ll just have the usher restock my room tomorrow. But for now, I should sleep.
I can’t help thinking of a particularly strenuous physical activity that would definitely send me straight to sleep upon completion, though.
“For fuck’s sake, Dani!” I shout up at the ceiling, infuriated.
I need to get Janus out of my head. And the only way I’ll be able to do that is to uncover the monsters responsible for this trafficking ring and bring them to justice.
Then I’ll never need to see Janus again. I’ll be free of him. I can finally get on with the rest of my life.
So why does that feel more like a punishment than a relief?
Sighing heavily, I roll onto my side, knowing full well that my head will remain full of conflicting thoughts until unconsciousness finally takes over.
I’m in for a very long night.
Chapter 15
Janus
“Felicity? Felicity Rogers? Really, Janus?”
“Really,” I reply, chuckling lightly. “Felix for short.”
Dani considers the nickname. I can tell by the look on her face that she has discovered that she actually quite likes it.
“Oh, I guess that’s…okay, then.”
“As if I’d give you a terrible name deliberately.”
“You one hundred percent definitely would.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Dani watches me forge our cover identities in silence before curiosity clearly takes over.
“What’s your cover name, Janus?”
“Antony Marshall. Tony.”
I know she can see a twinkle in my eye that suggests there’s more to these cover names that she’s not quite getting.
Dani crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow.
She looks so fucking good when she does that.
“What am I missing here? What’s funny about the names?”
I can’t help but let out a laugh.
“Tony and Felix. How can you not see it?”
“See what?!”
“They’re cats, you idiot. Well, a tiger and a cat, but you get the gist.”
“I thought your animal was a jackal.”
I spin my chair around, rounding on her.
“Yes, but curiosity didn’t kill the jackal.”
Dani looks very clearly confused; I’m thoroughly enjoying causing that look on her face.
“If curiosity killed the cat, why name us after cats?” she asks.
I can tell she’s itching to ask about something but can’t exactly phrase the question.
“As the ultimate ‘fuck you’ to predestined fate,” I reply, as if it’s obvious. “And besides, these cats have claws that they’re not afraid to use.”
I flash her a winning smile, and Dani blushes as she grins in return.
I feel like whooping.
If that wasn’t validation that she wants me, then nothing is.
Then Dani’s phone vibrates. She looks away to check. Her eyes light up.
“Location for tonight is confirmed.”
I nod my head, excitement tinged with apprehension filling me with adrenaline.
“You do have suitable clothing for such an event, don’t you? These live auctions don’t take kindly to those with no money in their pockets, after all.”
She scoffs at me. “I’ve had a dress prepared for such an occasion ever since I landed in Greece. This ain’t my first rodeo and all that.”
“But of course.”
Dani narrows her eyes at me.
“Considering that you’ve been the one clad in scruffy clothes for all this undercover work, I’d say it would be fair for me to redirect your question back at you, Janus.”
I flash her another winning smile just to see her face flush again.
“As a true gentleman, I naturally have a perfectly tailored suit at my disposal at all times.”
Dani laughs. “True gentleman, of course. A sexy British accent doesn’t always equate to being a gentleman, you know.”
I raise an eyebrow. “A sexy accent? Good to know how you truly feel.”
“I’m quite sure you were already well aware of the effect your accent has on poor, impressionable American women like myself, Mr. O’Connell.”
I spin back around in my chair to finish off our fake identities with a flourish.
“I guess you’re right. How could any of you resist me, after all?”
Dani swats my shoulder at the remark.
I chuckle softly. “What time does the auction begin?”
Dani suddenly turns serious. “Seven. Which gives us four hours to look our best.”
“Are you suggesting that I don’t already look my best?”
“Humor is such an over-used way to hide fear, Janus,” Dani observes, hitting the proverbial nail on the head.
“It doesn’t do either of us any good to give in to nervousness now, Dani.”
She regards me for a few seconds, head tilted slightly to the side. “I suppose you’re right.”
“What was that? Did I just hear you…conceding defeat?”
Dani whacks my arm with full force this time. “As if! You’ll never hear me concede defeat to The Jackal.”
“Hmm,” is all I respond with, before carefully storing our fake identities in my bag and getting up from my chair.
I turn to face Dani. “I’ll be by your room at six, then. We can grab a drink before the auction.”
“Alcohol on the job? That sounds like a recipe for disaster.”
“Call it Dutch courage. We’ll need it.”
Dani gives me a smile at the suggestion. “Okay. I’ll see you at six. One drink, and then we’ll head to the auction.”
“It’s a date, then,” I reply cheekily, swiftly moving out of the way before Dani can hit me again.
The next three hours seem to feel like both an eternity and a breeze. I numbly go through my grooming routine, ensuring my hair is perfectly slicked back and that my facial hair is kept to a masterfully precise one millimeter long stubble.
I go over both my own and Dani’s fake identities—having sent her digital copies to do the same—memorizing the information I might need at any moment to maintain our
cover.
There is no room to mess up tonight. There’s too much at stake to do so.
So, why did I insist on taking Dani out for a drink first, despite that?
Using alcohol for Dutch courage wasn’t technically a lie, of course. In an event where everyone is drinking, two stone-cold sober people are going to painfully stand out in conversation.
And we need to appear as if we’re completely comfortable with a human auction. That’s not something that even I could easily lie about; it’s that detestable.
Yes. A little alcohol will go a long way to help us with our cover for the night.
But I also simply want to take Dani out on some semblance of a date.
Because, when all is said and done, and if we make it out of this trafficking case alive, she’ll be out of my life once more.
Which means that it’s now or never if I ever want to get through to her.
I had been so sure that what’s best for me was to keep her at arm’s length, so that I couldn’t fall for her once more. But after seeing the damage dealt on those women and children…
Life’s too short. I want Dani. And I want her to realize that.
I’m in front of her hotel door before I know it, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo with a tasteful dark red bow-tie and matching cummerbund. I texted her earlier to ensure I wouldn’t clash with her outfit’s color scheme, of course.
I’m a gentleman, after all.
It feels as if an age has passed before Dani opens the door after I rap my knuckles upon it, announcing my presence.
When she does open the door, I’m greeted by the most stunning version of Danielle Robinson I’ve ever seen.
She’s wearing a slinky, dark gold, vaguely metallic, halter-neck dress that brings out the molten gold in her dark eyes. Her rich chocolate hair has been twisted back, leaving a few artfully placed strands that frame her face.
She turns around to let me see her whole outfit—her dress is backless.
I’m blown away with how gorgeous she looks.
“Wow. Wow. When you said you had an outfit for undercover, I didn’t expect…this.”
Dani smiles radiantly at me. “You don’t look too bad yourself, Mr. O’Connell. Should we get going for that drink?”
I proffer my arm for Dani to take, and we walk with our arms linked down to the waiting taxi.