by S. M. Butler
“Hate to break up this touching bullshit, but we need to go. Nathan’s sending in Ghosts for cleanup.” Jack touched the power button on his phone and shoved it into his pocket.
“What about Mary?” Axel asked.
“She stays. So do you. The story is you came to check on her because you hadn’t seen her in a couple of days, stepped into her being held at gunpoint unknowingly. You disarmed the gunman—well, gunwoman in this case—and saved her life.”
“No. I’m going with Bea.”
“No, you’re not, lover boy,” Jack replied.
“You can’t stop me.”
“Actually, I can,” he said, lifting a gun to Axel’s side. “I can tranq your ass and we will disappear. Is that what you want?”
“Jack, stop,” Hardy said, coming into the room. He glanced at Genevieve’s body as he stepped past it like he’d seen a hundred others like it.
“Who are you people?” Axel whispered. “I mean, really.”
“We can’t be seen involved, Axel. None of us can. You’re our only option. You’re the only one alive.”
“Fuck.” He glanced at Bea, running his fingers along her soft cheek. He had to protect her still. He brushed her escaped hairs from her face behind her ear and lightly kissed her lips. “I don’t want to lose you now.”
“We all die one day, Axel.” Bea smiled. “But today’s not my day.”
“Axel—” Jordan said from behind him.
“Shut the fuck up, Levi,” Bea said. “Give me a minute.” She gripped Axel’s shoulder and pulled herself up to a sitting position. Axel tried to help her, but she hissed when he accidentally touched her raw back.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Listen, Axel, they’re right. I have to go. And you have to stay.”
“I let you leave once. Look what happened.” He’d be damned if he let her go now. But wasn’t he leaving anyway? His head was a mess, torn between never letting her go and running away from Jubilee for good.
“It’s not goodbye,” she said. “More like, see you later. I hate goodbyes.”
“Will I see you again?”
Her finger smoothed across his jaw, but the action sliced right through his heart. “See ya later.”
“See ya later,” he whispered back to her. He took a breath as Chris and Jordan walked away with the most precious cargo he’d ever seen. A woman ten times as strong as he’d ever be. A woman he’d probably never see again once he left Jubilee.
~*~*~
As they walked toward the SUV parked outside the barn, the Ghosts started to arrive around them. Bea laughed.
“What?” Jordan asked.
“Creepy fuckers,” she replied.
A body appeared in front of the vehicle. Liam stood there, waiting with his hands behind his back. He stood motionless as they approached.
“She’s dead, Liam,” Bea said. “You’re free.”
“I wouldn’t say ‘free’ in the sense that he can walk away…” Jordan said. “More like ‘free’ in the sense that we’re going to lock his ass in a deep, dark hole.”
“Shut it, Levi,” Bea said.
Liam shook his head, ignoring what Jordan said as his blue eyes, once lifeless but now held something new inside, met hers. “I don’t think I’ll ever be free of her.”
“It can be done,” she replied.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he fell to his knees. “I hurt you. I’m sorry.”
“Put me down,” she told Jordan. He shook his head. “Now.”
“Bea—”
“Just do it!” she snapped.
With a heavy sigh of protest, he lowered her legs down first, supporting her as she tested her weight out. Levi stayed close and she hissed when he accidentally rubbed against her raw back. His expression turned murderous. She put up a hand. “I’m okay.”
“Like hell, you are.” He held her close, supported her as he turned his attention to Liam. “He did this to you?”
“I did,” Liam admitted quietly.
“Mother fucker,” Hardy cursed.
“Don’t hurt him,” Bea said as she let herself fall next to Liam. It was less graceful than she wanted and was more letting her legs collapse than a controlled descent. She cupped his scarred face. “I’ll help you, and any of the others she hurt, too. She made us both to be strong. It will take a while—even though she’s dead—but you can be free of her as well.”
Liam’s eyes looked pained. He frowned and looked down, shaking his head.
“Bea, you have to go,” Hardy said. “The police will be here soon.”
Bea let Levi pull her up. She grasped Hardy’s free arm and squeezed. “Don’t hurt him.”
Hardy’s eyes narrowed. “Get her home. I got this.”
Levi growled and picked up Bea when she stumbled. “Nathan’s going to shit a brick when he sees our new friend.”
Bea glanced down as Liam looked up at her. Their gaze met and his eyes were just slightly wider than they had been. Probably not enough for Levi or Hardy to notice, but she knew that look well. She’d worn that look when Nathan offered her freedom.
28
Bea slept for days. Okay, well, it felt like days, and god knew, she was tired and hurt enough to warrant days of unconsciousness. But the good thing about her Reaper status was that days of unconsciousness weren’t necessary. It still took time for her to heal, but she would have been dead in that building after what Genevieve did to her if she hadn’t been a Reaper.
Superheroes weren’t real. She didn’t have enhanced strength or supernatural healing. The procedure she’d undergone when she died and became a Reaper gave her better memory, better agility, better senses. It was subtle, but she knew herself well enough that she noticed the changes. Probably in some way, it helped her recovery too. Still, she wouldn’t put it past Nathan to build something like that into the Reaper matrix.
She was maybe three days into her recovery when she finally managed to be awake enough to take in her surroundings.
She was in the infirmary in the underground lair. She recognized the fluorescent lighting enough. And the walls of first aid equipment. The vitals monitor. The only thing she hadn’t been prepared to see was the man in the chair next to her bed.
“Axel?”
His head shot up. “You’re awake!”
When he smiled, it was like being hit with a thousand watts of pure heaven. She hadn’t thought she’d see him again, because it was likely that their cover was blown in Jubilee. But here they were, still in that insufferable town, and she’d never been so happy.
Not to mention that fine specimen in front of her wasn’t wearing a shirt.
“I think I am,” she said, frowning. Her back burned as she tried to sit up, as well as her shoulder. And her stomach. And pretty much every single part of her body and some places she was woefully uninformed that she had.
“Easy,” Axel murmured as he shot to his feet. His arms steadied her. She stilled and then he was fiddling with the remote. Her bed’s head came up slowly. “You didn’t need stitches for your back, though it was pretty torn up, but not deep cuts or anything, but you did need them for your shoulder. No infection though, so that was good.”
“Genevieve? Is she still dead?” Something in her just needed to make sure.
“Definitely still dead,” Axel replied. “Body’s in the morgue. I didn’t even know this place had a morgue.”
“It has everything,” she whispered.
He sunk back into his seat beside the bed. “Bea, I know why you said what you did. I understand it now. Your life is dangerous. The world has no shortage of bad guys in it. But it doesn’t stop how I feel about you.”
“Axel…” She shook her head.
“No, let me talk, okay? You gave me the lowdown before. You told me you were a killer, but you lied to me. I talked to Liam about… a lot, actually.”
“Liam?”
“He’s here. Well, he’s in this place. Somewhere.”
Axel cleared his throat. “Anyway, I talked to him about Genevieve and a lot of stuff that I see can translate really easily to you.” Axel sighed. “The killing that you do… it’s not because you enjoy it. It’s because that’s all you know. That’s all she taught you. She never taught you about… courage, or honor. She taught you how to lie, cheat, and steal… but never about how to love.”
“Axel, I—”
“Wait. I’m not done.” Axel stood up again, paced for a few seconds like he was trying to figure out what to say, and then he took her hand, and his dark orbs focused completely on her. “I love you. I would spend the rest of my life showing you how to love, teaching you the good things she never did.” Axel smiled. “You don’t need to say it, but I know you love me.”
“Axel, it’s not about love. This place… I’m not free. I come with a fuck ton of baggage, and I owe Nathan about nine years more of my life. I pay my debts… but I’m not sure that you’ll want the woman that comes out the other side of that nine years.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, bringing her hand up to his mouth. He kissed the fingertips. “I’m not quitting. I’m staying right here. With you.”
“You’re not… Really?” But it was likely she wasn’t staying, depending on how badly their cover was blown in town.
“Yes,” he said. “I talked to Nathan this morning. Genevieve is dead, but until we find out who hired her, it’s best if I stay here in Jubilee.” With his free hand, he reached out and ran his fingers along her hairline. She closed her eyes, losing herself in the sensation of his touch. “I was hoping my favorite bodyguard would continue to protect me.”
She snorted. “I didn’t do such a great job.”
“No, I’m fine. You’re the one that’s all banged up,” he said, laughing. His eyes filled with pain and his laughter faded. “We were worried… They told me you lost consciousness after you got back here, and you wouldn’t wake up. Chris didn’t want to say it, but I could see it. I thought I’d lose you.”
She shook her head. “I’m too stubborn to die.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Isn’t that the truth?” Then he touched her forehead with his and they stayed like that for a few seconds. “I’m so sorry for what I said before.”
“You have no reason to be sorry. I am who I am, Axel. I can’t change that.”
“I don’t want you to,” he replied. She blinked in surprise. “I told you. Liam told me a lot of stuff, and I understand it so much more now. None of it is really your fault. I love you for all your flaws. Not in spite of them. Shit, it’s not like I’m perfect. I’m pretty fucked in the head, too.” He sighed. “We can talk more after you get some more rest, huh?”
He pulled away, but she grabbed his arm before he could leave her. “Don’t go.” It wasn’t long ago that she’d been pushing him away. Right then, she didn’t recognize herself. But all she knew was Axel leaving her was like part of her being ripped away. She needed him close. Craved for him to be close. Being so close to dying had broken away that last bit of armor she’d been keeping around her.
“I wish I’d been the one to kill her for you,” he whispered.
She smiled. “I’m glad you didn’t. It’s not who you are.”
“It’s not who you are, either.”
She pulled him closer, not answering the statement. “Stay with me?”
He shook his head. “You need to rest.”
She scooted over on the bed. “Stay with me.” When he looked like he might bolt, she tightened her grip on his arm. “Please?”
As he nodded, she smiled and tried to move over more as he climbed onto the bed with her. With some maneuvering, he settled on his back and she curled up against him, half her body draped over him. Though he was over the covers and she was underneath, her body knew he was close, and it eased the tension within her so much that she sighed when she laid her head against his chest.
His fingers ran along her side, gently soothing her aches without even knowing he was. He kissed the top of her head. “Rest, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”
She closed her eyes, her body calm for the first time in what seemed like forever. He did that to her, and she loved him for it.
29
Nathan stared at the screen as the pair of lovers settled in together. He frowned at the unexpected pain in his chest. The same pain he’d had when he’d realized Hardy’s sister had been right. His little band of misfits were the best trained elite team in the world, and yet, they were missing something. Hardy seemed to have found it. Now, Li…
That pain in his chest was jealousy, he realized. He’d found love before, with his wife, with his daughter, and they’d been ripped from him. He’d pushed away all feelings to concentrate on what he needed to do, his mission to end those that ended his family. He prided himself on being able to surveil anything and everyone, and yet, in this instant, he didn’t want to see the way Martinez and Li were together. It was too close.
He was getting distracted recently. He shouldn’t have started things with Bridget. He didn’t regret giving her more access to the Company. That had actually pushed his stalled investigation along. But this personal aspect… Regardless of how business-like he thought he saw sex with her, it was getting increasingly more complicated.
“Nathan?”
He glanced up as Bridget entered the office. He shut the screen off and turned toward her. He rolled his shoulders back. Queue the biggest problem he had at the moment. “Yes, Miss Muldoon?”
“You’ve been distracted since you saw my brother,” she said. “What’s going on with you?”
What, indeed. He wasn’t even sure of it himself. Bridget was wearing a loose skirt today, not one of her pencil skirts he loved taking off her. He wondered if she was following his other demand.
“What are you wearing under that skirt?” He asked, ignoring how husky his voice sounded.
“Air,” she replied evenly.
His cock punched out, demanding freedom from the jeans he wore that held it confined.
“Are you not going to answer my question?”
“I’m not distracted,” he said. He crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”
She obeyed easily enough, walking around the desk where he sat so she stood before him. She was not his first fuck since his wife died, but she was the only one that mattered to him. The others had been placeholders, warm bodies that meant nothing. Sex toys needed for a purpose then sent away when they served it. She wasn’t like them. She was intelligent, forceful… his complement in every way.
He ran his hands up her slender thighs, groaning when he reached the heat of her core. He ran a finger along her naked flesh. Yes, this is what he needed. What he craved. He wanted to feel the heat of her surrounding his cock, wanted to feel the grip of her flesh around him when she came.
This was the distraction he needed to avoid but wanted more than the air he breathed.
“You’re trying to distract me,” she said, gripping the desk behind her as he stroked her.
“No, I’m trying to focus you in the right direction,” he replied as he slid a finger inside her body. She was heaven around his finger, gripping it tight. Steadily, he strummed her body like a guitar, coaxing her higher and higher, listening to her moans. Just once more, he wanted to hear her moan and cry out in such pleasure.
“Oh, god…” she breathed.
“Come for me, Bridget,” he whispered as he circled her clit with his thumb. He fingered her hard and fast until she cried out, her body squeezing him as she fell over the edge he’d coaxed her to. As her climax crested, he sealed his mouth over hers, like he could take the power she had into himself.
As her chest rose and fell in heavy breaths, he pulled his hands away from her and leaned back in his chair. He loved the way she looked after she came. So deliciously uncontrolled and wild. Her legs were spread, barely able to hold her weight still. Her hands gripped the edge of the desk so tightly her knuckles were white.
“You look quite proud of yourself,” she said.
“I am,” he replied. “I could do that every day and it wouldn’t ever get old.”
“You’re hiding something,” she said, frowning.
“I’m always hiding something, Bridget,” he said.
“You promised me.”
“I love your body,” he murmured as he slid his hands along her slender thighs. “Every inch of it. I can’t stop myself from touching you.” He took a breath. “But I can’t do more than physical, Bridget and I think that is getting too complicated as well.”
She shoved off the desk and walked around it, putting the big slab of wood between them. “So, I’m just the easy fuck?”
“There’s nothing easy about you,” he replied.
“What if I want more than just a fuck?”
Nathan rubbed his hands over his face and peered at her through his fingers. “Bridget… I can’t be more.” The way her face fell, he wanted to kick himself in the bollocks for what he was saying to her. But he hadn’t lied to her about this particular subject yet and he wasn’t about to start. “Everything in me that had feeling died when my family was killed. I will never love another. It’s not possible for me to do so. Being with you is amazing… but I can’t let things get complicated.”
She sniffed and crossed her arms. He knew she was upset with him, and that was the why of it. She wanted him to love her. Maybe in some way, she did love him already. God, this had gotten complicated.
“Bridget…”
“Don’t,” she said, putting up a hand toward him. “I knew what I was getting into. At least, I should have.”
“You are incredibly important to me,” he said. “I could not do any of this without you.”
She snorted derisively. “Right. You’re a lying son of a bitch.”
“I mean it,” he shot back. “Everything we’ve done over the last four years together… In the last four days alone… There is no one I trust more.”
“Just not enough to let me in.”
“That part of me you want to open… It’s not there to open.” He sighed. “I am not capable of it. Not anymore.”