When I come out of the shower and see Hailey’s asleep again, I walk to her side of the bed and pull the covers over her shoulder. Leaning down, I press a kiss to her temple.
I straighten back up and stare at her beautiful sleeping face, and it makes the love I feel for her spread through every part of my body.
I never knew it was possible to love someone so much. She’s become my world, and I’ll do anything to keep her.
I brush a strand of her hair away from her face, and then I walk out of the room. Heading back to the armory, I make sure to lock the door so Hailey can’t get in.
I take a seat behind the monitors and dial Alexei’s number. My eyes go from one screen to the next, searching for any trace of Rudaj’s cousins. The one screen shows all underground chatter. CCTV footage flashes on the other, my facial recognition software checking every face.
“Yes,” Alexei answers.
“I’ve got nothing,” I mutter. “It’s like they fucking disappeared.”
“I’m heading to Budapest. Viggo was spotted there.”
“No sign of Admir, though,” I say, and leaning back in the chair, I let out a sigh. “You think they’re together?”
“It will make the job easier, but no. The first thing you do when shit goes down is split up.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “I think Admir is still in Switzerland. He’s going to come after me.”
“That’s why you need to lay low. Maybe you should go to the safe house. Stay there until I’ve taken care of them.”
How the fuck would I explain that to Hailey? She wouldn’t go with me.
“Not yet. We’ll stay close to home,” I say. The windows are bulletproof, and the best thieves will need a shitload of time to break the code to get inside. I’m rigged for war. My home is more secure than any safe house.
“You haven’t told her yet?” Alexei asks.
“No. I’ll tell her tomorrow.” I let out another sigh.
I can feel the storm brewing, and it will be here soon.
“You’re running out of time. If they attack, she’s going to find out the hard way,” Alexei warns me.
I know.
Christ, I know.
The monitor beeps, and it zeroes in on the side profile of a face. “Hold on, I’ve got a hit.” I move closer and check the details. “Seventy-four percent possibility for Admir. I can’t see his whole face. Shows Geneva.” I zoom out and check the surroundings. “I don’t think it’s him. This guy is at a park with kids.”
“Probably a lookalike. Keep searching,” Alexei voices his thoughts. “I’m getting on the plane. Call me if you find anything.”
“I will.”
“Watch your back,” he reminds me again.
“Don’t worry.”
We end the call, and I read through the underground chatter.
Where the fuck are you?
The hours begin to slip away, and it’s close to three am when a message pops up on my screen.
Nightcrawler: AR info. What’s it worth to you?
AR stands for Adrim Rudaj, so the odds are the information is real. I type out a reply.
Ubiytsa CK: Sample
Nightcrawler: Hailey Welsh
Fuck.
Ubiytsa CK: 500K
Nightcrawler: 1M
Ubiytsa CK: Accept
Nightcrawler: AR knows where you are. Attack imminent. Twenty-three men. VR is in Budapest. It’s a trap for AK.
I dial Alexei’s number to let him know what I just learned.
“Yes,” he answers.
“Budapest is a trap. Viggo’s there.”
“Of course, it’s a fucking trap. You think I’d go in blind?” Alexei bites out.
“Just be careful.”
Another message comes through, and I skim over it.
Nightcrawler: Payment – 0007890124
I continue relaying the information, “Admir knows where I am. The informant says he’s coming with twenty-three men.”
“You don’t leave your fucking house,” Alexei warns me. “I’ll take care of Viggo and then come to you. Just lay low for two days.”
“I will.”
We end the call, and I make the payment to the account.
Ubiytsa CK: Closed
Leaning back in the chair, I stare at the security monitors from the cameras positioned around the house. It’s quiet… for now.
Getting up, I leave the armory, making sure to lock the door, and when I get to the bedroom, I lie down beside Hailey. I push my arm beneath her head and pull her to me.
She throws her leg over mine and snuggles into my side.
Problems. So many fucking problems.
How will she react when she finds out who I am?
Will we get through this coming war without it tearing us apart?
Is her love for me strong enough to overcome the lies I’ve told her?
I tighten my arms around her and press my lips to her hair.
I can’t lose Hailey.
HAILEY
I’m busy making scrambled eggs when my phone starts ringing.
Seeing it’s my mom, I turn off the stove and answer, “Hi, Mom.”
“Hey, sweetheart. I was just thinking about you and wanted to hear your voice before I head to bed. How are you?”
“I’m great, just made scrambled eggs,” I reply. I glance in the direction of the living room to make sure Carson hasn’t come up from his mancave slash office, then say, “Remember that guy I told you about? Carson.”
“Yes. The recluse?”
“That’s the one,” I grin. “I didn’t scare him off.”
“I told you not to worry,” Mom says.
“We’re dating,” I drop the bomb.
“Is it serious?” I can hear the concern in my mom’s voice.
“Yes. Very serious,” I answer honestly, not wanting to hide anything from my parents.
“How old is he? What does he do for a living? Take a photo of his ID and send it to me,” Mom starts doing what she does best – worry about me.
“He’s twenty-five and in construction like Daddy. I’ll send you the photo. He’s really nice. You’ll love him.”
“Are you sure about starting a relationship while you’re traveling? I don’t want you changing your plans because of a guy,” Mom says exactly what I expected to hear.
“I’m not going to change my plans. He’s showing me all the villages I want to see in Switzerland. I’m sure when I go to Croatia, he’ll come to visit me, and I can come back for a weekend here and there.”
It will suck not being close to Carson every day, though.
“I just worry about you, sweetheart. People do stupid things for love, and I don’t want you giving up your dream for a man.”
“I won’t, Mom. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Mom sounds relieved when she says, “Tell me more about him.”
“He’s Russian. He moved to Switzerland when he was sixteen to be closer to his older brother, whom I’ve met. Their parents passed away, so it’s just the two of them. They’re very close.” I glance around the kitchen and living room. “He has a beautiful house he had built, so I guess he’s doing pretty well financially.”
“That’s good to hear. You need someone with ambition.” Mom voices her opinion.
“He looks at me like I’m the only woman on the planet,” I blurt out. “I’ve never experienced anything like this, Mom. It feels like I’ve found my soul mate.”
“Oh, honey, just don’t end up being the one who loves the most.”
“What do you mean?” I ask while spearing a piece of egg. I pop it into my mouth, and scrunching my nose, I spit it out and empty the pan in the trash.
Yuck, I can’t cook to save my life.
“In any relationship, there’s always the one who loves more, who gives in first, who sacrifices a little more so the other person can be happy.”
“Not with you and Dad,” I argue.
“Even with your father and me. Have you ever seen him angry with me?”
Come to think of it, no. “Mom, I can’t just hit the brakes on loving Carson.”
“Just don’t lose your individuality, okay?”
“Okay.”
Suddenly Carson’s hands settle on my hips, and he presses a kiss to my shoulder. He glances at the pan, and I point at the trash, giving him an apologetic look.
Carson chuckles, and pulling a clean pan from the drawer, he sets it down on the stove before walking to the fridge to get eggs.
“Oh, he’s also an excellent cook, so I won’t starve,” I tell my mother.
“You were never one for the kitchen,” Mom teases me. “It’s time for bed. Take care, sweetheart. We love you.”
“Love you too, Mom. Sweet dreams.”
We end the call, and then I grin at Carson. “I need to send my parents a photo of your ID. You know, for incase you kidnap me and make me your sex slave.”
Carson lets out a burst of laughter as he cracks the eggs into a bowl. “Would you have a problem with it if I kidnapped you and fucked you until you couldn’t walk?”
My abdomen clenches. “Definitely not. Just throw food into the deal.”
He turns his face to me and leans a little closer. “Kiss me.”
I place my hands on his jaw, and lifting onto my toes, I press a soft kiss to his lips.
“More,” he murmurs.
I smile against his mouth, and then I give him what he wants until we’re both breathless.
“Breakfast can wait until much later,” I say as I take hold of his hand and pull him out of the kitchen. “I want to do dirty things to you.”
Reaching the living room, I push him down on the couch. I drag my shorts and panties down my legs and climb onto his lap. Our mouths latch onto each other as I pull down his zipper, and freeing his cock, I position him at my entrance. Lowering myself onto him, shudders spread through my body from how good he feels.
Carson grips hold of my hips, moving my body at the pace he wants, fast and hard. My fingers curl into the hair at the nape of his neck as I get lost in everything he makes me feel.
The way he looks at me as if I’m the only person he loves, the only one he’ll ever love.
It makes me feel treasured.
