| |
Exact location: Classified, United Arab Emirates
Wednesday, 27 January, 7:55 p.m.
––––––––
Rowan wasn't my favourite brother-in-law anymore. He refused to let me drive. Instead, he took it upon himself to see if he could roll the Toyota Land Cruiser. Failing that, Rowan tried to make me scream with what I believe was his idea of dune bashing. Even as a teenager, I had been better at it than him. One of the many things my father had taught me. We shared a love for speed. And nothing beats the adrenaline rush of not knowing what the other side of a dune looks like.
A small part of me also didn't like my husband very much, but then again, he didn't know the location of the party when he chose the little I wore. At least the sun had retreated for the night, or I would've ended up with the worst tan lines imaginable. Before we left the house I had grabbed my combat boots, not trusting my ability to walk in knee high leather boots across the Arabian sand.
"You can't wear that." Rowan glanced down at my military issued shoes.
I clicked the boots together but remained in the Land Cruiser. "If we need to run, I don't want to struggle in the sand with heels."
"Why will we need to run, Finley?"
"Who is Finley?" I checked my makeup in the sun visor mirror. A stranger stared back at me.
Rowan placed his hand on my exposed thigh. I stared at his hand on my leg, forgetting it was too dark inside the SUV's cabin for Aidan to see his brother poke the Aidan bomb. I removed Rowan's hand and returned it to the steering wheel.
"Four guards. Positioned 500 metres away from the camp to the north, east, south and west," Liam said. A military grade drone gave us the layout of the camp erected in the middle of the desert.
"We'll take up position to the west, I'll have the best vantage point from there. Are you ready, Mrs Walker?"
"Who is Mrs Walker?" I asked Aidan. "My name's Kelly, and tonight I'm going to make Rob Granger the luckiest man in the world."
"I'm going to dust my wife's entire body for fingerprints as soon we get back to the house."
I sighed as we drove past a guard. "You forget one thing, Commander Walker. I need to remove these latex straps and panties before we head back if you want any usable prints. Wait, before you jump on the husband horsey, I packed something else to wear for the return trip. I'm pretty sure Rowan can keep a lookout while I strip down naked in the desert and take my time to get dressed. Sir, I'll let you watch through your scope and won't tell the boss that you did."
Aidan laughed. "I am the boss."
"Not of Kelly, you're not. I'm a lone wolf; an assassin for hire. I take out bad guys and receive payment from other bad guys for doing it. Man, Quinn has an exciting life."
She didn't. The same loneliness festered inside her which lived in Rowan. Quinn had lost herself in undercover work; it allowed her to hide from herself and the questions about her past. I may have gotten her a bit drunk on margaritas one night and probed a little. I'm not proud of doing it, but it was for the greater good. Understanding her insecurities, allowed me to help her address them. Help she had asked for and remembered doing so the following morning. We were making ground, and nothing was more important than seeing my new best friend happy. And for Quinn to make peace with the fact that some of her questions might never be answered. Ashley, my other best friend, helped too, in her own, more subtle ways.
"I tell you what, Commander, I'll get Biggie to touch my butt. It's the part of me with the most coverage. Then when we get back to the house, you can help me forget about the horrible man who touched your wife."
"Guys, come on. Quinn warned us it's like constant verbal foreplay working with the two of you. I'm surprised there's no sibling for Ainsley on the way yet." Liam's voice filled my ear and pushed a dagger into my heart. Ainsley will never have a brother or a sister. Ever. Aidan and I hadn't told the family yet. The only person who knew – Lizzie. I tell my sister everything.
Aidan exhaled slowly; the sound sent shivers down my spine. "We're in position, can see you pulling up."
Rowan brought the Land Cruiser to a stop, pushed his fingers through his long hair, and turned to me. "Are you sure you don't want a safe word?"
I touched my palm to his cheek and smiled. We were being watched, not by Aidan and Liam. "I don't need a safe word. You might not be armed, but I am." I wrapped the leather straps around my forearms and ensured it covered the ink.
Rowan touched the back of his fingers to my face and brushed his thumb across my bottom lip. "I won't let anything happen to you."
"I've got your back too, bro. Let's do this, Rob." I pushed his hair away from his neck and leaned forward until my mouth pressed against his ear. "I love you, Commander Walker. No safe word. You'll know if I need help."
"Breach," Liam said.
Rowan and I laughed, staring at each other the way people about to have sex do. It freaked me out but being this close to the person linked to the serial killer I wanted to annihilate, trumped everything. Biggie had kept his eyes on us since Rowan switched off the ignition. His face obscured by a mask, but his hands weren't covered.
Rowan positioned his mask over his face, I didn't need one. Quinn had shown me how to apply special effects makeup over a Skype call. If things didn't work out for me at Fortius, I might make a career as a makeup artist. Who would've guessed I have a knack for this type of makeup? Perhaps Quinn was just a good instructor.
I slid out of the Land Cruiser and focused on the surrounding darkness. Somewhere the best sniper in the world watched me through the scope of his McMillan Tac-50. Rowan slammed my door shut and pressed my back against the vehicle. He towered over me, and I wondered if it was a mistake not to wear heels. Then again, dynamite comes in small packages, and the C-4 strips hidden in the soles of my shoes held the punch.
Rob Granger's long hair played in the wind; his face illuminated by the lamps positioned around the camp. Once we stepped past Biggie, Rowan and I were on our own. Aidan could still see what we saw, as Rowan and I wore contact lenses with embedded microscopic cameras. Invisible two-way earpieces in both of our ears.
It's time. Kelly pushed onto her toes, wrapping her arms around Rob's neck. Biggie's gaze remained on us. Perhaps he has a thing for Rob Granger. "I waited a long time to play with you. For the record, I like when things go south. That's where all the action is," I spoke loud enough for Biggie to hear.
Rowan's eyes laughed but his Rob face remained intense. He grabbed my thighs and pushed me up against the passenger side window. "I know you're going to be trouble, Kelly. Tonight, you're mine. If you as much as look at another man, I will drag you out of here. We've been heading towards me being inside you for a long time. I won't let you screw this up, not before I make you scream my name."
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. "What are you waiting for? Take me. Now. Right here." Deep inside Kelly, I laughed.
This was weird and disgusting, but the most fun I had since chasing the Cayenne in Zurich. As good as we faked it, the sexual chemistry between Rob and Kelly didn't compare to when Aidan and I are simply in the same room.
I adore Rowan, which made this easier. It also helped that he's one of the most handsome men I've ever seen. The second most handsome to ever push me up against a vehicle, but he's my brother. His safety as important as getting back to Ainsley and taking down this serial killer. Once the killer's forehead had a permanent hole, I would hunt down every person who helped him.
Rob lowered Kelly until her combat boots pressed into the sand. "No." Rob covered her throat with his hand, almost wrapping it around her neck. "You and I have ourselves a problem, Missy. You're used to being in control, but babe, so am I. It will be worth the wait."
I laughed and realised I needed to improvise. Crap. "I bet you can't make me scream your name more than once tonight."
"Challenge accepted." Rob took Kelly's hand and led her to the entrance. Biggie waited; his hands remained behind his back.
"Sorry, dude. Your brother and your wife are going to get freaky tonight," Liam said to Aidan in my ear.
"That's the plan. Enjoy yourself, Fin. You deserve a night of doing whatever you want." Aidan ordered.