His Witch To Keep (Keepers of the Veil) (9 page)

He clenched and unclenched his fists once, but didn’t speak.

She touched his arm. “Please. I need to know why you will kill him.”

His nostrils flared with his heavy exhale. “Hashwani traffics people. Women, children, and men. Most are for organ harvest. Some are for sex or slavery. He avoids drugs and guns. No aggressive terrorism. He has a weakness for gambling. He’s smart and doesn’t get caught.”

“How do you know this? Are you sure?”

“Yes. There’s a gambling floor for the elite patrons on the basement level. I need you to drug him. I’ll place a clear, false membrane on your finger infused with the drug. Unless you’re careless, the membrane will protect you. Be careful. The drug induces an unpleasant, instant gastrointestinal response.” He smiled. “I would hate for you to suddenly become compromised.”

She punched him playfully in the shoulder.

His lips drooped to serious. “I will approach him once he is off the gambling floor, and away from most of his protection.”

“Do you think this Nikolai assassin, who was contracted to kill me, will be nearby? The Russian torturing you probably told him to follow you and you’ll lead them to me.”

“Nikolai is my brother. He will be lurking. I don’t doubt it.”

“Your brother? You have a brother? Wow. Somehow, I never envisioned you had siblings. So, killing is a family business?”

“He is very good at what he does.”

“Better than you?” she couldn’t resist asking.

Without even a hint of arrogance he said, “No.”

“Did you ask him not to come after me?”

“Nikolai is difficult to contact. He is pretty good at what he does. He should not hurt you, not once he sees me with you. But…” He pulled her into his body and kissed her neck in an act of obvious domination.

She ran a finger along his corded neck.

He moaned before pulling away. “Do not forget to whom your body answers.”

“You shouldn’t forget, either.” She chuckled. “Are you worried I might find your brother sexy?”

“Don’t test me,
ragana
.”

“Or what? Now I can’t wait to meet him. He must be something.”

He crowded her against the wall. “I’ll fuck you until you admit there will never be anyone else who can bring you pleasure.”

A low and husky laugh erupted from deep in her chest. She trailed her hand down beneath his tuxedo jacket, over sculpted abs, to cup her hand around the hot length of him pressing against the tux trousers. She stroked him. “Promise?”

Air whooshed from him, ending on a groan. He gripped her hands and pulled them away from him.

She’d won this round. Or had she? Her body raged for his touch to the point she barely cared about whatever danger into which he led her. She wanted to beg he put the elevator on emergency stop. She needed to find relief from the need burning between her legs, the one that only burned this hot and this fast for him. Maybe he had won and proven it to her.

“Let us get through this job.” His eyes smoldered for a few seconds before they glazed back into serious. He rolled her outward, away from him. “Then we will speak about who threatens you.”

The Shadow now stood beside her. All business and focused. This wasn’t the man who’d saved her life and kissed her. This was the killer.

S
erenity claimed a bar stool at the bar counter and watched patrons in the wall mirror behind the bar. She swirled her white wine and took a sip. Delicious. This was her homeland. She’d trained for over eight years to do this kind of work. The entitled, the depraved, the corrupt, and the truly evil circulated between the crowded gaming tables. The ultra-rich underworld. Beautiful women, many of them professionals, slithered between the chairs.

A man slid onto the stool beside her and crowded into her space. His low voice betrayed a hint of eastern European accent. “You are more beautiful than I expected.”

She stared into green eyes that mirrored Alexi’s. His hair was dirty blond in comparison to Alexi’s dark brown, and long, but impeccably styled. Handsome didn’t begin to cut it to describe him. He reminded her of a Greek underwear model with his tanned and perfectly symmetrical facial features. His smile exuded confidence and an indefinable danger that attracted and cautioned simultaneously. He didn’t radiate the promise of death like Alexi. Yet this man’s nearness set off red-alert warnings in her brain that advised she arm herself. Damn Alexi for taking her gun.

“That’s a pretty lame come-on.” She crossed her legs and turned farther away from him, hoping to cold shoulder him into disappearing.

He touched two fingers to the top of her hand, which rested on the edge of the bar’s counter. “I understand now why he was unable to pull the trigger last year. It would be a shame to destroy something so beautiful…so feisty.”

She fought her instinct to yank her hand away and punch him for touching. “Nikolai, I presume?”

He flashed a cocky smile that dimpled his cheeks, and waved at the waiter. A drink appeared in front of him.

“I believe the Russian who hired you is permanently unavailable now. So, perhaps your work here is no longer necessary.” She slid her hand from beneath his.

“Who says he was the only employer in the market? You are…very lucrative right now.” Nikolai shifted to face her. The move enabled him to observe the whole room simultaneously. “So, why are you and he here at the same time? I doubt you plan to go after each other again, as intriguing as watching that showdown might be. Is he working tonight? And he recruited you?” His eyebrows lifted in silent question.

Apparently, he wasn’t in the know on Alexi’s matters.

She gave him a blank look she hoped proved unreadable.

He cocked his head and took another sip of his drink. “He’s always been a solo flyer. Until now. I admit that fascinates me. You fascinate me. Do you even know the full scope of what he does?”

“Do you?” she asked softly.

He chuckled. “The world’s top assassin is protecting the world’s highest-yielding mark…now that’s intriguing. He must trust your skills to leave you alone. Exposed.”

“I can take care of myself.” She sipped her chardonnay.

“I’m sure you can.” Innuendo laced his words. His gaze slowly followed her necklace then paused on the V between her breasts. He leaned in to whisper in a low, smooth tone, “I’m twenty times better than him. Both in bed and out. Let me show you.”

She bit back irritation and disgust. “Are you looking for a little playtime before you take care of me? I can’t say I find that tempting. No, thanks.”

He frowned. “Come with me, beautiful.”

“Please tell me you’re not trying to use some sort of mental coercion on me. I know you and your brother are
special
. But your mojo won’t work on me.” She slowly rotated toward him. “I’m a witch.”

Nikolai’s shocked “Holy hell” thrilled her.

“Stay away from me or I might curse you.” As if she could pull off a curse. But she knew the witch to ask for help should she want to cast one.

He remained frozen. Maybe he’d tangled with a witch in the past.

She stepped away, biting her lip against a laugh when he bought her bluff. With a spin she sauntered toward the high-stakes baccarat. A well-executed fake trip behind the patrons at the table landed her on her knees.

Hashwani reached out to help her up.

She looked up, feigning surprise.

The middle-aged Asian gaped down her low-cut dress, as planned. She gripped his hand and pulled herself up, covertly rubbing the drug onto his skin. “Thank you. I’m…I’m so sorry.”

“Are you certain you are okay?” Hashwani asked smoothly in perfect English.

“I’m just horrendously embarrassed.”

“Would you like to join me? Perhaps, as my good luck charm?” He smiled lasciviously.

“Thank you, but I was on my way to the ladies’ room. If you’ll excuse me.” She walked briskly from his table. Toward the exit.

Chapter Eight

A
lexi watched Serenity push into the men’s restroom. Her saunter proclaimed success. “You could’ve given him a bit less of a show.”

She snorted. “How would you know what went down? How long until Hashwani feels the effects?”

“I hacked into hotel security. Hashwani will be here in the next few minutes, if you applied it properly. But I refer to Nikolai.”

Her red lips curved into a feline smile. “I do believe the Shadow is jealous.”

“What did he say to you?”

“He tried to use coercion on me.” She rolled her eyes. “I think he wanted me in bed before he killed me. I guess he didn’t know I’m a witch. However, his offer came with the claim he’s twenty times better than you. If so, then perhaps I need to take him for a test drive?”

The woman jested about something that, for him, was not a game. Softly he said, “I am pleased you have not forgotten our night. But I will kill him if you take him to bed, brother or not.”

She smiled and moved close until her breasts pushed against his chest. “He’s handsome…” She giggled. “God, it’s fun to see you get mad. I wasn’t even tempted. Did you miss the part when I threatened to curse him?”

“Yeah, I missed that.”

“Your brother couldn’t even get off the bar stool. I think the poor man might’ve tangled with a witch before.”

He glanced toward the door. Their target was on his way. He ordered, “You be invisible. Stay close. When I say, make both of us invisible.”

“I can’t do that.”

The bathroom door opened. He whispered. “You. Invisible. Now.”

Alexi sauntered to a urinal and pretended to use it.

Hashwani rushed into the restroom. He snarled. “Get out.”

Alexi shot him a refusal glower.

“Get out now.” Hashwani ran into a stall. The sound of retching echoed around them.

He whispered to her, “No more invisible.” When she appeared he grabbed her hand and pulled her into a stall.

“Why are we in here? Can’t we just wait until he’s done and then…you know?”

He lifted her, balancing her back against the wall, and rolled his pelvis against the thin fabric shielding her folds from him. She gasped. Her fingers curled into his shoulders.

He whispered, “There will be no test drive with my brother. Ever.” Two of his fingers moved her panties aside and plunged inside her. His thumb circled her clit. “You’re so wet for me.”

A moan rolled out of her followed by, “Oh, God.” She wrapped her legs around his waist.

Hoarsely he whispered, “Come for me.” He pumped his fingers and teased her clit.

Her body swelled around his fingers as her core clinched and milked him. She detonated, muffling a groan with her hand.

“Who’s in here?” Hashwani asked from the other stall. Then the sound of retching again.

For a few seconds he lost track of everything other than the feel of her. The exquisite smell of her climax. Bloody hell, it’d been too long since he’d tasted her…been inside her. He slammed his mouth onto hers, remembering her lipstick a moment too late. She greedily answered, meeting him more than halfway with her tongue swirling inside his mouth. Her fingers gripped his scalp, pulling him tighter. He reached for the button on his pants.

The toilet flushed two stalls over. His mind snapped back the objective behind this show.

Fuck.
He whispered, “Later,” and withdrew his fingers from her, righted her skirt, and let her slide down his body.

Alexi wiped his lips to remove lipstick. He exited in sync with Hashwani while pulling on gloves. Serenity stumbled out of the stall behind him, her face flushed with the perfect mixture of freshly orgasmed disorientation.

Hashwani leered at her chest. “I thought you were a pro. With tits like that…I will give you five hundred to suck me off right now.”

Her wide-open shock indicated to Alexi how much what just happened between them had thrown her off her professional game. His mind hazed with possessive fury and the displaced frustration over not finishing what he’d started with her. His normal patience for the endgame fizzled into a need to hurt Hashwani. This must be why the rules stipulated he not have a relationship. It made him crazy. He recognized his spiraling rage and reined it in. With a wave of his suppressed pistol toward Hashwani, he ordered, “Call your men.”

Hashwani screamed.

The bathroom door flew open. Alexi shot both bodyguards mid-forehead with his suppressed Sig. The two fell half in and half out of the entry. Quick as lightning he stepped into Hashwani and squeezed his throat to prevent further noise. “Darling, do you mind pulling those bodies inside?”

He leaned into Hashwani and said low, “Your soul has been chosen.” He opened his mind, allowing the power of Hades to flow through him. A bystander might think he inhaled the soul out of his victim, but he simply drew it from the body and released it. Hades had the job of collecting it. Hashwani slumped to the floor. As with his other victims, the medical examiner would have an impossible time diagnosing cause of death.

He wrapped Hashwani’s right hand around the pistol and shot a round into the wall by the door. He left the weapon a few inches from Hashwani’s limp hand.

Serenity waited by the door but wouldn’t meet his gaze.

For a solitary moment he glanced at the bodies, wondering if that was what her evasion was about or if it had to do with the orgasm. He wished the killings mattered to him, that it bothered him, but he’d walled off that emotion too long ago to resurrect guilt now. Killing on a mission, a contract kill, or for Hades was just a job. He had a code that he could live with in his world of violence. He never killed at random. He only targeted the most evil and protected the innocent as best he could.

“Come,” he ordered, taking her hand and leading her out and toward the service elevator. As the elevator ascended from the subbasement, a surge of images flooded his brain. His next hit, courtesy of Hades. Damn it. Couldn’t he have a few minutes of freedom? His next target’s blue eyes were far too familiar. Exactly like Serenity’s, but not hers. The woman’s hair was light brown, not red or dyed black. Yet, he recognized the woman.
Please. Don’t make me kill her sister
, he thought to Hades. This had to be punishment, or a test.

The images continued, as well as the standard dossier—evil and malicious acts of the disgusting and shocking kind were generally the norm for most of Hades’s targets. This time, the info just couldn’t be true. These were lies designed to punish him for years of following Serenity. He’d briefly researched her sister several years ago when he realized how much the sisters fought and had found no indication that Liz was capable of any of the foul images Hades had just provided.

He glanced down. Serenity’s dark lashes hid her eyes. A light splatter of freckles peeked through her makeup across her nose. The freckles were so like her. She hid behind a tough exterior designed to obscure the fragile woman beneath. She fought for independence out of terror over losing those closest to her. He couldn’t rip away her only sibling. It would destroy her. This had to be a mistake. He just needed to prove it to Hades.

Optimistic bullshit.
He’d tried once before to avoid a hit, disbelieving the intel. That led to months of head pain while he accumulated his own information and concluded Hades had been right.

This would destroy Serenity.

In silence he led them to a housekeeping room on the basement level. He pulled at the door handle, but it didn’t budge. “Crap.”

“Unexpected?” she asked.

“I left a change of clothes for us in here. It should be open.”

She touched the knob. “Locked. This isn’t an easy one to pick since it’s card access only.” She squinted to examine between the door and frame. “And dead bolted. What’s plan B?”

“I don’t need a plan B. Plan A always works.” He gazed up and down the hallway. At least they were alone in this maintenance corridor, but given the time of day it’d soon be shift change. “We’ve got to move. We need new clothes.”

He stalked up the hall but halted when he realized she didn’t follow. He waved at her to get in motion.

She shook him off and giggled. Had she blown a mental fuse?

She lounged against the wall and snort laughed.

“What is wrong with you?” he asked, stalking back toward her, fully intent on tossing her over his shoulder if needed.

“It’s just so bloody fantastic to see you screw up. You’re so perfect all the time.”

“I’m not perfect.” Irritation crested. “If I was perfect, I would have walked away from your self-destructive ass a long time ago.”

She doubled over, laughing, and wiped at tears. Fucking tears.

He gritted out, “What is funny about this? We must leave right now.”

She held up a hand and then wiped away the moisture from her eyes. “Sorry. This is just a moment I want to remember.”

“We are leaving. Now.” He grabbed her hand and tried to pull her, but she didn’t budge. “Come,” he ordered.

She grinned up at him. “Unpredictable makes you prickly.” She sobered up and actively suppressed laughing, but a few snorts escaped.

His hands shook with agitation to leave. “We are not popping back to that other place…that dimension again. No.”

“I didn’t offer. That’s only for emergencies. I have a suggestion.”

He dropped her hand and crossed his arms. “I do
not
want to use your invisibility to walk out of here. With my luck you will lose focus and then we will flicker in and out, making us a YouTube sensation.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but no. If we want to use invisibility in the future, then it needs a bit more practice first. Did you check into a room?”

He nodded. That was basic hotel op one-oh-one.

She strolled to the elevator and punched the up button. “What name is it under?”

“Moore.”

“All right, Mr. Moore, let’s get out of here.” The elevator opened, and she stepped inside.

He didn’t move. “That is not the plan. I planted firebombs. Then we escape in the commotion.”

“All the chaos. So many lives disrupted. Quite unnecessary.” She smoothed her dress. “How’s my lipstick? Do I look too kissed?”

“You look well-fucked. It’s fine.”

Her cheeks flushed. She held the door-open button.

He smiled.

“Get in the damn elevator, Mr. Moore. You’ve got a woman on your team now. Haven’t you ever worked with a woman?”

Her condescending tone escalated his frustration. He shook his head. As of right now he deemed working with a woman elevated the unpredictable factor to unacceptable.

She smiled. “Brilliant. How about a little trust? I promise I’ll get us out of here. Just be British and act…exactly like you are. It’s perfect.”

“For what is it perfect? I need to know your exact plan.”

She punched the button for the lobby, one floor up.

Before he could hit the emergency stop button and demand she communicate what the hell she planned, she was out of elevator. Into the main lobby. The fucking main lobby. Nightmare. This was not low-key. This guaranteed they’d be recorded, possibly remembered. He was too distracted by her sexy hip swagger to even attempt to future scan.

He trailed behind her, furious, as she stormed to the concierge desk. His eyes involuntarily trailed from her tapered ankles up to the flare of her hips outlined perfectly in that sexy black sheath.

She leaned into the counter with her butt in the air and flashed more cleavage than the twenty-something concierge deserved to glimpse. “So, my husband wants Italian. But I want sushi.”

“Bloody hell,” Alexi grumbled in a perfect British accent.

She shot him an irritated glare. “This is a city of fantastic restaurants. Do you have one that can do both?”

The concierge glanced uncertainly between the two of them. “There’s a sushi restaurant in Little Italy.”

“No. I need one that does both.”

The concierge paled while staring at Alexi. His expression froze, and a slow dawning of fear transformed his face. That sixth sense was kicking in. This wasn’t going to go well. He crossed his arms and looked at her.

She wagged a forefinger at his keyboard and leaned in farther.

The guy focused on her breasts, which looked to be a few millimeters from spilling out of the top of her dress. Alexi bit back a jealous growl and contemplated six ways to silently kill the twenty-something kid, and no one else would even notice until they were long gone.

She said softly, “Just clickety click and find one for us. Please.” She smiled seductively.

The guy punched some keys on his computer. “I don’t know…sushi and Italian?”

“For God’s sake, leave him alone. This is ridiculous. We shall just do what
you
want. Sushi,” he declared.

She snapped upright, rested her hand on her cocked hip, and shot him a brilliant smile that was all about angry tolerance for male bullshit. Lust shot straight to his balls. She said, “Give the gentleman a chance, darling.”

“Well, I’ll be…” The concierge cleared his throat. “There is one. It’s new and you’re dressed appropriately. Would you like for me to make a reservation?”

She shot Alexi a triumphant smirk. “Yes, please. We’re the Moores. Would you also be so kind as to call us a car?”

“Do you want a cab or a limo?” the guy asked.

“I can drive,” Alexi said.

“It took us four hours to get from the airport to here in the rental.” She rolled her eyes and clucked, demanding sympathy from the concierge. “That should have been a thirty-minute drive. And that was with the GPS turned on. He didn’t trust the darn thing.”

Alexi said, “She kept saying
recalculating
. The bloody American voice drove me insane with her nasal whine.”

“Cab, please.” She smiled at the concierge. “You’ve been wonderful. We shall wait in the foyer.” She raised her eyebrows at Alexi. “Just give the man a twenty and then…out front.” She sauntered toward the entry. A doorman hurried to open it for her.

“Won’t she be cold?” the guy asked Alexi, gazing at her ass in the cocktail dress.

Distracted, Alexi tossed a twenty at the kid and trailed after her. “Doubt it. She burns hotter than the sun in the desert.”