Tropical Safeguard (Men Of The Secret Service) (16 page)

“So you want her, do you? Well you can’t
have her. She belongs to me!” Cameron came at him again. Cole madly eyed the
surrounding sand for his gun as Cameron made contact with Cole’s right bicep,
slicing a gash in it.

Cole grabbed his arm and winced, the pain
severe and slowing him down a bit. As if seizing his chance, Cameron turned and
ran toward Katrina with the dagger raised high. “If I can’t have her, no one
will.”

Frantically, Cole dove for his gun in the
sand and turned fluidly to aim at Cameron. Firing, the shot was dead-on and in
the nick of time. Cameron had just reached Katrina’s body. No amount of wind
could disguise the sound the deafening shot produced. The bang traveled from
the beach up to the mansion, alerting the others to the dangers taking place
there.

Getting up and racing toward Katrina,
Cole glanced at Cameron’s body sprawled in the sand – his eyes were open
and blood poured from his head wound. There was no mistaking his condition,
even in the dim moonlight. He would never abuse her again.

Cole knelt in the sand at Katrina’s side,
lifting her head carefully. Looking into her face, he saw a bruise already
starting to bloom on her swollen cheek.

“Bastard,” Cole muttered under his
breath. “Katrina, can you hear me? It’s going to be okay, it’s Cole. I’m here
now, you’re safe.” Without thinking, he cradled her in his arms and rocked back
and forth. Lulling her, comforting her. As he did this, he heard the distant
shouts up on the cliff and then a group of people appeared at the crest.

“Agent Nielsen, are you hurt?” bellowed
Agent Kensing’s voice from above.

Before Cole could answer, he heard
Jacque’s voice cry, “Oh, mon dieu, Katrina!”
 
As if in unison, the entire
entourage and staff walked together down the switchback and onto the beach.
They were there in support of their friend. The terror was over. Cole stroked
Katrina’s forehead gently, caressingly, as she finally opened her eyes.
Blinking, she held his stare and searched his eyes as if knowing the answers
before having asked anything. He hugged her tight. “I’m here, Katrina.
Everything’s going to be okay. It’s over.”

Chapter Twelve

The night was a long one
with police sirens and investigators milling about in search of answers. Both
Secret Service agents had cooperated fully with the local dispatch, though they
were direct in their instructions that this not leek to the press.

The paramedics placed
Cameron’s body on a stretcher as Helene directed the half-asleep boys into the
house so they wouldn’t have to witness anything inappropriate. The paramedics
then carted the stretcher up the switchback stairs toward the awaiting
ambulance. As they carried him, Katrina felt numb, her body swaying in place.
She felt as if she might faint before feeling Cole’s strong arm envelope her,
pulling her close comfortingly. She held the icepack on her face, the skin
tender and swollen from Cameron’s heavy-handed punch. He’d never hit her in the
face before and it was ten times more painful than being hit in the stomach,
back, or legs. Her eye throbbed and her ear was still ringing on the left side.

“He can’t hurt you
anymore, Katrina. You’re free,” Cole muttered quietly.

Staring at the outline
of Cameron’s body under the white sheet, she let his words sink in a little.
Free
. Katrina
realized then that the past five months had been merely an illusion of freedom,
for she had continued to look over her shoulder. Now, there was no need. She
was indeed free – but the freedom came at the cost of a life. A nagging
regret pierced her core and Katrina couldn’t help but wonder why someone so
promising and intelligent had chosen to throw it all away simply for the need
to control another person. Cameron could easily have carried on with his life,
found another substitute for her and be done with it. But no, he’d brought this
mayhem on himself. He’d been unstable and stubborn enough to force this kind of
an ending. For that, Katrina could only shake her head in confusion.

When the night’s terrifying ordeal came
to an end with the grounds vacant, the rot-iron gate closed, and the staff and
entourage safely tucked in once more, Cole escorted Katrina to her room around
3:00 am.

“Was he unstable at all?
I mean, besides his history of abusing women?” Cole asked from the side of
Katrina’s bed. He leaned over her again and pressed the icepack onto her cheek.

She winced and placed
her hand on top of his and the icepack, immobilizing him there. She wanted his
hand there for reassurance. “No, there’s no history of mental illness in his
family that I know of. I’m just so lucky to have you, Cole. I was meant to die
on that beach. You saved me and I thank you endlessly. How can I ever repay
you?”

“Just keep smiling at me
the way you are now and we’ll call it even.”

“How’s Agent Kensing
doing?”

“Just fine. He has a
mild concussion, but other than that he feels like a failure for being ambushed
so easily.”

“Hmm. Poor guy.”

“Never mind that. You’re
the one who needs the TLC.” Cole stroked her hair back with a tender hand. “I’m
so sorry I wasn’t there when Cameron arrived. I would have stopped him before
he’d taken you. I can’t imagine what would have happened if Jacque hadn’t come
to wake me. I don’t even want to think about the alternative.” He held her
other hand and gave it a squeeze. Looking deeply into each other’s eyes, the
pause that ensued was gaming with an obvious need. Leaning over, Cole hesitated,
staring Katrina down. She seized her opportunity and leaned in to meet him,
opening her lips to welcome his kiss and telling herself she could justify
their needs due to the dangers they’d just faced. There was no better cure than
this.

Katrina was overwhelmed
by the sensations rolling over her. She was given a second chance at life
– a life without having to look over her shoulder – and she was
desperate to feel alive. Releasing herself into the shelter of Cole’s kiss, she
gave him everything. She was eternally grateful and her kiss indicated it with
blissful abandon. Their tongues entwined, searching each other in their
desperation to connect.

Reaching out, she placed
a hand on his muscular bicep, feeling the gauzy bandage the paramedics had
placed over his knife wound. She brought her hand up to his stubbled chin and
caressed his cheek, bringing his face closer to deepen the kiss. Releasing each
other, Cole pressed his forehead onto hers and they stayed that way for a
moment, eyes closed, letting this bliss sink in.

“Mmm, thanks, my hero.”
Again, the mythological figure was leaning over her and it made her toes curl
with desire. He was a fantastic kisser. Cole sat back, smiling as if in
satisfaction. He took the icepack from her face and held her hand, caressing
the skin with his thumb subconsciously. Katrina’s eyes grew heavy and closed
shortly after her head hit the pillow, the faint kiss from Cole’s lips on her
forehead her last memory before drifting off in her sheer exhaustion.

                                   
<><><>

With steri-strips holding his split cheek
together after Cameron’s vicious punch, Cole placed her icepack on his own face
and crept down the hallway to his room. He was thankful that the day was over.
Although just another day as a Secret Service agent, he knew the devastating
events of this night had changed things significantly for Katrina. She would
never be the same again.

After what seemed like
minutes, the chirping birds and the bright sunlight creeping in through the
blinds woke Cole. Lying in bed, his entire body ached from last night’s ordeal.
He hadn’t realized just how physical his altercation with Cameron had been, or
the way his body had pushed itself to protect Katrina. At the thought of her,
he smiled and put an arm across his face to block the brilliant rays. It all
seemed surreal. It dawned on him that being here had happened for a reason.
Cameron had chosen this particular week to track Katrina down, so in a way
rescuing her was their shared fate. It was blatantly obvious to Cole that he
was meant to be in her life.

Wincing slightly as he
pushed up with his cut bicep, he rose from the bed and grabbed some clothes for
the day. The house was quiet without a trace of anyone awake yet. His morning
workout ritual would be shelved for today because his body needed to relax. He
crept down the hallway and showered, acutely aware of his injuries as the hot
water stung every scrape and gash. He quickly toweled off and dressed, wanting
to get to Katrina as quickly as possible. He wasn’t sure how she would be feeling
today so he wanted to be on hand in case she needed anything. As he came down
the hall, he heard movement in the kitchen but didn’t want to engage anyone
else just yet. She was the only thing on his mind and he avoided all other
distractions.

Knocking lightly on her
door, he waited patiently.

“Come in.”

Cole opened the door to
find Katrina sitting up in bed, her eyes red from crying. Her face lit up when
she saw him, so he knew that was a good sign. He was sure she mimicked his joy
at seeing her.

“How are things?” he
asked gingerly, coming into the room and closing the door.

“Okay. Everything’s
sinking in now.”

“You should get up and
start your day. Shake off the shock of it all. I think I hear Jacque in the
kitchen. I’m sure he’ll whip up something spectacular for everyone today. Maybe
comfort food.”

“Sounds good, but my
stomach’s still in knots. It’s like last night was all some sort of nightmare.

“Will you walk with me
for a while to clear your head?” Cole asked, sitting on the edge of her bed. He
ran a hand up and down her arm soothingly.

                                   
<><><>

Katrina looked him squarely in the eyes.
She was so grateful for this man. Being the fifth day that they’d known each
other, Katrina realized he already played a significant role in her destiny.
He’d given her a second chance and for this, she would be eternally grateful.

“Cole, I just wanted to
say thank you again for everything.” Katrina felt another surge of emotion well
up, but she tried her best to suppress it.

“My pleasure. I’m just
sorry I wasn’t there from the very beginning. If only Agent Kensing had been
able to radio me that an intruder was on the premises.”

Katrina thought about
this. Yes, last night had been terrifying beyond words, but deep down she knew
that having Cameron in custody wasn’t enough. Although a nagging guilt resided
on her conscience, she knew Cameron dying was the only outcome that set her
free.

“I should call my
parents and let them know I’m okay. Do you mind passing me my phone?”

“Sure.” He walked across
the room and Katrina watched his strong physique. She couldn’t believe her
luck.

After an emotional phone
call home to assure her parent’s that she was out of danger and would be home
to Maine as soon as her contract was up in three months, Katrina showered and
dressed carefully, acutely aware of her throbbing cheek. Although she was sad,
Cole had been completely right in his suggestion to start the day and shake off
the last night’s shock. After her shower, she felt like a new woman.

Knocking on his door
lightly, Katrina entered Cole’s room. He was in the process of sorting some
papers on his meticulously made bed.

“Hi, I’ll just put this
stuff away and then we can take our walk.” He said over his shoulder.
 

Katrina watched as he
quickly shoved Cameron’s threatening letters and the silver dagger into a
manila envelope for evidence. He hadn’t wanted her to witness the act, thinking
it may upset her to see the letters. In his haste, the second letter dropped to
the floor and he bent to pick it up. Katrina glanced at the scrawl, shaking her
head in confusion. She put a hand on Cole’s arm. “Wait, can I take a look at
that for a second?”

“Are you sure? Maybe
it’s not such a good idea.”

“It’s okay Cole.”

He handed it over
reluctantly. Katrina inspected it, and then pulled the other letter out and
laid them on the bed. Leaning over, she studied each one closely. She was
suddenly struck by a foreboding sense of intuition. Something seemed off.
Cameron had been so precise with his writing, so uptight about the particulars.
His grammar and spelling was impeccable and the second letter was riddled in
errors. And the handwriting was far from familiar.