The Guardian

by Donna Grant

  “There’s nothing wrong with hoping for a good outcome and wishing to see your family.”

  “It takes my focus off what I’m doing.” He looked at her. “I warned you I’m not a typical guy.”

  She took out two plates and set them on the counter. “It’s a good thing you aren’t, or I’d most likely be dead now. But I understand what you’re telling me. I just want you to know there’s nothing wrong with looking ahead and hoping for the best. There have been instances where that’s the only thing that kept me going.”

  Maks brought the pan to the plates and dished out the steaks and mushrooms. He set aside the pan and took her hand in his. “Thank you. For trusting me, for reminding me of what it is to be normal, and…for being you.”

  “There’s nothing special about me.”

  “I disagree.”

  She glanced down at the floor and smiled before looking at him. “You’re welcome.”

  “Come. Let’s eat.”

  The conversation during the meal was an easy one. They stayed away from topics of family and the Saints, and instead just talked. Eden found herself telling him about how she got into being an information broker. It was a boring story, but he genuinely appeared interested. No matter how many times she tried to turn the conversation to him, he had a knack for bringing it back to her.

  By the time she finished the steak, which had to be one of the best meals in her life, and was sipping the last of her wine, she realized that she didn’t want the night to end. Despite the severity of the situation and how she’d come to be there, it had been a day she’d never forget.

  “What is it?” Maks asked.

  She shook her head and took a drink of wine. “I’m just marveling at how glad I am that I’m here. With you.”

  “I’m glad you’re here, too.”

  For the first time, an awkward silence fell between them. Eden finished off her wine because she didn’t know what to say next. Then she stood and reached for the plates, but Maks was quicker.

  “I got them.”

  She frowned and took the wine glasses as she followed him to the sink. “You hunted our food, cleaned it, and cooked it. I think I’m due to wash the dishes.”

  “Afraid I can’t let you do that. You had an early morning, had unusual stressors today, and worked the entire afternoon. There’s a big tub upstairs. You can go soak for a bit and relax. I’ll even open another bottle of wine if you want.”

  A bath did sound great. Her neck and back were killing her. “Fine. I’ll relent this time, but next time, I’m doing the dishes.”

  He chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “If I don’t beat you to the sink first.”

  “Not gonna happen,” she said confidently before she started toward the stairs. “I won’t be long. I am going to loosen the knots in my muscles, then I’ll be back down to show you what I found.”

  “It can wait.”

  She halted and looked at him. “I don’t think it can. And neither do you.”

  “You’re right.” Maks let out a sigh. “Take your time with your bath. You’ve earned it.”

  They shared a smile before Eden ascended the stairs. At the top, she looked into the guest bath but only saw a walk-in shower. The tub must be in the master. She hesitated, then decided not to go in there.

  “It’s in my bathroom,” Maks shouted from below. “And you better use it.”

  She laughed as she gathered her pack and brought it through the master bedroom to the bath. When they first arrived, she had taken a look at all three bedrooms upstairs. Each was done in a neutral tone. One was beige, and the one she’d chosen was white. The master was done in shades of pale blue to deep navy. Utterly masculine. Yet she really liked it.

  It felt odd to be in his room. She hurriedly made her way to the bathroom and sighed as she took in the detail there. The freestanding white tub sat on white and gray marble tile that was also used in the large shower. There was a long, white vanity with two rectangular sinks and ultra-modern faucets that matched the tub and shower fixtures. Even the toilet was modern-looking. Nothing like the regular toilets she was used to seeing.

  Eden set her pack down and turned on the water for the tub. Hot water came almost instantly. After she set the temperature she wanted, she straightened and closed the door to the bathroom. Then she pulled out fresh clothes and got out of hers. In so many ways, it felt as if she had left her flat a week ago, not just that morning. Being on the run tended to shift time. Or rather, it amped up the stress level so that time felt warped and extended.

  The moment she dipped her toe into the tub, she sighed. She didn’t waste any time lowering herself into the hot water. When it covered her body, she turned off the water and simply sat there. She was just thinking about getting up and finding her phone to turn on some soothing music when the first strings of a song reached her.

  Eden’s eyes snapped open at the sound of the cello. She had a particular love for the instrument. She didn’t know how or why, but the sounds of it touched her in a way that nothing else did. She loved music period, but a cello could take her to another level. And what she was hearing now wasn’t from some station on a radio or phone. It was the instrument itself below her. That could only mean that Maks was playing it.

  A smile pulled at her lips. This was a side of him she hadn’t expected. In all her imaginings, she never would’ve guessed that as a spy, he would also play the cello. And he was good. Very good, in fact. She’d been to a lot of symphonies over the years, and she was able to recognize when someone was good enough to make their living at a craft. And Maks certainly would’ve been able to.

  It made her think about how different his life would’ve been had he followed that path instead of entering the military. She wouldn’t be here now, and she never would’ve met him. That made her frown because while she didn’t want to be on the run, fearing for her life, Maks had made a difference. He’d forced her to look at the world differently, to look at herself differently. She liked that. She’d needed that, even if she’d believed she was content with the way things were.

  How odd that a single person could change her life so drastically. But Maks was different and special like that. It might be how he’d lived for the past years as a double agent, or it might just be who he was. It didn’t matter. She was thankful that he had opened her eyes.

  Eden let her mind drift as the music continued. The song wasn’t one she recognized, but it was soothing and lulled her into relaxation. She felt the tension ease out of her muscles. Her eyes closed, and she focused on her breathing as she did during meditation. When she finally lifted her lids, it was to find that the water had cooled, and her skin was pruney.

  She let out the water and stood. After stepping out of the tub, she got into the shower and washed herself thoroughly. In short order, she was drying off and cleaning up her mess in the bathroom. Eden put on some sweats and a loose shirt and fluffy socks. Then she combed out her hair and left it wet before packing up her things and returning them to her bedroom. All the while, Maks still played.

  Her steps were light and soft when she made her way downstairs. She didn’t want him to stop. When she reached the bottom, the music led her to the office, where he sat off to the side, playing with his eyes closed. He was relaxed, his head tilted to the side as he listened. The music had utterly taken him. Each note seemed to fall from his fingers effortlessly. She rested her shoulder against the doorjamb and watched him.

  When he drew the bow along the strings of the instrument, drawing out the last note, she found her gaze locked on his handsome face. When the note faded, he drew in a deep breath and opened his eyes. Slowly, his gaze slid to her. For several moments, they stared silently at each other.

  “That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard,” she said.

  “I don’t get to play as much as I would like.” He stood and lifted the cello, taking it back to its case.

  “You don’t have to stop on my account.”

  T
here was a soft smile on his face as he said, “I didn’t.”

  “You’re very good. You could’ve made a good living at playing.”

  He shrugged as he closed the case and gathered it as he straightened. His gaze didn’t shift her way as he set it in the back corner. “My mother would’ve loved that. She had all of us pick an instrument to play. She believed that music was something everyone needed. My father also loved music, so there was no getting out of it for us.” He then turned to her. “We all put up a fuss, but secretly, we loved it.”

  “That’s a great story.” She fidgeted when he merely stared at her. Finally, she cleared her throat. “Are you ready to get started?”

  “Whenever you are.”

  17

  Did she have any idea how beautiful she was? How tempting? Maks really didn’t think so, and that was a good thing. Because if Eden wanted to seduce him, she could’ve had him on his knees in seconds.

  He’d known she was standing there, listening to him play. It had been years since anyone had heard him. He’d thought he would be finished before she came down from her bath, but once he’d begun playing, he hadn’t been able to stop. The look on her face proved that she had enjoyed it immensely.

  Maks hadn’t known what to say because there hadn’t been any words. All he’d wanted to do was go to her and pull her into his arms. Her wet hair hung around her face that was still flushed from the heat of the water. She wore comfortable clothes and seemed at ease. Either she didn’t know the full threat of the Saints, or she was at ease with him.

  Eden wasn’t a fool. She was learning for herself just who the Saints were. That meant she felt secure with him. And that only made his hunger for her flare higher.

  He watched her as she walked to the back table and opened the laptop. He followed her but was careful not to get too close. At one touch, he might lose all control. No one had ever made him feel like this. What was it that undid him?

  Her beauty? Maybe.

  Her intelligence? Possibly.

  Her complete trust in him? Probably.

  The way she looked at him as if she found him fascinating? Hell, yes.

  Fuck. He was in trouble. Trouble in a bad, bad way. There was no way he could give in to what he was feeling, for a number of reasons. The first was that if the Saints ever found out, they would do everything in their considerable power to take Eden and torture her, prolonging her pain. Second, he wouldn’t be able to do what needed to be done if he allowed himself to feel the emotions rising up inside him.

  All these years, he’d been able to keep his distance from people, rarely forming any kind of attachments. And those romantic attachments he did have might look serious from the outside looking in, but they meant nothing to him. It was all for show for anyone who might be watching him.

  But he was alone now. Alone in a cabin with Eden. No one was here but the two of them. No one was watching. No one would know what he did.

  I would.

  Maks knew that if he gave in, for even a heartbeat, there would be no pulling himself out of the depths of whatever it was he had begun to feel each time he was near Eden. He wouldn’t even go into the emotions that consumed him when he merely thought about her. And damn if that wasn’t most of the day.

  He watched as she pulled up different tabs on the laptop. He’d told himself that he thought about her because she was his problem now. He’d drug her into this shitstorm, and he’d promised to keep her safe. But he knew that for the bald-faced lie that was.

  He wanted her.

  No. Wanted didn’t describe the wanton depths of his desire.

  He craved her. Yearned. He hungered.

  Her head swiveled around to him as her hazel eyes blinked up at him. Her lips were moving. Maks registered that bit too late. He attempted to hear what she was saying, but he couldn’t. He was too wrapped up in imagining what it would be like to have her against him. To strip her bare and lay her on his bed as his hands and mouth learned every inch of her body. To hear her moan with need.

  And scream in pleasure.

  “Maks?”

  His lungs seized. He tried to draw in a breath, but nothing worked but his cock, that was now as hard as granite. Finally, he was able to swallow. Eventually, he made his body relax so his lungs could expand and take in air. But nothing stopped the fine sheen of sweat that covered him. All he could pray for now was that she didn’t lower her gaze and see the bulge in his pants.

  “Yes?”

  Her brows drew together in a frown. “Are you all right?”

  “Never better.” Fucking liar.

  But it wasn’t as if he could tell her the truth.

  The doubt in her eyes told him she didn’t believe a word he said. “As I mentioned, all the dates from before coincided with a death.”

  “All of them?”

  “Every last one,” she said and turned back to the monitor. She clicked a button, and a page filled with all the dates. Beside them were names.

  Maks ran through the list, but none of them looked or sounded familiar. “I don’t know any of these people.”

  “You wouldn’t. They’re relative unknowns.”

  “So why kill them?”

  Eden clicked another tab. “This.”

  Maks put one hand on the back of her chair and the other on the table as he leaned down. Without meaning to, he drew in the scent of her hair. It was his shampoo. Nothing special there. But somehow, mixed with her natural fragrance, it was an aphrodisiac that made his balls tighten, and blood roar in his ears.

  He had to get himself under control. He wasn’t some randy teenager who got hard every time the wind blew. He was a grown man who made sure his needs were satisfied regularly. He shouldn’t have such a reaction to her.

  Shouldn’t. But he certainly was.

  “Well?” she asked as she glanced at him. “I thought you’d react more.”

  Her face was scant millimeters from his. All he had to do was lean slightly to the side and he could press his face to hers. For fuck’s sake. Enough already.

  Inwardly giving himself a hard shake, he focused on the screen and saw that each of them was somehow linked to a government or military. Now that was of interest. “Any way to tell what these people were working on when they were killed?”

  “If I was a hacker, I probably could. I assume that what most of these people were doing would be considered classified. Even some of the low-level people still had access to classified documents.”

  “Do you think there’s a chance they saw something about the Saints?”

  She shrugged her slim shoulders. “I’d be guessing right now. I did some searches randomly through the group, and all of them were model citizens. I think the worst I found was a DUI.”

  As he continued looking at each individual and their job description and employer, the more he realized that the only one who could get him what he needed was Callie. The problem was that each time she got into a system, she opened herself—and everyone at the ranch—to another attack.

  “You’re thinking of sending this to the hacker you know. Callie?” Eden asked.

  Maks nodded as he straightened. “She can get the information.”

  “But you’re worried about them.”

  He blew out a breath and crossed his arms over his chest. “I am. I’m still not sure how we won against the Saints last time, but I know the organization well enough to know that they’re not going to take that lying down. They’ll retaliate. And it’s going to be big.”

  Eden tucked a leg beneath her in the chair and shifted to look at him. “Wouldn’t they have already done that?”

  “They’re waiting for the Loughmans to let their guard down.” He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “The Saints came close to killing each of the brothers individually. If they weren’t as good as they are, or have strong women with them, they’d probably be dead. Look at the list before you. I’ve been sent after enough people to know that if anyone angers the Saints, they’re removed. And qui
ckly.”

  “But who makes the decision? Is it run by just one person?”

  Maks dropped his arms to his sides. “From what little I’ve been able to discern, it’s a small group of people. Think of them like elders of a village. They’re the ones who make the decisions.”

  “I don’t suppose these Elders happen to all live in the same place?”

  “If only. Actually, I don’t know who any of them are, so I can’t tell you where they live. I believe I was getting close to learning of one in Russia, but I can’t be certain of that.”

  Eden’s hair swung out as she turned her head to the monitor. She stared at it for a long moment. “Someone has to notify them about anyone against the Saints.”

  “Undoubtedly. And others take that information and decide if it’s a credible threat or not.”

  “Exactly.”

  He frowned as she turned to face him with a grin. “What’s that look for?”

  “An idea. Maybe,” she said with some hesitation. “If we had enough time, we could seed different threads of information in different places and see which one works. We could then decipher who gave the information over and who might be an Elder.”

  “A sound idea. One I thought about a few times. Unfortunately, that takes manpower and time. Neither of which I’ve had.”

  Her lips twisted. “And we don’t have it now.”

  “A list of sixty-seven dates directly connected to deaths isn’t something I’ve had before.”

  “I can find more information. I didn’t dig deep on any one person because I wanted to see how much I could find on all of them.”

  “You did great. More than I could’ve hoped.”

  “But I’m not finished,” she told him. “This is just from a few pages in the file. I’m not finished with it, nor have I dug into the pen drives.”

  This was going to take more time than he’d imagined. Maks hadn’t realized just how much information he’d gathered in the years he’d been gathering it. Maybe he should’ve been looking at it during that time. Most likely, he would’ve found a few things, but nothing like Eden was uncovering.