by Kishan Paul
Understanding swept across those brandy-colored orbs. The intensity in them, the way they reached inside and stroked every emotion burning in him, made him look away. She inched closer until their mouths almost touched, so close he tasted her breath against his lips. “Eddie.”
He gazed at the floor, not trusting himself to look at her much less respond, his ache to taste her consuming his ability to think.
She put her hands on his cheeks, angling his face until his eyes met hers. “Kiss me.”
He shook his head, knowing it was a bad idea. Knowing she wasn’t his to claim, knowing this would only make tomorrow worse.
“Eddie.” A second whispered plea blew against his flesh. The taste of it sweet against his tongue, silencing all the arguments raging in his brain. He leaned in, allowing himself just one touch and stroked his lip against hers. The gentle caress of her skin deepened the ache he’d worked hard to ignore. He didn’t push further, just watched her, needing to believe he wasn’t the only one burning from the heat. Her lips parted, her gaze fixed on his mouth.
Soft, full lips pulled at his, asking for access, and he couldn’t refuse her or himself. The taste of her, the way her fingers brushed against his skin, the way their kiss deepened, all of it was far more intoxicating than the brandy on his desk. When her mouth parted, granting him entry, his body thrummed with need. While his tongue dipped inside, his palms explored her back, pressing her close. Every part of him ached to fill her, to be her breath, to own her heart, for her to understand she was his reason, his need.
A knock on the door sent her stepping out of his grasp. He kept his ass glued to his desk, licking his lips, fighting the urge to lock the door and taste more of her.
“We need to go.” Om’s voice from the other side cooled his desires, bringing him back to his hell of a reality.
She inched backward toward the exit. “Goodbye, Eddie.”
He didn’t move. Just watched her retreat. “Alisha.”
She met his gaze.
“Don’t show up tomorrow.”
She didn’t respond. She didn’t have to. He already knew her answer. Eddie watched as she left his room and shut the door behind her. He hung his head, an overwhelming blanket of helplessness weighing down on him, and stared at his drink.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
PREPARATIONS
Eddie scanned the banquet room. Vendors clad in black scurried around the large space, prepping for the drive. The scowl etched into his face since the night before deepened as soon as he checked his watch. The hall’s doors would open in ten minutes, and a half hour later, Alisha was expected to appear on the stage behind.
Forty minutes. Tightly wound muscles knotted further, sending currents of unease coursing down his spine. So many things could go wrong. Hell, a lot already had. He grimaced and worked on fisting his hands and releasing to exert a little of the hostility. He had to keep it together, otherwise he wouldn’t be ready, wouldn’t be able to keep her safe.
He sucked in a breath. He hadn’t slept since she had landed in the country. There was no way in hell he’d be able to relax until she was safe. What he needed was for his brain to stay clear, sharp. The past fifteen hours had been spent pacing the apartment, leaving messages for Director Kerry and for the leader of ASHA, and yelling at members of his team. With every minute they got closer to the speech, the more agitated he became.
The kiss hadn’t helped. The one in Philadelphia made him feel like shit, last night’s opened a vault he could no longer close down but couldn’t afford to keep open. Everything became more complicated. It played with every one of his emotions. Emotions he couldn’t afford if she stood any chance of getting out of this alive.
He checked the time.
Thirty-eight more minutes.
When Eddie’s gaze landed on the doorway across the room, his eyes locked with Raz’s. The younger operative stood on the other side, in the registration center, doing to that room what he was doing in this one, making sure the area remained secure. They gave each other a slight nod before returning to their tasks. They covered the inside while Ari and Tay secured the outside perimeter.
Moose and his rifle were positioned nearby ready, waiting, watching. Sai sat in a van across the street monitoring the comms and cameras. Eddie surveyed the three entrances to the room wishing he’d never agreed to the vote. He rubbed the little scar on his neck. Every one of his men, except for Om, were on the property, and even if Om had been in attendance, they weren’t enough.
The end result was he had to rely heavily on other variables. Variables like Sindu, or Sin as most referred to her, and her ASHA team and the support provided by Director Kerry. A director who hadn’t returned his calls. Calls he knew she’d gotten because for every potential threat he’d listed, she’d produced a resolution. He regarded the food station in the far back of the area. To address his lack of manpower, a half dozen agents disguised as waiters stood at attention behind hundreds of pre-boxed meals, ready to hand out food and kill if need be. Close to two dozen more, all South Asian, wandered the perimeter, disguised, armed, and ready.
He’d cited not just lack of manpower but also the lack of material resources to protect Alisha. Once again, he complained, and he received. Directly behind him, an eight-foot high podium wrapped with two-inch thick sheets of plexiglass sat in the corner of the stage. Apparently, it was left over from the Indian Education Minister’s visit last year. The glass was bulletproof, blastproof, as well as most other hazardous-agents-proof.
Eddie glanced at the door on the west wall of the room where Raz stood guard. On the other side of the wall was the registration room. Students would enter the event from that spot. Microwave radar scanners were covertly situated at each of the entrances—another gift. Those who possessed guns, bombs, knives, or any other contraband would be identified and discreetly removed before ever making it into the hall with the stage. The ones who were cleared would be allowed access to the dining hall where they’d walk through another set of covert scanners.
When their gazes locked, they gave each other the all-clear nod and continued their surveillance. All the extra precautions and none of them changed his opinion on the matter. Because no matter the safeguards, over three hundred potential threats would soon converge in the building.
She risked her safety enough the day before with the meeting with Wassim’s sister. This was too much. Alisha didn’t belong here. Her ass belonged on a plane back to the States. But of course, her ass would not only be in attendance, but on the stage behind him. He scanned the platform she’d stand on. Sin, her double, waited in the room behind it ready to step in. The team lead for ASHA, she possessed the tactical background and common sense to take care of herself. His plan had been to use her the entire time.
Since everyone but him had managed to lose their mind, the plan changed. Instead, Alisha would appear on the stage and make her presentation. He’d put his foot down with the mingling. After the presentation, the women would swap spots. The double would move around the floor, encouraging donors and drawing Wassim out, during which time Alisha would be quietly removed from the premises. All while his team and the extra manpower sat ready to play a quick game of whack-a-mole with Wassim and his thuggies.
Easy. Simple.
Two words that never described situations involving Alisha Dimarchi. He knew better than to think this would be any different. “Report,” he muttered.
“All clear,” Ari replied a few seconds later.
Eddie crossed his arms while continuing his surveillance. “Tay?”
“All three entry points to the hall are manned. I’m counting six friendlies.”
He grimaced. All of the team, except Raz, were in the dark about the situation. The rest believed the friendlies were mercenaries he’d hired to help secure the area. He hated lying to them. Hell, they hated that he lied to them. It was impacting their morale, their confidence. The last thing he needed was for word to get back to Wassim that the US govern
ment and International Police considered him a valuable and had converged to take him in. The man would either crawl deeper inside his hole or go running to Mudir. If omitting information to his team was what it would take for the rat to crawl out, then it was worth it. And when the rodent did poke its head out, he’d be ready. “Sai, talk to me.”
“Approximately three hundred fifty in line already.”
Eddie continued to scrutinize the space as he listened to the assessment.
“Roads around the building have been blocked off by twelve friendlies dressed as street workers. Ten friendlies dressed as civilians have already removed four threats without incident or attention…”
“I have eyes on Sam.” Tay’s announcement about Alisha’s arrival curled Eddie’s hands into fists. Fuck.
“Om, Sam, and two friendlies. One at her twelve. Other at her six. Fifty meters from entrance 2.”
“Stay on her.”
“Copy that,” Tay replied.
Eddie’s mind raced. “Moose, get eyes on her.”
“Already there,” Moose answered. “Approaching entrance. Entering the building in five…four…”
He stared at the door behind the stage as Moose counted down.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
SHOWTIME
Ally wiped the sweat from her palms on her dress as she stared at the door in front of her. In a few minutes, she’d walk onto the stage and give what might be the most important speech of Jayden’s life. But it wasn’t just about him anymore. She turned and considered Omar in the corner. He and four other men discussed the details of her upcoming appearance. Everything about it had to be perfect. She sucked in a breath and looked at the ceiling. She’d had her battles with God through the years, but even at her angriest, she never stopped speaking to Him. If there was ever a moment she needed to feel Him, it was today. She sent out a silent prayer asking not only God, but also the loves she’d lost along the way, to stand by her side and give her the courage she lacked.
A hand gripped her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”
The young operative’s mind-reading skills made her smile. Sindhu, or Sin as she requested to be called, stood behind her, buttoning up the high collar of the deep-red top she helped Ally put on. The top of the tailored Anarkali–style salwar kameeze was snug on her chest and flared out at her hips with matching leggings beneath. Both of which were an identical match to what Sin wore.
She understood why Eddie agreed to allow the woman to double for her. Although they weren’t identical in their looks, they had comparable complexions and builds. With the heels and wig, they shared enough similarities to where the young operative could fool people who’d only seen Ally on stage and confuse others who hadn’t seen her in a few years.
“Thank you for the clothes.” As soon as they met, Sin had taken over, ordering the five men in the room to turn away while she stripped Ally of the jeans and tee she’d arrived in. The confident operative dressed her all while spewing commentary about the embarrassed group of men in the room, including observations of how the red of Omar’s ears matched the color of the salwar kameeze she and Ally shared. A wonderful distraction to the upcoming events.
“Not a problem.” Sin winked and wrapped a silk scarf around Ally’s neck. Delicate embroidered silver flowers filled the length of the red fabric she draped around Ally’s shoulders. The same flowers lined the sleeves of Ally’s top and the leggings she wore beneath it. “And I will forgive you for looking better in it than I do. The body shaper, by the way, isn’t just to make your figure glorious and breasts perky. It’s anti-ballistic fabric. You’re bulletproof from the neck to your stomach.”
She would need all the help she could get. The plan was for Sin and two of the men to remain in the back room while Ally completed her presentation, with Omar and two others standing on stage with her. After which, Ally would return to the dressing room, and the two women would swap roles. While Sin wandered the giant hall, impersonating her, Ally would change and sneak out the back door with Omar and another guard. Things would not go according to their plan, but only two people understood just how much things would change—her and the man she spoke with on the phone the night before. Ally thought about the way Eddie and Razaa and the others would respond when they realized what she’d done. Lies had been told. People would be betrayed.
“Ready?”
Ally chewed on her bottom lip. “I will be.” She grabbed Sin’s hand as the woman began to walk away. “Be careful, okay?”
“Always. And I’ll see you on the other side,” Sin whispered to her before resting her gaze on Omar who stood a few feet away. “We’ll have to get together after this is all done and celebrate.” She wandered to the back and seated herself between the men, prepping.
While everyone in her room checked their weapons and reviewed plans, Ally prepared herself mentally as well. She rested her hand against the white painted door to the stage, worked through the upcoming events, and focused on the potential gains from what she planned to do.
“Hello, students and friends. Thank you for coming. My name is Sanaa Khalis.” Wassim’s sister’s voice echoed through the halls as she took to the stage.
The Nursing Director’s reasons for following through on her promise had nothing to do with wanting to help Jayden and everything to do with the power her brother had over her. Regardless of the intent, the result was a positive. If things went well, over three hundred people would hear about AA and the need for their help. Individuals who would have otherwise been oblivious to the cause would hopefully be moved to step up and make a difference. Even if only a handful of the audience volunteered for the swab, all it took was one match to save one life.
According to the program, Sanaa would speak for a few minutes before introducing Ally to the stage. Her stomach rolled. Five minutes sometimes felt like an eternity. Especially when at the end of those three hundred seconds everything would change. She wished it would be for the better. Her face heated, and her heart raced as other questions floated through her brain. She slammed her eyes shut, willing those answers to be the ones she’d hoped because she didn’t know what she’d do if they weren’t.
Omar put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “We can leave out the back right now. You don’t have to be here.”
Ally rose to her tiptoes and kissed his forehead. “I have to do this.”
“No, you don’t. There’s no guarantee it will work.” His voice cracked.
She ran a finger over the worry lines creasing her son’s forehead. “If my walking on the stage could get Wassim to show, then the risk is worth it.”
He gazed at the closed door, guilt and anger flashing over his face. When he opened his mouth to argue, she gave his palm a squeeze. “This is my decision, and I trust you will respect it.”
“Everything okay?” one of the other guards asked.
She kept her gaze locked with Omar’s while she answered. “We’re ready.”
“Good because it’s showtime.”
Ally smiled at the phrase. Her late husband used to utter the same words whenever they embarked on a challenge. David would grip her hand, whisper the phrase, and together they faced the problem head-on. She imagined him standing beside her, his fingers twined with hers, uttering in her ear, giving her palm an encouraging squeeze.
The door protecting her opened. Bright lights from the banquet hall poured into the room. She pressed a hand to her stomach and followed Omar out on to the stage. Flashes from cameras flared, blinding her. She allowed him to guide her to her spot behind the podium. Reporters situated at the front of the stage recorded her every move. She waited until the lights stopped flashing and stared at the sea of unfamiliar faces watching her. But it was the familiar one who stood a few yards away she focused on.
Eddie.
He met her gaze for an instant before he looked away.
She rolled her shoulders back and stood a little straighter. Ally smiled a
t the audience. “Hello everyone, and thank you for coming. My name is Sara Irfani.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THE DRIVE
Eddie remained glued to his spot the entire length of the presentation. Alisha had a way with words, with people. Knew what and how to say things to get their attention and move them to action. This time was no different. She had the entire hall captivated with her story, which in itself was a feat, considering the hungry college students who packed the space. Within a few minutes of her speaking, at least three-fourths of them stopped eating just to listen to the story she shared of Little Bear’s diagnosis and fight. By the time Little Bear’s video came up on the white screen, most either cried or fought their urge to do so. All indicative that her speech was working the crowd the way she’d hoped. Hopefully, it also meant that at the end of her presentation, many of the kids would stand up and get in line to donate to the cause.
“Thank you for listening, and please consider taking the swab test. One quick swipe of the cotton is all it takes to know if you possess the power to save a life.”
While she instructed them on the swabbing process, Eddie alternated from surveying her to monitoring the audience, trying to read the faces, scanning for anything or anyone suspicious. She disappeared into the back and, as planned, her double appeared a few minutes later with three guards in tow. The look-alike wandered around the hall, convincing more than half the guests to rise and head to the registration center for their swabbing. Things were going smoothly.
Too smoothly.
With as much money as Wassim offered for Alisha’s head, smooth was the last thing he’d expected. So far, they’d subdued eight hostiles; all eight were green. New to the job. Not what he’d expect for the kind of money the man offered. So, the million-dollar question: What the fuck happened to the others?
