EDGE OF NIGHT

by Rae Morgan, Emma Sinclair, Sherrill Quinn

  “Thanks, Mandy.” Kai wrapped Sian in the blankets and then shifted her so that he could stand up.

  Derek and Stu Barringer stood over the four men.

  “They dead?” Stu asked. The tone in his voice said that he couldn’t care less one way or the other.

  “No such luck,” growled Kai. “They caved as soon as I enveloped them.”

  “Hell, boss, you scare the shit out of me, and I know what you are.” Stu shook his head. “Bastards probably thought you were a ghost or something. So, who in the hell are they and why did they hurt Sian?”

  “That’s what I intend to find out.” Kai strode over to Derek and Stu. “Derek, take Sian to my apartment. Put her to bed and wait with her until either I or Mack get there. I need to interrogate the slime before I turn them over to the cops. Mandy, go with Derek so you can help put Sian to bed. Stu, I need you here in case the bastards get a brain and try to escape.”

  “The old gang fight over drugs ploy?” Stu asked. He’d been an undercover cop in Los Angeles before he’d worked with Kai at the CIA, fighting the battle against drugs in South America. Planting drugs on not-so-innocent parties to up their federal prison sentence was nothing new to the team.

  “Exactly. When we hit the building, call 911. Use one of the throw-away cells. I want this filth off the streets.”

  “Gotcha.” Stu smiled grimly. “They’re just damn lucky you didn’t ice them.”

  Kai knew Stu referred to the nickname he’d acquired while working the jungles and the streets of South America. The drug lords and traffickers had called him the “Ice Ghost,” because of the way he swept in unseen, leaving only dead bodies and cold still air behind him.

  “Who knows? The night is still young,” Kai said. “If they don’t cooperate, they may wish they were dead. I can’t control the residual damage of my telepathic interrogation.”

  Derek’s eyes expressed concern. “Maybe I should stick around...”

  “See to Sian.” Kai cut Derek off. “I won’t kill them. Stu will keep me honest. Besides, I just want to scare them a bit. I have to know why they attacked Sian. From what I overheard, someone else is pulling the strings. I need to know who the asshole is.”

  Derek lifted Sian from Kai’s arms, then left the alley. Mandy trailed behind them, then stopped and turned around. “Kai, remember—they’re the animals.” Her gaze inadvertently sought out Derek and Sian’s blanketed form, rapidly disappearing into the snow-filled night. “You’re not ...plus now you have a chance at a normal future. Don’t blow it.”

  Kai’s mouth twisted into a humorless smile. “Thanks, Mandy. I know just what I am. I’m not nearly good enough for her, you know.”

  Mandy snorted. “Stop it. You’re a fine man. She’ll be lucky to have you. Now, find out who the hell is after her and come inside where you belong. Let the Chicago PD deal with the trash cleanup.”

  Kai nodded. “Thanks, Mandy. Take care of her for me.”

  She waved her acknowledgment then disappeared into the snowy gloom beyond the alley’s entrance.

  Kai turned to Stu. “Cover me. I’ll start with the wise ass who cut her. He appeared to be the leader.”

  As he approached the man called Saul, Kai wondered how on earth he would ever explain to Sian about his mist form. Mandy was wrong. He was a freak of nature—and he’d be lucky if Sian didn’t run screaming from him.

  * * * *

  Kai sat by Sian’s bed. Watching her sleep. Guarding her. Struggling to contain the rage roiling inside him. Someone affiliated with organized crime had hired four men to terrorize then kill Sian—or at least that’s what Saul and his gang had revealed during his not-so-delicate telepathic interrogation of them.

  How in the hell had Sian become involved with the mob?

  At least now he knew where to look for the secrets of her past—the federal Witness Protection Program. There was no way he’d believe that Sian had been involved in any criminal activity—so she had to have been a witness. Kai had Derek pulling in favors right and left at the Justice Department to get the whole story.

  Sian’s weak moans captured his attention. He gently covered her hand, lying on top of the bedcovers. She was cold, maybe even in shock. Mack, a doctor friend he’d met playing handball, had obviously been more concerned with Sian’s treatment than in clothing her. She needed something more than her own skin and the feather duvet that covered her to warm her.

  Kai tucked Sian’s hand under the bedding and smoothed the cover up over her naked shoulders. He entered the walk-in closet off the master suite. He found one of his T-shirts softened by multiple launderings. Later, he’d have Mandy run across the street and pack some clothes for Sian. There was no way in hell would he allow her to return home; whoever was after her knew where she lived.

  He carried the shirt into the bedroom and stopped just short of the bed. Greedily, his eyes took in the sight of Sian. His loins hardened. For almost six months, he’d imagined her just like this—naked in his bed. But not like this. Not hurt, unconscious from terror and pain.

  “You’re an asshole, Axton.” He swore under his breath with disgust. Sian had barely survived a brutal attack, and he was fixated on sex. What kind of animal was he?

  Sian’s slender body twitched under the bedding, and her head tossed from side to side. Several moans and incoherent murmurs escaped her lips.

  Kai sat on the edge of the bed, laying the shirt to the side. He stroked back a lock of silky black hair that had fallen into Sian’s eyes. She was far too pale, so much so that the white butterfly bandages Mack had used to close the cuts on her neck blended with her skin tones.

  Then Sian sighed, “Kai.”

  The sound of his name on her lips unmanned him. Tears welled in his eyes as he buried his face in her sweet-smelling hair. God! He’d almost lost her.

  From the first day they’d met, Sian had had a way of disconcerting him that his former associates—and enemies—wouldn’t believe. As the Ice Ghost, he’d always prided himself on being calm and controlled in all his actions, thoughts, and emotions.

  Until Sian. All it took was one look from her—or in this case the sound of his name on her lips—and he was lost.

  “Kai.” Another breathy whisper from Sian. The bedding rustled as she kicked out at the cocooning covers. She was restive. Probably in pain—or even reliving the attack in her dreams.

  “I’m here, baby. You’re safe,” he soothed, stroking her hair. Without conscious thought, his hands moved to her face, cradling it as he brushed a kiss over her pale lips.

  Sian calmed instantly, a sweet smile curving her mouth. Her tongue came out and licked her lips, touching his in the process. His cock hardened instantly, primed and ready to claim her.

  Kai groaned at the innocent sensuality of the motion. He brushed a deeper kiss across her lips, then paused to lick and nibble at them. His name soughed from her lips. He covered her mouth more fully, inhaling the need he sensed in her—the need for him. He silently thanked whatever gods had kept her safe, giving him a chance to make her his. Giving them a chance at a future. The future they would have once he eliminated whoever threatened her.

  A full body shudder shook Sian. Goose bumps dotted the bare shoulders peeking above the covers. God, he was a lustful idiot. She was cold, and he was thinking with his one-eyed brain.

  Kai pulled the bedding down, revealing her pale perfection marred with ugly kale-colored bruising across the ribs. Mack had assured him nothing was broken, but the bruising was severe enough that he ordered Kai to tape her ribs when she was ready to get up.

  Gently Kai lifted her torso, cradling her with one arm so that he could pull the soft cotton shirt over her head.

  At the motion—or maybe the exposure to the colder room air—Sian cried “No, no.” Was she dreaming of the attack? Kai’s gut clenched, aching for her distress. He’d rather cut off his arm than cause her more hurt. Shushing her, Kai smoothed the shirt down over her breasts. He tried not to notice how beautifully fu
ll they were—creamy white with dusky rose nipples—and covered in gooseflesh.

  “Get your head out of your pants, Axton,” Kai muttered.

  He tucked Sian back under the covers. Undressing to his briefs, he climbed in next to her, cuddling her against his warmth. Her slight body shifted to snuggle against him, her curvy rear end snuggling against his painfully hard cock. He’d just have to suffer. She didn’t need his lust right now, just his body heat.

  Kai stroked a gentle finger over the butterfly bandages holding together the cuts on her throat. Mack had left him instructions to change them frequently as the blood seeped through. The cuts hadn’t been deep enough to need stitches. With any luck, the scars would be barely noticeable. Not knowing her medical history, Mack had given her a tetanus shot. Too bad, the good doctor couldn’t give her a shot to make her forget the terror of the attack.

  Mack couldn’t do anything about that, but Kai might be able to. Just as he telepathically questioned Sian’s four attackers, he could use his psi abilities to lessen the strength of the memory. He’d done something similar to the four bastards’ memories, just not gently. In fact, he’d taken a distinct satisfaction in frying a few of their synapses.

  Closing his eyes, Kai adjusted his breathing pattern to Sian’s, then sought her on the lower levels of the astral plane where a sleeping person is more open and receptive to another astral body.

  Just as he was about to approach Sian’s astral body, a knock on the door pulled Kai out of the dream state.

  Derek opened the door and stuck his head inside. His gaze warmed briefly at the sight of Kai in bed with Sian. “Sorry to interrupt.”

  “There’s nothing to interrupt. She was cold.” Kai’s terse tone cut off any other comments from his aide. “Well, what’s up?” Kai asked, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the sleeping woman beside him.

  Derek raised one dark eyebrow, then grinned. “The guys will never believe that the Ice Ghost has been melted at last.”

  “Stuff it,” Kai growled. Obviously, Derek was feeling brave today.

  “My source at Justice got back to me.” Derek’s face darkened. “He had a hard time finding Sian. She was buried deep. Uh, it’s bad, Kai... She witnessed Tony Brucchi kill that FBI undercover operative, Calvecchio.”

  Kai stiffened. “Fucking hell.” He eyed Derek. “She the only witness they’ve got?”

  Sian murmured and moved restlessly against him. He stroked her hair until she calmed.

  Derek nodded.

  Damn! Brucchi had to be desperate. The killing of a federal law officer carried the death penalty, and no mitigating circumstances could be pled. The only reason Brucchi was still alive was because his first trial ended in a mistrial. He was free to harm Sian, because he could afford to pay the exorbitant amount of bail while awaiting a new trial. Even murderous monsters were innocent until proven guilty.

  Kai angled his head toward the door and mouthed “outer office.” The conversation disturbed Sian, and there was no telling just what she was processing despite her unconscious state.

  Derek nodded then left.

  Kai swung his legs carefully off the bed and stood up. He turned and smoothed the covers over Sian, then stroked a purple bruise marring her jaw with the back of a finger. Leaning over, he brushed a kiss over the ugly mark. “You’ve got some guts, baby. But I can handle the likes of Brucchi. He’ll never get near you again. I promise.”

  He picked up his clothes where he’d dropped them, then crept out of the room, closing the door behind him. After getting dressed, he joined Derek at the bar in his great room and poured himself a whiskey, tossed it back, then poured himself another.

  “Give me the rest,” Kai ordered his associate as he stared out the window at the early morning grayness. Something niggled at his brain. Some kind of pressure. No, more like a sense of dreaded anticipation.

  Was the feeling from the heavier weather front that was predicted to hit Chicago later that day? Or, was it something else?—such as something, or someone, sinister lurking in the snowy gloom. Something watching, waiting for Sian—and now him?

  Derek coughed, hesitated. “It isn’t good, boss.”

  The rustling of paper told Kai that Derek was checking some notes, organizing his thoughts. Stalling before making the rest of his report.

  Kai sighed. He didn’t expect the news to be palatable. “Just spit it out, Derek.”

  Derek cleared his throat, then began. “After seeing Brucchi butcher the feebie, Sian didn’t panic. She remained hidden, then made the 911 call to report the crime. She could’ve run, but didn’t. She stayed to tell what she’d seen to the authorities. The cops realized that she was the key to destroying the mob on the West Coast.” His associate hesitated, then continued, “She was lucky that the L.A. cops who’d responded initially were some of the good guys.”

  Kai’s head jerked around. “What happened?”

  He recalled that the secret eyewitness had been protected from the media circus that had surrounded Brucchi’s trial so not much had made it into the papers about the details of the mobster’s apprehension.

  “How did you know?”

  “Your voice. I heard the disgust. What happened to her?” growled Kai, restraining the urge to rush back into his bedroom and check on her. No one could get in or out of his building without one of his men knowing about it. But something told him that whoever waited in the grayness outside his building wouldn’t let security measures stop them.

  “The L.A. cops immediately called in the Justice Department. LAPD held Sian under protective custody at an undisclosed location until Justice could get someone over from the L.A. office to take her—Someone got into the locked interrogation room and stabbed her.”

  Kai hit the wall next to the window, putting his fist through the dry wall. The pain, though intense, did nothing to assuage his rage at what Sian had endured.

  “Boss?” Derek rushed over and grabbed Kai’s arm. “You okay?”

  Kai pulled away. “Fine. Just fucking dandy.” He clenched his hands into fists, before relaxing them. He stalked to the bar and poured himself another drink. “I’ll kill Brucchi with my own two hands. He’ll regret...” Kai heaved a ragged breath, then tossed back the whiskey. He pinned Derek with a glare. “Where was she cut?”

  Derek, visibly shocked by Kai’s uncharacteristic emotional response, stuttered, “It was, uh, her ... left breast ... and, um,” he looked at his notes, “across her upper arm.”

  Kai was in the bedroom before he even realized what he needed to do. Very carefully, he uncovered her and lifted his shirt. The scars were there, faint pale lines against creamy skin. He traced them lightly, noting how flat they were. The Feds must have gotten a good surgeon to close her. No one would notice the scars unless he realized that they were there. He gently recovered her. His hands curled into fists. “Never again, baby. They have to come through me now,” he vowed.

  He turned and moved toward the other room.

  Derek stood outside the doorway. His solemn facial expression was a mixture of compassion and shock.

  Kai very carefully closed the door. “Don’t worry, Derek. I’m under control now. Give me the rest. Who got to her in L.A.?”

  Derek checked his notes. “A dirty cop. A woman cop. Sian fought her until help came.” His aide grimaced. “The turncoat never even made it to her arraignment—someone killed the bitch in jail.”

  Kai nodded. One less person to track down. He would’ve put aside his long-standing rule about never hurting a woman in this instance. “What happened after that?”

  “Sian was immediately placed in the Witness Protection Program. She went through two identities before she ever got to testify. The rocket scientists at Justice finally realized that they had a leak. They found it—a processing clerk. But the processor mysteriously died before they could nail him and get any information out of him.” Derek shook his head. “Then Sian testified and got a third identity.”

  “Then the bas
tard got a new trial,” growled Kai. It had been all over the news about how six of the twelve jurors had come down with some mysterious bacterial infection. With only four alternates, the jury could not be seated to deliberate.

  “Yeah, then she got a fourth identity,” said Derek. “Sian York is her fifth, and it looks like Justice is working on a sixth. She had a meeting yesterday afternoon. She must have been coming home from it when she was attacked.”

  “Fucking Feds have another leak.” Kai spat out the obvious. “They got a clue as to whom?”

  “No.”

  “Figures.” Kai turned a steely glare at Derek. “I’m not giving the Feds another chance to get Sian killed. Get the Michigan place opened up. Keep it quiet. Need to know only—you, me, and the caretaker. I’m moving her out as soon as she’s conscious.”

  “What about Brucchi?” Derek asked.

  “He’s a dead man. I’m going to isolate the bastard and force him to come after her himself. Then I’m going to enjoy killing him.”

  “How are you going to isolate him, Kai?” Derek asked. Concern etched his face. “He has a small army behind him.”

  “No, his father has the small army,” Kai corrected with grim satisfaction. “Once Mario Brucchi hears my proposition, he’ll order the rest of the family out of it.”

  Derek shook his head. “He’d abandon his own son. Why?”

  “Because if he doesn’t, I’ll call in every favor I’ve earned during my wet work including the ones owed me from every low-life terrorist organization and criminal syndicate with which Uncle Sam has gone to bed. I’ll destroy his whole fucking organization.”

  “You can do that?” Awe tinged Derek’s words.

  “Yeah,” Kai said. “I can.”

  Mandy stuck her head around the door. “Sorry to interrupt, but we’ve got trouble.”

  “What kind of trouble?” Kai hoped it was Brucchi, but knew he wouldn’t be that lucky.

  Mandy glanced at Derek. “Our poking around at Justice sent up some flags. Some marshals are downstairs asking to see you—and Sian.”