Crusader (Impossible #9)

by Julia Sykes

  A strong hand grabbed my wrist, squeezing hard until the switchblade dropped from my fingers. I twisted my head around to find Roman grinning down at me, his expression vindictive.

  “Get her up,” Dimitri barked. “We have to leave.”

  My eyes found him just in time to see him press the button on the remote detonator.

  I screamed. He laughed with dark satisfaction.

  My heart ripped apart. The shock of pain was so intense it took my breath away. Hugh couldn’t be dead.

  He’s bluffing. He has to be bluffing.

  Roman’s fingers tangled in my hair, jerking me upright. Tears blurred my vision, but I could make out Dimitri’s distinctive face drawing nearer.

  “You’re all mine now, little Dominatrix,” he said with soft triumph.

  “Master, please.” Alicia’s tremulous voice made him frown. He turned from me to look at her quizzically. “Please don’t,” she begged. “You don’t want her.”

  “I do want her, myshka. Is that a problem?”

  She swallowed hard and then lifted her chin. “Yes. Don’t take her.”

  He cocked his head at her, fascinated. “Is my little mouse jealous?”

  Her cheeks flamed red, but she held her ground. “Please. I love you. If you love me, you’ll leave her alone.”

  He stared at her as though seeing her clearly for the first time. Then he smiled and brushed a quick kiss across her lips. “All right, Alicia. I won’t take her.” He held out his hand toward his henchman. “Roman,” he prompted.

  Roman handed him Finlay’s gun and shoved me onto my knees. Dimitri pressed the barrel against my forehead.

  “I think we could have had a lot of fun,” he told me, his face devoid of emotion. “I am sorry to do this, but I need to keep my little mouse happy.”

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Hugh. I would see him again soon.

  A gunshot rent the air, but there was no pain. The cool metal of the gun fell from my face. I opened my eyes to see Dimitri’s mouth dropping open in shock. He stared down at the bloodstain darkening his blue shirt.

  Alicia followed the direction of his gaze and let out a heart-rending scream. She caught her Master as he fell, clutching him to her.

  “No!” she cried out, her hands cupping his face. “Dimitri! Master!”

  His lips parted, but no words came. He swallowed, his throat working to say something. His eyes went blank, and a final breath rattled from his mouth.

  She pressed her lips to his, kissing him desperately. He didn’t respond. Her tears fell onto his unmoving face.

  “Put the gun down and get on your knees.”

  My eyes wrenched away from the horrible spectacle before me to find Hugh standing in the doorway, his gun drawn. My heart leapt into my throat, preventing me from speaking. Still, my lips formed his name.

  He’s alive. He’s alive.

  He was pointing his gun at Roman. But the Russian was also armed. He grabbed Alicia and dragged her body in front of his.

  “We are leaving,” he announced.

  Alicia screamed and tried to twist away from him, struggling to get back to her Master. Her lips were painted red with his blood.

  “Let the girl go,” Dex ordered, appearing behind Hugh. His SIG trained on Roman as well, but neither man could get to him without hurting Alicia.

  Roman sneered and directed his weapon at the window behind him. He shot at the glass, weakening it before he threw his body back into it. He took Alicia along with him, both of them falling three stories to the ground.

  I ran to the shattered window in time to see Roman disentangling them from the ruined shreds of an awning that had broken their fall. One leg dragged behind him, but he drew his gun on the nearest driver and threw himself and Alicia into the car. They were gone in seconds.

  “We have to go after her,” I said, turning to run for the door.

  Then I saw Hugh crouching beside Finlay. Blood soaked the Scots’ shirt, and his chest rose irregularly. I hurried to his side.

  “The medics are almost here, mate,” Hugh murmured, pressing against the wound. “Hold on. I’ll kick your arse if you die on me.”

  Chapter 21

  “Wake up, you bastard,” Hugh muttered, glaring at his friend where he lay in the hospital bed. Finlay was pale and far too still, but he was alive.

  I rested my hand on his arm. “He’s going to make it. The doctor said he’ll pull through.”

  Hugh’s lips thinned, and he said nothing. Worried tension gripped his muscles. If I let go of him, he would undoubtedly start pacing again.

  “How is he?” Dex asked in a hushed tone.

  I turned to face him where he filled the doorway. “He’ll be okay. We’re just waiting for him to wake up.”

  Finally, Finlay groaned. I breathed a sigh of relief at the sound, and Hugh immediately extricated himself from my hold to go to his friend’s side.

  “Welcome back, mate,” he said, his voice rough with emotion.

  Finlay blinked, his green eyes searching the room. “Where…” he grimaced in pain. “Where is she?”

  I stepped forward. “I’m right here, Finlay.”

  His nostrils flared. “Not you. Alicia. She fucking shot me.”

  “Yes, that’s why you’re in hospital,” Hugh confirmed. “Alicia is long gone. Roman took her, and they’re off the grid.”

  “I’m going to get her.” Finlay sounded more furious than concerned about her wellbeing. He pushed up on his elbows, and immediately fell back with an agonized gasp.

  “Don’t move, or I’ll knock you out again,” Hugh threatened.

  “That lying bitch,” Finlay ground out. “She could have killed me.”

  “She’ll succeed if you don’t calm down,” I told him sternly. “You’re not fit enough to get angry.”

  “I’ll go get a nurse.” Dex left to find help.

  Finlay ignored him, his glower turning on me. “You should be off the grid now too, after she set her little trap for you. Where’s Abramovich?”

  “Dead.” I could still barely believe it myself. The word felt strange on my tongue. “Hugh killed him.”

  Confusion clouded his eyes. “I thought the team was at the warehouse. What about the detonator? Was Abramovich bluffing?”

  “No. After you went down, Dimitri activated it,” I told him. “The warehouse exploded, but it looks like he only managed to kill a few of his own men.”

  “We never moved in on the target,” Hugh clarified. “We got in position, but Dex got a call from Sam. She got a lock on the transmission of the tracker Dimitri put in Clara. It was hooked into his burner phone. Essentially, she used the tracking chip as a means to track Dimitri instead. That’s how we knew he was moving in on Clara, and we had been set up.”

  “She seemed so fucking innocent,” Finlay seethed, his mind still locked on Alicia’s betrayal. “I bet she’s been in bed with him from the very beginning. Her file said they were lovers before her disappearance in St. Petersburg. She wasn’t abducted. She went with him willingly.”

  “We don’t know that,” I reasoned, trying to calm him. The monitors he was hooked up to spiked with his agitation. “We have no idea what he put her through.”

  “She loves him,” he snapped. “What more proof do you need? She tried to kill me, and she would have let worse happen to you,” he told me.

  “She tried to save me,” I said quietly. “She begged him not to take me.”

  “So she convinced him to kill you instead,” Hugh growled. “Need I remind you that I found him holding a gun to your head? If I had gotten there even a few seconds later-”

  “You got there in time.” I reached out and squeezed his hand, calling him away from his growing rage. “And it wasn’t like that. Alicia didn’t want him to hurt me. I think she meant it when she said she couldn’t bear the human trafficking anymore.”

  “It was a crock of shite, and you know it,” Finlay said harshly. “Stop making excuses for her. She’s a c
riminal, just like Abramovich. We need to take her out.” He tried to push himself up again.

  “For fuck’s sake,” Hugh grumbled.

  “Is everything okay in here?” a high, feminine voice asked. Dex had returned with a nurse. She shifted nervously in the doorway, her eyes catching on Finlay’s and Hugh’s grim expressions.

  “My friend needs to go back to sleep,” Hugh decreed.

  “I don’t bloody want to sleep. I want to track that bitch down before she disappears.”

  The woman stepped into the room. “Yes, I think it’s time for more painkillers. You shouldn’t be under any stress right now, Mr. MacClellan.”

  “I’m not stressed. I’m just going to kill her. Nothing stressful about killing traitors.”

  The nurse took a hasty step back.

  “He doesn’t mean you,” I assured her quickly. “The pain meds, please.”

  “Don’t you dare,” he growled at her, his heart rate spiking.

  Hugh gave her an encouraging nod. She squared her shoulders and went about her business, not looking at Finlay while she injected more painkillers into his IV line. He let out a low growl, but his muscles relaxed. A few seconds later, his eyes closed and his breathing evened out again.

  “Thanks, Dex,” Hugh said gratefully. “I thought the idiot was going to try to walk out of here. I didn’t see that coming.”

  “I guess he didn’t take almost dying very well,” I remarked. “Heaven help Alicia Camden if he ever finds her.”

  Dex shook his head. “Even Sam doesn’t have a lead on them. Alicia’s in the wind with Roman.”

  “I really can’t believe she’s been in on this with them,” I said. “She seemed really messed up, but I didn’t think she was a willing participant.”

  Hugh pulled me close. “You were almost killed because of her,” he said roughly. “I hope Finlay does track her down.”

  “Whatever happens, our part in this is done.” Dex shot me a significant look. “Dimitri is gone. You’re safe, Clara. It’s time for us to go home.”

  “I’ll be the one to decide that, thanks,” I replied sharply.

  He softened. “I didn’t mean to tell you what to do. But I need to get back to New York. And I need you to come with me. I promised Kennedy-”

  “I can handle Kennedy,” I said steadily. “I’ll call him today and explain. I’ll also give you a glowing recommendation.”

  He smiled wryly. “I don’t know if the recommendation of a madwoman holds much weight with the Bureau.”

  “It will with Kennedy. He likes us a little off the rails. I think it makes his life more interesting.”

  Dex turned more serious. “Have you thought about joining his team? I could put in a good word for you at Quantico. You would be a great agent. We could be partners for real.”

  I hesitated. I couldn’t deny it was something I had considered in the past. I liked kicking ass and helping people. But after everything, I was beginning suspect I might have had my fill of violence. The thought of returning to work filled me with anxiety.

  I wasn’t ready.

  “Thanks, Dex. I just don’t know if I want that.” His face fell, and my stomach twisted. This fresh rejection would hurt him. “I wish I did, but I need time to figure out what to do with myself now. These last few months have been…”

  “Crazy?” Dex finished for me with a half-smile.

  I smiled in return, relieved at his understanding. “Exactly.”

  “About that,” Hugh cut in. “I have an idea. Can we talk privately?”

  “Sure,” I told him.

  He tugged on my hand. “Outside.”

  I glanced back at my friend. “Don’t you dare slip away when I’m not looking,” I commanded. “No leaving without saying goodbye.”

  “Yes ma’am.” He smirked.

  I shot him a disparaging look and allowed Hugh to lead me out of the room. We walked out of the hospital in into the frigid London drizzle.

  “How are you?” he asked softly, taking my hands in his.

  “I…” I took a moment to consider. “Okay, I think. I just can’t believe Dimitri’s really gone. I mean, I saw him die, but still. I spent so long hunting him. It doesn’t quite feel real.”

  Hugh studied my face. “And you’re not angry with me? You don’t resent me?”

  I blinked. “Why would I be angry?”

  “Because you weren’t the one to kill him. I was. I know how badly you wanted to do it yourself.”

  I brushed a kiss across his cheek. “I let that go when you helped me get over my obsessive rage. I would have liked to have been a part of taking him down, but you saved my life. He was going to kill me. How could I be mad at you for that?”

  His features softened with relief. “I’m glad to hear it, love.”

  He leaned in to press his lips to mine. Even though I loved the heat of his kiss, I couldn’t help shivering when the drizzle thickened to rain.

  “Don’t you have an umbrella?” I asked, turning up the lapels of my coat against the cold.

  He looked at me in surprise. “I don’t need a brollie. This is mild compared to Yorkshire.”

  My teeth chattered. “You keep saying how great Yorkshire is, but if the weather’s worse than here, I don’t think I want to go.”

  He wrapped me in a warm hug, bringing his face close to mine so I could feel the heat of his breath across my chilled lips. “You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

  My brows drew together. “I have to go back to America.” My heart broke a little as I said it.

  “No you don’t. I checked with the Home Office. Your visitor’s visa has been extended for another three months.”

  My jaw dropped. “I can’t stay here for three months! I have to get back to my job, my life in New York.”

  “Do you?” he challenged quietly.

  “I… I really should go back.” It was the rational thing to do. I couldn’t stay in England to be with a man I’d only known for a couple of weeks. No matter how much my soul ached at the thought of leaving him.

  “I love you, Clara. I want to see where this goes. After everything you’ve been through, I’m sure they’ll extend your leave from work. You’ll have the time you need to decide what you want to do. You can stay here with me.”

  “I’m worried if I don’t go back now, I never will,” I whispered.

  “Then definitely don’t go.” His lips brushed across mine as he spoke, tempting me. “Stay with me,” he urged. “Take some time to figure out what you want. The NYPD will wait for you, and I’m sure Dex’s offer to join the Bureau will still be on the table.”

  I longed to agree. I had only just found myself again after years of living half a life. There was so much I needed to set right back in America.

  “I need to see my parents,” I said weakly. “Danny separated me from them. I want to talk to them. To apologize for staying away so long. And my friends. Especially the Feds. I need to thank them for sticking by me.”

  Hugh cupped my cheek in his large, warm hand. “I’ll come with you,” he offered. “Just give me some time with you here, and I’ll come to America with you when the time is right.”

  “When is the right time?” I breathed.

  “After you take some time for yourself.”

  One corner of my lips twitched. “You mean time with you.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Is that objectionable?”

  I laughed, shivering in his strong arms. “So long as we stay indoors, I don’t have any objections.”

  He grinned. “Oh, I can think of several ways to keep you warm, love. And not all of them involve being indoors. I still owe you a historical reenactment, if memory serves.”

  “Maybe in the spring,” I joked.

  “Definitely,” he replied, deadly serious.

  I gasped. “You are not bending me over a cannon and spanking me,” I declared. “No way.”

  “That’s the great thing about England, love. So much history. There are plenty of o
ther scenarios I can think up involving historical artifacts and your gorgeous arse.”

  “You are just full of ideas, aren’t you?”

  “When it comes to your arse? The possibilities are endless.”

  “You’ve thought about my ass a lot, then,” I teased.

  “Not nearly enough,” he said roughly, holding me tighter. “I want more time. Stay with me.”

  “Okay,” I exhaled. As soon as I agreed, joy expanded in my chest. A laugh bubbled up, and I gave him a wide, silly grin. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

  “There’s a good lass,” he praised.

  He caught me up in a fierce kiss, and I forgot about the chill wind as my body heated for him. In that moment, I feared I never would be able to leave him. Only, it wasn’t all that scary. For the first time in years, I felt at peace with myself again. He had given that back to me. I didn’t want to lose it. I didn’t want to lose him.

  I’m not going anywhere. I pulled him closer, pouring my silent promise into our kiss.

  Epilogue

  Hugh

  Three Months Later

  “You have one minute,” I spoke into my phone, annoyed. Finlay knew not to call me tonight. Well, he should do. But like most things not involving Alicia Camden, he had likely forgotten about my plans for the evening.

  “I need you to get Clara to call Dex and see if he can get Sam working for me,” he said without so much as a hello. “She’s better than anyone we have on our payroll.”

  “I’m not doing that. Clara’s not getting involved.”

  “I’m not getting involved with what?” Her wide grey eyes stopped staring at the gorgeous city around us to focus on me.

  “Nothing, love. Finlay.” The crazed Scotsman’s name was explanation enough. She nodded her understanding. She cared about finding Alicia, but she didn’t approve of his obsession. To be honest, even I didn’t know what my friend might do if he actually managed to corner the woman who had almost killed him.

  “Will you listen to me if I tell you to leave it?” I asked Finlay. “You’re still recovering. You need to forget about this for a while.”