Southern Regions (Southern Desires Book 4)

by Jeannette Winters

  Even his own thoughts sounded like unacceptable excuses to him. He might not have the full training Mark and the others had, but he’d proved himself when he needed to handle the protection detail on Bailey Tasca. If I could keep her safe from the terrorists while she was recovering from cancer and chemotherapy, I know I have it in me not to be an insensitive prick. So why was I? Hell, if Bailey heard the way I spoke to Marina, I’m sure she’d cross me off her list of trusted friends.

  He knew what transpired between them earlier had nothing to do with Marina and everything to do with him. But he couldn’t wrap his head around why. Kevin left the cabin and headed to Mark and Johnson. Mark tried calling him when he started walking away, but Kevin ignored the call. This conversation needed to take place in person. He needed to get chewed out, or he’d eat himself alive from the inside out. He wasn’t worried about Marina taking off anywhere. Hell, she just found out she has no place to go, and I feel like I’m the one who took it away, even though I’m not the one who killed Floyd.

  When he arrived at their camp, Mark laid into him instantly. It was expected, and it still seemed to be less than he deserved.

  “What the fuck are you doing here? You have orders to keep her in your sight at all times.”

  “Johnson, I think you should take over.” Johnson thinks he’s better for this than I am. Hell, he’s right. If Mark had sent him instead, we’d probably have the information we need already. That doesn’t mean Marina won’t still be a hot mess. His skills in integration outweigh mine, but he’s a train wreck when it comes to women.

  He turned to Mark and said, “You were right. I’m too close to see things clearly. I missed the mark on this one.” And I hurt her badly.

  “Too late to change plans. It sounds like you got something out of her, so you’re in, and you’re staying in. Now get your ass back there before she figures out you’re gone and takes off.”

  For once Kevin was relieved that Mark could read him without needing to know each detail of the conversation he had with Marina. It was bad enough he remembered each horrendous word that he’d uttered, there was no reason for his brother to know what an asshole he was too. Now he had to figure out a way to get Mark to see things from his point of view without a full replay. “Mark, where do you think she’s going? She has no transportation, and she’s a woman all alone in the bayou. Hell, I don’t even like walking around here, never mind a woman like her,” Kevin snapped back.

  “She’s been here for months, and it doesn’t seem to have affected her. I think she’s more resilient than you give her credit for,” Johnson stated.

  Yeah, that was before I opened my big fucking mouth and told her what a scumbag her father was. Oh yeah, and how his tragic death was still too good for him. Yep. She’s solid as a rock. And I was like a stick of dynamite blowing her life apart. Great job, Kevin.

  “Trust me, Johnson, Marina isn’t taking off.”

  “Marina? You’re on a first name basis now? What else is going on in there that we’ve missed?”

  Kevin’s hand clenched into a fist. Holding back wasn’t easy. He wanted to break something, and if it happened to be Johnson’s nose that was okay with him. However, Mark stepped between them, sensing the building tension.

  “Kevin, let’s take a walk.”

  Mark didn’t wait for an answer and headed away from the group. Kevin followed, thinking of a way to broach the subject without giving away what really went down.

  As they walked Kevin said, “Mark, you’re right. She needs out of there and needs your protection.”

  “Are you telling me you have confirmation she’s not working with the terrorists?”

  “I don’t believe she is.”

  Mark stopped and grabbed Kevin’s arm, turning him to meet his gaze. “Believe? That doesn’t cut it. I want facts; do you hear me?”

  This domineering hard side was a part of Mark Kevin didn’t normally experience. It was taking all the restraint he had right now not to tell him off. Instead, he slammed Mark for his lack of information. “Don’t tell me what we need. You let shit slip by us, and now I’m the one who has to deal with it.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me Marina was Floyd’s daughter?” Kevin asked harshly.

  Mark blinked and said, “General Floyd doesn’t have any children.”

  “Trust me, Mark. She wasn’t lying about that. She is his daughter whether he admitted to having one or not.”

  Kevin hated General Floyd even more for not publicly accepting Marina as his. He couldn’t imagine having to work so closely with someone who didn’t even want you as a family member. And then I come along and tell you he’s even worse than you imagined. Kevin didn’t want to face her again. He knew doing so was only going to cause her more pain. And remind me of what a jerk I am. I can’t stop thinking about the look in her eyes right before she passed out. It was like she was pleading with me to make all the heartache go away. Instead, I only gave her more.

  “She had to know what he was doing then.”

  “No. I don’t think so. You didn’t see Marina’s face when I told her. That look wasn’t from someone who had any clue what her father was involved in.”

  “You can’t be sure about that, Kevin. She could be playing you.”

  “She’s not.”

  “Really? Because from what I see, she—that woman who you think is so innocent—just got you to leave her alone in that cabin against my orders.”

  “She’s not going anywhere, Mark. I’d bet my—”

  “Life on it? Because if you’re wrong about her, Kevin, it might just cost you that. Remember we don’t know who’s taking out all these people, but she’s always one of the last people to see them alive. It doesn’t look good for you, if you ask me.”

  “She’s a scientist, Mark, not a hitman,” Kevin growled.

  “A scientist who worked for . . . hell, was related to Floyd. Do I need to paint you a clearer picture? She chose you to open up to, besides, she’s not going to trust just anyone. It won’t matter if I send Johnson in anymore. It has to be you now.”

  No, I get it. You’re just wrong. It shouldn’t be me, and there’s no way she could be involved in any wrongdoing. I can’t provide any proof, just what my gut tells me. “Then I guess I better get back to the cabin because my forty-eight hours aren’t over yet.”

  “Don’t get emotionally invested in this, Kevin. I’m telling you, it’s not going to end well, no matter what we find.”

  That’s where you’re wrong, Mark. She’s already had enough pain in her life. I’m not going to add more to it. No matter what I have to do, I need to do it, so the pain Marina’s feeling stops here.

  Kevin reached into his duffle bag and pulled out his Glock 17, confirmed it was locked and loaded. Tucking it in the waistband of his pants, he continued packing his gear.

  “I ordinarily wouldn’t tell a person not to carry their weapon, but I think this is one of those times it might not be wise.”

  “What do you think she’s going to do, Mark? Overpower me, take my gun, and take me out?” Kevin shot at him over his shoulder as he closed his duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder.

  “I’ve seen it happen before. You seem so damn sure she’s innocent. I’m not convinced. You can’t trust anything until we have all the facts. Understood?” Mark’s warning was crystal clear and not without merit.

  There was no shortage of stories when it came to men meeting their maker because they lost sight of what was happening around them. He wasn’t concerned about her hurting him. It truthfully was the opposite. He knew physically he’d never harm her, but emotionally he’d already crossed that line.

  “I’m taking my gun to protect her from anyone wanting to harm her. Or did you forget that’s what your instructions were to me in the beginning?” Kevin asked, meeting Mark eye to eye. “I’m all done treating her as the enemy. Unless we have something substantial proving otherwise, I’m going to treat h
er as any other citizen whose life we’ve taken an oath to protect.”

  Kevin brushed past Mark and headed to the cabin. He knew Mark was pissed. He was accustomed to having the final say. Any other time he would’ve allowed him that. This time was different. What was happening with Marina had become personal for Kevin. It was wrong and dangerous. That didn’t change the fact that Kevin would do anything, including giving his life if needed, to protect her.

  When he arrived at the cabin, he laid his bag on the deck. Instead of walking inside as he had in the past, he knocked. He wasn’t forcing his way in this time. The damage was already done. It now was his job to fix it. If he wanted her to trust him, he needed to give her a reason to.

  Marina came to the door, opened it, and said, “I thought you’d left.”

  The pain in her heart still reflected in her eyes. He hated himself for putting it there. At least you know, and now you can start to heal. If you have to put that energy toward something, you can hate me. I deserve it. Whatever you do, don’t let it sit inside and eat you alive.

  “There was something I had to do. May I come in?”

  With her hand on the door, she said, “Does it matter if I say no? You’ve made it clear it’s your way or no way.”

  Yes, because I’m a jerk. I wish I could say I’m sorry. That’s not something I can do. Not now. “There are reasons for that, things you don’t understand.”

  “If I let you in will you tell me?” Marina asked.

  He wasn’t going to lie to her. His answer wasn’t what she wanted to hear either. “No.”

  “Thank you for your honesty.”

  “Marina. There are things we need to discuss.”

  She shot him a look that said it all. “A discussion implies a two-way conversation. I get the impression that’s not how you see this discussion going. Am I correct?”

  Kevin nodded. “It has to take place. If not with me, then the team will come in, and I won’t have any say in what happens from there.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  It’s a warning. “It’s a fact. The easiest path would be this one. It’s your choice, Marina. I won’t force you to speak to me.” Although, the options I’m presenting seems like I am.

  “Well, isn’t this grand? I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. And you think you’re the lesser of two evils?”

  I’m not too sure about that, but how much more harm can I do to you than I’ve already done? “Only you can decide that.”

  He waited as she contemplated what to do. She knew he could overpower her and enter at any time. His waiting was hopefully a sign that he wasn’t out to hurt her again. That didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen.

  Kevin was relieved when she stepped back and let him inside. He knew it was a huge step for her. If the shoe was on the other foot, he wasn’t sure he’d be willing to trust again. Especially not the one who broke it in the first place. By her doing so, it only showed him how trapped she truly was. If I’m all you have to turn to, to trust, you’re more vulnerable than I imagined, and you need me more than I’m probably capable of. You need someone long-term. That’s not me. Never has been.

  He was going to try to make up for what he’d done, and if all he could do was deliver the next message in a gentler way than Johnson, that’s what he’d do. Someone needed to open her eyes. Kevin still didn’t know if it’d been her choice to ignore the signs or if she was purposely left in the dark. I’m not sure we’ll ever really know that answer. It’s possible she doesn’t know the answer either.

  Once inside, he followed her to the kitchen table. She poured herself a cup of coffee and, to his surprise, one for him as well. A smart man wouldn’t eat or drink anything a disgruntled female, especially a chemist, prepared for him. Marina wouldn’t hurt another living soul. Even the one that’d just crushed her heart.

  He remembered something his father had told him when he was young. “To gain trust, you first must give it.” Here goes nothing.

  Even before Marina drank out of her cup, he drank his. It wasn’t the best coffee he ever had; actually, it was one of the worst, but he finished every drop. Let’s hope this wasn’t just another poor choice on my part because if I’m wrong on this one, it might be the last mistake I make.

  “How’s your coffee?” Marina asked.

  Keep it real. Keep it honest. “For a chemist, I would’ve expected better.” Was it his imagination or had he just seen the slightest curl of her lip?

  “And that’s why I drink tea,” Marina said as she got up and poured her coffee into the sink without even taking a sip. She returned to the table and sat across from him.

  The last thing he wanted to do was open up old wounds, but Mark was correct. Time was ticking, and they needed to know what action to take.

  “Marina, I need you to tell me what you were working on six years ago when you were in North Carolina.”

  “You mean where my trail of death began?” Her eyes were dark and cold as she spoke.

  “I shouldn’t have said it like that.”

  “No, you shouldn’t have said it at all. Before I answer your questions, I have a few of my own.”

  “I told you—”

  “After what you said to me earlier, you owe me at least this much,” Marina said firmly.

  He paused, not sure what her questions would be. There were things he couldn’t, and wouldn’t, answer. If she asked and he said no, she might shut him out totally. This conversation was going to have to be give and take. I’ll just have to be cautious what information I give.

  “Ask, but I can’t promise I’ll answer.” Unless you slipped a mickey into my coffee. Then I’m fucked.

  “You said people are dying. People die all the time. How do you know it’s because of me?”

  “It doesn’t take much. You’re the only thing the deaths have in common.”

  “I had nothing to do with anyone’s death. I’d never . . . could never hurt another person. Even if they hurt me.”

  Well, that’s comforting to know, ’cause I’m on that list. “I know you didn’t pull the trigger, Marina.”

  “Do you think I’m involved?”

  That’s one of the things I need to know. “You’re involved one way or another. Tell me what happened that day in North Carolina.”

  “The general called me and said I was being relocated immediately due to the hurricane. I told him the lab was hidden and protected well for any wind or storm surge. The location I had been in was by far the safest place, but he insisted I leave and he’d have someone pack up my research for me and take it to my new location.”

  He wanted to ask her why she referred to her father as the general instead of Dad. It was another question he needed answered, but it’d wait. For now, he wanted everything he could get, starting with day one.

  “Sounds like standard practices.” He could tell there was something she wasn’t telling him. “Since you’re sitting here with me, I know you obeyed the orders.”

  “Most of them.”

  Just as I thought.

  “You said I was involved from the beginning. You’re not entirely wrong.”

  It felt like a punch in the gut. Was she about to tell him she was working with her father all along? Damn it. I really shouldn’t have drunk that coffee. Not until I had my answers.

  She looked nervous, which didn’t help calm him at all. There was something huge weighing on her. He hoped he was going to be around long enough to learn what it was.

  “When the chopper arrived to retrieve me, I was packed and ready to go. What my father didn’t know was I’d taken my research with me. What was left behind wasn’t what he was worried about.”

  That explained why the general didn’t call off the attack. He’d set it up so the terrorists could get what they wanted and no one would ever know. It would’ve looked like it was all lost in the flood. Hell, we weren’t sure of that ourselves.

  Something wasn’t adding up. If her father had her on the move for the past six
years, it had to be because he knew she had it or was capable of recreating it.

  “What did he say when you told him you took it?”

  She looked down at her hands, folded on the table. He could see her fingers trembling as she spoke. “I never did. All these years he’s had me working to recreate it. I’ve managed to be unsuccessful.”

  “Wait, are you telling me he didn’t have the formula?”

  Marina lifted her eyes to meet his finally. “No one has it. I’d destroyed any reference to it before I left North Carolina. The specimens were another story. I know what it’s capable of . . . and I can’t destroy it until I know I’ve created a vaccine against it.”

  “I don’t get it, Marina. Why didn’t you just create the vaccine all this time?”

  “You really don’t know, do you? I’ve been watched, guarded for all this time. He wasn’t protecting me; he was using me for his gain. I wasn’t free to come and go as I wished. For all intents and purposes, you could consider me his . . . prisoner.”

  Damn. Your own flesh and blood and you did that to her? Floyd, how the hell did your slimy ways go overlooked so long? What didn’t make sense was why he held her so long if he thought everything was lost.

  “It’s been years, Marina. Why didn’t he ever give up when you couldn’t recreate it?”

  “Because he knew I could,” Marina said softly.

  I don’t think that’s your ego talking. “I thought you said all your notes and research were destroyed.”

  “I destroyed everything anyone could see.”

  Riddles, Marina? I don’t have time for this shit. “So what was left?”

  “My specimens. But they are hidden where no one will ever find them.”

  “And?” His gut was telling him there was more to come, and her body language said she didn’t want to say what that was. He needed to know. “Is there someone else out there who can create this again?”

  “No.”

  “Tell me, Marina. Why did your fa—the general hold you so long?”