He was opening something within her, a boldness she normally didn’t have. Ignoring the small voice within her telling her no, she brought her lips to his. It was gentle and sweet, yet a fire burned within her. Everything inside her screamed it was wrong, he was her captor and she needed to be careful. This wasn’t who she was, not who she could be right now. Where I’m going, I might never get a chance like this again.
She brought her hand to his cheek. I even like the beard. She tried not to giggle when she felt his body melt into her. If things were different, I can picture how it’d be. Nothing would stop us. So now we have to control ourselves before we get carried away. Damn. It would be easy.
She wasn’t the only one feeling the connection between them. Kevin’s body was reacting to her as well. Marina saw it in his eyes as she pulled away. He wanted her. That makes me feel good about myself. I’ll take that compliment, thank you. She watched him regain his control as she struggled to regain her own.
Before either of them could say anything, the pilot radioed him, waiting for a response. It was like cold water being poured on her as the pilot called him Captain Collins.
This wasn’t a romantic getaway. Nor was it a date. This was a mission he was on, and she was the assignment. As he addressed the pilot, she gained her composure again.
It was foolish letting her guard down like that. If she wasn’t careful, he’d have her reciting the formula and telling him where she hid the specimens.
She was grateful for the interruption. I was playing right into your hands, wasn’t I Captain? Do you really think I’m so weak that you can get me hot and bothered and I’ll forget who we are? I’m not a silly teenage girl who doesn’t have control over her desires. Trust me, Captain Collins; this won’t happen again.
She was thankful the rest of the flight was spent with Kevin on his phone. Whatever was going on, he didn’t seem happy about it. Marina wasn’t sure if it was about her, but for the moment, she was glad he wasn’t pursuing her again.
No one had seen that coming. The safe house had been compromised so quickly. All Mark had said was there was a shootout and one of his men had been injured. That had to mean someone either leaked the information, or their phones had been compromised.
Kevin couldn’t risk taking Marina anywhere near his family. That meant staying out of Buffalo, Savannah, and Honeywell, Texas.
It was a snap decision, but they had to change their destination. He gave the only information he could and coded the best way he knew how. “Time for me to go rescue another dog.”
He hoped Mark would figure out that he was going to take Marina to Providence, Rhode Island. Bailey’s apartment was vacant since she’d moved in with Don. He knew the area was secure when he was there a few months ago. He hoped nothing had changed. It wasn’t a permanent solution, but it could buy them some time until another location could be found. She is used to being mobile anyway.
It was late when they landed. Kevin had the pilot land at a small airport ten minutes outside of the city and rent a car. Kevin didn’t want it in his name or Marina’s. He wanted to stay off the radar as much as possible until things quieted down and they figured out what was going on. That meant no credit cards or Internet. Both were too easily traced.
He trusted Mark to do whatever it took to get the answers. It couldn’t happen again. If they’d attacked after he and Marina had arrived, it couldn’t have gotten worse. She might act as though she could handle anything coming her way, but she had no clue how evil these guys could be. If it were his choice, he’d rather she stayed ignorant. It was bad enough that Hannah had learned it the hard way. He never wanted another person he knew to suffer so much.
Until he was confident Marina was safe, he was taking it upon himself for them to disappear. Once they arrived at Bailey’s apartment, he’d have no choice but to bring Marina into the loop. He’d have to tell her something. What that was, he was still unsure. The truth might be all there was that could hold her there with him. The truth also could be the one thing that made her flee.
He was glad he still had the keys to Bailey’s apartment. They’d packed up most of her personal things when the shit had all gone bad a few months ago. They’d still have the comforts of home because her lease hadn’t run out.
Marina looked too exhausted to care where she was. He showed her to her bedroom, and she went in and closed the door behind her. Kevin tried to read her emotions, see if she’d heard what was going on, or if she was still upset about the kiss. Hell, it’s probably a combination of them both. She’s no fool. This isn’t what the plan was. If I were her, I’d be wondering how the fuck one guy is going to protect me. It was the same thought he was having. Guess I’m going to do it the same as before. Long hours, no sleep.
Kevin went to lie on the couch. He was pissed off at himself for his actions on the chopper. I know better. It was a line he never should’ve crossed. Not only did he kiss her, but he was talking about his family as though they were out on a date instead of on the run, protecting her life. Even now he couldn’t stop thinking about her in the next room. No matter how much he told himself it was only concern for her well-being, he knew it was more than that.
Closing his eyes, he cursed himself for letting it get to this point. There were a lot of women throwing themselves at him every chance they got. He didn’t give them a second look. The one woman who was definitely hands off happened to be the one to fuck with his head. He wasn’t ready or willing to admit it could be anything more than that.
His phone vibrated on the coffee table next to him. Picking it up, he was surprised to see a text from Don.
“Dog is man’s best friend.”
He knew that meant Mark got the message loud and clear. Don Farrell was one man he trusted as much as he did Mark. It was good to know who his friends were, especially in times like this.
Kevin texted back. “Let me know when you find the right dog.”
“Sorry, the last one bit someone. Will make sure the next one is friendly.”
“Roger.”
Kevin laughed softly to himself. Code word Dog for safe house. Pretty damn ingenious if you ask me. Don was the furthest thing from a military man a person could get. Yet, he seemed to adapt very quickly, and now he was an indispensable part of the team. There was only one problem. Don still had a huge target on his back.
It wasn’t an easy time for any of them. No one was safe. And all they could do was have each other’s back.
The longer this goes on, the more vulnerable we become. Mark has to get answers soon. We need to know who is in charge of the operation. If we can’t take him or her out, they might just win.
It was a fear that quickly was becoming a reality. There wasn’t room for any more mistakes. He only hoped bringing Marina here, where it was just the two of them, wasn’t about to be one of the biggest mistakes yet.
Chapter Eight
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Marina hadn’t slept a wink last night. Although she didn’t let on, she’d overheard more of the conversation between Kevin and Mark than she should have. Kevin’s entire demeanor had changed after that call. It was as though the kiss had never happened. The sweet chemistry was no more, and beside her sat a Marine.
Since it was her life they’d been discussing, she should feel relieved they were taking it so seriously. There was one problem, they left her opinion out of the equation. Marina should be used to such treatment as it was the story of her life.
Is it so wrong for me to want or expect something different? Was I so lonely that I saw something that wasn’t really there? Because I truly thought he found me . . . interesting. She wouldn’t allow herself to think he might like her or there was anything more than just a physical attraction to her. Marina wasn’t ready for the pain that would follow if she was wrong.
Even now, pain was what she felt. He was pleasant and showed her the room she could spend the night in, but not one word after that. No wishing her sweet dreams, he didn’t even say he’d be there
if she needed him for anything. It was all business for Kevin. She wished she could shut her feelings off as easily as he could.
Marina’s stomach growled. Kevin had been so absorbed last night he neglected to feed her. Great protection. Starve me so we don’t have to worry about the enemy getting any information out of me. Or is starvation so you get answers out of me?
With the sunlight shining brightly through the windows, Marina took in her surroundings. Kevin never said where he was taking her. He had a key, and at first, she thought it was his apartment. She was wrong because clearly this was a woman’s apartment. The pictures on the wall were pretty flower gardens and gazebos. The curtains were sheer and a very light pink. Everything was delicate and feminine. Great. You bring me to another woman’s apartment. This trip just keeps getting better.
She wasn’t ready to face Kevin. It shouldn’t matter where she was as long as he did his job and she was safe. So why did she want to know whose bed she was in? Had he shared it with her? Did he make love to her on these sheets?
Those thoughts were taking her down a path not based on facts. She functioned purely on fact, so why was she allowing herself to play out scenarios that may not be accurate? Because my libido is messing with me.
There were many more important things she should focus on. Who Kevin was intimate with should not be on that list. Unfortunately it was, and she needed to change that. Lying on some other woman’s bed wasn’t helping.
Throwing off the covers, she opted for a shower. Since the luggage rendezvous never took place, she only had the clothes on her back. After a long flight, she really needed something fresh.
Marina wasn’t one to go through another person’s belongings, but options were slim. Either she got over it and opened the drawers, or she’d be forced to wear her dirty clothes again. That might work for Kevin, but I refuse to smell like a . . . cavewoman.
She opened the top two drawers, and they were empty. That was where most women kept their socks and panties. And their unmentionables when not by their bedside. Marina wasn’t about to borrow either of those. I really would settle for a pair of pants and a T-shirt.
The other drawers were as empty as the top ones. Whoever the woman was, she wasn’t on vacation, because no one packs everything. Maybe they broke up?
She was just about to give up when she opened the closet. There were a few dresses left behind. Pants were her go-to because, in a lab, she found them easier to work in. The rare occasion she did wear a dress she chose something conservative, something expected of a scientist. The selection that was left behind belonged to someone who was free-spirited and fun-loving. Someone I can picture with Kevin.
One dress caught her eye above the others. It was a fifties vintage dress, white with purple polka dots. She loved the style but never had the nerve to wear something meant to accent a woman’s curves.
Pulling it from the closet, she stood in front of the mirror. Holding the dress up, she looked at her reflection. It was perfect with her coloring. I shouldn’t. Marina carried the dress back to the closet and went to hang it up. Before the hanger made contact with the rod, she pulled it back to her. Why not?
Smiling, she took the dress into the bathroom. Marina had intended to shower quickly, but it had been months since she’d been in a real shower with hot water beating down on her. There was shampoo, conditioner, and luxury soap left behind. Smelling it, she knew the fragrance well. It was her favorite. Japanese cherry blossom. It was heavenly. Five minutes turned into twenty and only when the hot water seemed to be coming to an end did she exit.
There wasn’t a comb or brush to be found, so she ran her fingers through her hair. The heat wasn’t as unbearable as it’d been in the bayou, which meant she could wear it down. Normally, she wore her hair shoulder length. Since her father hadn’t had a hairstylist come to the lab, her hair now was down to the center of her back. Marina liked the look.
She washed her undergarments and hung them on the towel rack to dry. Going without undergarments wasn’t her style, but she also wasn’t putting on wet ones. Slipping on the dress, she tried zipping it up. Reaching behind her, she could only get it up halfway. Damn it. Just one more inch and I could get it up all the way.
Marina tried again and again, yet her arms weren’t long enough. She contemplated putting on her own clothes again. Picking up her shirt, she brought it to her nose and sniffed. The pungent odor filled her nostrils. Shaking her head, she let the shirt drop to the floor. There was no way that was going back on her body until it was washed.
With no other choice, she left the bathroom commando and headed for the one person in the apartment who could assist with the zipper. I swear if he makes one inappropriate remark about how ridiculous I look in this dress, I’m going to . . . I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’ll do something.
Marina, as a general rule, controlled her words very well. She didn’t believe in saying whatever came to mind. At least, normally she didn’t. A different side of her appeared when she was with Kevin. Her reserved, controlled, cautious side went out the window and someone she dreamed she could be seemed to appear. Was this new her around to stay, or when Kevin left would she revert back to her old self, boring and predictable? She wasn’t sure. For now, she was going to enjoy it while it lasted.
She went into the living room, expecting to find Kevin. She already knew how this would play out. She’d ask him to zip up the dress, and he’d say something funny or make some casual comment but she never thought he’d leave her alone. Yet there she stood, alone in the apartment. Your idea of protection and mine are as different as night and day.
Marina searched for a landline phone. She was unsure who she’d call if she found one. In the past, it would’ve been her father. Not that he’d take her call, but at least she could have left him a message. The only time he’d called her back was if she’d mentioned her research. She located a phone and picked it up. To her delight, there was a dial tone. Holding the receiver in her hand, she stood there shocked, feeling so lost, because it had been so long since she had access to a phone. She could call 911 and ask for help. What would she tell them when they came? I am being held captive by the Marines, and they left me alone, and I’m afraid?
Marina hung up the phone and went to wait for someone, anyone, to come to her aid. Kevin had left her in a strange city with no money. Obviously, he wasn’t worried about her taking off on her own. He should’ve been. She was more resilient than he gave her credit for. She wasn’t stupid. She knew whoever was out there looking for her wasn’t going to let the Navy, Marines, or anyone else get in their way. Whether she liked it or not, the realization of her desperation had just hit home.
There wasn’t a magazine or book anywhere. Whoever lived here didn’t seem to read or watch television. If Marina had her laptop with her, all this down time could be put to good use. It had been days since she worked on the vaccine, time lost that she couldn’t get back.
The facts weren’t going to change. Her life was at risk, and there was a good possibility Kevin and the others couldn’t stop them. That meant she needed to make every minute count. She needed to retrieve the specimen and get into a lab. The only thing she could do was ensure that if the virus did get recreated there’d already be a tested and viable vaccine. Her failure could mean a massive loss of life. I started this. I need to finish it. Even if it means I die doing so.
She hated that she needed to test on animals. Any form of cruelty hurt her to the core. If there was any other way, she’d take it. But millions if not billions of people’s lives were at stake. This wasn’t about doing what she wanted or felt comfortable doing any longer. It was about doing what was right.
She could do all the animal testing she wanted, but there was only one test that’d determine if it’d accurately work if the virus was released. It scared the hell out of her, but it couldn’t be avoided. It had to be tested on a human.
The thought of what that person would suffer if the vaccine didn’t work w
as too painful for most people to imagine. She knew precisely what would happen. She would never subject another living being to what potentially could happen, not after last time. She had the initial results for the vaccine, and they were positive, but there were some changes that had to be made before human trials began. There was only one person for the final test, herself. I’m not sure if the results of the test will be taken seriously with such a small test group, but so many people have died trying to protect me; I can’t risk any more lives. If her calculations were incorrect and the vaccine failed, then she should be the one to pay the price. At least, I know the formula for the evil I created will die with me.
Nothing was going to move forward without the specimens in hand. Kevin had already refused to stop at her mother’s grave. He doesn’t know you’ve been gone for eighteen years. How am I going to get those specimens if I can’t visit you?
When she left North Carolina she knew they’d search her bags, they always did. No one was ever going to look inside the urn she carried with her to each location. Who’d suspect I’d hide them inside the urn instead of my mother’s ashes. Hell, I can’t believe I did it myself.
Marina felt bad about what she did, but her mother had been such a loving, sweet woman, and Marina knew she would’ve wanted her to do anything she could to stop the distribution of the virus.
Her father never wanted anything to do with her mother, so when she asked him to join her at the cemetery to bury the urn and say a final goodbye to her mother, she knew he’d refuse. At least, there was a time your cold heart worked in my favor.
There had to be a way to convince Kevin to take her there without telling him why. Although she wanted to trust him, when it came to what that urn held, she trusted no one.
Southern Regions (Southern Desires Book 4) Page 9
