by Ana Ban
Sometime later, Donovan lifted his head lazily, his hooded gaze meeting mine. Pushing himself up until we were even, his lips met mine in the softest, sweetest kiss. Then they trailed along my jaw, down to my neck and collarbone before he placed a lingering kiss against my forehead. The action left me feeling helplessly cherished.
“You must be hungry,” he spoke for the first time, softly. “Let’s get ready for dinner.”
Apparently impatient for me to stand, Donovan scooped me into his arms, eliciting a laugh from me. Standing me in the shower, he adjusted the heat and carefully, gently ran body wash along my skin. As he stood staring down into my eyes, I spoke for the first time since I’d woken to his ministrations.
“This is the first real memory I have of you,” I told him, before explaining further. “Standing in the shower just after you rescued me. You stepped in front of me, fully clothed, because the heat hurt my injuries.”
“That was, at once, the worst and best day of my life,” Donovan’s voice choked with emotion.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I leaned close, placing my lips against his neck.
“Mine, too,” I whispered.
Chapter 29
Selena
18 months ago
Months of planning have led us to this moment. I stood at the desk, hands spread over the visual representation of our plan. Pointing to two mugshots taped to the left-hand side of the board, I began to speak.
“These two have recently come into our employ. They don’t know that we know their true identity. We’ll let them in on small assignments for the next few months, let them believe they are in our good graces. When the time is right, we’ll let them see me.”
“The first ever Selena sighting,” Donovan pursed his lips, moving his hand to the next clipping attached to the board. “Mia is already on the case. We’ve given her snippets of me, and when we’re ready, we’ll stage a meeting between myself and her.”
“That will be easy enough. She actually gets out now that she’s dating that weakling,” I sneered.
“Cole,” Donovan’s voice came out as a growl. “Are we certain it will last long enough for our purposes?”
I shrugged. “If not, we’ll come up with another way.”
“Once the photo of you gets back to Mia’s precinct, she’ll be taken off the case. We wait a few months before letting the rumors spread of your disappearance.”
“It won’t take long before they put her in my place. As if she could replace me,” my voice dripped with disdain.
“Then, the real work begins,” Donovan said quietly.
Turning to him, I placed both hands on his chest. “Getting her to fall for you will be the easy part, my love. Trust me in that.”
“And getting her to turn against her own morals?”
“Morals are fleeting,” I reminded him. “And the second phase of her time with you will ease that transition. Showing her the lavish lifestyle she could have with you should do the trick.”
“And the third phase?” Donovan asked hesitantly.
With a careless shrug, I told him, “Leave that to me.”
Chapter 30
Mia
Present Day
The first thing I noticed about Egypt was the mind-boggling amount of open space.
Watching out the window, I took in the grand majesty of endless golden sand and bright blue sky, hazy lines of heat meeting at the horizon to trick the eye. Landing outside of Cairo, I was mesmerized by the squat dwellings interspersed with towering structures that looked like palaces of old.
The pyramids poking above the skyline were like mountains rising above the mists. It was unlike anywhere I’d been or anything I’d ever seen.
A transport took us straight from the airport to a hotel near the pyramids, in what was technically Giza. The huge circular pool with a swim-up bar was stunning, but still paled in comparison to the closer view of the pyramids.
“I thought you would enjoy being a little outside the city,” Donovan told me as we were led to a deluxe suite. “The pyramids are really something, aren’t they?”
“I don’t know that you could ever get used to them,” I replied, excited to see the view from our room.
I was not disappointed. The suite offered a panoramic view of the outskirts of the city, with the pyramids in plain sight. Evening was falling way to night, and the golden light of sunset washed over the entire place. Much like Paris had, Egypt felt surreal.
Donovan and I both changed into loose fitting linen clothing, for the temperature even as the sun fell was sweltering. He led me back outside and along the street, passing by vendors selling shawarma and a collection of other delectable foods, the aromas wafting in the air and stirring my appetite.
Eventually, as the sun sank beyond the horizon, we came upon a night market on a street filled with cafés, where tables had been set up right in the road. Donovan selected one, and ordered a variety of dishes from the menu. Wonderful plates of shawarma, falafel and koshari soon graced the table, along with a dip called dukkah, which I’d never heard of but finished more than my fair share of.
“It doesn’t seem like there’s many tourists here,” I observed, taking a break from chowing down on the delicious food.
“Most of Cairo is tourist oriented, but I’ve found the outskirts to be less congested and more local,” Donovan answered, watching me eat with a small smile playing on his face. “I prefer it.”
“Since I haven’t been downtown yet, I can’t completely say I agree, but I have a feeling I will.”
Egyptian coffee was delivered with dessert, which was a sweet couscous and surprisingly good. As we made our way back to the hotel, we stopped at several shops and I picked out a few hijabs to wear if need be. Since I was already hiding my identity, the covering for my hair and neck both helped me fit in and served my purposes.
Before dawn the next morning, I was dressed for a day in the sun, as was Donovan. We both donned hijabs and ventured to a camel renting office. Letting Donovan negotiate, I waited outside the small building, watching the little bit of activity as the city came awake.
When Donovan emerged, we were led to the stables to pick out our camels. The large creatures were surprisingly gentle, and after Donovan helped me into the saddle, he mounted his own. Normally, we would have a guide with us, but Donovan had worked with this gentlemen in the past and had negotiated for us to go alone.
The covering came in handy as the dust kicked up, and I kept my sunglasses secure on my face as we rode towards arguably the most famous landmark in the world.
We explored for half the day, and, thankfully, Donovan had thought ahead and brought picnic food to eat for lunch. After we returned the camels, Donovan brought me into downtown Cairo to visit the outdoor markets and the Cairo Museum.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have private access as we had at the Louvre, but it was still worth facing the crowds.
After dinner in another traditional café, Donovan brought me down to the Nile, renting a Felucca to cruise the river while the sun set. There is nothing like a desert sunset, as the whole sky explodes in various colors of pink, orange and purple. The contrast of the water against the golden sand was an artist’s dream.
While we sailed, we were regaled with music and stories of the ancient lands. Leaning against Donovan, breathing in the heavy desert air, I never wanted the evening to end.
The next morning, we took a short flight to Alexandria, where our current dock was located. During the flight, Donovan explained that business was booming, and a second dock was built north of Alexandria, in Abu Qir.
As we made the trek to the new line, I watched the relatively modern city pass by. I already missed the view of the pyramids from our hotel room, and I felt myself longing for the type of lifestyle that would allow me to travel at the drop of a hat.
Glancing over at Donovan, I studied him while he watched out the window. There was so much more I wanted to know about the man, and I found myself wish
ing he could know the real me.
At that thought, tears sprung to my eyes and I turned away, back to my own side of the car.
Cairo had been a small side trip, and one I was glad Donovan had included. It would be insane to travel to Egypt and not see the pyramids, after all.
As promised, Donovan brought me to our new docks for a tour. The facilities, while new, didn’t stand out in their design. They fit seamlessly with the rest of the city’s layout, with subdued colors and a boxy style.
Inside, however, was a different story. Everything was sleek metal and modern design, with the newest technology available running the operation. The largest building, upon entering, was like walking into a swimming pool, with a large rectangle of water cut into the middle and a wide pathway for workers to walk around.
“The floor drops into the water, allowing the subs to come in under the building undetected. One they are in position, the floor rises and allows us to load or unload,” Donovan explained to me.
We walked around the site, busy with men who took their jobs seriously. They all acknowledged Donovan, while also giving him a wide berth. Donovan steered me into an enclosed office space, with a plain view of operations.
One man was in front of a computer, and immediately stood as we entered.
“Donovan, good to see you,” he greeted, shaking Donovan’s hand.
“Amun, this is Selena,” Donovan introduced us.
The man’s eyes widened, before gripping my hand and pumping it enthusiastically. “So nice to meet you.”
Giving him a small smile, I carefully extracted my hand before turning towards the window. Donovan stepped up next to me.
“The sub should arrive in the next few minutes,” Donovan told me.
I nodded, excited at the prospect of seeing this in action. As promised, a few minutes later, lights began flashing all around the warehouse, warning of the incoming vessel. Another man came into the room, working the computers with Amun. It was a slow process, but eventually I saw the top of the gunmetal gray machine breaking through the surface of the water.
With a gasp I leaned forward, practically pressing my nose to the glass. The sub was easily 50 feet long and an incredible sight to behold. As the floor locked into place, the men who had been standing off to the side immediately began running to connect cables from the ground to hooks along the edge of the machine, to hold it in place. A door slid open to reveal a large, open space inside.
There was a truck backed into the warehouse in a loading area, in which the workers quickly began transferring wooden crates out of and into the sub.
“This is Olivia’s?” I asked quietly to Donovan.
“It is,” Donovan answered.
I watched, fascinated, as the full truck loaded effortlessly into the modern marvel that was the basis of Selena and Donovan’s business. An uneasy feeling churned in my gut as I realized this was exactly what the police needed to bring down their criminal empire, and I was at the helm.
Chapter 31
Selena
One year ago
“It’s time,” I glanced over at Donovan. “Mia has found one of our entrances. Those two cops have been in our employ long enough. We’ll let them get a clear side shot of me, no more. It will be enough.”
“I still don’t like putting you at risk like this,” Donovan’s eyebrows pulled down as he studied me.
“The risk isn’t for me. It’s for Mia.”
“It’s for you both,” Donovan corrected me.
“We have put a lot of thought into this plan. Are you backing out?”
“No,” Donovan was firm. “We made this decision together. We’ll follow through.”
Looking out into the night, I composed my face. “Have them in the right spot at midnight. Let my name slip. I’ll enter, and lead you away somewhere private to speak. That should give them enough time to get their photo.”
Donovan nodded, then remained silent. I was tired of hiding in the shadows. Soon, I would emerge, and Mia Gonzalez was the only thing standing in my way.
Chapter 32
Mia
Present Day
Flying back to Baltimore was more depressing than relieving, and I stayed quiet throughout most of the flight. Donovan seemed to sense my need to be left alone with my thoughts, and I appreciated the fact that he left me to them.
Once we were back, I would need to find a way to get a message to my precinct, to Alec. If I knew my partner, he would be worried sick, between the revelation that Adam was a DeLuca, and my continued silence, he was probably going insane.
Donovan and I would also be doing the trade with the DeLuca’s, which I was not exactly looking forward to. Nothing about that family was trustworthy.
When he was resting, I spent the rest of my time studying Donovan, attempting to evaluate my feelings for him. My training with Agent McKenzie came to mind, the conversation we’d had about using my attraction to gain his trust. She was all for it, but I think even she would say I’d gone too far.
Everything inside me was torn, my cop instincts fighting against everything I’d learned and seen about Donovan. He wasn’t the horrible person I always believed him to be. Yes, he did bad things, but he didn’t hurt anyone. People didn’t work with him, or for him, out of fear but out of respect. That had to count for something.
I was justifying my actions, and I knew that I was in too deep. There would be no easy way out of this, no matter what good qualities I gave to Donovan.
Donovan and I didn’t speak again until we were in the SUV that had been left in the hangar. Staring down at my hands, I fiddled with the delicate gold ring still gracing my finger. Twisting it off, I looked at it with melancholy.
“I suppose I won’t be needing this,” I said, handing the ring to him.
Donovan took it back, glancing sidelong at me. “Are you all right?”
“Fine,” I shrugged, not meeting his eyes.
“I know you better than that,” Donovan spoke softly, his eyes back on the road. “I’ve given you time for your thoughts, but now I’d like to know what they are.”
“Coming back here… it makes me feel like it’s ending,” I finished barely above a whisper.
His gaze was on me again, and I could feel the worry emanating from him. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know,” I shook my head, frustrated at myself, and the situation. “Just... whatever happens, I want you to know that this has been the most incredible time in my life.”
“Selena, you’re scaring me,” Donovan pulled the car over, grasping my chin with his fingers and forcing eye contact. “What is going on?”
Tears sat on the brim, threatening to overflow. If I didn’t get a handle on my emotions, everything would come crashing apart.
Struggling to swallow back the tears, I reached over and placed a hand against Donovan’s rough jawline, scruffy from travel.
“I love you,” I spoke the words that I wouldn’t be able to take back.
Instantly, his expression softened, and he leaned close to press his lips to mine. My hands slipped into his hair, gripping him tight and pulling him close. I poured all my emotions into that kiss, every doubt, every fear, and, most importantly, the love that should not exist.
When we broke apart, Donovan lifted a trembling hand to cup my cheek. I leaned into it, savoring the protected feeling Donovan exuded.
“We’re going directly to meet with the DeLuca’s,” Donovan told me. “Are you feeling up for that?”
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes briefly to center myself before nodding. It was time to focus. It was time to be Selena.
We drove to the same place we’d met with Tony before. Their dark SUV was already waiting there, and I glanced around, looking for Bruce. He’s be transporting Adam.
Donning my usual disguise, I stepped out of the vehicle simultaneously with Donovan and approached the middle ground. Behind us, a white van pulled up, and I presumed it was Bruce, who would wait for Donovan’s sig
nal to release the prisoner.
There was a feeling of familiarity as the doors on the other vehicle opened, revealing Tony, Al and two of their goons. Al looked livid, while Tony was forcing a calm façade, but I could see the underlying tension.
“Donovan,” his voice was clipped with annoyance. “I hear you have something of ours.”
“We’re willing to trade for the information we asked for,” Donovan spoke with quiet authority.
Tony glanced back to one of his goons and snapped his fingers. The goon walked forward and paused just a couple of feet from Donovan. In response, Donovan gestured with his hand without looking away, signaling Bruce to come forward.
Keeping my eyes on the group before us, I heard doors opening and shuffling feet. Adam passed by, his hands tied and a bag over his head, followed closely by Bruce, who was prodding him along. When the two were close to Donovan, Bruce halted their movement and waited for further instruction.
“We have an agreement, to avoid any more unpleasantness between us?” Donovan called out to Tony.
With a dip of his head, Tony answered, “That we do.”
My vision went black, as it had done before. Instantaneously, another scene superimposed itself upon this one. Tony, standing across from me much like he was now, except the ground beneath our feet was, instead, a rooftop.
“We have a deal?” It was my voice asking.
With a dip of his head, he said, “That we do.”
Just as quickly as it arrived it was gone, leaving me wincing in pain. Donovan gave me a quick side glance, noticing my sudden movement, but I gave him a small hand signal to let him know I was all right.
The DeLuca goon handed Donovan a small flash drive while Bruce simultaneously pushed Adam forward. He stumbled until Al caught him, ripping off his head covering and discovering duct tape over his mouth. Adam looked worse for the wear, his body gaunt, his eyes sunken in.
It was difficult for me to feel any pity for him.
