Protecting Ainsley

by Jen Talty

  She arched a brow. “Is that safe?”

  “It better be.” He tossed the knapsack on the kitchen counter, which was open to the family room. The décor had a beachy feel. A light-blue sofa sat in the middle of the family room. Two yellow chairs faced the television. Down the hall he saw three doors. “I’ll be right back.” He found the master bedroom and fell back on the bed. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since Mexico. A smile tugged at his lips. No matter what happened from here, he’d always remember those nights with a warm feeling in his heart.

  Only he could fall for a woman accused of betraying her country.

  He punched the numbers that had been ingrained in his brain for years on the cell and brought it to his ear.

  “Who is this?” Hanson, his commander, asked with a gruff voice.

  Keanu half expected that Hanson wouldn’t answer the phone, considering he wouldn’t know who it was and the fact that only a handful of people had this number.

  “It’s Keanu.”

  Silence on the other end of the phone.

  “Admiral Hanson?” Keanu asked, opting to be formal.

  “Hang tight for a minute,” Hanson said. “And cut the admiral crap for now.”

  “Yes, sir.” He tossed his forearm over his eyes. Working under the tutelage of Hanson had been a dream come true. The man might be pushing sixty, but he was one of the best commanders in the Navy and the reason Keanu joined the Navy to begin with.

  “You better be calling me from a secure line,” Hanson said with a growl.

  “Thanks to Wolf, I’ve been hooked up with a bunch of Air Force Fire Protection Specialists.”

  “Wolf’s a good man. I take it you got my last text.”

  “I did. Any idea what Andrew is going to say in his press conference tonight?”

  “Unfortunately, I do, and it’s not good. He’s got video footage of Ainsley meeting with known terrorists and emails showing she sold it to terrorists. I’ve seen the video, and you can’t tell what she’s taking from the office, but the emails are damning.”

  “What’s the email address?”

  “AinsleyE111@gmail.com,” Hanson said.

  “Don’t you think it’s a bit stupid that someone would send classified intel to terrorists with their name attached?”

  “Happens all the time.”

  “Ainsley is smarter than that,” Keanu said. “She told me her sister knew JB was up to something.” Keanu bolted to an upright position. “You know she’s an identical twin, right?”

  “So?”

  “Her sister also worked for Andrew, and she was involved with JB Gould.”

  “JB’s dead,” Hanson said. “He was killed in a car accident. Drinking and…well, fuck. This entire thing smells.”

  “No shit. But do you know if the video was shot before or after her sister’s death?”

  “I’ve seen it, and the time stamp is after.”

  “Where was the video taken?”

  “The parking lot of Andrew’s office building,” Hanson said.

  He covered the speaker of the cell. “Ainsley, get in here,” he yelled. “We need to get that video authenticated.”

  “I’ve been trying, but the powers that be have pushed me out of the loop. I’ve got a few friends feeding me intel, but not enough. Andrew has the ear of Greg Caldwell, the Secretary of Defense. He trusts Andrew, and therefore, Caldwell isn’t trusting me, and as you know, they are questioning your loyalty.”

  “I saw Johnny today. He was given orders to shoot to kill.”

  “Damn it. You’re lucky it was Johnny; otherwise, you and Ainsley might be dead. I knew her dad. No way in hell did he do what Andrew is accusing him of.”

  Ainsley appeared in the doorway carrying a tray of food and a couple of sodas. She set it on the dresser. “What’s going on?”

  “When was the last time you went to work?” Keanu asked.

  “Before my sister died. I was a wreck for weeks, and Andrew forced me to take a long leave of absence. Then my dad died, and Andrew shuffled me out of the country.”

  “The mark on your neck, is that a birthmark?”

  Ainsley shook her head. “I burned myself with a curling iron when I was twelve.”

  “Did you hear that, Hanson?” Keanu asked, taking Ainsley by the hand and yanking her to the bed. The firm mattress formed to her perfect body. He set the phone on the bed and placed it on speaker.

  “Is that burn documented?” Hanson asked.

  “My mom took me to the hospital. It was a second-degree burn,” Ainsley said.

  “That gives me something to work with,” Hanson said. “I’ve got to go. I’ll be in touch later. Stay low and alive.”

  “Will do.” He ended the call and tilted Ainsley’s chin. “Time to tell me everything you’ve been keeping from me.”

  “I always covered for my sister and took the fall for being the bad twin. She’s not a bad person, but she’s easily persuaded. Janet couldn’t handle disappointing anyone, and she did some crazy things.”

  “Couldn’t your father tell you apart?” He’d heard that sometimes it was difficult, almost impossible to tell identical twins apart, but he didn’t believe a parent couldn’t figure it out.

  “Only by this.” She tapped her neck. “When I was younger, I used thick makeup to cover it up, but I stopped caring when I was in my twenties.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Ainsley nodded, her hands folded in her lap, and her gaze dropped to the floor. “Someone needed to protect her, but I failed.”

  “How so?” he asked, running his finger up and down the backside of her hand.

  “I think my sister was somehow forced into helping Andrew and JB, but I can’t prove it.”

  “You really believe she was murdered?” he asked.

  “JB hit her, and when I found out, I went off on him. It was right before the scuba accident. Andrew thought it was best if we gave Janet some time alone on the trip, but she really wanted to go, and I switched places with her without telling anyone.”

  “And what about this?” He kissed her burn mark.

  “We used makeup to create one on her neck. We knew it would come off in the water, but she’d be in a wetsuit, and we figured when the dive was over, who would really care that I didn’t go.”

  “You think that video that Andrew has is her?”

  She nodded. Tears dribbled down her cheeks. “JB controlled her, and she did whatever he demanded.”

  “JB is dead.”

  Her mouth fell open. “I’m sorry, but I’m glad.”

  “I don’t blame you there. Now let’s go about setting the record straight.” He brushed his lips against hers. He could no longer control his desires. Pulling her tight against his body, he fell back on the bed. Their bodies intertwined in a wild dance that couldn’t be contained.

  Desperate to feel her naked skin against his, he yanked her shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor.

  She matched his passion, digging her fingernails into his skin.

  He arched into her as she dragged them across his back.

  A sudden burst of heat rushed through his bloodstream. He shifted her head, stroking her long hair through his fingers.

  She tipped her head back, letting out a groan of pleasure. He dabbled her neck with kisses, sliding down to her shoulders, tugging the straps of her bra.

  Her breast escaped the loosening fabric. Her nipple puckered against his touch. He lifted his body and stared down at her.

  “Don’t stop,” she whispered as she tossed her undergarment across the room.

  Wild goosebumps covered her legs as he rolled her shorts over her hips. Her body was a temple, and he bowed to worship it. From the moment he’d laid eyes on her in Mexico, he’d been mesmerized.

  His hands glossed over her soft skin.

  “Stop torturing me,” she said, her breath labored. Her chest heaved up and down as if she couldn’t catch her breath.

  He chuckled and kis
sed her knee at the same time his hands rounded her firm behind. He pushed open her legs, then glided his fingers to her, knowing what she liked, what drove her insane with passion. He needed her to lose all control, and quickly.

  He kissed her intimately, stroking her insides as moans grew louder and stronger.

  He could tell she fought the convulsions her body demanded. That he demanded. “So beautiful,” he whispered, diving his tongue deep inside her, tasting her sweetness.

  The need to give her body comfort surrounded his senses. Nothing else mattered. She needed him to give her something real, something that would make her feel anything other than the pain of being alone in the world.

  Her muscles tensed. “Oh, God.” She shivered, gripping his shoulders. Moments passed as her body relaxed, and she sank into his arms.

  He smiled, then kissed the swell of her breast, nibbling gently as he made his way to her neck. “Was that good for you?” he asked with a chuckle.

  “Oh yeah.” She cupped his face, then slammed her tongue into his mouth.

  He grew dizzy as she devoured him like a huntress toying with her prey. He managed to pry their lips apart.

  Her eyes twinkled as her hands splayed across his chest, massaging as they descended to his stomach, and then into his pants. For a brief moment he held his breath while her hand came around his hardness. “Stop.” He clutched her wrist, then pulled her hand carefully from him.

  “Party pooper.” She tried to scowl, but the giggle gave it away.

  “Trust me, the party’s just beginning.”

  “Then why are you stopping me?” she asked.

  “Because if you do that, I won’t get to do this.” He nestled himself between her legs, plunging deep inside her body.

  “Oh, my God.” She wrapped her arms and legs around his waist, drawing him in ever deeper. She matched his movements as if she knew exactly what he would do next. They were two hearts beating as one. He never thought a woman would ever seep into his soul like Ainsley had, but he would move heaven and earth to make sure she had everything she ever desired.

  He buried his face in her neck and let himself go like he’d never done before. His climax ripped through his body like ocean waves beating against the sand. No sooner did he think he’d be able to take a deep breath than those waves crashed again.

  After he collapsed on the bed, it took a long moment before he could see straight again, only he knew, if he couldn’t have her in his life, his vision would always remain a blur.

  Chapter 7

  Keanu stepped from the house, sipping a cup of decaf. The sun had started its decent in the sky. He scanned the area, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He stepped back inside and made his way to the kitchen table and the laptop that Brodie and his buddies had provided. He lifted the top and followed the instructions to get into the new email where he found the one Tex had sent.

  Here are all the documents I have been able to gather from police reports, to eyewitness statements, and miscellaneous papers having to do with the death of Janet and Captain Emerson. It’s a lot of reading, so let me break down some of my thoughts.

  The autopsy report for Captain Emerson is questionable. I’ve found some inconsistencies, and I believe the report was doctored, though I haven’t been able to prove it. The really bad news is that the doctor who performed the autopsy is dead, and his assistant was fatally wounded in an accident in the morgue.

  Too many fucking accidents.

  Keanu rubbed his temples and focused on the rest of the email.

  Janet’s death was ruled an accident. She wandered from the group, and a nasty shark wandered by, and that was the end of Janet.

  Interesting way to say that.

  The statements given from her boyfriend and Andrew are identical, but if you ask me, very rehearsed.

  What doesn’t add up for me here, is that Ainsley isn’t listed as the person who ID’ed the body. It was JB, but according to the reports, there wasn’t much left of Janet. At first, because they found a necklace that belonged to Ainsley, they thought it was her. She quickly corrected everyone that she and her sister had traded places.

  Fuck. Why hadn’t Ainsley told him about the necklace? Or that her sister’s face had been destroyed by a shark.

  No one questioned the identity, and before dental records could be matched, Janet was cremated.

  Keanu sipped his soda. He glanced toward the hallway. Ainsley had yet to come out of the bathroom. Boy, did he have some questions for her.

  I’ve attached three pictures a friend sent me from Interpol. They have been tracking an Isis cell that’s been on the move, and they are concerned they are planning an attack on American soil. I have a guy working on enhancing the image. We know the man, but are not sure about the woman, but she looks a lot like Janet.

  Or Ainsley.

  Those last two words blew Keanu’s mind.

  He clicked on the grainy images. The woman had short blonde hair, but he recognized the facial features. He lowered the top of the computer and rubbed his temple. A noise caught his attention. Keanu turned to see Ainsley glide down the hallway with her hair knotted and falling wildly about her shoulders. A pinkish glow covered her tanned skin. She smiled as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

  She caught his gaze and stopped midstep. “What’s wrong?”

  “We need to talk,” he said, sounding harsher than he’d planned. Last night was last night. She needed to lose herself and, at the same time, be connected to another person. Keanu knew that feeling. He’d felt it many times. That’s how he ended up with her in his bed in the first place. He needed comfort only a woman could give him after a long mission, but he’d gotten more than he bargained for.

  “I don’t like how you sound,” she said, pulling at the rim of her T-shirt.

  “I’ve learned some things.”

  She eased into the seat next to him, twirling her hair, keeping her gaze locked with his. “You don’t look happy about whatever you’ve uncovered.”

  “It’s related to your sister’s supposed death.”

  “Supposed?” she said softly. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “I don’t know how to say this, so I’m going to show you.” He lifted the screen and studied Ainsley’s face as she leaned closer.

  “What the hell?” She reached out and pulled the laptop closer. “Where did you get this?”

  “Is that your sister?’

  “It could be,” she admitted. “Though we look like crap as blondes.”

  “I have to agree,” he said, “but that’s not the point.”

  She brushed her wild hair from her face. The sun hit the dark strands, making it shiny and bright. She didn’t tremble, nor did she appear scared. Eerily calm would be the only way to describe her. “You think she faked her death?”

  “You told me you felt sick, and that’s why she took your place. Then you told me that Andrew set up the scuba dive with the idea of giving your sister some time to think. If that were the case, why did—”

  “Janet asked me to switch. I really wasn’t feeling that well, but Janet begged me. She said she needed to blow off some steam. I don’t really like scuba diving as much as she did, so it was no big deal.”

  Keanu rested his hand on her thigh. “Andrew has been on a watch list, but everyone thought it was because of you. Your sister asks you to step aside. She winds up dead, or so we think. JB is dead. Your father is dead. Andrew is the last man standing. What I want to know is how close was your sister and Andrew?”

  “They were friends-ish. I mean, Andrew and I had been on and off for years. He was one of the few people who could tell us apart without having to look at my neck.”

  “Ainsley,” Keanu started, “you do see where I’m going with this, right?” He raised a brow.

  “I do,” she mumbled. “I’m struggling to believe it because you’re telling me that my sister was in bed with my fiancée, and they are both traitors.”

  “That’s what
it’s looking like, but we have to prove it.” Keanu looked at his watch. “Andrew is going to make his statement in a half hour.”

  “That’s gag-worthy?”

  Keanu chuckled. “When did your father suspect something might be up with Andrew?

  “I don’t know. When Andrew suggested I leave the country, I’d already told my father I thought Andrew was into something bad. I think my father believed me because he said to be careful and stay in contact. He told me to keep my passport with me at all times and that he’d take care of everything.”

  “Did you confront Andrew?”

  “I did.”

  “And?” Keanu asked. “Ainsley, you’ve got to stop keeping things from me. I’m not the enemy here. I want to help you. Us. Do you get that?”

  “He admitted he’d been working with terrorists.”

  “He did what?” Keanu raised his hand and wiggled his finger in his ear. “After everything we’ve been through, you decided to keep that juicy morsel from me?”

  Abruptly, Ainsley stood, knocking over the kitchen chair. It crashed on the white tile floor. “He came back to Mexico and dragged me out of the hotel room, telling me we were going to go to the airport. That I was going to go home. Only he took me to a dirty part of town and beat the crap out of me in a back alley. While he was kicking me in the stomach, he confessed he’d been the one to steal from my father. But like I told you, I can’t prove it. My father said he had the proof, but he’s dead.”

  “Then why haven’t you ditched me and gone to your family home or your father’s office?”

  She paced back and forth, biting on her fingernails. “Because, if I leave your side, someone is going to kill me, and up until today, you thought I was the terrorist. You wouldn’t listen to me. I thought if I stayed out of sight, I might have a better chance in the long run.”

  Slowly, he rose and closed the gap. He took her into his arms and held her while she let go and cried.

  And cried.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to lie to you. It’s just so overwhelming, and to think my sister might still be alive? I don’t know what to do with that. She might really be a traitor, and your people could shoot her on sight. Or worse, they could mistake me for her, and then I’d really be dead.”