After The Storm

by K. M. Scott

  Kate knew nothing of that. She’d never even seen a gun up close until she caught a glimpse of Roman’s sticking out of the back of his pants and then later saw it sitting on the hotel bathroom vanity. She didn’t even know anyone who owned a gun before him. Before the other day, the nearest she’d come to a gun had been those in the movies and on TV.

  She couldn’t even imagine what it must be like to have people shooting at you. The mere thought of it sent chills down her back.

  “What’s that like? Is it as terrifying as it sounds?” she asked, genuinely wanting to know what he’d experienced.

  Turning his head to look at her, he remained silent, studying her for a moment before he answered. “The first time it’s the scariest thing you’ll ever go through. You pray to God you’ll make it out alive. You’re afraid like you’ve never been afraid before in your life.”

  “And after that?”

  Roman narrowed his eyes and squinted as he looked away toward the water. “After that, you get used to it. You have a job to do, so you do it. People are depending on you, so there’s no time to be afraid.”

  She shook her head in disbelief. “No way I could do that. I’d be paralyzed with fear the first time and every time after that. I’d never be able to get used to it. I’m a coward.”

  His expression turned serious, and he frowned. “No, you’re not, Kate. You’re definitely not a coward. You’re braver than even you realize.”

  The intensity in his tone surprised her, but his words sounded like he was proud of her. She had no idea what she’d done to deserve that, though. If she wasn’t arguing with him, she was questioning his choices. Neither showed any bravery, in her opinion.

  “I don’t know about that. I just know I couldn’t handle people shooting at me all the time, even if the US government paid me enough to afford a house out here. No thanks.”

  Chuckling, he looked back at Butcher’s house. “He didn’t make that kind of money as a captain in the Army. Trust me. I know.”

  “So who is this Butcher guy? Does he work at Project Artemis like you?”

  Roman leaned back on his palms and smiled. “No. He’s in security now since he left the military.”

  “So why does he trust you so much to just let you crash at his house with me? I’m assuming you didn’t mention that I’m on the run from the cops. Is it because you guys served together? Because I’m not sure many of my friends would let me take over their house if they were away. Then again, maybe I just have bad friends.”

  “There aren’t many people in this world who would do this for me. Butcher and I more than served together. We watched out for one another over there. We were brothers in arms and that’s carried over to our civilian lives.”

  Kate had a feeling Roman wasn’t telling her the whole story, but as usual, he didn’t seem to want to give her more details than he’d already offered. So she took a wild guess.

  “Did something happen between you two? Does he owe you some debt or something?”

  He looked into her eyes and nodded. “You could say that, I guess. I didn’t do anything that any other of his men wouldn’t have done. He was that kind of leader.”

  Now she understood. Butcher and Roman were more than friends. They were blood brothers.

  “You saved his life, didn’t you? That’s why he trusts you with this house. Is that it?”

  She searched his eyes for the truth and found it. That’s why. Roman wasn’t just another of his men.

  “I didn’t do anything special. We all would have given our lives for one another. That’s what being a Ranger means.”

  “What did you do?” Kate asked, hanging on every word he spoke now.

  Roman’s eyes grew distant, and he looked out toward the lake in front of them. “We were conducting an assault on a compound and everything was going exactly as it was supposed to, but then in a flash, suddenly gunfire started coming from every side. We knew we had to get the hell out of there and regroup, but we were under attack. Butcher took one in the leg and went down. Three other guys got hit, so four of us knew what we had to do. I picked Butcher up and carried him out of that hellhole and they got the other three.”

  She gently touched him on the arm, and he turned to look at her like she’d interrupted a memory. “You say that like it was something ordinary. You saved someone’s life, Roman. I bet it wasn’t the last time you did that either. You’ve got hero written all over you.”

  Waving away the compliment, he shook his head. “I did what I was supposed to do. Now with this favor he’s doing for us, Butcher and I are even.”

  “I don’t even think you and I are even. You saved the man’s life. Trust me. As someone who’s been on the receiving end of your help, I’m willing to bet he doesn’t think you’re anywhere close to being even.”

  He didn’t respond, and Kate knew full well he wasn’t just pretending some fake humility. This was who Roman Gregory was. But she wanted to know more.

  “Why are you doing this for me? You stuck around when I know you thought the cops had every reason to suspect me of being part of Jonas and Samuel’s murders. Then when we found out what my boss was onto, you risked yourself and stole a car. You aren’t a law breaking kind of guy, so why are you doing this?”

  “It’s my job, Kate. I told you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. That’s my mission, and I’ve never not successfully completed a mission.”

  “How did you get involved in this Project Artemis?”

  He smiled, and this time it went all the way up to his eyes. “It’s a far less interesting story than you’re probably imagining.”

  “Try me. Something tells me it’s way more interesting than anything in my life.”

  “Says the woman who’s currently on the run and in the middle of some government conspiracy.”

  “No fair using my current circumstances against me. Stick to telling your story. How did you get started with Project Artemis?”

  In his usual humble way, he shrugged as if what he was about to say wouldn’t be far more impressive than anything she’d ever heard before. Just the fact that he willingly put himself in harm’s way to help a woman he’d never met outweighed everything she’d ever seen anyone do.

  “They recruited me. After I left the Army, I spent some time in security like Butcher, but guarding wealthy financiers and their mistresses didn’t do it for me. I wanted something else, and when Nick Hanson, one of the people in charge of Artemis, came to me to join him and a few others he’d recruited, I liked what I heard.”

  None of this surprised her. Roman had an honorable streak a mile wide in him.

  “Why did you leave the military? I get the feeling you’re the perfect type for the Army.”

  He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I left because it began to feel like nothing we did mattered anymore. I signed up and did my two tours in Afghanistan, but I needed something more. Something that let me know I was making a difference in the world.”

  Kate watched as Roman’s expression grew dark. She could only imagine the horrors he’d experienced over there and didn’t want to make him miserable by asking more questions about his time in the Army. Better to turn the conversation to something lighter.

  “So this Nick guy told you he wanted to protect women in danger and you, being the kind of guy you are, jumped at the chance to help people?”

  His eyes grew wide at her description of him. “The kind of guy I am?”

  God, he really had no idea what kind of man he was. “You know, the hero type. That’s why you didn’t like being some wealthy guy and his girlfriend’s security detail. There’s nothing noble about it, and if you’re anything, Roman, you’re noble to your core.”

  He thought about what she said for a long moment. “You say that like there’s something wrong with being noble.”

  “No. It’s one of the best things I’ve seen in a person in a very long time, but it’s not common by any means. Not anymore. You’re a throwback to a time
long gone, I think.”

  Her answer didn’t seem to make him any happier about how she’d described him. Instead of continuing the conversation, he grew quiet, and Kate didn’t know what she’d said to make him clam up like that. She hadn’t wanted to offend him by saying he was noble. She meant what she said when she told him how nice it was to see that in someone.

  Just when she thought he’d start talking again, he stood up. “I have work to do. You should come in. We can’t risk anyone seeing you out here.”

  Kate wanted to ask what she’d done wrong, but he didn’t give her a chance as he turned and began walking back to the house. She hurried to catch up to him, wishing they could return to their conversation, but to no avail.

  The moment was lost.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Roman knew he couldn’t leave Kate alone, but suddenly as he walked back to the house, he wanted to be anywhere else in the world. He didn’t want to discuss what he’d done for Butcher or why he jumped at the chance to work for Nick and Persephone at Project Artemis. The way she said he was a throwback to a time long gone only pointed out the obvious differences between them.

  She saw herself as an independent woman who didn’t need anyone to save her, and in her eyes, he was some kind of relic from a time when men like him tried to suppress the freedom of women like her.

  Not that he was a man who would do anything to protect a woman and a man who believed in honor and duty.

  The way she described him made it sound like there was something wrong with who he was.

  He didn’t want to think about that anymore. Time he got back to work on this case. The sooner he helped Kate clear her name, the sooner he could get back to the estate and the next assignment.

  “Hey, can we talk?” she said behind him as they walked through the front door.

  Without looking back at her, he said, “I have work to do. If you ever want to get back to your life the way it used to be, I need to talk to my friend who might be able to help us.”

  “The guy who owns this house? How can he help?” she asked, following him through the living room and into the hallway.

  Roman didn’t bother to explain that he didn’t mean Butcher when he referred to his friend. He knew more than one person, for God’s sake. Just because he used the word friend didn’t mean he meant Butcher.

  “Roman? Did you hear me or are you just ignoring me?” Kate asked just before he closed the bedroom door behind him.

  He sat down on the bed and called the estate hoping to talk to Xavier. If anyone could help them, he could. Roman knew next to nothing about computers, but his fellow Project Artemis member spent his days and nights consumed with them. The one member of the team who rarely got sent out on assignments, he helped whenever anyone needed to know more than what they could find out through a basic search.

  Nick answered, as Roman had expected, happy to hear from him. “Hey, Roman. I’m glad you called. We were beginning to wonder about you. How are things going down there?”

  “Things got a little more involved in the past day or so, but other than that, everything’s fine. I was calling to talk to Xavier. I’ve got something I could use his help with.”

  Chuckling, Nick said, “Ah, something our in-house hacker can help you with? I saw him earlier today, but I don’t know if he’s on the estate. Give me a minute and I’ll have Tess see what she can find out.”

  While his boss searched out Xavier, Roman reclined back on the bed and closed his eyes to enjoy the peace and quiet. Not that he disliked sharing a room with Kate, but he had to admit being alone came with its own benefits he’d missed since he left the estate.

  “Roman? I had a feeling you were going to be calling me today,” Xavier said in his usual way that made him sound so relaxed and casual.

  “Oh yeah? Are you clairvoyant now?” Roman joked.

  “Nah. I leave that otherworldly shit to Julian. He’s the one who always seems to know what people are thinking even before they tell him. It’s downright spooky, if you ask me. No, I just had a feeling I’d be hearing from you sometime soon. Call it a gut feeling.”

  “Well, your gut was right. The case I’m working could use some of your magic. Do you have a few minutes?”

  “I do if you don’t call what I do magic. You know it’s anything but. Hacking takes real skill. It’s not that hocus pocus shit at all.”

  Roman could tell by the sharp tone in Xavier’s voice that he’d offended him. Rarely did he sound anything but downright chipper, so the angry undertone in his words stuck out like a sore thumb.

  “Pardon my French, man. I’ve been in New Orleans for too long. You know how everything down here is voodoo. I didn’t mean to say your skills are magical.”

  For how prickly he could be, Xavier couldn’t stay angry for long. It just didn’t seem to be in the guy’s DNA. He liked having a good time too much to be miserable.

  “Aw, I can’t be upset with you, Roman. Out of all of us, you’re the most serious, so I know there’s no way you were busting my balls. I get that. So what can I do for you?” Xavier said, his charm returning once again.

  “Thanks. We’ve gotten as far as we can, and every time we try to get further, we hit a wall.”

  Xavier laughed. “That wall you keep hitting is what someone trying to hide something wants you to hit. That’s where I come in. So tell me about what you’re working on.”

  “I’ll send you all of what we have. Follow the money seems to be the idea,” Roman said, swinging his feet off the bed.

  “Politicians and money. Story as old as time, especially when you’re talking about Southern politicians. They’re as crooked as they come,” Xavier said.

  “Let me know as soon as you find something. In the meantime, I’m laying low with the client at a lake house just outside of New Orleans.”

  “I’ll let Persephone and Nick know. Stuck alone with a beautiful woman on a lake? Sounds like a vacation to me.”

  Roman brushed him off. “Yeah. Right.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. You deserve it, man. Of all of us, you’re the one who works the hardest since you never give yourself even a moment’s break. Enjoy a few days of peace and quiet and whatever else you and she decide to do.”

  “Bye, Xavier. Let me know as soon as you find out anything, okay?”

  He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and took a deep breath. With Xavier working on this case, Roman expected to make some headway soon. Now if he and Kate could just lay low at Butcher’s house for a while, hopefully this assignment could end without anyone getting hurt.

  A banging noise outside the bedroom door made Roman jump up off the bed and head out, his gun drawn. He rushed down the hall and searched the living room but found nothing out of order.

  He heard the noise again behind him and spun around toward the kitchen to point his gun directly at Kate’s head. Her eyes opened wide in terror, and she dropped a frying pan on the counter. So that was the noise he heard.

  “What the hell are you doing pointing that gun at me?” she screamed as she shot her hands up in the air to surrender.

  A quick scan of the room told him nothing was wrong, so he slowly lowered his weapon. “I heard a noise.”

  Kate picked up the frying pan and waved it in the air as she barked at him. “So you thought you should pull out your gun? Because someone making dinner for you is certainly dangerous. You can find my picture up in post offices across the country. Wanted for sautéing. Armed with a spatula. Considered dangerous. Proceed with caution.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Roman stuck his gun into the back of his pants and ran his hand through his hair. He hadn’t meant to frighten her. He just heard a noise and reacted the way he’d been trained to.

  “Why are you getting a frying pan out?”

  As she rummaged through Butcher’s drawers looking for something, she explained, “When I’m antsy, I like to cook. Since I’m downright terrified, you may get the best meal of your life. Your frie
nd’s fridge is pretty well stocked, actually.”

  “You don’t have to be scared, Kate. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  He meant that. Even though he’d only known her for a couple days, he silently swore if anyone tried to hurt her, he’d kill them. And he didn’t make that pledge lightly.

  “Says the man who just pulled a gun on me for wanting to cook dinner,” she said with a slight smile.

  “Not exactly,” he said, sitting down at the island in the center of the kitchen. “So you’re making dinner for us? What’s on the menu?”

  She turned and headed toward the other side of the room. “I’m thinking my world famous shrimp scampi.”

  “World famous?” he teased as she stuck her head in the refrigerator. “Are you a celebrated chef too?”

  Leaning back, she threw him a nasty glance. “Keep it up and you’ll get bread and water for dinner while I eat all the shrimp scampi.”

  “What? Am I in jail now?” he said with a chuckle, enjoying how she reacted to his giving her a hard time.

  Her arms full of ingredients, she kicked the refrigerator door closed and made her way back to start preparing their meal. Kate dumped an onion, a garlic bulb, a stick of butter, a bag of raw shrimp, and a single lemon onto the top of the island.

  With a smile, she asked, “Are you a scampi over rice kind of guy or scampi over pasta kind?”

  Roman didn’t answer quickly enough as he tried to remember the last time he had shrimp scampi and what it had been served over, so she narrowed her eyes to a squint and leaned forward toward him.

  “I’d say you’re a pasta guy. Am I right?” she asked with a quizzical look.

  He didn’t really care what she served the meal with, so he nodded and let her think she was right in her guess. “Pasta sounds good.”

  Without saying a word, she spun on her heels and marched over to the counter to reach up into a cabinet. Roman stared up at it, surprised at how stocked Butcher kept his kitchen. Did he routinely cook for himself, or did he just keep the place ready for friends who asked to crash for a few days? He had a hard time imagining him being much of a cook, to be honest.