Knight Watch: An Alliance Agency Novel: Book 2

by Kells, India

  Kingsley pulled into the parking lot at the Alliance Agency and put the car in park. He looked at her as they sat there. “You okay?”

  Sydney nodded and meant it. She would get through this and have a beautiful life because it was what her parents had wanted for her. Her parents had loved her, and she had loved them. She would not let anyone stop her from having a life that would make them proud.

  Kingsley reached out and took her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. Sydney looked at their hands. His so big and tan, hers small and pale. Instantly the image of his body against hers as she cried out for him hit her mind. She had to admit it was happening quickly, and it made her head buzz, but there was a connection with this man.

  “I don’t understand what’s happening here, Sydney, but I feel something between us. I know it feels rushed, but I can’t seem to help myself. Do you feel it too?” His dark eyes met hers, full of warmth and feeling.

  The saliva dried in her mouth at his words. Should she be honest and admit she was attracted to him and make herself vulnerable? Her mind drifted to her parents and the love they had shared. They had adored each other and been so in love. She realized she wanted that for herself, but she had to take the first step and admit she liked Kingsley first. “Yes, I feel it, but it terrifies me.”

  “I know. It’s not as if we have to act on it right away. I don’t want to pressure you. It’s a complicated situation, but I didn’t want to let that slide. In my line of work, you learn not to wait. But one step at a time, Sydney. Let’s get your uncle dealt with and see what happens. No pressure, no promises.” He dropped a kiss to her knuckles then which seemed so gallant and sweet.

  “Deal.” She smiled and sighed in relief at his words.

  * * *

  Kingsley let her hand go happy for the moment, and they got out of the vehicle to find Nick standing there.

  “Wow, nice car. Where did you get it?” He ran a hand over the hood like a lover’s caress.

  “My dad and I built it before he died.”

  “What happened?” Nick asked, indicating the bullet holes and dents.

  “We were at Sydney’s dad’s place, and someone broke in and attacked us while we were checking out the garage.”

  Nick straightened, his face going from relaxed to severe. “Did you get a look at them?”

  “Not really, three young men, but they didn’t seem like they had much training. We did, however, find a clue. I need to update the team on the plan, and I have an idea that involves Mercy too.” He ushered Sydney toward the door as Nick followed.

  Moving them swiftly through reception, he stopped long enough to ask Cleo if she could call Mercy, James, and Malco into the conference room for him.

  “Sure, King, I can do that for you. How’s she holding up?” Cleo was looking at Sydney.

  He turned and watched the woman who had placed herself firmly under his skin in such a short amount of time it was giving him whiplash. “She’s great,” he answered, then walked away, deliberately ignoring the questioning look in Cleo’s eyes.

  James, Malco, and Mercy walked in a few minutes later and settled themselves around the table as Nick spoke with Sydney about her muscle car. It seemed the entire team was taking Sydney under their wing.

  “Thanks for coming in. I have an update on the case and an idea I’d like to put to you guys.” Kingsley leaned back in his chair beside Sydney; his relaxed posture not betraying anything of how he felt.

  “Shoot, but I do have some information that might impact that if you want it first?” Malco offered with a frown.

  “Tell us.” Kingsley’s heart sunk as Malco looked at Sydney with an apology.

  “I’m sorry to say, Sydney, but it looks like your mother’s accident wasn’t an accident. The corner where it happened has no surveillance cameras, and honestly, it’s too long ago for anyone to have kept any recordings anyway, but I spoke to one of the nurses who treated your mother. She said she was alive and talking when they brought her in.” Malco sighed and rubbed his leg, a visible sign he didn’t like where this conversation was heading. “Her injuries were considered severe but non-life-threatening. She even mentioned a visit from her husband, but after he left, she went into respiratory distress and died. Nothing was ever put together, and they figured they had missed something on the initial exam.”

  “How does this prove it wasn’t an accident?”

  Kingsley could tell from Sydney’s tone she didn’t want to believe both her parents had been stolen from her by the man who had kidnapped her.

  “Your dad was in Tampa when it happened. There are flight manifests to prove it. Whoever it was that visited your mom; it wasn’t your dad.”

  “My uncle,” she whispered, dropping her head.

  “Yes, that’s my guess.”

  “Anything else?” Kingsley asked as he fought not to take Sydney’s hand in comfort.

  “Not sure. Maybe a lead on the mechanics that serviced your mom’s car, but I’ll update you when I know more.”

  “Thanks, Malco. Now, Sydney and I went to her father’s house. While we were there, we found a book hidden in a compartment only she and her dad knew about in the car they built together.”

  “Wait. You helped build that car out front?” James sat forward with renewed interest on his face.

  “Yes, it was a wreck when we got it, but we restored it and pimped a few things.”

  “Be still my beating heart. Marry me, Sydney,” James begged as he fell to his knees and held a hand over his heart in a dramatic gesture that made them all laugh.

  “Get up, you idiot.” Mercy shook her head even as her lips twitched with a smile.

  “Sorry, James, I have a thing for tall, dark, and handsome and you’re only tall.” Sydney quipped showing her cheeky side.

  Kingsley laughed at the expression on James’ face but knew he had taken it in fun when James also laughed. “You wound me.”

  “As I was saying,” Kingsley said, getting back to business, “we found a book in the compartment with a poem in it. Sydney believes it leads us to her mom’s aunt’s place in Indiana. I propose we—that is Sydney and I—go there and see if we can find anything while Mercy poses as Sydney to draw out Rutherford and his men.”

  Mercy looked at Sydney. “I can do that. We’re similar in build and looks.”

  “I need you to be visible but not obvious. James, you act as if you’re guarding her. We’ll hide the car in the garage so they have to go looking if they want to find her. I suspect by now they have a clue she’s got help, but they won’t necessarily know it’s us yet. It’s not going to take them long to figure it out though. And someone will have to get my car from her dad’s place.”

  “Yep, sounds good to me.”

  “Right. Let’s get moving on this. I want to be on the road in a couple of hours.”

  “We’re driving?” Sydney asked as everyone stood.

  Kingsley moved closer to her fighting the pull to touch her but worried he would scare her off if he pushed. “Yes, they’re less likely to trace us if we drive. We can stop halfway if you want.”

  “I hope you have a spare car then because let me tell you, I’m used to a certain level of comfort in a car, and a Prius isn’t gonna cut it.”

  “Is that so? Well, maybe I’ll put the Prius in the garage and get my other car out.” He moved closer and watched her eyes dilate.

  “Yeah, and what car is that?”

  He stopped a hair’s breadth away from her. “You’ll have to wait and see won’t you,” he said his voice a husky growl.

  “Umm, I guess so.” She tipped her head to the side, watching him intently.

  Yep, this woman was going to kill him on this ride.

  Chapter Ten

  Sydney floated on the verge of consciousness, surrounded by the comforting sound of the roaring engine and the scent of the driver that was becoming so familiar, wondering if she would be able to live without it. His presence at her side had become vital to her well-b
eing.

  As soon as they put the plan into action—which was to have Mercy act as her with a bodyguard following her around—Kingsley had said something to Nick, who’d disappeared swiftly. Before she could blink, Cleo had packed a bag with all she could need as well as some food and hot coffee for the road. In less than an hour, they were out the door. The drive was long, almost 20 hours straight through, longer if they stopped along the way. By her calculations they would arrive sometime the following morning.

  Kingsley’s car had made her smile. It was the latest Mustang Shelby, in dark Highland green, like Steve McQueen’s in Bullitt, he’d specified with evident pride.

  The Brit operative wasn’t joking when he said he was into muscle cars. It may not have the same old charm as her father’s GTO, but it was a nice ride, nonetheless. They’d left Miami around midday, and it was as if all the stress and grief slowly dripped out of her. All those hours without sleep in her cell caught up to her, and she’d finally let go and crashed.

  Kingsley didn’t say a word. She suspected he was always checking up on her, trying to gauge her mood, and Sydney was still debating if she liked it or not. There was no denying he was considerate, but she didn’t want anybody tiptoeing around her. Especially not him, even if the real reason why was still an enigma.

  Lulled into sleep once more, reassured she was as safe as she could be under the circumstances, Sydney let her thoughts drift until she was home again and walking down the sidewalk leading to the house.

  She was grumbling, frustrated, unable to remember why. The sun was setting, and it was getting cooler, but her thoughts were all about Jeremy and how good he looked all sweaty returning from practice. As soon as the bell rang, Sydney often ran straight from her last course to the practice field to secretly fawn over the blond heartthrob as he played, even if he wasn’t interested in her. That’s why she was upset. The guy only looked at those stupid cheerleaders.

  Climbing up the porch stairs, she unlocked the door before dropping her bag and opening the fridge door. Her dad was away on a business trip, but he’d made sure there was enough food to feed an army. Taking out a box of frozen pizza, she was about to pop it in the oven when the doorbell rang.

  When she opened the door and saw her uncle Raymond with a smiling Troy behind him, images started to disintegrate in her mind. She remembered everything—the screams, the pain, the hands pawing her body, tearing at her clothes. It was the laughter that still drove her mad to this day. After countless hours of therapy, the nightmare always brought her to her knees. Raymond’s maniacal laugh and Troy’s ragged breath in her ear invaded her dreams as she begged and screamed, battling them the best she could but destined to lose. Over and over again.

  “Sydney!”

  A deep, strong voice sliced through her pain like the cracking of a whip. It wasn’t supposed to be there. It was a new voice, but one that was familiar, comforting. Bolstered by the unexpected energy, Sydney fought even harder, and for the first time in all the years of nightmarish dreams, she saw her two attackers step back.

  “Sydney!”

  Jerking awake, her breathing ragged, she braced for her attackers to strike back at her, punish her for her defiance. It took time for her to come around, to take note of where she was, to realize she was in a car, the passenger door wide open. Kingsley crouched close as the sun started coloring the horizon as it lowered in the sky, a cooling breeze fluttering over her skin.

  Slowing her breathing, shivering from the evening air pouring inside the car, Sydney was in a haze between the fear and the first sensation of victory she’d had in a long time.

  “Hey, Sydney. Are you okay?”

  After a slow nod, she took a deep breath and relaxed in her seat. “Sorry, bad dream.”

  Kingsley exhaled in turn, and his guard loosened. “Yeah. I got that. Couldn’t wake you. The way you screamed, it sounded like someone was killing you.”

  Even if it shook her to the core every time she relived the worst day of her life, she was lucky enough to have the capacity to fight through it. Kingsley looked as if he had seen a ghost, his skin so pale against his dark beard, his body reacting like he had run a marathon.

  “Are you certain you’re okay?”

  His voice was thick with concern, and once he was satisfied with her nod, he pushed a water bottle in her hands and straightened, taking a few steps away from the car.

  The water felt good as she watched him walking along the deserted road. She had no idea where they were. It looked like some sort of rest area in the middle of nowhere. She saw him pace for a while before stretching and raking his hand through his hair several times. His back was to her as he faced the multihued sunset. Getting out of the car, Sydney stretched a little, her body still battling the lingering uneasiness. She had come to terms with the fact that nightmares would be part of her life until the end, but it was Kingsley’s reaction that made her curious.

  Slowly she approached until she was standing by his side. “Are you all right?”

  The look he gave her almost made her laugh. “Me? You’re asking me if I’m all right? Christ!”

  Again he raked his fingers through his hair, pulling at the roots.

  “I’m sorry if I scared you. I…”

  “Don’t you dare apologize to me!” He clenched his jaw before relaxing again. “I… When you started to thrash in your seat, I knew you were trapped in a bad dream. I’ve flirted with PTSD myself enough times to know the signs.”

  Again he looked at the horizon, but he was far from contemplative. “I hate feeling helpless, don’t you see? Throw me into the worst firefight in the middle of Ramadi, give me ten seconds to disconnect a dirty bomb and I’m fine. I’ll handle it no problem, but the sounds you made…” He stopped and took a deep breath. “I thought the claws squeezing my heart were enough to stop it beating.”

  Sydney didn’t know what to do. It was the first time someone had ever seen her at her most vulnerable. Over the years, she had made sure her father had never noticed or heard her reliving the worst day of her life. As for lovers, they’d been scarce and so few she’d always slept alone.

  Pushing back against her defense mechanisms and her reactions, she got closer and circled his waist in a tentative hug. Her body tensed at the contact, unused to being intimate, but after a lungful of his familiar scent and the sure thump of his heart against her ear, she relaxed.

  It took her a moment to realize Kingsley was frozen solid in place, arms wide, and barely breathing. The image it conjured in her head bubbled into chuckles. “Maybe they don’t do hugs the same in England, but here we respond by returning the hug.”

  She heard the air whooshing back into his lungs at her words. Ever so slowly, as if she was made of glass, his muscled arms came around her smaller frame, light as a feather at first, and firmer as time passed and he relaxed. When he finally put his bearded cheek on top of her head, she allowed herself to enjoy the embrace.

  “Look, Sydney, I get the feeling something happened to you. Something more than your parents dying or being kidnapped. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or push any boundaries.”

  Through the rumble, she almost missed his words. It made sense why he was always on his guard with her, anticipating the worst. He was a good man. However, the more time she spent with him, the less her body agreed with being good.

  “You’re right, something did, but I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”

  His lungs filled, and he exhaled with a sigh. Sydney did the same in return. It was as if all that warm strength of his was seeping into her, infusing her with courage and a feeling of safety. The list of men she’d felt safe with was short, and had only contained her dad. Now she could add Kingsley to the list. Only in a very different way, and the underlying attraction she felt for him simmered in the background. Pressed against him, she felt her body coming alive, emerging from a long slumber.

  Sydney was the first one surprised. She’d tried over and over again with the few men she�
�d dated to become aroused, and now, just by being there, this man made her tingle with a desire she’d thought was gone forever. The more she relaxed, the more that feeling overtook her body. Exhilarated, feeling alive, her core clenched, and she decided to ride the wave. Carpe diem, as they said.

  Rubbing her cheek against his pectorals, she let her hands trace the warm path of muscles over his shirt. The quick shiver she felt under her hands brought her such a surge of joy and power. It fueled her even more.

  Kingsley’s breathing accelerated, but his arms remained still, waiting.

  Unwilling to let go of her sudden courage, Sydney circled his neck and brought his lips to hers. The man yielded to her silent command and wisely left his large hands on her hips.

  Strong emotions battled inside her head as they kissed—astonishment, lust, apprehension, and fear. A damning fear that rose steadily and threatened to destroy the moment until Kingsley emitted a low groan, his hands twitching. The feel of his controlled strength against her, the taste of him, brought her back to the present, reminding her of her own courage and of something she’d never thought would happen again. However, before she could indulge more, she forced herself to step back.

  The sun was getting lower, and when Sydney was able to focus again, her eyes went to him, his face bathed in the late evening light. Her heart stuttered—he was breathtakingly handsome. Even if neither of them had moved, they were both breathing hard.

  Kingsley swallowed, clearly trying to get his thoughts together. “Are you all right?”

  It took a moment for Sydney to gather her thoughts to reply, and she smiled at the words they used so often. They had become a kind of barometer to reassure themselves. Once she did, she bit her lips. “In case you missed it, I’m the one who jumped you.”

  The grin that split his beard was a mix of amusement and hunger. “Sydney, you can jump me whenever you feel like it. My body is at your disposal.”