“I’m well aware of that, Amaryllis. Do you know if Whitney paired you?”
She made a face. “He tried. It didn’t work. I was so repulsed by Starks after what he’d done to Douglas, no amount of pheromones was going to work. Whitney found that fascinating, but that was one more strike against me as far as Starks was concerned.”
“Sometimes Whitney only paired the man so that he was obsessed. Do you know if he included Starks or was it just on your side?”
“Starks was so fixated on me that I don’t think Whitney really needed to do it on his side, but I’m positive he did anyway. Starks was crazy.”
She gave her assessment matter-of-factly, but Malichai could see the little telltale nervous gestures. She was afraid of Starks, and he knew she should be. The man was capable of anything, and his ego was enormous. He was arrogant and felt superior to everyone. Malichai couldn’t imagine how he would get along with Whitney, who was a megalomaniac in his opinion, yet he’d managed for years. How?
“Babe, tell me about the relationship between Whitney and Starks. You said he became Whitney’s head guard. I imagine he traveled with Whitney as well.”
She nodded. “They would often leave, which was a relief for everyone. No one knew who was worse, Whitney or Starks.”
“Did you observe them together?”
“All the time. Whitney rarely went anywhere without Starks.”
“Did Starks defer to Whitney? Was he subservient in any way?”
She shook her head. “Absolutely not. He never appeared to be like some of the other guards. His head was always up. He was alert. He took the job seriously and acted as if he thought Whitney was worth guarding. That in itself was extremely rare. I can’t see Starks putting his life on the line for anyone, yet he clearly would have for Whitney.”
Malichai knew Starks wasn’t a team player. He would never have helped out a fellow GhostWalker. He’d been cut from the program for psychological reasons. Whitney had been the one to cut him. And yet he’d ended up working for Whitney, as had many others Whitney had deemed unfit to be GhostWalkers.
“He’s going to keep looking for you, Amaryllis. Once we get married and we’re back home, you’ll have to be prepared for Starks to make his try for you.”
She took a deep breath and let it out. He could see she was worried. “I know he will, Malichai. I’ve been careful here. I told Marie that an ex-boyfriend was stalking me and I had to be careful and she helped me as much as she could to hide who I was. I made up my last name and date of birth because I wasn’t certain when I was born. My paperwork wasn’t that good, that’s why I was so afraid when I knew the police would look closely at it. I’m sure Marie thought when Tag came in that he was the one after me.”
“You don’t have to worry about your paperwork now. That’s been taken care of. Because we’re getting married and you’re coming home with me, and you’re a GhostWalker, you’ll be valued as an asset by the government and protected at all times.”
“Great. I’m an asset.”
His smile was slow in coming because he was so worried about Starks being after her, but it found its way all the same. “You’re definitely an asset. At least to me. The government might think you are as well. No matter what, they have to protect you. No foreign government can get their hands on you. You’re really a national secret.”
She laughed. “I’m something. I’d better get downstairs, Malichai. I still have a job to do. And just in case those people have hired someone other than your friend to do us all in, I’ve got weapons stashed from one end of this house to the other. I don’t take chances either. I’m not so easy to kill.”
He was very certain she was telling the truth.
“You can do your walk-through and hopefully figure out what’s bothering you.”
“You don’t feel a threat at all?” Malichai asked. “Anything to raise your radar?”
She shook her head. “No. I just feel you. Maybe you short-circuited my warning system, in which case, there’s no more . . . um . . . sex . . . until we’re somewhere where we don’t need a warning system.”
“We’re always going to need one,” he protested.
She shrugged. “Well, I’m sorry then. No more sex for you.” She stood up and acted as if she was going to walk right past him.
Malichai reached out and caught her, pulling her into his body and closing his arms around her, locking her to him. “I’m afraid that’s a total no-go. Sex is going to be right up there with breathing, baby, so you’ll have to learn to keep the radar system in place.”
“I think you’ve permanently damaged it,” she said, looking up at him.
He kissed her. There was no looking down at that upturned mouth and not kissing her. His warning system might work fine, but his ability to stop kissing her was put to the test. He loved the way she tasted. The fire in her mouth. The passion that matched his. When he was finally able to come to his senses, he rested his forehead against hers.
“Listen, baby. Generally, when I have this vague feeling, it means a threat is headed my way, not that it’s here. It means it’s close. I just can’t shake the feeling, so I want you to be extra cautious. If you have to leave the house, let me know. Or let one of my brothers know.”
“I figured if you took the time out to have sex and then a long talk about Starks, the threat couldn’t be imminent,” she said. “I wish I felt it too, Malichai.”
He shrugged and straightened, reluctant to leave her, but knowing he really needed to do a walk-through before everyone else was up. “Promise me, Amaryllis. Had I known that Starks had gotten anywhere near you, let alone the things you’ve told me, I wouldn’t have let you out of my sight.”
A small frown crossed her face. She did that little nervous thing, stroking the pads of her fingers down her throat as if it ached. He stiffened.
“Babe. Starks. Did he choke you?” If he had, the man was dead. Malichai was going to hunt him down and kill him. He didn’t care if that meant going directly after Whitney and starting an all-out war with him. Half of those in the White House would support the hunt. The other half would probably sanction Malichai’s death.
She studied his face. “Honey, I don’t want to discuss Starks anymore. He gives me nightmares. Let’s just say, he made me so afraid I found the courage to leave and I did it in a smart enough way that I had a good start and could get out in front of them when they came hunting me.”
Yeah, the bastard had choked her. Malichai pushed down anger and forced himself to nod. Amaryllis was far too perceptive. Just as he was able to read her, she was able to read him. She knew, if she admitted what Starks had done, Malichai would go hunting. He didn’t need her confirmation. He’d gone on two missions with Starks. One had been enough to know his character. Two had shown all of them that Starks would put a bullet in their heads if it in any way benefited him. The man was certifiable.
Malichai followed Amaryllis out of the room. The hallways were dimly lit. Just enough light spilled from the ceiling to allow anyone to see where they were going. The lights weren’t so bright that if doors were opened it would disturb guests sleeping in the rooms. She headed toward the kitchen while he turned to make his way down the long hall.