“You’re just saying that. These clothes are tiny. I barely fit.” She pretended to pout.
The only reason she barely fit was because of those double D’s. It was a reason most women would kill for. There was no complaint needed at all.
“Baby, the only thing that looks better on you is nothing.” That was truth, only her naked body could rival how she looked now.
She widened her eyes and glanced over her shoulder.
“Xander,” she chided and swat my hands away when I tried to touch her breasts. “Jack’s down the hall.”
“He didn’t hear me, and he won’t see me either,” I teased.
She rolled her eyes at me. “What am I going to do with you?”
I reached for her tiny waist and pulled her to me. “Woman you know exactly what to do with me.” I was trying for lighthearted to cheer her up.
“I do.” She leaned closer to my ear and giggled in that sexy way that I loved. “I plan to do a lot with you when you get back. Including that thing you really like.”
Now it was my turn to widen my eyes since I loved everything she did to me. She could do it all.
“I need to hurry back then.”
“Yes I agree, you definitely need to hurry back.”
I drew her down for a kiss.
I was going to see Jack’s contact. His name was Dorian Patterson. He was an ex-military man who worked the cyber terrorism division as an senior intelligence analyst. The minute I heard that I thought he sounded right up my alley. I hadn’t had the privilege of doing much hacking in this gig, so this would be cool. It put my computer science skills to good use.
The worry returned to her eyes when she moved away from me.
“How long will you be gone for?” she asked.
“Not sure baby, I’m not really sure what we’ll be doing.” The only good thing was that Wes would be joining me there.
Frankie was going to stay here with Jia and Jack.
Depending on what I found, that would be when I contacted Ethan. It wouldn’t help me much with everything else but I guess I was considering it as my last attempt to help, since I blew the mission by getting caught.
Part of me was hoping for some help with keeping Giovanni off my back too.
I wasn’t, however, relying on it though. It wasn’t their problem or their worry that I’d taken the man’s daughter and declared her mine.
“Then what Xander? I don’t think we can stay here forever.”
“Brazil.” That was what came to me last night. We needed to sort some stuff though.
She smiled at that. “Really? Brazil?”
“Yeah, for a little while, just till it blows over, then Europe.”
I actually saw the hope fill her eyes and a sheen of light fill them.
“Europe? You’d want to go there with me?”
I nodded. “Yeah. We can find somewhere in Europe.”
“Not Italy, that will be worse.”
I chuckled. “I imagine so.”
“Spain is nice.” She smiled and leaned down to kiss me again. “Thank you Xander. I love that you thought of me in such a way. We don’t have to go to Europe though. We could just go somewhere we’ll both be happy. I want you to be able to do what you want too.”
“We’ll talk and see where’s best. Try not to worry about what’s happening. You’ll be okay with Jack and Frankie while I’m gone.”
She beamed. “Jack’s going to show me how to make blueberry muffins.”
I laughed at that. “You’ll love those. His taste like heaven if heaven had a taste.”
“It’s nice. I really love cooking. My mother made sure I could cook, but she wanted me to love it. Food tastes so much better when made with love.”
“I believe you.”
I stood up and took her hand. We walked out of the room and I closed the door, sealing away Claire’s room. I’d probably never go back in there.
“I’ll come say goodbye, just gonna see Frankie first.”
She bobbed her head and gave me one last kiss before going down the stairs.
I made my way over to Frankie’s room, he was just changing his dressing and looked stronger than he had when we arrived.
He acknowledged me as I came in with a nod. He was worried too.
“Hey pal everything good to go?” He asked. We’d spoken briefly earlier about what I was doing today.
“Yeah it’s all good. It should be. Are you okay to stay here?”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I’m thinking of where we can head to next. This place is a given Xander. Giovanni can find us here. It’s where you lived. Can’t stay here forever.”
I agreed. “I know but we’ll have more muscle here for a little while. I’m gonna see what I can do when I get back. Have you been in touch with your family?”
“Yeah, they’re okay. No sign of trouble. Vinny’s looking in on them for me and treading carefully.”
That was good to hear.
“I’ll do my best to get back here soon and we can come up with something solid,” I promised.
“Cool.”
He still looked tense but that was to be expected.
I left him hoping we could come up with something more today.
Wes hugged me hard when he saw me.
We met outside Dorian’s house which was just a fraction smaller than Jack’s place. He had the same sort of set up, with the land and lake and the house that looked like he’d had it custom built. It was nice with that homely feel.
I hugged Wes back, getting that emotional reunion feel again. Like we were brothers. When he pulled away he punched me hard in my arm.
“You fucking prick!” He scowled. “Don’t you ever do that to me again. No more ass backwards plans where you get caught.”
I held my hands up. “I know and I’m sorry.”
“You aren’t sorry, you’d fucking do it all over again.”
I more than likely would. “Wes, come on man. You know I didn’t have much choice. It was a shot I took. It blew up in my face but I had to take the chance.”
“I know, but it was still fucked up. Ethan was freaking.”
“What is he doing now?”
“He went back to liaise with his people. I think he was just happy you were alive. He did lose his shit though when we realized you’d been captured and I told him what happened.”
“I know he must have.”
“Didn’t get to speak to your girl. I tried to call her a few times.” He looked defeated. “But… prior to your message the other day, intel spied on Giovanni and listened in on a conversation with Armand. We heard Jia was missing. Also that Frankie took her, and helped you escape. We did the math and assumed she was with you.” He raised his brows.
“Yeah. Lots has happened. I’ll fill you in later. ”
“Later? Come on Xander. I’ve been worried sick.”
I could imagine that being true. “This first.” I pointed to the house.
He looked over. “Well, what’s this about?”
I thought it was best to wait until he got here to talk to him about why we were meeting Dorian.
“I just need some answers. This guy can do some backtracking. Jack thinks something was off in the beginning. He thinks The Ra got involved via someone higher. Like from the CIA or SMF.”