Heart of Danger (17 page)

“I couldn’t even imagine you doing something like that. You love helping people, and honestly I think saving lives is just in your blood. You wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.”

He stroked his hand up and down her arm. “No, I wouldn’t. And you see that; she didn’t. Or maybe she just didn’t care.”

She placed a soft kiss on his lips. “Thank you for saving me. I know I have said it at least a dozen times since we have been back, but I just don’t feel as if I can say it enough. Thank you.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to you in Australia.”

“You got to me when I needed you most, Micah. That’s all that matters.”

He smiled one of those half hearted lopsided smiles that she saw whenever he was trying to pretend he was in agreement. Maybe he couldn’t see it now. Maybe he was just so angry with himself over missing her in one location and not being able to protect her from Diego Valdez, but eventually he would see that he came when she needed him most, and he had been there for her ever since. He was her hero; her knight in shining armor riding up on a black stallion. She never believed in fairytales, but she believed now. He was her prince, her knight, her hero and the love of her life. There was a time when she thought she would spend eternity without him ever knowing how much he meant to her. Now he knew, and he wanted her as much as she wanted him. She had her fairytale, and now it was a reality. The only thing to do now was make sure Diego Valdez didn’t drag her back into hell.

“You’re quiet,” Micah placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Are you sorry about what we just did?”

“God no! I’m so happy about this, about us…there is an us right?”

“Of course. I don’t just crawl into bed with a woman just to do it. If I’m there it’s because I’m committed. I want us to be committed, Natalia.”

“To each other and not to a funny farm I hope,” she was finding her twisted sense of humor again. She didn’t think she would, but being with Micah just made everything seem so safe and so right.

He laughed. “Yes, to each other.”

“Good. Me too. I was actually just thinking about Kelly. She always thought I would be with you one of these days.”

“Smart woman.”

“Yes she was. I miss her.”

“I know,” he pulled her into his arms. “You’ll survive this, Natalia. I know it hurts right now, but you will survive this.”

“I know,” she sighed. “I just wish she had survived with me.” She slipped her hand down to his butt cheek. “Enough about sad things,” she kissed his lips. “Let’s do more of this.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for more of me?”

“Oh yeah,” she winked. “I’m ready.” She playfully pushed him onto his back as she climbed on top of him. He was such a handsome man. His eyes were the most amazing feature, in her opinion. His eyes just spoke to her. There was so much warmth and strength in every look. And the color, wow! That color made her heart beat faster every time she looked in his eyes. His dark hair was the perfect accent to his eyes. When she finally worked her eyes south of his, she would honestly say that the man had a body built like a fortress. He was all hard muscles, not in a body builder way, but in one of those “man who works out” kind of ways. He was sexy, very sexy and seeing him naked today had been so much better than all of the fantasies she had about him.

Chapter Eleven

“O
f course I’ll be there,” hearing Miriam’s voice still broke Natalia’s heart. “Yes,” she felt her own voice trembling. “Yes, I’ll say a few words at the service.” She jotted down the date, time and place that they were holding the memorial for Kelly. They had chosen cremation for her because those were her wishes as stipulated in her will. Even in such a subject as death Kelly was constantly thinking about her family. She wanted to save them money—not that she needed to. She always said funerals were a waste of life-living money. For all of her spontaneity, death was the one thing Kelly actually made plans for. It wasn’t as if her parents would have cared about money at a time like this. Of course no parent ever imagines having to memorialize their child. It was just so unnatural.

“What did you just do?”

Natalia heard the deep timbers of Micah’s voice the moment she disconnected the call. Miriam had called her on her cell; she hadn’t called Miriam. Although maybe she should have called her. She wasn’t sure what the proper etiquette for something like this was, but she knew how much it hurt her to hear from Miriam so she could only imagine it caused Miriam the same pain to hear from her. “They are holding the memorial for Kelly in two days. I told her I would be there. My parents should be in town by then too and I’m sure they’ll want to see me.”

“Natalia…”

“She was my best friend and my sister, maybe not by blood or law, but she was my sister by heart and I have to be there.”

He sighed as he sat down next to her at the dining table. “Okay. I’ll talk with the guys and we’ll make it as safe as possible for you, but this is risky, Natalia.”

“I have to be there.” It was just as important to her as it was to Miriam. Micah scooted forward in his chair and leaned into her, placing his forehead on her forehead.

“I will keep you safe.”

She could hear the need in his words; that uninhibited need to keep her away from danger. “I love you, Micah.” She had said it before and she would say it as many times as she could. If things went badly for her at least he would know that she loved him.

“I love you too,” he whispered. “But if you think that excuses you to death then you’re crazy. You do not get to die on me.”

She placed her hand on his cheek, cradling it softly. “Am I always going to have to worry about Diego Valdez coming back for me? I mean, even if we make sure he doesn’t get me this time, is he going to try to come back next year or the year after that? Will I ever truly be safe?”

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. “I doubt that they give day passes in hell, and that’s exactly where he’s going if he comes anywhere near you. You will be safe.”

She understood the meaning, and the anger, behind his words. She couldn’t tell him not to do what he had already set his mind to doing. Her fear now was that if he couldn’t save her he would blame himself for a lifetime and she didn’t want him to do that. She just wasn’t sure those were the words she could utter to him right now. He was near boiling point and those words might tip him even closer toward it.

“Micah…” the knock at the door interrupted her words. He held up his hand, removed the weapon he had in his waistband. She hadn’t even realized he was carrying it. He shouldn’t have had to; not in his own home. She was bringing danger to his front door, provided Diego figured out where she was. But how could he? Even if he could find her home he wouldn’t be able to figure out who she was staying with.

“Hello bright eyes,” Alex strolled into the dining room. “I’m your bodyguard for the afternoon while Micah takes care of some business. I don’t cook, but I do play a mean game of strip twister if you’re interested.”

Natalia laughed as he dropped the game onto the dining table. Micah was not in a laughing mood apparently, because the look on his face was far from a humor induced mood. “He’s kidding,” she quickly added.

“No getting naked with my woman, Alex.” Micah folded his arms over his chest.

“Ah, so the two of you…” he looked between the two of them before giving Natalia a fist to fist connection. “It’s about time he got smarter.”

“I agree,” she winked at Micah and she noticed how his rigid stance relaxed a little. “Micah, could you pick a black dress up from my place? I don’t have anything appropriate for a funeral with me.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Alex interjected. “And what’s this about a funeral?”

“Two days and Miriam will be holding a memorial for Kelly. I’m going to be there.”

“That’s…”

She held up her hand to stop Alex from talking. “I’m going to be there. And I need a dress.”

“I’ll ask Charlie to pick you one up from the mall and drop it at our office. Then one of us will bring it to you.”

“Micah, that’s ridiculous. I have plenty of dresses in my closet at home. Just go pick one—preferably dark in color, black or blue or something like that will do.”

“I can’t do that, honey.”

“Why not?”

“Because somebody has already breached the parameter at your place,” Alex’s voice was so smooth, as if he wasn’t telling her that the threat had become even more real; that there wasn’t one of Diego’s men who had made it to her home already.

“He found me,” she closed her eyes, trying to settle her tumultuous emotions.

“He won’t get to you, but I have to try to keep your location secret. We’ll arrange something for the funeral, getting you there should be easy, but getting you out and back to my place without an unwelcome escort will be the part we need to sort out. I’m thinking a Hail Marry should work.”

“Oh yeah,” Alex nodded. “That should work. We’ll get the team on it.”

“Are you all talking football?”

They both laughed. “Just strategy, honey. Just strategy.” He kissed her, very much like a man in love, and then he excused himself from their company.

“Why didn’t he tell me?” She heard the door close behind him as he left.

“Because he’s trying to keep you as safe as possible without worrying you too much. Your knowing that he’s here really doesn’t do anything does it; other than make you worry; right?”

“I still should have known.”

“You know now, and what good does that do?”

She shrugged. He was right. She knew now and it didn’t do any good because she couldn’t do anything about it. “I’m scared, Alex.”

“You have four military men looking out for you. Two of those men were deep in the trenches on special operations so trust me when I tell you, you will be safe.”

She nodded. “Use me.”

“What?”

“As bait.”

“Hell no!”

“He’s coming after me,” she put up her hand to stave off his rant of objections. “He’s coming and you all can either do this on your terms or just wait and hope you’re prepared for whenever he might show up. Make him come to you on your terms. If he knows where I am then he’ll come. You’ll all be positioned and ready and you’ll take him and his men down. But if you don’t do it this way, and he finds out where I am, then Micah is the only man who will be here to fight all of Diego’s men and I don’t want to risk him getting killed because of me.”

Alex looked at her and shook his head. She could tell that he knew she was right. It would be better if they chose the battleground and had the location set and ready for whatever came their way. “He won’t like it. He’ll never go for it.”