Keep Me Safe (9 page)

I smile and nod before looking, shrugging, towards the team. Each one seems as puzzled as me.

“So you didn’t send the letters, dead flowers…..follow me? How can I believe you, Viktor? I want to……but” I urge for answers.

“Call your Policeman. Alexei was attacked last night. Your Policeman will tell you.”

***

DCI Jack Mercer grunts deeply. “I can confirm that an attempt was made on Alexei Bortsov’s life late last night, Sky. He is critically ill in intensive care at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital under guard. I was going to call you early this morning but not at this ungodly hour.”

“Was he poisoned?” I press for details whilst maintaining contact with Viktor.
I shoot a quick look to Kane.

“Too soon for the results to be confirmed. But the early indications show that, yes, he has been poisoned. But he is critical and we are not sure if he will make it through the next few hours.”

“Oh my God……who is responsible for this, Jack? What happens now?” I look to Kane as fresh anxiety creeps inside my body and a tremble shakes its way through me. Kane narrows his eyes in concern. He gestures to me to give him the mobile phone.

“Jack, it’s Kane.” He barks down the receiver. “We have Alexei’s men here.”

“Then make peace with them. You might need them soon. Is Sky still in earshot?”

“Yeah.”

“Then send her to make coffee or something. Or fetch the first aid box……I’m guessing Alexei’s guys probably need it.” Jack sniggers, drawing sharply on a cigarette.

Kane holds the phone against his chest as he indicates to Brains to remove me from the room. It does not escape my notice that I am deliberately sent on an ‘errand’. I am learning to do as I am told. This is for my protection.

Kane gestures to Storm and Dalton to stand down and release the men.  All the men stand, shaking out their bruised and aching muscles, before strangely shaking hands and seating themselves.

“Ok, what’s the story?” Kane presses on.

“Bortsov is hanging on to life at the Chelsea and Westminster. If he makes it through the next couple of hours, then he must be fucking blessed or something. It looks like poison…..same as the hooker from Sky’s documentary or so the early indications show. But they haven’t confirmed all the test results yet.”

“Bortsov is not my concern, Jack. He’s
not calling the shots strapped up to life support.” Kane throws a look to his team. Storm and Dalton instinctively understand the hidden message. “So who is the threat?”

“We are grasping at straws here, Kane. Someone close to Alexei want
s him dead. The woman who attacked Sky at the Hilton is the key to all of this. The hooker was just an unfortunate side show, we are guessing. Sky poked her pretty little nose in and now they / whoever want to shut her up before she digs any deeper. That niggle in her mind she keeps talking about is the answer to all of this. And someone wants to make sure she never finds out what that niggle is. This mess just got fucking messier, Kane”

Kane snatches the phone away fro
m his ear. He gestures to the Russians. “Start talking. Tell us everything you know. Who might want Alexei Bortsov dead? And make it fast……because that woman in there making you coffee and fetching you something to ease your pain? Someone wants to shut her up permanently……and that is making me really, really angry. You understand?”

Chapter Thirteen

Natalya slides herself off his cock, pulls down her skirt and reaches for a cigarette. She takes a singular long slow drag before handing the nicotine tube to the overweight and sweaty man with the big, fat grin on his face.

She eyes him cautiously feeling only repulsion. Yet she pouts playfully before speaking. “I’m still unsure, my love. Maybe we should have waited before
poisoning Alexei. The timing was all wrong. Now the English Police will put two and two together…..they will realise that Alexei is not the one who is trying to erase that fucking journalist. And what happens if Alexei doesn’t die?”

“Alexei will die. You had enough in the syringe, didn’t you? Tell me again what he looked at when you were sucking his cock and stuck the needle in.”

“I’ve told you two times already.” Natalya turns away from his face.

“Then tell me again. It will make my cock hard once more and then you can suck me off. You love to suck me off, don’t you
, my sweet.”

She forces a wide smile
and lies through her teeth. “I live for it, my love.”

***

Luckily, the neighbours bought the story that the commotion and noise w
ere merely boisterous party antics taken too far. Jean was on the verge of calling in the Police when she saw four strangers leave the coastal house looking dishevelled and battle weary despite Viktor’s friendly wave to her as he and his guys exited the driveway. I was duly sent to bat my baby blues and provide reassurance that all was well at
Creek Haven
.

Now that this Safe House has been effectively breached, we are on the move again.
We rush through our goodbyes to the neighbours as Kane leads our convoy out of Mylor Village heading east. We have all heard of the saying ‘
hidden in plain sight’
right? So that is why we are headed back to London as that is the last place anyone would expect to find me.

Kane draws my hand into his and thumbs across my knuckles. He senses my anxiety regarding returning to London. I am anxious yet I trust his judgement. We have driven in silence for the majority of the journey so I jump slightly when he suddenly speaks.

“We haven’t had time to talk about last night. I think we need to make sure we are on the same page before we get to the new house and are surrounded by the others, don’t you?” He shoots me a side glance.

Instantly, I feel a sense of dread. I’m not sure I
do
want to discuss last night. Last night was incredible….mind blowing. And last night Kane claimed my heart. I gulp back the heavy feeling lumping in my throat before responding.

“
On the same page?”

“Yeah.
Last night was amazing, Sky. But when Alexei’s men turned up to party, I should have been protecting you and ready, not lying next to you thinking of wicked ways to wake you up so we could make love again.”

“But you did protect me, Kane.” I counter.

“I don’t want to argue, Sky. Yes, this time I did protect you. But what about next time…..and there
will
be a next time. I’m trying to be upfront with you. Whoever wants Alexei Bortsov dead is still coming after you, too. They think you know more than you think….and they are probably right and….”

I interrupt him. I just want him to cut to the chase. Last night was a one
off. “Just say it, Kane.”

“You know what I’m trying to say. You’re a highly intelligent woman. But when we get to the new house, we are in separate rooms from now on, ok?”

I quickly turn my face away to stare out of the window. I know he is right. I am not stupid. But that doesn’t stop the rush of feelings or the solitary tear trying to escape from my eye. I spend the remainder of the journey pretending to sleep.

***

The London borough of Richmond upon Thames
incorporates some
1,714
streets. Home to the rich and famous for centuries, from Henry VIII to Mick Jagger, Richmond-upon-Thames boasts magnificent houses and gardens, many of which stem from the
river
that forms the heart of this popular enclave.
Marble Hill House
, the Thames-side villa built
around 1724 for Henrietta Howard, mistress of King George III, can also be found in this rich and vibrant borough. The finest feature of the borough is
Richmond Park
, with its herds of red and fallow deer. The most magnificent park in the capital, this expanse offers some of the most attractive countryside in Britain.

From the exterior,
Meadow House is truly deceptive set behind wrought iron gates and located within a short walk of the pedestrian access to Richmond Park, Stag Lodge Riding Stables and the shops of Kingston Vale, which include a Post Office/ Newsagent, Dry Cleaners, Food / Grocery Store. With the added security of private enclosed gardens both front and rear including a ‘look-out’ roof terrace, it is ideally suited to lend itself as an inconspicuous Safe House.

We pull in
to the gated driveway, pile in through the entrance and deposit our luggage into our individual rooms. Brains and I set about preparing a supper for us all. I am aware of her watching me intently. As we load trays with breads, cheeses and fruit, she elbows me sharply in the ribs.

As I turn to scowl in response, she gestures to me to hush. “Ok, what’s with the long face? I know something is troubling you so spill it, Sky.”

“I’m just tired, Brains. There is
nothing
to spill.” I fake a quiet smile.

“I know you and Kane slept together last nig
ht. That was obvious.”

“And it was a one off. I know exactly where I stand with Kane. So there is no more to discuss. As I said, I am just tired.” I finish loading the remaining items onto the trays and begin to make my way through to the dining room. She follows closely behind. She watches as I robotically lay the table.

“You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you?” She looks me directly in the eyes. I turn to avoid her gaze, announcing to the guys that supper is ready.

***

Storm stretches out his long legs, shakes out tired shoulders and leans back into his chair on the roof terrace. No passers-by or neighbours would question why two people would be sat here on a balmy summer evening.
No-one but them would consider that this is a perfect look-out to spot potential intruders.

He steals another look at his boss. Kane is engrossed watching over Dalton and Sky deep in conversation in the rear garden. Occasionally, he assumes that Dalton must have said
something highly amusing that would make Sky laugh so freely, given the seriousness and tension in her current circumstance. He should be admiring Dalton, he knows, for helping her to relax but instead he finds himself balling his hands into tight fists.

Storm eyes the tension held tight in the face and neck of Kane, shakes his head slightly, and coughs to get his attention. “
You know he’s just doing his job, right?”