The Omega Team: Keeping Karen (Kindle Worlds Novella) (5 page)

If they had a better idea of who, he could be more assured that just being seen on a surveillance camera somewhere wasn’t a threat. “I know,” he said and closed the folder. “Tell me about college.”

“What?”

“Tell me about college. Did you join a sorority?” He couldn’t really see her in a sorority, but then again, what did he know? “You said you wanted to go away to school and learn all about life, so what did you learn?”

“That bookworms are the same no matter what state you come from and that my specialty had fewer women enrolled than I would have liked…not because women aren’t good at computers.”

No, he’d never make that assumption, not even to piss her off.

“I loved it, too. It was challenging and exciting sometimes, and other times it was scary as hell. I didn’t like being away from home. I thought I would love it, but the first few weeks… I would go to bed and lay there for hours listening to all the sounds.”

“The wrong sounds.” He remembered the feeling well. If not for pure exhaustion, he might not have slept at boot camp. “The first couple of weeks I was at boot, the other guys being in the room, some snoring, some not, the way the wind hit the building or the rain….it sounded off.”

“Exactly.” She set her laptop off to the side and pointed her toes at him. “Then there were the winters. It got so cold in Connecticut. I had no idea it could get that cold. I never had enough layers.”

“Yeah, the desert made Texas look kind of balmy. Not the same thing, but when the weather is different and the sounds are different—”

“And the food.” She grinned. “You don’t order a coke in Connecticut, you order a soda. No one makes good salsa, and even the steak tastes different.”

“At least you had coke and steak.” More than what he ate overseas. “What about friends?”
Don’t ask about guys.

“The first year in, I met some girls who were in the computer lab when I was, or at the Ringer—it’s a quieter bar on the edge of campus. They were like me, displaced, totally new to the area, and they didn’t fit into the various sororities. We formed a study group then we just started to hang out. We’re still friends, most of us…and we called ourselves the Dark Rowan Collective. Over the years, new students came in and they joined us. While we weren’t really a sorority or a social club—you know sanctioned by the school—we networked.”

“Do you still keep in touch with them?”

“Oh, yeah.” She curled her toes, and her gaze went distant. “They’re probably wondering where I am. I didn’t tell them about the car or any of the stuff that happened.”

The last thing they needed was for her social group to be hunting for her. “Do any of them live close to you?”

“No. Well, Maigen’s in Jersey, but closer to New York than Maryland. She might not notice for a while. She tends to get lost in her photography and day in the life photo blog.”

“
Dial M for Maigen
is your friend?” The woman was a menace. She photographed everything from cops to social injustice to the homeless and more. She put them all on a blog, and let the photos talk for themselves—or so her site claimed. More than one legal case had hinged on a photograph she’d taken and law enforcement tried to give her a wide berth because she always had a camera.

“Wow, you’ve heard of her blog?” Surprise filtered through the pleasure on Karen’s face.

“Yes. She’s a lunatic.” Which probably wasn’t fair, but the woman seemed to be everywhere.

“She’s eccentric. There’s a difference.”

“She came across a crime scene and took photos of it before she called the cops.”

“Now, wait a minute,” Karen said, sitting up and leaning forward. “Maigen had no idea the cops hadn’t been called. She was actually photographing graffiti in the area, to show how it migrated out from the center of the city and how artistic it could be. She didn’t actually notice the crime scene at first.”

Disbelief wound through him. “How do you not notice dead bodies?”

“You have to be Maigen and, if you knew her, you’d know why. She is one of the most gifted photographers I’ve ever met. She doesn’t use any graphic programs, she doesn’t touch up her photos. Everything she posts is exactly what she took. When she looks through the lens, she doesn’t see what we see.” Karen grimaced. “Admittedly, the crime scene was a bad example, but when she realized what she was photographing, she did call the police.”

“Then didn’t tell anyone about the pictures she took until after they showed up online.”

Folding her arms, she lifted her shoulders in a deep shrug. “I can’t really defend that, but I know Maigen. It wasn’t malicious or about click bait. It was her posting her photos. When they said they needed them for the case, she did provide them.”

“Uh huh.” He couldn’t help his chuckle, though. “Who else did you meet at college?”

“Lots of people, but the girls, they’re the ones who stuck.”

“What about guys?” Goddammit, he wasn’t going to ask her about guys.

“Do you really want to know about my dating life?”

No.
“Just wanted to know if you met anyone in particular.”

“What about you?”

“Me? I met lots of guys in boot and on the job. Didn’t date any of them.”

Her mouth fell open and formed a gorgeous ‘o’ then she laughed. The throaty sound of it beckoned to him. He loved the way she didn’t hold anything back. It was an open, honest sound. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know, but that’s all I’m telling you…” Not particularly fair of him, he supposed. “Except, I did date here and there. Nothing serious.”

“Me, too.”

“I find it hard to believe that only stupid guys went to your school.”

“Why do you think they’re stupid?” Challenge roiled in the question, but he didn’t back down.

“Cause only a moron wouldn’t ask you out.”

Her smile added a fresh layer of joy to the day, and a sparkle lit her eyes. “Yeah, well, maybe they did and maybe they weren’t as interesting. I was working on me, learning about me, being the best me I could be…and none of those guys were you. It never took me more than one date to figure that out.”

A deep, visceral pleasure settled in his gut. “Good.”

“Ethan?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m glad you aren’t married.”

“Me too, darlin’… Me too.” They needed to find these sons of bitches who were after her. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep his distance.

E
than James was a vicious
, cruel, and utterly wonderful man. He drove her absolutely bat-shit crazy. One moment he was all business, the next a solicitous friend letting her vent her frustrations. When he asked her questions, he wanted all the details from the funny stories to the boring ones to the how and why of her choices. Not only did he ask, he listened. Turning the tables proved harder than she thought, though.

Twice, when she’d asked him about the service, he’d diverted her with some anecdote that had nothing to do with it. Both times, his phone had rung. Whoever was on the other end of the phone left him aggravated, and he hadn’t been in the mood to talk afterward.

She could probably hack the router, because she knew he had wifi of some kind. The television had access to some of the Internet services for streaming shows. Every time the idea burbled to the top of her brain, however, she dismissed it. One, Ethan really didn’t want her doing anything to endanger herself and, two, he trusted her to do as he asked.

Trust sucks
. Despite the childish nature of the thought, she didn’t really feel that way. Boredom nibbled at her, but she didn’t like the sensation of being needy. Even the cat had abandoned her. He’d taken up residence on the arm of Ethan’s seat or trailed after Ethan wherever he went.

Traitor.

“I’m going to see what we have for dinner.” At least it was something to do.

“Hang on.” Ethan set aside his paperwork and rose. The gun he wore strapped to his side was kind of badass and terrifying. He seemed enormously comfortable with it. Since he was the one standing between her and danger, she should probably be grateful for his expertise. As if noticing her gaze, he glanced at the weapon. “I didn’t think guns bothered you.”

She’d grown up in Texas. Everyone had a gun, and most of the guys went hunting at one time or another. “Sometimes it just makes the situation more real.”

“It is real, but we’re safe here.” Not safe enough or he wouldn’t be wearing the gun. Leaving that argument alone, she led the way into the kitchen. At least if she had to be stuck somewhere, it was with Ethan and in a nice place.

“You never told me why you haven’t found a girl to take care of you.” The minute the words slipped out, she grimaced. What was her obsession? Did she really want to hear about some other woman? Especially if Ethan had a thing for her?

“I did find a girl, but not one to take care of me.” He tapped her lightly on the nose. “She was a work in progress.”

Warmth suffused her. “She’s still a work in progress.”

Bypassing her, Ethan opened the fridge. “Darlin,’ we all are. I was a kid in your gym glass then I was a Marine. Now, I’m a marshal. Next week, I might be a freelancer, working in personal security. Those are job titles.”

Moving to stand next to him, she peered into the freezer. “Is that lasagna?”

“Looks like it…” He pulled out the container. “Want some garlic bread to go with it?”

“When did you learn to cook?” Barbecue he could do, but he’d never been that skilled in a kitchen.

“I can read.” He flipped the container around to show her the reheating directions. “Work smarter, not harder.”

Snickering, she bumped him with her hip. “You heat the lasagna, I’ll make the garlic bread.”

“Happily.”

She ducked beneath his arm to get the supplies. There were a couple of large loafs in the pantry. Whoever stocked the house did a damn fine job of it. The prepared meals were a perk, but then she supposed when it came to witness protection, the marshals had it down to an art.

“And I get what you’re saying,” she began after setting up the stuff on the counter and splitting the bread. “We’re still us.”

“Yep. People grow. They change. Sometimes what fit when they were younger, doesn’t when they’re older.”

Did that mean he didn’t think they fit anymore?

“Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have until we don’t have it.” Yeah, that statement didn’t make her feel any better.

Pausing in her buttering, she glanced over to find him staring at her. The lasagna sat on a cookie sheet in front of him. The intensity in his gaze seemed to see right through her and her mouth went dry. “You can…say what you mean, Ethan. I’m a big girl. I can take it.” Over the last week, she’d coped with all kinds of changes. Ethan might have been her life raft, but was it fair to drag him down with her if it wasn’t where he wanted to be?

“Are you sure about that?”

Setting down the butter knife, she wiped her hands on a towel and faced him. “Yes. I’ve had a very hard lesson in how short life can be. We’re here together. It has to mean something or maybe it just means I’m the butt of a cosmic joke. I missed you. I had no idea how much until now, and I hate feeling like the ground could shift beneath my feet at any moment. I hate even more that the only reason we’re standing here could get you hurt…because of me.”

Something gentled in his eyes and his mouth softened into a smile. “Darlin,’ anyone ever tell you that you think too hard?”

“Yes, but he was picking on me at the time.” One thing Ethan had never been was intimidated by her brain. It was what she’d loved about him in high school. He admired her smarts.

“Yes, he was, but he meant it then and he means it now. You’re having a whole argument in your head about what I’m feeling or not feeling or what we did or didn’t do, aren’t you?”

Guilt tangled with embarrassment, and she shifted her stance. Something about the way he drawled the words soothed her ruffled emotions. “Maybe.”

“And I’ll bet you’re wishing you hadn’t kept asking now.” The earlier hint of humor returned, and he didn’t even disguise his smile this time.

“Actually,” she said, raising her chin. “I’m not sorry. I know this isn’t the right time and I’m sure there’s a dozen reasons why trying to bring us up as a viable topic is a bad idea, except I don’t think there will ever be a
right
time.”

“Nope.” Okay, agreement was not what she wanted in that moment.

“I said no before because I didn’t know who I was without you. I didn’t know who I could be. I didn’t think I brought a lot to the table, and I didn’t want to resent you.” Anytime now, her mouth could stop moving. One giant flaw in her plan, once she latched onto an idea, she really didn’t know how to let it go.

“So you said.”

“I know who I am, who I was with you and without you. I also know that I miss what we had.”

“We’re not kids anymore, Karen.” He didn’t sound particularly broken up about it. “I’m not going anywhere this time.”

Wait…what?

He closed the distance between them, and tucked his finger beneath her chin. The light touch, just the single one, seemed to melt all the crazy jitters into a pool in her belly. “I know who you are, too. I loved you then, and I love you now.”

“Ethan…” But he pressed his finger to her lips, silencing her.

“I love you. I know what I feel and I know what I want.” Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to her forehead and she almost sighed at the tenderness in the action. “Right now, I have to keep my focus on protecting you and finding out who is after you. After they’re caught, you and me? We’re going to do this.”

Relieved beyond measure, she kissed his finger tip. “You’ve decided, have you?”

“Damn straight, darlin’. Now, we’re going to make dinner and work together, think you can handle that?”

“I know I can handle you.” She wanted to bounce up and down, but settled for pressing a kiss to his jaw with the same tenderness he’d given her forehead. With her lips on his skin, she added in a whisper, “And for what it’s worth…I love you, too.”

“Of course you do.” He gave her ass a pat before nudging her back to the counter. “I’m fantastic.”

This time when she laughed, he joined her.

T
hey made
it through dinner by keeping it light. Not kissing her in the kitchen had to be the second hardest thing he’d ever done. Continuing to not kiss her ranked higher. “Do you like working freelance?” He’d tried to steer the conversations away from her work, particularly since the death threat emanated from something she discovered while working.

Tonight, however, they needed to talk about it. Grey and the Omega Team were closing in on the threat, but they needed more information. Information Karen might or might not realize she had.

“Most of the time. I work for me. Even when I take contracts from companies or agree to do work for them, my boss is me. I decide my work hours. I decide what jobs I’ll take.”

He latched onto the last line. “You don’t have to take every job offered?”

“Yes and no.” They loaded the last of the dishes into the washer, and he passed her a towel to dry her hands. “I’d like to say I can turn down anything I want, but I do still have to pay the bills. There are times when the work is feast or famine.” She hung the towel back on its hook, but he caught her hand when she would have headed for the living room.

It was dark outside. He’d done a couple of circuits before dinner. It was quiet. “Want to go for a walk?”

“Is that allowed?” Her eyes rounded.

He grabbed a ball cap from by the back door and dropped it on her head. “Yes, brat, it’s allowed.”

“Yay!” She actually did a little skip, and he gave her hand a squeeze.

“Stay next to me and no taking off.”

“Okay, don’t ruin my surprise with your practicality.” The tart retort was not what he wanted to hear, so he locked his legs and held the door shut until she sighed. “Sir, yes sir, right next to you sir. Close enough to grab your ass, sir.” She punctuated the sentence by giving his left ass cheek a squeeze.

“Really?” He eyed her impudent smile, enjoying the simple happiness shimmering in her expression.

“Absolutely. I’ve been stuck in this very lovely house for days and, while I can be a hermit, it’s usually ‘cause I want to be, not because I
can’t
go out.”

“Fair enough.” Being trapped had a debilitating effect on people, marshals and protectees alike. Sometimes they had no choice, and other times—like tonight—they had some wiggle room. No one knew where she was. Only three people knew she was with him, and none of them knew about the house in Destin. “Out there, what I say goes, all right?”

Some of her joy sobered, and she nodded once. “I get it. I promise to behave.”

“You don’t have to behave, you just have to stick close to me.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Her lips softened into a smile and, not for the first time, he wished the reason they’d been brought together again was a whole lot less serious.

Outside, the breeze flowed in from the Gulf carrying the scent of the ocean to tease them. Karen let out a whispery little sigh and he guided her down the path toward the beach. The white sands were soft and still warm from the day. The sun had already set, and lights in the distance the only hint of others intruding on their paradise. Holding her hand, he walked her toward the water’s edge. It took them out of the line of sight from the road, and they’d blend in to the night.

“So, you said feast or famine.” He wanted to get them back on their earlier topic.

“Yeah. Sometimes I have a lot of business, other times not so much. It works out. I have a budget, and I keep a good chunk in savings for the lean months. I can even take advantage of the downtime for spontaneous vacations or shopping trips.”

That startled him. “You were never much of a shopper.”

“For clothes? No. I’m a basic girl. I like comfy shoes and yoga pants.” She twisted to walk sideways, grinning at him. “I like toys.”

“Oh?” Intrigued, he wanted to pursue that line of thought.

“Yep. I have to have the latest gaming systems, and if there’s a new iSomething, well I get it, too. I love electronics. I guess I should warn you, I have very expensive habits.”

“Duly noted.” Amused at the animation in her step and her voice, he forced himself to scan the area. He couldn’t afford to relax his vigilance. “Tell me about the last job you were doing.”

“I told you, there were some accounting issues the bank kept running into. They hired me to vet their internal auditing software and to run my own programs. Someone had installed a skimmer. They were taking one-tenth of a penny from every transaction. Doesn’t seem like much, but you multiply that by thousands of transactions large and small every day for months…and it becomes a tidy sum.”

He nodded. “Once you identify the program, do you shut it down?”

“Only if the client wants me to. Most of the time, I provide them with a full report listing the program, where it’s running, and what it’s taken. If I can identify where the money went, I give them that and then provide a list of recommendations.”

“Why not just shut it down?”

“Because if they report it, the FBI or someone in a cyber division will want access to see what was actually done, if I tamper with the code in anyway without specific instruction, then it could give the person who did the crime a legitimate defense.”

Ethan frowned. “Something along the lines of you changed it and found it, so you had to know it was there…”

“Ergo reasonable doubt. It’s a bunch of crap and most people won’t buy it, but sophisticated coding is hard to explain and even harder to fingerprint. Not all hackers leave a signature, no matter what they tell you on television. Why would anyone go to so much trouble to hide a theft only to leave a sign about who they were?”

“To get credit?”

“Eh.” Karen shrugged, the absolute disgust in the single syllable tugging another smile from him. “You advertise something like that, you’re asking to get caught. No one wants the cops looking for them, even less the FBI. You know, ten or twenty years ago, maybe it seemed cool to be able to do something no one else could stop, but some of the most talented computer hackers actually work for the government now. It’s better to win in private and enjoy your winnings than it is to flaunt it and invite the bull to charge you.”

“Fair point. Why did those account transactions get your interest? Had the skimmer targeted them?”

The water lapped at the shore, the gentle sway of it kissing the sand a soothing soundtrack to score their walk. He kept Karen on the water side. If anything, his greater height and bulk would shield her. Tracking their steps, too, meant they were only a half mile from the house. Soon he’d have to turn her around.