Rogue Alliance

ELEVEN



Antsy didn’t even begin to describe how Shyla felt as she prepared for her date with Victor. It wasn’t anxiety; it was the anticipation of walking into the lion’s den. A person’s home could be very revealing. She had every intention to keep her eyes and ears peeled for any possible leads into his seedy world of drug dealing. A name here, a subtle question there - you never knew where it could lead.

As she drove up his long, winding driveway, she licked her lips and quieted her mind. She donned the secretary alias like a well worn hat and pushed the doorbell.

It surprised her when the body guard answered as opposed to a butler. He offered his hand.

“Hello. I’m Brennan. Victor is on an important phone call. He asked that I show you around. I hope that’s all right.”

“Well, hello, Brennan. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Shyla, but I’m sure you already know that.”

When she took his hand he held it for a heartbeat longer than she’d expected and looked deep into her eyes. She noticed his were a vivid green, similar to her own. They looked straight into her soul as if seeing past her façade. She felt suddenly vulnerable. Her breath caught. What was he looking for?

She smiled. Brennan released her hand and stepped back.

“Come in, please,” he said, “I’m sure it won’t be long before Victor joins us. He has been looking forward to it since this morning.”

Shyla followed him out of the foyer, heels clicking on the marble floors. She’d broken her promise to avoid them, rationalizing that flashing a little leg never hurt on a mission such as hers. They took a left and stepped down into a lovely living room.

“Can I get you something to drink? A lemonade? Something stronger perhaps?” Brennan asked.

“Patron on the rocks, please,” she answered while taking in the decadent surroundings of Victor’s home. It had high, cedar-beamed ceilings. The décor was vibrant in Native American designs and colors. It had a masculine feel. The far wall was mostly windows displaying the vast expanse of land which lay in the valley just at the foot of the mountain. No wonder he’d fallen in love with it. It was beautiful.

Brennan lifted an eyebrow but poured two fingers of the requested drink.

“Did you enjoy your shooting lesson today?” he asked.

“It was…interesting. Let’s just say that. I think maybe I’ll find a new hobby, though. My shoulder is pretty tender.”

She smiled and took a moment to observe him better. His face had strong features. Everything about him exuded strength. It seemed as if the space around him had to expand just to fit his presence. An image of him wrapping his strong arms around her filled her mind. She wasn’t sure if the embrace was passionate or violent, but it sent a shiver through her body.

He was still looking at her harder than she liked. She was under his scrutiny. It was time to turn the tables.

“So Brennan, how do you know Victor? You don’t look alike so I’m guessing you’re not brothers. But I’ve been wrong before.”

If it bothered him that she was asking questions he didn’t show it.

“No. We’re not brothers. He and I are business partners.”

“Oh yeah, what kind of business are you in?”

“Jewelry. We buy and sell gems from all over the world.”

It was Shyla’s turn to raise an eyebrow.

“Oh, really? How interesting. And Victor said that he just moved to town. Did you move here too? Or are you a local?”

Brennan propped himself on the edge of the back of the sofa and cocked his head to the side.

“I’m fairly new in town as well.” His answers were short. He looked uncomfortable talking about himself.

“Oh, yeah? I only just moved here last week from Seattle. Where are you from?”

Something very brief but very intense flickered over Brennan’s face. It was enough to pique Shyla’s interest.

“Nowhere special,” he answered.

“Oh, come on. We all come from somewhere,” she prodded.

“Shouldn’t you be saving the twenty questions for your date?”

Shyla heard the dark warning in his tone. He was done talking about himself. She held his gaze. She would not be intimidated.

He stood.

“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll let Victor know that you’re here. It’s not nice of him to keep you waiting.”



*



Brennan was glad to get out of that room and away from her searching gaze. Her questions had been fairly innocuous, but there was something about her penetrating stare which unsettled him. It was more than just inquisitive curiosity. It was an instinctive knowing that he was more than met the eye.

He knew she knew it, even if it wasn’t on a conscious level. She was watching him. But he was watching her, too.

He took the stairs two at a time and glanced over the banister when he reached the landing. She was standing at the window, looking out. Her outline was trim. Her dark hair was pulled back into a long pony tail. There was something about the way she held herself that was familiar to him. She looked like a feral cat; guarded, wary, and ready to pounce, ready to defend.

He understood that all too well. What he didn’t understand was why a girl like her would need to feel like that.

A small twinge crept into his gut when he thought of the possibility of Victor and Shyla’s date becoming intimate. It made him uncomfortable. He didn’t want Victor to touch her at all and that thought shocked him. What did it matter to him? It would likely happen whether he liked it or not.

Still, he didn’t like the idea at all. He wanted to touch her. He had since he’d spotted her at the shooting range. It was a reaction he had chalked up to simply being deprived of the touch of a female for much too long.



He knocked softly on Victor’s door then poked his head in.

Victor waved him in.

“Is she here?”

Brennan nodded.

“Good,” Victor said, “I’m nearly done here. You shouldn’t have left her down there alone. That’s not nice.”

“That’s funny. I just told her that it wasn’t nice of you to keep her waiting.”

“True, true,” Victor smirked, “I’ll be right down. Thanks, Brennan.”

Brennan walked out of the door but he didn’t go back down and join Shyla. He figured he’d better keep his distance for the time being.