Rogue Alliance

NINETEEN



“I don’t like it one bit,” Shawn said, shaking his head, “how in the heck are we supposed to help you if things go sideways when you’re an hour’s flight away?”

Shyla wasn’t as frustrated with Shawn’s behavior, this time. His concern was real and warranted. It was better than dealing with his persistent anger and irritation towards her. Maybe Jason had been right and he really wasn’t such a bad guy after all.

“Listen, I appreciate your concern,” she said, “but this is what we’ve been hoping for. I can’t believe we’ve managed to get to this point so fast, and we aren’t going to waste the opportunity.”

“Okay, well you’re taking your gun right?”

“Shawn, as much as I’d like to, I can’t be found with a gun, Victor would be suspicious for sure. Besides, if I really were just a secretary going on a weekend getaway with my boyfriend, I wouldn’t be thinking twice about protection. You guys have to remember that, to you, I’m a cop and going in to a sketchy situation, but to Victor, I’m just his love interest for the time being. He wouldn’t take me if there was anything to worry about. We’ll be on a romantic sailing trip for most of the weekend. His meeting’s not until Sunday. It’ll be smooth as pie.”

“Pie’s not smooth,” Jason said, jumping into the conversation, “it’s chunky and delicious, but not smooth.”

Everyone laughed.

“Okay, well it’ll be as smooth as something that’s smooth, then.”

“How about ice cream? Ice cream is smooth, and creamy.”

“Why are we talking about food? Now I’m hungry,” Shyla teased, secretly glad of the light banter. It eased the tension. Despite her speech about this weekend retreat being simple, she was anything but relaxed about it. She wasn’t really sure what to expect or what she was getting herself into, but she was excited to get closer to Victor’s secret life and criminal activities.

“I want you to take this,” Hal said, stepping forward. In his hand he held a small recording device, “use this if at all possible. You never know what kind of information will come up this weekend.”

If she wasn’t mistaken, Hal looked a bit worried himself. It touched her to think these guys she had only known for a short time were so thoughtful about her well-being. In all her time on the force, she had always managed to irritate most and flat out avert the rest. Building a bond or relationship was new. She didn’t know how to feel about it.

“Thanks, Hal. Eli had said you guys were the right ones for this case. I guess he was right. We’re gonna surprise everyone and bust this guy’s balls faster than they would have ever imagined.”

Another round of laughter bubbled up.

“Seriously, though,” Shawn said, his expression flattening, “don’t try to be a hero down there.”



*



During the flight to San Francisco, Shyla curled up in the seat of Victor’s small private plane and feigned sleep. It was a short flight, but she wanted to avoid Brennan’s watchful gaze. Plus, she was hoping if they thought her asleep, they might be inclined to speak freely.

Unfortunately, they were fairly quiet, engaging in only casual conversation. There was only one brief moment which caught her attention when Brennan spoke up.

“What is your plan for her while you have your meeting?” he asked.

Victor cleared his throat.

“The meeting will be conducted on Sunday, after we return from our sail. I want you to make the rounds while we’re away, check up on everyone. We will meet you back at port at eleven. The meeting will take place on board at noon while we are docked. It will be brief and to the point. It will not be made into a big deal. You haven’t met Cougar yet, but he’s the nervous type. He doesn’t like strangers or outsiders. You’ll have to take Shyla for a walk while I meet with him.”

“Cougar? Is that the guy’s real name?”

“Do I give a shit, Brennan? No. I don’t. The guy wants to be called Cougar, I call him cougar. He’s one of our best. You think you can handle taking Shyla out for a half-hour at best?”

It was interesting how Victor seemed to drop his charm when he thought she wasn’t listening.

“Of course,” Brennan said, “It’s just that I’m supposed to keep you safe. I would feel better if I was able to stick around.”

“I appreciate your concern. But I trust this guy. I’ve known him a long time. It’s not that he wouldn’t try to get one over on me if he thought he could get away with it, but he knows better than to f*ck with me. Also, like I said before, he gets antsy when there are fresh faces around. A girl like Shyla would give him a heart attack. I mean, just look at her. Doesn’t she make your heart race just looking at her, sleeping, vulnerable?”

Shyla’s own heart quickened as she listened to the odd conversation and waited to hear Brennan’s response. There was only a heavy silence.

“You don’t think she’s breathtaking, Brennan?” Victor prodded.

“I don’t really look at her like that, I guess.”

Shyla detected the lie in Brennan’s voice. She knew he was attracted to her. She could feel it, just as she was oddly attracted to him. It was palpable and nearly as strong as their distrust for one another. Victor must have recognized it as well, hence the questions.

She had better rein that in. She needed Victor’s full trust and engagement if she wanted to carry out this investigation.

Victor changed the subject to the shooting club. They chatted another few minutes then he took his seat next to her. She squirmed and yawned. She prepared for landing. It was sure to be bumpy.



*



The Shannon was exquisite; a luxurious home built with excellent craftsmanship, furnished with lush furniture, rich in deep reds and gold. It was small but so comfortable and cozy that one would forget they were floating at sea.

Shyla knew the weekend would pass painfully slowly as she anxiously awaited Sunday. She was desperate to get a look at this Cougar fellow. And now that she knew she would be unable to stick around for the actual meeting, she was glad that she had brought the small recording device. At least that way, she would be able to hear the exchange later on. Who knew, maybe it would lead to the hard evidence they’d been waiting for.

Later that evening, Shyla stood on deck and watched the sunset cast primrose pinks and scarlet reds across the horizon. Victor sneaked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, whispering into her ear.

“Hey, are you okay?”

He had asked her so many times she realized her pre-occupied thoughts were causing him to worry.

She smiled and let him nuzzle her neck. She was craving a drink.

“I’m wonderful,” she said, “I was just enjoying the sunset. It’s gorgeous.”

“I’m glad you are enjoying yourself. You’ve been so quiet today, I wasn’t sure.”

“Have I? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be. I’m just not used to such extravagance; private planes, small yachts…you know. Your business must be doing very well.”

Victor pulled away. He opened a small hatch and pulled out a bottle of champagne.

“The business has always done well. Gems never lose their value. And women never stop wanting them.”

He smiled as he poured each of them a glass.

“What about you?” he asked, “do you like jewelry? I never see you wear anything but those small sapphire studs in your ears.”

“They were my mother’s,” Shyla said, self-consciously touching her right earlobe.

“Your mother must have been very beautiful if you look anything like her.”

Shyla felt her skin flush with embarrassment and with a flash of shame from the harsh memories of her past.

“I…I’ve been told I look very much like her,” she stammered.

Victor set the glasses on a table nearby but his inquisitive gaze never left her face. “Tell me about her, about your family. I’d love to hear about your childhood.”

Shyla was suddenly frustrated with herself for having lost control of the conversation. How in the hell had she allowed it to focus on her, especially her past and family connections? She wanted to down that whole bottle of champagne.

“Oh, it wasn’t too exciting. Nothing as exciting as yours I’m sure. I mean, chasing gems around the world? Now that’s interesting. Tell me, how did you get involved in such a career?”

“I guess you could say it just kind of evolved,” Victor shrugged, “I became close with a rich family who had many contacts and one thing led to another and next thing I knew I was learning the trade of gems.”

It amused Shyla that he was essentially telling the truth if she just inserted the word ‘drugs’ to replace the word ‘gems’.

“And have you and Brennan been business partners for long? You seem to trust him, so I assume that you two have been friends for a long time?”

“Well trust is big word,” he chuckled, “I’m not sure I fully trust anyone, to tell you the truth. You never really know what someone else’s agenda is or where their loyalty really lies. And no, we haven’t known each other for all that long. But sometimes you meet someone once and you just know that, as far as trust goes, they’re as close as your ever going to get. We both understand one another. And we both have each other’s back.”

Shyla wandered toward the table and lifted the glass of champagne to her lips. She sipped slowly.

“How did you two meet?” she asked.

There was a swift change in Victor’s body language and expression. He narrowed his gaze and his movements stiffened.

“Why the sudden interest in Brennan?”

“I was just curious. You have to admit he’s a bit odd and you two are an unlikely match. While you are friendly and outgoing, he just kind of lurks around in the background, following in your footsteps. And when I asked him where he was from he clammed up and acted like I had asked him if he were from the moon.”

Victor slammed the bottle of champagne on the table with a heavy thud.

“Well, that’s not my problem. That’s between you and him. I’m going down below to speak with the captain for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

Shit, she thought as he stormed off. She’d raised his alarm by asking too many questions. Now he was acting like a jealous boyfriend. She took a shaky sigh and waited till he returned.

When he stepped on deck, he was still heavy footed as he marched about pouting like a twelve-year-old boy. She almost wanted to laugh.

“Speaking of Brennan,” he asked, “that reminds me - I have been meaning to ask you two about the other night.”

Her heart picked up its rhythm. The urge to laugh was gone.

“What do you mean? The other night, when?”

“Last weekend, when you spent the evening at my place, I could have sworn I heard you two speaking down the hall. I couldn’t make out the content, but I did hear a brief interaction. At least, I assume that’s who you were talking to…unless you were talking to yourself?”

His eyes were sharp and waiting for even the slightest hint of hesitation or fear. She would not give it to him.

“Oh, yes,” she smiled, “I had hoped not to disturb you. I went looking for something to write on so I could leave you a note. Brennan must have seen me rummaging around and got spooked.”

She laughed.

“He thought I was an intruder. Can you believe that?”

Victor was quiet.

“Anyway,” Shyla continued, “once he saw that it was just me he settled down and gave me a pen and paper.”

She closed the gap between them. Looking into his face she ran a finger over his bottom lip before leaning in and giving him a soft kiss.

“Last weekend was amazing. But I am sorry I woke you.”

Victor’s expression was bland and unreadable. He ran his hand up her arm and settled just at her collarbone. His fingers lightly danced around her throat in a subtle threat.

“Did he touch you?”

When she didn’t answer the loose touch at her throat quickly tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh.

“Did he touch you?” he asked again through clenched teeth.

Victor’s icy tone sent a shiver down Shyla’s spine. This was the not-so-charming side that Shawn had warned her about.

“Touch me? No, of course not, Victor, you’re scaring me. You’re hurting me. I don’t understand what’s going on. You just finished saying that you trusted him. He has your back, remember.”

The darkness in Victor’s eyes fled as fast as it had appeared.

“I’m sorry, kiddo. I don’t mean to frighten you.”

He released her and stepped back. He snatched his glass of wine and took a sip. “I’m glad you were able to write that note. Otherwise, I would have been upset if you had left without a word.”

Victor’s rapid mood swings had her off balance. She needed to reel him back in. None of this would ever work if he doubted her.

“I would have spent the night, but…”

“But what?” his voice was still stern.

“I…was nervous because I really like you. I just needed some time to think.”

Something in him softened. She saw it melt away the lingering anger in his features. She stepped closer, once again closing the gap. Linking her arms around his neck, she gave a flirtatious grin.

“But I could make it up to you,” she said.

She started to trail kisses along his jaw line and down his neck. She felt him giving in as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Oh, you could, could you?” he murmured.

She took a few steps back, keeping her eyes locked with his.

The California September night had been warm but on the water, the light breeze danced on the skin and was quickly turning cool. Still Shyla reached around and untied the sash in the back of the sundress she’d chosen for the occasion. After slowly pulling the shoulders down, the dress easily slipped down her body and pooled at her feet.

Standing in only her panties under the moonlight with the gentle rocking of the sea under her, she should have felt beautiful, as if in a fantasy. But she felt bare, cold, and much too vulnerable for her liking. She felt like she was offering herself over to Satan himself. All for what? For her job? For a case?

She bit her lip and held out her arms.

His ravenous eyes roamed her body. He reached out and caressed her from wrist to shoulder, down to cup her breast.

“You are mine,” he whispered, pinching her nipple hard.

Shyla gasped but refused to make any other sound.

He released it and once again caressed her skin, so delicate, so gentle.

“You are mine,” he repeated. “No one else is to touch you.”

Clamping down on revulsion, fear, and disgust, Shyla wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in. In one swift move, he picked her up and carried her down the stairs into the bedroom below deck.