Covert Game (GhostWalkers #14)

“You think about the sun setting and the two of us sitting on our porch. That’s the point of you being with a man like me, Zara. You don’t need to worry about whether or not you and the children are protected. If you know me, and you will get there, you’ll never have to ask yourself that question.”

He stepped carefully into the boat with her cradled against his chest. She didn’t know how he could remain so balanced, especially with her in his arms. The boat rocked, but his body seemed to just go with it, uncaring as he stepped to the center to place her carefully on the thick cushions.

“Tell me if that feels all right. It’s important to always tell me the truth. Few things get me pissed, Zara, but lies can get me there fast. There isn’t any need for lies between us.”

She nodded, knowing he meant every word of that. He was doing his best to show her who he was, so she understood what he expected in the relationship. He wanted her to do the same. She didn’t know what to expect because not only hadn’t she ever been in a relationship, she’d never seen one. She knew that was another reason Bellisia worried about her choosing Gino so fast. Bellisia knew Zara was going to have to follow Gino’s lead, but what she didn’t understand was that took all the worry and fear from her. She didn’t have to be afraid she was doing the wrong thing.

“My bum feels quite all right, thank you, Gino,” she informed him, swiveling around, trying to see everything all at once. She loved being outdoors, and the scenery was beautiful.

“We’ve got everything I think we need, including food. Drinks are in the cooler on ice. I brought a jacket for you just in case we come back late, and there’re weapons in the locker right at your feet.”

Her head went up, her eyes meeting his. “Are you expecting company?”

He shrugged. “Not really. Just being cautious. I like to plan for every contingency. Hang on, let’s get moving.”

The first fifteen minutes of the boat moving up the river toward the bay had her laughing and turning in her seat, trying to take in all the birds. Large white cranes walked on long legs in shallower water and others were in the trees on either side of the water. Everywhere she looked, there was something happening. Trees gave way to brush and then saw grass. Tall cypress trees rose up out of the water, knobby knees reaching toward the center of the river.

The current had picked up now that they were out in the open away from homes. The shallower waters gave way to deeper channels. She turned her face up to the sky and laughed. “Gino, thank you for this!” she shouted to him.

He put his thumb up, grinned at her and kept steering the boat straight down the river, clearly heading somewhere prearranged. Excitement skittered through her. She loved that she felt safe with Gino. She’d never felt safe, not even with Bellisia and Shylah. They hadn’t either. Whitney had made certain of that. She wanted Bellisia to feel this safe with Ezekiel, and she wished, with all her heart, that Shylah could find her way to freedom and land somewhere safe, if not with them.

The boat slowed and she looked around her. They had gone through so many twists and turns, going into canals and even one shallow waterway that was a little scary—she’d been afraid the boat would get hung up—she wasn’t certain where they were, but it didn’t matter. The sandbar was right out in the sun and the water was pooled in a crater right in the center of the bar.

“The crater is formed of mostly smooth rock, looking like one solid piece about seven feet across and as many feet wide. You can look right down to the rock floor. It can’t be more than five feet deep, maybe five and half in the deepest center,” he informed her. “Nice, clear water, no alligators.”

“Wow. So cool,” she said as he cut the engine to the boat. She loved the swamp. It was very humid, and a small bead of sweat trickled between her breasts.

“Wait right there,” Gino cautioned as he made his way to her. He handed her a water bottle and then pulled the boat onto the sandbar before spreading a blanket and carrying the tote, picnic basket and drinks cooler onto the little bar.

Zara watched his every move, her breath caught in her throat. She could barely take her eyes off him. He’d given her so much. There was freedom in allowing him to make decisions when she had no idea how to live outside Whitney’s compound. Still, she had to talk to Bellisia about Ezekiel, Trap and Wyatt. It wouldn’t be right to put that burden on Gino without first consulting her “sister” about the other men.

He took the weapons from the locker next, and she found herself looking carefully around their little spot of paradise. Even here, deep in the swamp, surrounded by the intricate canals, a place she was lost in without Gino’s guidance, he still worried about someone coming after them.

“Do you think Whitney has another team close by? Or Zhu? Did the person watching him tell you he’s left Shanghai?” Apprehension crawled up her throat.

Gino didn’t answer at once. He came back to her, moving like the predator he was, that fluid stalk that took her breath and made her heart pound. He stepped onto the boat, his weight making it rock slightly so that she clutched at the edge of the long bench seat she was perched on. He came right to her, crouching down so he was eye level with her.

“Princess, do you think, for one moment, I would take a chance on losing you? I went out this morning with three others scouting. No one has come near our piece of the swamp. Not close to Trap’s, not where I’m building, not near Zeke and Bellisia’s build, and not near the Fontenot home. If I thought you were in any kind of danger right now, I would have you locked up in the panic room. They’ll come, but not today and not here. No one could have followed us the way I came, not without me noticing.”

He picked her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck, relaxing into his hold. She could enjoy their afternoon together without worry. “Where was everyone?”

He must have known she was talking about Bellisia. She desperately wanted to talk to her and straighten things out between them.

“Zeke took Bellisia to the bay. He said sometimes she needs to swim in salt water. He’s been keeping her hydrated. Apparently, she has a difficult time if she’s not soaking in water daily.” Gino put her down on the blanket. He was gentle about it.

She didn’t hurt nearly as much as she had before. It was easy to be aware of the difference when she was sitting on a sandbar, with only a thin piece of material and a blanket between her and the ground. Granted, he’d brought a thicker blanket, but her bottom didn’t hurt at all when she put her weight on it.

“Nonny took Cayenne, Pepper and the girls into town to shop, so they have a large escort,” he continued.

Zara was elated that all of them had gone into town together. That meant life could be somewhat normal, even if they had an escort to do it.

“Is it always this humid?” Little beads of sweat formed on her skin and trickled down the valley between her breasts. She was grateful she wasn’t wearing tons of clothing. The rock pool looked very inviting.

Gino nodded. “Pretty much. I’m used to it now.”

“I’ll get used to it too.” She took the bottle of water he handed to her and drank, letting the ice-cold liquid slide down her throat. Her gaze flicked from the pool back to him and found he was looking at her throat as she swallowed. The blood in her veins turned to a slow, molten heat, moving through her entire body. Tension coiled deep. She had to do something or she was going to start begging for more kisses. It seemed like she was always asking him to kiss her and really, it had to come from him. “It’s hot.”

“You can cool off in the pool.”

She nodded. It seemed like a good idea. Already he could see her nipples were hard right through the nearly transparent material of the bathing suit cover-up. “I’d like that.”

Gino immediately rose and carried a small flat cushion to the edge of the natural rock basin. He added two folded towels, tucking several weapons into one of the towels. She watched him, her heart in her throat, shocked at how much pleasure she got just being with him, just anticipating spending the rest of the day with him.

12