Chapter 42

Chapter Forty-Two

K ira was disappointed Teague Collins was unable to speak to Nadia that afternoon or evening, but they had other logistics to work out. The Navy made arrangements to have equipment delivered to Rand, and a SEAL team was mobilized to Naval Air Station Sigonella on the island of Sicily—which was little more than a hundred miles away. If they found themselves in a bind, Rand would have backup.

Freya located a fifty-foot yacht for them to charter, so Rand would have a place to store his SEAL gear once it was delivered, plus they'd have transport to Gozo. It was early evening when they grabbed their bags and left the apartment for a marina outside Valletta to claim the yacht.

Kira had never spent time on any kind of yacht and probably would have been impressed no matter what, but Rand assured her the boat was on the high end of luxurious. "Just the kind of thing I'd rent if I were trying not just to woo you, but your wealthy newfound family too."

They placed their bags in the large cabin with a full bed and attached three-quarter bathroom—or rather, head in sailor parlance—at the rear of the boat.

Not rear, stern , according to Rand.

He went on to explain that the kitchen was a galley, the living room with spoked steering wheel was a salon and interior helm, while the helm on the upper deck was the cockpit. There was also a V-shaped stateroom in the bow with a second head.

She poked around the galley, which had smaller versions of all the usual kitchen appliances, then said, "It's too bad Freya didn't work her magic to stock the kitchen, because I'm starving."

"It's been a day , and we haven't eaten since before Mdina. There's a shop on the corner where we can get groceries. We should get some basics for the next few days, but what do you want to do for dinner? Make something simple here or eat out?"

She considered the question. She had zero desire to cook, but they could probably find something frozen to pop into the oven. That didn't really appeal. They had work ahead of them tonight, and she needed a break now. "Let's go out. Relax for a bit."

He nodded. "I think we've both earned an hour off."

Kira changed into capris and an airy halter top that showed off her curves. She never would have worn something like this in the US. Some wild streak had taken over when she shopped for this trip.

Rand took one look at her and grinned. "Have I mentioned that I really love your vacation wardrobe?"

She laughed. "Thank you. I went on a shopping binge a few weeks ago. I was always so careful how I dressed once I started working for… him ." She still hated to say his name, but she knew Rand would understand. Maybe when the trial was over, if he received the expected life-without-parole sentence, she'd feel differently.

She shifted her focus to the halter top, which made her feel sexy and fun. Bold. Like Staci probably felt every day. She didn't want to think about Staci right now, but she'd spent a lot of weeks comparing herself to the vivacious woman and had consistently rated herself inferior.

That feeling was fading, but not quickly enough. She pasted on a bright smile. "It's fun to get to be someone else on vacation other than shy, awkward, mousey Kira." She grimaced. "I guess I'm not really that Kira anymore. I'm someone else entirely. Kira Lukovna Kulinka."

Rand took a step toward her. "Only if that's who you want to be. And I happen to be captivated by all your iterations." He touched her cheek, then slid a hand to cup the back of her head. His fingers triggered a tingling in her scalp.

Thoughts of other women with Rand vanished like water vapor in the Maltese heat.

"Shy. Valkyrie. Siren. Tourist. Historian." He grinned and dipped his head so his lips touched her neck and added, "Sexy librarian." He kissed below her ear, then nipped the lobe and added. "I like every one of you, but one thing you've never been to me is mousy."

She pulled his mouth to hers and kissed him. Not shy. Not awkward. He wanted her . All of her. He didn't compare her to women from his past. He thought her a siren.

She felt a rush of feminine power as his hand explored her body, first cupping her butt, then her breast beneath the halter top. His growing erection against her belly triggered a jolt of satisfaction.

A siren.

What a wild thought.

R and was about to scoop Kira up and take her to the stateroom when she broke the kiss and stepped back. "You promised me shower sex, but I need food before I'll have the energy."

He laughed, feeling strangely light in spite of the intense day. Kira did that to him. "I haven't forgotten. For a boat, this has a decent-sized shower. Freya did well." The first thing he'd thought of when he saw the shower was how much he wanted to strip her down and make good on his promise.

"I think she went the extra mile to apologize for yesterday."

"She wasn't listening in, in the car when we talked about the shower or anything about us. The video link wasn't live until we entered the house."

"I know. But she's smart…and I might have admitted yesterday that I'm interested in you."

"Oh, you did now?"

This must've been the conversation they'd had before she'd taken down the FSB agent. Which meant Kira had been in a forgiving mood even before Andre broke in. That made him happy in a ridiculous way. She hadn't welcomed Rand back just because the danger had become real.

If there was one insecurity he had with Kira, it was that her interest in him stemmed from the fact that he'd managed to help rescue her twice. After all, both times he'd asked her out—each occurring before she'd found herself in danger—she'd turned him down.

He didn't want to be with a woman who was only interested in his SEAL status. That would be gone. Soon. He wanted a woman who could love the emerging thriller author, or whatever it was he ended up doing after he retired from the Navy.

"I did. She said when I get back, we'll have a bottle of wine and Morgan will spill all the secrets Freya can't."

"Well, that story is one where Morgan saved my team and earned my everlasting gratitude."

"And that's how you became friends? I assumed you met her through Pax or Freya."

"I knew Pax—we were in Djibouti at the same time and did some joint missions together, but it was Morgan who sealed the friendship. When they settled in DC a year later, it was easy to keep in touch given that I visit my sister as often as I can." He took her hand and turned toward the door that led to the rear deck. "C'mon. Let's get dinner so you'll have energy to for all the orgasms I intend to give you tonight."

They went to the first restaurant they found just outside the marina and sat across from each other at an outside table as the sun set and night lit with lights that reflected off the water and made four-hundred-year-old limestone structures glow.

They both ordered mocktails, because much as they wanted to enjoy a night of vacation, they needed to remain sharp.

They were done with dinner when Rand's cell phone vibrated. He plucked it from his pocket, expecting to see Freya or someone from his team, but it was a text to the number on the business card he'd given out at the gallery on Friday night.

He tapped the message and saw it was from the manager of Reuben Kulik's art gallery. Rand opened the message. It was routed through FMV's security, which would strip and analyze any attachments. There was no way anyone could get a location from Rand's phone.

Philippe DeAngelo

I have located an original painting by the artist you are seeking.

Rand handed Kira the phone and asked, "Any chance this is legit?"

She frowned. "I doubt it. Pretty damn convenient. But I don't know enough about the artist to make a guess based on anything other than my gut."

"I'll put him off then. Tell him we're busy until midweek." That was true enough.

"That's good. Play it cool—like a true buyer would. No one wants to drive up the price by being too eager. You can even say you realized you blew it when I set you straight."

"That works. He's the one who witnessed my surprise at seeing you. I was the unsophisticated collector. You are sophisticating me."

She laughed, then shook her head. "Please, don't become like so many of my clients. I love your unpretentious enjoyment of art that speaks to you."

"Isn't that what it's supposed to be about? Works that resonate without a primer on what makes them special?"

"Ideally. But that gets lost when money is involved. I guess you need to decide, are you collecting for investment, or for personal pleasure?"

He reached for her hand and pulled it to his lips. "I'm doing it for love."

H eat bloomed in Kira's belly, and she stood. "Let's go back to the boat."

He threaded their fingers together as they walked to the gated wharf. He entered the code, and they made their way down the long pier to their slip on the end. Instead of going inside, he took her to the upper deck by the cockpit, where they had a three-sixty view of the harbor and shore and city above a steep wall.

Every few minutes, fireworks went off somewhere. Across the harbor, or up the coastline. Even over land, beyond the city wall, all but the largest mortar bursts hidden by buildings.

After the turmoil of the day, it felt like a miracle to be there. The saltwater breeze on her skin, the briny scent of the sea, and the presence of this man by her side in a place both foreign and familiar.The pop of fireworks matched the blooming joy in her chest.

It was wild to be happy right now. To feel even a small glimmer of peace.

Rand was the major reason, but there was more to it. She didn't have the answers she wanted, but she had answers.

Tomorrow was uncertain. She couldn't turn back now that she'd opened Pandora's box. And if her family posed a threat to the United States, she had to be the Valkyrie she'd longed to become.

"Thank you, Rand. For being here. For everything."

His arms surrounded her as she stood in front of him at the railing and they both looked out over the water. His hands wrapped around her waist, holding her tight. He kissed her neck, then whispered in her ear, "I will follow you anywhere, Dr. Kira Hanson."

Her name. Her real name. At least, the name that would always feel real, even if it wasn't legal. Kira Hanson was thirty-nine and born in Pennsylvania.

She would claim her real birthdate if she could without losing her citizenship.

She placed her hands over his at her waist. She wanted to stay in the moment. To put off that worry until another day.

Several booms sounded, and there were half a dozen bursts of cascading fireworks.

"The Maltese sure do love their fireworks," she murmured. "Are they set off every night, or is it just a summer thing?"

"I don't know. We'll have to visit again in a different season and find out."

"It's a date." The booms stopped and silence descended, for a few moments at least. "I always loved going to see the fireworks on the Fourth of July with my parents. I was even a little bummed that I'd be here and miss the display this year. It's hard to believe we're just two days away from that."

"Do you go to the Mall to watch in DC?" he asked.

"I haven't in years. Too crowded, too hot. I usually go to one of the smaller displays on the Chesapeake."

"The new junior lieutenant on our team—Burns—has a house with a view of a local fireworks display that's set off from a barge on the Chesapeake. It's really close to Little Creek. We were all invited to a barbecue at his place. With everyone on high alert, I'd guess that's canceled."

"The Fourth would be a significant date to strike."

Another pop sounded as her words settled in.

She remembered the analyst's words during the meeting earlier.

"If Grigory Laskin can pull off a large-scale assault on Navy SEALs on American soil…he'd be in a good position to be that leader."

A good position to be the next president of Russia.

After a long pause, Rand said, "Yes. Very." His arms loosened around her and she let go of his hands. "I need to call my commander."

"I know."