Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

K enya

No man should be allowed to look at a woman that way. I thought for certain he would combust, his nostrils flaring just like they'd done before, but I'd also sworn I'd seen steam coming from the top of his head.

I couldn't lie that his reaction to seeing me in the hot little dress allowed me to tingle all over. Yet something nagged at me, as if the man was still questioning the loyalty he so coveted. There was almost a hint of hatred in his eyes.

As I headed out the front door, I considered going back and eavesdropping on his phone call. What if I was just being used? What if he was planning on killing me?

Right. Reading too many horror mysteries lately?

Why would he bother taking me out on a date when he could simply bury me in his backyard? I rolled my eyes as the warm sun hit my face. It felt like I hadn't seen the sun in weeks, not just a couple of days. Just getting out of the house almost felt normal.

Almost.

But there was a sense of a ticking timebomb given the attacks. It remained hovering over the house like some black storm cloud. I could see soldiers walking the area and was reminded of all the horrific events all over again. While I wasn't entirely certain what anyone would call what Beckham and I were sharing, it certainly wasn't real. It wasn't as if we were living together playing house.

My God. Maybe the hunger had gotten to me, stealing oxygen from my brain. This was barely a love affair, more like passion on steroids. Laughing to myself, I held the small purse against my chest, although it didn't have any of my personal effects inside. Just a comb, lipstick, and a compact with translucent powder, all recently purchased. I was grateful for them, even if I certainly knew Beckham hadn't picked them out himself.

As I headed toward the lovely front garden covered in winter flowers, I was able to admit to myself it felt natural around Beckham, even if I still didn't know him very well. The shower and time spent together had been perfect. Maybe too much so.

If my psyche truly thought that way, then why was I suddenly feeling ill at ease? It wasn't something I could answer right now. I heard his footsteps seconds later and another bolt shifted down my spine. This one was very heated, enflaming my core all over again. I sensed him moving right behind me, but he said nothing, the quiet becoming unnerving within a full minute of his silence.

I turned around to face him, offering him the same tight-lipped onceover as he'd given to me.

"Do I look presentable enough?" he asked, the harshness I'd seen earlier gone from his eyes.

"Yes, much better. Almost relaxed." He had two light jackets with him, both hung over his arm.

"Well, good. I do enjoy meeting your approval."

"Coats?" I was curious why.

"Where we're going, they might be needed. Are you ready to go?" He whipped out his dark sunglasses. Wearing them meant I couldn't stare into his dazzling eyes.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?"

"Then it wouldn't be a surprise. Would it?" He backed away, holding out his hand for me to grasp.

I looked at it for a few seconds, trying to calm my nerves. Why did I have the distinct feeling everything had changed between us? It was amazing that the moment our fingers touched, the electricity returned, tickling every nerve ending.

He didn't hold back, pulling me toward the massive garage on the far end of the property, heading directly for a keypad hidden in plain view. I was surprised he didn't hide the code used, not even by standing in front of the mechanism. When only one bay garage door opened, the smell of vehicles was instantly apparent.

As I was led inside, I was floored by the sight in front of me. There were at least ten pristine vehicles, several of them on lifts perched high. The concrete floor had been painted a cobalt blue and there were red and black mechanic's toolboxes lining one of the walls. I shouldn't be surprised the space felt slightly warm. I could see heating and air conditioning vents in dozens of locations.

The vehicles were all spectacular, several foreign sports cars worth millions of dollars flanked with a couple of trucks and an SUV as well as at least two Mercedes. Every color was primal, which suited the powerful man perfectly.

And right there in the middle was a fabulous shiny Harley. "You own a motorcycle." He let go of my hand and I felt the loss immediately.

"Not just any motorcycle. The Harley Davidson used in the movie Easy Rider . Well, one of six of them anyway. Lovingly restored."

I couldn't help myself, inching closer. It was as if everything I'd told Janie I wanted in a hot alpha male had come true. "Stunning."

"We'll take a ride one day. But I don't like leaving her out in the open."

"I can understand why. Incredible." I scanned the garage, shaking my head. "No American muscle cars?" I asked, the moment one of those I would remember for a long time. I adored cars of every type.

"I'll let you in on a little secret. I have another offsite facility that houses several older muscle cars including Pontiac Trans Ams, Camaros, Corvettes, and Mustang GTs, including one Shelby edition. They are my true babies, but I only drive them to keep them in top condition. These are my everyday vehicles."

"Poor baby, forced to endure such buckets of rust for your everyday travel."

"Careful there, little miss. I might just turn you over the hood of one of these cars and spank that incredible bottom of yours. It might be sexier over the Harley."

"You wouldn't dare. At least not right now." I turned around to face him, unable to keep from smiling. "You continuously have surprises up that long sleeve of yours."

"But I'm not wearing any sleeves. Be careful constantly daring me. You should know by now I do so love a challenge."

I pressed the flexed fingers of one hand against his chest and I shook my head. "Forever the bad boy. You'll need to show me that other collection one of these days. I do so love sitting behind the wheel of a Trans Am."

"Maybe. But only if you learn to be a very good girl." He jerked off his shades briefly, devouring me with his eyes.

They were suddenly dark again, the man looking right through me. Or maybe he was picking me apart. I hated feeling slightly ill at ease around him but that was the way it was for the moment. "Never. You already know that."

"I do. Sadly, I do."

Goddamn, the man's stare was piercing. Swallowing hard, for some reason I felt for my throat, fingering my pulse of life. "So, which of these buckets are we taking today?"

"How about the Mercedes convertible? We can turn on the heat if it gets a little chilly."

"Oh, luxurious. Sounds lovely."

With nothing in his hand, he offered no concept of where we were going. I knew better than to ask. After helping me inside, he moved slowly behind the car before climbing in. For some reason, I didn't think he enjoyed driving himself, but I found out quickly I was oh-so wrong.

As soon as he'd pulled out onto the driveway, shifting into first gear, he drove like a bat out of hell, flying around curves as he pushed the car to what I believed to be its limits. Not that it mattered. I felt perfectly safe sitting beside him, the breeze blowing through my hair. He was right about needing the heat. I was also sorry I hadn't brought a hair tie. But I managed to suffer through it, laughing every once in a while, just from the sheer joy of feeling alive.

Seeing parts of the small town was incredible, the mixture of houses and quaint buildings reminding me of Camden. I felt the ocean breeze, the scent of the saltwater soothing to my still ragged nerves. He threw me looks every so often, but I still wasn't certain what he was thinking.

And I shuddered in my seat because of it.

We were driving north, leaving Rye. I sat back in my seat, trying to enjoy the moment. When I started seeing ships of various sizes in the distance, I lifted my head. The closer and closer he drove, the more my nerves kicked into high gear. Was he taking me out on the water? To dump my dead body?

Great. Now I was taking the drama to the extreme. Perfect. Just what I needed, especially if we really were getting on a boat. At least I couldn't imagine it was a tiny rowboat or something. I tried to laugh it all off, but my stomach was full of butterflies.

When he slowed down, turning on his blinker, I sat up further in the seat. "Wentworth by the Sea."

"Yes," he answered. "I have a boat kept here. Well, a small yacht in actuality."

"How small?"

"Right at a hundred feet."

"Oh," I managed, brushing my hand across my lips, another sick memory floating to the surface of my mind. "Just a tiny little boat."

"Have you ever been on one?"

I don't know why it seemed like a leading question, but I sensed it in my gut. "A couple times but not that big. And I assure you that even a stockbroker in New York can't afford one, unless of course they're the soul stockbroker for a Fortune 100 family or something." I tried to laugh off both his question and my continued nervousness, but I immediately noticed he wasn't laughing.

When I turned my head slightly, I realized he must be watching me and my reactions.

"You're not afraid of being on a boat, are you?" he asked more subtly, but there was an even darker vibe to his question.

"Not afraid exactly. I simply don't want to fall overboard."

"I assure you that you won't be able to just fall overboard off of Lady Blue ."

"Oh, good." Lady Blue . I liked the name.

"At least not unless someone pushes you overboard."

I shot him a look this time as he pulled into a parking space underneath cover. "Now, you wouldn't be threatening me, would you?"

His laugh was deep, almost like a sound he made when fucking me. "I assure you, my beautiful and very special little fighter, that if I was, you'd know it. I have a special afternoon and evening planned. Come on. Let me introduce you to Lady Blue and my crew."

"A crew, huh?" I said as I opened the door, realizing I was shaking.

"Well, you don't really think I could captain a hundred-footer by myself. Do you?"

"Personally, I think you can do anything you set your mind to. Just my opinion."

He was grinning when he took my hand again, this time pulling my knuckles to his lips and brushing them back and forth. "You are very complimentary. I'll need to remember that."

Damn it. Everything out of his mouth sounded like some crazy challenge to me. As he led me out of the parking structure toward rows of boats, most of them twenty- or thirty-footers maximum, I took a deep breath of the salty air. The day was picture perfect for a cruise, although with the wind it was a little chilly.

He held my hand the entire way as we headed down the oversized dock, the man remaining quiet.

Too much so.

I found myself holding my breath. Only seconds later, I could see two massive yachts. When I noticed Lady Blue 's beautiful script writing on her port side, it was another moment where I could smile in earnest.

"She's beautiful."

"I thought you might like her. She's another one of my babies, although I don't spend nearly enough time on her." He helped me onto the boat and within seconds, I could see a man and a woman standing in uniforms waiting for our arrival. "Captain Ellis, First Mate Breaker, this is my lovely guest Miss Kenya Markham. These two have been with me for years."

I don't know why it surprised me a tiny bit the captain was the woman. It was a pleasant one. "Miss Markham, if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask one of our crew."

"How big is the crew?"

Captain Ellis smiled. "We have seven and a personal chef."

"You made certain he was on board?"

"Absolutely, sir," First Mate Breaker answered. "The bar is open, fresh ice in the maker."

"I'll be setting sail in a few minutes. Around the harbor and idle?" the captain asked.

"Exactly. You know me too well, Captain," Beckham said. He was so obviously in his element it was crazy. The man made rich look easy.

They backed away and he led me into a salon of some sort, complete with a beautiful tropical interior and a huge bar made of glass and steel. Of course the surrounding windows allowed for a perfect view from both sides, the crystalline waters drawing my attention. While typically gray in the northern states, today it looked bluer than normal, the sunshine reflecting off the water's surface.

I was pulled to them, peering out while additional butterflies crowded into my stomach. He wouldn't unalive me while his crew were here. Would he?

God, I hated thinking this way more than anything.

"I'll show you around in a little bit, but I thought you'd like some wine or perhaps champagne for a change."

"Are we celebrating?"

He had a smirk on his face as he headed for the bar, taking his sweet time. Which allowed me a perfect view of his tight butt in his jeans. Why the man wore anything else was beyond me.

"In a way we are." He pulled out a cold bottle of Kristal without bothering to confirm if that was fine by me.

"Wait a minute. You found out who was behind the attacks. Didn't you?"

He chuckled as he tugged a towel from a rack on the bar, watching me intently as he twisted the bottle to open it. The slight fizz was the only sound. "Yes, I did."

"Who?" I walked closer, more than eager to learn who was behind the horrible mess I'd been shoved into.

"Have you ever heard the expression you keep your enemies close but your friends closer?"

"Someone on your staff?" I found that hard to believe.

"Better." He pulled out two glasses, carefully filling both. "Let's take these out on the deck and I'll tell you more."

I don't know if he was purposely keeping me in suspense or what, but he led me to another set of stairs that led to a deck. I shielded my eyes and took another glance at the yacht, realizing just how large it was. Breathtaking really. There was an upper deck as well and I'd seen other doors, likely leading to state cabins.

Yes, I knew my way around a yacht; however, I certainly couldn't tell him that.

"Truly incredible. I love Lady Blue ." My words sounded unsettled.

"I'm glad you do. Let's take a walk. This is my favorite part as the captain takes sail."

I couldn't believe how gorgeous the deck was with various pieces of furniture and even a raised hot tub. As he walked slowly, he acted as if all he wanted to do was to drink in the atmosphere. "I think you're a very lucky man, Beckham. You have everything money could buy. Sadly, I can't tell if you're happy."

"Neither the word nor the concept is something I've spent much time thinking about. Maybe I've taken my good fortune for granted. I have a close family, Kenya. At least my immediate family. My dad is still completely head over heels in love with my mother. They're disgusting in their level of cuteness."

"That's wonderful," I breathed, uncertain why the shift in the conversation.

"Yeah, it really is. I'm close to my two brothers and my sister as well, although when we were kids, we bickered all the time. Anyway, my father also grew up in a close family. He and his brother were almost like twins."

"They're not now?"

He laughed but this time bitterly, so much so another cold chill drifted down my spine. "Let's just say the bad blood runs deep and thick, the color more like oil."

"Why?"

As he moved to the railing, I sensed the yacht finally moving. I flanked his side, trying my best not to feel slightly nauseous. It wasn't about being seasick as much as a couple of ugly memories that refused to leave the forefront of my mind.

Including the night my father tossed a crewmember overboard, a sous chef who'd overcooked some chicken. It was something I'd had nightmares about for years.

"Because of the desire to create Utopia."

"Utopia?"

"A world that they can build from the ashes of ours."

"I don't think I understand."

He turned toward me, eyeing me intently. "The assassins are real, their numbers throughout the world impressive. As suspected, they're highly trained and have nothing to lose in their lives, which makes them extremely dangerous and perfect for the jobs they were hired to do."

"Which is?"

"If what I recently learned is true, the Death Squad members are likely to make major hits in the next weeks or months. They're eliminating anyone they consider formidable adversaries."

"You." I wasn't certain whether to laugh or run away in terror.

"Yes. I don't know the reason for the games other than I believe my uncle was taunting me for the bad blood he shares with my father and how close we are."

"Okay. You're telling me that your uncle is behind this movement and threat to society? You really believe that?"

Nodding, he lifted his champagne glass. "He's a certifiable nutcase but with thousands of followers, several well-trained types of armies behind him. He wants to completely destroy the world as we know it, gaining control of everything in our society. Money. Oil. Communications. You name it. Unfortunately, it would appear they have they've obtained the resources and enough men willing to die to do so."

I stared at him incredulously.

"What? You're not serious."

"I wish I wasn't."

As he explained in more detail what he was talking about, I felt myself turn pale. But it wasn't only because of the world he was describing. It was because I knew my father and brother had a hand in the activity. Oh, my God. I found myself backing away, pressing my hand over my mouth. This was a nightmare come to life. Tears formed in my eyes. "How many people are involved?"

"Well, at this point from a couple lists I received, it would seem twenty or thirty thousand, but I don't think everyone has been listed. The cream of the crop of society and if I had to guess, I'd say the list will be whittled down once the final period of destruction begins."

"And you have no idea when that is."

"Only a guess."

I sensed he was watching my reaction even more closely. I tried to concentrate on the water and the smooth sailing, but I was already having issues with processing the horrible news. How could anyone think they were going to destroy an entire world and make it their own? "That's insane."

"Very much so but with the right people in their pockets, their plan is absolutely doable since everything is online, supposedly secure. They've hired the best hackers like I have to all but eliminate those various systems put into play when they're ready. It's amazing what they've been able to accomplish over two decades."

"So what are you going to do to stop them? Can you?"

"Let's just say I've signed on with an alliance to bring them to their knees. And we will, as a team, do our best to destroy as many factions as possible." The conviction in his voice was almost as scary as the information he'd provided, so much so I couldn't stop shivering.

"How?"

"By hitting them all at once, playing by the same rules as they have. I can't really tell you more at this point, but I assure you, a plan is in the making."

"Because you don't trust me." I lifted my head, taking a few seconds to remove his sunglasses, which he allowed. I grasped them in my hand, placing them onto his polo.

"Can I?"

"I like to hope you can."

"Mmm… That's very good to hear, sweet Ken-ya."

Why was he over-pronouncing my name? I turned back toward the ocean waters, trying my best not to stare at him. He was getting at something. What? Why? The questions were right there on the tip of my tongue, but I was terrified I wouldn't want to know the answers. We both stood quietly for a few minutes doing nothing but enjoying the scenery and the chilled champagne. The bubbles tickled my tongue and lips, but it was the news that continued to sweep through my mind.

Even though I feared the change in his tone, his voice was still as if I'd been swaddled in the softest blanket, held close to keep me warm.

"We're going to have a feast. I'm certain you're very hungry," he said as he crowded my space, pressing the full weight of his body against me.

"I can't lie. I am."

"Please, never lie to me. That's vital for our continuing relationship."

Another clue. I was swimming in too many of them. "I won't. I promise you that."

"Good girl. I like to hear such strong conviction in your voice. Especially since you've become very important to me. In fact, I do plan on keeping you in my life always."

It was a romantic yet strange passage for him to say, the overriding feeling he was picking me apart still there. Still painful. Still… unnerving. I only hoped that when he did learn the truth about who I was, he could learn to forgive me.

"What happens when people lie to you?" I was crazy for asking.

Once again, I was rewarded with a whole lot of quiet. I couldn't even tell for certain the man was breathing. He pulled me close, using his face to push my long strands of hair to the side. After biting my earlobe, he chuckled.

"Simple, my sweet. They die."