Page 9 of Guarding Salvation

Something about this village and these people made her feel safe, and the fact they spotted a stranger so quickly meant her father’s men couldn’t go around hunting for her unspotted without rattling the locals. Bob hadn’t questioned her name or story, but she knew he saw through it and had helped her anyway. He was a good guy, and she got a nice vibe off him. He was like the father she wished she’d had.

As her mind cycled through the evening, her way of winding down enough to sleep, she stalled on the sexy hunk with tattoos and a leather jacket. He’d come in with a big, muscular black man and a smaller woman with dark hair. All three gave off a dangerous vibe as if it emanated from their very pores like electricity. Yet, she hadn’t been afraid, not like she was around her father’s men.

Far from fear, the sex god at the bar who’d been flirting with her had made her remember how long it had been since she’d had sex, along with a desire she’d never thought she’d feel again after everything she’d been through. The last had been a guy from the village where her grandmother lived and they’d been visiting. He’d died three days later in a car accident, which she knew very well was her father’s doing. She’d thought the horror that followed had killed that part of her and it was a relief and shock to feel anything for a man.

Tattoos weren’t normally her thing, and the guy from the bar tonight had been covered in them, even his neck and hands were inked. But he had kind eyes, which twinkled, and a strong Scottish accent which she found as sexy as sin. Dark blond, hair which had firelight reds in it was longer on top and short at the sides. It looked soft and she’d wanted to run her fingers through it.

It had been a long time since she’d wanted anyone and the chemistry between them was immediate and intense, but she tamped it down, knowing no good could come from it. Even if she tried, she’d probably choke with fear and humiliate herself. Even if a short fling might be a good distraction from the misery of her life, it was a bad idea.

His friends had been colourful, the woman having a caustic streak which Aoife could appreciate for what it was; a way to put up barriers. Her apology had been genuine though, and Aoife thought perhaps had been instigated by the guy who she couldn’t stop thinking about now.

Sleep that night was fitful but when she did sleep sexy blue eyes filled her dreams instead of the usual one where she was running through mud and couldn’t move.

Chapter 4

Bás looked up from the report Bein placed on his desk and raised his eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with what he was reading. “Nothing! That tells me exactly nothing.”

Bein sank down into the chair opposite his boss and leaned back. He’d known Bás wouldn’t like this, but the truth was Hansen was a master at disappearing and was a slippery little bastard to boot. “You know damn well that he has the vast resources of the Agency at his disposal and unless he raises his head again, we’re not helping anyone wasting our time searching for him. As I said in my report,” Bein nodded at the three-page report he’d written this morning, “the best option is to have fail-safes in place so that if he pokes his head out, we can take him out.”

Bás looked back at the report, and he knew his boss would see the sense in what he was saying—he just didn’t like it. Which was unusual for him. He was normally the long-game player and patient as fuck but with this case, he obviously wanted Hansen more than he’d originally let on.

“What’s this about, Bás?”

The hierarchy in Shadow Elite was more relaxed than the army. They were a tight unit and when it was time for a mission, leadership was followed without question in the field. Here in this room, he could question Bás with no repercussions but ultimately the final word was with Bás.

“He has information I need for a personal matter.”

Bein sat forward. “Anything I can help with?”

“No.”

“Well, I’m here if you need anything.”

“Appreciate it. Now set those protocols up so we don’t miss this bastard. He’s not to slip through the net again.”

“Sure, thing. I’ll talk to Watchdog and have him set them up today.”

He went to walk away but Bás stopped him. “Bein?”

“Yeah?”

“You going to sort your parents’ estate next week?”

“Yeah. Should take about a week or so. Lana has done a lot of it but it’s not fair to make her do it all. She’s six months pregnant with her fifth child.”

“Wow, I know you live in the asshole of nowhere but is there no TV in the Highlands?”

Bein blanched, his face clearly showing his distaste. “Dude, that’s my sister.”

Bás laughed and stood to follow him out, clapping him on the shoulder as he did. “You need any help, you shout, okay? I know it was tough between you and your dad for a long time.”

“It was but he was still my dad, and although I hated some of his choices, I loved him. Not sure I’d be who I am today without him. Not that he ever knew it.”

“Family is the single hardest relationship of your life.”

“I thought that was marriage.”

“No clue about that, but, if you get a bad wife, you can always divorce her. If you get shitty family, you’re kinda stuck with them.”