Page 42 of Nightfire

Ivan inclined his head and turned away. Nikita could count on him. He and his men were promised a percentage of the increased business if everything went smoothly, on top of generous salaries.

“Oh, and Ivan⁠—"

Ivan obediently turned around, big and tough and hard. Nikita had every confidence he’d take care of this.

“Make sure this woman stays away. Don’t kill because we don’t want to deal with the authorities here, but short of that, do what it takes.”

Ivan nodded and walked off.

Nikita looked over at where Consuelo was listening to Sands, head down, a rebellious expression on her face.

She truly was a beautiful woman, Nikitin thought dispassionately. Such a waste.

Duschka, Nikitin thought, your friend will learn a harsh lesson, then it will be your turn.

TEN

Hopewell Shelter for Women and Children

San Diego, June 5

This is ridiculous, Chloe thought. Just ask him. What do you want from me, Mike?

How hard could it be?

She finished folding the stack of donated clothes. Many of the women who came to the shelter arrived with only the clothes on their backs. They needed everything. Clothes, food, money. Safety, above all.

Chloe remembered that. Remembered clearly not feeling safe. She’d spent her entire life with the low drumbeat of danger in her head, not knowing where it came from

Chloe’s life now was perfect. She was totally ensconced in the warm embrace of a loving extended family. Harry was the finest brother a woman could possibly have. And Ellen and Nicole were more like sisters than sisters-in-law. Best of all, she got to have Gracie and Merry in her life. The idea that she could watch those two beautiful little girls grow up, be part of their daily lives, was an enormous joy.

San Diego was fabulous, beautiful and sunny. She’d bought an apartment in Harry’s condo and had access to an immense white beach, right outside her door. To all intents and purposes, she lived in a resort. Sam was even teaching her how to swim. Her swim instructor was a former Navy SEAL. How cool was that?

She volunteered at the shelter three days a week. The work was so important and satisfying she was seriously thinking of going back to school in the fall and getting a degree in psychology and doing this full time. Everything was perfect except for one thing.

Mike.

That first day felt like a lifetime ago and in a way it was. Her life had changed so much. That magical day she’d thought that maybe she’d found…well, a new love sounded foolish. It was the first day they’d ever met, after all. But she thought that maybe she’d found someone who could penetrate her wall of loneliness.

Mike had been blatant in his desire. And that kiss at the Del…And the orgasm!

How stupid of her to confess that it had been her first orgasm. Women don’t let men have information like that. It made them vulnerable and if there was one thing Chloe was an expert on, it was vulnerability.

The memory of that episode at the Del still made her bloom with heat six months after the fact. How pathetic was that? How sad that she still blushed when she thought of a kiss six months ago from a man who hadn’t touched her since. At the very most he would extend a hand that hovered when he thought she might fall.

Well, she wasn’t falling these days. Mike had taken her in hand, so to speak—without ever touching her—and subjected her to his own body building program, pushing her and pushing her and pushing her to become strong. It appeared that Mike felt there wasn’t a problem on earth that couldn’t be solved by lifting weights.

And, well, he was right.

Chloe had had every form of physical rehab possible in her life, but it only served to put her on her feet, more or less.

Mike insisted on a strict regimen of weight lifting. Morning, noon and night. His theory was that she needed to strengthen the muscles wrapped around the bones and he made her train like mad.

Chloe had seen all those films where a nasty Marine shouted in the faces of the recruits, scaring them to death. Mike took the opposite tack—he cajoled her. Daily. Relentlessly. Without ever touching her.

And it worked! When she flexed her arm to make a muscle, she made a muscle. You could crack walnuts off her quadriceps.

She walked easily and well. Once she actually ran! To her knowledge, Chloe had never run in her life. She would have been too terrified. Once afternoon Gracie had wandered off on the beach and she found herself running after her. When she realized what she was doing, she laughed. And Mike laughed with her, sharing in her delight.