Chapter 43 #3
He brought his forehead to hers, his grip on her hips tightening. “I have a good teacher.” His breathing was shaky when he whispered, “Thanks for not giving up on me.”
“You, too,” she said softly. His hands slipped between them to untie the knot of her pink silk robe. “Ready again so soon?”
“I’m always ready with you.” He palmed her breast and pinched her nipple, then slipped his other hand between her legs, sliding a finger along her sex, discovering how wet she still was for him. “Damn, Tash. You were made for me, weren’t you?”
“I’m beginning to think so.” She pressed her mouth to his, but their kiss was interrupted by the doorbell. Always with the interruptions. That needed to change.
“Who the hell is at the door this late?” A sense of alarm pierced his tone. “You got cameras, right?”
She checked the time. Eleven at night. “Yeah.” She pointed to the small display screen out in the hall, which showcased the view from the camera positioned outside her front door.
He started for the screen as she knotted her robe. “Who is it?”
“There’s an envelope on your doorstep. I don’t see anyone there.” He grabbed a 9mm out of his travel bag. “Stay back just in case.”
“We can rewind the footage before you open the door,” she suggested, her pulse picking up at the sight of his gun, at his concern there was danger lurking outside.
Balan was dead, but did Kate Ward discover her true identity and send someone after her? She doubted that, but . . .
“Just stay back, please,” he insisted, then opened the door.
Moving outside in bare feet, he did a quick perimeter sweep before returning with the package.
He locked up behind him, stowed his gun, and faced her.
“It’s lightweight. Something the size of a chess piece, maybe. ” He tore open the package.
She stumbled back at the sight of the small white knight in his hand as he let the 8x11 yellow envelope fall to the floor.
“Even in his death.” Her shoulders trembled. “I moved since the last time he found me.” Looks like I’m moving again. Balan was dead, but his delivery man had her address, so . . .
“It’s not just a chess piece.” He twisted the bottom and lifted the top, separating it into two pieces. “It’s a thumb drive. He must have arranged for it to be sent if he ever died.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I think we should look at it. Your personal laptop in your office?”
“Yeah.” Once in her office, she sat at her desk and placed the USB stick into her personal computer. She couldn’t risk uploading a device from Balan into her CIA laptop. “Why is he doing this?”
He pointed to the screen. “Two folders. Try the first one.”
She clicked it. One MSWord file. “Oh God.”
Wyatt leaned over her shoulder and read aloud, “If you’re reading this, that means I’m dead, and you won the game.
I am a man of honor, though. Here is everything you need to ensure Kate Ward goes to prison for a long time.
The bank account information and where the rest of the money is hidden has also been included.
Congratulations on checkmate. Best regards, Alexander Balan. ”
She leaned back in complete shock. “I don’t understand. Is this real?”
“He doesn’t want Kate running free. It makes sense, I guess. Plus, he’s crazy, so . . .”
She clicked on the second file, still not sure if she could believe this was truly happening.
There were hundreds of documents inside the folder.
“Is this real?” She flipped through the documents one by one.
“This is all of it. Every hack. Every terrorist he worked with.” She gripped her chest, her heart beating too hard and too fast.
“Looks like you’re going to have enough to take down not just Kate Ward, but you’ve got a list of terrorist arseholes to go after as well.” He gripped her shoulder and squeezed.
“It’s over,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks. “It’s finally over.” On Balan’s damn terms, but at this point, she’d take it.
“Looks like you’re going to be busy.” He spun her chair to face him, then knelt in front of her and gathered her hands between his palms. “But there was something I wanted to ask you.”
“Yeah?” She sniffled, more tears of relief rushing out.
“Come to London with me. After you turn over the evidence and the Wards are locked up . . . will you come with me?”
Her lip trembled as she repeated his words in her head, making sense of his question. “Does that mean you’re going to talk to Gwen?”
“I need to give her time, but I can’t handle the lie between us.” His eyes became glossy. “And it’s time I face my own parents again. I have some things to say, and they need to know I’m not so fucked up.” He shot her a crooked smile. “I mean, if you fell in love with me, I can’t be so bad, right?”
She half cried and laughed at his words, then pulled her hand free from his touch to palm his cheek. “How do you know I love you?”
He brushed the tip of his nose to hers before bringing his mouth near her lips. “Because I fell really hard for you, and I’m hoping you feel the same as me.” He paused. “Do you?”
“Of course,” she said as more tears flowed free. “Of course, I love you.”