Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
I t was midmorning by the time Saskia and Cam got to Norcross Security. A contractor named Matt escorted them.
The office was a hive of activity. Vander appeared, striding toward them like the angel of doom.
Man, he was a good-looking guy, but the suit did little to soften him.
“Any news?” Cam kept her hand in his.
Vander shook his head. “We questioned your uninvited visitor. He gave us a location, but Mikhailov was long gone by the time we got there.”
Cam cursed.
“Patience,” Vander said. “We’ll flush him out.”
Saskia squeezed Cam’s fingers and he nodded.
“Coffee?” he asked her.
“Sure.”
He returned with the coffee and led her to an empty office.
“Do you need anything else?” he asked. “I have some things to follow up on.”
“I’m fine, Cam. I have the Kindle app on my phone, and music to listen to. Plus, I need to call my dance director and tell him I need a bit more time off.”
Cam’s scowl reappeared.
“What?” She touched the groove on his brow.
“I hate the reminder that you live really far away from me.”
Her heart thumped in her chest. “One step at a time, right?”
He nodded. “And unfortunately, Mikhailov is first.”
Cam pulled her in for a quick kiss and then headed for his office.
Mmm, she loved seeing him in a suit.
She queued up some music, humming to herself. She sat in the desk chair and crossed her legs. She wore a new outfit she’d bought with Savannah. A cute, long-sleeved blue dress cinched in with a belt at the waist. She’d paired it with knee-high, brown boots.
She sent some messages to Savannah, who insisted she was fine, and busy in her studio.
So, how are things with Cam?
OMG. Savannah, I didn’t know it could be this good.
Squee. You just needed a Morgan brother.
I don’t know what’s going to happen after, but the first priority is catching Mikhailov.
That asshole is going down.
Saskia smiled. She was so glad that Savannah’s ordeal hadn’t dimmed her spirit.
I’ll see you soon xxx
Stay safe.
Saskia called her director. He was concerned, but happy to give some of the other dancers a chance to take a turn in the lead role of their current production.
“I’d prefer you were here,” Anthony said. “You are my star.”
“Don’t let the other principals hear you said that,” she teased.
“It’s important you’re safe and rested. Take care of that knee.”
“I will. I’ll be in touch soon. Bye, Anthony.” Ending the call, Saskia stared blindly at the wall. She knew some of the other dancers would be more than happy to take her role. And…she found she didn’t mind all that much.
This entire situation had made her re-assess everything. It made her realize she just wasn’t as happy as she’d thought she was.
What she got from dance had nothing to do with being under the spotlight or doing fancy photoshoots. Once again, her brain flitted back to her idea for a dance school of her own.
Was she ready to give up full-time dancing?
If it meant making a new start with a dance school, and with Cam…
She shook her head. First, she had to get out from under Mikhailov’s shadow.
Cam appeared in the doorway, his body tense.
She straightened. “What is it?”
“Good news. One of Vander’s informants has spotted Mikhailov in Seacliff. It’s an ocean-side neighborhood with big houses. Vander, Siv, and I are headed over to check it out.”
Saskia blew out a breath. “All right. Be careful.”
“We’ve got this. Saxon’s here if you need anything.” Cam closed the distance and touched her hair. “Stay inside.”
She made a sound. “Right, because I was planning to head out for a wander.”
He tugged on her hair. “I’ll be back soon.” He pulled her in for a quick, hard, and unfortunately, too-short kiss.
She watched him stride across the warehouse to where Vander and Siv were waiting.
Saskia bit her lip. He’d be fine. He’d been an elite, special-forces soldier. And he had Vander and Siv with him.
Saskia sat back down at the desk, trying to read her book.
“Saskia?”
Saxon stood in the doorway, frowning.
“Something wrong?” They hadn’t been gone long.
“Not exactly,” he said. “I’m hoping you can help me.”
She stood. “If I can.”
“I have some clients here. A couple. I need to discuss a case with them, but they have their five-year-old daughter with them. It’s not something she should sit in on, and there’s no one else to keep an eye on her—”
“It’s fine. I can sit with her.”
He flashed her a sexy smile. “Thanks. I’ll introduce you.”
He led her out to the empty sitting area by the front door, and she spotted a dark-haired little girl in a pink tutu.
Saskia smiled. Cute. A well-dressed couple stood nearby.
“Charlotte,” Saxon said. “This is Saskia. She’s going to hang with you.”
The little girl frowned. “I want to stay with mama.”
“Sorry.” The mother smiled at Saskia. “She takes a little while to warm up to strangers.”
“Well, Saskia is a ballerina,” Saxon said.
Charlotte paused, eyeing Saskia curiously. “Where’s your tutu?”
“Oh, I don’t wear my costumes all the time. I’ll show you some photos.”
“I like to wear my tutu all the time.”
“She even tries to sleep in it,” the mother added.
The little girl brightened. “I take ballet lessons.”
Saskia smiled. “Great, you can show me what you know.”
The little girl studied her suspiciously. “Are you sure you’re a ballerina?”
Saskia spun in a quick pirouette.
Charlotte lifted her little chin. “That’s easy . I can do that too.” She spun in a circle, almost losing her balance. She was impossibly cute, even with the attitude. Saskia saw Saxon and the girl’s parents hiding smiles.
“Hmm.” Saskia tapped her chin. “Can you do this?”
Saskia kicked her leg up, holding it vertically against her shoulder. With her other hand, she grabbed the skirt of her dress to make sure she didn’t flash anyone.
“Wow.” Charlotte’s little mouth dropped open. “You are a ballerina.”
Saxon was staring at her with an odd look on his face.
Saskia lowered her leg. “We’ll be fine.”
He nodded, waving Charlotte’s parents toward an office.
“Cam is a lucky man.” Saxon winked.
Saskia felt heat in her cheeks. “Right.” She sat on the small couch in the entry. “Can you show me your positions?”
Charlotte sprang into action.
She was a delight. She had more enthusiasm than talent, but as Saskia adjusted her arms, the little girl took instruction well.
They sat on the couch together and Saskia showed Charlotte some pictures from some of her performances.
“You’re so beautiful.” Charlotte took the phone, flicking through the images.
Saskia’s mind drifted, wondering if Cam and the others had found Mikhailov. If Cam was all right.
The shadow of a large person flickered through the glass panel beside the front door, catching Saskia’s attention. She cocked her head. He didn’t seem to be talking into the intercom. He set something down, then walked away.
Maybe a delivery? She couldn’t go out herself, but she made a note to tell Saxon.
All of a sudden, the front door exploded inward.
The blast knocked Saskia off the couch. The smell of smoke hit her, and her ears rang. She hit the floor, dazed.
Then she realized Charlotte was screaming, cowering on the couch.
Saskia crawled to the girl and pulled her to the floor.
Then there was another explosion, and Saskia threw herself over the little girl and prayed.
* * *
Frustration skewered Cam.
Their lead had gone nowhere. If Mikhailov was renting a house in the luxurious Seacliff area, they hadn’t found him.
“I’ve already contacted Hex,” Vander said from the driver’s seat. “She’s going to scour Seacliff electronically. If Mikhailov is there, we’ll find him.”
Cam gave a clipped nod.
“I wish Ace was in the office,” Vander said. “But Hex seems very competent.”
“Mikhailov can’t hide forever,” Siv said from the back seat.
“Hex also told me that Killian lands in New York in a few hours,” Vander said carefully.
Siv made an amused sound. “From what I hear, Cam, Killian Hawke is way more dangerous to you than Mikhailov.”
Cam grunted. He’d take on an army for Saskia. He could handle her brother.
They were almost back at the Norcross office when they heard the explosion.
For a second, Cam was thrown back in time. Back into a Humvee, with his Ghost Ops team. His vision blurred; his heart thudded in his ears. Screams echoed in his memory. Another explosion boomed.
Then Siv leaned forward. “ Dritt ! That was from our office.”
Cam was flung instantly back to the present, and his body locked. Vander stomped on the accelerator.
They sped onto their street and Cam watched black clouds of smoke billow into the sky. His gut turned to rock.
No . Fuck, no.
Saskia.
Vander cursed. His boss slammed on the brakes, and the SUV skidded to a stop. The three of them leaped out.
It looked like it had been a targeted charge on the front door. There was a gaping hole where the entrance had been, but the structure itself looked intact.
For a moment, Cam was frozen. He saw his Ghost Ops team, saw Kris’ mangled body. Then he squeezed his eyes closed. In his head, he saw Saskia’s body—damaged, bloody.
He hadn’t protected her. He’d failed her.
Then sound rushed back in. In one movement, Vander and Siv whipped out their handguns.
Cam snapped back into battle mode. Saskia . He had to get to Saskia. He pulled his Glock out.
Vander lifted a hand and gave a small signal. Cam and Siv flanked their boss as they crossed over the rubble.
Cam scanned the interior as best he could, and saw Saxon fighting hand-to-hand with a masked man in a gray hoodie.
For all his elegance, Saxon was a warrior at heart. His punches were hard, and his kicks deadly.
Movement caught his eye, and Cam spotted a second attacker, bent over by a couch. He hauled a struggling Saskia up off the floor.
Saskia. Alive.
She swiped at the man’s face. Cam saw she was shielding a crying little girl.
“I don’t have a clear shot,” Vander barked.
Cam shoved his weapon into his holster and saw red.