Part 6 (2/2)
”Of people other than me?”
”Yes.”
”But you didn't take any of the other pictures? Just the one of me?”
”I took six pictures from Salva's office, two of you and four of me.” That wasn't entirely true, but Kristen
wasn't going to mention Amanda's baby alb.u.m that she had taken from Miandera's sitting room. ”I didn't feel strongly about any of the others, so-”
He turned around, locked eyes with her. ”Explain that.” He was looking at her in that hard, demanding way again. As uncomfortable as that made her, Kristen tossed her hair away from her face and met his demand with a bit of reckless defiance that was purely bluff. ”I didn't connect with anyone in the other photos, all right? I didn't feel ... I didn't feel something for any of the others.”
”But the picture of me was different?”
Kristen felt her cheeks heat up. ”Yes.”
”Because you thought you and I- You thought I would recognize you yesterday. Isn't that right?”
He was suddenly looking at her with new eyes. d.a.m.n him for making her feel more vulnerable than she
already did. ”I told you why. I told you about the winch.”
”But there was more, wasn't there?”
Yes, there was more. But she wasn't going to mention how, when she'd first seen his picture on the wall
in Salva's office, she'd frozen on the spot for several minutes to stare at him. Her stomach ... it had done an entire flip. Her cheeks were burning up now. ”Okay, yes, I thought it was possible we were related. Then I thought you might work with Salva. But you don't have the tattoo so-”
”Hold it. What tattoo?”
”All the men who work for Salva have a dagger tattoo on the palm of their left hand.”
He stood there for a long time considering her words. Finally he said, ”I don't work for anyone but
myself. And I've never seen you before yesterday. For sure, we're not related.”
Feeling foolish, Kristen lowered her gaze. ”I could show you the other photos. Maybe-”
”Do you have them with you?”
”No.”
”Where are you staying?”
She looked up to find him staring again, only this time he was sizing up her figure, his fierce gaze locking on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She wanted to cross her arms over her chest, but instead she turned away and feigned interest in the sunset.
”I asked you, where are you staying?”
The words were so close that Kristen knew he now stood directly behind her. A gentle breeze lifted her hair and she angled her face to cool her cheeks and calm her racing heart.
”Come on, Angel. It's time you trusted somebody.”
She shook her head. ”I could meet you tomorrow.”
”What makes you think I'm letting you off this boat tonight?”
Kristen spun around and found herself practically in his arms. ”Now you sound like Salva. You said you weren't like him. Please, don't behim now.” When he didn't answer, she said, ”I don't trust anyone, and for now that's the way it has to be. That's the secret to survival.”
They were toe-to-toe. Kristen suddenly felt his fingers on the backs of her arms. Slowly he brushed them over the bruises. It was a shock, him touching her-no, not the touch, but the manner in which he was touching her-so gentle it was almost nonexistent.
Still caught up in his feather-light caress, she didn't move when he leaned forward. Bending his knees so he could move closer, he whispered next to her ear, ”The secret to survival, Angel, isn't a matter of not trusting anyone, but trusting the right someone. In this case, that would be me.”
The feel of his warm breath against her skin made Kristen s.h.i.+ver. His fingers were still moving over her arms, doing the oddest thing to her pulse. And her stomach was suddenly tied in dozens of tiny knots. He dropped his hands and took a step back. With nothing to say, Kristen simply stood there, drinking in the wild scent of the Blu Devil and scrambling to make sense out of what had just happened.
”We'll meet tomorrow night at Cruger's,” he said, breaking the silence and the spell he'd cast over her. ”Nine o'clock sharp. Bring the pictures.”
Was he saying what she thought he was saying? Was he going to let her go?
Kristen had her answer an hour later when the Blu Devil moored theNightwing to DuBay Pier and helped her off the boat. ”Tomorrow night at Cruger's,” he reminded her, hopping back onto the deck of his cruiser.”I'll see you at nine.”
”Thanks be praised, you're back.” Sister Marian thrust a fussy Amanda into Kristen's arms, then collapsed in a heap in the only chair the small room provided, a shabby green stuffed recliner on shaky legs.
”I'm sorry I took so long.” Kristen kissed her daughter's cheek. She noticed Amanda's swollen eyes and runny nose. ”Amanda, sweetheart, you know Mommy always comes back. There's no need to cry.”
Amanda rubbed her eyes with her tiny fists, then slumped against her mother's shoulder.
”She's such a beautiful child.” Sister Marian angled her head and peered at Kristen for a long minute. ”You look like you're ready to collapse in a heap. You're nearly asleep on your feet. You need ten hours on your back in that bed.”
”I'm fine,” Kristen insisted, refusing to let her exhaustion slow her down. At the most, she had only a few days at the shelter, then she'd need to relocate. Staying in one place too long wouldn't be smart. ”Did you speak to Mother Ramose about me staying another day or two?”
”You can stay as long as you like, dear. That's never been an issue.” Sister Marian glanced at the clock. ”I feel I need to warn you, however, about staying out this late in Algiers. The streets aren't safe after dark.”
”I appreciate your concern. But if I'm going to change things for me and Amanda, I'm going to have to take a few risks.” The conversation reminded Kristen that she'd made a promise to the Blu Devil to meet him tomorrow night. ”I have to go out again tomorrow evening. It could get late.”
Sister Marian arched one of her dark eyebrows. ”Well, I've warned you. Now all I can do is pray that G.o.d has a spare angel with time on his hands to watch over you.”
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