Chapter Twelve
Christmas Eve, 9:30 a.m.—Seattle
After taking a rental car to Cassie’s apartment north of town overlooking the sound, both were ready for a nap. Flying overnight always did something to her blood sugar. She was tired, cranky, and starving. While she lay down to find an attitude adjustment, Sean stepped out to the corner market for some basic essentials. As he was returning his phone buzzed. It was Joe Callahan.
Sean answered with weariness in every syllable. “Please tell me you have some good news for a change?”
Joe laughed, “Well I don’t have any bad news so does that count?”
“It depends on the news.”
“Last night, the Devlyn yacht exploded in its slip at the harbor in Ballard. Cassie’s cousin Nikolas is missing, the one who runs security at the plant up there. His car was found in the parking lot. It is presumed he was on the boat when it went up but no one has mentioned whether or not there was a body found. However, Greg was seen on a camera walking down the street. Interested in more?”
“I’m almost back home. Let me call you from a secure line.” Sean keyed the pad next to the street level door and slid into the hallway. Taking the elevator up, he inserted the key required for their floor. The doors opened into the foyer of the apartment. The dark hardwood floors were polished as well as any boat deck and the carpets spread around were thick and warm. The walls were a soothing teak paneling and the large windows overlooking the Sound were hidden behind full length curtains, which Sean took a moment to press the remote to open.
Upstairs in the giant loft overlooking the living room, Cassie was in the shower. He could hear the water running as he put the milk and bread away. Their resident cat Biscuit, a giant tabby who thought she was a lap dog, leaped onto the counter asking for a treat. Biscuit was a time-share kitty; when one of them was in town she lived with them, the rest of the time was spent one floor down with Lynne Tan, one of Cassie’s friends from school. He wiped her away with his free hand, dialing Joe on his satellite phone with the other.
Callahan answered on the first ring. “I just got an update from the Seattle police, a Detective Traynor to be precise. It was definitely Greg, they found fresh fingerprints on the gangway. He got three blocks from the site then disappeared. They have every able body out looking for him. Martin is still missing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Greg did something to dear old Dad.”
Sean groaned. “Why am I not surprised he’s here? That means we night have a leak in the family. Probably Kevin or Matthew, they’re the only honest ones in this whole venture.”
“Could be old man Mitchell is still loyal to his previous employer, in which case the cabin isn’t going to be safe either.” Joe added. “Then again it could be Greg is here because Seattle is where he was banished several years ago.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Sean agreed.
“What would you like to do next?”
Sean sat for a moment. That was the major question, what to do next? Cassie still needed to heal, and people were still trying to kill them. They needed to disappear off the radar for a while. “What’s the status on identities and money?”
“I’ll have to double check and get back to you.”
“Call this number tonight at eleven Pacific time. I’ll have a plan ready for vetting by then. Something tells me the police are going to be calling on us soon for an interview. Finding out Cassie is here in town will certainly raise their suspicions.”
Sean switched off and threw the phone on the counter. He headed for the security panel and made sure all systems were set for maximum protection. From upstairs he heard the shower quit. He took a deep breath and headed up to let his wife know the news. His steps dragged as he topped the stairs and saw her toweling off through the open door.
He had pulled her out of the wreckage of that building and thought all the hard work was done. They flew cross country at the drop of a hat to escape danger only to find out it had beaten them here. Now he’d discovered Greg was in town, and Cassie wasn’t going to be happy.
****
They drove downtown into Seattle for a quiet Christmas Eve dinner near the Market after spending most of the afternoon fighting. To say she was unhappy was like saying night is dark. Cassie wore her displeasure as a full set of armor, allowing enough space through the chinks to be polite at dinner, only to fall into complete silence once their food came. As they waited for the check, Sean broke the uncomfortable quiet.
“I’ve said I’m sorry about two hundred times. Are you going to keep the silent treatment up all night? Because if you are, I’m dropping you off at home and headed out drinking on my own.”
She lifted her eyes and looked at him, a low burn simmering in those blue eyes. “I’m not mad at you Sean, this is just an overwhelming pity party you’re being privileged to witness. I’m sorry.” She smiled briefly. “I didn’t mean to ruin dinner. I’ll try to be more attentive all right?”
Sean grinned. “That’s my girl.”
“Let’s take a walk before we go home. Maybe the cold air will clear the shadows out of my head.”
They walked arm in arm through the emptying streets of the Market, closing for the holy evening. Down to the Needle they continued, looking at the Christmas lights and kissing often. As they marveled at the lights, at the city ablaze in electric tribute to the season, their arms entwined and soon Sean felt his blood responding every time she lay her hand on his arm, or laughed and pulled him closer.
Her hair smelled of lavender and every swish of her long black tresses brought a fresh assault to his nostrils. As they stood outside a flower shop, Sean noticed a large bundle of mistletoe hanging over the sidewall.
“I want to claim my kiss,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms. “Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday my lovely bride. I don’t have a stack of presents for you, but I give you my heart forever.”
He bent his head and pressed his lips to hers. Cassie parted her mouth and his tongue slid between. She bit down lightly and he moaned with delight. He took her tongue and sucked it into his mouth, biting as he did. He was rewarded when she slid her hands into his back pockets and pulled her hips to his body. Her cheeks were kissed with the first blush of her desire.
Snow began falling, softly it blanketed the city with its white wave and they drove home, hands entwined, enjoying the quiet storm building outside as well as within themselves. Parking down the street from the apartment, Sean slipped her arm through his as they sauntered the street toward home. He felt her trembling and looked down.
Snow peppered her black hair, and flakes tipped her eyelashes. The cold had brought the color out in her face, and her smile was electric. Her lips begged for another kiss, and he bent down more than happy to oblige.
His fingertips ran along her jaw line as his lips claimed hers with confidence. His free hand laid upon her chest, sliding upward to caress her throat while his lips nibbled their way down to the hollow of her neck. He felt the heat of her ardor and pulled her body close to bask in its warmth.
As they stood in the shadows from the streetlights, an alarm down the street wound up and began shrieking its warning to the world. Someone’s home was being burglarized. Without knowing why, the hair on Sean’s neck stood up. He took Cassie’s hand and slipped into the nearby alley.
Creeping along, staying in the shadows, they approached. It gradually dawned on both where the sound originated—Cassie’s apartment. The police were already on site, which set Sean’s warning bells on high. How could they have arrived so fast? He left Cassie and approached one of the officers.
“Good evening officer, this is our home. Is something wrong?” Sean tried to remember if he had the right identification in his wallet. Too late he realized that, much to his dismay, he still had the ‘Harris’ id as well.
The policeman looked closely at Sean. “Yes sir, someone broke in. Busted out the windows on the porch and made quite a mess inside. The crime scene unit is on their way, but I suggest you speak with the detective over there for more information.” He motioned toward a slender woman talking with the neighbors.
Sean made a quick assessment. She wasn’t too tall, maybe five-foot six-inches, and rather thin. Her blonde hair was cut short and her face was thin with high cheekbones. She raised her eyes to look at him as they headed over. He had the distinct impression she was looking for them both.
“Mr. Ferguson? My name is Allison Traynor, I’m a detective with the Seattle Police Department. I’d like to talk with you and your wife, if you have the time?” Her eyes looked Cassie and her bruises up and down. “Would you like to see your apartment?”
Traynor escorted them into the building and up to their home. When the elevator opened, Sean and Cassie stared in amazement at the destruction. Windows were shattered and glass covered every surface. Trash was strewn from the kitchen into the living room. Upstairs, there was human excrement on their bed. The cat was cowering inside Sean’s closet, apparently unharmed but highly indignant.
The detective gave them a moment before beginning her investigation. “I know this must be quite distressing, but we have to ask these questions now, while everything is still fresh.”
Sean nodded, “I know, we certainly understand. This is a horrible nightmare, but Cassie and I have nothing to hide.”
“Where have you and Mrs. Ferguson been this evening?”
“We had dinner down in the Market, the Bistro to be exact. Then we walked along the water and looked at the lights. Our car is right down there; on the dash is a receipt from parking near the Needle. We just got home a few minutes before you saw us.”
“Do you know anyone who would be out to get you?”
Cassie looked at Sean. He nodded, and she answered for them both. “My brother Greg Devlyn has made many threats to us both over the years. It’s my understanding you think he might be responsible for the explosion of my family’s yacht last night.”
Detective Traynor never changed her expression. “I don’t know about that Mrs. Ferguson. That isn’t one of my cases. Did you know your brother was in town?”
“No,” she shook her head. “If I had known Greg was in town, I wouldn’t have come here. We don’t get along.”
Sean piped in, “There are several documented instances of harassment of Cassie by Greg, both here and in Atlanta.”
Traynor made some notes in her black book. “Mr. Ferguson, do you and your wife have some place to stay? Obviously we need to keep you under protection until we know for sure if this was your brother-in-law.”
He shook his head. “No, we just arrived in Seattle early yesterday from Atlanta. We’ll need a hotel for the remainder of our stay.”
“How long are you in town?”
“Originally it was two days but now I’m unsure of what our plans hold. Is it possible for us to retrieve some things before we leave? I have some confidential files that are under federal protection, as I work for the British embassy.”
Traynor looked hard at the couple. “What sort of federal files?”
Sean answered, “I do contract work for governments, and as such have a few things here that need to come with me.”
“Which governments?” Traynor narrowed her eyes.
“Many of them,” he refused to elaborate or back down. “I have a number you can call if there is a problem.”
The detective nodded, “That might be a good idea.”
Sean gave her the number of his guy at the embassy while Cassie gathered her box of work. She opened the safe, to discover her mad brother missed the jewelry and $100,000 in hundred dollar bills. As none of her clothes were usable, she left them where they lay in a heap and took the money with her. At least this would make resupplying her closet easier. She grabbed her laptop and purse and made ready to leave, before the reality of what had happened began to set in. As she waited for Sean, she made sure the cat was secure downstairs with her neighbor.
Sean turned his attention to the filing cabinet in the office. Using a retinal scanner, he removed several large files and a lockbox. These were placed into a metal briefcase and secured with three different mechanisms. The detective pretended not to be interested, but he knew it was eating her to not know what he had.
“Where do we go now?” he asked.
“This way.” She escorted them to a small four door sedan, rather non-descript but eco-friendly, making it perfect for this part of the Northwest. “This will be our cover car. We leave, mix into traffic, then we take you to a safe house outside the city for protection.”
Cassie snorted, her nerves making her voice waver. “Why do the police always take people away from the crowds for protection? Wouldn’t in a crowd be safer?”
Traynor shook her head. “No Mrs. Ferguson, it would just endanger more people. But don’t worry. The guys on this detail are mainly ex-special forces. They know the terrain better than most natives and they are deadly fast. I don’t think your brother will find a way around these guys.”
Cassie turned to Sean. “I wonder if you will know any of them.”
He shrugged. “You never know, it’s a pretty big club.”
“Ha, ha,” she retorted, kissing him lightly on the nose.
Detective Traynor smiled in the mirror. “How long have you guys been married?”
“Almost six years,” Sean replied. “But with my work and her research we haven’t spent the entire time together.”
The detective nodded to herself. “You know, Mr. Ferguson, I have to ask. Is it possible this could be a retaliation on you, an assignment come back to haunt you?”
“Of course I have. That was our first line of thinking,” Sean snarled. “But what you don’t know is that Cassie was kidnapped only a month ago, and several known associates of Japanese Yakuza assassin, Kwan Tsi currently are attempting to kill her and me. So right now the question isn’t why, but who. My people have a list they compiled along with Matthew Devlyn’s assistance.”
She continued nodding. “You’re right, there appears to be a large suspect pool. Now then, back to your apartment break-in. The neighbors heard a lot of yelling and such and that’s why the police showed up so quickly. The alarm was triggered as the intruder left. They wanted us to see what they did.”
They crossed the lake and went through the campus of the university, heading away from downtown Seattle. Cassie leaned back in the seat, her fingers seeking Sean’s. She leaned against his shoulder, and he smiled down at her. Another trip to another house for another hideout. But this time, they weren’t on familiar territory, and that frightened Sean more than he was willing to let Cassie know.
****
As they pulled up in front of the cabin Cassie looked around for landmarks. Rainier wasn’t where she expected to find it, and that was disorienting. Apparently they were northeast of Seattle. She tried to get her bearings, taking a moment to study the large mountain of a man on his way to talk with the detective. Sean left her to listen in on their conversation.
The cabin was done in modern timber and glass, taking advantage of the natural beauty of the location. There were three levels to the house, each containing two bedrooms with bathrooms and open to the living area on the bottom floor. There were four armed men wearing camouflage carrying luggage and boxes in from a large truck. They were all polite as she passed, but afterward she saw several of them glance in her direction with appreciative looks.
Their bags were found in a suite on the lowest level. Cassie wrinkled her nose, her claustrophobia tingling again. This was a lot of house to be hidden in the bottom of, and that made her queasy. Perhaps they could switch with one of the muscles a couple of floors up? Sighing she began to unpack. Sean would say it was just where they slept, why make a fuss? She wished it were that simple. She envied his ability to make it work regardless of the hindrance, but then what a nightmare it would be if they both were as obsessive compulsive as she was.
Whoever built this house definitely had champagne tastes. Everything in the room was themed to the Pacific Northwest; lots of salmon fishing paintings and one that was a case filled with various hand-tied fly lures. The walls were paneled and the carpet was thick pile.
The bathroom almost made the dungeon-like accommodations all worthwhile. In the center of the room, on a small pedestal, was a giant claw footed bathtub. To the right was the shower, a modern marvel of stone and programmable shower heads. There were two separate sinks with new toiletries for them both. To top things off, the floor had hot water pipes under the tile and could be preheated with a timer on the wall.
The bed held a king size programmable mattress, and Egyptian cotton sheets. She estimated the thread counts at more than fifteen hundred. Across from the bed was a giant wall screen television above the stacked stone fireplace. The main wall was windows overlooking the valley below them. Studying the panes carefully Cassie decided they were bullet-proof; the glass was wavy and thick at the edges.
Cassie glanced at her watch. It read ten-thirty, West coast time. Exhausted, she found her pajamas and fell into bed, asleep before she knew it. Her next thought was of someone sliding into bed with her. In her dreams at that moment were her brothers, and when a man’s hands touched her arm, Cassie had a flashback.
****
In her dream, Cassie was running through the forests of the family property in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia. Her brother Greg and his friend were chasing her, and she knew what the punishment would be if they caught her. Their voices rolled in her ears, taunting her as the afternoon became the dark of night and the paths disappeared.
Her fear of monsters roared in her head as the woods, normally a warm and comforting location she knew as well as her own skin, transformed into a cold and disturbing terror filled labyrinth. No matter what direction she ran, the voices arrived before her. Nowhere was safe from the demons of her traumatic past.
The hair on her arms and neck tingled with fear of the unknown as the nightmare extended its tentacles to suck her down, down into the never-ending madness. Already she felt the worms of her fear creeping up both arms and legs. She took a breath to scream, to protest against the madness when Sean laid his hand on her arm, rousing her from slumber.
Her eyes flew open, unfocused yet filled with fear and pain. Instinct took over and she slugged Sean in the jaw with all the force she could muster. He managed to grab her fist before she could hit him again. He pulled her hands down to her sides, whispering her name while she struggled through the lands between dreams and reality. Soon reason took over, and she lay still and compliant underneath him.
“Are you all right?” she whispered as the perceived and the imagined melded together into total reality. “I think I socked you good.”
He smiled into her tormented eyes. “You did, but I’ve been expecting it. With all this uproar and Greg’s involvement, I forgot about the danger of nightmares. I wasn’t on my guard when I lay down. What were you dreaming about?”
Cassie paused for a moment to visualize the nightmare. “I was running, running from Greg and then I was in the house of horrors.” For years, she had told Sean about the house which reoccurred in her dreams. A house where all her worst phobias and fears worked together to break Cassie into tiny fragile pieces. “And then you touched me and…”
“…and you hit me.” He finished the sentence for her. “It’s okay sweetheart. I’ve gotten immune to your sleep boxing.”
Sean relaxed his hold on her wrists. Pulling her to his side, Cassie burrowed herself to him, as if afraid for there to be any separation between them. She began to trace circles on his stomach with her fingers. Small goose bumps arose on his bare skin. Her leg stretched over his and her pelvis slid against his hip.
“Careful love, there’s a house full of men who’d get off on hearing us,” he murmured to the top of her head. “I’m a sucker for a long legged brunette. Plus, danger spikes my libido so lass, if it’s loving you’re asking for, what I’m prepared to give you might be more than you can handle.”
She pulled herself up to a sitting position, then sat on Sean’s belly, her nails raking on his chest. “I can handle you, and be quiet.”
With a groan, Sean pulled her shoulders down, kissing her with ferocity. His hands pulled the gown over her head, then grabbed her and threw her down under him on the bed. A low, rumbling moan pushed forth, like a cat purring in defense. His lips ran along the curve of her neck, up to the jaw then back down toward her heart. Small goose bumps broke out when the hair of her skin captured the faint breeze his heat was generating between them. Even her nipples stood erect, hungering for his touch.
“Sean,” Cassie breathed his name in a voice that crossed between a promise fulfilled and a desire unquenched. “You know what I want, you always know.”
He chuckled. “You want exactly what I need.”
Then Sean bit down on her left nipple, hard. The sudden pain brought tears to her eyes, but she didn’t flinch. The only thing betraying her surging lust were her hips. Those brazen hussies were attempting to grind themselves against Sean’s body in a most un-ladylike fashion. He stood up and removed his pajama pants. As Cassie tried to move away, he grabbed her ankles and held her tight.
“Where are you going?” He didn’t hold her too tight; she could kick away if she desired.
“Just getting comfortable. Aren’t you?”
He slid up the bed, never releasing her body. When he reached the pillows, Sean pulled her on top of him. She smiled down at his wolfish grin and wiggled her ass on his still hardening cock. He closed his eyes to keep from throwing her down and riding her like one of the horses she was so fond of.
Meanwhile Cassie bent down to begin caressing his body with her lips and hands. He moaned again at the millions of tiny nerves firing in rapid succession as she worked her way from his scar, all the way down to his cock. It was only superb command on his emotions that kept him lucid.
When at last he could stand the exquisite torment no longer, Cassie raised up and lowered herself onto him, grinning at him like she’d learned a new trick. Sean tried to hold on as long as possible, but his self-control wavered. This was the hardest task he’d mastered while helping Cassie with her fears and phobias. He always waited for her to make the first move. It gave her power, something long denied to her in the house of Devlyn. On the times when Sean was the aggressor, Cassie always managed to hold back, to keep a part of herself locked inside. The instinct was too deeply ingrained to fight against him.
Originally, he’d made no secret of his unhappiness with this necessity in their relationship, but in the greater scheme of things it was such a small thing and it gave her so much positive re-enforcement. In the end, as with so many things with Cassie, Sean just let the universe dictate their lives. So far it hadn’t been too bad but if they were going to attempt a full time marriage some things were going to have to change.
But all that had to wait, because at that moment Cassie had buried him deep inside, as she wiggled slowly back and forth in no particular rhythm.
“Where did you disappear to just then?” she asked.
He shook his head and slid his hands up her thighs to settle at her hips. “I was thinking about you, us—that’s all. But I like your idea much better.”
She leaned down and kissed him, pulling his tongue into her mouth and biting it while Sean moaned in delight. Her hips moved in ever changing circles and he closed his eyes and let the sensations take over his actions.
His hands wandered up and down her sides, at last pulling her down to him. “Cassie, baby,” he moaned into her ear as he bit up and down her lobe. “Let me love you.”
Opening her blue eyes, she looked into his with a mixture of need and trust. “Sean, you know what that means to me. Am I ready to give everything to you? Tell me what to do, because I’m not sure I know anymore.”
“Sweetheart, you know I won’t do anything you feel uncomfortable with. That’s always been part of my promise to you.” Sean rubbed her back in small, lazy figures as she lay against his chest. “If you don’t like something, just say ‘stop’. I’ll never do anything that might hurt or upset you,”
He felt the tremor in her body but it wasn’t from fear. Her skin grew warmer until it burned against his. Without a word, she lifted her head and smiled at him, giving him the permission to take the lead.
Quickly, before she could change her mind, Sean twisted to pull her under him. His mouth traveled down her neck to her breasts, each receiving its own attention. While his lips were busy, his hands continued their wandering down her belly to the warmth of her inner core. His fingers found their target, and began teasing her clit while another finger slid gently inside. Sean raised his head to watch her face.
“What are you looking at?” Cassie asked as she twitched under his merciless attention.
“Waiting to watch you cum. I love to watch your face. When I was in Iraq I used to dream about your face, about the beauty and release you express. It’s amazing. There is nothing sexier, and nothing more beautiful than my wife.” Sean’s smile was bright.
She bucked hard, her entire body shuddering as the first wave of her orgasm hit. Sean changed position, setting his lips to her now throbbing nub. When his teeth nibbled gently, a tidal wave of nerve spasms burst into a full roar and her hips bucked as she shuddered through wave after wave. After what seemed like forever, the waves began to subside and her body lay still, quivering every so often but sated and fulfilled, for the moment.
Sean returned his attention to her slit, using his tongue to probe the silky folds of her inner most place. Cassie’s back arched and he laughed to himself as he propelled her into another micro-storm. His groin ached to be inside her again, but not until she begged him. In light of all that was going on in Cassie’s life, she needed to remember he wasn’t like their enemy.
After the roar subsided, Sean slid up the bed to lie beside her to hold her. A light sheen of sweat made her shiver in the moments when her body returned to center. Nestled into the crook of his arm, she sighed with deep contentment. Outside, the house was quiet all around them.
Cassie broke the companionable silence. “It’s your turn, love.”
Sean shook his head. “Don’t worry about me.”
She leaned up on one elbow and glared at him. “I like watching you too. Besides,” she wagged her eyebrows at him, “I like it.”
They both laughed, as giving blow jobs was Cassie’s least favorite form of sex. It put Sean in a position of power over her, which made bad things follow into late night dreams. Sean pulled her closer, kissing her with passion and love.
“Honey, you don’t have to do anything for me. I just want you to feel safe. We have the rest of our lives to make love.”
“Yeah, is that why your dick is still hard?” Cassie wrapped her hand around his throbbing shaft. Sean’s vision went white at the featherlike touch of her fingertips. He leaned his head against the pillows and groaned when she leaned down and slid her teeth down his cock. Her lips closed around him, as her tongue worked the small knot of nerves on the underside of the shaft.
It took everything Sean had to keep from losing it. She chuckled in her throat, giving a strange vibration to his shaft. He grabbed Cassie by the shoulders and tried to pull her away. Instead she bit down as he twitched and spurted deep into her throat. Cassie gagged as Sean sat up in a flash, grabbing her shoulders. Valiantly she smiled at him, kissing him as he adjusted to her newfound bravery.
Grabbing her chin, Sean looked her deep in those blue pools he knew so well. “Thank you,” he said, fervently. “That, love, was the best fucking blow job I’ve ever had.”
“Excellent, that’s exactly what I was trying for,” she smiled shyly, as if unsure how to take praise but certainly pleased with herself nonetheless. “You never have any reason to go anywhere else.”
He grew serious. “I never would do that to you my love. That’s not the kind of man I am.”
“I know, I just like hearing it every now and then.”
She snuggled into his arms, and he rested his head on hers. The faint scent of lavender reminded him of one summer they spent in the south of Spain, when he paid to have a custom blended perfume made just for her. A rare combination of lavender roses, sandalwood, and citrus, it reminded him of home. He still kept a vial in his ready bag.
He lay awake for a short time, listening to the sounds of the house settling down. There were SWAT team members stationed everywhere and nothing moved on the grounds or inside the mountain chalet that wasn’t seen by several eyes. Including those of several Wi-Fi cameras disguised as pine cones and mounted to the trees.
Several miles away Kwan Tsi turned from the video screen and picked up his phone. It was time.