Exposed Target, page 10
Elmo turned his attention back to the drones. “Still in good shape. I can fix the bent propellers. Might sell these on eBay when we’re finished.”
Ciara blinked. “You get on the Internet, and use eBay? I thought survivalists don’t like forms of electronic communications.”
Elmo glared at her. “I don’t.”
“U.E. has a network of other missile silo owners to get parts when he needs them,” Beck said. “He also has someone he trusts to buy and sell things for him on eBay.”
Elmo returned to examining the drones. “These are sophisticated as hell. Military grade. Probably worth over thirty-five grand each.”
Ciara’s jaw dropped. “Your eagles just took seventy thousand out of the sky?”
“Yep.” Elmo opened compartments in the drones and removed an SD card from each. “This should hold any audio or video it recorded, or pictures taken.”
He carried the SD cards to one of the computers in the CC.
“The monitors cover all angles of the property,” Beck explained. “You can’t sneak up on Uncle Elmo. If someone tries to cross the property, an alarm sounds, and Elmo takes a look on his screens.”
Elmo slid one of the SD cards into a computer hard drive and settled in a chair in front of a monitor.
In moments, Elmo pulled up a screen with multiple photos, videos, and audio files.
Ciara’s skin went cold as she saw pictures of herself alone and with Beck. She rubbed her arms from a chill when Elmo played some of the videos, which included her and Beck driving from location to location and pictures of them when they’d been out of the vehicles.
The audio files weren’t clear, but she could still hear some conversations between her and Beck.
When they had finished reviewing both SD cards, Ciara flopped into a seat and buried her face in her hands.
“Shit.” Beck’s shoes thumped on the tile as he began pacing. “No wonder they found us everywhere we tried to hide.” He gripped his hands into fists and shook his head. “We’ve been flying blind, and they’ve had a front row seat.”
Ciara lowered her hands. “All this time they were chasing us from the sky, and they did it so easily. I hate technology sometimes.” She looked at Beck. “This is all truly insane.”
“Couldn’t agree more.” Beck rubbed the top of his head in a frustrated motion. “We didn’t see or hear any place on either card that would point them in this direction.”
“You didn’t tell me where we were going, so that was good,” Ciara said. “They couldn’t have picked up anything about this place.”
“Most operators had to have been close enough to guide these things.” Elmo braced one hand on the table as he stared at Beck and Ciara. “Usually, a couple of miles at most. However, these are more sophisticated than any I’ve seen. They can likely go up to nine or ten miles with a battery that lasts about forty-five minutes.”
He went on. “According to some of the last video taken, my girls took the drones from the air a mile and a half from here.”
Ciara stared at Elmo. “So, the Russians probably know exactly where we are.”
“Maybe not exactly.” Elmo nodded toward the monitors. “No one has tripped my perimeter alarms since Bugs and Daffy brought down the drones. I have cameras positioned all around my property, from the farmhouse and beyond, as far as my property extends.”
He went on, “Buildings cover the silo entrance, the emergency exit, and anything else that might let someone know from the air what this place is. It’s not likely anyone can easily find out there’s a missile silo in this part of Wyoming. Much less that you two are hiding here.”
Ciara relaxed. A little. “That’s good to know.”
“Doesn’t mean they won’t locate us.” The man crossed his muscular arms over his broad chest. The resemblance between Beck and Elmo showed they were related, even though a good three decades separated them. Elmo had to have been in his mid-to-late sixties.
Ciara looked from Elmo to Beck. “Now what?”
“You stay put, that’s what,” Grumpy Elmo said.
Ciara cut her gaze to Beck. “What are your thoughts on that?”
“It’s a good idea.” Beck leaned a hip against the table. “We hang out here for a few days, and when I’m positive we’re safe we’ll leave.”
“Okay,” Ciara considered his words then nodded. “That sounds like a good plan.”
Beck guided her down another stark tunnel and to a round door. He disengaged the locks before opening it.
“How many levels?” she asked Beck as they walked through the doorway.
“Nine total.” He gestured ahead of them. “The guest suite is level two.”
“The floor contains two separate guest quarters,” Beck said.
Doors opened into separate rooms to either side of a semi-circular family room, which was equally as nice as Elmo’s man cave.
“This floor is yours.” Grumpy Elmo gestured around when the three of them stood in the room. “I assume you’ll be staying a while since you seem to be running from the mob.”
Beck clapped his uncle on the shoulder. “Thanks, U.E. We won’t wear out our welcome.”
“You already have.” Elmo started for a set of stairs that circled around an even thicker support beam. “Dinner is in two hours. Don’t be late.”
Beck and Ciara shared a look and he winked at her. Her stomach did funny things with that wink.
“Anything I can do to help?” Ciara asked Elmo.
He waved them off. “Just be on time.”
“We’ll be there,” Beck said.
When Elmo was no longer in sight, Beck turned to Ciara. “You and I need to talk.”
She tilted her head to the side. “About what?”
He hitched his shoulder against the wall. “I think you have something to tell me.”
“What—” Heat whooshed over her body when she realized what he meant. “Oh.”
“Care to explain why the Sokolovs want you alive?” He studied her. “That’s not their M.O., so there’s something you’re not telling me.”
She gripped her hands together as she fought to find some way to tell him what she’d done. What if he would take it from her and turn it in to the FBI? Should she lie?
No, she couldn’t lie to Beck. No matter what, she would only tell him the truth.
“I stole something from them.” Her face burned as she grasped the hem of her T-shirt for something to do with her hands. “I think it might be pretty valuable to the Sokolovs.”
His gaze did not waver. “More so than the ledgers you took from Nikolai’s safe?”
“When I took the books, I found a broach in a velvet bag.” She cleared her throat. “I’m not sure how valuable, but it’s the most stunning piece I’ve seen in my life. It’s a star-shaped broach encrusted with white diamonds and a large ruby with smaller rubies around it.” She pictured the stunning piece. “The rubies sparkle like diamonds, though, so could those actually be diamonds instead? I’ve never seen anything like them.”
Beck stared at her for a long moment. “You stole a diamond broach,” he repeated, as if trying to make sure he heard her correctly.
She released her T-shirt and twisted her fingers together. “When you say it that way, it does sound bad.”
He continued studying her. “You’re telling me, an officer of the law, that you took something that does not belong to you and did not turn it in to the FBI.”
“I never planned to sell it.” Her face flushed even hotter. “I considered it my insurance policy. As long as I have it, they won’t kill me or Mamá.”
Beck appeared to be considering her statement. “Where is it now?”
Ciara squirmed beneath his stare. “A train locker in New York City, not far from the police station I went to when I turned over all the documents.”
His expression remained unreadable. “Do you have the key?”
She shoved her hand into her pocket and let it rest in her palm. “I keep it with me always.”
“Does anyone else know about the broach?”
“I haven’t told a single soul.” She clenched her hand around the key and stuffed it back into her pocket. “I don’t know anyone to tell even if I wanted to.”
Beck didn’t say anything, just studied her.
Her skin might have burned up beneath his stare.
“Go ahead and take a shower or rest.” Beck gestured to the bedroom door on the right. “You should find a robe in the bathroom. I’ll bring up other clothes that you can wear while you’re here.”
He gave a nod in the direction of the second door. “I’m going to take a quick shower in the other guestroom then head down to discuss a few things with U.E. regarding our stay.”
Beck started to turn away then paused, his expression still hard. “I need to think over what we talked about. We’ll discuss it later.”
Ciara’s face remained hot as he walked away.
11
Ciara secured the belt of the terrycloth robe she’d taken from a hook in the bathroom adjoined to the guestroom. Despite feeling clean and refreshed—even the blood under her nails completely washed away—she couldn’t bring herself to enjoy it.
Beck likely viewed her as a thief. She hadn’t thought about it that way. To her, it was a matter of security, not personal gain.
But that didn’t matter. She was a thief.
Ciara found a blow dryer in a drawer in the sink cabinet. Her throat ached as she dried her hair until it bounced around her shoulders in soft waves.
She left the bathroom and stood in the center of the half-moon-shaped guestroom and tried to get her mind on things other than Beck and how he’d taken her theft.
Elmo’s silo home was surprisingly attractive, and the bedroom matched the rest perfectly.
Above the bed’s headboard, someone had painted a windowsill and a tropical view. A warm summer sun and blue sky with lacy white clouds hung over palm trees and the ocean. Royal blue curtains hung to either side of the painted window.
White-washed furniture filled the room with blue bedding and cushions dotted by blue and white pillows. A flat screen TV rested in a TV armoire, and a tall white vase filled with a riot of colored silk blooms sat on a nearby table.
The door behind her opened.
She bit her lip as she turned to face Beck then cleared her throat before speaking. “It’s hard to believe this is an old missile silo.”
“U.E. remodeled it mostly himself.” Beck closed the door behind him. “Took him twenty years to get it to where it is now. I came here as a teenager and helped out every summer.”
“I have to admit I would never have expected him to have such great decorating skills.” She trailed her fingers over a whitewashed writing desk. “Or did he have a decorator come in?”
He gave a shake of his head. “It’s all Uncle Elmo’s doing.”
“It’s wonderful.” She knew she was babbling, but she couldn’t stop herself. “I wish I had his talent.”
Beck didn’t say anything for precious seconds. He curled his finger and gestured to her in a “come here” movement.
Her heart thumped as she moved closer to him. She felt like a little kid in trouble being forced to stand in front of an adult to be admonished for bad behavior.
When she reached him, she straightened and clenched her hands at her sides. “I wouldn’t have done it any different, Beck. It’s probably the only reason I’m alive now. Well, the second reason since you’re the main one.” She stumbled over her words. “I should have told you, I know—”
Beck cupped the back of her head, dragged her close, and claimed her mouth with his.
She gasped, taken completely off guard.
He kissed her, a long and slow kiss that completely swept her off her feet.
She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He made her so drunk with desire that she didn’t think she’d ever get enough of the man.
His lips moved over hers, his kiss sometimes slow and gentle then rough and needy. He expressed to her his need to capture her at the same time he wanted her to come to him on her own. A dove who’d flown into his arms that he wanted to keep, but also wanted to give the choice to stay.
She wanted to stay, wanted it more than anything.
Ciara held onto him with everything she had. She kissed him, showing him her need and desire. This was the man she’d give forever to.
The thought gave her some pause, but she let it slide away. She wasn’t going to think about that now. She planned on taking it the way she had been for so long now.
A moment at a time.
Beck couldn’t get enough of her, and he didn’t want to question the feelings.
Thoughts like that could wait for later. Right now, he just wanted to be with her.
“You’re so beautiful and sexy.” He trailed his lips along her jaw to her earlobe. “You drive me crazy.”
“No more than you do to me.” Her whisper sent vibrations through his body. She had the sexiest voice.
He slid his mouth from her ear, down her neck to the hollow of her throat. “Your skin tastes so good.” He breathed in the scent of the orange blossom shampoo she’d used in the bathroom. “You smell wonderful.”
She shivered in his arms, as if his words affected her in some erotic way. She pressed her body more tightly to his. “I can’t get enough of everything about you.”
He groaned as she squirmed against him, as if trying to get closer and closer, when she hadn’t left any room between them. He imagined her body against his. He wanted, needed skin to skin contact.
“I need you, Beck.” She breathed out his name. “I want you.”
“You have all of me, Ciara.” He cupped her face with his palms and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Every damned bit.”
She slid her fingers to his cock and gave a light squeeze. “Show me. Now.”
Dear God.
She took a step away from him and drew his gaze to her hands as she untied the robe. He parted it and dropped it to her feet.
His breath stuck in his throat.
He couldn’t stop staring at her body. Her full breasts and large nipples. The gentle curves of her waist and hips. The soft fall of dark hair that reached the tops of her breasts. Her long, sexy legs and the small patch of hair between her firm thighs.
“I want you.” The words came out with a guttural sound.
“Yes.” She reached for the bottom of his clean T-shirt from the clothes he’d borrowed from U.E. The soft material brushed his skin as she pushed it up his belly.
Beck paused to set his weapon on the bureau. He shrugged out of the shirt, his bandaged shoulder wound aching, but he pushed aside the pain. He wanted Ciara, needed her.
He kicked off his shoes and stripped out of the socks. He shucked the jeans, leaving him commando.
Ciara kept her gaze focused on his then caught her breath when she looked down and got a look at his erection.
She darted out her tongue then drew in her bottom lip as she stared at him. When she met his gaze again, she said, “I am going to suck your cock before we do anything else.”
Even though he’d wanted to give her pleasure first, he couldn’t refuse her. “If you insist,” he said half-teasing and half not even close to teasing.
She skimmed her fingernails along his length. “I can’t wait to have you inside me.”
“If you’re not careful, I’m going to throw you on that bed and take you now.”
Ciara gave him a sexy look that just about made his knees go weak. “Don’t even think about it.”
“Can’t help it, honey.” The things she did to him with her expressions started to unravel him.
She lowered herself to the large rug beneath them, and onto her knees. She looked up at him as she ran her tongue up his erection.
“Ciara.” He said her name in a warning tone. “Tread lightly if you want to make it any further.”
“Are you threatening me?” She laughed softly and wrapped her fingers around his cock.
He brushed hair away from her face with his knuckles. Her skin was so soft. He wanted to surround himself with her. To feel every bit of her naked body against his.
“You’re so beautiful.” His words tumbled out. “I’ve never seen anything as lovely as you.”
A smile curved her lips as she looked up at him and he grew lost in the depth of her dark brown eyes. She slid her lips over his erection, a long slow movement that nearly made him climax. And she hadn’t even started.
Shit.
She kept her gaze focused on him as she moved her mouth up and down his cock.
Her mouth, so wet. So hot. So everything.
He clenched his hands in her hair and that seemed to fuel her. She moved her head up and down, her movements slowly increasing in speed. Her hand moved with her mouth, and the other caressed his balls.
The combination made his mind reel. He felt almost lightheaded, drunk from her power over him. She sucked him and made small sounds of pleasure as if she loved the taste and feel of him in her mouth.
She sucked with solid, firm pressure, drawing him in deeper.
An orgasm rushed toward him, and he had to fight to hold it back. He didn’t want to come yet, didn’t want to lose it too soon.
She hummed around his cock, and he lost complete control.
His climax shot through him so hard he almost dropped to his knees.
Ciara continued to suck and lick, and he had to hold her head to get her to stop long enough for him to catch his breath.
His legs still wanted to give out, so he knelt in front of her.
He brought her close and kissed her hard. He pressed his naked body against hers before taking her down to the rug and onto her back.
Beck gained his bearings as he kissed Ciara again. He couldn’t get enough of her lips against his. The way she sighed, the small sounds of pleasure she made, and how she demanded more.
Ciara had to remind herself to breathe when Beck touched her. She might find herself starving for oxygen if she didn’t just breathe.
