Protected by Shadows Read online

  Table of Contents

  Legal Page

  Title Page

  Book Description

  Dedication

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Epilogue

  New Excerpt

  About the Author

  Publisher Page

  A Totally Bound Publication

  Protected by Shadows

  ISBN # 9781781848470

  ©Copyright Aliyah Burke 2013

  Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright November 2013

  Edited by Rebecca Douglas

  Totally Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2013 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

  Warning:

  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Burning and a Sexometer of 2.

  This story contains 272 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book containing 9 pages.

  In Aeternum

  PROTECTED BY SHADOWS

  Aliyah Burke

  Book three in the In Aeternum series

  She’s everything he wants and all he knows he shouldn’t have. When danger strikes, will he give it all up or is he doomed to live the rest of his life without her?

  Valentino Cassano is a man who lives in shadows, lies and secrets. He works for a group that he can’t tell anyone about. When the ugliness from that world affects the woman he’s had a thing with for a few years, he refuses to let her face it alone.

  Lexy Camden loves her life as a veterinarian. However, when everything gets turned upside down and Valentino inserts himself into her routine for more than a few days, things get complicated…fast. The feelings she’s been ignoring for so long won’t give her a moment’s peace.

  As the danger escalates, and part of Valentino’s past comes out, will they have a chance to be a real couple or will it all be shattered with the simple pull of a trigger? Valentino has lost a lot and has no plans to do so again. Now if he can just convince Lexy to give him another shot…

  Dedication

  Thanks to everyone who asked me for Valentino’s story. I hope y’all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. To my husband who never fails to support me with my dream. I love you. And, as always, last but never ever least to those who have served or are serving in the armed forces, my thanks for your unending sacrifices you make to keep us safe.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Ferrari: Ferrari S.p.A.

  007: Ian Fleming

  Mossberg: O.F. Mossberg & Sons

  Mitsubishi Spyder: Mitsubishi Group

  Chevy Tahoe: Chevrolet, General Motors

  Hello Kitty: Sanrio Co., Ltd.

  Keurig: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc

  John Deere: Deere & Company

  Pepto-Bismol: Procter & Gamble

  Panera: Panera Bread

  Chrysler 300: Chrysler Group LLC

  MASN: MASN Sports

  Chevy 2500: General Motors Company

  Glock: Glock Ges.m.b.H.

  NCIS: CBS Television Studios

  Catwoman: DC Comics

  Underworld: Screen Gems

  Coke: The Coca-Cola Company

  Tomorrow: Chris Young, Frank J Myers and Anthony L. Smith

  Walther PPK: Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen

  Mercedes-Benz: Daimler AG

  Sherlock: Arthur Conan Doyle

  Heckler & Koch, MP-5: Heckler & Koch

  AK-47: Izhmash

  Jaguar F-Type V8 5: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

  SIG: SIG Sauer Inc

  Smith & Wesson: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.

  Dukes of Hazzard: Warner Bros Television

  Muzak: Muzak Holdings

  Chapter One

  Somewhere deep in the Alps

  Valentino Cassano downshifted and allowed the car, a smoky black Ferrari, to drift around the tight corner before shifting again. The beautiful scenery whizzing by meant nothing to him. He focused on the same thing he always focused on when not working. Hell, even times when he did work.

  Lexy. Alexsa Camden.

  She had taken front and center stage in his thoughts ever since the first day he’d met her. A spitfire. A Southern spitfire.

  Nothing mattered. Not the fact he had killed a man less than ten minutes ago. Nor that men would most likely be trying to find him to make him pay. He could care less. Came with the job.

  Ahead, a few cyclists had him easing off the accelerator. They dropped back and made it easier to pass. He waited until they maneuvered the next corner before gunning it and flying around the small group.

  Valentino slowed down and followed the speed limit as police cars approached in the other lane. They raced up the road, lights flashing and sirens wailing. He surreptitiously checked his rear view as he trailed behind an old split-rail truck hauling livestock. Chicken feathers blew by like falling snow. Unfortunately, the smell wasn’t equivalent.

  Whipping around the truck, he continued on his way to the quaint village nestled in the Swiss Alps. While not as busy in the summer as it was come winter, there was still hustle and bustle…enough for a tourist to just be another tourist and not stand out.

  Parked at his hotel, he unfolded his body from behind the wheel, tugged on his suit jacket and headed in after closing the door. He gave a sharp nod to the female concierge as he strode through the tiled lobby. A blush skated up her cheeks, yet he never slowed. She held no interest for him, despite her numerous and blatant advances during the course of his stay.

  Today he was checking out and heading to Eiger. He’d always wanted to see the north face in person. Now seemed the opportune time. Pushing into his room, he briefly paused and took a habitual cursory glance about. Nothing appeared out of place, but some practices had become ingrained over the years. At the closet, he withdrew his suitcase and began packing. As he closed the lid, his thoughts returned to Lexy.

  The steam rolled around them as the hot water cascaded d
own from multiple showerheads. Her back to the tiled wall while he thrust in and out of her slick pussy. Hard. Fast. Deep.

  She had her legs wrapped tightly about his hips and she undulated against him, taking his cock in deeper. Her fingers tangled in his hair and he buried his face along the graceful curve of her neck.

  He kept one hand splayed on the wall and one gripping her ass. Her moans were throaty and each one made him harder. He couldn’t get enough. Therein lay the problem, it would never be enough.

  Her hair was plastered to her head and her skin was flushed from the combination of heat and passion.

  “Oh, God,” she groaned, flexing her internal muscles around his cock.

  His reply was just as guttural—it flowed up from deep in his chest, as he continued to drive into her. She pulled his hair, raking her nails along his skin causing stings of pain. It urged him on. Harder. Faster. Deeper.

  His release barreled down upon him.

  “More!” she cried, her back bowing. He tried to hold off a little longer. It wasn’t going to work. Fire flowed through him, edging along his need to conquer and possess this woman. Her vaginal walls flexed again and his roar raced free to mix with her cry of pleasure as they crested together.

  The phone rang, shattering his memory like a bullet to glass. Wiping his face with one hand, he blew out a frustrated breath. Lust rocketed through him. His cock strained against his slacks, wanting out. Craving release. Even his palms were sweaty as he reached for the phone.

  “Hello?”

  “A message for you, sir, at the front desk. Would you like it brought to your room?”

  “No, thank you. I’ll pick it up.” He replaced the receiver, stared out of the window then headed for the door, bags in hand.

  “Your message, sir.” The man slid it to him as he signed his bill.

  “Thank you. Have them bring up my car.” He walked to a chair then sat, bags at his feet. No one was behind him and he opened the envelope before pulling out the single sheet of paper.

  Zurich

  That was the only word. He stifled a yawn and put the paper inside his suit coat pocket. He wasn’t going. Not this time. Somehow, he would find a way to stay away.

  “Your car is ready, sir. May I take your luggage?”

  “Of course.” He pushed to his feet and left. Soon he was driving away. Utilizing the hands-free feature of his phone, he said a name and waited for the call to connect.

  “Yes?” The male voice was deep and gruff.

  “Done.”

  “Any problems?”

  He shifted gears and the car responded perfectly, leaping forward with more power and speed. “No.”

  “We’ll be in touch.” The call ended.

  Tossing the phone down, Valentino tried to let the beauty of his surroundings sink in, but it seemed a fruitless endeavor. Not even when, much later, he sat at a bar staring out at the north face of Eiger did the majesty register.

  “Finally made it to the Eiger, I see.”

  At the deep Southern drawl, Valentino glanced up to spy Beau standing there. Beauregard Lee Jackson, to be precise. A drink in his hand, the man flashed a grin before sitting down beside him.

  “Hello, Beau.” He sipped his vodka and sighed.

  “Did you just get in?”

  “Few hours now. Why?”

  “You’re wearing a suit.”

  Familiar words. His brothers were always on him about the fact he wore suits so often. “Nothing wrong with wearing one.”

  Slicing his gaze to the left, he took in Beau’s gray and green flannel shirt, jeans and cowboy boots. When one first met him, they tended to think hillbilly, faced with his dress and slow Southern drawl. It gave Beau the advantage—Valentino knew this man was one of the most deadly he’d ever met. Beau knew at least fifty ways to kill a person with his hands alone, and he could get very inventive with ways to hurt a person. Valentino had seen Beau in action and it wasn’t a pretty sight. However, he wasn’t scared.

  They worked for the same agency, Theta Corps—a covert group who did their part to keep the world safe. Filled with ex-military, hackers and others at the top of their game, the agency was so secretive, not even his family knew what he did. They thought he was an investor who traveled a lot when in truth, he was more like 007.

  “How’re ya doing?”

  He finished his vodka and waved for a refill. “Masters send you?”

  Masters was the head of Theta Corps, and he took the wellbeing of each of his men and women seriously.

  “Nope.” Beau winked and grinned at a blonde who strolled by in an overly tight pair of pants and sweater. “She’s a purdy little darlin’.” His drawl came in thick, dripping like molasses.

  Of course Beau thought so, he would chase anything that carried two X chromosomes. Valentino nodded his thanks for the refill. “Then what?” he asked carrying on the previous conversation.

  Beau gave a frustrated sigh. “Wanted to check on you, man. We used to be friends.” Green eyes pierced him. “Remember what those are? You hang out occasionally, have a few drinks and laughs. No? I can see why. Ever since—”

  “Don’t go there,” Valentino warned, fingers tightening briefly around his glass.

  “Why not? Damn it, man. Don’t you miss life? It happened, but that’s no reason to shut everyone out.”

  “Let it go.”

  Beau allowed his beer to settle on the counter with more force than normal, the only clue to anyone he was irritated. “What? Gonna take a swing at me? You know I’m right, Valentino. I’m willing to risk it, if it means you’ll show some fuckin’ emotions.”

  Valentino raised a brow. “You angling for a mani-pedi day together?” He locked away the unwanted memories. Firmly.

  Beau gave a short grin. “Not really. I was thinking more beer and pool. Perhaps you not in a suit.” He shook his head. “I’m worried about you.”

  “Don’t be. I passed my last psych eval.”

  “You haven’t let her go.”

  Again the memories pushed, creeping from the shadows.

  “You need to let it go.” Valentino clenched his jaw.

  “No. She was a vile bitch who—”

  Bam! Valentino slammed his hand on the bar. “Beau.” His tone was barely over a growl.

  “—doesn’t deserve to run your life or dictate your happiness.”

  He snarled and Beau held up his hands in apparent surrender.

  “You’re not the only one who lost someone that day, Valentino, but the rest of us have carried on.”

  The recollections pushed harder and he grimaced. “I’m carrying on.”

  “No, you’re not. Your friends miss you. We’re here for you.”

  Beau strode away and in the window’s reflection, Valentino watched him slip an arm around the blonde from earlier and escort her from the room.

  Memories pounded and he knew no amount of vodka would keep them at bay. Shoving back from the bar, he grabbed his glass then drained the rest in a gulp. Then he turned to the door, tossing some bills down to cover his drinks.

  It was after midnight when he knocked on a hotel door. The light poured from the crack as it framed the woman there. Lexy arched an eyebrow at him.

  “It’s late.”

  Her scent wafted about her, tantalizing him. He struggled to be stronger, only to give up. The moment he’d headed for her, he’d known he was weak. He put a hand on her door, shoved it open to where he could enter and kicked it closed behind him.

  “And?” He went to work on his suit coat, removing it while taking in the way her little lavender cami nightie covered her.

  “Nothing. Are we done with pleasantries?”

  Her acerbic tongue lashed against him and he jerked her to him. “Yes.” Then he devoured her mouth with his and partook in the one thing with the ability to silence the memories.

  Her.

  * * * *

  Somewhere deep in the Appalachian Mountains

  He stared at the man who�
�d dared try to betray The Watchers. There was no empathy in him. The group had been carefully cultivated with an extremely clear purpose—to return the country’s misguided government to how it should be. When those serving did so at the leisure of the people. They should fear their countrymen, not be feared by them. In essence, to be in office was a privilege—those in that position should always remember it was the public who put them there, and the public should have the right to keep them in or remove them.

  Rolling his toothpick between his lips, he stroked his goatee with the thumb and index finger of his left hand. Then he walked forward, the woodland ground making very little noise beneath his feet. The man who hung there had no marks on him. After one complete circle, he stared into blue eyes.

  “Raymond,” he said, without a trace of any accent. “I am truly disappointed in you.” He withdrew his large Bowie knife from the sheath on his leg and used it to slice off a chunk of fresh, crisp apple.

  “I’m sorry, so sorry,” Raymond babbled.

  “Right, right. Of course you are. Look at me. Do I appear upset?” Another bite.

  “No, sir.”

  He paced as he ate the apple, mulling over his next option. None of that indecision showed on his face, however—he was confident in that with his years of experience. After two more circles around Raymond, who had his hands tied over his head, feet firmly on the ground, he stopped. Even Raymond’s eyes were full of fear, and beaded sweat gathered on his skin only to roll toward the fertile ground beneath their shoes.

  “Because I’m not. This is the face of a disappointed leader. I believe you will still be useful to us and our cause. I mean, you do want to help us still, don’t you?”

  “Yes. Yes! Anything, I’ll do anything.”

  A sadistic grin turned up his mouth. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that, Raymond.”

  After a final slice of the apple, the sandy-haired man plunged his knife deep into Raymond’s chest cavity. His eyes gleamed as he rotated the blade and cut down, effectively gutting him like a pig. Raymond’s intestines spilled out, almost hitting his shoes. “You will leave them a message they will never forget.”

  He wiped his knife off and returned the blade to its sheath before tossing the apple core and smoothing his hands down his linen pants.