Highlands at Dawn Page 18

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  In Aeternum: Polar Opposites

  Aliyah Burke

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  Christmas Island

  “Ivan Vinokourov.”

  Biting back his groan of irritation at being disturbed, Ivan turned his head, tipping it to peer over the tops of his shades. A large, dark-skinned man stood there, powerful arms crossed and reflective sunglasses hiding his eyes.

  “Yes?” Who is this man?

  “I need a word with you.”

  “Must be important if you tracked me down here.” There were around two thousand residents on this island. Most people who arrived here were outsiders—scientists or naturalists.

  “It ain’t about the color of the sky, that’s for sure.” He lowered himself to the sand beside Ivan, apparently uncaring about what it may do to his pants. Silk, from the looks of them.

  “So, what can I do for you, Mr…?”

  “Kevin. Kevin McNeal.” He stared like Ivan should know the name.

  Ivan didn’t, and merely raised a brow.

  “I work for an organization called Theta Corps.”

  He blinked. “Congratulations.”

  “We want you to come work for us.”

  Suspicion flared. “Why?”

  “Your reputation precedes you.”

  And flew as if it sprouted wings. Shifting on his chair, he stared out over the Indian Ocean and hooked his ankles. “What rep would that be?”

  “Dedicated. Hard-working. Extremely smart, and one of the top physicists in your field.”

  “Reputations can be falsified.”

  “They can be. In this case, they’re not, Dr Vinokourov. We know it’s true.”

  “And how do you know so much?”

  “I know more than you probably think. I know of your training by Dr Thompson and your work with Dr Jaydee Cassano on electrogravitics.”

  He shook his head. “Sorry, I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

  “I admire your commitment to keeping it a secret but I know Valentino Cassano, and Theta Corps does its homework.” He draped an arm over his raised knee. “You can deny all you want but we both know the truth. And that’s why I’m here. We want you to work for us.”

  “What do you need?”

  “A man of your talents would be extremely useful to our organization.”

  Valentino Cassano. Jaydee’s brother-in-law. Nope. He didn’t need to be close to anyone—be it location-wise or friendly—who was close to her right now. Ivan shook his head and rose, his momentarily discovered peace spoiled for the present moment. “Thank you, but I must decline.”

  “You’ve not heard what I have to offer you yet.”

  “No need for me to listen or for you to waste your breath. I’m not interested. Period. Good day, Mr McNeal.” Ivan walked away and didn’t once look back. He’d meant what he’d said—he wasn’t interested. Why continue to torment himself with the knowledge of what he couldn’t have or who he would never be?

  He didn’t return to his hotel room, it wasn’t where he wanted, or needed, to go right now. Instead, he made his way down the beach. He shoved his hands in his pockets and tried his best to forget the name of the one woman he’d loved. Jaydee Amos.

  No, that’s not right, she’s Jaydee Cassano now. He’d offered to marry her. He loved her. A foolish endeavor he now saw, for never had her emotions been as vivid as when they involved Giovanni. Part of him would always love her, he knew that. Nevertheless, it was past time for him to move on. Something else he knew.

  Easier to say than to do.

  It had been hard for him these past few years. To see the woman he loved married and with a family of her own. A family that should have been his.

  Things fall as they do and there’s nothing that said she was to be mine or nobody’s. Again, words that were easier to say than necessarily believe.

  He veered from the shore and onto one of the numerous walking trails. Perhaps a visit to some fissure caves would do him good. All he knew was he didn’t need to go back and talk to some man who’d tracked him down.

  Why me and why all the way out here?

  It wasn’t Bali, or Monte Carlo. Hell, it wasn’t even Rio. It had been a deliberate choice for him to come here. And to have this man know about him and what he’d done, come here and track him down…? Yes, color him suspicious. He’d never heard of Theta Corps before. Didn’t do much interaction in regards to Valentino Cassano. Sure, he’d seen the man a few times—he’d married Jaydee’s friend Lexy. However, they weren’t personally friends.

  He nodded at some people who were meandering by him. This wasn’t a gambling spot, or one for races. He had come here because it was for those who loved nature. He continued, stepping past others on the trail. Over half of this island was a national park.

  Eventually he got lost in his musings as he explored and enjoyed his day. Passing by two women, he smiled at them, chuckled when one whispered to her friend, and giggled as her face flamed. Despite the blatant invitation in her gaze, he traipsed on, not wanting to follow up on her hollow offer. He needed something more than just sex and this woman didn’t have it, which was why to him, it was a hollow offer. Ivan was at the point where he wanted more than just meaningless sex with a stranger. He wanted to feel some type of connection with them—more than just a physical one. That woman barely got a physical one from him.

  It wasn’t until later that afternoon that he headed back to his hotel room. He slowed when he saw a couple arguing on the trail. Christ, can’t you keep it private? People don’t come here to listen to your bitching. He moved to the other side of the trail to skirt around them when something hard clipped him in the back of the head.

  Stars flickering, he dropped to his knees and peered behind him. No more arguing couple. They looked intent on causing him harm. The woman raised a gun, aimed it and pulled the trigger. He tried to yell but nothing left his mouth. Fingers on the side of his neck, he encountered the dart sticking out and swore moments before he succumbed to the darkness blanketing him.

  * * * *

  Santiago, Chile

  The knock at the door made her pause. Bailey Hyde shoved home her boot knife and sighed. She tugged her jean leg over the black leather with a three and a quarter inch heel. A quick perusal of her attire then she moved to answer the person on the other side. She didn’t check to see who it was—only one person knew she was here. He’d sent her.

  “What, McNeal?” She posed her question once she’d thrown open the door.

  “I need you.”

  “My every dream come to life,” she said drolly.

  He brushed by her, the fall of his silk shirt and pants perfect—the man never seemed to be a mess. He was her boss in the group she worked with. Theta Corps. Throughout the organization, there were smaller groups of people who tended to work together. Except a few who were loners and did one specific job—assassinations. And she was one of the best.

  “You, Bailey, are such a charmer.”

  His words carried no heat and she took no slight at his sarcasm. She shut the door behind him then leaned against it. Arms crossed, she waited for him to let her know what the job would be.

  “You know why I’m here.”

  “Social call?”

  “Besides that.”

  “You’ve never come for a social call, I’m not buying it. Who do you want me to kill?”

  He exhaled sharply. “No one.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “So this is a social call? I told you I was fine and didn’t need to be pulled from work.”

  Kevin McNeal walked farther into her small place. A studio apartment, there wasn’t much in the way of personal items. A few magazines purchased from the store, but nothing that had been addressed to her.

  “We worry about our people, Bailey.”

  “If this isn’t about a job, what are you doing here?”

  He turned his dark head so they h
ad eye contact. “I didn’t say it wasn’t about a job.”

  “You said—”

  “I didn’t want you to kill anyone.”

  She walked to the tiny kitchen then filled the coffee pot and turned it on. “I’m not following.”

  “I need you to go rescue someone.”

  She didn’t even pause in getting mugs. “I don’t do that.”

  “You do this time.”

  That statement got her to stop. She set the spoons on the counter and faced her boss. “I’m not the person you send to rescue someone. I’ll go along to eliminate a target. But typically when people need rescuing, they need someone softer than I am.”

  “Not this time.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “A man we have been after was taken.”

  “So send in a rescue team. I’m not a team, nor part of one. I work alone.”

  “Not going to work. I need you. You’ll be taken as well, not in the same guise but the plan will have you getting in. Then I need you to find him and get him out of there.”

  “Then what?”

  Kevin blinked. “Then what, what?”

  “What do I do with him after I get him out of wherever he is?” She turned back and poured the hot drink. “Where do I leave him?”

  “You bring him to me.”

  Handing him a cup, she canted her head to the side before sipping some of her coffee. “Why?”

  His brow converged. “You never ask why.”

  “I also don’t do rescues. Apparently now I do, so I’m asking why.”

  “We want him to work for us.”

  “This captured man. You want him at Theta Corps?”

  “He’s brilliant. However, even if he continues to refuse coming to us, we still need to keep him out of the hands he’s in now.”

  She grunted and Kevin sipped his drink.

  “No wondering why we want him?”

  “Not my department. Where is he?”

  “All we know is somewhere in Madagascar.”

  She finished her coffee and put the mug on the counter. “‘Somewhere in’ is extremely vague, especially in a place that size.”

  “I have faith in your ability.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “The head of the group believed to have taken him has a fondness for women like you.”

  “Like me? Assassins?”

  “Tough. Black. Beautiful.”

  “So you want to dangle me before him like bait and have him want to keep me closer. That way I can locate this person for you and get them out.”

  He smiled. “I love it how you don’t have to ask a lot of questions.” He put down his mug and walked to the door. “File’s on your table.”

  Of course it is. She didn’t speak as he left, just stared until the door closed behind him. Intrigued, she walked to the square table and sat before the file. She flipped it open and stared down at the picture of the man on the paper.

  Handsome, sure, she wouldn’t lie, but it was his eyes that snagged her. Such a pale blue, she wondered if it wasn’t a trick of the camera. Rugged features and a quirk of his lips that made her hesitate.

  A physicist. One held in high regard by his peers. Her eyebrows rose when she discovered his friend was the sister-in-law to Valentino Cassano. She knew Valentino’s name and had met him three times. The group he was in was pretty damn legendary throughout Theta Corps. She continued to read and her expression hardened the more she realized why they couldn’t allow him to stay in the clutches of whoever it was that had him.

  Reading on, she went for a large ceramic bowl, which she then set in the middle of her table. As she finished reading each sheet, she placed it in there. When a few were accumulated, she lit them on fire, allowing them to burn down to nothing but ash. After dealing with the entire file, she got to her feet and took the dish to the sink where she dumped the remnants down the drain. Running some water after it, she cleaned out the dish then set it upside down in the adjoining side.

  The plan formulated in her head and she knew what they wanted. She walked to her closet and opened the door. After reaching in for her black duffle bag, she stuffed some clothing in it then went out of the front, locking it behind her and striding away without a look back.

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  About the Author

  Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is married to a career military man, and they have a German Shepherd, two Borzois, and a DSH cat. Her days are spent sharing her time between work, writing, and dog training.

  Email: aliyah_burke@hotmail.com

  Aliyah loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.

  Also by Aliyah Burke

  Through The Fire

  Seducing Damian

  Code of Honour: A Marriage Of Convenience

  Code of Honour: The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife

  Code of Honour: A Man Like No Other

  Code of Honour: When Stars Collide

  In Aeternum: Casanova in Training

  In Aeternum: Harbour of Refuge

  In Aeternum: Protected by Shadows

  In Aeternum: Polar Opposites

  Interludes: Temporary Home

  Interludes: Alone With You

  What’s Her Secret?: Preconception

  Keeper of the Stars: Part One

  Keeper of the Stars: Part Two

  Keeper of the Stars: Part Three

  Keeper of the Stars: Part Four

  Keeper of the Stars: Part Five

  Astral Guardians: Chasing the Storm

  With Taige Crenshaw

  Kemet Uncovered: Talios

  Kemet Uncovered: Devi

  Kemet Uncovered: Linc

  Kemet Uncovered: Saffron

  Kemet Uncovered: Taber

  Kemet Uncovered: Ashia

  With McKenna Jeffries

  McKingley: All the Wright Moves

  McKingley: The Best Thing Yet

  McKingley: Risky Pleasures

  McKingley: Pure Harmony

  McKingley: Irresistible Forces

  McKingley: Seduction’s Dance

  Totally Bound Publishing