The Guardian Read online

  “You think they leaked the information?”

  “I think there’s a really good chance of it. The fact they were killed in some random act of violence makes it pretty sketchy to me. Especially when one of them was off-duty at the time but had been called to the scene.”

  Maks had to admit it did look as if someone was trying to get rid of those who went against policy.

  “That’s not all, either. Two days later, one of the detective chief inspectors resigned, and two others above her were moved to other departments,” Eden told him.

  He turned his head to her. “Did you look into this for some client?”

  “No. I did it because something sounded off to me. It died pretty quickly, though, which also didn’t sit well with me. It wasn’t long before some other big story came through.”

  “Maybe by design,” he said.

  She snorted. “Maybe. I didn’t think about that.”

  Maks straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. “I think it’s time to check those other dates.”

  “That’s what I’m about to do. It might take some time. If it is something similar, I’ll get all the information I can, including anything that could be connected.”

  “In other words, I shouldn’t hover?” he asked with a grin.

  She laughed as she tilted her head to look at him. “Hover all you want. I’ll be happy to tell you what I’m doing as I’m doing it.”

  “There’s no need. I’ll leave you to it. There are woods behind the house. I’ll go hunting and get us some meat for dinner. You do eat meat, right?”

  Her chuckle caused her eyes to twinkle with merriment. “Most definitely. And while I’m not usually one to want to hunt for my food, I’m also aware of the situation. What I’m trying to tell you is that I’m not picky. You bring back food, and I’ll eat it.”

  “I’ll lock the door on my way out. No one can see through the windows, and no one can get into the house. You’ll be safe.”

  She stared at him for a moment. “I’ll be fine.”

  He started to turn away then reached under the table near her and pulled out the gun he’d hidden there. He laid it near her. “Do you know how to shoot?”

  “Some. It’s been a few years since I fired a weapon.”

  “It’s already loaded.” He lifted it and pulled back the slide. “Just point and shoot. It has a kick, so hold it securely. Aim for center mass. Don’t try to scare anyone away. If someone tries to get in and it’s not me, assume they’re a Saint.”

  Eden nodded solemnly. “I got it.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “I’ll be fine. You’ve made sure of that.”

  He hesitated, wondering if he should wait. But they needed fresh food, and he didn’t want to go into town. Finally, he turned on his heel and walked to the back of the house. The closet looked like any other until he pushed on a board, and the wall shifted, opening another door to a room. Overhead lights flickered on to show the many and various guns, rifles, knives, grenades and ammunition at his disposal. It had taken him years to accumulate the weapons, and this wasn’t his only stash. He had three other houses just like this one in various parts of the world that he could get to if he were in trouble.

  Maks chose the 30/30 hunting rifle and loaded the weapon. He then walked out, closing the hidden door behind him. After a glance to the front of the house where Eden was typing on the keyboard, he walked to the back door and let himself out. He locked it and turned to face the woods.

  Part of him didn’t want to leave Eden, but another part of him knew that she was safe in the house. It’s why he had set it up. He’d bought—and installed himself—each window with bulletproof glass. The walls were also lined with fiberglass to help stop projectiles. He’d done everything he could to make the house as impenetrable as possible.

  He stepped off the porch and headed into the woods.

  Maks had learned to hunt at an early age. His father had wanted all of his children to know how to fend for themselves if there was ever a need for it. As soon as the woods swallowed him, Maks was transported back in time to memories of hunting with his father. Sometimes, his father would take him out on his own. Other times, it was with the others. The one thing Maks could never say was that his parents didn’t spend quality time with all five of their children.

  Talking about his family with Eden had made him homesick in a way he hadn’t been in years. He longed to hear his mother’s laugh and smell her cooking. He wished he could sit with his father as they grilled something and shared a beer. How he missed the times he and his siblings would play card games late into the night.

  He’d given all of that up to make the world a better place. But had he actually succeeded? He hadn’t. He wasn’t even sure he stood a remote chance of taking out the Saints. But he had to try. For his family. For Eden. For everyone else in the world.

  Maks didn’t stray too far from his house. It might be on a moderately trafficked road, but its location set against the forest was prime real estate for him. Being in the woods and with nature helped to center him, to ground him. His father said that in order to be a human, one had to know, respect, and love nature and the Earth.

  It was something that had resonated with Maks. To this day, he made an effort to get out into nature the moment he felt like he needed to be centered again. Even just walking in a park and listening to the birds could do it. Sitting next to a stream, standing on a beach as the waves crashed on the shore. There was never a place where he didn’t take the opportunity to soak in nature.

  Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time he could do that. Eden might have told him that she was fine, but he didn’t like leaving her alone. He knew for a fact how difficult it would be to get into that house, and if anyone came, he’d hear them before they ever got through. That didn’t seem to ease his mind, however.

  For two hours, Maks searched for any sign of animals. He spotted boar tracks. Found week-old deer tracks, and just when he thought he might not be able to find one, he came across a Roe deer. Maks raised his rifle, sighted down the barrel. As he breathed out, he pulled the trigger. The deer collapsed where it stood.

  He hurried to it and kneeled beside the beast, putting his hand on the animal’s head. “Thank you.”

  In quick order, Maks slung the small, reddish deer over his shoulders. He grasped his rifle and straightened before he turned and made his way back to the house. As he approached, he slowed, his gaze moving about, searching for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. None of the sensors had gone off to alert him on his phone, but he didn’t rely on only technology. It was nice to have, but he’d been burned too many times not to trust his own eyes and senses.

  Only when he deemed that no one had come near the house did he leave the forest. At the back porch, he lowered the deer to the ground and went to the door. He punched in the code and wiped his feet on the mat before entering the house.

  The first thing he heard was music coming from the office. He smiled as the strings of Godsmack’s When Legends Rise song reached him. He never would’ve thought Eden was a hard rock girl. He made his way to the front of the house and peeked inside the office to see her head moving to the beat of the music as she gazed at the computer screen.

  Not wanting to scare her, he tapped on the door. Her head snapped around to him. Maks lifted his hands. “Just wanted to let you know I’m back.”

  “I see you got something. Or did you shoot yourself?”

  He frowned, blinking. “What?”

  Eden pointed to his shirt. “There’s blood.”

  “Oh.” He glanced at the stain. “I’ll be right outside, cleaning the deer.”

  She flashed him a bright smile. “Okay.”

  Without waiting, she turned back to the computer and began typing something. Maks backed away and went to the kitchen, where he had freezer bags. He grabbed the box and returned to the carcass. With sure strokes, he gutted the dear before removing the coat. After that, he b
egan cutting the meat into pieces before putting them into the bags.

  Once that was finished, he took the bags inside, putting all but two in the freezer. Then he gathered the remnants of the deer and tossed them into the forest to be eaten by scavengers. There was no need to waste anything.

  Maks then washed off the blood that had gotten onto the back porch. He made sure that everything was just as it had been before he arrived. Then he went inside and removed his clothes in the laundry room. There might not be any hope of getting all the blood out, but they needed to be washed anyway. He started the washing machine and walked from the room to go upstairs. With one foot on the bottom step, he paused at the music.

  He hadn’t thought about Eden seeing him naked when he removed his clothes. But now that he had, he wished she had been out here. Though, he wasn’t sure what he would’ve done if she were. This wasn’t the time for anything romantic. Even if he did desire her.

  “Stop it,” he ordered himself and proceeded up the stairs to take a shower.

  16

  “Holy shit,” Eden said as she slowly lowered herself into the chair.

  She had gone out to get some more water when she caught a glimpse of Maks in the laundry room. Naked. She hadn’t known a man’s back could have that many muscles in it. His broad shoulders tapered to narrow hips, and he had a fine ass. His legs were long and lean. Whether he got that body from the gym or his lifestyle, she didn’t know.

  What she wanted was to see the front of him. If his back looked that good, then his front had to be amazing.

  Eden shook her head, trying to dislodge the image of Maks’ nude body from her brain. But it wasn’t going anywhere. She was beginning to think that there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. Not only was he handsome as sin, a superb fighter, massively intelligent, and honorable. He was also a guardian.

  Her mother used to tell her that there were special people out in the world who were guardians. It was their job to look out for others, to protect them and save them in times of danger. Without a doubt, Maks was a guardian.

  At the sound of water above her, Eden’s gaze looked to the ceiling. She wished now that she had stayed in the kitchen when Maks had turned around from the laundry. Not only would she have gotten to see the front of him, but she might be in that shower with him.

  Her eyes returned to the computer. “Now isn’t the time for such things. Not when so much is at stake.”

  It didn’t take long for her to get back into the work. Every lead she chased down netted information. To the untrained eye, it was easy to overlook stuff or dismiss things as inconsequential, but she was searching for anything and everything. And there was a lot out there. Eden was floored at how far the Saints had gone to rid themselves of what they considered people who might stand in their way.

  The smell of something delicious pulled her from the work. She blinked, not realizing the sun had begun to set, and the room was now bathed in light from the desk lamp and lights overhead. She stretched her neck and paused her music before she rose and did more stretches for her back, shoulders, and legs.

  She’d learned that she could become absorbed in her work to the point where it became detrimental to her health. She’d forget to move her body or drink enough fluids. Like she’d done today. That couldn’t happen again. She had to be cognizant of those things and take the time to care for herself. And she knew that wanting to do it didn’t always mean she’d remember. So, she was going to have to set timers.

  When she walked out of the office, it was to see Maks in the kitchen, cooking. She stopped and stared as he moved from the stove to the island to chop mushrooms. He glanced up and met her eyes.

  “That smells delicious,” she said as she walked to the island and took one of the stools.

  He scooped up the mushrooms but stopped short of putting them in the pan. “Do you eat mushrooms?”

  “I do.”

  After dumping the fungi in the pot and stirring, he glanced her way. “I didn’t disturb you, did I?”

  “Not at all, but I think you should have.” She turned her neck, feeling her muscles tightening. “I have a habit of not taking breaks when I’m working. I suffer after.”

  One side of his mouth lifted in a grin. “Then I’ll be sure to interrupt every couple of hours next time.”

  “Please do. Can I help?”

  “Nope,” he said as he tossed in some salt and pepper. “You’re doing all the hard work.”

  At that, she laughed. “I wouldn’t say that.”

  “I couldn’t find what you have.”

  “You haven’t even looked at it, so you don’t know. Besides, I’m pretty sure you could have, but your other skills are more important. I can handle this part.”

  He glanced at her again and covered the pot before he came to stand at the island across from her. “I gather you’re finding a lot?”

  “More than I’d like.” She shrugged, her lips twisting. “I know what to look for. It isn’t too hard when you’re trained to look for the words or phrases others use when they want to throw someone off a trail or hide something. I’ve got a lot to show you, and I’ve even started on the pen drives.”

  Maks released a slow breath. “That’s good. I know there’s valuable information on the drives. I took those from a computer of some high-ranking Russian in the FSB that I know is part of the Saints.”

  “How did you not get caught?”

  He shrugged. “I’m trained for such things.”

  “Yeah, but I’d be so terrified that someone would see me that I couldn’t do it.”

  “Sometimes, I am caught. You have to be able to think quickly and come up with a couple of excuses in case someone walks in.”

  Eden hadn’t considered that before. “Good advice. Not that I foresee myself in such a situation, but if I ever am, now I’ll be prepared.”

  He turned back to the stove and lifted the lid. Steam billowed out. Her gaze roamed over his back. The dark green tee covered his muscles but not the width of his shoulders or the thickness of his arms. The dark denim hung low on his hips. When he stepped to the side, she just now noticed that he wasn’t wearing shoes or socks. There was something very homey about him being barefoot.

  “What are we having?” she asked.

  He covered the dish again and turned to her only to pick up the knife and began to chop some long herbs. “I’m panfrying some deer steaks. I found some wild rosemary, onions, and mushrooms.”

  “Sounds simple and delicious. Do you like to cook?”

  Maks finished chopping. “I don’t hate it. My mom made sure we all knew how. We were always in the kitchen with her, learning something or other. Dad also taught us how to grill various meats. When we got old enough, Mom made us take turns picking out a meal and cooking it each week.”

  “Now that’s an idea.”

  “Yeah,” he said with a shrug. “It’s just fine until you attempt to eat something my oldest sister cooks. She can’t even boil water.”

  Eden threw back her head and laughed. “You’re just making that up.”

  “I’m not,” Maks said with a smile. “It’s the truth. It became so bad that Mom stopped asking her to make anything. We used to think she did it on purpose, but that’s not what it was. She really was trying, but she just can’t do it. On the days she was scheduled to cook, one of us kids would rotate that week and pick up the slack.”

  “That means your mom only had to make two meals a week.”

  Maks snorted and turned to check the meat. “One. Dad cooked the other. He was a good cook himself, and while he could prepare any meal, he preferred using the grill.”

  She watched him for a minute and waited until he faced her once more. “Do you think you’ll ever see them again?”

  “No.”

  There was no hesitation in his words. No hope. Nothing. She didn’t understand that at all, because sometimes, hope was the only thing that kept her going at all.

  “Why not? If we win this thing with t
he Saints, you can go home.”

  Maks walked to the wine stacked on the counter and pulled out a bottle. Without looking at her as he began to open it, he said, “Because I won’t be alive. I know that facing the Saints with all of this will mean my life. I accepted that a long time ago.”

  “You don’t have to die.” And she was appalled that he would think he had to.

  Bright blue eyes met hers. “You live in a world I see every day, but it’s one I’m not a part of. People like me have no place in such a world. We’re the darkness in your eyes, the demons that should never see the light of day.”

  “You’re not the darkness or a demon. You saved me.”

  He pulled out the cork and let the wine breathe as he got out two glasses. “I brought you into this fight without so much as a second thought. I knew if you weren’t a Saint what it could do to you, and I didn’t care.”

  “Because you’re thinking about the bigger picture. I’m one person. I’m inconsequential.”

  “On the contrary, you are very important. I’m not a savior, Eden. I’m an assassin, a man who has done so many dirty things that I wouldn’t be able to wash my hands of it in twenty lifetimes.”

  She got off the stool and walked to him, keeping her gaze locked with his. When she stood in front of him, she said, “I disagree. You’re the one who saw the bigger picture from the beginning. You walked away from your friends and family, from a life, in order to take down the Saints. You’ve sacrificed your existence and any kind of normalcy you might have had to ensure that happened. You’re not a demon, Maks. You’re a goddamn hero.”

  “The worst thing you can do is make me into something I’m not.”

  “I know exactly what you are. You’ve shown it to me since you came into my life just this morning.” My God. Had it just been that morning? It had been a long day, but so much had happened in that short time that it had altered her world forever.

  He went to the stove and took the pan away before shutting off the burner. “I have to be rational about all of this. I have to deal in reality, not hopes and wishes.”