Chapter 13

Janus

I’m trying to keep my smile after my talk with Leviathan, but I’m also knotted up inside.

God, this woman is a liability to my famous composure. I’m frustrated because, for the second time, Danielle Robinson has me worried.

What’s more, for the second time, I know it’s either follow her into the fire or walk away completely.

I’m irritated and I’m worried, and I toy with the idea of using my forged copy of the hotel’s master room key just to give her a little bit of a shock—to remind her that there are stakes and one of those stakes is her life. But that wouldn’t be the act of a proper gentleman, so I’m told, and I knock instead.

“Who is it?”

Is that a slight tremor in the voice of the fearless Dani?

“Jackal,” I growl, lower than I mean to, and surprised to have let my code name slip.

But she knows the Jackal well.

The sigh that comes from the other side of the door sounds a little like relief and a little like stress. A sound I heard often three years ago.

“Give me a moment.”

I can barely make out the hushed conversation she’s having on the other end of the door, but none of it sounds good.

Then I hear the click of her door opening and I’m greeted by her in nothing but a bathrobe.

Her wet hair is falling loosely over her shoulder and her cleavage—

Focus man! We have work to do here.

She motions for me to sit down in one of the armchairs and locks the door behind me.

Her back is to me, and I find myself guiltily drinking her in.

God, her ass is barely covered by that robe.

Part of me wonders if she’s doing this on purpose, given that she knows how much I’m a fan of her perfect derrière.

For one insane second, I picture myself strolling across the room and grabbing her by that sweet little ass of hers and throwing her on the bed.

Keep it professional, Jackal.

I take a seat at the table and she sits down opposite me on the other armchair.

Dani crosses her legs, and I can’t help but linger on them for a moment. I force myself to look away and get caught up with her glorious mess of dark locks, flawless skin, and eyes that sparkle like the cool October night.

“I just got off the phone with my contact.”

“I just got off the phone with Leviathan.”

“Not good?”

“Not good at all,” I answer with a slight shake of my head. “You?”

She shakes her head in return, and a glint of sadness washes over her features.

“Horrendous would be an understatement.”

We look at each other for a second. Her neck is wet and glorious. I want to kiss that little grimace of her face and then I want to—

“Alright, you go first,” she says.

Ah, yes. The job.

“You were right about the trafficking ring, and I was right that you could be in danger.”

She gives me a look. One of those tell-me-something-I-don’t-know kind of looks.

“Well, we knew this Janus. But if your contact is reaffirming it, then it means I’m on the right track.”

I can’t help it, I have to touch her.

Her hand is warm and soft and once we have skin-on-skin contact it’s hard to stop at just her hand.

“Dani, these men,” I shake my head and pause for a moment. “You don’t know these men. Brutal is an understatement. These aren’t the kind of men who will just outright kill you. I know we’ve been through this before, but—”

“Let me speak my piece, Jackal,” She abruptly interrupts. “A truck was seized by Bulgarian authorities. It’s worse than I thought—”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you!”

“Janus, there were dead young women. There were dead young children.”

This hits me harder than I could’ve imagined.

Dead children? I thought even Tartarus was above that.

I can feel my chest tightening and my stomach dropping. I’m desperately fighting memories.

I close my eyes to center myself.

Dani sees she’s finally silenced me, and she pushes on.

“I’m not talking teenagers, Janus. I’m talking children.”

The word hits me again, children.

I breathe in and out slowly.

I open my eyes.

Her full lips are solemn, her brow furrowed.

As quickly as the shock hit me, I can feel resolve flowing through me.

I have to stay. This was just a job before, but there are some lines you don’t cross. If Tartarus thinks they can hurt children and young women, and get away with it, they’ve got another thing coming.

But we’re going to have to be very fucking careful.

Extremely fucking careful.

I start to slowly nod my head. It is one of those still, slow moments, when the future starts to come together.

The windows are cracked open, and the lace curtains are dancing in the breeze.

Underneath the smells of exhaust and dust, I can faintly make out the scent of the sea. The air is hot and clammy.

Dani’s eyes still haven’t left mine.

They’re dark and concerned, but fierce, too.

I can feel my resolve firming.

“Jackal,” she’s squeezing my hand again. “I have to stay here. This just isn’t about my career anymore. Do you understand?”

“I feel the same way.”

She breaks out into a smile that could stop wars. For a second, I’m completely lost and enraptured by it. And then her expression slowly changes to concern.

“Are you okay, Janus? You seem a little less cool than normal.”

If only you knew the half of it, Dani.

I put my game face on.

“Of course, I’m okay. I just don’t like this at all.”

Her eyes search my face for another glimpse of what she had just witnessed—that chink in my armor.

And then she’s suddenly all business, and letting go of my hand. She stands and makes her way to the bathroom.

“We need to talk next steps. I have a few leads, but it’s going to be tough to remain unnoticed,” she calls out from behind the closed door.

My god, I swear this woman has a death wish.

“Danielle, there’s no moving unnoticed,” I warn as I move across her hotel room to the bathroom. “They already know who you are. You’re on their radar.”

Without realizing what I’m doing, I push open the door and step in. And then I do a double take.

Of course, she went into the bathroom to get changed. Of course, she’s standing in front of me wearing nothing but a bra and pants. And of course, her body is utterly perfect.

Is that a nipple I see poking through the top of the lacey cup?

This is completely unprofessional. Everything about this situation is completely unprofessional.

Dani actually laughs.

“Get a good enough look?” She asks with a coy smirk before pulling a simple cotton shirt over those wonderful nipples.

Between her tone and smirk, I can’t help it but grin in response.

“Look,” she walks towards me and I force composure back through my body. It’s harder for some body parts than for others.

“I get it, and I’m moved by your concern. But that’s what you’re here for. My safety.”

She leans up to plant a small kiss on my cheek and walks out of the room.

I swallow.

I’m definitely in deep.