He didn’t touch her, his jaw squared, his voice reverberating with quiet resolution. “You will not get on a plane anywhere. You will accept that we cannot discuss what is told to us by the feds. Edward works with Aaron, with us. Wells Security co-operates with agencies, and confidentiality is strict. Not even Aaron’s wife knows what goes on, and it stays that way. You will step down and let us and the feds do our jobs. You will not contact Rose to find out what is happening. You will not pressure her to give details. Rose is under strict orders to reveal nothing of what she knows to anyone, even you.”
“What, you think I’m going to find out and tell someone?” Incensed, Ella threw one arm out to the side, waving her hand around angrily. “Don’t you trust me?”
“I trust you. That doesn’t mean I am going to tell you.”
“What kind of half-arsed answer is that?”
Not one hint of annoyance or any other emotion disturbed his expressionless features. His voice didn’t rise in anger. Calm and controlled, he towered over her, his hands by his sides.
The man didn’t lean forward or do anything else in an attempt to intimidate her, didn’t have to, not when she could feel the invisible presence of something tightly leashed so deep inside him.
Observing the way he stated his orders with composed authority in complete expectation of her obeying them, she scowled. Scowled because he irritated her. Everyone irritated her. Everything about this whole damned thing irritated her. Damn it, she even irritated herself.
Made her blood boil in fact, because…not liking where that’s going, Ella.
Sucking in a sharp breath, she bit out from between clenched teeth, “Right now I’m going to work. If I stay here much longer and listen to you order me around like an ignorant kid, I’m going to slap you.”
Ryan didn’t stop her as she stormed across the kitchen to grab her bag. Angry, annoyed, disappointed, she stomped through into the wide hallway, feeling worse by the minute the nearer she got to the door. Worse because she knew why she was acting so irrationally - though she deserved some kind of explanation, right?
But with the heavy handle of the front door in her grip, guilt had nagged and swearing, she’d swung around to find Ryan right behind her. Still calm, still controlled, he’d been reaching for the door above her head, no doubt to hold it open for her so she could storm off into the late evening night. Watch her to her bloody car to ensure she got there safely even though it was right in his driveway. Making sure she was safe even though she had threatened him.
“Be careful on the road, Ella mine,” he said quietly.
Damn it, he just had to be so bloody caring even when she’d been so nasty to him. “I’ll be fine,” she growled, right before blurting, “And I wouldn’t really slap you. But I could bloody kick your stubborn arse sometimes.”
Eyes crinkling a little at the corners, he’d leaned down to brush a kiss over her brow before straightening and pulling the door open.
That gentle kiss was oddly soothing, but the feelings churning inside her, the resentment, had her churlishly muttering, “I should know. I have a right to know.” Quickly she’d walked away.
Ryan hadn’t stopped her, simply watched her get into the car and drive off.
Now she stared at the hibiscus bush. They’d been going together for several weeks already, had fallen back into an easy camaraderie. The sex was fantastic, no question about it, didn’t matter if he was wringing her heart with tenderness or blowing her mind with a vigorous rutting, it was magic. But equally she loved the times they spent talking, watching TV, eating dinner, going for a walk, doing mundane things like going into the city to pay their bills and attend everyday things, getting to know each other all over again. They sometimes sat in silence, both reading, or he played the piano while she did her own thing, or he listened as she played, sometimes just her reading while he relaxed with his eyes closed doing some kind of Zen thing, breathing evenly, reflecting or whatever he did during that state. Didn’t bother her, didn’t bother him. Several times she’d glanced up to find him watching her with a softness in his eyes that made her smile and blow him a kiss before she returned to whatever she’d been doing. And when her leg ached with a sudden bitter chill in the air, he massaged it for her, insisted on a hot pack, coddled her against her protests. He didn’t even seem to mind Boof sitting on his lap shedding hair on his pristine pants.
It was as though they’d never been apart. Yet she didn’t fool herself, a lot had changed in those years, they’d both changed. The love was still there, only matured. They accepted each other, learnt more about each other, acknowledged the changes and the differences of opinions. Loved each other, yes, but grew closer as a couple.
Ryan didn’t pressure her to move in with him. He waited for her to make the decision. The man was a font of patience while she, well, she dithered.
“It’s not like I don’t trust him,” she muttered to Boof as he lay down in the grass. “I do. And let’s face it, we will move in with him. I just…” With a sigh, she shifted the stream of water to the last hibiscus bush. “I just feel…”
Boof lazily batted an errant leaf with one paw.
“Bugger it. I’m such a selfish, self-absorbed dron-”
“Ella!”
Startled out of her moody self-berating, she looked up to see Mrs Featherstone waving a newspaper. Turning off the water, she crossed to the fence dividing the properties.
“Did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“There’s an underage sex ring going on in Victoria.” Mrs Featherstone again flapped the newspaper.
Heart skipping a beat, Ella managed to maintain an outwardly mildly curious expression while reaching for the paper. “Really?”
Mrs Featherstone relinquished the paper.
Indeed, front page news. The article blazed out, reporting with relish that there were links between young missing girls and a possible sex ring. Parents of one of the girls had gone to the police with a DVD they’d found among their missing daughter’s belongings in her room. Damning in itself, the DVD had visual proof of several young girls no older than fourteen indulging in sex acts with masked men. The parents had immediately spoken to the newspapers to warn other parents of the dangers, to monitor their kids closely.
The AFP would be furious that word had gotten out. Hopefully they could salvage something as there was no mention of identifying suspects, the men being masked, but it would put the club members on alert.
Ella felt sick. Sick and incredibly small. Jesus, she’d been moping around about being left in the dark and meanwhile those girls were being abused.
“Terrible, just terrible.” Mrs Featherstone shook her head.
“Yes.” Feeling worse by the minute, Ella returned the newspaper to her.
“What a world we live in today.” Tsking, Mrs Featherstone cast a glance around. “Your beau not here, dear?”
“No. No, he’s at work.” Ella made a show of checking her wrist watch. “Is that the time? Speaking of work, I have to get ready.” Bidding her neighbour goodbye, Ella retreated inside.
What was Rose thinking now? Doing? Was she at home? Watching her father? Cripes, she hoped her friend was being careful, if anyone caught her snooping while that newspaper article flared across the country, she hated to think what might happen. Knowing she was under Wells Security surveillance was comforting, but she still wished she could see her, talk to her. However, Ryan was right, it was too dangerous, even more so now.
“I’ll be glad when this is over, Boof.” She gave the cat a smooch right beside his one ear before setting him down in front of his food bowl. “As soon as it is, I’m on that plane to see her.”
Meanwhile, she had an apology to make, one she should have done a lot sooner. Dialling Ryan’s mobile, she waited. Getting the message bank, she said, “Hey, it’s Ella. I’m really sorry about last night. I just… Well, I’m sorry. You were right, I was wrong, and a bitch besides. So…you know.” She paused. “Okay, not too good at this. Hope you’re okay, whatever you’re doing. Saving the world, a life, doing paperwork. Catch you later. Bye.” Hanging up the phone, she grimaced. A gracious apologiser she wasn’t. And man, she hated answering machines. How could you leave a proper message on an answering machine? Talking to oneself was one thing, talking to an inanimate object a whole other ball game.
After having a quick bite to eat, she changed her clothes and headed out to work. She was just putting her bag in the locker at the back of the service station when her mobile rang. “Hello?”
“Ryan.”
She sighed. “Hey. I’m sorry. You know, about yesterday.”
“It’s okay, Ella mine.”
“No, it’s not.”
“It is.”
“I should have rung and apologised this morning.” She fiddled with the strap of her bag. “You’re too good to me.”
“I’ll make sure you make it up to me.”
Relaxing, she laughed.
“Ella, did you see the newspaper?”
“Yeah. Crap’s hit the fan, huh?”
“Yes. Rose hasn’t contacted you?”
“No. She’s okay, isn’t she?”
“She’s fine.”
“Good. So good to hear.”
“Ella, it’s important that if you notice anything unusual, even just a little odd, that you let us know immediately.”
Her hand tightened on the mobile. “What’s wrong?”
“With this cracking like it has done, the consequences are unpredictable. You’re being watched closely by our guards, you’ll be safe, but keep alert regardless.”
“Okay.”
“I have to go.”
“No worries. I’ll see you later.”
“Love you, Ella mine.” Before she could reply, he’d hung up.
Feeling better knowing Rose was okay and that Ryan had accepted her apology, Ella went through into the main area of the service station.
The night pretty much went as usual - people fuelled up, called in on their way home from work and pubs and clubs, young people, older people, a couple of families. She rung up their purchases, vacuumed and mopped, stacked shelves, worked alongside Cassidy, the young assistant manager, until he finally went out back to attend paperwork.
An ambulance went past, sirens blaring, and she watched it disappear into the traffic. Restless, she tapped the box of cereal in her hand.
Her plans had never really gone past bringing down that perverted club with its bastard members, but now things had been taken out of her hands. Maybe it would wrap up soon. Then what? Did she really want to spend her life working night shifts in a service station? It was a good job, but now that she wasn’t planning, piecing together whatever she could with Rose, she found her mind not as challenged.
Frankly, she was growing bored.
She looked around at the empty building, the cold lights overhead, the shelves of food, snacks and sundry pieces. The fuel bowsers in the empty lot outside, the cars driving past.
Well, wasn’t that a turn-up for the books? When this was all over, just what did she want to do with her life? Apart from be with Ryan, of course. That was a no-brainer, Ryan would always come first. But he had his job, and she wanted something, too.
There were young girls out there who didn’t have a life ahead of them, though. Young girls abused, their trust betrayed, their bodies lying in some lonely grave out in the bush somewhere. They had nothing. She still had her life, had Ryan, had Boof.
Compared to them, she had everything.
Soberly, she returned to stacking the shelves. The gradual shift of the weather outside suited her mood, a light sprinkle of rain filtering down through the glow of the street lights to slick the bitumen. When she went outside to check the tyres for an elderly couple, the chill of the rainy night made her leg ache a little.
But she had nothing to complain about compared to those girls.
~*~
Pulling up outside her house in the early morning, she saw Ryan’s car in the driveway. He didn’t normally come around when she returned from work so her curiosity was piqued.
Walking through the door, she called out, “Honey, I’m home!”
“In the kitchen.”
She entered to find Ryan perched on one of the stools at the kitchen bench and Boof doing a Sphinx impersonation on one of the kitchen chairs, his eyes half closed. There was no missing the empty food bowl, the faint smell of salmon in the air.
Ella smiled at Ryan. “You fed him.”
“I thought it a good plan to win him over.”
“You already have. He’d have bitten you a long time ago otherwise.” Placing her bag on the bench, she dropped a kiss on his cheek and plucked the glass of apple juice from his hand. “Thanks.”
He nudged the paper bag at his elbow. “Brought us breakfast.”
“Really?” She peeked into the bag. “Smells good.”
“Ham and cheese croissants.”
“Yum.” Taking the stool next to him, she leaned her elbows on the bench.
Taking the croissants out of the bag, he handed her one.
Taking a big bite, she sighed blissfully, moaning around a mouthful, “Sooo good.”
The corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement as he took a more respectful bite and chewed.
After swallowing another mouthful, she looked at him. “So.”
He took a sedate sip of the apple juice they were apparently now sharing from the one glass.
“This is all very wonderful, but to what do I owe the pleasure of this morning visit?”
“Eat first.”
“Is this conversation going to make me mad?”
Holding his hand out flat, he waggled it. Maybe, maybe not.
The man wasn’t going to reveal anything until he was ready. But he wasn’t annoyed or angry, seemed okay, so she thoughtfully continued eating.
Silence filled the kitchen as they ate, Boof’s purring a rusty accompaniment.
When they’d both finished, Ryan took her paper, balled it up with his and dropped it into the paper bag. Giving his thumb and forefinger a lick to get off the crumbs, he swivelled around on the stool to focus on her.
She waited with eyebrows raised inquiringly.
“I want you to come and stay with me,” he said.
Surprised, she repeated, “With you?”
“I’m not pushing for us to move in together. It’s not that.”
“Well, you’ll have to be a bit clearer. If you’re not pushing for us to move in together, why are you asking me to stay with you?”
“Make no mistake, Ella, I want you to live with me. I was - am - okay to wait until you’re ready.”
“All right.” Intrigued, she watched him.
“But with everything that’s happening with this case, I want you under my roof.”
She blinked. “What? Why?”
“My house is more secure than here. I have bars on the windows, alarms, security monitoring all the time.” Reaching out, he laid a hand over hers. “I’m there more than here.”
Ella chewed her bottom lip.
“Don’t. You’ll hurt yourself.” Reaching out, Ryan gently rubbed her bottom lip to stop the involuntary action. “Is it such a horrible idea?”
“Horrible? No. No, far from it.” Catching his hand, she linked her fingers through his. “I just…I guess I thought when I moved in, it would be under different circumstances.”
“It’s all right if you want separate bedrooms, Ella. I know you want to take this slower.”
“Is that what you want? Separate bedrooms?”
There was a definite heat kindling in his eyes before the cool shutter came down and hid it. “No.”
Switching her gaze to his hand, she studied it. Big hand, long fingers, short, clean nails. A capable hand. A scar ran faintly along the back of it. Right hand. Trigger finger. A strong hand that had wielded a gun, a knife, a rifle, goodness knew what other weapon, all in the name of protecting others, doing duties no one else wanted to do.
Protecting. Just as he sought to protect her now. “You really think this whole mess is going to get that dangerous?”
“There’s always a possibility.”
“You don’t know for sure.”
“I’m not prepared to risk you.”
His answer warmed her. She rubbed her thumb back and forth along the back of his hand. “I can’t leave Boof behind.”
“His coming was never in question.”
“You really want me to come after the way I acted the other night?” A little embarrassed, she glanced up.
His eyes were serious. “Ella, every couple rubs each other up the wrong way sometimes. Two people living together, it’s inevitable. We’re individuals. It doesn’t mean we don’t work through it, can’t forgive each other. If you remember, even when we lived together before we argued at times.”
Yeah, that was true.
“Being older and wiser doesn’t mean we’re perfect.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I am right.”
“So sure of yourself.” She grinned slightly.
“On this, yes.”
She wanted to shift in with him. It had really just been a matter of time, hadn’t it? But she wondered how he’d feel if he knew the reason for her anger the other night. What he’d think. Would he be angry in turn? Disgusted?
“What’s wrong, Ella mine?” His thumb brushed along her chin.
“I just…”
“You can tell me anything. You know that.”
“Yeah, well I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint you, Ryan. Hell, I disappointed myself.”
Attention focussed on her, he waited, both of his hands now holding hers.
Unable to meet his eyes, Ella looked away. “I was angry the other night because I feel like everything is happening around me and I’m not a part of it. At first I and Rose were in the forefront. We talked, shared information, I gave it to the feds. Then the feds came in and took over. I know it’s the way it had to happen.” She cast him a quick peek.
He nodded encouragingly.
“It was, as Rose said, just a matter of time. But meanwhile it was my revenge, Ryan. It was me and Rose dragging these bastards down one-by-one. And top of the list were the bastards who sewed me up at the trial, betrayed me. The rest was a bloody huge bonus.” Ella sighed. “Knowing I was helping to bring them down, to face some kind of justice, helped me. But now I’ve been shunted to the side, kept in a neat little safe zone while Rose still works with the feds, still helps.” Miserably, she lifted her gaze to his. “How selfish is that, Ryan? I’m feeling sorry for myself, feeling all left out while girls are still suffering. One minute I’m happy, glad knowing the law is at work, that people are intent on bringing down this club and saving these girls. But on the other hand I want to be there in the thick of it, a part of it like I originally was.”
She’d half expected some sigh of impatience, a little disgust - God knew she wouldn’t blame him, she disgusted herself - but instead she saw understanding. It was no surprise then, when he gave her hands a gentle tug.
Ella slid off the stool to stand between his thighs, welcoming his arms enfolding her. Leaning into him, she rested her chin on his broad shoulder, sliding her arms around his neck, breathing in his scent.
“I understand, Ella mine.” One big hand massaged her spine gently. “I totally understand. You and Rose have become close, worked so hard. You’ve supported each other. To do all that, know what you did, what you went through, exacting that revenge, it’s only natural that you’d be angry at having to step aside and watch someone else take over. Being cut-off from your friend, from knowledge of what is happening, to only read about it in the newspaper, is unfair.” His hand rubbed soothingly. “But it is what it is, Ella. For these men to face justice it has to be done the right way and fast.”
“Yeah, and me feeling sorry for myself while girls suffer, that sucks lemons.” She cringed. “How bloody selfish am I?”
“Human nature is a funny thing. While you want to see justice delievered, you want to give it out yourself. Sometimes the need for revenge can cloud our view. But Ella, you do care about those girls or you wouldn’t be feeling so guilty about your own feelings.”
Turning her head, she rested her face against his neck. “You’re sweet to say so.”
“No. It’s a fact. Just as it’s a fact that to help these girls, to get justice for both yourself and them, you need to have patience to wait for the outcome, to know that you and Rose started this. No regrets, no guilt. You will get your justice, and through your actions and Rose’s, those girls will get their justice.”
She hugged him closer. “You always know how to make me feel better.”
“Because I’ve been where you are. I know that feeling of having to hand over to someone else. But in the Army I quickly learned that a team works together, that each member has a job to do and to respect another’s position, steps aside when required for the job to be done, to step up when it’s your turn. It’s a team effort, Ella. Your job is done, Rose’s almost, and the other members of the team are better equipped to take these bastards down.”
Exhaling deeply, she lifted her head enough to meet his eyes. No judgement, no condemnation, no hiding anything. The only thing she saw there was understanding and acceptance.
All she could say was, “I love you.”
Those brown eyes softened. “Love you too, Ella mine.”
His kiss was gentle, all tenderness making warmth coil through her.
When their lips parted, she whispered, “Guess I’d better pack some stuff, huh?”
“I’ll help.”
“Don’t you have to go to work?”
“I worked a call-out last night. I go back to work tomorrow morning.”
“In that case, I hope you’ve got some strength in these weedy little arms.” She squeezed a bulging bicep.
He smiled. “I’ll survive.”
~*~
Music beat heavily through the night, the rock concert in full swing.
Walking the perimeter, Ryan checked-in with the security guards patrolling the grounds.
So far, so good. Along with police presence, Wells Security guards slid quietly through the crowd, keeping an eye out for drugs and alcohol. That was the problem with places like this - alcohol and drugs. Namely people who couldn’t control themselves, got roaring drunk or doped out, picked fights and spoiled it for everyone else.
Just outside the gate was a fenced off area with several big vans parked, the volunteers inside pouring water and coffee down the throats of drunk party-goers in an attempt to get something into them before ringing taxis to get them home. A security guard manned each van.
Ryan watched Kelly manhandling one drunk to the gates.
“Bitch!” he slurred. “I paid my money, I’m staying!” He took a swing at her.
She retaliated quickly, kicking him behind the knee to bring him to the ground while holding his arm behind him, bringing it high enough up his back that the warning shaft of pain arrowed right through his drunken haze.
Bending partially over him, but not close enough for him to hit her with his other arm if he was so inclined, she warned coolly, “You’re drunk. Taking a swing at me is attempted assault. You have two choices - I call the cops over and they lock you up, or you come quietly to the van, get something decent inside you and we call you a taxi and get you home. What’ll it be?”
“I paid good - awk!” He scrabbled on the churned-up grass. “My arm!”
“Choose,” Kelly said firmly.
“Van! Van! Ow - my bloody arm!”
Kelly hauled him effortlessly to his feet and kept moving, allowing his arm to come back to a more natural position, though she stayed one step behind him, alert to any sudden move on his part.
“Hey!” A woman lurched up, her make-up running, her stance unsteady. “Hey, you got no right to be treating him that way!”
A few passers-by glanced over, talking softly amongst themselves. Another couple stopped to watch.
Kelly was assessing the situation with calm efficiency while keeping the man moving, making the woman follow her in the direction of the vans. Smart move, because it meant the van would be in-between the crowd and the drunk pair, out of sight and out of mind, and right where two security guards waited.
But Ryan moved forward nevertheless, not wanting to give anyone looking to stick their bib in, time to join the trio.
Moving up beside the woman, he looked down at her. “Move.”
“Huh?” Blearily, she squinted up at him. “Wha…?”
“Go now.”
“You can’t-” She blinked.
Coldly, Ryan continued to gaze down at her.
Uneasily, she glanced away, huffed, couldn’t meet his eyes, wavered on the spot, then with another uneasy peek at him, she swore and stumbled off after her man and Kelly.
Kelly gave Ryan a brief nod before disappearing around the front of the van with her two charges.
Resuming his patrol, he touched the communicator in his ear. “Ryan. Report, Ben.”
“Surveillance cameras don’t show anything illegal happening. I think you, Hank, and those two cops jumping that little drug dealing group before they could even get started put a dampener on the celebrations in that regard.”
“Roger. Report, Marietta.”
“Three drunks in the mobile drunk tanks. Some abusive language on the left two seats from the stage, but got it sorted out with minimal problem.”
“Roger. Report, Richie.”
“Paddy wagon went off with one stir-crazy woman after she tried to put her stiletto through her boyfriend’s brain. Ambo has the man, he’s doing fine, just a scratch. He’s going to the cop station after to see if he can get her released without charges sticking.”
As one would after one’s girlfriend had tried to give him a lobotomy with the heel of her sky-high shoe.
As Ryan slid through the darkness, his gaze sweeping the crowd and surroundings continuously, he checked-in with every member of the team - those doing the perimeter patrols, those moving continuously through the crowds looking to quell trouble before it could start, and those moving through the car park. Outside the concert ground Wells Security was also patrolling both on foot and car. In-between the cops moved.
When the concert wound up at one in the morning, security waited until everyone had left, watching the cars and people, helping the cops with the odd drunk and troublemaker, guiding the taxis through the throng of party-goers. The night was a success security-wise. Fights didn’t get time to start before security or cops were on their heels. But the job wasn’t finished. Once everyone was gone, some of Wells Security remained to keep an eye on the grounds while people worked to pack everything up, remaining behind when some things were left until the next day. The job of security would continue until everything was packed and gone, which would be by midday.
Ryan stayed until six in the morning and the next shift took over. Before he went home, he drove to Wells Security to write up the report and have it ready for Aaron.
First, though, he went up the staircase to Control Centre, greeted the men, did a quick check before returning downstairs. Flicking on his computer, he let his email inbox load while he brought up the report form on screen and filled it in. Once completed, he filed it. Returning to the inbox, he prepared to deal with anything needing attention.
Oh boy. There was an email with an attachment from Raymond to everyone in Wells Security all over the world. The subject line read ‘Those Were the Days’.
Clicking on the attachment, Ryan watched it.
It was a recording of Marietta in her younger days, somewhere between high school and her military entrance. At a party, hair dishevelled, hanging on to her friend, she was belting out to karaoke. A singer she wasn’t, but points for exuberance. It didn’t help when she started dancing. No doubt she thought she was doing pretty well, going by her confident swagger - right up until she leaped sideways and fell off the stage. Undaunted, she leapt right back up. Unfortunately, she didn’t notice the rip down the back of her skirt revealing a pair of panties with a bright pink frill right across her bum cheeks. Needless to say, when she bent over and wiggled her bum in time to the music, she was grinning at the boys yahooing and clapping, whistling and cheering, waving to them happily as she put a lot more effort into those wiggles and struts. There was no doubt what the young men were excited about - those cute panties with the pink lace ruffle. The lace actually bounced a little with every sway of her increasingly confident strut. The singing ended when a jealous, seething young woman leaped up on stage, took a dive for Marietta and they both went over backwards to disappear amidst a tangle of falling curtain. Beneath the heavy curtain would pop up a leg or arm now and again. Two bouncers rushed the stage and dragged the grappling couple out of sight. Marietta’s friend just watched, slack-jawed. The recording stopped abruptly.
Not Marietta’s finest moment. Who knew how Raymond had gotten hold of the recording, but the man had his ways. He also took revenge seriously.
Amused, Ryan switched off the computer, stood, slid his sunglasses on and walked out of the building to his car.
The sun was up but the chill was still in the air. Definitely autumn. Grey clouds scudded across the sky, the hint of rain in the air. Ella’s car was already on one side of the two-car garage when he pulled in.
He did like knowing she was here in his bed, his home. His sanctuary was warmer and welcoming since she’d moved in. Sometimes it felt like they’d never been apart all those years, it was so perfect, so comfortable and natural.
He wondered how he’d ever walked away from her. Talk about not dealing with a problem, one that had emotionally and spiritually almost wrecked him, and in turn caused her so much pain. Never letting that happen ever again. Now he had his Ella back, he wasn’t going to lose her a second time.
Walking inside through the connecting door between garage and kitchen, Ryan listened. Everything was quiet. After the night shift she’d undoubtedly followed her normal pattern of showering and going straight to bed.
Entering the bedroom, his gaze went to the big bed. Sure enough, Ella was a sweet little mound buried under the covers. Not-so-sweet, but welcome nevertheless, was Boof who was curled up on the bottom of the bed, giving him the one-eyed scrutiny he had perfected. His one ear flicked forward, back, and then he closed his eye and went back to sleep.
Ryan gave him a quick pat, took a clean pair of boxers from the drawer and went out to his office, where he placed his boots neatly on the rack, his badge and other paraphernalia in the cupboard, and finally went to the shower. Not long after, dressed in boxers, he tossed the uniform into the laundry basket and padded barefoot to bed. Lifting the covers on his side, he slid in, welcoming the warmth.
Ella stirred, stretched, blinked sleepily at him over her shoulder, a soft smile curving those plump lips. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself.” He leaned across, gave her a peck on the lips, dropped back against the pillow and opened his arm.
She rolled over into the cradle of his arm, sighing blissfully as he gathered her against him. Resting her cheek on his shoulder, she nestled against him, hooked one soft thigh over his and went right back to sleep.
Smiling, so contented he could have purred like Boof - yes, and just as rusty-sounding, no doubt - Ryan closed his eyes and fell asleep.
~*~
Riding bodyguard on the mayor and some visiting politicians, Ryan communicated with the other security outside the fancy gathering in the great hall. The rich and influential mingled with the VIPs, and Wells Security mingled with them all, keeping watch, fading into the background so that they could observe and leap into action at a second’s notice.
Many of those attending were nice, polite, but there were a certain few who were determined to be a pain in the arse. Aaron, drifting barely noticeable through the crowd in his black suit and tie, appeared at certain people’s elbows, had a quiet word, and though they stiffened, they soon pulled their heads in and continued doing what they were here to do while leaving security to do their job unencumbered.
It wasn’t like anyone really knew who inside the great hall was security anyway, apart from those who needed to know. The Wells Security guards were dressed to blend in - men in suits, women in cocktail dresses, but all were armed in some unseen way. Mixing in were the politicians’ personal bodyguards as well, while outside uniformed Wells Security kept watch over the perimeter. Police were also nearby, everyone on alert for trouble and prepared to nip it in the bud before it started.
What no one but the Wells Security knew was that a van stood nearby with five members of the Wells Security Armed Response and Retrieval team, all ready to go at Aaron or Ryan’s orders. Probably not necessary but Aaron was never one to overlook the smallest detail. If the worse happened, he was ready to move fast and hard.
Standing against the wall where he had a good view of the great hall, Ryan was overlooked by many people. A skill he’d perfected, fading into the background, something he’d learned during his ops in the Commandos and later when working with outside agencies. Valuable when you had to be in public places but didn’t want to be noticed.
The evening progressed, food and drink flowed, and Wells Security and other bodyguards watched over their charges until finally it started to taper off, people leaving as the evening grew to a close by one in the morning. As the VIPs and the rich left, those who didn’t have their own bodyguards attending were escorted back to their homes by Wells Security cars driving behind them.
Finally, when all that was left were the catering and cleaning staff, a small team of security guards stayed behind to provide security to the workers until everyone left, then they’d go home.
Aaron, Ryan and the rest of the team gathered near the work cars, while the Wells Security Armed Response and Retrieval team headed back to the private warehouse in the compound.
“Glad that’s over.” Marietta leaned back against one of the cars. “Those speeches. Man, does anyone really listen to them?”
“I thought you might bust out some dance moves.” Ben winked.
Her eyes narrowed.
“To break the monotony.”
“I’ll break someone all right.”
“Oohh, tough talk for a dancer/singer sheila.”
“Maybe you want to step up right here.” Marietta pointed to a spot directly in front of her. “I’m not above crushing nuts.”
“Dearie me, does your boss know you threaten physical violence to co-workers?”
Hands in his pockets, Aaron slid his eyes to Marietta but didn’t say a word.
Standing with legs braced apart, Ryan noticed Richie sidle up.
“So,” Richie said. “You wearing frilly knickers under that dress?”
“You know your boss is right there listening to your sexual harassment, right?” Marietta retorted.
Aaron just started checking messages on his mobile.
Marietta jerked a thumb at Ryan. “And the second-in-command. He’s not happy, either.”
Richie looked at Ryan’s inscrutable expression and laughed.
She scowled at Ryan. “Why is that when I do something its sexual harassment and I’m punished with protocols or washing bloody cars, but when one of these clowns does something you don’t say a word?”
Ryan just looked at her. The woman had a nerve, and she played it for all she was worth.
“Boys’ club,” she growled.
“Boys’ clubs like frilly knickers,” Richie retorted back.
“Ohhh!” Her eyes widened in delight. “What colour frill is on your knickers?”
“What?” His widened gaze ping-ponged between Marietta and Ben. “I don’t wear frilly-”
“Riiiight,” Marietta drawled in supreme satisfaction.
Ryan inwardly shook his head. The drongo had just left himself wide open.
“Oh boy,” Ben said.
“Boys’ club.” A gleam in her eyes, Marietta stabbed her finger towards Ben. “I bet your frill is red.”
“I wear y-fronts,” Ben replied. “What’s in them only goes red when excited.”
“Or from a STD.”
“Maybe I should tell Raymond you’re interested in what undies he wears.”
“That dick is not in the clear.”
At that poor choice of words, Ben and Richie guffawed.
Marietta huffed out a breath. “I still protest my punishment.”
Obviously feeling safe again, Riche buffed the bonnet of the work car with the sleeve of his jacket. “But all the cars look so shiny, so beautiful. I think Aaron should make it part of your duties. In fact, maybe next time you could black the wheels?”
“How about I start cracking nuts now?”
“How about we start heading for home?” Ryan intervened calmly. While inwardly amused at the banter, it was time to wind the night up.
“Good idea.” Ben straightened. “The missus intends to drag me off to some party tomorrow night.” He glanced at his watch, grimaced. “Tonight now. And I have to get up by nine in the morning in time to see the kids do some school thing.”
“Ah, the life of a daddy.” Marietta straightened. “I’m sleeping in and have a leisurely evening planned.”
Everyone started to peel off towards the work cars in which they’d arrived.
Just before Marietta got into the car with Ben, Richie called out, “You could always invite Raymond!” right before he jumped into the car where Gail waited, chortling.
“Raymond my arse.” Marietta caught Ryan’s steady regard and snapped a smart salute. “Going now, boss, and got my lips zipped.”
Incorrigible. Ryan watched the cars pull out and drive away, Gail and Ben to drop Marietta and Richie home before continuing to Wells Security where they’d park the work cars in the eight car garage and retrieve their own cars to go home.
Catching Aaron’s fleeting nod, Ryan got into the passenger seat of the work car Aaron personally used. Aaron slid behind the driver’s wheel, placed the mobile in the hands-free grip and started the engine.
Turning onto the road, they headed back to Wells Security.
Winding down the window, Ryan rested his elbow on the window sill, enjoying the chill breeze flowing past the wind deflectors.
The comfortable silence was broken by Aaron’s mobile going off. Without taking his gaze from the road, he switched it on, leaving it in the hands-free grip. “Aaron.”
“Felicity,” the feminine voice responded.
Instantly both men were on the alert. Calling at this time of the morning would indicate something important.
“Report,” Aaron said.
“I’m pulling Rose out,” Felicity stated. “Call from the feds, somehow they’ve cracked the case tonight, got almost every name. With the newspapers getting hold of the sex ring rumour, they’re going to move now before people start going to ground. They’re going to raid every house on the list before the occupants wake up, including the judge’s mansion.”
“Where are you and Rose now?”
“In the car ready to go. As soon as I get the all-clear from the feds to indicate they’re coming up the driveway, we’re out of here. Can’t go now or it might alert the judge, though I made sure no one saw us come down to the garage. We’re locked in tight, key in the ignition.”
“Your destination?”
“The safe house.”
“Ours or the feds?”
“Feds. Has to be.”
Aaron nodded. “Report when you’re safely away and when you arrive.”
“Roger that.” The mobile went silent.
“The next few hours around Melbourne are going to be interesting,” Ryan said.
“Maybe not just Melbourne,” Aaron replied. “Now the feds have cracked it, once they get the individuals in and start interviewing, some of them will be seeking deals. This whole pack of cards will come tumbling down.”
“And they’re going to be looking for scapegoats.” Ryan took the mobile from his pocket and dialled.
“Kennedy,” the man answered on the first ring. “What’s up, Ryan?”
“Case is cracking open now. Keep a close eye on Ella.”
“Got her in my sights. She’s safe inside the servo at this time.”
“Stay on her, do not let her out of your sight.”
“Got it.”
Ryan hung up. But for some reason he couldn’t relax. Sitting still, not a muscle moving, he couldn’t put a finger on what was wrong, but something started to eat at him, the need to check Ella himself. He trusted Kennedy, but-
His mobile rang again, the Control Centre number coming up. “Ryan.”
“Kelly. The surveillance cameras have picked up someone outside Ella’s house. He’s going around checking the windows.”
“Who’s out there?”
“Paul’s moving in now. We’ll have the prowler in the next few minutes.”
“Contact Edward as soon as you do, he’s going to want to talk to whoever it is.”
“Roger that.”
“My place?”
“All quiet. The cameras show nothing, but Grant’s heading there now to check it out.”
“Call me.” He hung up.
His internal radar was starting to ping. “This isn’t just a coincidence.” No, he needed to see her. Now.
Before he could open his mouth, however, his boss spoke without taking his gaze from the road. “Do you want to check in with Ella?”
“Kennedy’s watching her like a hawk, but yes.”
With a nod, Aaron indicated, turning off the road onto the freeway. While they were on it, his mobile rang again.
This time Ryan flicked it on. “Ryan and Aaron.”
“Felicity. We’re out of the property on our way to the safe house. The feds and cops are just pulling up at the house now.”
“How’s Rose?”
“I’m fine,” a small voice answered with a definite teary quaver.
“You’re doing fine, Rose,” Aaron assured her. “Felicity will stay with you. Do everything she says, no matter what. Got that?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll do another report when we arrive at the safe house,” Felicity stated.
“We’ll be waiting.”
At Aaron’s nod, Ryan turned off the mobile. A street sign flashed past and he rested his palms on his thighs, centring himself as an unaccustomed impatience trickled through him.
“Thoughts,” Aaron requested.
“Something’s not right.”
“And?”
“I don’t know. I just feel it.” He cut his eyes to Aaron. “A prowler right at the same time this case is breaking? My radar’s going off.”
“Agreed.” Reaching up, Aaron turned on the communicator at his ear. “Armed Response, where are you?”
“Almost back to base,” Kelly’s replied immediately.
“Turn around. New destination is the Harcourt Service Station.”
“Roger that.”
“May be nothing, may be something.”
“Turning now.”
“Everyone on the communicator, keep mobiles clear for the feds, police and Felicity.”
“Roger that.”
Ryan switched on his own ear piece, rang Kennedy, relayed the communication order.
“On to it,” Kennedy replied tersely, a clear indication that he was ready for trouble and donning his own ear piece.
Turning off the freeway onto the off ramp, Aaron rounded the bend to merge with the late traffic.
Ryan made one more phone call.
“Harcourt Service Station, Ella speaking,” came the cheerful greeting.
“Ryan. No time to explain. A security guard called Kennedy is coming in to get you. Do exactly as he says, no matter what.”
“Ryan?” She was surprised. “What’s going on?”
“Just do it, Ella.”
Thankfully, she didn’t insist on an explanation. “Okay.”
“I’m coming.”
“Okay.”
“Be careful.” He hung up as the car turned into the car park of the service station.
Ryan spotted Kennedy bleeding out from the darkness into the light, making his way quickly towards the front door of the service station at the same time Kennedy’s voice came through the ear piece. “A black Ford Falcon FG X sedan has passed by twice, the second time driving right through the bowsers. It’s gone around the back. I’m heading in to pull out Ella.”
So Ryan wasn’t the only one who’s radar was going off. A seasoned ex-military SAS, Kennedy had razor sharp senses. If he noticed something odd, then it damned sure wasn’t good news.
Ryan was out of the car before it had drawn to a stop, the dark colour of it blending into the shadows. Aaron was close on his heels, both of them sweeping their gazes assessingly over the building and open car park.
While a part of Ryan - the lover - wanted nothing more than to rush in and grab Ella, the bodyguard in him, the security side, made him take stock of the surroundings, be cautious but act decisively, making plans fast. The mission was to get Ella out safely.
It might be nothing, might be something, but his internal radar had never steered him wrong yet.
Seeing Kennedy enter the building, Ryan said, “I’m coming around the back.”
“Roger that.” The door slid shut behind Kennedy and he started striding towards the counter behind which Ella stood. He moved confidently, appeared deceivingly unhurried.
Aaron took a key ring from his pocket, flipped to a key and handed it to Ryan before they split up, melting into the darkness, skimming the lit areas on each side of the building.
As he moved, Ryan continually assessed the area - cars, the building, the few bushes. No black sedan in sight but that didn’t mean anything. Stealthily sliding through shadows, he scrutinized the surroundings but nothing moved, no evidence of anyone or anything in the vicinity.
Arriving at the back door, he carefully tried the door handle and found it still locked. Slipping the skeleton key in, he turned the lock, felt it tumble over, and opened the door a crack, listening for any indication that someone was standing beyond.
Silence greeted him. Pushing the door open only enough to go inside, he slipped through into the staff room.