Out of Plans (The Mercenaries #2) (18 page)

“Cheers.”

“Who is Mai?”

Kingsley froze for a second. Had she been a normal person, had she not been living with him for so long, she would have missed it. It was barely a moment, then it was gone. He was stumbling to his feet and moving past her.

“I need a piss.”

He stayed in the bathroom for a long time, cleaning himself up and even showering. When he emerged, steam rolled out behind him, and he was freshly shaved, with his hair styled. As he began to put another suit on, a realization dawned on Lily. His appearance was like his armor. If Kingsley
looked
right, then all was right in his world. Like maybe if the image looking back at him was good enough,
he'd
be good enough.

How sad
.

“Alright?” she asked, watching him in the mirror as he hooked a tie around his neck.

“Perfect. Since we're on such chummy terms again, can you tell me something?” he asked.

“Anything.”

“Did you sleep with him?”

“Yes,” she didn't hesitate.

“And is he still here?” he continued, deftly tying a Windsor knot.

“No, he left. He said he knew I didn't need him, and that he didn't want to stand in my way,” she was completely honest.

“Very noble of him. Shocking, almost. I really wanted to kill him yesterday,” Kingsley sighed, finishing his work and sliding the knot up to his throat.

“I know. He probably would've deserved it.”

“One more question?”

“By all means.”

“Did you give him the diamonds?”

She gasped so hard, she choked for a moment. Kingsley came to her side and pounded on her back, but she waved him away.

“How did you know!?” she demanded, pressing a hand to her chest.

“Darling, please. You think I didn't notice that someone had tampered with my precious bag? That shave kit has been with me since I started shaving at thirteen, when my father gave it to me. Your stitching was beautiful, you even matched the thread color. Anyone else wouldn't have noticed, but this is my job, after all. I have to say, I was a little insulted at first, that you didn't trust me enough to tell me about them. But then I realized that, in a roundabout way, you trusted me enough to take care of them, and that was almost as good,” he finished talking.

She gawked up at him for a moment. He'd known, the whole time, and hadn't said anything. She felt like an idiot.

“I'm … I'm sorry. Those diamonds are cursed. I figured if you knew about them, they'd just create problems. I didn't want that. I don't even want them,” she told him, then pulled the canvas bundle out from the back of her pants. She held it out to him, but he didn't take it.

“It's alright. I figured you were saving them for a rainy day, or De Sant. And then when you said you made a deal with him, I knew it had to be for the stones. I considered hiding them, but I trusted that you knew what you were doing, and that he wouldn't take them anyway. Glad to see I was right on all counts.
Again
, I'd like to point out,” he said in a smooth voice. She laughed and dropped the bundle to the bed.

“Law, you are an amazing man,” she informed him. He smiled at her, then walked over to the dresser.

“I know. And in return for being so amazing, you can fix this,” he told her, then chucked her the leather kit that usually held his toiletries. As she looked over the bag, he put his jacket on.

“Where are you going?” she asked, watching as he put on a pair of sunglasses and walked across the room.

“I'm going to go stop that idiot,” he replied, so calm, it was like he was telling her the weather.

He'd managed to open the door before Lily stopped him. She slammed the door shut again and gripped onto his arm.

“You can't do that. This is what he wants. We talked about it. It's okay. I'm okay with this, I don't need him,” she stressed. Kingsley laughed.

“Still such an idiot, darling. You get so bent out of shape when anyone lies to you, yet you lie to yourself all the time,” his voice was low and had no trace of humor in it. He'd said they were good, and was acting like he was okay with what had happened between her and Marc, but his body language spoke otherwise. Something was still off. She stared up at him, wishing she could see his eyes. He had lovely eyes, more gray than blue, and smiling more often than not.

“It was a good kiss,” she addressed the elephant in the room. “And I wish I was what you're looking for, but I'm not. No matter what happens to us, or what happens with Marc, I'll
never
be what you're looking for. I'm very sorry, I wish I could be that person, I really do. But I'm just not.”

There was a tense moment, and for a second, Lily was afraid she'd overstepped his boundaries. She had just made a lot of assumptions about him. He could get angry. He could leave her. He had absolutely no reason to stay, other than to help her. Someone he was obviously attracted to. Someone who obviously wasn't attracted to him.

“Thank you for that,” his voice was hoarse, and he cleared his throat, “but I assure you, I don't think you're that person, either. That person doesn't exist anymore. You're a place holder. A very lovely one, as well as a dear friend, but nothing more. I'm sorry, and it won't happen again.”

He went to move, to pull the door open again, but Lily held fast to his arm. She yanked him to her and wrapped him in a hug, circling her arms around his neck. He froze for a second, then his arms were around her waist, holding her so tight that her bruised ribs ached and throbbed. Her acrobatics with Marc hadn't helped matters at all – she almost wondered if she should get some x-rays.

“What's wrong with us, Law?” she whispered, her voice muffled. He was so much taller than her that her face was pressed into his chest.

“Nothing at all. We're just people, fucked up like everyone else,” he whispered back. She laughed, then sniffled. Felt a tear run down her cheek.

Twice in two days. I'm getting soft.

“I never wanted to hurt you,” she continued.

“And you haven't, darling. I promise.”

“I don't know what to do.”

“I think you know
exactly
what to do.”

It was true. He really was right, every single time.

You're a fucking idiot.

Marc sighed and weaved his way through a crowd of people. Miami International Airport was a large, bustling place. It made him nervous, like he wouldn't be able to tell if someone was coming till it was too late, but it was the quickest, easiest way out of the country.

He finally found a section of empty seats and sat down, swinging his pack around to sit in his lap. He cursed again as he opened it and shoved his plane ticket inside.

How did that saying go? Something about a taste being worse than nothing. He was now acutely aware of how true that was. When he inhaled, he could still smell Lily. When he clenched his fists, he could still feel her. Her taste was in his mouth, her voice in his hear. Gasping. Moaning. Saying his name.

Lately, he'd begun to wonder if maybe he'd exaggerated their experiences in his mind. Surely, sex between them couldn't have been as good as he remembered it. It wasn't possible. Only porn stars and people fresh out of prison had sex like that; he must have been making it up.

Yet one thrust inside of her, and he knew he hadn't made it up. The way she moved her body, like she was dancing underneath him. The way she said his name, like she was praying to him. Amazing.
Better
than he'd remembered, even.

And that had just been the first time. Slow and sweet was nice, but she'd fucked his brains out during round two, and the third, they'd gotten a noise complaint from the front desk.

She's better than anything ever was.

And at the end of all that, he'd still left. God, it had been hard. Looking at her, all sleepy and sexy, wrapped up in nothing but a sheet. Knowing that she was really seeing him, for the first time since he'd left her in Africa. Really hearing him, and even better,
believing
him.

Sure, he was doing what was right, leaving her to do her own thing, but that didn't make it any easier. And part of him had really hoped that she would stop him. That maybe she'd beg him to stay. That maybe their time apart had made her realize how much she truly cared about him. It had certainly done that for him.

But Lily was a smart woman, and Marc was in the way. For christ's sake, he'd almost gotten her killed. It would be best for everyone if he left, and she had known that, and she'd let him do the honorable thing. She really wasn't the woman he'd left in Africa. Their time apart hadn't sharpened her feelings for him – the sex had just been sex. Estranged friends getting reacquainted. She was complete on her own. She really didn't need him.

Knowing that didn't make it hurt any less.

Marc glanced at a clock. His flight didn't leave for several hours, but he didn't have anything better to do. He didn't want to run around Miami, not with the temptation to go back to her so strong. So he decided to head for security. He started taking off his watch when someone sat down in one of the seats behind him. There were lots of empty seats, why the occupant had to sit right behind him, he didn't know, but he wished they hadn't. He growled and tossed his watch into his bag. Mid-zip, though, it hit him like a ton of bricks.

Lavender. He was surrounded by the smell of lavender.

“One way ticket to Casablanca, huh? Awfully nostalgic of you, De Sant.”

He turned his head to the side and could see her out of the corner of his eye. She was actually two seats down from him. She looked ridiculously normal, it made him pause for a moment. She was wearing a lightweight North Face jacket, jeans, and had a hairband on, all of her hair scraped back and away from her face, pulled up into a messy bun on the top of her head. A pair of black sunglasses sat high up on her nose, and she sipped at a large coffee cup. He took a deep breath.

“Seemed just as good as anywhere else,” he sighed. She nodded.

“It was nice. I liked it there. We had good luck there,” she reminded him, and it was his turn to nod.

“That we did.”

“Nice this time of year, too.”

“Very nice.”

“Not too hot, not too cold.”

“Lily,” he interrupted her. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I'm stopping you from being stupid.”

“Stupid? How am I being stupid?” he snapped, standing up and putting on his backpack. She sighed and put her cup on the empty seat next to her.

“Okay, stopping
us
from being stupid. Happy? C'mon, Marc. We can go to Casablanca when we're done,” she told him, standing up as well.

“I thought we were done,” he pointed out, walking forward. She matched him step for step.

“If you really believed that, you would've taken the diamonds,” she said, coming around the end of the chairs. Marc lengthened his stride and headed towards the security screening area.

“Just because we're done doesn't mean I'm an asshole. I don't want those stones. You're right, they're cursed,” he told her.

“Well, how about we split them?” she offered, almost jogging to keep up with him.

“I'm not trying to make a deal with you, Lily.”

“Obviously. I'm the one trying to make a deal,” she laughed. He glared at her, then moved into the roped off area that led to the metal detectors and scanners.

“I don't want to make a deal with you,” he replied, coming to the end of the line of people.

“What do you want then? I'm trying to talk to you, Marc,” she sounded exasperated.

I want you to want me like I want you.

It sounded stupid even to him.

“I don't want anything, Lily,” he sighed, finally turning towards her. She was on the outside of the ropes, looking back at him. “I just want you to finish what you started.”

“I want that, too,” she replied in a soft voice.

“Good. You have everything you need to accomplish it, so you can go do it,” he instructed her. She shook her head.

“But you won't be there,” she pointed out. He laughed.

“We talked about this. You don't need me, Lily.”

She paused, then pulled off her sunglasses. Her eyes were large as she stared back at him. His hotel room had been so dark, he hadn't gotten to see them in all their glory. Now he could; her bright green eyes, so large, finally looking at him without any anger or resentment. Finally seeing him.

“You're right,” she agreed. He glared for a second, then went to move forward as the line moved. She grabbed his arm, though, and held him place. “I don't even need Kingsley. But I like having him with me, he helps me.”

“That's good,” he growled, yanking his arm free. She just grabbed it again.

“And I don't need you. But I want you,” she stated bluntly.

“Excuse me?”

“I want you with me. I want you there. We've gone so far, Marc. Been through so much. Let's finish this together,” she urged.

“Together? Your great plan, your five year plan, your '
I don't need anyone or anything
' plan, doesn't include me,” he reminded her. She rolled her eyes.

“Fuck the plans, De Sant. Now stop being an asshole and let's go shoot this motherfucker,” she snapped at him.

He barked out a laugh and several people in the line turned to stare at them.

“You're a crazy bitch, you know that, right?” he chuckled, stepping closer to the rope.

“Yeah, I know, and you're unlucky, but hey, it's worked for us so far, right?” she laughed as well, stepping up to him.

“No. No, it hasn't. We almost got killed a dozen times in Africa, and several times since we've gotten back together.
Nothing
works for us,” he laughed harder.

“Ah, but almost is the key word. Doesn't count unless one of us actually dies,” she informed him.

“Why the fuck did you let me leave if you were just gonna stop me!? I wasted a shit ton of money on this ticket.”

“Sometimes I'm as stupid as I am crazy, and I'm pretty sure I can think of a way to pay you back for the ticket.”

He couldn't stand it. He grabbed her by the back of her neck and yanked her forward. Her mouth was already open when his lips met hers and their tongues immediately met in the middle. One of her hands gripped his jacket, curling into a fist, while her other arm wrapped around his shoulders. His own hands went to her waist, shoving underneath her coat and working up her back.

“Will it involve diamonds?” he joked, then curled his tongue under her top lip. Her whole body shimmied against him.

“I was thinking more along the lines of pussy,” she commented back and he groaned, shoving one of his hands down the back of her pants.

“Goddamn, Lily, say shit like that, and I'll never let you go again,” he growled.

“
Hey! The line's moving, buddy! Either get a room or move forward!
”

“I hate people,” Lily sighed.

“Me, too.”

“
Say goodbye to your girlfriend and move your ass!
”

Marc squeezed Lily's ass once, then turned away from her. There was a man standing behind him. Someone in his twenties, and he looked pissed off. Marc stepped close to him, grabbed him roughly by the back of the neck, then yanked him forward.

“Talk to me in that tone of voice again, and I'll rip your spine out through your throat. Now get your shit, move along, and keep your fucking mouth shut,” he hissed, then stepped to the side before jerking the guy forward. He stumbled and almost fell to his knees.

“Subtle,” Lily commented as Marc hiked up a leg and stepped over the rope.

“I thought so,” he chuckled, finally joining her on her side. He looked back at his new friend. The man was rubbing the back of his neck, his eyes full of fear as he looked at Marc. Lily blew the guy a kiss before laughing and turning around.

“C'mon,
Rambo
, we've got a job to finish.”

*

They didn't go back to the hotel, like Marc had expected. She gave an address to a taxi driver, and pretty soon, they were winding their way through South Beach. He wondered if they'd moved their headquarters to somewhere swankier.

“No,” Lily laughed when he asked her. “We're getting the fuck out of Dodge. But first, we need to get some supplies. We're here to go shopping.”

She had a date with Damiano Ledo. They made their way to an outdoor cafe that was part of a fancy hotel. Bodyguards were posted at all the entrances, and Damiano sat at a table in the center of the patio. Kingsley sat across from him, and they both stood as Lily and Marc approached them.

“Alright?” Kingsley asked, but he wasn't looking at Marc. He buttoned his jacket and kept his eyes on Lily.

“Yes. Are we finished here?” she questioned, glancing between the two tall men.

“I gave him my list of necessities, but you may want to give your own,” Kingsley suggested.

“Sounds good. Marc and I can -”

“I trust that you guys have me covered. I can wait outside with Law,” Marc interrupted, managing a smile for Kingsley. The Brit didn't smile back. Lily rolled her eyes and waved them away. Marc turned and headed out, leading the way to the street and hoping that Kingsley would follow.

He had his own deal to negotiate. Lily may have finally come around to him, but Marc knew that the British assassin still wanted his blood. So he walked them around till they were in front of the cafe, out of hearing range of Lily and Damiano, but still with a clear line of sight on her.

“Are you sure you want to do this right now?” Kingsley asked, adjusting his cuff links and standing with his back to a stiff breeze that was rolling in off the ocean.

“Let's get it over with, I don't wanna be stuck in a car with your bad attitude. Lily wants us to leave right away, we're going to drive -”

“I know what she wants to do, De Sant. I was with her when she made her plan,” Kingsley interrupted him. Was making a point to him – Kingsley was her partner. Kingsley was there when Marc wasn't. Kingsley was privy to things Marc wouldn't be.

“Her and her fucking plans,” Marc chuckled, and Kingsley finally joined him.

“She worries so much about
having
a plan, that she rarely stops long enough to check and make sure that what she comes up with is any good,” he replied, laughing and taking his sunglasses off.

“Very true. Have you told your partner this?”

“Good lord, no. I value my balls and she's got a nasty temper.”

“I remember.”

“Do you?”

“I do. I was with her for two weeks. Every minute of every day. And for a month before that, so yeah, I remember lots of things,” Marc decided to assert his own claim over her. Kingsley laughed, long and loud.

“Six weeks? Adorable. I've been with her almost every day for
six months
. Do you know what her favorite food is? Favorite color? Or how about what her real last name is?” Kingsley prattled off.

Marc's blood started to pound, but not just because he was angry. Because he was
ashamed
. He didn't know those things about her. Hadn't even realized Brewster wasn't her real last name.