Page 36 of Omega

Okay, maybe I was nodding off. I tuned into every fifth word, smiling lazily against Roth’s chest. Layla was sitting in the sand right beside Harris; both of them back in the shadows away from the fire. Just their faces were visible, turned toward each other. Harris was saying something I couldn’t hear, and Layla was nodding and smiling. And shit, that smile? It was…I had to search for a word. Intimate. Private.

My heart melted. God, if Layla and Harris ended up together, things would be just about perfect.

But then something truly odd happened. A patch of shadows near the waterline detached itself from the shifting glint of the ocean and the gleam of starlight and the darkness of night, resolved itself into the shape of a man. Alexei. Tall and broad, hard and lean, a wicked, gnarled scar running down his face from forehead to his chin. He was dressed in shades of gray and black: BDU pants tucked into calf-high combat boots, a short-sleeve gray shirt with a black bulletproof vest, a gray ball cap on his head decorated with a black patch that had “A1S” embroidered in scarlet letters. He had a compact assault rifle hanging barrel-down across his chest, the strap clipped to his vest rather than hanging over his shoulder. He had a pistol at his side, a knife handle in a sheath on his vest, and several other accouterments on his belt I couldn’t identify.

He stopped in the shadows well outside the circle of the firelight, crouched near Harris and murmured in low tones in what sounded like it may have been Russian. Harris nodded twice, muttered something back, and then stood up, setting his half-consumed beer bottle in the sand.

“Harris.” It was a statement from Roth, low, a command.

“Possible perimeter breach,” Harris said as he vanished into the shadows, reaching behind his back and producing a black handgun, checking the clip, and returning it. “Probably nothing, but I’m going to check it out anyway.”

“Should we stay here?” Roth asked.

“No. Alexei will escort you to your rooms.” Harris glanced at Layla. “There’s nothing to worry about. Just being cautious.”

“I’ll trust you on this, Harris,” Roth said. “It goes without saying that I want you or Alexei to inform me the moment you have discovered the exact nature of the breach.”

Then Roth stood up without letting go of me, an arm under my legs and the other around my shoulders, taking the lead behind Alexei, who moved in a swift, silent prowl across the sand toward the staircase leading up to the house. His weapon was held low, barrel still down, but his head was constantly swiveling from side to side, and every few steps he would pivot and walk backward, checking our rear and making sure we were all together.

We stopped at Cal’s room first and Alexei entered the room alone, ensuring that it was secure. When he was satisfied, he allowed Cal to enter with instructions not to leave, informing him that a security detail would be patrolling the area.

Next we stopped at Layla’s room and Alexei repeated the protocol, this time taking time to ensure that Layla had everything she needed.

Just as she was about to close the door to her room, Layla looked at me questioningly, not saying a word. I could tell she was a little unnerved.

Seeing the expression on her face, Roth said, “Layla, please don’t worry. It’s better to be safe than to take chances. Harris has us covered. There will be a security detail right outside your door.”

Layla just nodded, not looking convinced, and we continued through the house. Alexei preceded Roth and I into our room, sweeping the bedroom and the bathroom before leaving.

My heart was pounding. “You think there’s anyone out there?” I asked. “For real?”

Roth shook his head. “No. If Alexei thought there was a real danger, we would have been taken to the ship, rather than to the house. There’s a Zodiac on shore at all times, ready to take us to theElizain the event of an emergency. As Harris said, they’re just being cautious.”

“What did Harris mean by perimeter breach?”

“There are hidden motion detectors running around the perimeter of the property, including along the water line. There are also buoys in the water out about five hundred yards, with line-of-sight lasers connecting them to the shore, so if anyone approaches from the sea, we’ll be alerted. The crew on theElizahas the radar active at all times as well. Plus, there’s another motion-sensor perimeter immediately around the house itself. So, to answer your question, a perimeter breach could be a fishing boat that wandered into our waters. The ocean-side crew would hail them and send them on their way. Or it could be some animal in the forest that set off the motion detectors. There’s nothing to worry about, sweetheart.”

“I had no idea there were so many different security features in place.”

Roth laughed. “You think I’d bring you ashore anywhere on the planet without making sure it was as safe as humanly possible? When we went ashore on St. Thomas, Harris’s men were there an hour ahead of us, sweeping everything. They poked into every building, every rooftop, every bathroom and rental counter. They were there when we landed, sweeping ahead of us, and they followed behind us. There was a sniper in place following our every move, as well. Up on a rooftop somewhere, I guess.”

“A sniper?”

Roth nodded. “Andrei, I think his name is. Alexei’s cousin. There’s Sasha out there somewhere too, who is Alexei’s brother. I guess when Harris and company stormed the island to get you out, Andrei’s brother—Alexei’s cousin—was killed. So they all three signed on with Harris, for a chance to get even with the Karahalios clan. Good men to have on our side, but really,reallyscary fuckers. Men I wouldnotwant to have as enemies. Ex-Spetsnaz, I guess.”

“Spetz-what?” I asked. I’d heard of it, but I was fuzzy enough to not be able to remember.

“Russian special forces. Like the Navy SEALs.”

“I’m glad they’re out there, then.”

“Me too.” He brushed a thumb across my cheekbone. “You should sleep. Ella is bringing your dress tomorrow for the final fitting.”

“I haven’t made any plans,” I said, leaning against his chest.

“I know. I have, though.”

I peered up at him, smiling, surprised. “You have?”