Merchants with Evil Intent (3 page)
Read Merchants with Evil Intent Online
Authors: Kerrie DuBrock
His jaw clenched. “I just got out of the
shower. I didn’t plan this.”
She shook her head. “Sorry, I’m just
edgy.”
Viktor
was
good-looking with his honey blonde cropped hair, emerald-green eyes
and rippling muscles. The small scar above his eyebrow didn’t detract from his
appeal. Uncle John made her second guess herself. She blushed when she caught
him staring at her.
“I’m still waiting for that kiss,” he
urged.
She moved towards him and put her hands
on his biceps and he brought his mouth to hers. Parting her lips with his
tongue they slowly explored each others mouths.
He
wrapped his arms around her and peppered her neck with hot wet kisses. He
couldn’t help himself when his fingertips brushed against
the
side of her left breast. When she
didn’t stop him, he caressed more. Then his fingertips brushed over her nipple.
“Stop!”
Camryn
yelled, pulling away from him.
He held his hands up. “I got carried
away, I’m sorry.”
She wrapped her arms around herself and
nodded. “It’s not you, so much. It’s me.” She blushed and continued, “I know it
might be hard to believe, but I’m old fashioned. I’m saving myself for
marriage.”
He cocked his head. “You’re a virgin?”
Camryn put her hands on her hips and
narrowed her eyes. “Why are you so surprised?”
He grinned. “I didn’t think there were
women your age still holding out for marriage.”
“You make me sound ancient! I’m holding
out for Mr. Right,” she snapped as she plopped down on a black leather couch.
He walked to the back of the couch and
wrapped his arms around her neck, kissing the top of her head. “I’ve got my
fingers crossed that I’m Mr. Right.”
*
*
*
Camryn arrived at the park a few minutes
before Viktor. It hardly seemed a date since they drove in separate vehicles.
He slipped his car next to hers and could
tell she was still pissed.
He hesitantly wrapped his arm around her
shoulders while they walked towards the bandstand. It was a great night for a
concert as a slight breeze drifted in from Lake Michigan. The sun hung low and
glowed bright orange causing nearby clouds to look purple.
He led her to an empty picnic table.
“Let’s sit here until they get on stage.” He sat first and she chose to sit on
the other side.
He lifted her hands from the table and
held them. She met his gaze. “What?” she asked snippily.
Shrugging he replied, “I’m sorry, Cam.
I’m never sure when I’ll get called to work. It’s better this way. If I have to
leave you can still enjoy the concert.”
She nodded, but it still pissed her off.
He cleared his throat. “So…we’ve been
dating for a month and I don’t know much about you.”
“And what do you want to know?” she asked
curiously.
“For starters, tell me about your
family.”
She removed her hand from his and tucked
a strand of hair behind her ear. “Brothers married sisters.” He looked puzzled
so she continued with a grin. “My dad and Uncle John are brothers and they met
my mom and Aunt Maggie. They got hitched within a year of each other.”
“I don’t remember meeting John’s wife at
the retirement party,” he murmured.
She shook her head. “You wouldn’t have.
She died of a brain aneurysm when I was a few months old.”
A red Frisbee landed on their table,
narrowly missing Camryn’s head. A tall guy with collar length black wavy hair
ran towards them with two little boys running behind him.
Viktor snatched the Frisbee up and
snarled, “Be more careful where you’re tossing that thing. It almost hit my
girlfriend!”
“Viktor, I’m fine. Relax.”
“My apologies, lass.
The boyo is learning to throw.”
He
spoke with an Irish brogue. The sound of his voice made her heart flip-flop.
She turned her head, meeting his gaze. His eyes were light blue like the
morning sky and his facial features were finely chiseled. He was magnificent.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and
hoarsely replied, “No harm, no foul.”
He took the Frisbee from Viktor’s hand.
“Enjoy the ceilidh,” he murmured, gazing at Camryn.
Her stomach flipped. “Kaylee?” she
managed to ask.
A smile tugged at his mouth.
“Ceilidh, a music session.”
“Ah! Back at ya!” she giggled.
He shot her another grin, this time
exposing deep dimples as he slowly walked away while the two boys ran ahead
begging him to throw the Frisbee.
Viktor cleared his throat. She forgot he
was there and suddenly wished he wasn’t.
Turning her attention to Viktor, she
noticed a scowl on his face. “What?” she asked.
“You’re enamored by him.” His displeasure
was obvious.
“I’m just a sucker for Irish accents.
Besides, he’s married, with children,” she sighed.
She turned to observe the trio play
Frisbee and glanced at Viktor, who still scowled. She smiled uneasily. “Where
did I stop?”
He curtly replied, “Your aunt.”
“Uncle John never remarried. He said she
was his one true love and he’d never find anyone as wonderful.”
“It must’ve been hard on him.”
“Yeah, my mom, too.
Maggie was her only sister. Mom says I’m like her. In fact, I look like her.”
His eyebrows knitted together.
“Really?”
“Yep, my whole family has black hair and
blue eyes. I’m the odd one out with auburn hair and brown eyes.”
Her gaze drifted around the park and
watched as the crew on the stage tuned the instruments. She scanned the area
for the Irish guy too.
Clearly disgruntled he cleared his throat
again. Camryn swung her head around and sheepishly grinned. “Sorry. I’m people
watching. My dad is a retired firefighter and mom works part-time as a
secretary.”
“What about Ryan?”
“He writes for a techie magazine and
several websites.” She sighed, “He’s lucky because he can live anywhere in the
world and draw a paycheck while I’m stuck here.”
He took her hand again. “I thought you
liked to write.”
She nodded, “I do, but not crime
reporting, especially now with women disappearing. It isn’t easy to interview
family members. Their grief is difficult for me to handle. They look to me for
answers and I have nothing to offer them. It’s scary times out there now.”
“I’m working that case, so you don’t have
to worry. No one will take you,” he replied confidently.
“What can you share with me?”
He shook his head. “Not a thing and you
know it.”
“Party pooper,” she whined. “Well what
about your family?”
Viktor shrugged, “Not much to say. My
parents moved back to Russia and my brother Geno is doing time downstate.”
Camryn’s eyes widened. “He’s in prison?”
“Yeah, I don’t enjoy discussing him,” he
scowled.
The musicians took the stage, triggering
applause from the audience.
Viktor’s
phone rang causing Camryn to roll her eyes. He answered and put a hand over the
receiver, “Why don’t you get seats near the stage and I’ll be there soon.”
“Whatever,” she hissed.
She stood and overheard him tell his
caller he was on a date. She lingered, straightening her sundress. He shot her
an annoyed glance, got up and walked away.
Curiosity got the better of her so she
snuck up behind him and eavesdropped. “No, I’ll find someone else for you.”
Then he said something in Russian causing the skin on Camryn’s arms to prickle.
She backed away, quietly as possible and bumped into something.
She screamed when
something
grabbed her.
Chapter
3
“Easy Camryn!
What
has
you so frightened?” asked Uncle John.
The scream faded from her lips when she
heard his voice. She turned and he protectively wrapped his arms around her,
rubbing her back.
Viktor ran over, worry lined his face.
“Cam, are you all right?”
She nodded.
“Yeah, fine. I tripped and lucky for me Uncle
John caught me.” She shot her uncle a warning glance.
Viktor took her from John’s arms and
hugged her. He frowned when she didn’t hug him in return.
She finally smiled up at him and batted
her lashes. He grinned and hugged her tighter.
“I’m going to wait by the entrance for my
friends. Why don’t you and John find us a few seats,” he murmured.
“Sure. C’mon Uncle John,” she replied
with a smile.
Viktor was glad she didn’t give him
grief. He had enough to deal with from the phone call he received. He pulled
her back to give her a quick kiss.
He watched them walk towards the seating
area, scanned the park and blew out a hard breath.
*
*
*
John glanced over his shoulder and
observed Viktor walking towards the parking lot. “Ya mind telling me what that
was about?” he asked Camryn.
She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s
nothing.”
He stopped in front of her. “That’s
blarney. Why did you lie to him?”
“It’s no big deal,” she persisted. “Hey,
I’m thirsty. Why don’t you buy me a soda?”
He narrowed his eyes. She was as stubborn
as her mother. He’d figure it out sooner or later so he let it pass and walked
her to the concession stand.
As they waited in line she sighed with
relief when she didn’t see Viktor. She moved ahead in line, bumping into
someone.
Not just any someone, but the Irish hunk.
She murmured an apology. He grinned, “’Tis fine, lass. No harm, no foul, aye?”
She stared, mouth agape, and gawked as he
walked away juggling drinks with the two boys in tow.
John nudged her. “You know him?”
“Uh-uh,” she mumbled.
But I’d like to
.
Drinks in hand, John and Camryn strolled
towards the bandstand. John chose seats in the back since Viktor expected them
to be seated by the stage. He grinned at his own slyness. Something was amiss
between Camryn and the Russian. He planned on keeping it that way.
She scanned the park looking for Viktor
and spotted him in the distance talking with a woman. They looked cozy
together. Camryn stood and walked closer to get a better view, hiding behind a
group of people.
The woman had shoulder length auburn hair
and when she turned Camryn caught sight of the woman laugh at something Viktor
said in her ear.
He motioned his head towards the parking
lot and the woman nodded hesitantly. Camryn’s eyebrows lifted when he put his
arm around the woman’s shoulders.
Resigned, she walked back to her seat.
John leaned towards her and asked, “Is everything okay?”
She nodded, “Yep. Perfect. Viktor left
with another woman.”
“Did he now?”
“Yes and please, control your glee,” she
scolded.
He squeezed her hand, tapping his foot to
the pipers.
*
*
*
Several songs into their set the leader
of the group paused and introduced his band mates.
“We’d like to slow things down and sing a
few songs from our fellow Irishman, Van Morrison.”
Camryn and John could hardly contain
their enthusiasm. They put their fingers in their mouths and whistled at the
stage.
Behind her Camryn heard a boy say, “Ask
her to dance with you, Uncle Declan.”
“Yeah, Declan. Ask the girl to dance!” a
female voice urged.
The banter between the three of them was so
disrupting that she was ready to turn and ask them to quiet down when Uncle
John nudged her with an elbow.
She turned and saw the Irish cutie
standing next to John.
“Lass, would ya fancy a dance?” he asked.
She brought her hand to her neck in
surprise and her uncle nudged her again, this time harder. “Dance with the
lad,” he urged.
Irish cutie held out his hand to her. She
took his hand shyly as he led her to a grassy patch near the seats. He placed
his hand firmly on her hip and she followed suit by placing her hand on his
shoulder. They danced to ‘Tupelo Honey’ staring into each other’s eyes.
*
*
*
Declan had many thoughts running through
his head as he danced with the American lass. Her cheeks were a charming shade
of pink, apparent in the merest light.
The silkiness of her
dress against his sweaty palm.
Her delicately carved
face and the fullness of her lips.
Earlier he noticed her eyes looked like
cinnamon, the spice his ma used to make cookies.
He swallowed hard, clenching his jaw.
Jaysus he didn’t expect to come to America and what? Become daft over a woman?
He shook his head at himself.
“I’m sorry, did I step on your foot?” she
asked, embarrassed.
“Nay, you’re a grand dancer,” he mumbled.
He wondered how good of a kisser she was.
When she smiled he saw her dimples. It
took everything he had to not make an utter plonker of himself in front of her.
When the song ended he took her hand and
kissed it, his eyes never leaving hers.
She was left breathless, not to mention
weak kneed.
He walked them back to their respective
seats, not wanting to remove his hand from hers. Twasn’t as if he could ask for
her phone number or a date in the future. He lived in Ireland and her home was
in Chicago. Best to just leave as is. He danced with a beautiful Yank and
enjoyed it thoroughly. He suspected she did as well.
The thought made him grin and curse at
the same time.
*
*
*
“He’s Irish, eh? Wonderful! Did you
exchange phone numbers?” John whispered.
“Shh! He’s right behind us you old hen!”
she scolded.
She hoped they’d talk after the concert.
Maybe exchange phone numbers or spit. She rolled her eyes.
Damn, he’s fine looking
. It took everything she had to not run her
fingers through his thick hair. She wanted to trace the Celtic knot design tattooed
around his muscular upper arm while they danced, but stopped
herself
.
No need to be obvious.
To
satisfy her curiosity she turned in her seat. Three sets of smiles met her
gaze, two little boys and a woman. Declan wore a grimace which took her off
guard. She disregarded it, leaned back to the woman and murmured, “Your husband
is a fine dancer.”
The raven-haired woman laughed, “He’s me
brother and ‘is name is Declan.” She held her hand out, “I’m Colleen.”
Camryn smiled, shaking Colleen’s hand. “Nice
to meet you, I’m Cam.”
Colleen motioned her head to the boys.
“These are me sons, Rory and Sean.”
Camryn smiled and they grinned back in
response. Declan’s grimace faded, replacing it with an amused grin.
When she turned back in her seat she saw the
lift of her uncles’ cheek as he stared ahead.
She couldn’t wait for the concert to
end.
She wasn’t a shrinking violet, nor
was she aggressive. She wondered how to approach him and if she should.
Technically, she was still dating Viktor. Goose bumps pricked her arms when she
remembered his phone conversation. Surely he wasn’t talking about her and if
so, to whom was he talking? Who was the woman who left with him?
Uncle John gently nudged her arm and
broke her out of her reverie.
Lost in her thoughts Camryn didn’t
realize the concert ended. The crowd had begun to filter out of the park.
She quickly stood and turned. Declan and
his family had left. She searched the crowd, but didn’t spot them. She frowned
and looked at her uncle.
“Why didn’t you tell me the concert
ended?” she whined.
“Cam, what’s going on with you?” he asked
gently.
She rubbed her forehead. “Ugh! I don’t
know. Can you follow me home?”
“On one condition.”
“What?” she asked warily.
“You’ll tell me what’s wrong.”
She nodded. Sooner or later she’d have to
tell him. He’d only hound her until she did.
*
*
*
Colleen securely strapped the boys in the
back seat of the van. She climbed into the drivers’ seat shooting Declan a
glare.
“What?” he asked confused.
“You should’ve asked the girl for her
phone number! Jaysus! Start living Declan!”
He rolled his eyes heavenward. “What was
I to say to the lass? ‘May I have your phone number so I can woo you for a few
days before I go back to Ireland?’”
She spat, “It’d been a start. Great things
can happen in a short time.”
“So can terrible things,” he murmured.
“She’s pretty, Uncle Declan!” Sean called
from the back seat.
Declan nodded thoughtfully, “Aye, lad.
She is.”
While his sister drove through the city
to the suburbs Declan looked out the window. Chicago reminded him of Dublin;
the hustle and bustle of cars, busses and taxies. He preferred the slower life,
which is another reason he quit the Garda.
“You’ve never talked of it you know,”
Colleen whispered.
He turned his head, meeting her eyes in
the light of on-coming headlights. “Nothin’ to talk aboot,” he tersely replied.
Colleen glanced in the back seat. The
boys were fast asleep. She turned her attention back to her brother. “Dec, come
on. Something changed you two years ago and you’ve never discussed it with
anyone, not even ma.”
He shifted in his seat. It wasna a
discussion he wanted to have now, if ever. He felt her stare straight as he
glared out the windshield. “Green means go, aye?” he ground out.
Colleen sighed and stepped on the
accelerator. “Okay, I’ll tell you what I know and you can fill in whatever I’m
missing,” she persisted. “You were dating a girl named Teaghan for what? Eight
months?”
His jaws flexed. “Ten.”
She nodded, “The drug-dealer you were
hunting found the two of you at a park. He took you unawares and shot you. The
bullet went through you into Teaghan’s heart.”
Bile rose in his throat. He relived that
day many times, but by himself. This was more than he could bear. He lifted his
fists to his eyes and rubbed furiously.
“For Christ’s sake,
gel, stop.”