Code Name: Kayla's Fire by Natasza Waters Read Free Book Online Page A

said
another word, she grabbed it and twisted, glaring back at him. “Don’t start.
Take the men and go on a mission.” He shook his head, but at least he was
listening to her. “I’m putting in my resignation, Captain. This time you’re
going to accept it.”
    He stepped back,
blinking. “So you can go on some vacation with Lapierre, then two weeks of
indoctrination and you’ll be back in Canada. Like hell,” he sputtered. “Where
are you going?”
    “I’m going home, for
one.” She stepped around him, heading for one of the hotels to call a taxi.
    Before a shout could
even leave her lips, the gravel was gone from her feet, and she was in his
arms. He walked straight across the field and plopped her onto a bench.
    Squatting in front of
her, he said very slowly, “You’re not going anywhere. Now, cool off, Ms.
Banks.”
    She thrust her hands
against his shoulders, and he tipped backwards, but she didn’t get far. This
time he had her from behind squeezing her like a python. Turning her, he
grasped her chin and forced her to look at him. “I will leave you alone, but I
am not going to stop hunting for the Shark.” His fingers squeezed her arm. “I
don’t blame you for not wanting a life with me. Who the hell would?” He paused,
his voice caught in an uncommon stutter. “But you—are not resigning.” His jaw
tightened to a rigid edge, and his eyes sharpened to angry gems with the little
bit of moonlight reflecting in them. “You can fight me every day. Call me out
when I act like an ass. Shatter my heart into a thousand pieces if you leave
with Lapierre, and I’ll accept that too. But you are going to live.”
    “Likewise,” she
replied, fear replacing her anger.
    “Then don’t try to stop
me.”
    “What if you’re hurt
because of me? Pull them back, Captain. Please.” She dug her fingers into his
arms. “Get your team away from me, and I want you the farthest away.”
    Thane shook his head.
“If I do, you’ll die, Kayla.”
    She gripped him harder,
not that she could do any damage to arms like his. “I know,” she bit out.
“You’re just drawing this out, and it’s driving me crazy.”
    A painful expression
twisted his features. “Can you even imagine how much death I’ve seen? I’ve
accepted all of it, but I will never accept yours. I can see it in my mind,
because I’ve seen it so many times. To see you lifeless, to feel your skin,
cold instead of warm, stops my heart,” he whispered against her lips.
    “I’m asking you not to
chase him any more. Go home, and I’m going to do the same. I don’t want you
near me. I can handle this on my own.”
    “Kayla—” he said,
shaking his head slowly. “You can’t fix this by yourself.” He leaned his
forehead against hers. “It’s not a terrible thing to say you need—to accept
someone’s help. Shit. Is it so damn hard to say you need me?”
    A roller coaster of
emotions shot through her, and then an old, familiar feeling began to crawl
across her chest. She raised her eyes to meet his as the horrible, sour pang
filled her. “I won’t do that.”
    A sad smile tightened
his lips. “But you’ll accept Lapierre’s. I—I guess…” He looked around and
swallowed heavily.
    “Thane, sex does not
mean anything. You of all people should understand that.”
    Clutching her in his
arms, he pulled her onto his lap, and lay back on the bench. Before he said a
thing, she covered his mouth, but he gently pulled her hand away. “I want you
to live. I—I want you to have faith in me. Don’t hold my past against me,
because you weren’t in it. If you had been, it would have been very different,
and so would have yours.”
    She straightened up and
looked at him squarely. “I don’t hold anything against you, Thane. I’m only asking
you to stop putting yourself in danger.”
    A laugh bubbled up his
throat. “Um, okay, so should I just go back to work then?” he asked, a grin
tightening his lips as he rubbed his cheek against