That Day by Karen Deen (best novels to read in english txt) 📕

the weight of the world is sitting on her shoulders the way they are hunching forward.

“I know they’re bad, otherwise you wouldn’t be in WITSEC, Asha, that’s a given, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t guarantee your safety. Nothing is happening to you on my watch. If you don’t believe me, then there is one thing I can guarantee you…”

My heart burns for her fear.

Holding her that little tighter and closing the gap between our mouths, our lips a breath apart, I whisper, “I will give my life before I let anyone take yours… that I guarantee.” I press my lips to hers, softly, but with more meaning than any kiss I have given her before.

It’s the moment where I give myself to her, totally and completely.

My life is hers whether she realizes that or not

Her hands slide up into my hair, pulling me as close as possible. The sharp tingling of her nails on my scalp makes me feel alive.

For a moment, we are lost in each other. Not in a sexual way, but in a deep soul connection that we have been skirting around for days.

Slowly pulling away from me, but only a little, Asha looks at me like she finally gets it.

“I know I should be angry,” she says, hesitating for a second. “Instead, I feel an overwhelming sense of relief that I finally have someone to talk to. Like, really talk to and not have to guard what I say. From that very first moment I met you, you calm my crazy.”

“Anytime day or night you need to talk, I’m here.” I smile at the relaxation that’s settling on her face.

“Like right now?”

“Yeah, baby, what’s on your mind?”

“So much I don’t even know where to start. Like, why did you get out of the job?”

“Hey, they were supposed to be things about you, but of course you break the hard questions right out of the box, first up.” We both laugh a little, which gives me a moment to work out what I’m actually going to reply.

“I can’t give you details, as I’m sure you understand.” She nods at me, and I continue, “I don’t talk about this much, and to be honest, I haven’t really talked to anyone about it since I walked away from the job.”

“Good, then we can share each other’s secrets and keep them safe,” she says, looking proud that she can help me out. If only she understood that this will only be scratching the surface. There are things I’ll never be able to tell her, but for now, I can share a little.

“Sounds perfect.” I sweep a strand of hair off her face. “I was on a job that had been intense. The clients we were assigned to, we heard chatter that they were being targeted that night. So, we were on the move with them to a new secure safehouse. While we were in transit, there was a problem. Scott and I had to break away from the group with them, and things went bad from there. Let’s just say it didn’t turn out how it was supposed to, and I never forgave myself for that. I live that night over and over again. It never leaves me.” The visions of it all unfolding are never far from the surface, and I don’t want them overtaking me now. Not here, with Asha in my arms in such a vulnerable moment.

“Oh no, did they die?” It’s like she doesn’t want to ask me but can’t not at the same time.

“So I was told,” I say quietly. Her head drops slightly, and her eyes look down away from me.

“That’s so sad.” My hand rubs her back, trying to soothe her thoughts. I know what she’s thinking. She’s placing herself in their shoes.

“Yes.”

We both sit in silence, processing our thoughts for a minute.

“Were you hurt too?” Her voice doesn’t have the confidence she had earlier.

“Yes, but nothing life-threatening. More mental scarring than anything else,” I say, being as honest as I can.

“Did Scott get hurt?” I can feel my whole body stiffen.

Trying not to give anything away, I take a deep breath. “We got separated that night, and I didn’t see him again until he turned up that morning at your house, but I don’t believe so.” Nor did I care one bit, but I can’t say that. Technically he is still her agent, and I can’t do anything about that.

“Is that why you don’t like him?”

“Among other things, yeah. But let’s talk about you. What is something you miss the most, being in hiding?” The bandage on her forehead reminds me that she is supposed to be recuperating.

“My parents, hands down. I just want to be able to speak to them at least, even if I can’t see them, but they told me it’s a no-go zone until this is all over. That’s been the hardest.” I totally understand that. Being away from my family and never knowing when I would make it home has always been hard. In some ways harder on them than me, because I was so caught up in my cases, months would pass, and I wouldn’t even realize it.

“Kurt?”

“Yeah?”

“I only have three months before I have to leave.” Finally, the tears start to fall. I expected them long before now because it’s a lot to take in. “The court date has been set, and depending on what happens, I may not be allowed to come back here. They might put me into hiding again somewhere else.”

She wipes her tears as fast as they’re falling.

“Then we better make the best of the next three months then, hadn’t we? It’s time to dry up the tears and let’s start a to-do list. Nothing that involves anything outside of us and this beautiful place we are in. I already have the first thing on the list. I’m taking you for a swim in the ocean!”

Pushing her up a little, both of us are now upright and apart.

“Come on,