Page 14 of Nightstalker

“You passed out.” I tried to jump off his lap, “NO, stay still.” Linc’s grip on me tightened.

“What the hell, you don’t order me like a dog. Let me go.”

“Stay still, Jasmin. I am not fucking around with you.”

“Where’s Zane?”

“Why? Do you think my brother is going to save you?” Linc’s face was like stone. I had never seen Lincoln Parker pissed off but I think it was safe to say this was his pissed off face.

“Save me? What the hell are you talking about?” I was so confused.

Linc’s face started to soften all the anger dissipating. He began to smooth my hair once again placing a few loose strands behind my ear. His touch was gentle and reverent. I leaned into his hand allowing him to take care of me, just this once, just for a moment. What the hell was I doing? Why did his touch feel familiar?

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“For what, lying to me? It is Zane that should be apologizing. He is the one who lied. Why the secrecy, why are you hiding behind the call name Ghost?” I still wanted answers even in my weak state.

I tried to sit up again but Linc held firm.

“It was for the safety of everyone involved. In the beginning of my Navy career it was not an issue, not many people knew about Zane but only because I am a private person.” He stopped and looked thoughtful for a moment.

I could relate I was a very private too; I played my cards close to the vest.

“When I got called in by the CIA on an operation that involved the President, my records were sealed and my family’s names were retracted. That went for Zane as well, though his records had been changed so many times over the years by different handlers from his time in the CIA. I would have been surprised if there was any truth left in them. If our mother’s name was left in Zane’s records than someone wanted you to know that name. That was no mistake.”

“Why would someone do that, what does your mother do?” I was still confused. What is the big deal about Linc and Zane’s mother?

“My mother is a housewife; this has nothing to do with my mother,” Zane said from the door way, walking back in the room with a diet Coke and a Snickers bar.

Damn, this man knew me. He handed me the candy bar and soda and sat across from me. He shot Linc a look and shook his head. I tried yet again to move but Linc’s grip was unbreakable.

“Then what?” I questioned.

“To cause a rift between you and I. Whoever sent you that work up knew what they were doing. I was under strict orders not to speak about my brother for the safety of the mission. At some point I was going to have to lie to you about my family. As soon as I lied to you trust is broken, if the bond we share is broken then we can be divided. The once perdurable loyalty can now be brought into question. You can be turned against me.” Zane stopped searching my eyes. “I have never lied to you, Jasmin, or broken any confidence. Lincoln is my brother, my only sibling. Every other part of my life that you know is true.” Zane finished.

Deep down inside I knew he was telling me the truth about Lincoln, or Ghost, or Red Wing, or whoever the fuck he was known as around the world. Lincoln Parker had so many names I wondered if he also just had a symbol for his name like Prince.

That still didn’t clear up my biggest issue, Russia. That was a conversation I was not willing to have in front of Linc. I was already showing more weakness than I was willing to show any man, including Zane.

I pushed off Linc’s lap and this time he let me go. I popped the top of my soda and took a long drink. I desperately needed more caffeine, especially after I spilt most of it this morning thinking about sexy Linc. That’s right; I could just blame every bad thing that was happening on Linc. My perfect world started slowly crumbling the moment he walked in the room.

“We will be finishing our original conversation later today. Thanks for the pick me up.” I held my candy bar out to him. “But you’re not off the hook, asshole!” I walked to the door debating whether or not to say anything to Linc for helping me. In the end I decided anything I said would just embarrass me further. I settled on a chin lift, he would understand.

Chapter Eight

Lincoln

I watched Jasmin strutted out of Zane’s office. That woman did not walk, she strutted her ass with a purpose. No man could control his eyes from watching her hips sway and move when she walked. Once the door was closed the mask I had been barely keeping in place fell.

“What the fuck, brother?” I asked Zane. He did not look any happier than I was.

“I already made a few calls. I do not know who gave her that file or what their end game is. She has had that information for six God damn years. Six years that woman has believed I lied to her and withheld information from her. Yet, she has remained loyal to me. Fuck me!” Zane was right. Jasmin had continued to be loyal even if she felt Zane had been disloyal to her.

“Should we call in Tom?” I asked.

“Not yet, let me see if my contact can trace back where the file came from.”

“I don’t like that Jasmin seems to be more involved than we thought. Fuck.” I said, closing my eyes.