Page 6 of His Sweet Torment
Padme let out a long breath. “Enver Toscano.”
Enver came to her side, sweeping a loose strand of hair back over her ear. “Mio Dio, Padme, I can’t say it isn’t good to see you but the thought of you putting yourself in harm’s way for me…”
“I would take a bullet for you in a heartbeat,” she whispered, fiercely, “but it’s not going to get to that, Enver. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
His lips were against hers then, and for a moment, she fantasized that this could be their reality. She drew away after a moment. “But we can’t dothis. Not if I’m going to protect you properly. If I was distracted and something happened to you…god, Enver.”
“And I cannot bear that you might get hurt because of me. This is just what I was trying to avoid.” He got up and paced around the room. “Maybe we should…ask for a replacement.”
“No,” Padme felt panicked. “No. I won’t be able to trust anyone else to protect you the way I would. I meant what I said…I would die for you.”
Enver’s eyes were sad. “You don’t even know me, Padme,cara mia.”
Padme stood and went to him. “Idoknow you. I know you love with your whole heart, that the loss of someone close to you could crush you. I feel the same way – aboutyou. I know that’s completely opposite of what a woman is supposed to say after the weekend we had – I’m supposed to act cool, and god knows, professionally, but in this case…I don’t trust anyone else to protect you.”
Enver kissed her gently. “The moment this is over, Padme Kaur, you and I are going to spend a lot of time together. Naked. I think we agreed that at the weekend. Deal?”
She smiled. “Deal.” Her voice was a whisper. How had her life changed this much in this short a time? They heard Dale and Brian returning.
“Don’t mind Brian,” Enver said in a low voice, “He just wants this over and done with so he can get back to his life in New York.”
“He’s staying here?”
Enver rolled his eyes. “He doesn’t trust me to be by myself.”
“You’re not.”
Enver met her gaze as the others came back into the room. “Hopefully, noteveragain, my beautiful Padme.”
He said it in a low voice, but it sent Padme’s heart into overdrive. He knew she should tell Dale and her bosses of her relationship with Enver, however humiliating that might be, but she was convinced – no-one could protect Enver better than her.
Chaley showed Dale and Padme to their respective rooms, Dale whistling in appreciation at the comfortable beds and wide screen t.v. Padme dumped her hold-all on the bed and wondered how she could possibly sleep knowing Enver was only a few rooms away. God, how she wanted him, but she would not compromise his safety for the sake of a fuck – even if that fuck were with that gorgeous man. Padme knew, if they even risked it, and it was discovered that they were sleeping together, she would be fired, maybe even arrested for risking the operation.
There was a soft knock at her door, and her heart began to thump. “Come in.” She was both relieved and disappointed when Dale opened the door, giving her a boyish grin.
“Hey you, just wanted to know if you want me to take the night shift. You look kind of done in already.”
Padme smiled at him. “And it’s only lunchtime. No, it’s okay, I’m kind of a night-owl, I’ll take the late shift.”
Dale flopped down on the bed next to her. “What do you think of him?”
“Enver? Nice guy, good for him taking on the Ingles.”
Dale nodded. “That’s what I think. That lawyer, though.” They both laughed. “By the look of him, he’s readAmerican Psychoonce too often.”
Padme snorted. “He’s not that interesting. He does know the Eighties are over, right?”
“You’re such a bitch.” But Dale was laughing. Padme punched his arm and got up off the bed.
“Come on, we have work to do.”
By the evening, they both realized that babysitting duty was as dull as it sounded. Brian Dedalus ignored them, jabbering away on his cell phone, Chaley, shy and nervous, would offer them coffee every time she saw them. Enver was working, but would stop when he saw them and chat, and Padme grew more impressed by him every time they talked. In sharp contrast to his lawyer, Enver was humble, apologetic for the situation, but fun and smart to be around.
Which made it harder for Padme as she got to know him over the next few days because he was everything she wanted, and everything she couldn’t have. She took the night shifts, listening to the silence around the compound as she walked the corridors. Enver had taken to joining her, and they would sit and talk until dawn, each desperate to touch the other, but know they couldn’t.
“When this is over,” Enver said, late one night a week after they’d come to the safe house, “I would love to take you away, to Italy, show you my home.”
“Have you any family left?”
