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| New Life By Mar |
| CHAPTER 2 The woman was taking a shower. The cops that guarded the room’s door had brought coffee, orange juice and croissants, and they had shared the light breakfast in friendly silence. Now, Frank Donovan sat next to the window and looked at the folder between his hands. Pete had said that she was an important and valuable witness, that he had to protect her with his life if it was necessary. No more words. No name. Last afternoon, when they had met, she had said nothing except ‘please, don’t leave me alone’ and those simple words had made him shudder. It was not the first time that he had heard those words, but the sound of her voice, the helpless and desperate look she gave to him... Frank opened the folder and took the sheets of paper, his dark and cold eyes starting to read immediately. *** NAME Susana 1 ST SURNAME Puchades 2 ND SURNAME Hernández BIRTHPLACE Valencia (Spain) BIRTHDATE 2 August 1970 OCCUPATION Stockbroker So, she came from Spain. Beautiful European country. He could have guessed it earlier, when she had spoken of ETA. How had she managed to get involved with them? The terrorist band was not well known in the States but the last attacks had awakened and alerted the government, not only against Al Qaeda but against all sorts of terrorism. The name was not important and both bands were likely to be connected in some way. So, what was she doing in the middle of...? “I see you’ve got my file.” Her voice washed over him like a cold caress. He could almost touch her fear, almost taste it. “Have you read it? I suppose you find it funny, uh? And surely you suppose I am a stupid woman putting herself in danger and creating an awkward, inconvenient and annoying situation between two countries... ” “I don’t suppose anything,” he cut her of. “And I still have not read your file.” She approached him slowly, hesitant. He looked at her and caught his breath with a soft gasp. Indeed, she was a beautiful and sensual woman. Her dark eyes looked into his as if challenging him to... to what? He was finding it very difficult to scramble up the steel wall she had built around her. His eyes roamed her slender body appreciatively, noticing how the simple white dress she wore clung to the right places. He looked at her and his eyes sparkled knowingly when she blushed and clasped her hands in front of her without knowing what to do with them. Good. She was not unaware of him anymore. “Do you want to tell me your story or do...?” “No,”she said firmly. “I prefer that you read the damned file. Then I will answer your questions, if that’s O.K. with you.” “That’s O.K. with me,” Frank assured her arching an eyebrow. He could feel her fear but he could also feel her stubborness and strong-willed temper. “Fine,” she snapped. “Fine,” he returned with amusement dancing in his dark eyes. She opened her mouth to retort again but suddenly frowned without knowing what to say. Her mouth closed slowly and she turned around approaching the window with trembling legs. The only thought in her head was that he was going to learn everything about her... “This is only a file,” he said as if sensing her discomfort. “I will know some details about your life and the reason that has brought you to me. Nothing more.” The silence was thick after his words. He almost thought that she had not heard him, when she turned around again and her big eyes nailed to his with a piercing look. “The name in the file...” she started. Then swallowed hard and tried it again. “My name is La...” “Susana,” he cut her off. “From now on, your name is Susana. Is that understood?” Susana blinked back her tears and nodded. His intense eyes almost pleaded with her to obey and finally, she succumbed to her overwhelming reality. He was right. He knew what to do. He knew how to handle the situation and she was too tired to keep on fighting. Frank started to read the file and soon he was unaware of everything except the horrifying facts described sharply and concisely. Susana took the opportunity to watch him freely and swallowed hard when she finally realized what a male specimen sat right in front of her. Agent Frank Donovan oozed sexuality and masculinity and he seemed to be perfectly aware of the effect he had on women. “...the reason that has brought you to me...” he had said some minutes ago. Susana felt a shiver running down her spine while she savoured the sound of his deep, rich, chocolate voice pronouncing those words. He had the sexiest voice she had heard in all her life; demanding, beckoning and dangerous, but also enticing, relaxing and almost sweet. His hair was cut short and he had some grey hair at his temples that softened his look in a certain way. She knew that his hair was incredibly soft and silky and suddenly her fingers ached to bury themselves in that softness. Her eyes roamed over his handsome face drawing his forehead, his high cheekbones, his firm jaw and his sensual full lips, framed by a line of short-trimmed beard. Unconciously she licked her lips when her eyes traveled down his body. “My God, what a man!” she thought. He was... perfect. Tall, broad shoulders, narrow waist and hips, long legs... She had met some men with certain appeal, but Frank Donovan was attractive almost in a wild, raw way. “Ahem,” he cleared his throat and Susana looked at him wide-eyed knowing that he had just witnessed her open perusal of him. Blushing furiously she averted her eyes unable to see the evident amusement and amazement dancing in his eyes. She clasped her hands again in front of her and shuddered when he left his chair and walked slowly towards her, chuckling softly. “Relax, woman,” he said stopping right in front of her. “After reading your file I have realized that you are curious, a good observer and... how would I say it?” He stopped for a second scratching his chin and then grinned mischievously. “Bold,” he finished. “Definitely bold and careless.” Susana frowned, visibly annoyed, but kept quiet making him chuckle again. She was so cute, he thought. Now that he had read her file he could think about what kind of woman was standing before him. His expression changed as he tried to imagine the ordeal she had suffered and was still suffering; and he realized that under her scared eyes there was a brave spirit. “Do you want to talk about this?” he asked showing the folder. She averted her eyes again and shrugged. “I have spent the last seven months of my life talking about this,” she said sternly. “About the bomb, the smoke, the noise, the people running down the street looking for any kind of shelter...” She sighed and approached the window again. “I will never forget that day,” she continued. “And I will never forget those men. Never.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ New Life - Chapter 3 |