King Solomon's Journey (The Dominguez Adventures) (36 page)

            I do not want this trip plagued with extra mental baggage, let alone physical danger. Do you understand what I am saying?”

            Ruger had known Antonio for years, and he had listened in the past days when he sang Amanda's praises. Antonio described her as a brilliant researcher, author, woman with three sons, and a bit of a mystic or as Antonio referred to them, those 'whoo whoo people'. In his own mind, Ruger had pictured a woman who was not really into reality or facing unknown situations with calmness.

            What sat in front of him now, was a cold, calculating woman who understood exactly what reality meant. He wasn't sure if her act was to trap Antonio as a man, or she was after something more; like the Scrolls for her own agenda. Either way, she just climbed the wrong tree.

            "Lady, I am not sure just who you are, or what you are. But, one thing is clear; Antonio has no idea who he has in his house. Before I answer your question-you will answer mine, or you will leave now, and I will handle Antonio!"

            Amanda was shocked; this soft spoken big man had just given her an ultimatum! How had he seen through her so quickly? She had lost control of the situation, and now all she could do, was play with his rules. She nodded her head, agreeing to the question.

            "Do you really care for Antonio, or is this an act to facilitate some kind of cover story?"

            "I care deeply for Antonio, and my days of cover stories have ended. I am what I appear to be; a woman who writes books, researches obscure subjects, and on occasion, accepts help from old associates."

            Ruger looked into the eyes of the woman before him. If she was lying, she hid it better than anyone he had ever known.

            "For now, I will take your word for that. But be warned, I will be watching. Just like those 'associates' of yours, I have ways to discover information and take care of problems, just as quickly.'

            "I understand."

            "Now tell me exactly what has you so rattled."

            "Tonight, this attempted break-in does not make sense. Who would precipitate this action against Antonio? If they want the Scrolls, that means they have a way of knowing their power. Yet, I have played the game long enough to know the rules. What we have seen and experienced so far are non-violent actions that are more of a reminder of their ability to stay close to us, with a hovering presence.      

            Coming here to his home is overtly violent and raises the level of threat beyond any that has come before. It is almost as if there are two players in the game, neither of which we know. The important thing right now is Antonio's safety. Without him, the world is lost and so am I.

            "Amanda, you are underestimating the man. Yes, he needs to be protected, but so do you. As far as Antonio is concerned you are the most valuable component to this…whatever it is, journey, quest, mission.  You have to let him protect you, and I will protect Antonio; that's what I do."

            "You make it sound so easy, and maybe it is."

            "One more thing, you need to tell him, everything. Leaving him in the dark about your connections and past is just as dangerous as any new threat our unknown players can dish out."

            I will, I promise, just not right now, please give me the time to do it in my own way."

            "Well, it's your neck. I better talk to Antonio; he's probably sulking about being asked to leave the room by now!

            Ruger left to get Antonio.

Chapter 39

“Control is never achieved when sought after directly. It is the surprising outcome of letting go.”

James Arthur Ray

             He was sulking in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, sucking on a beer bottle. Ruger watched him for a minute and smiled. For a grown man, he sure could pout!

            "Antonio, while that may have put you off, Amanda felt it was necessary. She just wanted to be assured that I had your best interest at heart." Antonio tried to interrupt, but Ruger stopped him.

            "Let me finish. She wanted my promise to protect you before her, and I did not give it. I told her that was your job."

            "Of all the lame-brained thinking females in the world I get one with a Pollyanna complex! Did she really think I would put my safety before hers? Does she think I am that weak?"

            "No, not weak; she just believes you are not as capable as she is. She does not seem to know just how well armed you are in the defense department. After all, the few encounters the two of you have had with the bad guys; she is the one who has been the aggressor."

            Antonio sat down the empty beer bottle and reached for a new cold one. He was not sure whether he should feel glad she cared for his safety, or mad that she underestimated him on so many levels.

            Shrugging in a very male fashion, he let it go, for now. He walked over to Ruger and punched him in the arm. "I hope you bragged about my manly prowess!"

            "Not really, some things should be discovered on their own."

            The two of them walked back to join Amanda.

             “Listen. You two go get some rest...I’m going to the guesthouse. Let’s talk before you depart tomorrow morning, and I’ll see what I can figure out.”

            “Well thanks, Ruger. Maria will be here in the morning. I’ll tell her we’ll all have breakfast.”

            “That works. Goodnight, Amanda, goodnight, Antonio.”

            They told him goodnight as he left. Antonio looked at her.

            “Antonio, I know I should have told you, but I didn’t want you upset before we left for Miami. I was wrong.”

            Antonio sat back down on the sofa, and took a drink of his beer, contemplation written all over his face. It made Amanda feel weird. She left him alone to think.

            Right now, the bedroom was where she needed to be. The first time she came into this room, she did not feel comfortable, now she wanted to be there. It was all so crazy. Taking the shorts off from under Antonio’s long shirt, she was at a loss. What did she need to do?

            Antonio walked in, pulling the .738 out of the back of his jeans. He sat it on the bed table. Amanda watched him, with a gun he did not seem the same man. He was comfortable with it, not a novice.

            She was not sure, if this was a turn-on, or a turn-off. Unable to surmise the difference right now, she watched him take his shirt off and remove his boots.

            Amanda was stuck in a trance, unsure of what to make of anything. Now, stronger than ever to her, a certain command possessed him, it was not completely different, yet noticeable. She had failed to notice his strength. This presence surrounded him. She wanted to remain silent, but not from fear, she was in awe of him right now.

            He came to her and gripped her shoulders, not from anger, and not hurting her. He took charge. His eyes fixed on hers.

            “Amanda, you will never attempt to protect me again. You’ll never fail to tell me about any fear again. Do you understand?”

            She nodded. He let go of her, turned away, and removed his jeans.

            Amanda was still stuck. Entranced, she watched him. She thought this was his normal behavior, the part she first recognized in Vegas. Suppose he had let this defense down with her, he brought it back to protect her, and King Solomon’s ‘13’.

            He came back to where she stood.

            Deliberately, he used his hands to arch her head back and kissed her throat. He was neither rough, nor a mad animal. His mouth made love to the soft place at the bottom of her throat, and moved lower, repeating his attention in the valley between her breasts.

Amanda arched farther back and offered more of her body to him. His shirt hung from her shoulders, opened to her belly button. It made her weak at the knees. Supporting her back with his one arm, his kisses ceased.

            His hands and fingers touched her, as his strong presence stood as a beacon. Soft touches electrified her senses. The two sides of him merged suddenly. He was sure, she was sure of him. He continued to stare at her, touching her, he wanted her to react to him.

            Antonio stared at her with his dark eyes, and held her back. Fingers touched her body, exposed through the opening of the shirt. He was in complete control of his emotional self. Slipping, her thigh traveled between his legs. His hardness pressed against her upper thigh, his mouth made love to her chest again. The rake of his teeth against her skin felt erotic. Forced, he held more of her weight.

            It was different, the determination, the confidence. This was the new standard, at least until the installment and control of King Solomon’s ‘13’ was complete. She knew it. How she knew it did not matter. Somewhere inside of him, a bell had gone off. He was in charge, not as her warden, but they would not be reckless in the future.

            He watched her fold in front of him. Damn it, he needed that right now. They were officially in dangers path, whoever was onto to them had targeted her to get to him.

Her daredevil streak scared the hell out of him right now. He didn’t want to break that spirit about her, but he had to reel it in somehow. She would have to find other outlets.

            Pressed against her, he brought her upright, grabbed her panties, and pulled them off her, unlike the slow, sweet seduction of all the other times.

            He loved it when she wore his shirts. A hand slid underneath it and he gripped both sides of her waist. Her body held firm against his. His face was close to hers, she felt his breath.

            “Amanda I’m in charge now. You will listen to me, no matter what. You have to trust me completely.” His tone was unquestionable.

            “It’s all about trust now. You must hear me. I know you’ve never trusted a man, you have to trust me now.” She stared at him, not blinking or arguing, only staring.

            His voice did not soften. In fact, it grew stronger.

            “They intend to take you away from me. That much is clear. You have to let me take charge. You have to let me take care of you.” He wasn’t sure he was getting through to her.

            “Amanda, you need to make me believe you’re going to let me take charge. You need to let me know you’re going to trust me. You have to do it now, and I have to believe you.” He was frustrated.

            “Antonio, I swear to you. I trust you completely. I will not promise to behave. I will not promise that if you make me, I will choose myself over you.”

            “Damn it, Amanda. That’s what they’re banking on. You have to let me take charge.”

            She wiggled out of his grip and separated herself from him.

            “I will not, because of the choices you could make. If I said yes, I would be lying to you.” She was angry now.

            “I won’t take you to Miami then.” He wasn’t backing down. The stakes were too high now. He persisted, yet she came right back at him.

            “Fine, if my being there will put you in more danger, I will happily stay. I will stay right here. Ruger, Maria, and Joe will all be here. At least I will be safe.”

            “I won’t go either then,” he yelled.

            “That was predictable.”

            “What the hell does that mean?”

            “You have been trying to flake out on Miami all this time.” She goaded him on purpose.

            “Amanda, that’s not true.”

            “Yes, it is the truth.”

            “Amanda, you made me want to go.”

            “"Made you? I have never made you do anything. I just suggested it was time to lay the past to rest, and you agreed. Now it seems you have changed your mind."

            “Amanda, that’s not fair.” He was on fire.

            “Listen, Antonio. I spent years trapped with the threats of danger. The trade-off is not worth it. I want freedom more… for you and me.”

            “I can keep you safe, Amanda.” He was still yelling, thankfully, she knew it was not at her.

            “Antonio, we have to do the best we can to stay a step ahead. I will not let you promise me, or yourself nothing is going to happen. That is not honest. We cannot trust each other, if we are not honest. Without that, we have no truth.”

            “Amanda I can’t live if something happens to you.”

            “Don’t.”

            He thought she was deranged.

            “Nothing is going to happen to me that will leave you alone.”

            “Amanda, how can you say that?”

            “I believe it completely, it is not in the cards.”

            “What?”

            “Antonio, do you think we are smart?”

            “Of course I do.”

            “Do you believe we have a job to do with the Scrolls and King Solomon’s ‘13’?”

            “Yes.”

            “The other day you said the Scrolls were connected to me, and had brought you to me.”

            “Yes.”

            “Do you still believe that to be true?”

            “Yes.”

            “Do you believe only some of it, but not all of it?”

            “I believe in all of it. Right here.” He put his hand on his solar plexus.

            “If we are smart, and we use what we have, and use it in harmony, we will be fine. I do not deny we are going to have to jump through some difficult hoops. We must continue to feel what is right, or wrong, in each moment.

            If we try to make sense of it in our heads, we are dead.” She walked over to him, took his hand and placed it on her solar plexus, her other hand against his.

            “Antonio, you are right about trust being most important. You know I trust you. You are questioning your own trust of the Divine, and God. Right here, where I’m touching you, is where you know.” She dropped his hand and moved away from him. Her voice rose.