Knockout! A Passionate Police Romance (17 page)

He eased himself out of the seat, patting Bertrand heartily on the shoulder.

“Merci - Capitano. Tomorrow we will see what she can do.”

“If you can handle this you’ll be able to handle Billy Brennan.” Commented the uniformed skipper.

“That man is nothing- these women worry you know,” he replied with a wink at Lucienne who almost blushed. “This fight will be interesting. I used to worry about saving my looks for the ladies. Now I have the girl of my dreams - perhaps I can put on a show and risk my beautiful nose. Read the papers and they tell you I am out of shape. Let’s see at the weigh in. Bertrand - remember everything I’ve told you.”

Anna relaxed a little. Evidently he had been talking to Bertrand in some kind of exchange of male bonding. Soon enough he would be stepping into a boxing ring to face a brutal conclusion to his career. His words fascinated her. She was no expert but he did not look out of shape! He was pure muscle without an ounce of fat.

He threw an arm around her as they walked to his car.

“It was great to hear you talking about the fight - what did you tell him?” She asked softly.

“You would only worry ma belle. That guy knows the business a little - we chatted about jabs and hooks.”

She decided to let it ride. Just beneath the surface her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. They drove to the heli-pad at Port Vauban where she kissed him on the lips and waited for her father. She watched the Mercedes pull away. A small white car seemed to move off at the same time, driven by a male in a dark suit. Anna noted the coincidence and the odd clothing of the driver. He was slightly out of place –always the first whisper in the ear of a cop. Out of habit she memorized the vehicle number. In the distance she heard the beat of a helicopter rotor. Now this would be a challenge - as if she needed one!

The new Augusta Grand VIP chopper resplendent in its Leyton marine livery sank down onto the pad. The turbines whined down as Mike Leyton pulled off his headphones and stepped out into the lengthening shadows of the afternoon.

She threw herself into his arms as he straightened up, clear of the rotors.

“My baby. My baby.” He said reassuringly in his deep voice.

“It’s so good to see you Dad. So much has happened.”

“Let’s take a stroll back to the boat and analyze the situation.” He said calmly.

In his presence she felt relieved, as if her burden were halved. His white hair flowed back. His ruddy face was strong and exuded competence. She poured out her story.

“I didn’t know who he was - we shared a cab - I wanted to get away from being a cop - just be a woman like any other - I told him I sold boats because I know this business - then I get myself assigned to his case and he wants to marry me and I love him. It’s so simple really!”

Mike Leyton shook his head, lifting her hand to look at the ring as if to convince himself that something was real.

“So - you spend ten years as a street cop and detective dealing with every known depravity of mankind. Then one day you meet an unknown guy in the street, fall in love and just go with the flow as if you were a new born babe.”

She reflected on his summary of events, smiling at the apparent absurdity of her story.

“I think that sums it up pretty well. He wants sons, a girl to spoil and to live at his champagne vineyard.” She added with deliberate understatement.

“If he escapes Interpol, the mafia and twelve rounds in the ring...”

“Yes...”

“That Beaumont was such a pompous fraud,” declared Mike, changing the subject with a laugh. “If you had told me you were going to marry him it would be serious.”

Anna felt a flood of warmth as he hugged her, He was on her side. Somehow things would work out.

They arrived at the boat and went to the state room White deep pile carpet set off the black Moroccan leather suite. He went to the walnut cocktail cabinet and mixed two large vodka martinis and joined her on the sofa.

“What happens - do you have a secret transmitter hidden in your bra?” He questioned with a wicked twinkle in his blue eyes.

“I took his phone and copied the files.” She answered ashamedly.

“He need never know that Anna - never never. For as long as you live never tell him.”

“Should I not be fully honest one day?”

“No - he loves you and perhaps he could cope with you going along with the job because you wanted to be near him. One day he will see that you were prepared to put yourself in danger for that reason. If he learned you went behind his back he would never trust you.”

She nodded, conceding the point. He need never know.

Her father took a slug of his drink. “Where is your future husband anyway?”

“He’s meeting a mafia guy who manages Brennan.” She replied flatly.

“What? Are you going to lock him up and marry him in jail?”

“It’s a bit of a mess Dad.” She said lamely as tears began to roll down her cheeks.

“The fact is that he probably is involved Anna. Why get beaten up when he can just get a big pay day and walk off as a multi millionaire.”

“I can see all that. I wouldn’t blame him and I would love him anyway.”

“Then you have to put your cards on the table. You can’t run with the hare and hunt with the hound.” He insisted.

“You’re right...”

“For myself I don’t want swaggering mobsters fixing up sport for their own greed. To a lot of ordinary folk these heroes are everything. And I do not want my business used as an undercover police front. Such a story could ruin us!”

“I know, I know. I’ve been so selfish-so stupid - so blind.”

“That’s about as good a description of true love as I’ve ever heard,” he half chuckled. “The solution is going to start with telling him the truth.”

“Can it wait until after the sea trial? - he is so excited - like a kid with a train set.”

Mike Leyton thought seriously. “Let’s hope he doesn’t find out from the mobsters - I guess you’ll know soon enough. It’s got to be your call. Let’s all meet up for dinner at La Marmite at 8.30. I’m going to take the chance to fly down to Monaco - looks like one of the Formula One boy racers wants to trade up.”

She hugged him and watched him stride away. At sixty he was still handsome and strong. He had not judged her or made a big fuss. He only ever asked one question in any situation:

“OK - where do we go from here?” So far he had solved every problem in one hell of a life.

As she picked up her mobile to call Judy she heard the beat of the chopper fading as it swung away down the coast. Waiting for the phone to connect she thought on what her father had said. Once she had told Freddie he would understand. She could live this life of glamour, haute cuisine, helicopters and fast boats. She did not have to be breathing in the stench of crime living over a row of shops rattled by 24 hour traffic in Kilburn.

“Anna! Thank god you called in - Beaumont has been driving me nuts. Tondelli has really spooked him. He seems to have the idea that your cover has failed and that is why a hard man is there. He reckons you could end up buried at sea.” She explained in a concerned voice.

“What’s the news on the SIM card?” Anna asked.

“Unbelievable honey - just everyone who is anyone in crooked sport is on Freddie’s list. I’m sorry but it does look like your guy is in this up to his neck.”

Anna swallowed the news without comment. What did it matter? She was about to jump ship in any case.

“Where does Christine Jones stand?” She asked, aware that she was the key to her survival.

“She’s letting it run. She seems prepared to let you see it right through even if there are risks. The phone information will add up to first class evidence - that’s all she wants. There’s an FBI agent flying in for a conference with her. ”

Anna reflected for a second. In the back of her mind she thought of mentioning the white car that had followed Freddie from the heli-port. Deep deep down she knew who it was. She recalled the registration number and decided to let it ride. It was probably too late to change events.

“Thanks for everything Judy. I know you’re stuck in the office with Beaumont.”

Judy laughed “Do you think I’d swap my life just to be on a luxury yacht on the Mediterranean having a shagathon with a super hunk?”

“Of course not Judy… it’s sheer torture I can tell you.” Anna replied, smiling at her friend’s assessment of her lifestyle.

“Stay in touch Anna. Beaumont is sure there’s gonna be fireworks.”

She rang off and sat still for a few moments. Something was wrong. The likes of Scappaticci would not care if Freddie was tied up with some new girlfriend. Only a few people knew her cover story. She would know more soon enough - at least she was sure of that.

She took the chance to clean up and then lay on the bed wrapped in the musky perfume of Freddie’s silk ring gown. She would never wash it and never let it go. The strength of the vodka cocktail robbed her of her will. She lay dreamily imagining him pushing inside her, touching nerves deep in her belly that only he had brought alive.. She re lived his building torrent of tension, feeling her own moistness anticipating his climax. She must have dozed. She awoke to the sensation of soft lips and his breath on her taut belly, his tongue running along the edge of her soft dark forest. A tingle of pleasure ran through her.

“Bonsoir ma belle.” He whispered, moving alongside her and resting his cheek on the palm of his huge hand. The other played teasingly down, brushing her soft folded petals that hid her stiffening bud.

“Oh - you’re back.” She moaned, trying to converse as delicious sleepy warmth began to give way to urgent need. His hand continued with light quicker circles. She turned towards him, offering her breast, pleading silently for him to draw her in to his mouth - to suck her nipple, to pull her pulse of lust through like a Spring shoot pushing up to the light until it burst out into a bloom of love.

At once he picked up her unspoken craving, pulling her in, licking the peak in delicious moist sweeps of his tongue. She wanted to say - wanted to say - wanted to say that she should not just selfishly accept his touch. But now she felt her resolve slipping as if in the distance a sun was rising and rising because it was the nature of the heavens and could not stop.

He brought his lips to hers, caressing her mouth as she peaked into convulsions of wild pleasure.

“My baby - I love you my baby.” He whispered as she surrendered to wave after wave of ecstasy.

When he had set her free from the prison of her desire, she sighed and lay back.

“I just get so caught up in the feeling... you just make me come...”

“I feel your rhythms - I am inside you. Believe me - your passion and letting go is my pleasure. This abandon you let me share is your gift as a lover.” He murmured, smiling.

She looked back into the warmth of his brown eyes and knew that she had found the home of her soul forever. There would never be another kiss, another touch, another love.

“How was your meeting?” She asked at last.

“Oh - stuff stuff and more stuff. These business guys are just about money.” He replied dismissively.

“You like money.”

“Sure, perhaps I’m no different. I have a little project - maybe this guy can help.”

“Project?” She questioned, only too aware that the word had come up before.

“Yeah - when the fight game is over...”

“He came a long way to find you - he must think it matters,” she countered.

He let out a long sigh and lay back on the bed. He closed his eyes, but watched her through one sleepy lid with an expression of desire and tenderness smiling on his lips.

“Nothing matters honey - nothing but us.” He mumbled.

She looked at his shoulders, the power of his arms, and the muscled mass of his thighs under his clothing. Love for him swept over her. She unbuttoned his shirt and kissed his chest, flicking open the clasp of his belt. He obliged and wriggled out of his pants as she caressed him, easing down the soft skin over his rock hard tip. He was massive and throbbing, needing and begging for her touch. She bent her head and slipped him into her mouth, tasting the slight musk of pure male.

“Oh my baby-my lover.” He groaned.

“My man - my big big man.” She whispered, glancing up into his deep brown eyes misted with desire and pleasure.

She wanted this. She wanted this for her own delight and in a way that he would never understand. Never had she given herself in this way, never abandoned her mind to this utter intimacy. His hand ran through her hair, gripping more urgently as she moved her tongue around the rim. She felt him tightening and climbing to a peak and then release helplessly within her, groaning her name in deep grunts of absolute bliss. She thrilled at his free-fall into the warm well of pleasure she had offered, knowing that here in this moment she had surrendered a virginity that no other man had ever known or would ever know.

By 8 o’clock they were starving. Freddie dressed in a charcoal jacket, off white linen trousers, a faded blue shirt and decorated cowboy boots - in honor of his American background. With his advice Anna had decided on the mini skirt, red satin blouse and her wrap with high heels. She looked into his tanned face as he kissed her on the deck of the boat. She melted into him, feeling the love of minds expressed in the breath and rhythms of their bodies. She loved him and the turning world curled and folded their love within its heart - maybe for this one last evening. This night she felt it - a premonition that there was not long - but that once a moment is lived and swept away, at least it has been lived and can never be changed.