JAVIER Read Online Free Page B

and
checked the time; they should make it before sunrise. He was tempted to drive
much faster but he didn’t want to risk any unwanted attention from traffic
police; no, better to keep to the legal limit and concentrate on finding his
way back to Rafe’s place. Then he would have to contact headquarters on the
Island; he had been off the grid long enough for the alarm to have been raised.
    “You’ve done it before haven’t you?” Cassia asked
softly.
    “Done what?” Javier was startled out of his train of
thought.
    “Killed. Killed like that.”
    “Yes, when necessary. I am sorry you saw that.”
    “They were planning to hurt us. Me and Flavia.” Her
breath hitched slightly and he saw her shiver and brush a hand impatiently
under her eyes. It would be the relief at getting out, he thought, she had been
incredibly cool headed and brave.
    “Don’t think about that. You are safe now and so is
she. You were magnificent in there; better than I would have expected any
civilian to be.” he said gently.
    “Civilian…are you a warrior Javier? For a bunch of
rank amateurs as you called them, they landed you like a fish.”
    Irritation shot through Javier as his head snapped
round to glare at her, then he took another deep calming breath. She was right;
she had only spoken the truth and she had no idea how very much that truth hurt
his pride. How was he going to explain this to his fellow commanders? How was
he going to explain himself to LaSalle, his Supreme Commander?
    They passed the remainder of the journey in grim
silence; both of them lost in their own thoughts.

 
    CHAPTER 4
    As they were whisked smoothly skywards the three of
them stood, overcome by that awkwardness that often came over strangers crowded
too close together in an elevator. Cassia glanced up and noticed the camera;
the security here was tight she thought, the entry into this elevator had been
controlled by a retina scan. Expensive technology. Another indicator that she
had collided with a world outside her usual experience. She leaned against the
side; Flavia’s arm was linked lightly through Javier’s and his head was bent
towards her as he reassured her quietly. He had taken care of her younger
sister from the moment he had parked the car a short walk away and led them to
this luxurious building. She had been left to trail along in their wake. Well,
the minute he removed the electronic restraint round her neck she would be off
and she would take Flavia with her.
    The door glided silently open and they stepped into a
vast luxurious penthouse with walls of windows showcasing the distant London
skyline and the Thames far below. Cassia strode straight over to all the glass,
her eyes scanning the discreet sensors on the walls;
    “I assume there is an automatic shutter system? All
this glass…not exactly Vamp friendly is it?”
    “Yes,” Javier replied, “Triggered by sophisticated
sensors, you’ll see it in action in about an hour and a half.”
    He turned to Flavia, leading her to a large leather
sofa;
    “You are safe here Flavia, this apartment belongs to a
friend and colleague. It is completely secure. Would you like something to
drink while I make some phone calls?”
    As Flavia asked for some tea Cassia raised her
eyebrows and wondered if she had been included in the offer.  She didn’t have
to wait long as Javier gestured her over towards the gleaming granite and
stainless steel open plan kitchen.
    “Could you please take over with the drinks? I believe
there is food in the fridge, help yourself. I need to make some calls.”
    Cassia glared at him then rolled her eyes; how typical
of a male to assume she knew her way around a kitchen. Then she shrugged; she
was very thirsty and really quite hungry and it would only upset Flavia if she
started a petty argument.
    “Would you like something?” she asked. Javier’s face
blanched slightly and he shook his head;
    “No, thank you. I can still feel the effects of
whatever drug they