Page 63 of North (The Moral Compass 2)

“Pick a tie. And don’t go with the yellow… or the black.” I point to the array of ties in a rainbow of colours. I’m quite surprised when she picks out a dark burgundy. I was sure she’d pick a baby pink just to be awkward. She takes it off the rack and proceeds to place it around my neck and tie the knot. I can feel the tension in her hands, and her breathing is more spaced than normal.

I don’t like what I’m doing, but I can’t risk her life if anything goes wrong. I have to be cruel to be kind.

When she’s finished with the tie, I bend and kiss her on her temple and pull her in tight, and then head back down to the kitchen. East has tracked the phone, but it’s a burner, and it’s not connected to a network. It has only made one call to me. It was made from the hotel, so whoever is waiting was already there; we can’t sneak anyone else in without being seen. Or so they think.

After a quick call with West and Zed, it’s agreed that I go on my own. South will stay here with Kara and East in case someone tries something here at the house. West will be back at the house just after I leave. He’s on his way back from the hospital.

West and Zed are sending two of our people to the hotel, a man and a woman, so they shouldn’t look too out of place.

Zed has shown me a picture of them so I can identify them. They will also have access to the tracker and be able to hear everything. If I give a distress call, they can make their way up to the suite.

It all seems fairly straightforward which worries me sick. It’s too easy. Why give me an hour? I could have been at the hotel in twenty minutes if I really had to move it. Either it’s a trap or whoever I’m dealing with is a real novice. Fuck, I hope it’s the latter. I know how Kara feels. I, too, have had enough of this shit now.

I’m all set and ready to go, but before I leave, I hold Kara tight like it could be the last time. I’m not promising to come back. This could very easily be goodbye.

Chapter 42

Kara

Watchinghimgetalldressed up in a fancy suit from the bedroom door fills me with unwarranted jealousy. He looks hotter than I have ever seen him. My heart pounds in my chest like it’s going to explode. I know that this is part of his life. He is used to doing this type of shit. Well, it’s usually West who is the gunslinger, but I know from stories North has told me he hasn’t always been the pencil-pushing brother. He’s had his own fair share of scrapes with the underworld. I just hope he doesn’t get hurt and bleed or see any blood.

“You look really handsome,” I whisper just loud enough for him to hear.

“Thanks. Believe me, I am not happy about wearing this kit.”

“I think you look fucking hot. Too hot to be going anywhere without me.”

“Stop! Just stop, Kara. This is not about you or me. I have a job to do, and I’m going to do it. I will be back as soon as I have whatever it is they want to give me,” he snaps at me.

Jeez, it shouldn’t have, but, fuck, that turned me on. Him all dressed up and bossy. Shit! A little warm feeling starts to pool, but I have to push it down when he says something.

“Pick a tie. And don’t go with the yellow… or the black.”

I have to admit, my first choice would have been a pale pink or ruby red, but it’s not appropriate for what he’s going to do. I go with the darkest I can see. A Merlot colour. He seems to agree.

I start to tie it around his neck, and my hands shake. This could be the last time I get to do this. I feel like I’m sending him off to the firing squad. Nausea stirs as he kisses me gently on the side of my head. I want to strip him off so badly, but I know that is just not an option. I don’t want him to go, but I can’t act like a petulant child and ask him not to.

What would have become of me and Sutton if someone had asked West and North not to intervene when we were in trouble? No, he has to do this, and I have to be a grown-ass woman about it and support him.

How much trouble can he get himself into in his own hotel suite?

He’s kitted out with guns, trackers, and tracers on his mobile. He only needs a pen that shoots darts, and you’d have yourself a real-life James Bond but a thousand times hotter.

I’m okay until he’s just about to leave, and he holds me in his arms. It scares the shit out of me. It feels like it could be goodbye. I bat back the tears threatening to flow and kiss him gently as he leaves the door and heads out to his waiting car.

He gets in the back of the black car and doesn’t look back up to the house. It’s then that the tears flow freely.

East stands beside me and puts her arm around my shoulder.

“He’ll be okay, you know,” she tries to comfort me.

“I hope so, East. I’ve missed so much time that I could have had with him because I was being a stupid bitch.” Tears free fall down my cheeks.

“West will be here any minute. He’ll keep us up to date with what’s going on. I could listen in to the tracker, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. I think we should leave that to West. He will tell us if there is anything important. We have to trust them, Kara. This is what they do. This is our life. I know they have both tried to distance themselves, but the truth is they will never be able to totally separate. They are part of the original Star Gazers. And the Star Gazers have made it clear they can’t function without us, and that includes me, South, my mum, and now, you.”

East pats me gently on the back and takes my hand, dragging me away from the front door and back into the kitchen.

It’s the longest ten minutes of my life until West walks through the door. His phone is stuck to his ear, and he is nodding away and grunting. There are a few fleeting looks in our direction, and then he walks back out of the kitchen. I go to follow, but East grabs my arm and pulls me back.

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