One Secret Night by Jennifer Morey

that was on a lot more land. He and India usually went there on weekends. It was bigger than this house and much more secluded.
    India moved back from him, seeing his gaze go from the guard to her.
    “You know we need him,” she said.
    “Yes.”
    “Have you talked to that man lately? Raith or whatever his name is? He sure doesn’t believe in status reports, does he?”
    No. Raith ran by his own rules. “I called him on the way home.” Kai stepped farther into the living room. With high ceilings and a piano beside a huge, gray Italian sectional made with hand-tied coils, it was homey but elegant.
    “Something smells good.”
    “Beef bourguignon.” She followed him to the kitchen. “You had to call him?”
    He opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of sparkling water.
    “Is he working on your case at all?” India had two glasses ready on the kitchen island. He poured without answering. She wasn’t all that impressed with Raith.
    “Yes.”
    “How do you know if he never calls you?”
    “He said he’d call after he found the person who hired Tabor.”
    India leaned against the kitchen island and angled her head. “He should be here protecting you, Kai.”
    “That’s what Thor is for.”
    “Thor?”
    He grinned. “I made that up.” When she didn’t share his humor, he said, “Raith is good at what he does, India.” He picked up the glasses and went around the island corner to hand her one.
    “How can you be so sure?”
    He’d gone over all of this with her before. Raith’s secretiveness didn’t reassure her much. “A close colleague of mine recommended him. He was kidnapped and held for ransom by members of the People’s Revolutionary Army in Argentina. Raith rescued him. He does that sort of thing for a living.”
    India still didn’t look convinced.
    “He’s got a respectable reputation. There are people in the military and law enforcement who know about him and don’t touch him. They know he stands on principle, that he fights on their side even though he works in the shadows. He’s unencumbered by protocols or laws. He can move in and accomplish a job before anyone has time to react.” Kai put his glass down on the counter after taking a sip.
    “What about that woman who witnessed Raith kill Tabor?” India asked. “Why was she asking for Raith’s contact information?”
    “Maybe she likes him.” He grinned again.
    When a smile began to push up the corners of her mouth, Kai stepped forward and slipped his arms around her. She put her glass down and looped her arms over his shoulders.
    “Don’t worry, my love.” He planted a kiss on her mouth. “I wouldn’t have hired Raith if I didn’t think he was capable of handling this.”
    She brushed her thumb over his cheek. “You trust him?”
    Kai didn’t trust anyone. “He’ll do what we need him to do. That’s enough.”
    She leaned back. “What if he doesn’t find the man who tried to kill you? What are we going to do then?”
    India was still shaken over the shooting. She was afraid to be at home alone now, and afraid to let him go to work. He didn’t like her being that way.
    “He’ll find the man.”
    India studied him the way she always did when she thought there was more going on than he was saying. They’d been married almost twenty years now. He’d met her when she was just nineteen and he twenty-nine and well on his way to launching a successful career. Falling in love with her had been unplanned and exciting. Their love was real and lasting. He considered himself a lucky man to have found a woman who matched him so well. But some things she could never know.
    “You’re worried,” she said.
    “Of course I am. Someone is trying to kill me.”
    “No.” She shook her head and stepped back, slipping out of his arms. “There’s something else. What is it, Kai?”
    He moved a step closer, putting his hands on her arms. “Nothing. Just some business issues.” At least that wasn’t a lie. Not