N. Walters - Stroke of Sapphire

“If you need anything else…” She let her offer hang in the air.

“We’ll let you know,” John promised.

The waitress walked away, but glanced over her shoulder once before heading off to serve other customers. Jake noticed several other patrons surreptitiously looking their way, but ignored them. They were no threat, merely curious.

“Jake, talk to me, man.” His brother wasn’t going to give up anytime soon. He could either talk or leave.

“No, she didn’t turn me down.”

John started to smile, but it quickly turned into a frown. “Then what’s the problem? You didn’t hurt her, did you?” His brother straightened and glared at him.

“No, I didn’t hurt her,” he muttered, though he felt a twinge of guilt. “What the hell do you think I am?” That wasn’t quite true, but Sapphire seemed to think the bruises he’d left on her that night were inconsequential.

“Sorry, man, but you’re starting to freak me out. If you’re into her and she likes you, then what the hell is wrong?”

“It’s me,” he blurted out. “I left her after the first night we spent together.”

“You did what?” His brother didn’t shout. No, John’s voice got lower and deeper the angrier he became.

“What the fuck was I supposed to do?” He kept his voice low, not wanting anyone to overhear their conversation. He shouldn’t have started this. “Look, I should go.”

John clamped his hand over Jake’s arm. “Not until you tell me what happened. How badly did you screw things up?”

“Bad. But I talked to her last night.” They did more than talk, but that wasn’t any of John’s business.

His brother slowly released his iron grip and sat back. “We’ll that’s something. What is wrong with you?”

He knew they could talk or they could fight. Either way it wasn’t going to be fun. He pressed his thumb and forefinger against his eyes, searching for the right words. “What we did for all those years. It changed me, John.”

Concern filled his brother’s face. “What do you mean? You have flashbacks or nightmares?”

He shook his head. “Nothing like that.” He absently rubbed his chest. “I’ve lived most of my life in the shadows.” He thought about all the men he’d killed over the years. “Death and I are on a first name basis. And Sapphire is so good and gentle.” He really wasn’t about to tell his brother how he liked to dominate in the bedroom. He wasn’t into anything kinky, but he needed his woman to submit to him totally, had to know she belonged to him and only him. That wasn’t anyone’s business but his own, and Sapphire’s if she agreed to let him back into her life.

“And you don’t want to hurt her.”

That was the best explanation and Jake went with it. “Exactly. I left her because I thought that was for the best.” He looked at his brother and shrugged. “But I’m not sure I can live without her.”

“We know how to fight for what we want. Isn’t that what you told me?” Jake hated the fact that John was throwing his own words back at him.

“Yeah, I’m a real philosopher.” Jake took a swallow of coffee. Their meal was getting colder by the second, but he wasn’t hungry.

“Sapphire is tougher than you might think.” John picked up his fork and speared a piece of bacon. “Topaz has been telling me a lot about their childhood and how she and her sisters started their business together. Yeah, Sapphire might be the youngest of the group, but she’s far from naïve.” He popped the bacon into his mouth and chewed.

“I know she’s not naïve. Sapphire is smart and funny and drop-dead gorgeous.” Everything about her was perfect for him. He liked talking with her. Sometimes they agreed on stuff and other times they didn’t. There was enough difference to keep things interesting. He loved the way she found everything about life fascinating, whether it was a new restaurant or random strangers she watched walk down the street. He saw potential threats, while she simply saw potential. That in itself showed the stark difference between them.

John swallowed a mouthful of eggs. “We’re Knights. We do what needs to be done. If you truly want Sapphire, then do whatever you need to do to make it work. If she’s anything like her sister, it will be well worth the effort.”

“You’re that happy?”

“Topaz is the best thing that ever happened to me.” John pointed his fork at his brother. “Don’t let Sapphire slip through your fingers. You’ll regret it the rest of your life.”

No need to tell his brother how much he already regretted the mess he’d made of things. If not for him, Sapphire wouldn’t have started dating and Ivan Gregor would never have come into her life. That situation was on him and he’d make damn sure he cleaned that mess up.

He thought about telling John about the possible threat, but decided to keep it to himself for now. If he told John, then his brother would feel duty-bound to tell Topaz. And Sapphire wouldn’t appreciate her sister being worried about her.

He had a man on it and would watch Sapphire himself. No need to concern his brother any more than he already had.

Jake knew that John didn’t really understand where he was coming from. He’d been born with shadows on his soul. It was part of what had made him so fucking good as a sniper. He was more primal and basic, less civilized than his brother.

Even now, he’d rather confront Gregor face-to-face, beat him within an inch of his life for hurting Sapphire and promise to finish the job if he didn’t leave her alone.

Instead, he was trying to be civilized, searching for information he could anonymously send to the proper authorities to get Gregor out of Sapphire’s life for good without implicating her at all.

The waitress returned, hovering by their table, coffeepot in hand. “More coffee?”

“Sure.” Jake held out his mug, thanking her when she filled it. After she topped up John’s mug, she hovered for another few seconds before leaving them alone again.

Jake stared at his brother, seeing the newfound sense of satisfaction that surrounded him. He wanted that for himself. Resolve hardened inside him. He wanted Sapphire in his life more than he’d ever wanted anything. He’d find a way to make it work, no matter what he had to do to accomplish it.

Suddenly hungry, he picked up his fork and dug into the plate full of bacon and eggs. He was glad for the quiet, needing time to think. That was one of the best things about being twins, about being so close. Neither of them minded the silence.

After he’d satisfied the worst of his hunger, he decided it was time to turn the conversation back to his brother. “Tell me more about this tux I’m going to have to wear.”

John smiled at him and leaned back, mug in hand. “Well, bro, it’s going to fancy up even a sorry sight like yourself. You might even want to get a haircut.”

Jake laughed. “I’ll wear the suit, but the hair stays.”

Jake decided to go over to Sapphire’s apartment rather than call her. They could go out if she wanted to, or they could order in if she wanted to stay home. Either way worked for him.

He let himself into the lobby and hit the buzzer for her place. She answered a few seconds later. “Yes.”

“It’s Jake.”

“I thought you were going to call.”

“Figured this was easier.” He waited a few seconds. “You going to let me come up?”

“Oh yes. Right.” The buzzer sounded and he pulled open the door.

He was just stepping into the elevator when his phone rang. “Yeah.” He absently hit the button for Sapphire’s floor.

The voice on the other end was the one he’d been waiting to hear from all day. “So far your boy is boring. Gregor went to work, had lunch with a couple of guys from the office. I’m sending you pictures. After work, he went home and hasn’t gone out since.”

“Keep on him until you’re sure he’s not going out.” Even though he was with Sapphire, he’d rather know where Gregor was.

“Will do.”

“Thanks, man. I deposited your fee into your account this morning.”

“Got it.”

The line went dead. Neither of them liked talking on cell phones. You never knew who might be listening.

The elevator door opened and he stepped out. His heart was beating faster at the thought of seeing Sapphire. He’d missed her today. Squaring his shoulders, he knocked on her door. It opened almost immediately and there she was, a vision in dark-gray trousers, low-heeled shoes and a long-sleeved sweater the color of oatmeal. Her long curly hair hung down her back and her makeup was minimal.

There was his Sapphire. “Hey.” He leaned down and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “How was your day?” He stepped inside and shut the door.

She shrugged. “Good. Had a meeting with Topaz this morning and spent the afternoon working on designs and some new pieces.”

“Can I see?” He loved her work. It was so feminine and beautiful and innately Sapphire.

“You want to see it?” Her surprise was almost funny, but it made his gut clench.

“Of course I want to see it. You do great work, babe.” He knew her jewelry sold incredibly well at the boutique, and she’d even had an independent line at a major department store.

“Okay.” She turned and went down the short hall to the room on the left. He tried not to look into her bedroom as they passed by and remember what they’d done there last night.

“Have you decided if you want to stay in or go out for dinner?” Jake watched the sexy sway of her ass as she walked in front of him.

“Out. I even changed out of my work clothes.”

Her wry comment amused him. The last couple weeks aside, he knew Sapphire much preferred to be wearing jeans or leggings instead of trousers and heels. “You look amazing, babe.” He didn’t care what she wore. She always looked good to him.