Forever Notorious

by Kathleen Brooks

  “Anytime,” Emily said with a sigh.

  Dylan packed the babies up safer than a nuclear missile and thanked the teacher before heading back to the car. He got everyone locked in and sang the Sunshine Song to Cricket on the drive home. “You rise in the morning, bright and cheerful as the morning sun,” he sang as Cricket’s cries lessoned to whimpers and finally to snores, and she and Ash fell asleep.

  Sophie Davies Dagher strode into the gym with her husband, Nash. Her tight workout clothes showed off her growing baby bump. Ahmed greeted his mentee as Abby walked over to meet Sophie.

  “Hey, Soph. I didn’t know you were going to be here.”

  “Yeah, your mom called. Here’s what she asked for,” Sophie said, handing over a cute bag with baby elephants on it. She saw Abby looking at it and shrugged. “I’ve been getting lots of baby presents. It was the only bag I had.”

  Abby looked inside and sitting on the light green tissue paper was a fart-inducing stun gun. Ah, her mother was preparing for that night’s dinner. Sophie looked tense, though, as she took off her coat.

  “What’s going on?” Abby asked, lowering her voice. When she looked around she saw Nash similarly looked worried. “Is the baby okay?”

  “The baby is fine,” Sophie said, looking lovingly at her husband.

  “Where’s Dylan?” Nash asked as he turned toward her.

  “I’m right here,” Dylan said as he marched into the gym with a diaper bag slung over each shoulder and carrying a sleeping baby held tightly against his chest in each arm.

  Abby must have gasped out loud because Sophie had to duck her face to hide her smile. “Your ovaries just screamed out Dylan’s name, didn’t they?” Sophie whispered.

  “No,” Abby denied and then took a deep breath. She was going to open herself up just a crack. Enough so her emotions weren’t stuffed inside with no way out. “Okay, maybe they did and maybe it wasn’t just my ovaries.”

  “I knew it!” Sophie whispered as she made excited fists with her hands, but stopped short of pumping them into the air. “Does Dylan feel the same way?”

  “He kissed me in front of my dad. That’s why my mom needs her own stun gun for dinner tonight.”

  “No. Way. I knew my cousin was a badass, but he kissed you in front of Ahmed?” Abby nodded as she watched Nash take Ash from Dylan’s arm, allowing Dylan to set down his diaper bags. “That means only one thing.”

  “What’s that?” Abby tried to control her curiosity.

  “That he’s in love with you.”

  Abby felt her heart rate pick up, her stomach pitch, her palms sweat, and her knee start to nervously bounce. She’d infiltrated enemy strongholds with calmer nerves than the prospect of being in love.

  “The question is, what are you going to do about it?” Sophie asked quietly as they both saw Dylan look at Abby and smile.

  14

  Dylan handed off Ash and grinned at Ahmed, who was trying really hard not to lose his temper. Dylan saw the way his hand was clenched tightly by his side and the way his jaw muscle twitched.

  “Why do you have the babies?” Nash asked as he rocked the baby in his arms.

  “I took them to the Mommy and Me class in Lexington so Sienna and my mom had time to get their hair done at the Fluff and Buff. Now I’m babysitting to give them a little more downtime.” Dylan looked over at Abby and felt a soft smile spread over his face. He’d always had to hide those before, but he didn’t have to any more. He wanted her to know he thought about her and that she made him smile.

  “I’m glad you’re here. I have news,” Nash said loudly enough for the entire gym to hear. Abby and Sophie stood up and joined them as Ahmed stepped away from the punching bag and stepped into their group.

  “What’s up?” Jackson asked as he, Talon, and Lucas formed a wall behind Abby.

  “I may have been listening in on a channel I wasn’t supposed to, but there’s been an explosion in Washington, DC,” Nash told them.

  “Where?” Abby asked impatiently.

  “Your apartment,” Nash said grimly.

  Abby tried not to react and Dylan wanted to reach for her, but he knew she wouldn’t appreciate it, so he stood quietly and watched her to see how she was really doing. Her lips thinned and the bridge of her nose slightly wrinkled before relaxing again when she took a controlled breath.

  “Injuries?” Abby asked in a commanding voice. She was in work mode, gaining all the information she could.

  “Yes. Your neighbors were killed and there were some people injured on the sidewalk below. I’m sorry.”

  “What kind of device?” Abby asked Nash, ignoring his sympathy.

  “It was from an RPG,” Nash told them as he pulled out his phone. “They caught someone on camera.”

  Dylan’s eyes shot to Abby’s. As they looked at each other, they both knew who it was the second Nash had said RPG—Chet. He’d blown up her home as a clear sign he was coming for her.

  Dylan looked down at the phone and, sure enough, there was a person, but it wasn’t Chet.

  “That’s one of his followers. One of the women from his inner circle,” Abby said as she looked at the picture. “She was with Lemon at the first party.”

  “Nabi and Kale are running facial recognition right now to see who she is,” Nash told them of his boss and Abby’s brother. “I’m sure someone will be calling you soon when they put it together. I just thought we might be able to put it together faster than they can.”

  Dylan nodded as his mind worked. “We don’t know if it was meant as a warning or if they think they killed Abby. We need to tell them to put out a report that Abby was killed. Maybe ask them to withhold all the names of those killed, but say there was one body recovered from the main apartment hit.”

  Dylan saw Ahmed nod his head, and with the flick of his chin to Nash, Nash handed the baby to his wife and took off. It would be done.

  “Sophie, would you mind taking my car and driving the babies home? Once you get done, someone can grab the car from you.”

  “Sure, Dylan.” Sophie paused as if she were thinking of how to word something. “I know Nash believes I can’t help because I’m pregnant. I may not be in a shoot-out right now, but I have weapons and I have contacts if you want them. I can probably track down where they got that RPG.”

  “Chet Pottinger is trying to become the leader of the black market while being praised on the cover of every newspaper for his charitable deeds. I know where he got it. He got it from Juan Carolinto before he had his throat slit,” Abby told Sophie. “But thank you.”

  “Hmm,” Sophie said as she bit her lip. “I have an idea. I need to go see Aunt Gemma and Aunt Morgan.”

  “I like how you think,” Dylan said with a grin as he motioned for Lucas to take Cricket from him.

  “What is it?” Talon asked as everyone else smiled.

  “Our Aunt Gemma started off as a gossip columnist before writing some hard-hitting pieces and becoming an author. And our Aunt Morgan manages crises for companies. Together, they have the means to turn the goody two shoes image Chet is projecting in the media around, like they did for Walker,” Dylan explained.

  “We’ll attack on both sides,” Abby said as she slowly displayed a menacing grin her father would be proud of. “Let me talk to my brother, and Sophie, you talk to your contact, too. I’m guessing quite a few of them have black market ties. We attack his black market deals, tie up his money, and taint his golden boy image all at once. Sebastian should be able to help with that, too.”

  This time it wasn’t just Ahmed growling at the name of the other man in her life. Abby had told him about Sebastian and that he was a friend, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t bothered by the fact they’d been intimate. But Abby was right, it wasn’t as if he’d been a monk.

  “You sound just like Ahmed,” Jackson whispered as Abby rolled her eyes at Dylan and her father.

  “I like this idea,” Sophie said, and she was already pulling out her phone. “I’ll get to wor
k on it right away.”

  “Me, too. I’ll call Sebastian and then we can go visit Nabi and Kale to see what kind of computer tricks they can pull off.” Abby grabbed her phone from the bench and started to walk out with Sophie.

  “Wait for us,” Dylan told her as he picked up the diaper bags and Cricket.

  They made their way from the security building to the parking lot. Sophie already had a list of six people to call by the time Dylan got the babies into the backseat. He stood up and looked around him as Abby hugged Sophie.

  The security building looked just like a horse barn from the outside, except it was built with cement and reinforced with steel. The windows were bulletproof and the cameras weren’t for show. One of the Rahmi soldiers inside would know the second someone turned into the driveway and the second someone came within a hundred yards of the security building or any of the houses on the property, of which there were plenty. There was the main house, the house Abby had grown up in, and the two houses where Mo and Dani’s sons, Zain and Gabe, lived with their wives. But on a farm that was close to a thousand acres, there was plenty of room for more.

  “I’ll call you both as soon as I have information,” Sophie called out before she rolled up the window and backed out of the parking lot.

  Dylan turned to Abby and saw her staring at her phone. He saw Sebastian’s name on the contact list, but for some reason she wasn’t hitting the call button.

  “Is everything okay?”

  Abby finally looked up at him and he could see her trying to put together the words she wanted to say. But he knew what he should say.

  “Do you think Sebastian can help?” Dylan asked when Abby didn’t say anything.

  “Yes.”

  He didn’t like the way Abby seemed hesitant and knew it was his fault for acting like an overprotective ass. “Then call him,” Dylan said as he gave her an encouraging smile.

  “He’s my friend,” Abby finally said.

  Dylan let out a breath. It had bothered her, and he needed her to know a few things. “I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gone all macho on you. We both have a past. I like you, Abby. I always have and I think you know that. Just like I know you like me. But I’m ready for more. I trust you with more than my life, Abby. You tell me you want more, too, and that’s all that matters. So, Abby, tell me what you want from me, from us.”

  “My dad—”

  “No, Abby,” Dylan said, cutting her off. “I’m not asking about your dad. I’m asking what you want.”

  “Do you really think we could make a go of a real relationship?” Abby asked, and Dylan felt his chest tighten. He’d do anything for her. He hoped she felt the same way.

  “Yes, I do. If it means changing jobs, if it means moving back to Keeneston, if it means moving to the North Pole and playing with polar bears like Lucas swears he does, then I’ll do it. We might not have been ready before, but I know I’m ready now. The question is, are you?” Dylan waited for what seemed like hours but was only seconds.

  “I’m ready. I want something real and permanent, Dylan. And that means no secrets and no lies. If you stay with Delta Force, that means telling me where you are going and I’ll be waiting for you when you get back or I’ll come get you myself. Can you handle that?”

  Dylan took a step forward, slid his hand through her hair, and pulled her lips to his. He might not be the best with sharing his feelings, but he could show her them. He didn’t take from her. Instead his lips were soft, caressing, and reverent. He worshipped her as she should be worshipped. That was until the alarm went off.

  * * *

  “Dad, you’re killing me!” Abby yelled as she clung to Dylan. Her world had completely shifted, and she needed to ground herself. That kiss told her what his words couldn’t. There was way more to the connection she and Dylan shared than their sexual chemistry. There was caring and respect.

  The alarm turned off as Jackson came bursting out of the door. “Go! Talon and Lucas are trying to calm him down, but it might be good to give him some time to calm down before dinner.”

  Abby turned to the camera and glared.

  “How did you forget about the cameras?” she heard Jackson ask Dylan.

  “I didn’t.”

  Abby felt as if she’d been punched with the realization that Dylan was going public in a big way. He was showing her he wasn’t afraid of her father. That he’d fight for her, and that caused her heart to swell more than any pretty words ever could.

  15

  “So, everything is ready to put the squeeze on Chet?” Abby’s mother asked as they passed dinner around the table. Homemade smoked Gouda macaroni and cheese, salad, and bourbon-glazed chicken. The house smelled delicious.

  “It’s getting there,” Abby said as she passed the salad to Dylan, who sat between her and her father. Jackson sat on her other side next to her mother. Kale, Talon, and Lucas sat across from her and kept casting nervous glances to where Dylan sat next to Ahmed at the head of the table. Her mother sat opposite her father and was busy keeping conversation safely away from anything dealing with a potential relationship.

  “I found his bank accounts and whenever I’m told, I can freeze them. Although to anyone looking, it will appear that the bank system is under maintenance,” Kale told the table. “He had, like, tons of money that he’s hiding. There’s the obvious trust fund and the charity, but then he has around thirty million hidden in shell corporations.”

  “And Gemma is putting together an exposé. She thinks she’ll have it done in a couple days,” Abby added. “Then Morgan will be ready to spread it everywhere.”

  Abby looked over at her father and cringed. He was eating as he glared at Dylan who was simply pretending a thousand daggers weren’t being aimed at him.

  “Good. I am glad everything is lining up,” her mother said. Abby knew better than to fall for her calm voice. Her mother was probably working on ten things no one knew about to make sure Abby was safe. She wouldn’t be surprised if there were booby traps all over the yard and entrance points. Then there were the obvious four military-trained attack dogs that were quietly lying on the couch.

  Just when Abby relaxed a little, her mother grinned at her and turned to Dylan. “So, I heard you took Cricket and Ash to Mommy and Me class. What a nice thing to do. You’ll make a great father someday.”

  Crap.

  Her father’s chair scrapped against the hardwood as he shoved it back and stood up. “You, me, basement,” he ground out as he pointed to Dylan before turning and stomping off.

  “Dinner is wonderful, Mrs. Mueez,” Dylan said kindly as he stood up. “Please excuse me. I’m sure we’ll be back in a moment.”

  “Dylan,” Abby whispered as he pushed his chair in, “you don’t have to go.”

  Dylan leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on her forehead. “Don’t look so worried. We’re just going to have a little talk. We won’t be long.”

  “He’s a dead man,” Kale said the second the basement door closed. “I was kind of looking forward to having him as a brother-in-law. I figured if anyone could survive Dad, it would be him. Rest in peace, brother.”

  “Kale!” her mother snapped before turning a fake smile to her. “Dylan will be fine. Your father won’t do—”

  Abby eyes shot up to the light fixture that suddenly began to swing over the table.

  “Maybe, I should go down there,” Jackson started to say as a photo near the basement door fell to the ground. “Or maybe not. I’m sure they’re just bonding.”

  Lucas took a bite of his food and nodded. “It’s how I play with the bears. They love it.”

  Abby was so mad she felt her face burning. Her father better not mess this up for her or she’d take a post in Australia. She went to stand so she could yell at her dad when her mother stopped her.

  “Sit down, right now,” her mother said with a snap of her fingers. Nemi sat instantly. Abby was a little slower.

  “Your father is slightly overprotective of you. If
you want any shot of him not only accepting but respecting the man you’re with, you let Dylan show he’s not afraid. Now, pass the mac and cheese.”

  Abby passed the bowl and, when the light swung again, wondered exactly what Dylan was having to do to prove himself to her father.

  * * *

  Dylan let Ahmed slam him against the padded walls of the basement one more time. He knew how to take a hit, and he was counting on it coming in handy. “Just like when I was a teenager, huh, Mr. Mueez,” Dylan said a second before Ahmed tossed him onto the padded floor.

  Their basement was half padded ring for sparring and half workout space.

  Ahmed stood over him, looking down. “Why aren’t you fighting back?”

  “I will. I thought you’d want to feel like you were winning for a moment,” Dylan said before springing to his feet.

  Ahmed’s lip twitched and Dylan felt the first point toward his victory. He would remind Ahmed that he’d liked Dylan ever since he was a kid. It had worked for Carter Ashton and Matt Walz. Uncle Cy now loved his two sons-in-law.

  One advantage Dylan had was his height. He was at least five inches taller than Ahmed. And while the other man was built like a tank, Dylan had more current fighting experience. He’d had to fight his way out of a cave in the Pakistani mountains just two weeks before. However, he could never underestimate the experience Ahmed had. He was, quite simply, the original badass.

  “You of all people understand why, don’t you?” Ahmed asked as he pulled off his shirt.

  Dylan stepped back and peeled his off, too. No one wanted to go back to the table with blood on their shirts. “I do. Because Abby is special. She doesn’t need someone to look after her; she needs her equal.”

  “Don’t say stuff like that and remind me that I like you right when I’m about to beat you like a dirty rug.”

  “Limits?” Dylan asked calmly as he similarly hid his smile.