“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” Porter asked.
“The Panther is a legend on the dark web. He has a sophisticated network of proxy servers that hides his location. He uses only private networks so law enforcement and other hackers can’t find out what he’s doing. All I know is he’s an online pirate who steals government and intellectual property secrets and then sells them off to the highest bidder. At least that’s what I think he does.”
“Explain a little more,” Porter said as he was starting to get the picture of why they were after Willa.
“Two examples, although they’re both technically theoretical since nothing can be proven. One, the latest smartphone. The design was stolen and sold off to its competitor. That’s the assumption anyway since their competitor came out with the phone rumored to belong to another company. Two, there was a rumored list of spies working for the British government in Russia. The list was sold and suddenly there was a mass transit accident in Russia that just happened to have every spy on that list on the train. My question is, what does Willa Aldridge have that The Panther wants to sell?”
Porter ground his teeth together. This was way worse than Naylor let on. It was clear to Porter that Willa wasn’t going to hand over the key so he’d sent the man to take it. “Now that The Panther’s man is dead, what’s going to happen to Willa?”
“If the rumors are true, he’ll send someone else and won’t play nice,” Kale told him. “Do you even know what he’s after?”
Porter nodded.
“And it has to do with you working for the CIA.”
Porter nodded again.
“Is there a way I can help?” Kale asked.
“Yes, get me everything you can on The Panther. How can I catch him? How can I identify him?” Porter asked.
Kale shook his head. “I’m good at what I do. I’m very good. However, even I can’t find him. I’ll reach out to a friend. Maybe together we can get some information. For now, I’ll tell you one thing. He’ll be coming for her again and soon. Whatever she has, he wants and he’s willing to kill for it.”
“Thanks, Kale.”
“You know you can trust me with your mission, right? I mean, the whole town knows you’re with the CIA and it has to do with Willa, but I might be able to help more if you tell me everything.”
“I know I can trust you. It has to do with a skeleton key to encryption software,” Porter told him.
Kale was quiet for a second and then cursed. “It’s the contract Willa got for her father’s mobile encryption software that will be on every government phone, isn’t it?”
“You know about that?”
Kale looked at him as if he were stupid. “Of course I do. You’re not the only one with secrets. No wonder The Panther wants that. Russia, China, North Korea—they’ll pay a fortune for that key. Not only them, but our allies would too. We have plenty of allied spies in the US keeping tabs on us. However, this information does help me. I’ll keep an eye on the players who would bid on that and maybe find a backdoor into The Panther’s network. Call me if anything develops. I’m heading back to the farm to get to work.”
Porter thanked him and watched as Kale walked away while he made a phone call. “Hey, dude. I got a project for us to work on.”
“Kale looked worried and Kale never looks worried. What’s going on?”
Porter turned to the barn door and saw his cousin Greer leaning against the door, quietly watching them. Greer was Ryan and Jackson’s younger sister. She’d followed in Jackson’s footsteps and joined the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and she was the first woman to do so. You’d never know that by looking at her, though. Greer Parker looked like the stereotypical girl next door. Her honey brown hair was in a ponytail, she wore jeans and a University of Kentucky T-shirt, and a pair of reflective aviator glasses hid her eyes. Her normal sweet-as-pie smile was missing as she was in business mode.
He could imagine she just rolled her eyes behind her glasses when he didn’t answer right away. “I know you’re working with the CIA. Grandma practically hung a banner and made shirts announcing it. I also know it involves that woman in there and you killed someone with a spoon last night. By the way, thanks for that. Every freaking family dinner we’re going to hear Uncle Miles crowing about a spoon as a weapon.”
“Someone wants something Willa has. They want to sell it on the black market. If he gets his hands on it, it would put thousands of people and the country at risk.”
Greer was quiet for a moment and then nodded. “I think I know what it is, but I won’t ask. Let’s just say I was recently asked to upgrade my phone.”
“I would hold off on that for now,” Porter said. The meaning was clear and Greer gave a single nod. “What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were in DC to meet with the FBI director.”
“I got back last night. The meeting went well. He’s looking to retire in three years. He wants my name on the shortlist, but in order to do that I have to take a desk job and I’m not quite so sure I want that.”
“Do you mean now or ever?” Porter asked as they turned to walk into the barn.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I have a little more time to decide my future, but the clock is starting to tick. Now, introduce me to this woman who got you trending on the Blossom Café Betting App.”
13
Willa was overwhelmed by names. Cousins, siblings, friends . . . they all blurred together as Gemma Davies introduced her around. Sydney took pity on her and tried to steer the conversation toward horses instead of her love life. Riley and Reagan didn’t say much. Their arms were crossed and they glared a lot. They had a strikingly similar look on their faces to their father.
“Where are all the kiddos?” yet another beautiful woman asked as she strode in with Porter.
“Cassidy,” all the women answered at once.
Sydney looked a little guilty. “We did a dump and run. We all wanted to come see Porter and didn’t want to juggle little ones so we showed up en masse at Desert Sun Farm and dropped them off while Cassidy was supposed to be working on translations with Mila.”
“Cassidy was pissed, but Dani was thrilled. She’s set up a huge nursery for when Sloane has her baby any day now,” Riley told them. “Dani has offered to keep all the grandbabies, as many as they can possibly have, during the day as a way to bribe them to have more kids. Abby backed out of the room as if there were an explosive in it, while Sloane and Mila smiled that mom-smile women get when thinking of babies.”
“We need to get Cassidy a really nice Christmas gift,” Reagan said as the women nodded.
“Who’s Cassidy?” Willa asked the group.
“She’s the youngest Davies cousin,” Riley answered and then paused. “Well, not counting her mother’s ‘oops, I thought I was in menopause’ baby. But Cricket is just a toddler so she can’t babysit yet.”
“I can make you a flow chart,” the new woman said as everyone went back to talking about someone named Sloane who was about to have a baby. “Hi. I’m Greer Parker.”
“Not a Davies then,” Willa said with a smile. “I’m not alone!”
Greer cringed. “My mother is a Davies.”
“I should have known. How many cousins are there?” Willa asked and everyone went quiet.
“Seventeen?” Sydney said as she counted silently.
“You forgot Cricket,” Greer said.
“Eighteen, then,” Sydney said with a smile.
“Wait, are we counting spouses?” Riley asked.
Everyone went quiet again.
“What about children?” Reagan asked. “They’re our cousins, too. Or nieces or nephews . . . wait. Now I’m confused.”
“A lot.” Sydney finally answered. “There are a lot of us.”
As one, every cell phone went off.
“Sloane’s in labor!” Ariana called out. “We’re already in Lexington. This is not a drill, people. Go! Go! Go! We might have a chance at beating the Rose sisters to the ho
spital.”
“Who is Sloane?” Willa asked Greer.
“Ari’s sister-in-law. Want to see a future prince or princess right after they’re born? The food is worth the wait,” Greer answered.
“Hospital food?” Willa asked Porter as Greer took off running. “I feel as if I’m missing so much information here.”
“Come with me. It’ll all become clear,” Porter said, holding out his hand.
Willa grasped it and ran to the truck as her bodyguards leapt into their SUV to follow. People were tearing out of the parking area. Some had sirens. “You know hospitals have restrictions on the number of visitors, right?”
“Hospitals tend to look the other way on restrictions when it’s a Keeneston patient. You’ll see,” Porter told her.
“This is a royal birth, Porter. They’re not going to just let anyone in. Security is going to be tight,” Willa said as Porter followed the line of cars from Keeneston.
Porter just smiled at her. “So, about that girlfriend thing.”
Willa’s heart instantly started beating faster. “What about it?”
“You didn’t go running. You’re still here with me. Does that mean my family hasn’t scared you off?” he asked.
“You didn’t run when a gun was pointed at you. I guess we can have crazy lives together,” Willa answered as Porter’s hand reached across the console. His hand cupped her knee as he broke the speed limit without blinking.
The whole Keeneston caravan was behind someone with a siren and was flying to the hospital.
“You know we have to talk before too long,” Porter said into the silence. “If we really do want a relationship, then we both need to put our cards on the table.”
“It’s okay. Parker told me you know who I am.”
“That isn’t the ace in your hand, Willa,” Porter said in such a way it felt like a dagger to her heart because while he didn’t say it, she knew what he meant. He knew. Somehow he knew.
Willa jerked her knee out from under his hand as they turned into the hospital parking lot. “And your ace is how you know about my ace, isn’t it?”
Porter gave a single nod of his head in answer. The heat left her body and Willa shivered. The warmth from Porter, the excitement of the first blush of a relationship, it all turned ice cold and froze her heart in a split second. Who was Porter Davies and how did he know about her?
Porter felt Willa pull away. A thick wall was going up around her heart and he didn’t blame her. However, he wasn’t lying. He wanted something more with her and he wasn’t going to start off a relationship by lying. Especially when he knew she was innocent and in danger.
“I’m calling my bodyguards to get a ride home,” Willa said before jumping from the truck the second Porter parked and began walking quickly away from him.
Porter got out and stalked toward her as she dug out her phone. He gently took hold of her elbow and walked her into the hospital where people were running for the elevator while some raced up the stairs to the labor and delivery room. “Not going to happen. I lost your bodyguards before we were out of the parking lot. Besides, my ace trumps yours. We’re going to celebrate the birth of a new royal, meet the entire town of Keeneston, learn how to bribe nurses, and then we’re laying our cards on the table.”
“I’ll scream,” Willa threatened as she jerked her arm from his hand and tried to take off again.
“Greer, hold the door,” Porter called out as his cousin pushed the door to the stairwell open. Porter spun, grabbed Willa, and tossed her over his shoulder. She gave a little squeak and smacked his ass. “I’ll return the favor when we’re alone,” he said to her as Greer made a TMI face.
“Help!” Willa shouted. “He’s trying to kidnap me!”
Greer laughed behind him as they raced up the stairs.
“That’s not what women usually say about my cousin. Usually it’s ‘Take me, Porter! Oh yes, yes, yes! More! More!’” Greer cried out in her best porn voice.
Porter should have told Greer the door to the labor and delivery waiting room was open, but he wasn’t that good a cousin. He moved out of the way and Greer came face to face with their family, the royal family, the Rose sisters, and Aniyah.
“Girl, you must be getting some kind of action with those vocals,” Aniyah said. Aniyah had been Riley’s assistant when Riley was in the state legislature. When Riley stepped down, Aniyah won the position in a landslide. She was married to State Trooper DeAndre Drews, and had a heart of gold. Aniyah was five foot nothing with curves that her husband probably thanked God for every day. Her black hair was left natural today, except for a chunk of pink up front.
“Did you give her your oils, Aniyah?” Miss Lily Rae Rose asked. “They sure make my hoo-ha tingle.”
Porter almost dropped Willa. Everyone froze at that comment. Doctors, nurses, and even a woman who was in labor stopped mid-contraction as she was being pushed through the lobby to her room.
“No, but I should,” Aniyah replied. “Her hoo-ha would love them, although maybe she doesn’t need them. Greer sounds just like this adult movie my Sugarbear and I watched the other night. It was all about these women who went camping and well, they got real hot sitting by the campfire. So, of course, they took off their clothes to cool down. They were playing truth or dare and one of the women was dared to go into the woods alone for fifteen minutes. Well, don’t you know she’s walking in the dark through the woods . . .”
“Naked?” Miss Daisy Mae Rose asked.
“You would think she would put on some clothes. I wouldn’t want to get mosquito bites on my hoo-ha,” Miss Violet Fae Rose said and the women all nodded their agreement.
“She was naked as the day was long,” Aniyah said, picking the story back up without missing a beat. “So, she’s walking and finds this nice meadow area and she stops to look up at the night sky. She sees a furry blanket laid out in the field and lies down on it to look up at the moon. Only it’s not a furry blanket. It’s Bigfoot! And let me tell you, Bigfoot has some skills. He had her screaming like Greer was just screaming.”
Miss Lily wrinkled her nose. “How does that work exactly? Was it all furry, too? Did the girl’s hoo-ha hack out a furball when they were done?”
“No more talk of hoo-has!” Greer’s father, Cole Parker, roared. “I never want to hear that word again.”
“You look really mad, Cole. Just like Bigfoot looked when the woman’s friends came running when they heard her cries of ecstasy and he thought they were going to take her away from him,” Aniyah said as she pointed at Cole’s face.
“Did the friends take her away?” Miss Violet asked Aniyah, ignoring Cole’s look of horror.
Aniyah laughed. “It’s an adult movie, of course not. They all joined in. Haven’t you seen a porno?”
“Not this century,” Miss Daisy muttered.
“I’ll let you borrow my copy and my oils. You can thank me later,” Aniyah stage- whispered.
The room was quiet as they were all in a state of shock. From the silence, Willa finally spoke. “I’ll watch the porno if someone will help me. Porter is kidnapping me.”
“Just like Bigfoot did after the orgy in the woods. Your hoo-ha will be very happy tonight. I’m Aniyah, by the way.”
“Willa Aldridge,” Willa called out from where she was hanging over Porter’s shoulder. “Can someone please call the police? Or Bigfoot? Porter is refusing to let me leave.”
“Never heard a woman complain about that before. You’re slacking, brother,” Parker said with a smirk.
“Of course he’s not letting you leave,” Porter’s grandma, Marcy Davies, said as she walked over in her orthopedic shoes. “You’re in danger over your work and he’s going to protect you.”
“What? How do you know that? Who are you?” Willa asked as she placed her hands on each cheek of his ass and pushed herself up enough to see Marcy.
“Hello, dear. I’m Marcy Davies, Porter’s grandmother. It’s so lovely to finally meet you in person. I hear y
ou’re coming to family dinner,” his grandmother said as if were a common occurrence to have an heiress thrown over his shoulder.
Willa started to wiggle and Porter smacked her bottom. “Hold still and I’ll let you down.”
Willa stopped wiggling and Porter plucked her off his shoulder and gently set her down in front of him.
“How did you beat us here?” Porter asked the Rose Sisters, his grandmother, and Aniyah as he gave Willa time to adapt to the new situation.
“We just happened to be visiting Dani and Mo with Marcy when Sloane went into labor,” Miss Lily said with faux innocence. They had probably been visiting every day this week to make sure they were there when Sloane when into labor. “Gabe snuck Sloane to the hospital and we didn’t even know until the charge nurse called Marcy. A couple of minutes later, Dani and Mo got a text from Gabe. Dani and Mo were gracious enough to give us a ride in the helicopter.”
“Suckers,” Grandma Marcy said to the rest of Keeneston, not even trying to tamper her gloating at beating them all to the hospital. “Now, the nurse told us Sloane is at five centimeters, so we have some time. Come sit with us, Willa, and tell us all about what kind of danger you’re in. My grandson here,” Grandma Marcy said, smiling lovingly at Porter, “will keep you safe. You know he’s CIA now. Just like his daddy was. My son, Cy, was a very good spy when he was younger. Now he lets his mother beat him to the hospital.” She shook her head and laughed.
Porter hadn’t wanted to tell Willa about his assignment with the CIA like this. He wanted them to both come clean together, and alone. Why? Because of the way Willa was looking at him right now. She was hurt, she was pissed, and she looked ready to slug him and cry at the same time.
“You’re only with me because you’re with the CIA?” Willa asked, her voice breaking with emotion.
“Thanks, Grandma,” Porter muttered.
His grandmother rolled her eyes. “If I want more great-grandchildren, you all need to stop puttering around. It would take forever if I left it up to you two. Willa, dear, Porter was just recruited to determine if you’re selling the secrets or if you’re in danger. We all know you’d never sell secrets, so don’t worry. Porter is more concerned with protecting you. And Porter, Willa has this thingy called a key. I don’t know what it unlocks. A safe? Willa, why does everyone want this key?”
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