Nerds in Force

by D. R. Grady

  “Not even close. This one was the most dramatic attempt.” She contemplated the glowing embers of her house. “And the most inconvenient.”

  “Will you go to your brother?” DuBois asked.

  “No. I think tonight I’ll head to an anonymous hotel.” She glanced at the bag she’d left the house with.

  “You’re going to pass out as soon as you lay down.” Verity stated this with the assurance of someone who’d been in Harlow’s position before.

  “You’re coming back with us.” Keith didn’t stop and think. He didn’t need to.

  The others closed around her.

  “And put all of you at risk? No.” Harlow’s response was firm.

  All of them snorted. “We’re at the Rembrandts’ house because someone has tried to take out at least two of our number. No, three.” Keith hadn’t been present for any of those attempts. His own fists curled.

  “At least three.” Verity confirmed but she kept her gaze on Harlow. “We’ve got round-the-clock security and plenty of electronic warnings.”

  “Between us, we’ve also got at least a century’s worth of special ops experience and skills.” Hunter’s laconic addition relaxed Harlow’s tense shoulders.

  “I’ll concede that.”

  “You’re not going to sleep if you go to a hotel, not like you need to after this experience.” Eric thrust a hand through his hair.

  “I’m used to that.” She didn’t shrug, but she did remove the oxygen tube from her nose and unwound it from around her ears. She handed the tubing to a nearby paramedic, followed by the blanket, expressed her thanks, and straightened. All of her muscles rippled as she stretched.

  “I’m not putting you all at risk.”

  His party exchanged glances before Keith scooped Harlow into his arms, Verity shouldered her bag, and Hunter, Eric, and DuBois circled them.

  Harlow protested but they ignored her.

  “I don’t need the Rembrandts chewing on me because we left you go to a hotel when there are plenty of beds at their house and plenty of security detail.” Keith liked her weight in his arms. She had hooked an arm around his neck to steady herself and he could feel the taut muscles she held at the ready.

  “Your clothing just burned up.” Verity pointed this out as they made strides toward the neighboring mansion. The one not on fire. “There are spares in the lockers where we’re staying.”

  “I saved the important stuff.” Harlow swallowed again. “At least I think so.” She didn’t crane her neck to view the smoldering house. She’d probably had enough of that tonight.

  The darkness closed around them the farther from Harlow’s place they strode. While embers now, occasionally the breeze kicked up the flames again. The firefighters had been hesitant to spray the gutted house due to the possibly of there being undetonated bombs.

  A bomb squad would need to determine whether any bombs remained. They knew what had caused the flames. They knew where to find Harlow and they had her phone number.

  Now was the time to return to bed. Harlow didn’t look sleepy.

  She looked angry and ready to spit nails.

  Bomb her, burn out her home, and she was ready to fight. Many people would hunch, wrap their arms around themselves, and look for the nearest exit. Not this woman.

  He admitted to being attracted to a woman who showed no signs of fear and no signs of vulnerability.

  By then they reached the closest back door and stopped to give Eric time to open the reinforced barrier. The others kept watch. When they entered the family room, the crew crowded around them. More than a few side eyes showed when they caught sight of Harlow in his arms.

  Keith didn’t care much about the thoughts of others and he couldn’t dredge up even an iota of concern now. Although he suspected most of the side eyes were because the men in question had noticed Harlow’s attractiveness.

  She didn’t draw attention to herself, she didn’t wear makeup or dress to entice. And unless a person was thorough, they might miss the muscles. Harlow might sport the body of men’s fantasies, but she also possessed enough muscle to make someone wise reconsider taking her on.

  While muscular, and of average height, he guessed he outweighed her by her own body weight.

  He pushed three hundred pounds because of his height and body type. He lifted, but he’d still be close two hundred and fifty naturally.

  Harlow probably weighed in at a hundred and fifty. Most might consider her large. Between her curves and muscles, she could hold her own with a man of his weight. At least that’s what he told himself.

  She did wriggle and he reluctantly set her on her feet.

  “We’re relieved you’re okay.” Savannah pushed forward to address Harlow.

  “The night did provide some dicey instances.” Harlow accepted Savannah’s offer of kindness. She kept herself together. “I would appreciate a shower. I reek of smoke.”

  Now that they had entered the house, he detected more than a hint of eau de smoke. “I need to do the same.”

  “We can find you some clothes from that locker downstairs.” Verity stepped forward.

  “I remember it.” Harlow narrowed her eyes. “I just have to remember which one it is.” She set off toward the basement.

  Verity hastened to follow her, probably protective of the equipment down there. Savannah and Molly stayed on their heels. His Mama remained with the others. She eyed him with an expression he needed to explore, but he didn’t feel like it at the moment. Yet his gut told him he probably wouldn’t like the answers when he did ask for an explanation.

  The women’s voices faded the further down the stairs they hurried.

  Was it bad that he missed Harlow?

  Keith took himself off to the shower, exasperated with himself.

  §

  The stink of smoke kept wafting to her nose as Harlow made her way to the shared bunk room the women appeared to have commandeered. She approved. The five had selected this space which boasted additional security in that all five of them were together and the bathroom area proved spacious.

  Harlow had slept in this room before and “her” bunk was still vacant. She liked the upper bunk tucked into a corner. Verity slept on the bottom one and she approved of the arrangement. Vanessa, the female bodyguard, and Keith’s mother slept in bunks across the way. With Savannah and Molly were in the other two spaces. All of the beds had been strategically placed to afford some privacy, but also make it ideal from a security standpoint.

  She picked up the bag she’d hastily packed with the clothing from the downstairs storage closet, including the bag, and all the toiletries she required. This bathroom hid a fabulous shower in the back, and she headed there now. A quick stop at the linen closet on the way and she entered the shower changing area.

  It didn’t take her long to remove the offensive smelling clothes. She ran the water to get it to temp and soon stepped into the stream. Her second shower of the day, but Harlow had no intention of trying to sleep with smoke emanating from her very pores.

  Plus, Verity wouldn’t appreciate that. The others might be far enough away that they didn’t smell her, but Verity would notice. So Harlow made short work of cleaning off the stench of the night. One she heartily never wanted to repeat.

  After she dried off and put on the clothes from the storage area, she said a little thank you to her buddies the Rembrandts and exited the shower area. Verity stood at one of the sinks. Their eyes met in the mirror.

  “You know this house.”

  “I do.” She saw no reason to deny it. “I’ve slept in the bunk above yours many times over the years.”

  “That’s your bunk?”

  “It is.” Good memories of the twins in the bunks across the way and her brother under her.

  “Who slept in my bed?” Verity seemed interested in her answer.

  “My brother.” She didn’t even try to hide her smile. “The four of us got up to a lot of trouble.” Chad had another room where he slept if the together
ness got to him.

  “If they slept in the bunk room, who used the master suite?”

  “Their parents. They’re getting on in years now, and they like being on the first floor. There’s a nice suite behind the master where my grandfather sleeps.”

  “How long have you known the twins?”

  Harlow had to stop and think about that. “All my life. At least as far as I can remember.”

  Verity appeared to reflect on that. “You’re not the bad guy in this.”

  She couldn’t in good conscience agree with that. “Let’s just say you have every reason to believe I am. Although I think we’re on the same side.” People had died and her only goal was to prevent others from following. And bring justice to those who had unnecessarily lost their lives. Okay, that was two goals. Still.

  “What do you want?”

  “To prevent additional deaths.” And clear my company’s name. Essentially her company was as interwoven as her family name. But even clearing her name wasn’t as important as discovering why those people had died. In light of their young families, her fingernails dug into the fleshy part of her palm.

  Verity didn’t miss this. She also didn’t speak.

  But they finished their nightly routines in comfortable silence.

  When they exited into the bunk room again, it was to find the other women eying their large visitor with different variations of interest. Savannah stood with her arm around Keith’s waist, tucked up against him, gently teasing him, if Harlow judged his expression correctly. His mother stood on his other side.

  The look on Talia Monnette’s face stabbed her with an emotion she didn’t know how to interpret. Keith inspected Harlow when she entered the room.

  “Are you okay for the night?” His deep voice shouldn’t make her shiver and Harlow fought to conceal its effect on her. She won, maybe.

  “Yes. We’re fine.” She glanced at the other women. All of them viewed her with various levels of suspicion.

  They also looked to Verity, whose easy body language helped to dispel some of the negativity. Harlow didn’t call any of them on their thoughts. She understood.

  “He came to tuck you in.” Savannah, one of the least suspicious, teased her big brother.

  He tried to tickle her, but with a cute laugh, she sidestepped him. The love arcing between most of the people in this room made her ache a little.

  She missed her brother and the twins. And her grandfather.

  Keith caught her eyes. “The Rembrandts called. They said to tell you your grandfather is safe with their parents and seems to be coming out of whatever fog he was in.”

  This stopped her. “He’s still getting better?”

  “That’s what they said. He showed concerning signs of dementia when he arrived but they feel he’s improving drastically now.”

  She already knew most of that, but relief and a spurt of fury blasted her. Her fingernails dug into her palm again and Harlow made a determined effort to unclench her fist. “I’m happy to hear he’s better.”

  “They also said to tell you to be careful.” Keith didn’t display any emotion when he said this.

  “I always am.” Yet not careful enough, since her house lay in fiery embers. Although she had survived the fire and someone taking potshots at her on the beach.

  Despite losing her security equipment… Ugh. She shoved a hand through her damp hair. The security room probably contained a bunch of bodyguards.

  She looked to Verity as well as Keith. “I put out some security devices along the beach.”

  Verity nodded. “We tapped into all of them. They’re all still functional. I checked on them while Keith and the others went to pull you out if necessary.”

  The whoosh of relief didn’t gust from her lungs. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you for doing all the hard work. We just nipped into the systems and now we’ve got great visuals up and down the beach.”

  “Have you enabled the security measures the Rembrandts put into place?”

  Verity and Keith exchanged glances. “We’re not entirely sure what you’re asking.”

  Talia stepped in. “You can do this stuff in the morning. It’s time for bed now.” Her firm motherly air and confidence made Harlow aware of her sheer tiredness.

  Lack of sleep had taunted her for a few weeks now and she understood she skated on the edge. She smothered a yawn but did head to the locker that went with her bunk. She tucked her new bag inside beside the one she’d saved from her house and climbed the ladder to her bed. It didn’t take long for her to slide between the covers.

  A large shadow loomed. “Mama likes you. You’re obedient.” Keith’s expression remained shuddered.

  “I’m all for sleeping.” Weariness spread through her.

  “You haven’t been sleeping.”

  “That’s my problem.” But it was sweet of him to care.

  Verity joined Keith at the side of her bed. “We’ve got the best security detail around. All of your security measures are in place and no one is sneaking into this place tonight.”

  “What about outside?”

  “We’ve got three special ops guys outside as we speak. In the next fifteen minutes, three more will be joining them.” Verity spoke with authority.

  “Rurikstan has supplied a few men to help watch at night.” Keith added this and Harlow nodded. But her eyelids drifted shut. Her eyelids sealed themselves without her permission.

  From a distance she heard someone say, “She’ll sleep well tonight.”

  Maybe.

  §

  Keith watched as Harlow’s eyelids closed. She didn’t drift into sleep. No, the woman slammed into it.

  “Whoa.” He blinked, but Harlow’s breaths evened out to that of a person sound asleep. Rustling under her made him dip to peer at Verity. She shoved her covers aside to stand beside him.

  “She’s out.” Awe and something else spiraled through her statement.

  “She is. Looks like someone hasn’t been getting enough sleep.” He found it difficult to yank his attention away from the slumbering woman.

  “Good thing she’s above me then.”

  He cocked a brow at Verity.

  “If someone tries for her they have to get through me.” Not one ounce of cockiness or arrogance emanated from her. It just was so.

  “I think she trusts you.” His insides twisted at that thought. Verity slept below her, not him. No one in their business would have fallen asleep in the presence of others if they couldn’t trust them. No matter the level of exhaustion.

  Hmm, maybe if said person hadn’t slept for weeks… And he wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where Harlow stood.

  “Do you think we can trust her?” Verity’s super low question yanked him out of his thoughts.

  “I don’t know. She’s admitted we might view her as the enemy.”

  “She doesn’t feel like one.”

  “No. She doesn’t. And someone has tried to take her out twice now.”

  “That also makes me believe she’s probably on our side.”

  “What’s your theory?” He glanced at Verity, but his gaze soon roved back to the unconscious woman. She looked peaceful in sleep. He wanted to stay all night and just watch her.

  Keith cut those creepy thoughts off immediately. His mama and sister would probably have something to say. Not to mention his bonus sister, Molly Wellington. Another of his new favorite people. He adored all three women.

  Only Vanessa, Savannah’s female bodyguard wasn’t present right now. She had taken the night shift and likely was getting briefed on all that had happened before she parked in the room with them. Keith didn’t doubt she’d stay up all night in the comfortable chair across the way.

  “I’ve got a theory, but I’d be interested in yours.” Verity slanted him a challenge.

  “I’ve got one as well but it’s not ready to be shared.”

  “Neither is mine.” Verity didn’t sigh, secret operatives didn’t call attention to themsel
ves, but she did duck under Harlow’s bunk to crawl back into her bed. “Good night.”

  “Night.” Keith reluctantly turned around to kiss his new sisters and mother goodnight. For the second time tonight.

  On his way out the door, he wasn’t surprised by the two men approaching. Molly and Savannah’s fiancés nodded to him as they entered the space. He guessed Cian Hunter would slip in after they shut the lights off and four of women inside the room wouldn’t be any the wiser that he’d come.

  He trailed down the hall to his room, his feet surprisingly heavy. Or perhaps the difficulty stemmed from his intense desire to return to the room he had just left.

  No, seriously, I’m not a stalker. I’m just acting like one.

  That sobering thought kept him on course to his own room. Where he shut the door, did a quick check, then slid back into his bed. An hour or so ago, he’d tossed and turned so badly he had come to the executive decision that he needed to take a look at the lay of the land.

  When a serious survey of the security cameras and sensors Harlow had installed showed nothing, he’d taken his check outdoors. The night didn’t bother him, and he appreciated the shadows that embraced him when he strove to remain undetected.

  Not that others of his caliber didn’t also utilize the shadows, but Keith had always been able to detect others before they caught on to his presence. The only person he’d ever met who could give him a run for his skill was Vlad Wellington, Molly and Verity’s older brother.

  He tucked his hands behind his head and gazed at the ceiling. Sleep would come calling at some point but before that could happen he needed to erase images of a certain woman from his mind.

  Much easier said than done…

  Chapter 6

  When she awoke the next morning it took Harlow more than a second to assess her surroundings.

  The flushing of a toilet is what woke her, but there shouldn’t be anyone else in the house with her. She didn’t move as she took stock of her surroundings and soon remembered she wasn’t in her house. It had burned to the ground last night.