Caballo Security Box Set

by Camilla Blake

  I kept thinking about that day in the emergency room. Daddy was at work, and Mom was alone at home. When I got out of school, I discovered her half-unconscious on the couch. She’d had chemo the day before and spent most of the day fighting back nausea. She’d left the pitcher of water we’d put close by on the side table, refusing to take so much as a sip. Between the meds and the nausea, the lack of nutrients and fluids all day, she was desperately dehydrated. I’d seen it before. I knew exactly what to do.

  They took her right back, recognizing the death pall about her face. I stayed with her until the doctor came to examine her. She looked up at me, her eyes big in her sunken sockets.

  “Leave me some dignity,” she said.

  So I’d stepped out, angry and shamed, frustrated with the whole situation. I should have been planning my prom night, should have been touring college campuses. Instead, I was watching my mother turn into a corpse right in front of my eyes.

  “Excuse me,” someone had said behind me.

  I’d turned to find a tall, good-looking man with his arm cradled against his chest watching me from a nearby gurney.

  “Me?” I asked, feeling like a fool.

  “Yeah.” He smiled that charming smile, his eyes moving slowly over me. “Did it hurt?”

  “What?”

  “When you fell—”

  “Oh, God, you’re not pulling that lame line on me, are you?”

  He laughed, hopping off the gurney with a grimace as he jarred his arm. “I guess looking at you makes me speechless. I had to resort to a cheesy line because that’s all that came to mind.”

  “That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “I must be a silly guy.”

  I’d never forgotten that exchange. I was only seventeen and he was one of the first men to come on to me. Lots of men had made their attempts since then, but Brock was the first. He was the first for a lot of things for me.

  Somehow he got me to give him my number that day, and he called me the very next afternoon and we talked for hours, neither of us struggling to find the right things to say. And then he called every day for weeks, the one bright spot to my days back then. My mother died a month later, the lung cancer finally taking its due. He was there, standing at my side during the funeral, refusing to let me fall into the depths of my grief at the wake. He was the only thing that kept me sane as the days turned into weeks after my mother’s death and I found myself unable to think about the future, to so much as make plans for the following days, let alone decide what to do about school or a job or anything else.

  It was Brock, then, too, who encouraged me to go out with my friends, to accept a job offered by a retail shop where one of my high school girlfriends worked. If not for him, I might still be lying in my bed, crying myself to sleep every night.

  But it was that first meeting that kept playing in my mind that night.

  Brock was what I’d needed at a time I didn’t even know I needed him. Now, Akker was here at a time when I needed help, when I needed to feel safe. He protected me in a way I’d never felt protected before.

  Was it possible I was just seeing in these men something I couldn’t provide for myself? Was it possible I was confusing my feelings for them with gratitude for the needs they were fulfilling for me? Was I ever really in love with Brock, or just grateful for him providing me a rock to lean on after my mother’s death? Did I really feel true affection for Akker, or was I just relieved to have someone finally protect me from the danger surrounding me?

  I tossed and turned, that thought running through my mind in dozens of versions, over and over again. I didn’t actually get any sleep until nearly dawn, just dozing off and on, a very restless sleep. I finally gave up and dressed in a pair of dark slacks and a simple linen blouse I found in the closet, twisting my hair into a simple braid before going into the living room to wait for Akker to return. I tried to read a book, choosing several from the collection on the book shelves, but I couldn’t concentrate.

  What if Brock did return from whatever this assignment of his in the Middle East was and confessed his love for me? Could there be an excuse for which I could forgive him? It had been eight years, for goodness’ sake! What excuse could he have for staying away from me for eight years?

  And how would I feel if he did come to me with a good excuse? Would I want him back? A week ago, that would have been an easy question to answer—but now? Every time I tried to search my soul for an answer, all I could think about was Akker. All I could do was remember how lovely his kisses were.

  It was a bigger mess than this whole stalker thing!

  “Morning,” Ox said as he came through the door balancing a tray on one hand. “I hope you slept well.”

  “As well as could be expected, I imagine.”

  Ox kicked the door closed with his foot and carried the tray to the low table in front of the couch. On it was a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon, some toast, and a bowl filled with fresh cut fruit. My stomach growled as I studied it, reminding me that I hadn’t eaten since early yesterday morning.

  “I’m afraid the cat is out of the bag,” Ox said, taking a seat across from me in a simple armchair. “A few people got cell phone footage of some of the events at the River Walk yesterday and posted them to social media. This morning, TMZ picked up some of it and published some of the rumors that have been spreading.” He gestured for me to pick up the food. “Eat up. I think we forgot to send down some food last night.”

  “It’s fine.”

  I picked up the fruit and closed my eyes as a grape popped in my mouth, releasing its sweet juice. When I opened my eyes again, Ox was watching me closely, curiosity naked in his expressive eyes. He looked away when he realized he’d been caught.

  The fruit gone quickly, I dug into the eggs, savoring the bacon, a flavor I hadn’t tasted in years. Fat was off the menu when I had to fit into a size zero during all of my photo shoots.

  “We’ve contacted your people and let them know that you won’t be keeping any of your appointments today. They all seemed very understanding.”

  “I’m sure. They’re all losing thousands of dollars every day we’re shut down.”

  “Yes, well, they understood that your protection is the most important thing right now.”

  I bit into a piece of toast, savoring the delicious dollop of butter on top. “Where’s Akker?” I asked as I chewed.

  “He’s taking a few days off to recuperate. I would have thought he’d told you.”

  I shook my head, trying to hide my disappointment. “I’m glad he’s taking care of himself.”

  “It’s like pulling teeth with him. Then again, most of the operatives who work for me would rather have dental work done than be forced to admit to weakness.”

  “I think most men are that way.”

  “Oh, it’s not just the men. We have women working as operatives, too. They don’t like it any more than someone like Akker.”

  I nodded. “So, what’s the plan with my case now?”

  “We’d like to keep you here for a few days while we wait for some of our investigations to bear fruit.”

  “You want me to just sit here and twiddle my thumbs?”

  “I was thinking more of the idea that you’d like to read, or watch television. I can’t imagine you get much time off back in Los Angeles.”

  “I don’t. But I’m not the kind of person who’d be content just sitting on my hands. Besides, the Methodist Hospital Oncology Fund’s ball is tonight, and I promised to attend. I can’t let them down.”

  Ox frowned. “We’d rather not have you attend any of the events on your itinerary in case the people behind this are aware of where you’re supposed to be and have trouble planned.”

  “I wouldn’t want to put anyone in danger.”

  “Of course not.”

  “But I made a promise. And I’m supposed to present a check to the local-chapter president.”

  “Ms. Rae—”

  “Eva.”r />
  “Eva, we don’t want to put you in a situation we can’t completely control. It could be too dangerous after what happened yesterday.”

  “I need to attend this event. It’s important to me.”

  He sighed, a slight frown marring his expression. “Let me talk to my team, see what we can do. But I’m not making any promises.” He studied me for a long moment, the frown still very much a part of his features, almost like it had become permanently affixed. “It’s not any of my business, but can I ask you a question?”

  “What about?”

  “Akker.” He pressed his hands together between his knees as he leaned forward a little. “I inherited this firm from my father, and one of the very first people I hired was Akker Mills. He started out as a glorified bodyguard and has worked his way up to become one of my best operatives. More than that, he’s been my right-hand man until recently when my brother returned to the firm. He’s still someone I count on. I like to think we’re good friends.”

  I put my now empty plate back onto the tray and picked up a cup of coffee that had been cooling there, holding it between both hands as I digested what he’d just said.

  “You have to admit, your first meeting with Akker wasn’t exactly friendly.”

  “I let my emotions get the better of me at that meeting.”

  Ox lowered his head in a gesture of acknowledgement. “I understand that. But I’m concerned that things have gone a step too far in the other direction. I designed the training program for my new operatives myself, and one of the first things they’re taught is that they should not allow personal feelings to confuse their duties during an operation.”

  “I understand what you’re trying to ask, Mr. Winn, but I respectfully refuse to answer. It’s not really your business.”

  I thought I saw a flash of anger cross his face, but then he just stood, slapping his hands on his thighs. “Okay. I’ll come check back in on you in a few hours.” He lifted the tray from the table and glanced around. “If you need anything else, there’s a phone there.” He pointed to the cabinet where the mini fridge was hidden. “Just press zero.”

  “It’s a good thing I trust you. This would be a great way to keep someone hostage, this little apartment you have here.”

  “If I was that kind of guy.”

  “Let’s hope you’re not.”

  He shot me a look that was not inspiring. And then he smiled. Funny how that little smile did nothing to take the dread from my heart.

  Chapter 11

  Ox

  “Skylar, get Oliver in here, please!”

  Skylar, my eccentric assistant, stuck her head through the door, her dark glasses wiggling on the end of her nose as she stared at me. “What’s the matter now?”

  “Does it matter? Just do what I asked.”

  “Don’t bark at me like that!”

  I groaned, tossing a balled-up piece of paper at her. “I should fire you, talking to me like that all the time.”

  “You’ve threatened to do it often enough. But you wouldn’t know what to do without me.”

  That was true enough. She backed out of the room, disappearing just long enough to have made the requested phone call. When she came back, she tossed herself into a chair that sat in front of my desk, tugging her short, poofy skirt around her knees even though she was wearing heavy, striped tights under it.

  “Did you need something?”

  “I assumed you were the one who needed something.”

  “Did I say something to suggest that?”

  “You never actually ask me for anything. You usually just order it.”

  “Did I order something from you?”

  “You asked me to call Oliver. That usually means a meeting and a meeting usually requires reference materials or notes to be taken. Either one, you’ll need me in here.”

  I stared at her, wondering how much longer her eccentricities would seem amusing. Eventually she would begin getting on my nerves and I’d have to fire her. But I liked her. Firing her would be complicated because I liked her.

  God, she even made me think in riddles!

  “This is not something that will require your attention, Skylar. So, please, would you go back to your desk and do whatever it is you do out there?”

  “You mean organize your files, make your phone calls, write your letters?” She made a noise with her tongue, one of those tsk-tsk sorts of things that women seemed to know how to do from birth. “Speaking of which, your mother called a few minutes ago. She wants you to stop by the pharmacy and pick up her pills before heading out to her place.”

  I waved her away. “Please, give me a minute to collect my thoughts, will you?”

  She blew me a kiss from lips that were covered in some sort of purple lipstick that glistened like a newly polished diamond. And then she was gone, disappeared once more through my office door.

  No wonder I was always walking around in some sort of cloud, lost. Everyone around me was fucking insane!

  I was digging into a stack of emails that had been piling up since the night before, trying to decide what needed to be answered immediately and what could wait, when Oliver walked in.

  “What’s up?”

  I couldn’t help the smile that curved over my features every time I saw my brother in a suit, standing here in this office. There was once a time when we ran this place together, but then the worst happened, and he ended up behind bars for something we both knew he didn’t do. After he’d served his time, he refused to come back, determined to distance himself from everything that reminded him of everything he’d lost that long-ago night. But now he was back, still dipping his toe into the water with just three days a week at the office. It was enough, for now.

  Thank God for beautiful women and small favors.

  “Eva Rae wants to go to the cancer fundraiser tonight.”

  Oliver dropped into the same chair Skylar had just occupied. “That’ll be a logistical nightmare.”

  “You’re telling me. I have no idea what the plan was originally—that was Akker’s deal.”

  “Where is Akker?”

  “I took him off the case.”

  Oliver’s eyebrows rose. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because he’s gotten personally involved. You should have heard that woman arguing with me about whether or not Akker should go to the hospital. And then the first thing he wants to know is where the girl is, and argues with me over how safe she is in the panic room even though he helped design the damn place!”

  “You told me you knew this was personal, going in.”

  “True. But it’s become a different sort of personal. More like you-and-Valerie personal.”

  Oliver frowned as he shifted on his seat. “Akker isn’t like that.”

  “Yeah, well…”

  I pushed back from the desk and came around, taking the chair beside Oliver. “We’ve got to figure out what the hell is going on here. If we don’t find out who’s behind these attacks on Ms. Rae, we won’t be able to let her out of the panic room. But we can’t exactly leave her locked up there forever.”

  “We could send her back to Los Angeles. Maybe the stalker will follow her there and be someone else’s problem.”

  I grunted. “That’s all we need—a headline that blames us for her getting hurt. Or worse.”

  Oliver studied me a moment. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me everything about the firm’s current health status?”

  “The firm is fine. I’m just… Some of our investors have been grumbling about a few poor outcomes we’ve had over the past few months. It’s just making me nervous.”

  “Investors?”

  I waved a hand around. “Do you think all this was cheap? Expanding our mission statement took capital, buying this building took capital, hiring all these new people required capital. We have multiple investors.”

  “Okay,” Oliver said, running a hand over his head. “I get it. You’ve done a lot since I left—”

&
nbsp; “Everything we planned together.”

  “Yes. But you can’t let these investors decide what’s best for the company. That’s your choice.”

  “And right now I’m not sure what the best thing to do is.”

  “Do we have any clue who that guy is that I brought in last night? Have they identified him?”

  “Cheryl assures me they’ll have a name soon.”

  “When that happens, it should give us more to work with.”

  “Until then, we’re still walking around in the dark. I’m thinking that maybe we should let her go to this thing tonight. Maybe we can draw out the bad guys.”

  “Use her as bait?”

  “I know, it’s a bad idea,” I said, getting up and beginning to pace.

  “No, I don’t think it’s a bad idea, per se. If it’s done right.”

  “Come on, Oliver! We can’t use a client as bait!”

  “Why not? She wants us to catch these people. I’m sure she’d be willing if we came up with the right plan.”

  I shook my head again, but a part of me knew this was the only way. Whoever that gunman downstairs was, he wasn’t giving anything up, and if we waited until we got something on him, we might be so far behind the bad guys that we’d never catch up to them. But if we were proactive, taking the first step…

  “It’d have to be a damn good plan.”

  “We start with a phone call to Akker. He knows this girl, and he was there both times there was an attack against her. Like it or not, we’re going to need him.”

  “All right.”

  “And then we get the whole gang together. Skylar!” Oliver called toward my closed office door. Almost like the damn thing was made out of paper rather than the finest oak, she burst through like she’d been listening against the thick panels this whole time. “We need all the available operatives, the best people from tech, and Cheryl’s best investigators up here. It’s time to make a plan.”

  “I’m on it!”

  I just shook my head because I didn’t know what else to do. When had things left my control? But I couldn’t help but be pleased to see Oliver jumping in with both feet. My brother was back and it was a badass thing to see.