Iron Cross (COBRA Securities Book 20)

by Velvet Vaughn

  The dress she selected for the event was a black Ralph Lauren she’d picked up at the boutique the other day. The sleeveless gown featured a high neckline with a keyhole opening in the back that ran from the neck to the waist. The asymmetrical hem fell past her knees, so the gun strapped to her inner thigh was hidden. She paired it with four-inch black stilettos and simple diamond studs in her ears. After curling her hair, she artfully arranged it on her head with a few loose tendrils. Digging out her favorite perfume from her bag, she spritzed the floral scent behind her ears and on her wrists.

  She checked the contents of her clutch, making sure the fingerprint kit and her backup gun were in place. After adding a tube of lipstick, she was ready to go.

  She opened the door and stepped into the hallway, only to come up short. Finn was waiting for her, wearing a black suit with a crisp white shirt and maroon tie. He looked incredible.

  “My God,” he whispered. “You take my breath.” She clutched his outstretched hand and then let out a gasp as he tugged her into his arms and kissed her. “To hell with the reception. All I want to do is carry you to my room and make love to you all night long.”

  She shivered from both his words and his touch. When he leaned in to kiss her again, she held her finger against his mouth. “None of that. I don’t want to have to redo my lipstick.” With her thumb, she removed the stain from his lips from the last kiss.

  “I’m not kidding about ditching the party.”

  Smoothing her hands over his lapels, she said, “Georgiana would freak if you weren’t there. She will when she sees you anyway. You look like you could walk the runway for,” she checked the label, “Ermenegildo Zegna.”

  “I’ve never been the jealous type, but I don’t want any other man looking at you tonight,” he growled. “I want you for myself.”

  “The feeling’s mutual. I may have to use one of my stilettos to ward off Georgiana if she gets too handsy with you.”

  Time stood utterly still as they smiled at each other. It could’ve been seconds or hours. All she knew is that this man had stolen her heart when she wasn’t looking.

  Finn cleared his throat. “I guess we better get going.”

  She slid her arm around his and allowed him to lead her down the steps. Kaiya and Mark were waiting for them, both dressed up and looking sharp.

  Finn and Mark were able to wear their Kevlar vests, but there was no way Kayla or Kaiya could wear one with their dresses. She inserted her comm unit and did a mic check with the other two.

  Georgiana was sending a car to pick them up. Kaiya and Mark would follow in their SUV, so Finn gave them the address to her mansion to program into their GPS in case they were separated on the drive.

  #

  Georgiana’s signature pink Bentley limousine arrived, and the driver stepped out to open the door. His mouth dropped open when he spotted Kayla. Finn fought the urge to throttle him. He’d better learn to curb his temper since any man who saw her tonight would have the same reaction. He didn’t want to have to fight everyone at the event.

  When she emerged from her room, his heart completely stopped. He’d never seen a more beautiful woman in his life. She was elegant and graceful yet strong. Her confidence was as attractive as her perfect features. Even knowing their relationship was a fraud, he felt incredibly honored that she was walking into the event on his arm. Every man in the place would be jealous. He knew his instinct to hide her away from the world was ridiculous, but he wanted her all to himself. He could spend a lifetime learning her secrets, and it still wouldn’t be enough time.

  Once they were inside the limo, he settled beside her in the luxury cabin that spared no expense. The pink leather seats were soft and welcoming. There were two televisions, a minibar and wood grain accents that added to the luxurious feel. He didn’t get the chance to appreciate the details the last time he rode in the limo with Georgiana practically climbing into his lap. He’d been focused on keeping her away from him. The window separating the back from the driver could switch from transparent to opaque for complete privacy. Finn activated the opaque button, afraid the driver would ogle Kayla and not pay enough attention to the road. He didn’t want them ending up in a ditch.

  Sparkling wine chilled in a refrigerated cabinet, but he didn’t bother asking her if she wanted a glass, knowing she’d decline since she was working, and this wasn’t a real date.

  The ride passed much too quickly. He wondered if he could pay the man extra to drive them around the city at the end of the night.

  The gates to Georgiana’s estate stood open. A line of cars waited in the circular driveway to unload passengers. When it was their turn, the driver got out to open the door and help Kayla out. He followed and then took her arm. Cameras snapped pictures and reporters tossed out questions. They stood and waved like they were on a Hollywood red carpet. Georgiana had invited the media to attend, but they had to stay in a specific area, and they weren’t allowed in the mansion. He wouldn’t put it past an intrepid reporter or two to find their way inside.

  Kaiya and Mark caught up to them. Kaiya smiled. “It feels like we’re attending the Academy Awards or something.”

  A woman inside the door checked their names on the list and waved them through. The ballroom inside Georgiana’s house was impressive with soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers and marble columns. She’d decorated it to the nines for the event. A string orchestra played on one end, and there were champagne fountains, ice sculptures and enough food and drinks to feed the city.

  Though it was early, the room was starting to fill when they arrived. Finn recognized several of the attendees. A few of his teammates were already making their way around. Georgiana spotted them and headed in their direction.

  “Oh, my word, Finn, you look so dapper. I’ve never seen a more handsome man in my life.” She kissed both of his cheeks. “Kayla, you look stunning.” She air-kissed her cheeks as well.

  “Thanks, so do you.”

  Georgiana did look lovely in her light pink dress with diamonds dripping from her neck, ears and wrists, but she paled in comparison to Kayla. She threaded her arm through Finn’s. “The mayor’s been asking about you. He wants to say hello.”

  As she toted him away, he reached out and snagged Kayla’s hand, not intending to let her out of his sight for a minute.

  #

  Kayla danced so much, her feet were numb. She’d met many of the city officials, several Punishers executives and corporate sponsors. She hadn’t had a chance to take a break before someone else was asking her to dance. All the while, she monitored Finn. He was doing his fair share of dancing, too. He’d tried to keep her close, but he was in demand. Everyone wanted a picture with him or wanted to chat about the season.

  She’d danced with both Shawn and Clint and many of Finn’s teammates. At one time, she’d felt a hostile stare and turned to see Trevor glowering at her. She ignored him. If he tried anything, she wasn’t afraid to flatten him again. Turned over a new leaf her ass.

  After fending off the wandering hands of a city councilman who’d imbibed too much champagne, she could finally sit down for a minute. “Sit rep,” she said into the mic.

  “All clear,” Kaiya checked in.

  “Same,” Mark responded.

  She was glad to have her teammates guarding her back since she’d acted the part of the doting girlfriend tonight—not that it was a big stretch. The role felt natural. Though she kept a watchful eye out, it was hard to pay attention to both the surroundings and her dance partners, and that’s where Kaiya and Mark came in.

  She searched for Finn, finding him on the floor with a gorgeous blond who couldn’t seem to keep her hands from roaming his body. Clenching her jaw, she forced her gaze away to see Georgiana drain a flute of champagne and place it on a table before grabbing one of the corporate sponsors to chat. Kayla stood and glanced around before surreptitiously picking up the goblet and carrying it with her to the bathroom. After locking the door, she dug out her kit and dust
ed powder around the glass until she found a perfect print. Lifting it with tape, she secured it down on a backing sheet and then snapped a picture to send to Tyler. She scrubbed the dust off and polished it with a towel she found in a cabinet. She folded the towel and placed the glass on the counter before washing her hands and heading back to the party.

  Finn was still with the same woman. Not for long. Kayla straightened her spine and marched forward.

  #

  Finn was getting damn tired of fending off the wandering hands of Steph Castro, the CEO of Piedmont Entertainment, one of the Punishers’ significant sponsors. When he’d been younger and stupider, he’d succumbed to her charms, spending a wild night in her penthouse suite. At the time, he had no idea she was married. She lied to him and said she wasn’t attached. He’d kicked himself a hundred times since. Though she was divorced now, he had no desire to repeat the mistake. He’d told no one about the one-night stand, not wanting to admit he’d been naïve and gullible to fall for her lies.

  Still, she pumped a ton of money into the Punishers’ coffers, which in turn helped pay his salary, so he had to be civil to her. And she definitely wanted a repeat of that night. She’d told him so, in explicit, graphic detail.

  “Excuse me, may I cut in?”

  Kayla. A smile broke across his face.

  “No.” Steph turned her head away and ignored the request.

  “Let me rephrase that. I am cutting in to dance with my boyfriend.”

  Arnie swung his partner around to whisper in Finn’s ear, “I learned from Barrett. I’ve got my camera ready in case your girl decides to defend your honor again.”

  Finn released Steph and elbowed a chortling Arnie away before reaching for Kayla. He pulled her close to cover her mouth with his. He’d missed her. They’d passed each other most of the night but hadn’t had a chance to connect. He’d annoyingly watched her dance with practically every man at the event, including Shawn, Clint and most of his teammates.

  He heard Steph huff and stomp off, but he didn’t care. Kayla was in his arms.

  “I missed you,” he said when he finally came up for air.

  “I’ve been right here.”

  “I’m not letting you go again. Fair warning.”

  They stayed for another two hours before Finn was able to leave. Most of his teammates had already headed home. Georgiana was happily tipsy and well on her way to completely drunk when he told her goodbye. She tried to coax them into staying, saying she had plenty of bedrooms, but she got sidetracked when the chief councilman called her name. Finn used the distraction to whisk Kayla away. She paused long enough to let Kaiya and Mark know they could leave before removing a small device from her ear and tucking it in her purse.

  It turned out the limo driver could be bribed. He paid a hefty tip for him to take the long way home and then practically jumped her as soon as they were on the road. Tugging at the pins in her hair, he freed her glorious sun-kissed tresses until they spilled down her back. “I’ve wanted to do this all night,” he said as he unhooked the fastener on her dress to expose her perfect breasts.

  “Are you seducing me in the back of a limo, Mr. Bates?”

  “If you have to ask, I must not be doing it right.” He leaned forward to take one rosy nipple in his mouth. She cried out, sifting her fingers through his hair. He lavished the same attention on the other, taking supreme pleasure in her writhing and moaning.

  He wanted to go slow and explore her body, but as with every time they were together, he went from zero to sixty in a heartbeat. He needed her. Desperately. Unzipping his pants, he found the condom he’d stashed in his pocket and sheathed himself before reaching for her.

  “Wait a minute.”

  Finn groaned, not sure he’d be able to keep from crying like a baby if she called a halt. But she wasn’t stopping him. She shimmied the hem of her dress up to reveal a shiny black handgun strapped to her inner thigh. He gaped, unable to believe she’d walked and danced all night with it there.

  She caught his stare and smiled. “I’m used to it.”

  She unclipped the strap and placed the gun on the floor. He coaxed her on top of him as he reclined the seat. She took control, setting the pace and driving him out of his mind. He clutched her hips and held on for the ride. He was sure his heart was in his eyes as he captured her gaze while they both peaked together. The feelings were extraordinary. For the rest of his life, he’d remember this moment. It was as if their bodies had become one.

  She collapsed against him, and he held her tight, not wanting to let go. In one week, she’d become the most essential thing in his life—and that was counting hockey.

  The city lights flashed by, cars zipped around them, and the world continued moving along, but it was as if time stood still in the backseat of Georgiana Westfield’s cotton candy pink limousine.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Sorry to call so early. Did I wake you?”

  Kayla shot a guilty glance at Finn as she sat up and clasped the sheet to her naked chest. Something important happened in the back of the limo last night. She was already head over heels in love with him, but it was as if their souls intertwined. She knew her thoughts were ridiculous, and maybe they were, but it didn’t change the way she felt. Maybe she’d spent too much time with Esme Jovanovich, her coworker Ethan Addison’s girlfriend. Esme was a staunch believer in soulmates. Seeing her and Ethan together, it was hard to argue. Was that what Finn was to her? Her soulmate? Shaking her head to erase the thoughts, she cleared her throat. “It’s okay, Tyler. What did you find out?”

  “You were spot on about Georgiana Westfield. I had to do some deep digging that took all night, but I uncovered her dirty secrets. She’s also known as Grace Hughes, Dina Woods and Faye Ross. She’s a bonafide black widow. Each of her three previous elderly husbands died not long after they said their ‘I do’s,’ leaving their entire fortunes to her.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. Faye Eggert was her birth name. She grew up in a trailer park in Houston and married Sidney Ross when she was seventeen. He died a year and a half later. After liquidating everything, she disappeared. She reemerged a year and a half later married to Dick Woods. He died less than six months into the marriage, and again, she cashed in and took off. She appeared again as Mrs. Edgar Hughes. It wasn’t until he died that authorities began checking into her past. Edgar’s family didn’t believe he died of a heart attack and wanted a full autopsy, but she had him cremated before they had the chance. She’d already transferred his fortune to her accounts, but she had to leave his estate before she could sell it when she was forced to flee.”

  “She killed Broderick, too.”

  Kayla felt Finn go still next to her.

  “No doubt. He died weeks after the wedding ceremony.”

  “How did she kill them?”

  “They all died of heart attacks, so I’m guessing she used a drug that causes one. Calcium gluconate or succinylcholine or maybe even an air embolism. Hard to guess without an autopsy. None were performed.”

  “Broderick Westfield died of a heart attack.”

  “Yeah. Her go-to method of mariticide.”

  “I’ll bet his son Ricky would give consent to exhume his body.”

  “Not possible. She had him cremated, too.”

  “She covered her crimes.”

  “And got away with them. She’s had multiple plastic surgeries and looks nothing like the old Faye.”

  “Finn’s her next target.” Kayla was sure of it.

  “He doesn’t fit her profile,” Tyler argued. “All her other husbands were of the geriatric variety.”

  “Then she’s changing things up. You should see the way she looks at him. Plus, she just negotiated his new contract, and the numbers were staggering.” She put a hand over the phone and glanced at Finn. “Is it okay that I told Tyler about the contract?” He nodded as he scooted up to rest against the headboard. She removed her hand. “She was probably setting up her nex
t big paycheck.”

  “Do you want me to notify the authorities?”

  “I’ll do it. I’ve got a good rapport with Detective Johansen. I’d like to run it through her and the task force.”

  “So, uh, I notice Finn’s next to you at five in the morning. Something you want to tell me, Kayla? Do I hear wedding bells in the near future?”

  “No. Keep me posted.” She disconnected before Tyler could grill her more.

  “Georgiana’s the killer?”

  “I don’t know about the recent murders, but she’s wanted for possibly murdering three husbands before Broderick. She probably killed him, too.”

  “How?”

  “Tyler thinks she used a drug that mimics a heart attack. No autopsies were conducted on any of the victims. They were all elderly, and there was no reason to believe the death was anything other than a cardiac event. She had them all cremated, so there’s no checking them now.”

  “She’s evil.”

  “And I’m pretty sure she’s fixated on you now.” With the money she secured from her first four husbands, she had to be set for life. She seemed to revel in her new role as CEO of the Punishers. Maybe she planned on making this alias stick, and she wanted Finn as her husband. Over Kayla’s dead body. She just hoped it didn’t come to that.

  “If she’s wanted for murder, why is she so eager to hold press conferences and have her picture shown on national television?”

  “Extensive plastic surgery. She completely changed her looks.” Kayla showed him the picture Tyler sent to her of the original Faye Eggert Ross Woods Hughes Westfield. Now there was a mouthful.

  “She looks nothing like before,” Finn agreed.

  He reached over to swipe his phone from the bedside table when it rang. “It’s Shawn.”

  “Hey, Shawn. What? When?” He tossed back the sheets and rose, gloriously naked. His sheer beauty struck her before she realized he was dressing. “Hang on, buddy. I’m on my way.”

  “What happened?”