“Yes, we do.”
Bree shifted, her thoughts turning things over. “So, I walked in on Griff earlier, and he was looking at a photo. He looked like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t. It was weird.”
“It was probably his daughter.”
“I didn’t know he had a child.”
Dez nodded. “A little girl named Ada. She’s three and totally adorable. Griff . . . he still has a hard time being away from her, though he doesn’t talk about it much.”
“I can’t imagine . . .” Before they could talk anymore, she grabbed Dez’s arm. “You see those two guys?”
He followed her gaze across the harbor where two men docked a boat.
“They look like . . . Trixie’s brothers.”
Chapter Seventeen
Bree froze before nodding at the two men in the distance. They climbed from a boat and started toward an old truck parked near the dock.
“What are Trixie’s brothers doing here?” Bree muttered. “We should call the police chief and let her know.”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
Dez grabbed his phone and dialed the chief’s number. With the phone on speaker, he told her that the Dare brothers had been spotted.
“That’s good to know,” Chief Chambers said. “I just talked to two witnesses who saw them harassing Kyle Thompson before he was found dead. Right now, they’re our top suspects.”
“They’re here at the harbor right now, and they appear to be walking toward their vehicle.” Dez didn’t take his eyes off the men.
“See if you can stall them,” Chief Chambers said. “Don’t do anything that would put you in danger. But if you can slow them down, I’m on my way there right now with an arrest warrant in hand.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Dez said.
Bree had heard the chief’s request, but the very thought of it caused more fear to shimmy up her spine.
“Maybe you should stay away,” she said. “If these guys are the ones who opened fire at my concert, they’re not someone you should mess with.”
“I like to think I can handle myself.”
“I’m sure you can. But when it comes to gun fights, it’s all a matter of who is the quickest draw as much as the best aim.”
Dez glanced at her and gave her a look. Bree couldn’t quite read it. Was he annoyed by the suggestion that he wasn’t invulnerable?
Bree wasn’t sure. She just didn’t want to see this bad situation get even worse. Too many people had already been hurt.
As the two men started to climb into their truck, Dez put his own vehicle in Park and reached for the door handle.
“Stay here,” he said. “And lock the doors.”
“Dez . . .” Bree heard the worry in her voice. There was so much on the line here.
“I’ll be smart. I promise.”
She stared at him another moment and nodded. It was strange how she had only known him a couple days, yet she already felt like she’d known him months.
He felt more like a friend than he did a bodyguard, for that matter. He was the kind of friend that everybody could use—a good listener, protective, yet, at the same time, fun to be around.
Where exactly were Bree’s thoughts going with this? She wasn’t sure. All those realizations seemed to come out of the blue.
She was not attracted to Dez Rodriguez. That was one thing she knew for sure.
Yet another part of her knew she wasn’t being honest with herself. Any hot-blooded woman would be attracted to Dez Rodriguez. In fact, every woman they had passed when she was with Dez had their eyes on the man. He was just that type of person.
Anxiety bubbled through her as she watched him stride toward the truck in the distance.
She squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for a good outcome. But, despite her prayer, worry still churned in her stomach.
Dez had his gun tucked safely in a holster at his waistband beneath his shirt, just in case he needed it. But he hoped it didn’t come down to that.
He needed to think of a safe way to stop these guys until Cassidy could arrive.
Just as the driver was about to close his door, Dez waved his hand in the air and yelled, “Wait!”
The driver froze before rising from his seat.
Dez took a good look at him. The man was probably in his early thirties. He had a dark, bushy beard and wore waders with a heavy, waterproof jacket.
He definitely looked like the stereotypical fisherman.
But was he just a fisherman? Or was this man also a killer?
Dez had been face-to-face with vile people before, and certainly he could handle himself with this guy.
“I’m trying to find Goodwin’s Charters.” Dez strode toward them. “Do you have any idea where they are? I’ve driven up and down this marina three times now, and I still haven’t seen any signs.”
“No, man,” the driver said. “I’m not from around here. Sorry. Can’t help.”
“You catch anything out there today?”
A look of annoyance crossed the man’s face. He had started to sit back down but he froze again, as if he’d changed his mind about brushing off Dez. “Got a few things. Sometimes it’s just about being in the right place at the right time to get a good catch, though.”
“I know that’s true. Did you guys use a charter? Just in case I can’t find this guy, I might need to look for someone else.” He kept his motions casual, chatty.
Now the look of annoyance was full-blown. This guy did not want to have a conversation with him. That was too bad.
“Come on, Landon,” the other brother called, motioning for him to get back in the truck. “We need to go.”
“We rented a boat. I don’t need a captain or crew. I just need a boat and fishing line. Now, if you’ll excuse me . . . we have other things we need to do.” He nodded toward his brother.
Dez paused in front of the truck. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep up this charade before they decided just to take off.
“I am also looking for a good place to eat around here,” Dez continued. “Know of any places?”
Landon shook his head. “Look, man, if you want answers to all these questions, find a tour guide. Look online. Stop asking us.”
Dez raised his hands. “Sorry, sorry. You guys just looked approachable. Like the kind of guys who might want to help another guy out. I’m with my girl.” Dez nodded toward the car where Bree sat. The windows were tinted, so he knew the man wouldn’t recognize her, only see her outline.
“I wish we could help. Sorry, bro. We’ve got to go.”
Dez had one more trick up his sleeve. “Hey, did I see you guys at that Trixie Dare concert?”
The two brothers looked at each other, as if he’d sounded suspicious.
“Yeah, we were there,” Landon said. “Trixie is our sister.”
Dez’s features went slack, as if impressed. “Is she? That’s awesome. You two are practically celebrities then. You have a very talented sister.”
“We think so too. She should have a lot more accolades than she does.” Landon scowled.
“She should have a lot more accolades than that fake Bree Jordan.” Dez hated to say the words, but he had to play a role here.
Now he had the brothers’ full attention.
“Exactly,” Landon said. “Bree doesn’t even write her own music. She basically is just a voice. She has people who tell her what to wear, how to act, how to sing. Trixie, on the other hand . . . she’s the real thing.”
Dez was careful to conceal his true feelings. “It looks like somebody else shared your thoughts. Maybe that’s why they tried to take Bree out at that concert.” He let out a disbelieving chuckle.
“Yeah, I don’t know anything about that.” Landon gripped the truck door, as if ready to climb in again.
Come on, Cassidy. Where are you?
“Are you sure about that?” Dez asked.
Landon stepped from behind his door and slammed it. His bod
y seemed to puff up with anger as he took a step closer to Dez. “Who are you really?”
“Can’t I just be a tourist asking questions?” Dez shrugged.
“You could be, but you’re not. Now what are you doing here?”
Dez knew his charade was over. “I’m trying to figure out who shot at Bree Jordan.”
The man’s eyebrows rose. “Do you think it was us?”
“I think it’s a possibility.”
“Then you need to recheck your possibilities because you are barking up the wrong tree.” Landon stepped closer, almost as if challenging Dez to a fight.
Dez wasn’t going to take the bait. That wasn’t who he was anymore. Maybe in high school, but he had come a long way since then.
“I heard you were out on the water during Bree’s concert,” Dez prodded.
“Yeah. So? What’s it to you? Can’t two guys go out fishing?”
“Did you have a gun with you?” As Dez asked the question, his gaze drifted to Landon’s waistband. He saw the weapon there.
Cassidy needed to get here before this turned ugly. Dez didn’t want to take matters into his own hands—not any more than he already had, at least.
“Whether or not I have a gun is none of your business. And I’m done with this conversation.” Landon reached for the truck door again.
“I don’t think you should go yet,” Dez said.
“And why is that?”
Just as the question left his mouth, Dez heard the sirens in the distance. Landon jumped in the truck and threw it into Drive. They took off toward the exit of the harbor area.
He prayed they didn’t get away.
Chapter Eighteen
With Trixie’s brothers behind bars, Bree felt like she could breathe a lot easier. Maybe going to this engagement party tonight wouldn’t be a big deal after all. It would give her the chance to get out, since most of the danger had passed.
From what she understood, Chief Chambers had found photos of her at the beach house where the Dare brothers were staying. They also had guns with them, the same kind that were used in the shooting. That, when combined with the confrontation someone saw between the brothers and Kyle, seemed to cement the fact that they were most likely behind the shooting and Kyle’s murder.
Chief Chambers had made the arrest, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was also there to question the men.
At six o’clock, Dez and Bree left to go to the party. Apparently, it was going to be held at Chief Chambers’ place. From what Dez had told her, it was also the temporary headquarters for Blackout.
Bree knew that it was strange, but she felt weirdly excited to be doing something that felt so normal. Nothing had felt normal in her life for a long time.
They pulled up to a cottage by the ocean. She thought it was charming. Six little colorful cabanas lined the outside of the property, each with a hammock strung on the porch.
A traditional beach cottage with weathered cedar shingles and dormers stood as the centerpiece of the property. It had a cozy second story and a screened-in porch that faced the ocean.
Bree’s place was admirable, but this place could be featured in a painting.
“This is where I stay when I’m not bodyguarding.” Dez nodded toward the pink cabana.
“Pink fits you,” she teased.
He chuckled. “I’m man enough to embrace it.”
Yes, he was. He was all man with his confidence and muscles. “Was all of this built just for Blackout?”
“Ty actually built it for a retreat center he started called Hope House. But when he doesn’t need to use the cabanas for that event, we are allowed to use them.”
“And where do you stay when the retreats are in session?”
“Ty’s parents have a cottage right next door. During this last session, we all moved over there since they went to Florida for the winter. But we are looking for a more permanent solution. However, all land on this island is pretty expensive. We’re trying to raise the capital that we need.”
“I hope you’re able to do that.”
“So are we.” Dez parked the car, and they climbed out. At least six vehicles were already there.
Dez had told her that, just to be safe, he and his guys would keep a lookout on the perimeter of the area. They couldn’t afford to let down their guard . . . not yet, at least.
As soon as they crossed the sand dune onto the beach, Bree saw the crowd in the distance. The party looked like something right out of one of the songs she’d written.
A bonfire blazed on the beach and tiki torches had been set up along the perimeter. Several picnic tables had been pushed together, and food stretched across them. A man played the guitar while everyone else talked and laughed together.
Bree could hardly pull her eyes away. “This is . . . perfect.”
Dez nodded. “Yeah, it pretty much is, isn’t it? I’ve done a lot of things in my thirty-two years. And, at the end of it all, I realize that it’s the people you’re around who make life worth living. That it’s the moments like this.”
Bree smiled at him. “If you have people who have your back and you have theirs, then I would say you have a lot in this life.”
As she said the words, Bree realized that it wasn’t something that she could say for herself. In fact, she couldn’t name one single person who she felt loved her unconditionally.
That thought caused a burst of sadness to fill her.
Dez introduced Bree to everybody at the party. But there was no chance she would remember all their names.
She’d met Ty, Cassidy’s husband. He was also a former Navy SEAL, and he had a boy next door turned strong, strapping man vibe to him.
Griff was there, being his normal aloof self.
She met Colton Locke again, the fearless leader of the team. Colton’s girlfriend, Elise Oliver, stood beside him, clearly his opposite with her petite features and gentle smile.
She also met Benjamin James, the fourth and final member of the team, and the youngest.
Lisa Dillinger from The Crazy Chefette, and her husband, Braden, were there. Lisa had brought several side dishes, and Bree couldn’t wait to try each one.
The list of attendees continued.
Wes O’Neill, who ran a kayak tour company, and his girlfriend, Paige Henderson. Bree recognized Paige from the police station. She worked the front desk there.
Jack Wilson, a pastor, and his wife, Juliet.
Mac MacArthur, the former police chief here in Lantern Beach and current mayor.
Two of the final people she met were the guests of honor, Austin Brooks and Skye Lavinia.
“Congratulations, you two.” Bree tapped into her Southern roots and pulled the two of them into a congratulatory hug. Austin, with his dark hair, and scruffy beard, and Skye, with her bohemian style and long hair, seemed like a perfect couple.
As Skye pulled away, her eyes remained on Bree. “I have to admit, I’m a little starstruck right now. I love your music. The songs are just so upbeat, and they make me happy.”
“And anything that makes her happy makes me happy,” Austin said.
“Sounds like you have figured out the recipe for a good marriage then.” Bree flashed a smile.
The two of them exchanged a glance and grinned.
“No, really,” Bree said. “Congratulations. When’s the big day?”
“This weekend,” Skye said. “We’re not doing anything big. Just a ceremony on the beach. That’s all we need.”
“We told each other as soon as we finished flipping a house, we would get married,” Austin said. “Unfortunately, the house took much longer than we anticipated.”
“But at least that gave us some time to save up money,” Skye said.
“Anyway.” Austin took a step back. “Enough about us. Welcome to our party. Grab some food and have a good time.”
Bree glanced back at Dez and saw him surveying the area. He was more nervous than he wanted to appear, wasn’t he?
As much as Bree would like to think that today was normal, Bree needed to remind herself that it wasn’t. These people weren’t her friends. This island wasn’t her home. And Dez was nothing more than a bodyguard.
If she was smart, Bree would push those things to the forefront of her mind and make sure they remained there.
Chapter Nineteen
Dez couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Bree. She had that effect on people. It was part of the reason she was so good at what she did—she had charisma. When she smiled, she lit up the room. When she talked, people listened. And when she sang . . . everything else disappeared.
At least, for most people it did—not including her manager or people who wanted to make a profit off her. Those people seemed to only act like they were concerned about her as a person, when they were actually mostly concerned about their bank accounts.
Dez felt his muscles tense at the thought of it. His thoughts went back to the Savages, the deadly terrorists he’d fought on his last mission. So many of their actions were born out of the desire for money and power. That, when fueled with a hatred for freedom-loving countries, had created a dangerous mix.
He supposed those deadly attitudes weren’t just reserved for wars overseas, though. Even in biblical times, it was warned, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
The party had been fun, filled with lots of food and laughter. But now it was starting to settle down, and they had all laid out blankets by the bonfire to sit around and talk.
This was one of Dez’s favorite things to do since he’d moved to Lantern Beach. There was something about sitting by the ocean with a fire that was so serene it made his soul feel at peace.
And peace was not something that should ever be discounted.
“So, Cassidy, any updates on that property where Gilead’s Cove was located?” Griff asked.
“It’s still caught up in that lawsuit right now,” Cassidy said. “But that hasn’t changed any of the tension surrounding the area. People still have very strong feelings.”
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