Beyond Power

by Connie Mann

  “I’ll see you at the ball, Cinderella,” he said and placed a quick kiss on her cheek. “Let me know when you’re in the parking lot,” he added before he walked out the door. The squad was heading over early to be sure everything was set, and she’d meet him there later.

  To keep her nerves at bay, she curled up on the sofa with her laptop and typed up some research notes while she waited for Fish, who’d run out earlier to exchange her ball gown for one in Delilah’s size.

  She finally closed her laptop, unable to concentrate, and replayed yesterday’s conversation with her mother. Again. She’d known Mama’s loyalty to her husband was unshakable, but she had hoped that worry for Mary’s future would push her to take action. It hadn’t been enough when Delilah was sixteen, so it shouldn’t have been such a painful shock now. But the hurt cut deep.

  Despite what Josh claimed, rescuing Mary was ultimately up to her. She reached into her tote bag and opened the fancy clutch she’d borrowed from Kimberly, reassured by the feel of her Glock inside. She tucked her keys in, too, glad they’d hidden her truck behind Charlee’s cottage after her camper burned.

  Fish burst in with the ball gown and a toiletry bag, and Delilah jumped. “Sorry it took so long. Traffic on Silver Springs Boulevard was a nightmare.” Fish headed down the hall.

  Yummy smells said Charlee was in the kitchen, baking. Delilah’s heart rate sped up. It was time. She followed Fish into the bedroom and gasped when the other woman unzipped the garment bag. “Oh, wow. That’s gorgeous.” Navy-blue lace covered the slim column of fabric, and she reached a hand out to touch.

  One corner of Fish’s mouth quirked up. “All I can say is better you than me.” She handed the toiletry bag over. “The woman at the cosmetics counter said this is everything you need for a nighttime formal.” Fish rolled her eyes.

  Delilah took the bag and poked at the eyeliner and dark shadow, deep lipstick and bronzing powder. Worlds away from the barely there makeup she usually wore. “Thanks for getting all this. I wouldn’t have known where to start.” She sat down at Charlee’s small dressing table and spent the next twenty minutes layering on more makeup than she’d ever worn in her life. She studied the results, pleased. Her eyes look bluer than she’d ever seen them, her cheekbones more defined. She wondered what Josh would say.

  Fish had been leaning against the wall, watching her as they chatted while she primped. When Delilah added the last spritz of hair spray, she turned serious, eyes narrowed. “What are you planning to do once you get there?”

  Delilah stilled, and their eyes met in the mirror. “What I’ve been trying to do all along. Stop my sister’s wedding.”

  “How specifically do you plan to do that?”

  Delilah hitched up her chin. “I’m going to corner Eli Foster. Get him to see the benefits of calling off the wedding.”

  “And if he won’t?”

  “I’ll offer him money.”

  “If that doesn’t work, then what?” Fish demanded, eyebrows raised.

  Delilah looked away, then back at the determined cop. “Whatever it takes to keep her from ‘marrying’ the scumbag in an illegal ceremony! She’s only sixteen!” Her voice came out louder than she intended.

  Sure enough, they heard footsteps in the hallway, and then Charlee barged into the room. “What’s going on? Why aren’t you both dressed yet?”

  After a long beat, Fish said, “We just had a few details to talk through.” She went to the closet and pulled out her black pantsuit.

  Charlee looked from one to the other, but neither offered more information. “Fine. Let’s get this show on the road, or you’ll both be late.”

  Once Charlee zipped her into the navy-blue ball gown, Delilah turned toward the mirror. The lacey fabric hugged every curve and made her feel both sexy and exceedingly self-conscious. She’d never worn anything even remotely like this. Every inch of the gown was designed to garner male attention, and she worried if she breathed too deeply, she’d pop right out of the low-cut bodice. She tugged and pulled, biting her lip, but Charlee brushed her hands away.

  “Stop. You look amazing. Josh is going to swallow his tongue when he sees you.”

  Her grin started another flock of butterflies swooping in Delilah’s stomach, so she focused on walking in high-heeled sandals. After three turns around Charlee’s tiny living room, she thought maybe she could walk without falling flat on her face. Focus on your mission. Ignore it if anyone stares. It’s just another role to play. The lecture didn’t help.

  Fish walked out of the bedroom in her sedate black pantsuit, tucking her weapon into her shoulder holster. “Are you ready?”

  She took a deep breath. “Ready.”

  Charlee put her hands on Delilah’s shoulders. “You’re going to be fine. Fish, Josh, and the rest of the squad will make sure of it.” She glanced at Fish. “You have an extra earbud for her?”

  “Absolutely. You going to be okay here by yourself?” Fish asked.

  Charlee grimaced. “It still feels really weird not to be part of the squad, but I’m getting used to it. Besides, I have a hot date with my parents and a deck of cards tonight.”

  Delilah climbed in her truck, then followed Fish to the hotel in Ocala where the ball was being held. Charlee hadn’t realized that mention of the squad wasn’t reassuring. Delilah was more concerned about avoiding them.

  When she reached the ballroom doors, she took a cautious breath as she tugged on the bodice, then squared her shoulders and headed inside.

  The girl who’d always been invisible was about to make a grand entrance.

  * * *

  “Anyone got eyes on Benson yet?” Hunter asked.

  A chorus of nos responded.

  “Where the hell is he?” Josh growled. “He’s the MC, for cripes’ sake.”

  “Relax, Hollywood,” Hunter murmured in his ear.

  Josh scanned the crowd and forced a polite smile at the older woman headed his way. Hunter was right. He had to chill or he would draw attention to himself. But he couldn’t escape the nagging feeling that Delilah was up to something. Until he knew what that something was, he couldn’t focus, and that could put all of them in danger.

  “Well now, young man, don’t you look lovely tonight.”

  Josh flipped through his mental files, trying to remember if he knew this woman or not, but came up blank. The scent of Chanel No. 5 applied with a liberal hand wafted up as she leaned closer and patted his arm, her age-spotted hand adorned with expensive rings. “Seeing a young, handsome buck like you reminds me of my Melvin. We lost him last year, God rest his soul, and I miss him, especially on nights like this.”

  Josh smiled kindly. “I’m sure you were the belle of the ball, and Melvin was lucky to have you.” His smile faded. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you, young man.” She patted his hand again, then looked over his shoulder and grinned. “I’m sure you have better things to do than be seen with an old woman like me. The lovely young lady who just came in can’t take her eyes off you, so I’ll leave you to it.”

  Josh turned, and all the breath backed up in his throat as he stared, then swallowed hard. Delilah looked like every man’s fantasy, standing in the doorway in a shimmery blue dress that outlined every curve and gave a tantalizing glimpse of cleavage. His mouth went dry. Their gazes locked as he walked toward her, taking her in from head to toe. She scanned him in return, and her smile said she liked what she saw. When he reached her, he took both her hands in his and kissed her knuckles. He realized she must be wearing heels, because they were almost eye level, and he decided he liked looking her straight in the eye. She was wearing more makeup than usual, and whatever she’d done to her eyes made them bluer than he’d ever seen them.

  She glanced around as though suddenly aware of the avid gazes aimed their way. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face before she hitc
hed her chin up and widened her smile.

  He cupped her cheek and stroked his thumb over the smooth skin. Did she have any idea how proud he was of her? “You look absolutely stunning, Xena.” She cocked a brow, and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek. “Every woman wants to be you, and every man wishes you were his.” He whispered the words against her ear and felt her shiver.

  The band started up a waltz, but before Josh could draw her into his arms, she sent him a blinding smile that burned his nerve endings, and slid from his grasp, trailing her finger down his cheek. “There’s someone I need to see. Don’t follow me,” she whispered before she glided away.

  Damn. He’d been right. His eyes followed her, mesmerized by the sway of her hips, glaring at any man who’d also noticed. He stayed back far enough to give her the space she demanded but close enough to intervene if she ran into trouble.

  * * *

  Delilah felt Josh’s eyes on her as she crossed the room. A quick scan showed Fish near the punch bowl, Hunter not far from the orchestra, and Sanchez chatting with some folks near the buffet table. She had not seen Aaron or John Henry, which didn’t really surprise her. She couldn’t imagine her father in a place like this, dressed in a tuxedo. Not for any reason.

  With a silent apology to Josh, she removed the earbud and put it in her purse. She didn’t want him to overhear what she was about to do.

  Across the room, she spotted Nate Hamm, also wearing a black tuxedo, holding court with the mayor. The way women’s eyes followed him made bile rise in her throat, but she pushed it down and focused on Eli Foster, who hovered beside him.

  When Eli headed toward the bar, she intercepted him and maneuvered him against the wall, out of the main traffic flow. “Hello, Eli,” she said, her voice pitched low.

  He looked at her with confusion. “Hello, pretty lady. Have we met? I’m sure I would have remembered.”

  Delilah stepped closer, watched his eyes dip to her cleavage, and ignored the way her skin crawled. “I hear you’re planning to get married soon.”

  His eyes widened, and then he grinned. “Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I am. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun, does it?” He ran a finger down her arm.

  Delilah placed both hands on his chest. “Actually, Eli, it does. You’re going to call off the wedding, and if you really want to get married, you’ll find yourself a grown woman, not a child.”

  “Now just a minute here. Who are you to tell me what to do?”

  “I’m Mary’s sister, Delilah Atwood, monkey researcher for FSU. And unless you want a two-page spread on the front page of the local paper about the dirty old man who is ‘marrying’ a teenage girl in an illegal scam of a ceremony, you’re going to quietly call it off, understand?”

  Eli stiffened as his face went pale. “Even if I wanted to, which I don’t, I can’t do that. It’s all arranged. Nate said—”

  “Ah yes, Nate. What’s he have to do with all this?” She took another step toward him, giving him a clear view down the front of her dress.

  His eyes almost bugged out of his head. “He-he set it up. The marriage is an alliance, a strategic partnership between us and your family. I can’t just back out.”

  Delilah wrapped her arms around his neck, whispered in his ear. “You can and you will. You’ll arrange to meet with Mary, and then you’ll bring her to me. In return for your change of heart, I’ll give you five thousand dollars to ease your conscience. Do you understand?” She pulled back and ran one finger down his cheek, like a caress.

  His eyes narrowed. “And if I refuse?”

  Delilah’s grip tightened in his hair, and she smiled as another couple passed by. She turned back to Eli. “Then I’ll kill you in your sleep.” She kept her gaze steady on his, unblinking. His throat worked, and Delilah let the words hang in the air. She could never actually follow through, but he didn’t know that. “Do we have a deal?”

  “Well, well, well, look who’s here,” the voice from her nightmares drawled from behind her. “I heard you were dead.”

  Delilah wanted to snarl at the untimely interruption, but she turned and gave Nate a casual once-over. “Hello, Nate.” Behind her, Eli muttered something and hurried off, the lily-livered coward. She’d hunt him down later.

  In her heels, they were almost eye level, and Delilah pulled her shoulders back and looked at him with disdain. He wasn’t quite as intimidating as he used to be. All that hard muscle had turned to fat, and his tux strained at the waist. If she had to guess, she’d say his drinking had gotten worse. She made sure her voice was cool and indifferent. “It looks like the reports of my death were greatly exaggerated, as Mark Twain said.”

  “You have a lot of nerve showing up here.”

  “And you have a lot of nerve trying to marry my sister off to one of your minions.”

  When he stepped into her personal space, Delilah didn’t back up a single inch. His hand snaked out and gripped her upper arm, hard, as he muttered, “Let’s have this conversation in private.”

  He all but dragged her toward a side door, and Delilah hissed, “Take your hand off me right now, or I’ll scream the place down.”

  Surprisingly, he did as she asked but kept his other hand at the small of her back, making her skin crawl. She could feel Josh’s eyes on her, and the knowledge that he was nearby gave her the courage to keep walking.

  They exited the ballroom onto a tiled patio area where several other couples had gone to escape the noisy crowd. There were comfortable chairs and low lighting, and if it was anyone but Nate, it would’ve been a romantic spot.

  The moment they were out of earshot of those around them, Delilah spun around and poked him in the chest. “Eli is not going to marry my sister.”

  He had the gall to laugh as he crossed his arms over his chest. “But he is, with your parents’ blessing, I might add. I’m thinking she’ll be a mite more trainable than you turned out to be.”

  Delilah thought she would explode from the fury coursing through her veins, but she kept her demeanor calm. She knew a shouting match wouldn’t gain her anything. She mimicked his stance, then raised her chin. “What kind of deal did you make with my father for Mary?”

  “What’s it to you?”

  She shrugged as though it didn’t matter. “If you cancel the wedding, I’ll make you a better deal.”

  He leaned closer and suddenly grabbed her upper arms and hauled her against his chest. “You haven’t fulfilled your last deal, but I plan to rectify that. You’ll marry me, Delilah,” he ground out.

  She fought like a wildcat to free herself from his grasp. Marry him? Was he insane?

  “Hey! What are you doing?” Josh suddenly appeared beside them and hauled her out of Nate’s grasp. He grabbed the other man by the shirtfront and shoved him backward. “Take your hands off my fiancée,” he growled. “What the hell is the matter with you?” He kept an eye on Nate as he asked, “Did he hurt you, honey? Do I need to call the police?”

  At the word police, Nathan held up both hands. “No hard feelings, man. In the dim lighting, I thought she was someone else,” he said, then backed away and disappeared into the crowd.

  “Damn coward,” Josh muttered. His eyes glittered with fury as he turned toward Delilah, but his touch was gentle as he brushed a strand of hair off her cheek. “Did he hurt you? Are you okay?”

  Nate’s threat of marriage had made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. He’d scared her with his tight grip, but she’d held her ground. She drew in a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. She hadn’t cowered or caved. She’d faced down the monster on her terms, and it felt good, damn good. A slow smile bloomed. “I’m fine, actually. Finally.”

  He picked up her hand, and the way he looked at her as he kissed her knuckles said he not only understood but he was proud of her.

  A waiter suddenly appeared, and Delilah decide
d this was cause for celebration. Despite the situation with Mary, she was finally free of the past, and Josh’s look of pride had been replaced with a blistering heat she felt all the way to her toes. “Champagne, miss?”

  “Yes, thank you,” she said as she took the flute and raised it to Josh in salute. She took a sip, savored the crisp taste, then swallowed some more. “You don’t want any?”

  “I’ll grab some ginger ale from the bar,” he said.

  Right. FWC officer on duty. Even that reminder of their purpose tonight couldn’t dim her mood. “Okay. Meet me at the buffet table. I’m starving.” Then she’d go finish her little chat with Eli.

  He studied her for a long moment. “Put the earbud back in, and stay where I can see you.”

  Delilah took it out of her purse and tucked it into place, relieved he hadn’t lectured. His bossy tone chafed, but she couldn’t ignore the seriousness of the situation. Until now, she’d been convinced Aaron or John Henry had been behind the warnings and attempts on her life, but now she wasn’t sure. What if it was Nate? She took a plate and wandered past the hors d’oeuvres, replaying their conversation. If he still wanted to marry her—which was completely insane—he’d have no reason to kill her, would he? That didn’t even make sense. Who, then?

  She nibbled on a bacon-wrapped date and sipped more champagne as she tried to puzzle it out. Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit her. She set her glass down with a shaky hand and braced herself against the table. What in the world?

  Although she hadn’t had champagne in a while, she’d never reacted like this. Maybe it was nerves and the fact that she hadn’t eaten much today. Her stomach gave a sudden lurch, and she turned and searched for the nearest restroom.

  She spotted the sign across the room and headed that way, taking slow, deliberate steps, since the room had an unfortunate tendency to spin. She handed her glass and plate to another passing waiter as she made her way to the hallway. Once there, she had to pause and brace her hand against the wall, since the spinning was getting worse. She kept walking and heard someone whisper about obnoxious drunks, but she couldn’t seem to form the words to protest.