Love & Corruption: A Love & Ruin Standalone Novel

by J. A. Owenby

  “Good girl,” I said, under my breath.

  He grabbed her bag and rifled through the contents until he located her ID. Thank goodness the living room light had been on so he could see the scene clearly. He radioed the information in as an ambulance pulled up to the house. Redd remained still while the officer requested his ID.

  As soon as we arrived, I was out of the car and inside Sutton’s home. I stepped in with his hands up.

  “I’m Pierce Westbrook, owner of Westbrook Security.” I extended my hand to the officer. “That’s my man and client on the floor. You might have known my father, Dominic Westbrook, who passed away unexpectedly a few days ago.”

  My gaze landed on Sutton, and fear traveled up my spine. Was she hurt? Who had shot at her?

  “You’re Dom’s, boy?” The officer next to me asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “We’re good, then. I’ve worked with your father for years. He was a good man. Come on in, but don’t disturb the scene.”

  I crept around the loveseat and was next to Sutton in seconds. “Are you hurt?”

  She sat up slowly and searched around. “I’m not sure.” Her chin wobbled, and I scooped her up in his arms. A few EMTs entered the house and I helped her into the kitchen.

  “Jesus, when I saw what happened on the cameras and you didn’t get up or move …” My voice was thick with the thought that she had been hit. “I thought …” I placed my hands on my hips and blew out a sharp breath. I’d lost a lot of people, but if I lost her … My heart would never recover.

  “I don’t know what happened,” Sutton said, sitting on top of the table while the EMTs went to work, scouring her for wounds. “One minute I was grabbing a few pictures off the mantle to take to your place—our place.” She gave me a small smile, her attention lingering on her living room. “I heard glass shatter, then the next thing I knew Redd tackled me and covered me with his body. I probably took more damage from him than the shards. And what broke the window?” Her brows knitted together in confusion.

  “I’m going to talk to the officers, get their names, and see if they know anything. I’ll offer them the footage as well. I haven’t sifted through it all yet because the second I saw you and Redd down … I was on my way.” My eyes searched hers for a moment. “I love you.” I carefully placed a kiss on her lips then walked toward the front door but kept her in my line of sight.

  Even though the cops were here, I was in full protection mode and refused to be too far away from Sutton. After another ten minutes of her being poked and prodded, the EMTs cleared her. Her body was still covered with small cuts from the glass and was bruised from taking a hit from Redd, but the impact was nothing like she’d taken in training.

  Blood seeped through Redd’s jeans directly above his knee as he limped toward Sutton.

  “Oh no,” she said, patting the table next to her. “You got hurt.”

  “All in a day’s duty, ma’am.” He grinned as he sat down, and the EMTs began to check him out.

  I trained my attention in Redd’s direction. He had a nasty gash on his thigh. “Let’s get ’er done.” Redd rubbed his hands together, not even blinking at the idea of stitches.

  After the officers surveyed the situation, I led them into the kitchen and stood next to Sutton.

  “Ms. Forrester, I’m Officer Simpson and this Officer Calhoun. You’re a lucky woman,” he said, approaching us.

  “Yes, sir. Vaughn, my bodyguard, took care of me. I’m grateful to have him.” She eyed Redd briefly.

  “Yes, but he could have also taken a bullet.” He held up an evidence bag and presented two casings.

  Her body stiffened with the proof. “Someone tried to shoot me …”

  My jaw tensed briefly, but other than that, I maintained a calm demeanor and didn’t display any emotions.

  “From discussing the situation with Pierce, we’re assuming it’s related to the kidnapping of your sister.”

  My gut twisted with the information, but there was nothing else to say until we were in the safety of the penthouse.

  “We’ll update you the minute we have any leads. Whoever did it knew what they were doing. There are no tire or footprints around your home.”

  Sutton shook her head. “Thank God they were a lousy shot or Vaughn and I would be dead.”

  “Thank you for your quick response, officers.” I shook both their hands. “I’ll be in touch with any information we have, and if you can’t reach Ms. Forrester, please don’t hesitate to call me on my cell.”

  I dialed up every ounce of charm I had and escorted the police to the door. The EMTs followed, and we were alone with a large broken window and a huge fucking mess.

  “I contacted a company to fix the window, and they will be here shortly,” Jeffrey said from the front porch.

  “Perfect. I appreciate it more than you know.” I left him on the porch to keep an eye on the outside of the house, and I returned to the kitchen.

  “Are you all right, Redd?” I asked.

  “Hell yeah, it’s a little flesh wound. Sutton and I were just saying it’s nothing compared to what we used to get into growing up.”

  I nodded, my attentive gaze traveling over them. My nerves were humming with anxiety that something else might happen, and I couldn’t let my guard down until she was safely in my bed. “Someone should be here any minute to fix your window.”

  “Seriously? It’s like nine at night.”

  “It’s amazing how fast they’ll patch up a job when they find out who you are.” I pursed my lips together. “Jeffrey called Dad’s contacts and arranged for them to take care of it while we were in here.”

  A work truck and a crew of four men pulled into the driveway.

  “I’ll handle this. I want you and Redd locked safely in your bedroom,” I said. “Please.” I gave Sutton a quick kiss, then Redd jumped off the table and landed on both feet like nothing had happened to him.

  “I need alcohol. Lots of alcohol,” Sutton muttered under her breath.

  My eyebrow rose while she hopped down and rummaged through the cabinet.

  “This should do,” she said, collecting a bottle of vodka and another of rum. “Maybe one more.” Sutton snatched the container of gin that was only a quarter full. “Grab the Coke, 7Up, and a glass.”

  “Sutton, I’m on duty. I can’t drink with you,” Redd reminded her. “Besides, I’m not sure it’s wise to drink anything when you’re nearby. I actually like staying alert.” His low chuckle traveled through the house.

  “He’s right, he’s on the clock,” I called out over my shoulder as I strode toward the front door, pieces of glass crunching below my booted feet.

  “Oh, I know.” She piled the bottles in her arms. “This isn’t for you, it’s for me.”

  Redd’s grin split across his face. “You do whatever you need to in order to deal with it.” His voice trailed off.

  I moved around the broken glass and greeted the repairmen. After a few minutes of showing them the damage, I joined Redd and Sutton in her room.

  “Babe?” I asked from behind her.

  Chapter 30

  Sutton turned toward me, delicately balancing way too many bottles in her arms. She only got plastered when life was too much for her to handle. The pain of losing Claire and becoming a target herself was cutting her too deep. The overwhelmed and fearful expression on her face confirmed my suspicions.

  I approached her, unloaded the alcohol, and returned them to her kitchen cabinet.

  “I have no problem with you drinking until you pass out tonight, but I need you to be in my bed so I can take care of you.” I gently squeezed her shoulders.

  She massaged her forehead and focused on me.

  “I’m so ready to hide from the world. Just for a day so I can get my feet back under me.” She heaved a sigh. “Every time I think we have hope, something else happens, jerking the rug out from underneath me again.”

  I took her fingers and pulled her against me. Her body shudd
ered against mine, and the only thing I wanted to do was take her to my bed, tuck her in, and comfort her all night long. I almost lost her tonight, but this time it would have been permanent. Everything inside me needed to hold her against me, skin to skin, and feel her heartbeat beneath the palm of my hand. Fear bubbled up in my chest. Had she been a target because of me? Was the shooter connected to Claire?

  “Jeffrey and Sully will wait for the guys to finish the window and lock your house up. We’re going home.”

  “What? Sully is here?” she asked. “I didn’t see them.”

  “Yeah, we were on our way to the penthouse when the security system alerted me. They’ve been outside keeping an eye on any suspicious activity.”

  She placed her head against my chest and nodded.

  “Redd, too, right? I mean, he can come with us?” She peered up at me, her blue eyes weary from the excitement.

  “Yeah. Let’s go. I’m driving. Redd, get in the back seat where you can put your leg up.”

  “Nah, I’m fine, boss.”

  “It’s an order.”

  “Yes, sir,” Redd said, flashing a quick smile.

  “Do you have everything you need?” I asked Sutton.

  “Crap. I almost forgot. I have a suitcase in the bedroom, and I’d come into the living room to collect the photo of … you … and your dad.”

  “Stay here.” I kissed the top of her head and left her with Redd. I trudged through the shards of glass, picked up the picture frames from the floor, and shook the pieces off. Returning to the kitchen, I grabbed a towel and wrapped them carefully. “I’ll take care of them when we get to the house. The pane is broken, and I don’t want you to cut yourself.”

  A smile spread across her face. “You do remember I can kick your ass, right?”

  “It’s been a few years, so I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” I winked at her. Sutton was the strongest person I knew other than my team, and I’d never disrespect her by implying she wasn’t capable of handling whatever situations were thrown at her. But sometimes … I just wanted to take care of her, not because I had to, but because I loved her.

  Finally, we loaded her belongings into the car and settled in. The Mercedes purred to life, and I pulled out of her driveway.

  “Let’s go home,” I said, squeezing her hand.

  The moment we entered the penthouse, Sutton had made a beeline for the bar. Redd had popped a pain pill and crashed out while I watched over Sutton. Once the alcohol had begun to flow, her tears did as well, and all I could do was helplessly watch her cry and rock her in my lap. Eventually she fell asleep, and I carried her into our room and tucked her into bed.

  The world could be a shit place, but no matter what was going on, life was always better when Sutton was next to me.

  The raindrops splattered against my bedroom window while the first morning light peered through the cracks of the curtains, and I watched her sleep.

  Her eyes fluttered open, and she gave me a sleepy smile.

  “Hi,” I said, stroking her cheek with the pad of my thumb. “How are you feeling?”

  She frowned and licked her lips. “Like I need a lot of aspirin.”

  “It’s on your nightstand.”

  She sat up and downed the medicine along with the full glass of water.

  “You let me sleep until noon?” She gasped and tossed the covers off her.

  A slow grin moved across my face. I’d undressed her after she’d passed out, but I’d not bothered putting her gown on. “You needed the rest, babe.”

  She rubbed her eyes. “As much as I’d love to have morning … afternoon sex with you, I desperately need a shower and to clear my groggy thoughts.”

  “Are you hungry? Some food might help, too. We have some things to discuss today.”

  She held her hand up, silencing me. “Coffee and toast would be awesome. Can you give me a little time before we have to talk about last night?” Her eyes pleaded with me. I slipped off the side of my bed, grabbed my jeans and a polo shirt, and got dressed.

  “Of course. Just come find me when you’re ready. Take your time.” I tipped her chin up and gave her a quick kiss.

  Forty-five minutes later, Sutton strolled into my office wearing light blue jeans and a lavender shirt. A large cup of coffee was in her hands. She’d pulled her long blonde hair into a ponytail and applied a little makeup. She was breathtaking without it, but I figured she was trying to keep some type of normalcy in her life even if it was with the small things.

  She sat down and peered at me over her mug.

  I leaned back in my chair, placing my hands behind my head, appreciating every amazing thing about her. It seemed like a dream that she was finally with me again.

  “Have you heard anything new from the police this morning?” she asked, sipping her coffee.

  “Not yet. I’ve reviewed the camera footage, but there’s nothing on the video. From the looks of the bullet shells, they used a gun with a long effective range, which means they were easily able to stay out of the camera’s reach.”

  “Why? Why do you think someone shot at me instead of taking me like they did Claire?” Her jaw visibly clenched. “Fucking perverts. Who sells people?” Sutton’s nose wrinkled in disgust.

  I sighed and propped my elbows on my desk.

  “Since word has gotten out that I’m in town … my presence might put you in danger. Sutton—”

  “Oh hell no.” She cut me off and waved a hand in the air. “No way in God’s name are you shipping me off somewhere to keep me safe like I’m a fucking china doll. Don’t even say it.”

  Although we’d spent years apart, she still understood how my brain worked.

  “Babe, I think we need to relocate you and your family somewhere else.”

  She placed her coffee cup on my desk, shaking her head adamantly. “Move Mom and Dad, but I’m not going anywhere.”

  A sigh escaped me. I’d already known what her answer would be before I ever asked.

  “There’s more. The person that showed up here yesterday was Don Colbert, Claire’s history professor.”

  “What?” she gasped. “I thought he’d taken off and was hiding or something like that.”

  “He was. Until … until the men he’d brought the ladies to in the tunnel found him, tied him up at a cabin in Mt. Hood, and took his wife and daughters.”

  Sutton’s mouth went slack, and I paused, allowing her to process the news.

  “Why? I mean, he delivered Claire and the other college students—I don’t understand.”

  “He showed up and begged for my help in bringing his family back home.”

  Sutton’s face twisted into disgust and surprise. “And?”

  “I agreed because they shouldn’t have to pay for his mistakes.”

  She nodded, her expression growing gentle.

  “Here’s what’s interesting, though. Don has no clue who is behind the trafficking. He was approached by a young man on campus, but he never identified who he was working for. Afterward, Don used part of the hundred grand they’d paid him and attempted to hide his family. Unfortunately for his wife and kids, they never disposed of their cell phones.”

  “Oh my God.” Sutton smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand.

  “Sutton … The Sons of Chaos aren’t involved in the kidnappings and trafficking. From what Lionel and Don shared with me, the Cobra Bastards are. Jaci is behind it.”

  Her face flushed bright red as Jaci’s involvement dawned on her. She jumped out of her chair, her fists clenching. “What the fuck? You mean all this time he was pretending to be my friend and he was plotting to kidnap and sell my sister? That son of a bitch will pay for this.”

  “Sutton, I’m sorry. Lionel has never led me astray. The one thing Don did say was the young man who pulled him aside on campus had a cobra on the back of his jacket, which confirmed what Lionel shared with me.”

  “Isn’t that proof enough? Can’t we just … just...” Her eyes narrowed with anger whi
le she paced my office.

  “Hang on a minute, there’s more. Don said the reason they came after his family was because somehow the job had been botched. The girls never left Oregon.”

  Sutton stopped cold, and I watched her face flash from fury to disbelief, then astonishment.

  “Are you saying what I think you are? That she’s alive and very possibly still in Portland?”

  “That’s what he said. I told Brian all the details when I handed Don over to the FBI. Not a minute later, your security alarm went off. I was going to talk to you about all of this last night, but when I saw you lying motionless on your floor … nothing else, mattered.”

  “Do you think someone shot at me because we’re getting too close? Maybe they think I know more than I do, and if they’ve monitored my house, they’ve seen you there. They would know we’re working together.”

  “At this point anything is possible, but I need a favor.”

  Her expression softened. “Name it.”

  “I don’t want you at your place until we have a handle on this. If you need something, I’m happy to go.”

  A beat of silence filled the space between us.

  “I could have died last night. Redd could have died.” Her voice trailed off, her eyes filling with fear and sadness.

  “I know. There aren’t words to tell you how terrified I was until I arrived at your house and realized you were all right. I could see and hear everything on camera, but holding you was the only way I knew you were okay.” I shook my head, my heart hammering double-time against my chest. “But you’re here. With me.” I pulled her into my lap and brought her chin toward me. “Swear to me you won’t go back over there for now.”

  “I promise.”

  “Not even with a bodyguard, Sutton. Only me.”

  She nodded. “I understand.”

  “Do you think Jaci had someone shoot at us last night?” Her fingers balled into fists with her anger.

  “At this point, all of the evidence is pointing to him. Although Lionel doesn’t know everything, he has always had solid intel.”

  “What’s next, then?” She leaned her head against my shoulder and tugged on my beltloop.