An Embarrassment of Monsters: A Dark Romantic Suspense Novel (Alace Sweets Book 3)

by MariaLisa deMora

  They made the transfer carefully, still learning their way around how these things worked, and Lila promptly screamed and thrashed her arms until Alace got her into the right angle to find the fresh nipple. Then it was a few minutes of impolite grumbling as she settled back into the rhythm.

  “She’s so gorgeous, beloved.” His gaze stayed focused on Lila, and Alace stifled a sob, tears welling in her eyes as emotions overwhelmed her.

  “I didn’t expect to love her so much.” Her whispered confession made him look at her, soft smile still in place. “Eric, she’s so tiny. Anything could hurt her. I won’t let it. I won’t. I wanna make her safe forever.” He leaned in and captured her mouth, one hand slipping alongside her neck to curve around possessively as they kissed deeply, tongues tangling. He ended the kiss with a nip to her bottom lip, then pressed his forehead against hers.

  Eyes closed, he gave her what sounded like a promise. “We will keep her safe. We both know the kind of monsters there are out in the world, and between you and me, none of the evil will ever touch her. Ever.” He pulled back, hand still on her neck as he lifted his other to palm Lila’s head. Their daughter lay between them, protected by their bodies, contentedly nursing. “I’ve already got a truckload of bubble wrap on order, ready for delivery at the first signs of independence.” His teasing declaration made her laugh as he’d clearly intended, her wet sputter gaining her a crooked grin from him. “She’s so loved, Alace. By you and me, and Bebe.” His mouth pulled to the side wryly. “I love you. Thank you. I don’t know what I did to deserve this family, but I’m so blessed and happy.”

  Blinking fast, Alace complained, “You’re gonna make me weepy again.”

  He leaned in and placed a kiss on each of her eyelids, then settled back.

  “I’ll kiss away all your tears. You being sentimental doesn’t diminish your beauty to me, Alace. I wish I could quiet all your fears.” He rolled his eyes. “Hold you close for all the years.” Laughing, he pressed his lips to hers. “I simply love you.”

  When Phoebe “Bebe” Ward arrived a few hours later, Alace was surprised at the greeting she received as the woman walked into the living room where she sat with Lila. Making a beeline straight for the couch, with knees together, Phoebe crouched in front of Alace and leaned close, touching her cheek to Alace’s. She whispered, “Oh, my brave girl. You’ve done so well.”

  Alace didn’t try to hide the tears prompted by the tiny bit of maternal encouragement.

  Her own mother was long dead, and Alace had no good memories of her. The worst of the nightmares were behind her at least, sleep no longer broken by memories of waking to strange men in their flophouse hotel room, their brutal use of her mother’s body the route chosen to buy the next fix.

  When she’d first met Phoebe, Alace had been so fearful she’d been nauseated. Even if the woman hadn’t a clue about Alace’s role in taking down her ex-husband, she’d expected to face some kind of evil inquisition about her background as it applied to the then-fledging relationship with Eric. Instead, Alace had entered what had seemed like an alternate universe, where Eric’s mother adored her and proclaimed her “perfect for my son,” encouraging the couple to share a bedroom in her Malibu home. She’d introduced Alace as her daughter to her friends then and there, and Alace had overheard her telling her husband, Eric’s stepfather, how much she already loved the woman she hoped would become her daughter-in-law.

  It had taken months until Alace believed the first visit wasn’t a fluke, brought on by stress over the nationwide coverage surrounding the exposure of Bebe’s ex-husband to be the arrogant, abusive bastard he was. From Phoebe’s tight-lipped reaction to Ward’s press conference announcing his retirement, Alace had known there was more to his mother’s story than Eric knew. A dark hatred had swelled in her for a man who could take someone so beautifully giving and make them sit in pained silence. Phoebe had shared later, when Alace had found her sitting on the patio, staring out at the ocean. What she’d learned would earn Ward more pain. When it’s time.

  After Lila’s birth, once their family of three had been settled in the hospital room, Alace had immediately voiced her desire for her mother-in-law to visit. She’d done it loudly and intentionally, while Eric was on the phone with Phoebe. His only response had been to pass along the scold from Phoebe to remember to call her Mom, and not by her given name.

  Never having a mother worthy of the name, Alace found herself reveling in the idea she’d found one now.

  “Phoebe…Mom. I’d like you to meet your granddaughter.” Alace shifted and lifted her daughter so Bebe could see her face. “Lila Sue, this is Bebe, the best grandmother in the world.”

  “Oh, my stars. Could she be any prettier? Oh, Eric, honey, you and Alace made a gorgeous little girl.” Phoebe sat on the couch next to Alace and held out her arms. “Come to Bebe, gorgeous.”

  “Not so fast, Bebe. Wash your hands first.” Eric walked towards the stairs, his mother’s suitcase in hand. “Hospital rules still apply.”

  “Of course, of course.” Phoebe stood, unbuttoned her coat, and draped it over the back of a nearby chair. “I’m positively excited.” She winked at Alace. “Back in a minute, sweet girls of mine.”

  Overwhelmed, all Alace could do was nod. How in the hell did I get so lucky?

  Alace didn’t know, but she’d do anything to keep this family she’d found safe from any threats.

  Anything.

  ***

  Owen

  Seated at the desk he’d installed in his bedroom, Owen ran the fingers of one hand through his hair, ruffling the strands. His other hand was being used to tab through information he’d downloaded about the sibling pair pervert group. Mind only half on what he was doing, he glanced at the security video displayed on a nearby tablet. Nothing moved in the room, captured in shades of white and gray, the two blanket-covered lumps that were Kelly and Shiloh lying still and silent in the bed.

  Things had gone as well as could have been hoped after dinner, Kelly asking questions with an intensity he’d come to expect from the boy. He’d been upfront with both kids, explaining he didn’t yet have answers to most of what they’d want to know but promising to iron out details quickly. Owen wanted to wait until Marchant had at least another chance to look Shiloh over. Before the doctor had left, they’d scheduled a repeat visit for a few days’ time, so he had a window of opportunity in which to plan. Shiloh’s energy had faded quickly after eating, the little girl growing quieter by the minute until Owen had suggested time for bed.

  Movement made the edges of the screen blink red, and he focused on the bed, seeing Shiloh was sitting up. She wiggled to the edge of the bed and got to her feet, then seemed to hesitate, head turning back and forth a few times. The door to the hallway was cracked a few inches, and when she headed that direction, Owen stood and walked to his bedroom door, stepping out into the corridor.

  Without the infrared visibility to lend greater clarity, Shiloh came into view gradually, her little girl’s nightgown a lighter contrast against the darkness. She stopped and stared up at him, then tucked her chin to her chest.

  “Hey, sweetie,” Owen greeted, pleased when she looked up at him again. “What woke you up, baby girl?” Her head swung back and forth, hair sweeping across her shoulders. “Bad dreams?” He gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she nodded. “You wanna stay with me for a little while?”

  “Pease.” Her voice was tiny and quavered, a better reflection of her mental state than the impassive expression she wore.

  “Sure thing.” He backed up and was turning when she caught at his hand, fingers wrapping around his index finger tightly. “I’m working on something, but I’ll be right here, and you can rest on my bed. When you go back to sleep, I’ll carry you to where Kelly’s sleeping.” He led her towards the bed and lifted her to the middle, bringing up a blanket to tuck around her. “You’re safe here, sweetheart. Nothing to worry about, I promise you.”

  Her grip on his finger
didn’t waver, growing even tighter as he attempted to withdraw.

  Owen inched closer instead, and he crouched down to put his head at level with hers, sweeping her hair away from her face. The expression revealed was hesitant, wary. “Shiloh, do you believe you’re safe here?”

  She studied him closely, the weight of her scrutiny heavier with each passing second; then her bottom lip bowed up and quivered. “No.”

  Her admission hit him like a fist to the solar plexus, and he struggled to school his reaction. “How can I make it so you trust me? Kelly trusts me. He’s been with me longer. Maybe in a few days, we can have this conversation again?”

  “I twust you.” Shiloh patted his hand consolingly, and at her caring gesture, this sweet baby’s attempt to comfort him, Owen lost the fight against the rage flowing through him.

  How any human could do anything to hurt an angel like this, he’d never understand. The image of Shiloh waking next to Earl mixed in his mind with the pictures he’d seen of Emma, the things those animals had done to her, and he dropped his face into his hands with a cry. “I’m sorry.” He wasn’t sure if he was speaking aloud, but Shiloh’s hand settled on his head. “I wish I could have been there. I wish I could have saved you.” Those words were the same ones he’d spoken over his daughter’s grave, on his knees in the snow as the first enormous waves of grief had him in their grip. Numbness had descended into place for so long, Owen didn’t know what to do with the emotions battering at him now. “I’m sorry, baby girl. I’m so sorry.”

  A hand touched his shoulder, and he instinctively knew it was Kelly. The boy leaned against him, resting his head in the crook of Owen’s neck. Shiloh crawled across the bed, curling around Owen as best she could, her fingers plucking at his, peeling them away from his face so she could see. He stared at her, eyes hot and stinging with salt. His raw emotions couldn’t take much more.

  “We know.” That was Kelly, his body pressed against Owen’s trembling like aspen leaves in a breeze. “It’s not your fault.” He turned Owen’s head, staring into his eyes. “We know.”

  “I wish…” Owen trailed off, and Kelly broke their stare, twisting to curl an arm around Shiloh’s upper body, drawing her closer. “I’m so glad we found each other.”

  ***

  Alace

  She stared at the computer monitor, working her way through a mass of documents Owen had uploaded. He’d intelligently posed his question in an email, offering her an out if what he’d asked wasn’t comfortable. The surprise hadn’t lasted long, and she’d quickly found the idea of having him closer wasn’t uncomfortable, not at all. It was the opposite. If he were nearby, they could collaborate more effectively and work together to hone the skills they needed to stay sharp.

  No matter if she wasn’t going to personally work the gigs anymore, she didn’t want to lose her edge. Getting stale wasn’t an option, not something to consider, even just in her head. Practice—for lack of a better word—had been something she’d carefully organized in the past, setting up sessions with individuals meticulously vetted for what they had to offer. Sometimes it had been a give-and-take process, where Alace would agree to teach something specific and, in turn, learn a different talent from them. Her skills and Owen’s were already complementary, so training with him would keep them both in a greater state of readiness.

  Owen moving here. With two kids in tow.

  That last detail was a bit surreal. Based on his communications, it was clear he was laying plans to keep the two kids he’d rescued—indefinitely. He’d made reference to developing a local support network that would allow him to continue working. Supposedly that was one of the places where she would come in. Alace snorted at the idea of anyone asking her to babysit, even Owen. Not happening. They were friends, sure, but babysit?

  She stilled as she realized what she’d thought. Not too long ago, she’d been bemoaning the fact she didn’t have any friends other than Eric, and now she was making assumptions about Owen, one of her hunters. He’s not only my hunter. I can’t deny there’s been a shift between us. Not after the last few gigs they’d worked. The kind of synchronized awareness they’d developed was unfamiliar, but not unwelcome.

  Could be he’s as lonely as I once was. Before she’d started building her family.

  With that thought, Alace toggled the view on the monitor, changing to a map overlay with a single dot in the center of a green rectangle. She zoomed in and saw the park’s name matched one Bebe had mentioned before she’d left the house with Lila in her stroller.

  “Beloved.” That single word—fucking, fucking word—rolled over her, and Alace shivered, nipples tingling. Damn, just his voice does shit to me. It would be weeks yet before they could attempt intimacy, and she already found herself counting down the days. “Is that my mother and Lila?”

  Alace looked over her shoulder, meeting his gaze without shame. “Yes.” She glanced back at the screen and clicked an icon, changing the overlay from the static map to the satellite imagery showing greater detail, including the park bench where the dot was positioned. “They’re at the park.”

  “Alace, did you bug my mother?” He sounded bemused, not angry, so she gave him a tiny smirk over her shoulder this time.

  “No. I wouldn’t do that. Unless you asked me to.” She hid the first screen and brought up a portal log-in, entering her complicated pass phrase followed by a security question, which was followed by another pass phrase. Once within the controls, she flicked the display to show the view below the drone she’d had hovering over where her mother-in-law and child sat in the sunshine. “There they are.” Zooming in, she smiled at Phoebe’s attentive interaction with Lila. “Awww, Bebe looks like she’s having a good time.”

  “Baby.” She shivered again, looking up at him as his hands settled on her shoulders. Damn, he’s pulling out the big guns. “Did you bug our daughter?” She dipped her chin once, slowly. “And you’re spying on Bebe’s afternoon out?” Alace wrinkled her nose. “Where did you plant the bug?”

  “This one is in the stroller.” She ducked her head and turned back to the computer, flipping to the overlay with the location indicator. Tapping out a sequence, she pulled up a different control screen, slowly toggling buttons from red to green. As she did each one, a new marker lit up on the screen. “This one is in the diaper bag. This is the pink dinosaur blanket. This one is the pacifier tether. The bottle holder in the bag. Her dinosaur toy. Her onesie.” When she finished, the space around the bench was littered with dots, each a slightly different color. She stared at the screen and took in a deep breath. “It’s not what it looks like. It’s not that I don’t trust your mother. I do. I trust Bebe with my life. With Lila’s life.”

  Eric’s lips touched her temple, holding there for a long kiss. “I understand, beloved. Believe me, I truly understand.”

  “It’s too much, isn’t it?” Alace dropped her head back and looked up at him again with a groan. “I’ve officially crossed over into crazyland.”

  “If it helps keep our daughter safe, then it would never be too much.” He bent close and kissed her lips, the upside-down positioning making something so familiar feel different and unique. “And you’ve been in crazyland a while now, my dear, sweet Alace. I definitely married the Red Queen.”

  Alace huffed out a laugh, then paused, her gaze tracing how the smile he wore changed his face. So gorgeous. “Who’s the Red Queen again? Wait, she’s the crazy one, isn’t she?”

  Eric’s smile turned sly. “Maybe a little.”

  Chapter Seven

  Owen

  Hip angled against the kitchen cabinet, Owen rested his weight in a comfortable stance as he watched the kids through the open archway into the living room. They were positioned in front of the TV, Shiloh sitting on the floor near one end of the sofa, Kelly sprawled out over half the cushioned surface. An animated movie about talking cars was playing, one Kelly had promised Shiloh enjoyed, too. The goal was to keep both kids busy enough to stay there, giving Ow
en a chance to talk to the guest he’d invited over.

  Right on schedule, the tablet screen lit up, the motion-activated security camera showing a car pulling into the driveway. Owen tapped a button on his phone, and the garage door began opening, the SUV pulling inside. He tapped the same button, and the garage door closed, visible on the video as he walked towards the connecting door.

  Marchant stood beside his vehicle when Owen opened the door. He was sweeping the space with an attentive glance. On his previous visits, he had entered and exited via the front door, so this was new territory. “Hey,” Marchant offered, walking towards Owen with his hand out. “Good to see you again.”

  “You too, man.” Owen gripped and shook, their hands lifting twice before he disconnected. “Come on in. I’ve got brews or some brew, depending on what you want.”

  “Brews or brew?” Marchant followed him, and Owen noted once again his danger-radar wasn’t pinging at all, no unease at having the man at his back. A mark on the plus side of the column for what he’d planned for tonight. “What’s that mean? Hey, Kelly, Shiloh.” The kids’ heads swiveled towards them, Kelly raising a hesitant hand before looking back at the TV. Shiloh took longer to return to the video, her gaze lingering on Marchant. “They doing well?”

  “Yeah, seem to be. Shiloh’s healing, and I’m gradually getting them back to fightin’ weight. They spook easy, though.” He pointed towards the refrigerator. “Brews are in there.” Grabbing a mug, he poured himself a cup of the coffee waiting in the carafe. “And brew is here.”

  “Brew, if you don’t mind.” Marchant nodded with a smirk. “Clever boy.”

  “All man, thank you very much.” Owen’s brain stuttered at the unintentional innuendo of their back-and-forth banter, and he shook his head. “Sugar?”

  “Now you’re calling me sweet?” Mug in hand, Owen swung around to stare at the man, surprised by the blatant humor on his features. “I’m kidding, Marcus. Black works for me. And it’s to be expected the kids will take time to get over the trauma they experienced. It hasn’t been long at all. In the grand scheme of things, a couple of weeks isn’t enough to lay down enough good memories to block out the bad stuff.”