by Leah Brooke
Something about his own words struck a chord in him, one that he wanted to explore.
Caleb cleared his throat and eyed Stormy over the top of the laptop. “Where was Nicole Johnson going?”
Looking up from her coffee, Stormy frowned. “She said she was going to Ohio to stay with her sister.”
Caleb turned the laptop around to show her the screen, which showed the driver’s license of a woman named Nicole Johnson. “This looks nothing like the woman in your photos.”
Stormy stilled, her eyes going wide again before narrowing. “No. That’s not her. You must have the wrong Nicole Johnson. It’s probably a popular name.”
Nodding, he hit a few keys and showed her another picture, this one of a teenager. “Here’s the next one.”
Stormy looked at the screen, shaking her head as she lifted her gaze to Caleb’s again. “No. She’s too young.”
“Exactly.” Caleb turned the laptop back to face him again, his lips thinning. “The only other Nicole Johnson still alive in Nashville, and old enough to drive is a seventy-year-old woman.”
* * * *
Stormy felt the blood drain from her face. “What? Are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?”
She already knew that Caleb would have checked and double-checked but didn’t want to believe that she’d been duped.
But to what purpose?
And did Kathy, her roommate and best friend, play a part in it?
“I had no reason to think she was lying to me. It doesn’t make sense.”
Caleb shrugged, still tapping the keys. “You had no reason to mistrust her.”
She glanced at Devlin, who sat next to her, and Lucas, who stood leaning back against the counter, to find them both watching her.
Feeling like a fool, she rose to her feet. “I’m sure none of you would have made that mistake.”
Devlin wrapped a hand around her wrist, pulling her to his side. “You’d be wrong. We’ve made that mistake before.” Smiling, he nodded toward Caleb. “That’s why we check our clients out before we take the case.”
Stunned that she’d not only allowed him to hold on to her wrist, but felt bereft when he released her, Stormy nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Thanks.”
Caleb frowned. “So, tell us about Kathy Long.”
Stormy sighed, unable to hold back a smile. “You’re doing a background check on me. I should have expected that. Christ, my brain’s scrambled. I’m not taking any more of those pain pills.”
She didn’t want to admit, even to herself, that the three men watching her had more to do with her inability to think than the medication that had already run its course.
Lucas smiled. “Yes. You will. I can see that you’re in pain again and that the effects of your hot shower are already wearing off.” Retrieving the bottle from the counter, he came toward her. Taking her hand in his, he shook one out and into her palm. “Take it.”
Unnerved by the heat sizzling up her arm, Stormy tried to yank her hand back, but Lucas held firm. “I don’t want to take it. I need to think.”
“Pain isn’t gonna help that.” Devlin retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator, uncapping it before handing it to her. “Take the damned pill or I’ll make you.”
Stormy glared back at him, the look in his eyes telling her that he wouldn’t hesitate to do it.
She knew he wouldn’t do anything to hurt her, but with the idea of entering a wrestling match she knew she would lose, she grabbed the bottle from Devlin’s hand. “Fine.”
After taking the pill, she went to refill her coffee cup, ignoring their stares as she went back to the table and gingerly lowered herself into her seat.
She hated to admit that every muscle in her body ached and tried to cover it up as much as possible. “Okay. How can we find out who this woman is?”
An hour and a half later, Stormy studied the screen again, finding it more and more difficult to stay focused.
Lucas dropped into the seat across from her. “Have you made any enemies who’d want to set you up like this?”
Surprised that she didn’t even remember him getting up, Stormy shrugged, hiding the accompanying wince. “Just a bunch of irate men who cheated on their wives and girlfriends.” She frowned. “I wonder if she even knows that he’s a drug dealer.”
She needed to call Kathy.
She wanted to make sure her friend was safe, but she also wanted to find out more about Kathy’s friendship with her client.
Caleb shared a look with Lucas and Devlin, a look that spoke volumes, but that she couldn’t interpret. “Something tells me she knows. The question is, why would she send you to watch him?”
And did Kathy know?
Holding back a yawn, Stormy rubbed her eyes, dismayed to find that she had trouble keeping them open. “That’s a good question.” She reached for her coffee cup to find it gone. It had been replaced by the bottle of water Devlin had given her earlier.
Sipping his coffee, Lucas met her frown over the rim. “Problem?”
“What happened to my coffee?”
“You drank it.”
“What happened to my cup?”
“I washed it. You’ve had enough for now. You need some water. You lost a lot of blood yesterday, and you need to stay hydrated.”
“Coffee hydrates me.”
Caleb smiled up at Lucas. “Christ, she sounds like you.”
He turned the laptop toward Stormy while Devlin braced a hand on the back of her chair and leaned close enough for her to smell the soap he’d used in the shower.
Stormy studied the photo, which showed Sam Kline and Nicole Johnson getting out of their car and walking together toward the entrance of the club.
Laughing.
Kissing.
The perfect couple.
She lifted her gaze slightly, studying the black and white videos across the top of the screen. “Are those videos from security cameras here?”
She took the opportunity to look at the property since she’d been knocked out on painkillers when she’d arrived.
What appeared to be a six-foot chain link fence surrounded a surprisingly large property.
“Yes.” Caleb turned the laptop back to face him, studying the center of the screen before he started his rapid-fire tapping on the keys again.
She watched his hands, remembering how they’d felt on her skin. Her face burned when he suddenly glanced up at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips as if he knew what she’d been thinking.
Lucas moved to stand behind Caleb, studying the screen. “There are also motion detectors all around the property. No one can get to you here.”
Devlin rose and moved behind her to approach Caleb from the other side, studying the screen with the others. “You’re safe as long as you stay away from the windows and in our sight. You’ll be fine.”
Ignoring the photo, Stormy studied the property, promising herself that she’d find a way to explore it as soon as possible.
Lucas moved behind her, eyeing the screen over her shoulder. “Attractive woman.”
Stormy didn’t want to think about the number of beautiful women who swarmed over Lucas. “Attractive? She’s beautiful.”
Nicole’s long hair hung in gorgeous dark waves that Stormy could never hope to achieve.
Her own dirty blonde hair hung straight when she didn’t have it braided, and even when she took the braid out, the weight of her hair pulled the resulting waves out within an hour.
She’d been complimented on her green eyes her entire life, but they weren’t dark and almond shaped like Nicole’s.
Stormy had been called beautiful, but she knew she couldn’t compete with Nicole’s exotic looks.
If he thought of her as only attractive, Stormy knew she didn’t stand a chance of getting Lucas’s attention.
Reminding herself that she didn’t want it anyway, she mentally shrugged off her disappointment.
Still watching the screen, Devlin thinned his lips, his d
She looked at the screen again with a frown. “What’s wrong with Nicole’s—whoever’s—eyes? They’re beautiful. She’s beautiful.”
Lucas shook his head and walked to the sink and set his cup inside. “They’re too hard. She’s a cold, calculating woman. I’m gonna go do a perimeter check and call Ace. Stormy needs to rest. Make sure she lies down.”
Devlin nodded and rose to look over Caleb’s shoulder. “I know. She’s been fighting it for the last half-hour.”
Shaking her head, Stormy sipped her water. “Again, she’s right here.”
Caleb glanced at Stormy. “She’s got spunk. She’ll fight us in everything.”
Despite the fact that he’d given her only a quick glance, she had the feeling that he didn’t miss much.
“Stormy’ll learn to behave once she settles down and comes to grips with the fact that we’re in charge.” Devlin looked at the screen and grimaced. “Yeah. That woman’s a viper all right. She and Kline deserve each other.”
Stormy blinked at Devlin’s first statement but decided not to comment, settling on a glare in his direction.
Aware of Devlin’s gaze following her, Stormy rose, retrieved her cup from the drainer, and poured herself another cup of coffee. “Where’s my cell phone? I need to call my client. Maybe I can find out something that’ll tell us who the hell she is.”
Devlin gestured toward the opposite counter where her cell phone lay charging. “Logan found it in your purse and plugged it in for you. Don’t let on that you know she lied about her identity. Caleb sent it to Ace, who’ll have it run through the FBI’s database.”
Impressed, Stormy nodded and retrieved her phone. “Good. I’d love to know who the hell this bitch is.”
Inclining his head, Devlin gestured toward the table. “Put it on speaker.”
“No.” Stormy stepped away, still stinging from the fact that she’d been duped. “I’ll speak to my client in private. I don’t want you to let her know that I’m here or that I have anyone helping me.”
Devlin’s eyes narrowed as he took a step closer. “We have no intention of saying anything. We just want to hear what she has to say, and we want to hear her tone. Background noise. Anything that’ll help us.”
Shaking her head, Stormy took another step back. “I can handle it. I don’t want you butting in.”
Devlin took another step closer, and then another, closing the distance between them. “I think it’s time to reinforce some of the ground rules. I’m not gonna let your hatred of men affect this case.”
Insulted, Stormy lifted her chin, taking another step back. “My hatred of men is what makes me good at my job.”
“Your hatred of men blinds you to the truth. Give me the phone.”
Stormy whipped her hands behind her back, wincing at the pull to her healing wound. “No.”
Devlin’s dark brow went up, his eyes flashing at the challenge. “No?”
Caleb rose, striding toward them, the combination of alarm and excitement in his eyes making her stomach clench. “Easy, Devlin.”
Devlin wrapped his arms around her and closed a hand around both of her wrists, taking the phone from her. “Caleb, when have you ever known me to lose control?”
Stormy couldn’t tear her gaze away from his penetrating one, sucking in a breath at the feel of his chest against her breasts.
Caleb moved closer, reaching out to touch her hair. “You’re scaring her.”
Devlin’s lips curved, and with a dangerous glint in his eyes, he bent closer, his breath warm against her cheek. “Am I scaring you, Stormy?”
Swallowing heavily, she lowered her gaze and, realizing what she’d done, raised it again to stare at his chest. “Don’t be ridiculous. Let go of me.”
“Look at me.”
Not about to let him see how deeply his closeness affected her, Stormy lifted her gaze to his, sucking in a breath at the unmistakable hunger glittering in his eyes.
She glanced at Caleb, expecting anger and at the tension between her and Devlin, but found only amusement and desire in his eyes.
It confirmed her belief that their encounter had meant nothing to him.
Devlin’s eyes narrowed, a small, carnal smile tugging at his lips. “She’s scared, but not in the way you’re talking about. She’s not scared of me, are you, Stormy? You’re scared of what you’re feeling.”
Her nipples burned against his belly, the awareness in her clit making the already sensitized bundle of nerves swell and begin to ache.
Mortified that he saw so much, Stormy gulped, her face burning. “Let go of me.”
Devlin held out his hands as if in surrender, her cell phone firmly clasped in one of them. “I’m not holding you, darlin’.”
A wave of warmth swelled up inside her, his endearment and devilish grin making her heart race. “Give me my phone.”
Devlin’s gaze sharpened. “You should stay and spend some time with your brother. He misses you.” He ran his finger down her cheek, the glitter in his eyes part mischief and part something she couldn’t identify. “You never know. You might like living here. Besides, you won’t be able to leave until we’re sure the contract is cancelled.”
He held out his hand with her phone, his eyes flaring when she hurriedly grabbed it without touching him.
“How the hell are we supposed to know that?”
Caleb smiled and turned away. “We’ll know. As soon as Lucas is done talking to Ace, he’ll make another call.”
Aware of Devlin’s sharp attention, Stormy sidestepped him and made her way back to the table. “You’re good at this.”
Caleb dropped into his seat and reached for his coffee mug with a faint smile. “We’ve been doing this for a while.”
Nodding, she reached for her own cup, the sexual tension in the air sharp enough to cut with a knife. “I see that. You seem to have everything under control.”
Setting his cup aside, Caleb leaned back in his chair and gestured toward her phone. “Except you. Call your client, but put it on speaker. Ask her where she is. I’m gonna trace the call and see if she’s lying about that, too.”
Blowing out a breath, Stormy frowned. “None of this makes any sense.”
“It will.” Devlin slid into the seat next to her. “Keep her on the phone long enough for Caleb to trace the call.”
She sent a glare in his direction as she dialed the number. “I know you think I’m incompetent at this, but I know what I’m doing.” She glanced at Caleb. “One minute enough?”
“Yeah. I’ll let you know.”
Watching him, Stormy took a steadying breath, waiting for her client to answer.
“Hello?”
Holding the phone several inches from her mouth, she continued to watch Caleb, who focused his attention on the laptop screen. “Nicole, are you all right?”
“Oh, Stormy! I was so worried about you. When you told me that Sam had actually killed someone, I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it. I thought he was out cheating on me and all along he was dealing drugs. I slept with a murderer! He could have killed me at any time.”
Stormy mentally filed Nicole’s claim of not knowing Sam Kline sold drugs and focused on finding out as much as possible.
“I know. Don’t worry. I’ll get him.”
“I hope so. I want him locked up so he can’t get to me.”
Caleb lifted his head, motioning for her to keep talking.
“Nicole, I sent the information to someone I trust.”
“Your brother?”
Stormy’s stomach clenched. “How do you know I have a brother?”
Devlin and Caleb exchanged glances, the tension in the room intensifying.
“Um, I think Kathy mentioned it.”
Not wanting her brother in the line of fire, Stormy carefully kept her tone nonchalant. “No. My brother wouldn’t know what to do with that kind of information. I sent it to some friends. They’re very good at this sort of thing.”
“Oh? So who are these friends?”
Smiling at the touch of anger and panic in Nicole’s voice, Stormy glanced at Caleb. “Don’t worry about it. They’re really good at things like this and have all sorts of connections.”
“Oh. That’s good.”
Stormy had a feeling it was anything but good for the woman who used to be her client.
“Just stay hidden. Are you still in Ohio with your sister?”
“No. I didn’t want to put her in danger. I’m in New York. I figured it would be easier to get lost here.”
Devlin touched her arm to get her attention, but Stormy was already asking the question she suspected he wanted her to ask.
“What’s your sister’s name? I want to check on her.”
Nodding, Devlin pulled a tablet of paper closer, poising a pen over it expectantly.
Frowning at the long pause, Stormy glanced from Caleb to Devlin and back again. “Nicole? Are you there?”
“I’m here. I, um, just don’t want to get my sister involved. Why don’t you come to New York? I know people here, and I can keep you hidden while your friends sort all of this out.”
Frustrated that she was no closer to learning the identity of her client, Stormy blew out a breath. “Just stay hidden. He’s after me so the worse thing I could do is let him follow me to you.”
“I guess that makes sense, especially with the contract.”
Stormy stilled. “What do you know about a contract?”
“I really have to go, Stormy. Thanks for everything. Good-bye, and good luck.”
“Nicole!”
The woman she knew as Nicole disconnected, leaving Stormy staring at her phone.
“Son of a bitch.” Her phone clattered onto the table as Stormy shot to her feet. “What the hell’s going on? How does someone from Nashville, someone who seemed so sweet and innocent, have contacts in New York?”
Caleb reached for her hand, pulling her close and gesturing toward the screen. “She’s not in New York. She’s in Nashville. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where she’s been all along.”
Stormy stared, seeing the proof of Caleb’s words on the screen.
Her gaze lifted, drawn to the image on the computer screen of Lucas talking on his cell phone as he made his way through the back yard. He paused, glancing at one of the windows and almost straight into the camera, as if he felt her looking at him.
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