Killer Colton Christmas

by Regan Black

  “Merry Christmas,” she replied. Dario leaned over and kissed her softly, a tame, polite version of what they’d shared in the office yesterday. But it didn’t matter. Sensation arced through her, and just like that, she found herself wishing they were alone together so they could follow the kiss to its natural conclusion.

  Dario reached for her bags and set them gently on the floor and then his hands were on her, unwinding her scarf, skimming across her shoulders and down her arms as he helped her out of her coat. His touch was light and probably looked impersonal to an outside observer, but Felicity felt as though he’d stripped her bare in preparation for a passionate encounter. Her nerve endings tingled, and she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, savoring the sensation and wishing it would never end.

  Dario chuckled softly, and she opened her eyes to see him watching her. His knowing smile made it clear he knew exactly how his actions had affected her and he was enjoying her response.

  Two can play at that game, she thought to herself. She stepped closer and laid her hand flat on his chest, then leaned in and nuzzled the curve of his jaw with the tip of her nose. Dario sucked in a breath, and she felt his heart start to pound against her palm. She hid her grin in the slope of his neck, pleased to know she had power over him, as well.

  “Dario!” A woman’s voice drifted in from the room beyond. “Did Felicity arrive?”

  She drew back and smiled up at him, and he traced his fingertip across her lips. “Yes, Mom,” he called loudly. “I’m just taking her coat.” He leaned forward, his breath hot on her mouth. “We’ll pick this up again later,” he murmured. His voice was full of sensuous promise, and Felicity’s stomach fluttered.

  “Did your parents have a good flight?” he asked in a normal tone of voice. He grabbed her bags with one hand and placed his other hand on the small of her back as he led her toward the living room.

  “They did, thanks,” she responded.

  “Do they go on a trip every Christmas?”

  “Usually, yes. They started doing it after I joined the Marines. My mom said she couldn’t bear to sit by the tree without me, so she talked my dad into starting a new tradition. They’d already made all the arrangements for this year’s trip when they found out I would be here, and I told them to go and enjoy themselves one last time before we settled into our old routine again.”

  “That was nice of you,” he remarked, leading her through the living room. A large tree sat in the far corner, the branches covered in twinkling white lights. Packages lay strewn on the red plaid tree skirt, and the homey sight triggered a sudden pang of loneliness. She was glad her parents were on their trip, but she missed them and the holiday traditions her family had built over the years. She hadn’t even bothered to put a tree up this season, knowing no one would be around to celebrate with her.

  Except, it seemed, Dario and his family.

  He led her into the kitchen, where everyone was chatting and laughing. “Look who wandered in from the cold,” he boomed, raising his voice to be heard over the din.

  Everyone turned to look at her, and a chorus of voices rang out in welcome. A small corgi yipped in greeting, running over to sniff at Felicity’s shoes and pants with great enthusiasm, while a larger dog continued to snooze in the corner.

  “That’s just Scrabble,” Emiliano said, smiling. “She just needs to check you out, and then she’ll leave you alone.”

  “Fine by me,” Felicity said, bending down to scratch behind the dog’s ears.

  “I’m so glad you’re here!” said Marie, stepping forward. She hugged Felicity. “I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk to you at the engagement party the other day.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Felicity responded. “You guys were a little busy. I appreciate you including me now.”

  Dario’s parents came over next, and his mother, Natalia, embraced her with a smile. “Welcome—it’s always nice to meet one of Dario’s friends.” There was genuine warmth in her voice, and Felicity felt herself relax.

  Emiliano handed her a cup of coffee. “Thanks for babysitting him for us,” he said with a grin. “It’s nice of you to let him play detective. We appreciate you keeping him out of trouble while he’s in town.”

  “No problem,” Felicity said. “Believe it or not, he’s actually proved to be kind of useful.” She winked at Dario, who pinned Emiliano with a mock scowl.

  “Wow,” Emiliano said. He punched Dario lightly in the arm. “I’ll alert the media.”

  “Very funny,” Dario said drily. He reached out and ruffled Emiliano’s hair, and the two of them began to playfully wrestle in the middle of the kitchen. Scrabble danced around them, barking with excitement.

  “Boys,” said their father, Aurelio, his tone one of long-suffering patience. “How many times do I have to tell you? No roughhousing inside.”

  Their mother shook her head and aimed an apologetic glance at Marie and Felicity. “I’m sorry. I tried to civilize them. I really did.”

  “It’s okay,” Marie assured her. “There’s only so much you can do when you’re dealing with that much testosterone.”

  Felicity laughed. “Believe me, I’ve seen worse. The guys in the Corps were ten times as bad, and that was on a good day.”

  “I can imagine,” Marie said. “Was it tough being surrounded by men all the time?” She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t get me wrong—I like men. But there are times you just need to hang out with your girlfriends.”

  Felicity shrugged. “It was hard at first, but eventually I got used to it. Most of the time, they were professional.” She didn’t mention the occasions when the guys would turn off the self-censorship and really let loose. The things she’d heard and seen weren’t the kind of topics people discussed in polite company. Still, there was a part of her that missed the camaraderie and that sense of belonging, even though as the lone woman in her squad she’d always been something of an outsider. The line separating her from her fellow marines had been bright at first, but as they had gone through training and then fought together, the men had viewed her as less of a curiosity and had grown to accept her as an equal. That, more than any medal or commendation, was the highest honor she could have received.

  “And now you’re working as a PI?” Aurelio asked.

  “Yes. Trying to crack the Colton hacking case.”

  “I hope you’re having better luck than I did,” Emiliano said, smoothing the wrinkles out of his shirt. He and Dario had stopped their brotherly tussle and were now rejoining the conversation.

  “Well, so far neither one of us has gotten shot, so I’d say we’re ahead of you on that score,” Dario teased.

  “Boys, really.” Natalia tsked softly.

  “Ha ha,” Emiliano said. He rolled his shoulder and winced a little, as if still pained by the injury.

  The brothers continued their friendly banter as everyone settled around the table. Felicity enjoyed watching them tease each other, and their parents and Marie even poked fun at them a few times. It was so different from her experiences with her own family. She didn’t have any siblings, and her holiday gatherings were a lot more subdued. They all loved each other, to be sure, but they didn’t show it by joking back and forth like Dario’s clan.

  After a few minutes, Felicity began to join in the conversation. She was rewarded with a warm smile from Dario, and soon she felt like she’d been a part of the group for years.

  Time seemed to fly by, and soon they were out of food. Marie stood and lifted her mimosa. “Time for presents!”

  Everyone rose, and Dario took Felicity’s arm. “Now the fun really begins,” he whispered conspiratorially.

  “I should go,” she said, feeling out of place again.

  “Not at all,” he replied. They stopped before walking into the living room, letting everyone else go ahead of them. “I’d like
you to stay, if you don’t mind.”

  He sounded so hopeful she couldn’t bear to disappoint him. “Okay. I did bring a few little things for your family, just as a token of appreciation for having me today.”

  Surprise flickered in his eyes. “That was sweet of you.”

  She shrugged. “I couldn’t very well show up empty-handed. I even have something for you.”

  He grinned, his face lighting up with anticipation. “You have a present for me?”

  “I meant to give it to you yesterday afternoon, but since Adeline left early and we canceled the gift exchange, I brought it with me now.”

  He leaned closer, his breath warm on her neck. “I feel like you already gave me a present yesterday.” His voice was low and intimate, for her ears only. She swayed toward him, unconsciously seeking his touch.

  “I—I hadn’t planned for that to happen,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat at the reminder of the way she’d lost control. And in the middle of her office, no less!

  “I know. That’s what made it so great.” He ran his hand lightly down her arm and a line of goose bumps sprang up in response.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “Are you trying to pretend you didn’t?” he teased.

  She was saved from having to reply by the calls of his family. “Come on, slowpokes!” Marie called out. “We’re sorting all the gifts!”

  Felicity winked at Dario and walked into the living room to join them. He followed her and sat on the sofa while she retrieved her bag and withdrew the gifts she’d brought for Dario and his family. Once she was done, Dario gestured for her to sit next to him. She dropped onto the cushion, then sprang up again as her pocket began to vibrate.

  She dug her phone out and offered an apologetic smile to his family. “Please excuse me for a moment. My parents are out of town, so I should take this in case something’s gone wrong with their trip.”

  “Of course,” Natalia said, waving her off.

  Felicity retreated to the dining room and glanced at the phone, surprised to see Adeline’s number flashing on the screen. “Hello?”

  “Oh, thank God.” Adeline sounded harried, and Felicity’s stomach twisted.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Someone broke into the office,” Adeline said. “The alarm company just called me. Can you meet the sheriff there? I’m really sorry to ask—you know I’d go if I was in town.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Felicity assured her. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Thank you,” Adeline said. She sounded relieved, as if Felicity had just taken the weight of the world off her shoulders. “I owe you big-time.”

  “It’s not a problem. Just enjoy the holiday with your family.”

  “I’ll try. Thank you again.”

  Felicity tucked her phone back into her pocket and returned to the living room. Dario turned to look at her as she walked in. “Everything all right?” he asked.

  Felicity shook her head. “I’m afraid not. That was Adeline. There’s been a break-in at the office, and she asked me to meet the police there.” She began to circle the room, shaking hands with Dario’s family as she said her goodbyes. “Thank you so much for including me today—I’m sorry to have to leave early.”

  Natalia and then Marie hugged her. “I hope everything is okay at your office,” Marie said, frowning slightly. “I can’t imagine why anyone would want to cause trouble like that on Christmas.”

  “I can,” Emiliano said darkly. He tilted his head to the side. “I don’t mean to question your abilities, but do you really think you should go by yourself?”

  “She’s not.”

  Felicity turned to find Dario standing in the doorway, holding her coat and scarf. He’d already donned his jacket, and he looked ready to head out. “I’m going with you.”

  She immediately rejected the idea, even as his offer made her heart lift. “No, Dario. I appreciate it, but you need to stay and celebrate with your family.”

  Dario opened his mouth to reply, but his mother beat him to it. “Nonsense,” Natalia replied. “You shouldn’t have to take care of this by yourself. Dario will help you.”

  “But your gifts—”

  Aurelio smiled kindly. “This won’t be the first time we’ve had to pause our holiday activities. We’re used to it. You two go check things out, and we’ll find something to do to occupy the time until you get back.”

  It was clear both Dario and his family were determined he should accompany her to the office. Recognizing defeat, Felicity nodded. “Thank you,” she said simply.

  Emiliano walked Felicity and Dario to the front door. “Be careful,” he cautioned. “Please wait for the police to arrive before you go into the office. We don’t need any heroes today.” He aimed a meaningful look at Dario, who waved off his brother’s concern.

  “We’ll be fine,” he said. “There’s no need to worry.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on him,” Felicity said with a smile.

  Emiliano nodded. “Thanks. Good luck.”

  They stepped outside and a gust of cold wind stripped away the lingering warmth of the house. Felicity shivered, her nerves starting to jangle as she turned her thoughts to the office and what they might find there. A break-in sounded self-explanatory, but if her work in intelligence had taught her anything, it was that things were seldom as simple as they appeared.

  She glanced over at Dario, grateful he’d insisted on joining her. She didn’t think she’d have any trouble dealing with the sheriff and his men, but it was nice to know Dario was there if she needed him.

  Still, she shouldn’t get used to him being around. He’d made no secret of the fact he was only in town for his brother’s wedding. And while Felicity wasn’t opposed to spending time with Dario now, she had to make sure she didn’t let him into her heart.

  * * *

  It didn’t take long to arrive at the office—thanks to the holiday, there was no traffic. Dario parked in front of the entrance and shook his head at the sight of the door. Even from this distance, it was clear the lock had been badly mangled, and someone had tried to smash the glass panel that ran the length of the door. A million cracks ran through the glass, but by some miracle, it hadn’t fallen out of the frame.

  “Oh man,” Felicity said softly. “What a mess.” She unbuckled her seat belt, clearly intending to get out and conduct a closer inspection.

  Dario placed his hand on her thigh and she stilled. “Not yet,” he said. “I know you want to check things out, but let’s be safe and wait for the police to arrive.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. I just got caught up in the moment.” She bit her bottom lip as she studied the scene. “Do you think whoever did this made it inside?”

  “I hate to say it, but yes. It looks like the door is at a strange angle. I think it was wrenched open and now it can’t close properly.”

  “Maybe we’ll get lucky and whoever did this is still inside,” Felicity said darkly.

  “Don’t get your hopes up,” Dario warned.

  A black-and-white cruiser drove up and parked a few spots away, its siren lights flashing. Dario squinted against the bright red and blue pulses that strobed the interior of the car. “Ready?” he asked Felicity.

  She nodded, and the two of them climbed out of the car. No sooner had Dario shut his door than one of the responding deputies turned around and frowned. “Get back in your vehicle, please.”

  “We’re here on behalf of Adeline Kincaid. She’s the owner of this business,” Felicity explained.

  “Wonderful,” said the man. “Now please get back in your car while we check out the place.”

  It was clear that any further conversation would only complicate matters, so Dario gestured for Felicity to return to her seat. She did, but as the minutes ticked
by, it was clear her impatience was mounting.

  “At least it’s warmer in here than it is outside,” he said, trying to improve her mood.

  “Yeah.” She was quiet a moment, then spoke again. “What do you think is taking them so long? The place isn’t that big.” There was a thread of worry in her voice and Dario had to admit, he was starting to get nervous, too.

  Dario shrugged, trying to seem unconcerned. “I’m not sure. There’s probably some kind of protocol the sheriff’s department have to follow when they respond to a call like this.”

  “I suppose,” she muttered. “I know it won’t change anything, but I really want to get inside and determine if anything was stolen.”

  “Do you have a list of items?”

  “No, but I’ll be able to tell if the more expensive stuff is gone—the computers, the copier, the printers.”

  Dario glanced at the sidewalk in front of the office, and the road beyond. A light dusting of snow covered both surfaces, but unfortunately, there were so many tracks it was impossible to follow any trail the burglars might have made. “I think the copier is probably safe,” he said, giving her shoulder a nudge. “That thing is as big as an old VW Bug. Not the kind of thing someone could simply waltz away with unseen.”

  “Fair enough,” Felicity admitted with a small smile. “But I am worried about the laptops.”

  “That’s a valid concern,” he said. “If I had to guess, I’d say whoever did this was after the computers. Otherwise, why target a PI office? It’s not like there’s cash or other valuables stored inside.”

  “Do you think this is connected to the Colton case?”

  Dario mulled over her question. “It’s certainly a possibility,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll know more once we can go inside.”

  A moment later, the two deputies returned to the door and stepped outside. One gestured for Dario and Felicity to join them.

  “Your names, please?”

  Dario and Felicity responded. “We work for Adeline Kincaid. She called me earlier after being notified by the alarm company about the break-in. She’s out of town for the holiday, so she asked me to meet you here and make sure the office is secure,” Felicity said.