by Wade, Maddie
Waggs and Reid were happily tucking into rare cuts of fillet steak, while Decker ate quinoa and spinach meatballs with gluten-free pasta. Decker very much followed that his body was a temple and would only eat organic, healthy food. Blake had tried the whole ‘healthy eating’ thing and while some of what Decker ate was good, most of it tasted like cardboard to him. What was life without a greasy burger or doughnut now and then?
Pax lifted her eyes to his, and he saw sadness flicker through them before she banked it. She had woken up to his mouth on her and after making love to her in the shower she had seemed almost back to her usual self. She was still processing her visit to her parents and he knew she would talk about it when she was ready, but they needed the information from her to help solve the case.
He hadn’t wanted to push her and in normal circumstances, he wouldn’t, but time was of the essence and he’d been left with the feeling after leaving her parents that more was at play here than they knew and he didn’t like it.
“Benny Castillo’s family were originally from Sacramento.” She paused to take a sip of water. “They moved to Loma Linda which is about an hour’s drive from Palm Springs. His mom Sally was transferred with her job to the area when he was thirteen.”
Reid sat back in his chair. “What did she do for a living?”
Pax glanced at him and Blake followed the interaction. “She was an account manager for an advertising company. I forget the name, but I can find out.” Pax sat forward and pushed her plate away to lean on the table. “Anyway, from what Benny told me his father was a deadbeat lowlife. He was serving fifteen years in prison for armed robbery and assault. Benny had nothing to do with him.”
Blake took a sip of the beer in front of him. “What about siblings?”
“Two younger brothers. His mom remarried Frank Nixon just after they moved here. That was another reason for the move. Her husband worked for the company too. The youngest was only two when Benny died.” The sorrow in her voice made it catch on the last word and she cleared her throat. Everything in him wanted to reach for her but he knew she wouldn’t want to appear weak in front of the others.
Waggs, ever the medic, chimed in then. “Tell us about his illness.”
“He started getting bad headaches when we were in eleventh grade. He kept blowing it off as too much studying. Benny was an A grade student, but he worked his ass off to keep his grades up. He wanted to be a marine biologist,” she said wistfully.
“When did he go to the doctor?”
“When he collapsed at school. They diagnosed him with a brain tumour, and he began chemo right away. The tumour was inoperable.”
Waggs nodded in understanding. “It didn’t help?”
“No. That’s when Sana got involved.”
Blake stood and walked to the writing desk in the lounge area of the suite and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen. He handed it to Pax. “Can you write as much of the details down as you can including the major players? Also his biological father’s details. We can’t discount anything at this point.”
Pax nodded and took the paper. “Yes, of course.”
He began to pace his leg aching from being seated for so long. “We need a plan. I think Pax and I should visit Sally Nixon and find out exactly how Sana became involved.” He turned to Pax and gave her an assessing look. “I have to say, Pax, after today I’m not convinced your father is as involved as we thought. He looked ready to stroke out when he saw you.”
Pax was nodding slowly. “I agree. When we were in his study, he kept saying he had no clue why I was angry at him or what he had done. He also said he’d been voted out as managing director by the board.”
Decker who had been relatively quiet up to this point spoke up. “What for?”
“He has angina, and get this, the person to instigate his removal was my grandfather.”
“His father?”
“No, my mom’s father. He put up the money for the business initially, so he was a managing partner. My mother is too, but her role has always been silent.”
Blake let this information sink in. Was her mother a silent partner though, or was his dislike of the woman clouding his judgement? “So if he didn’t order the hit, who did, and is he behind the original drug trial or was someone else?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Okay, we need to investigate all the known players including your mom, grandfather, and the members of the board. Also any trial nurses or doctors that were working back then.”
“Yes, but how?” Pax angled her head and rubbed her the back of her neck. He could see the toll this was taking on her.
Blake smiled at her and moved closer, sliding his hands under the sleeveless top and massaging her shoulders. Her head fell forward giving him greater her access. “I suggest Decker poses as a journalist writing a book on the fast-rising business of this century.” Blake looked at Decker. “You already have a cover in place for that, don’t you?”
Decker nodded. “Yes, I do. Hopefully that will get me access to the board members.”
Blake looked at Waggs. “Feel out the staff, find out where they hang out and use some of that hidden charm. Pax and I will start with Sally first thing tomorrow. Reid, can you trace the father, find out where he is and what he’s up to now? I don’t think he’s involved but let’s rule him out.”
Reid nodded slowly as if he was thinking but remained silent. The others nodded and began to walk to the door. Decker and Reid walked out with a wave, but Waggs stopped and looked at him. “Ice that knee.”
Blake saluted him and nodded as he closed the door. His hands left Pax and he moved to her front and pulled her from the chair and motioned to the veranda. “Come on, let’s go out and enjoy this spectacular view with a drink.”
Pax followed as he picked up their drinks, keeping her hand in his.
Their room looked out over the pool bar with the twinkling lights of a few surrounding buildings off in the distance. He sat on the rattan sofa and looked up at Pax as he set their drinks on the low glass table in front of him. He heard a sigh from her as she settled beside him, lifting her long sexy legs to the glass edge of the table. Pink painted toenails made her look delicate and hot as fuck.
Tilting his head to the side he looked at her. “You okay?”
She angled her head to him and let out another small sigh. “I guess.”
“Want to talk about it?”
Pax reached out and twined her fingers through his as she dropped her gaze. “My father was my hero. I adored him, and it was mutual. He never missed a single thing I did. The happiest times of my life was drawing and colouring in his study as he worked.” She looked up and he saw the echoes of grief in her eyes. “Even on the day I found out what he had done, I didn’t want to admit it. My heart was broken about Benny. I had been barred from his funeral because his family blamed Sana.”
Blake felt a tendril of unease curl through him at the thought of Pax being blamed for something which she had no control over. He shouldn’t but he felt angry towards Sally Nixon for taking her grief out on a child. His rationale told him it was not her fault. For a mother to lose a child was incomprehensible but when it came to Pax, he had no impulse control. “It wasn’t your fault, Gracie.”
“I know that now, but it hurt. I had spent a lot of time at Benny’s place and they had treated me like one of the family, then all of a sudden I was like a leper.”
He pulled her closer and kissed her head in a comforting gesture. “It must have been hard.”
Pax was silent for a little while before she spoke again. “It was like he had no clue the damage he had done, no concept of the pain he had caused. He just saw the bottom line for the business and this drug would have done good things for Sana if it had worked.” She was tracing the veins on his arm as she spoke, completely absorbed in a time gone past. “That night I packed my stuff after fighting with my father and left. I never went home.”
Blake stayed silent feeling she wasn’t fin
ished as she cuddled closer to him lifting his arm so she could rest her head against his shoulder.
“The sad thing is, when he was pleading his innocence today and telling me about his angina, I had to fight everything in me to turn and walk away from him.” She lifted up and looked at him tears in her eyes. “How is it that I still love him? Am I just a glutton for punishment?”
Blake took her face in his hands and made her look at him. “No, Gracie, it makes you human. Relationships with parents are complex. You can dislike them but still love them, hate them but still seek their approval.”
A single tear tipped over the edge and slid slowly down her cheek breaking his heart.
“I don’t know exactly what happened with Sana and Benny and if your father was involved or not, but we’ll find out—together. I promise you.” He swiped the tear away with his thumb as she nodded. They sat in silence for a while, content to just be with no need for useless words to fill the void.
Pax shifted and her eyes came to his. “What’s the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?”
Blake could see the playful look in her eyes replacing the sadness of earlier. “Hmm, let me think.” He brushed his fingertips over her arm as he thought. “When I was fifteen my mum had to go into hospital for a minor operation.” He leaned forward and set his glass on the table. “My dad had gone with her and I was watching my sisters for a few hours. I was in my room playing Xbox when my youngest sister Erin came in and said Natalie was crying.
“Nat is three years younger than me. I was pissed because I had just managed to get past a new level on Call of Duty and wanted to play it, but Erin insisted. My baby sister can be very demanding when she wants something.” He laughed at the memory of her badgering him.
“When I went to Natalie’s room I knocked, and she told me to go away. I was tempted to just walk away but she was crying so I knocked again and asked what was wrong.” Pax was hooked to his every word, her lips parted. “She came to the door and opened it a pinch. She was distraught and didn’t want to tell me what it was, but I kept on. I can be a persistent bastard.” He laughed at that.
“What was wrong?”
“I eventually managed to get it out of her that she had started her period for the first time and had no supplies. I didn’t know whether to run and hide or puke. This was my sister. I did not need to know that—ever, but I couldn’t just leave her. I told her to wait there and I took Erin and we walked to the local shop. I nearly died when I saw all the choices. I had no clue, there were so many different kinds.”
Pax laughed, throwing her head back and he grinned at her, taking in her beauty and knowing she had no clue how gorgeous she was.
“It gets worse! Not knowing what to do I chucked one of each in a basket, added a tone of chocolate and a heat pad thingy, and went to the till only to find Janie Lawson and Dylan Jenkins at the checkout. Janie was the girl I was crushing on and Dylan, her boyfriend at the time, was my arch enemy. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I went so red I swear my cheeks were burning. Erin was no help, she told them all the details leaving nothing out—little brat.” He said the last with affection. Pax was wiping her eyes from tears as she laughed making Blake chuckle. “Hey, be nice, he teased me mercilessly for months.”
Pax reached over and kissed him softly before pulling back. “Poor baby, and you did such a sweet thing for your sister.”
Blake shrugged. “What else could I do? I couldn’t let her suffer and it turned out okay. I got to steal Janie from Dylan because she thought I was sweet for doing what I did.”
Pax climbed across him, settling herself across his thighs as she ran her hands up his chest. “You are a good man, Calvin Blake.”
He ran his hands over her hips and ass loving the feel of her against him. “If you could read my mind right now you wouldn’t think so.”
Pax pressed her firm tits to his chest as she twined her arms around his neck. “Oh?”
“The things I want to do to this body are illegal in some states.”
“Why does that make you a bad man?” She nibbled on his ear biting down. “I think it makes you a very,” she said it slowly, “very good man.”
Blake felt his dick harden at her sexy languid voice in his ear.
Standing he swept her up into his arms and she shrieked as her hands grabbed his shoulders. He was about to carry her to bed and show her exactly how good he was when the ping of a bullet hit the toughened glass of their balcony.
Chapter Sixteen
One second, she had been teasing Blake, the next she was on her back on the floor of the balcony with Blake’s body pressing her into the hard surface. She heard the unmistakable sound of a bullet hitting glass and tried to peek out from the man on top of her.
He lifted his head and looked at her “We need to get inside.”
Pax nodded her assent, her heart beating hard in her chest. Taking her hand in his, Blake rolled and shoved her in front of him, his hand on her head keeping her low as they dove for the sliding glass door. She felt another bullet hit the wall next to her ear as they reached the door and she fell inside with Blake behind her.
He closed the door and locked it before quickly hitting the button on the electric-close curtains to stop the shooter seeing in and having an open target. Not satisfied with that, Blake grabbed her hand and moved them towards the bedroom. The window in there faced a different outlook and the curtains were already drawn.
Not letting go of her, he pulled her closer and took out his phone. “Waggs, it’s me. We have a sniper on the roof of the building opposite our balcony. Fucker just shot at us.” Pax watched him nod. “Come here first, I’m coming with you.”
The look on his face was determined as he hung up. Without a word he hooked her around the back of her neck with his hand and brought her head to his chest, kissing the top in a tender gesture which bellied the situation.
He held her for a second in silence. “Thought I was gonna lose you then, Gracie.”
Pax pulled up and saw the anger and fear in his eyes. Her heart beat harder but for a different reason now. “You would never let that happen, Blake. You’re too good at what you do.”
Blake shook his head. “Not good enough. I never should have taken you out there. It was fucking stupid.”
Pax hated that he was beating himself up over this but had no time to reassure the stubborn man as a knock sounded on the door. Letting her go, he strode from the bedroom to the door like a man on a mission. Pax stayed by the bedroom, her shoulder leaning on the jamb.
Checking the peephole, he unlocked the door and Decker, Reid, and Waggs walked inside. Decker moved closer to her and Reid and Waggs stayed close to the door.
Blake headed back to the bedroom and grabbed his gun from the side of the bed, tucking it into a holster at his shoulder. Shrugging a jacket on, he moved to stand in front of her and grasped her hips pulling her close. “Decker is going to stay with you while we check things out. Do what he says and stay away from the windows. I don’t trust that they won’t start shooting randomly. I’ll be back soon.”
Pax nodded. He kissed her hard and quick and then he was gone the door closing behind him. Decker locked it and slid the chain across as an added measure.
Pax shivered feeling the cold as her adrenalin crashed. Her ribs ached from hitting the ground but that was nothing compared to the fear she felt knowing Blake was out there facing a crazy person with a gun.
Moving to the coffee machine near the bar she made herself a cup and held it up. “You want coffee, Decker?”
Decker shook his head. “No, thanks. I don’t drink it.”
Pax pulled back with a frown. “Really?”
Decker chuckled, his eyes crinkling making him look even more devastating. Decker was slim, tall, fit, and wore a suit like Captain America wore spandex—like it was made for him. Which if the label was any indication, it probably was.
“I limit my coffee intake to one a day. That shit’s not
good for you if you drink it like pop.”
Pax took a sip of the fragrant brew and shrugged. “I’ll take my chances.”
Pax moved to the sofa that was out of the line of the window and sat, curling her leg underneath her and cupping the mug for comfort. Decker was on his phone doing something and she took the time to go over the shooting in her mind. It had played out so fast she hadn’t had time to think—just react.
It was difficult to tell who the shooter had been aiming for, her or Blake. She assumed her as this was her nightmare they were trying to figure out. But equally, Blake was sure to have made enemies over the years doing what he did. Another thing she realised was that either the person shooting at them was incompetent or he hadn’t wanted to kill them. They had been like sitting ducks out there. A true professional like Lucy or Mitch would have hit their target with no problems. The night was clear and dry with nothing to impede the shot.
“They shouldn’t be long,” Decker said as he came to sit beside her leaving a foot of space between them.
“Good.”
She was anxiously watching the door when her cell phone rang. Lifting it from the table, Pax saw it was her mother, which was odd. She never called unless it was to berate her for not visiting. She hit decline not wanting to deal with her mother again today. Pax could feel Decker watching her. Her phone rang again, and her senses sharpened as if knowing something was up.
Knowing she couldn’t ignore it a second time she sighed and answered. “Hello, Mom.”
“Grace, where have you been?” The urgency in her mother’s voice made her sit forward and put down her mug.
“What’s the matter?” Her mother was always calm, almost to the point of boredom.
“Your father had a heart attack.” Her mom’s voice cracked on the last words, and Pax heard the sound of tears in her ear over the sound of her heart thundering in her chest.