Only Obsession (Rogue Security Book 3)

by Marissa Garner

“I know that, too.”

  “Then what are you gonna do about it?” Stone asked, grimacing as he sipped his coffee.

  Luke sent him an annoyed glance over the rim of his cup. “Do about what?”

  “Well, depends on your…plans.”

  “Let’s see. I plan to be on a United flight to San Diego tomorrow afternoon. I was hoping we could use your friend’s private jet that flew us here yesterday. But since I’ll probably sleep most of the way, at least I won’t feel like a sardine the whole time.”

  “They don’t allow sardines in first class.”

  “Shit. I didn’t know you booked us in first class. I can’t afford that.”

  “My treat.”

  Male pride and irritation darkened Luke’s already sour mood. “No way. I’m not a charity case. I’ll pay you back. Might take a few months, but I’m good for it.”

  “I don’t want your money, but maybe you can pay me another way.”

  Luke narrowed his eyes. Where is Stone going with this?

  “Since Burke convinced me to grow Rogue Security, we’ve been offered more jobs than we can handle. I’m real impressed with the way you managed Elle’s case. You thought outside the box. And you weren’t afraid to go rogue when the situation called for it. You’d be a great addition to my business.”

  Self-satisfaction swept through Luke, but reality stopped it cold. “Thanks, Stone. I appreciate the offer, but I need something…reliable for the long-term. I’ve got my sister to think about.”

  “Does doubling your current salary sound ‘reliable’ enough?”

  Luke choked on a swig of coffee. “Double?”

  “Yeah.”

  Disbelief and suspicion surfaced as usual. “What’s the catch?”

  “See?” Stone grinned. “That’s one of the things I like about you. Always suspicious, untrusting, questioning everything. Even me.”

  “So there is a catch.”

  “Damn right. I need someone with more computer savvy inside the company. I have…my own ways of getting what I need, but it’d be nice if I could do more of it in-house.”

  “Define ‘computer savvy.’”

  Stone scratched his head. “You know, someone who can…manipulate…uh…open networks and…uh…gain access—”

  “Illegally hack into other systems?”

  “That’s a bit crass, but yeah. Burke said you were a magician with computers in high school, and computer science was your college major.”

  “My major for less than a year before I had to drop out. I didn’t earn a degree.” Resentment made him pause a moment, but then he beamed. “Not only was I damn good, I liked it. A lot. But what does my ‘computer savvy’ have to do with the catch?”

  “If I require you to work only thirty hours a week and I pay all the college expenses, you have to finish your degree.”

  Luke’s jaw dropped. The man couldn’t be serious. “You’re kidding.”

  Stone frowned. “I never joke about investing that much money in anything.” His phone interrupted their conversation. “Yeah, Burke, what’s up?”

  Luke leaned back in his chair and contemplated Stone’s offer. It was almost too good to be true. Sean seemed happy working for the man, but could Luke get used to the scary guy with the shadowy past?

  “Burke says congratulations on a great op,” Stone said, stuffing his cell back in his pocket. “I called him earlier about Milton. Your friend was more than ready to quit babysitting the asshole and go home. He turned Blue Van Man over to Lieutenant Tanner at the Ramona station—no questions asked. But they’re going to need your and Elle’s statements to go with the evidence collected from the RV and Milton’s van in order to charge him with murder. The sooner the better.”

  “I’ll take care of it. About your offer—”

  “No need to decide right now. Too much shit going on to make the best decision. Take your time, but I can’t wait forever.”

  * * *

  Elle couldn’t stop shaking. Despite her coat and the blanket draped over her shoulders, she trembled violently, sloshing coffee onto her hand each time she tried to take a drink.

  “I can get another blanket if you’re still cold, Ms. Bradley,” Special Agent Philips said.

  “No, thanks. I’m…warming up.”

  Philips hesitated. “Perhaps you’re in shock. Maybe you should see a doctor.”

  “I’m…uh…” Sean’s words played in her mind. Why can’t strong, independent women ever admit they’re not fine? It isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of being human. Elle cleared her throat. “I’m…um…sure I’ll be…okay…shortly.” Unlike Sean’s insightful observation, her little inner voice taunted her: Liar, liar, pants on fire. She clenched her jaw and wished all the damn voices would just shut up.

  “All right, then. We’re almost done. Is there anything else you want to explain about tonight?” the agent asked.

  Seriously? Who is he kidding? Could anybody really explain what had happened? Three people had heard Elle’s conversation with her mother, but not one of them would be able to provide a rational explanation. Because Allison Bradley wasn’t rational. Elle’s mother wasn’t only obsessed with high society, she had deeper psychological problems. Although she’d been seeing a psychiatrist regularly for years, she obviously needed more professional help. How had Elle and her father not noticed? She groaned as the crushing weight of guilt settled in her chest.

  “Ms. Bradley?”

  “Huh? Oh, sorry. No, I don’t have anything to add.”

  He nodded sympathetically. “I know tonight was traumatic, so I appreciate your willingness to talk to us. I’ve already received two messages from Deputy Johnson, telling me in no uncertain terms to back off, so let’s wrap this up with the understanding that the FBI will need to speak with you again soon.”

  She sighed. “Okay.”

  “Great. I’ll go see if there’s a copy of your official statement ready for you to review. Once that’s taken care of, you’re free to go.” After gathering his paperwork into a folder, he left the room.

  Elle pulled the blanket tighter around her, leaned back in the uncomfortable chair, and closed her eyes. She expected the return of the fierce emotions that had bombarded her earlier. But there was nothing. She felt empty, hollow, lifeless.

  Think about the future. Take it one day at a time. She tried, but even tomorrow wouldn’t come into focus. The life she’d known was dead, and resurrecting it held no appeal.

  Her promising career now seemed irrelevant. She had waged legal and ethical wars against powerful people and won. But she’d lost her family without even knowing she needed to fight for them. Both her parents would be taken away: her father to prison, and her mother to either a mental institution or prison. A new round of shivers enveloped Elle as loneliness trapped her in its cold cocoon.

  Luke will be gone, too. Oh God. How could I have fallen in love with him in less than a week?

  Or maybe the real question was how could she have not fallen in love with Luke Johnson, aka Deputy Helpful and Country Boy? She had never met anyone quite like him. Despite hating what she was—a reporter and a socialite—he’d helped her. Not simply in his role as a law enforcement officer, but as a caring individual. And not in some small, insignificant way. Tonight, he’d risked his life to save her for the third time.

  Before meeting Luke, she wouldn’t have believed such a man existed. He was the stuff of fairy tales and romance novels. But this guy wasn’t a figment of someone’s imagination. He was flesh and blood, blond hair and blue eyes, sensitive and smart, humorous and hot. Brave, kind, down-to-earth, and too many other wonderful traits to list. Luke was an incredible person, who would someday be an amazing husband.

  He just won’t be mine.

  To be fair, Luke had been honest and frank from the beginning. He wasn’t interested in a relationship with her for many reasons, not the least of which was their polar-opposite lifestyles. He’d even said they lived in “different worlds.” They’d j
oked about her being a city girl and him a country boy, but it wasn’t a joke. It was reality.

  Luke had been perfectly clear about the situation. All they could ever have together was casual sex. Instead of being truthful, she’d pretended to be fine with no-strings-attached, no-commitment-required, no-emotions-involved sex. Even though he’d seen through her lie, he’d given her what she needed: mind-blowing, bone-melting sex. Too bad it wasn’t enough. Although he’d satisfied her physically, what she really wanted was the strings, the commitment, and the emotions.

  But Luke couldn’t give them to her. And tomorrow, he would leave, gone from her life forever. Why was I such a fool?

  Suddenly, everything—from her kidnapping trauma to her broken heart—crashed down on Elle, shattering her strength and independence into a million pieces.

  She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

  * * *

  “I’m glad you got the spare key from George so you can sleep in your own condo tonight instead of at the hotel,” Luke said while he unlocked Elle’s door and pushed it open for her.

  She remained motionless and silent beside him on the stoop.

  He frowned. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay with your dad at the house?”

  “Yes, I’m sure,” she said. “I can’t deal with him yet. Father wasn’t behind my kidnapping, but he has plenty to answer for. After tonight, others will be investigating his business relationship with Secretary Carmichael. And I really hope they find my BLM whistleblower alive and well.”

  Pale and shaky, Elle looked devastated. Almost in shock. He’d whisked her away from the FBI office the minute Special Agent Philips had said she could leave, but it’d still been four grueling hours since they’d left the Vanderbilts’ property. There would be many more questions, but Luke had finally convinced the agent that Elle needed a break.

  Although the Vanderbilts’ garden wall had sustained the only injury during the surreal scene with Allison Bradley, other casualties would follow. Finger-pointing already ran rampant. Even Lieutenant Tanner and Special Agent Holmes had been sucked into the fray. Despite his boss’s official support, Luke had lots of explaining to do about how he’d handled the investigation, especially since he wasn’t supposed to be part of it at all.

  There were also questions about how and why an ex-SEAL and former CIA operative had been involved. But, apparently, nothing rattled Jake Stone. According to Sean, “rogue” was Stone’s standard modus operandi. No wonder the guy had named his company Rogue Security.

  Luke didn’t know whether to be flattered or insulted by Stone’s too-good-to-be-true job offer. Maybe the mysterious guy felt sorry for him or thought Luke was going to be fired because of the far-reaching ramifications of the Bradley/Carmichael scandal. At this point, he figured his future at the Sheriff’s Department was a toss-up between a promotion and termination.

  But right now, standing on the doorstep with Elle, none of it mattered. His only concern was for her well-being. And she was not doing well.

  “Hey, let’s move inside out of the cold before I freeze my nuts off,” he said, guiding her with his hand on the small of her back.

  After pushing the front door shut behind them, he surveyed the foyer. White walls, gray marble flooring. A small black lacquer table sat against the wall under a chrome-framed mirror. No pictures, knickknacks, or vases of colorful silk flowers. No clutter. Nothing personal.

  When his attention returned to Elle, she hadn’t moved. “C’mon. I’ll tuck you in,” he said, heading for the stairs.

  “I can’t sleep,” she said flatly.

  Okay, now what? “Uh, well, how about the grand tour then?”

  She raised her eyes to meet his. The pain in hers tore at his heart.

  “Sure,” she said and swept her hand to the left. “Living room.”

  He strolled into the large space. More white walls, gray marble, and black lacquer furniture, plus an ivory leather couch, matching love seat, and white porcelain lamps. Still no pictures. No figurines. Nothing personal. Sterile. He grimaced and turned to look at her.

  She stared at the room with an odd expression, almost as if seeing it for the first time. Then she pivoted and marched down the hallway. He hurried to catch up.

  At the next doorway, she announced, “Study.”

  He saw instantly that the same decorating scheme prevailed.

  Elle took off again after a minute. “Kitchen,” she said when they reached the next stop.

  “I never would’ve guessed.” He scanned the gourmet kitchen and found nothing but black, gray, and white. No warmth. No colors. No vibrancy. The place was starting to give him the creeps. And Elle’s peculiar, detached behavior wasn’t helping.

  He didn’t realize she’d moved on until he heard sniffling behind him. He spotted Elle sitting on a black leather couch in the family room beyond the kitchen island. Her hands hid her face, and her shoulders shook with sobs.

  Luke sat down beside her and wrapped her in his arms. “It’s gonna be okay, babe. You’ll get through this.” He wished he could be around to help her, but her life was here, and his was more than two thousand miles away. Different worlds. Disappointment tugged at his heartstrings, and he hugged her tighter while she continued to cry.

  “How can I help?” he asked, stroking her hair.

  She shook her head. “Not your problem.”

  He lifted her chin, so she had to look at him. “Don’t shut me out.”

  His gaze dropped to her lips. This wasn’t the best timing, but he couldn’t resist. He kissed her. Chastely, gently at first. But when her lips parted, he groaned and took the kiss deeper.

  Leaving Elle was so damn hard. From the moment he had outlined his plan to Sean and Stone, he’d known the end was near. But Luke had convinced himself he could handle it. He’d lied. Losing her was going to hurt like hell. Why did I let myself fall…? Shit. Don’t even think it, idiot.

  It simply wasn’t possible after all the years he’d kept his heart closed off since his parents’ deaths. So much responsibility for himself and Karla had rested on his shoulders that he’d never had the time or energy for romantic love. Only casual sex was allowed. Serious relationships were off-limits. Family love was what mattered, and he’d devoted himself to it.

  Besides, who was he kidding? City Girl was home now. Her kidnapper dead. Her stalker behind bars. The mystery of her kidnapping solved. She didn’t need Country Boy anymore. Her life after all this would be such a whirlwind that she wouldn’t spare him a thought. Much less want him around. Elle had said she wanted her life back, and he wasn’t a selfish bastard who would stand in the way of her happiness.

  He braced himself for the impending pain and ended the kiss.

  “I better go,” he mumbled without meeting her gaze and stood.

  She jumped up beside him and gripped his jacket with both hands. “I…I know. But I can’t stay here.”

  Luke stared at her fingers, curled into the fabric, clinging to him. He cringed. It was how desperate he felt, how he wanted to hang on to her. But he couldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair to her. He swallowed hard. “You’re safe now, babe. No one’s after you.”

  “It’s not that.”

  “Then what?”

  “I can’t stand to…to be here because…this place looks…as dead as I feel.”

  He pulled her against him and buried his face in her silky hair. “This is your home. It should make you feel better. You created it, so it’s like an extension of you.” As he spoke the words, he wondered how in the world she could’ve designed such a soulless place.

  “That’s part of the problem. My mother hired the most famous interior decorator in Washington so my condo would make some posh list in the local society rag. I didn’t create this.”

  He smiled with relief. “Thank God, Elle. I couldn’t imagine how someone like you—so full of life—could have decorated this place. The vibes don’t fit you at all. But hey, that’s easy enough to fix. And it’ll give you some
thing to focus on until you go back to work.”

  “As I said, it’s only part of the problem. I’m seeing this place, this whole city, with new eyes and wondering how I could’ve ever lived here. Unfortunately, I know how. I never paid much attention to my surroundings because I was…” Her voice trailed off, and then she sighed. “I was too busy jousting windmills.”

  “You don’t joust windmills, Elle. You fight corruption. You find the truth. You shine a light into the darkness. You’re the smartest, bravest woman I’ve ever met. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Since you’re already strong, this experience will make you unstoppable.”

  “Thanks for the compliment and vote of confidence, but my work is no excuse for ignoring reality for so long. This city is toxic. It is a swamp. Look what happened to my family, right under my nose. I didn’t notice my father had fallen prey to the swamp’s mindset of success at all costs. And I knew my mother was seeing a shrink every week, but I had no idea how troubled she was.”

  “Your mom’s mental state may help her in court.”

  “I hope so.” She sighed. “But it’s not just my parents. This city changes people. It sucks the morals and goodness out of them. I…I can’t live in Washington anymore.”

  A flicker of hope ignited. “Where are you gonna go?”

  She looked up into his face and gave him a faint smile. “For now, to the hotel. With you.”

  Warmth spread through his chest. “Do you have any particular place in mind? For the long-term future, I mean.”

  She shrugged. “I recently learned about a great little town near San Diego. People are really nice…and helpful there. Rent is super high in California, though, so I might need a roomie…at least for a while.”

  His tiny flame of hope flared into a bonfire. “Know any potential roommates?”

  An impish grin brightened her face. “Why, yes, I do. Her name is Karla.”

  He lifted Elle off her feet and swung her around. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  She laughed, but tears glistened in her eyes. “Do you have another suggestion?”

  Luke let her slide down his body until her feet touched the ground. Framing her face with his hands, he whispered against her lips. “I love you, Elle. I don’t have a clue how it could’ve happened so fast, but I do. Come live with me. Give Country Boy a chance to persuade City Girl to fall in love with him.”