by Cate Beauman
He glanced over his shoulder. Hailey stood at the island, hands braced and tense against the marble countertop, her face slightly pale.
“Yeah, I wanted to talk to you.”
“I’m not really in a talking mood. I have a headache.” She rubbed at her temple.
“I don’t like the way we left things. You and I are going to be spending a lot of time together over the next few months. We’re off to a rough start.”
“What do you mean?”
“Jackson and I have been assigned to Project Mexico.”
“Oh.” Hailey dropped her hand, walked to a cupboard, pulled a glass from the shelf, stood next to him as she filled it with water. Her peach blossom scent surrounded him, even after she’d gone back to stand behind her island barrier.
Austin shut off the tap and turned to face her. “I know I hurt you with the things I said this afternoon, and I’m sorry for it.”
“The content or the delivery?”
“The delivery.” As he stared at her, he could only be truthful. “I wish I could apologize for both, but then I’d be lying. I stand behind the information I shared with you.”
Austin debated whether to show her the pictures he’d taken, but what good would it do? He could tell by her steady, staring eyes and her stubbornly lifted chin that she still wasn’t willing to believe him. The pictures didn’t show Jeremy doing anything more than hanging around sketchy-looking characters and carrying a black duffel bag. He wasn’t technically doing anything wrong, according to the photographs. It was only implied. Until he had something absolutely solid, Hailey would dismiss what he said. She would find a way to see the innocence behind the truth. Her need to protect Jeremy was too ingrained.
“I don’t know what to say, Austin. You’ll believe as you choose, and I’ll believe in Jeremy. I owe him that at least.” Her voice strained and quiet, she sunk to the wooden barstool, resting her forehead against her fingers.
Hailey’s defeat undid him. Austin walked to her, hesitated before he took her hand clenched on the marble counter. He was always careful not to touch her. It made him feel things he knew he shouldn’t. “Let’s table this conversation. I came over to apologize and throw a couple of steaks on the grill.”
Her eyes filled and she closed them.
He’d never seen her cry before. “Hey,” he said gently, pulling her to her feet.
“Hey,” he said again when she wouldn’t look at him.
Hailey pressed her forehead against his chest, surprising him. She stood in silence, her hand limp in his, her other clenched at her side.
Sarah and Ethan had shared with Austin small snatches of Hailey’s rough upbringing. Who had she had all the years after her parents died? Hailey protected Jeremy, but who protected her? No one, he imagined.
Austin freed her hand and wrapped his arms around her rigid back, loosely, absorbing the shock of her body against his as they mirrored their intimate stance from the pool floor. Hailey’s vulnerability affected him differently than the sexual punch last night, but no less potently, as she cautiously accepted the comfort he offered. Austin tightened his grip, pulling her more truly against him, holding on until she relaxed. As her body pressed against his, he moved his hands over her slender back. “I’m sorry, Hailey.”
The heat of her breath seeped through his shirt, warming his chest as her forehead stayed pressed there. Her arms came up and wrapped around his waist. She moved until her cheek rested against his heart.
He closed his eyes, playing his fingers through her soft, damp hair as his stomach tied itself in knots. Words escaped him as something changed. Knee-jerk desire turned to longing.
Moments later, Hailey eased back, staring into his eyes. He skimmed his knuckles against her cheek as her gaze darted to his mouth. She tilted her chin up, inviting him to make a move. The heated look passing between them kicked his heart into a gallop, but he resisted, stepping back, preventing himself from making a mistake.
Although he didn’t think of Hailey as a child like she’d accused, he did see her as Kylee’s nanny and Sarah and Ethan’s friend. Crossing the line into something more was bound to end badly. Long-term relationships couldn’t exist in his line of work. His dedication was to his job. He knew what Hailey sought, and it was nothing he would ever be able to give. “Are you okay?” He asked, taking another step back.
“Yeah.” She looked down and fiddled with her fingers before she hurried to the patio door, letting Bear and Reece inside.
Austin turned to the counter, needing something to do. He busied himself with the marinating vegetables. He cleared his throat in the awkward quiet. “I was going to grill up a couple of steaks, throw some veggies on too. If you’d rather, I’ll leave.”
“No, you can stay.” Hailey went to the cupboard, took plates from the shelf, pulled a drawer open, grabbing silverware. She set the table in silence.
Austin’s cell phone vibrated against his hip. He glanced at the readout and answered. “Casey.”
“It’s Phillips. I know it’s your day off, but I need a favor.”
Austin pulled the platter of steak from the fridge. “What is it?”
“Jerrod Riley decided he wants to spend the night on the town. We’re leaving from an early dinner out and are heading for Club LAX. I’m a little concerned about crowd control.”
“Do you need backup?”
“I wouldn’t turn down an extra hand.”
“When?”
“As soon as you can. The women were all over him. His songs are number one and two on the charts right now. He’s a hot commodity, and the crowds are treating him like one.”
Hunter wouldn’t ask for help if he didn’t need it. “I’ll be there.” Austin put his phone back and turned to Hailey. She was already gathering up the dishes.
“I’m sorry. We’ll have to take a rain check on the steaks. Hunter needs my help tonight. Jerrod Riley decided he wants to spend a night on the town.”
“Okay. I’ll see you around.”
Her voice was still strained, still too quiet. She looked so sad, so alone. Austin reached for his phone, tempted to call Hunter and tell him he couldn’t come after all, but changed his mind. That would be the first step down the wrong path. “I’m on duty for the next few days. Why don’t I give you a call next week. We’ll schedule a snorkel lesson. You have to be a solid snorkeler before we can move to free diving.”
“Okay, that’ll be fine.” She gave him a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
He stepped toward her again but didn’t touch her. If he did, he would break all the rules. “I really am sorry about today. And about dinner.”
She shrugged. “It’s over. I was planning to curl up with Bear and Reece and watch a movie on the big screen anyway.”
The idea was so cozy, so appealing. This was the first time he’d ever considered putting work on the backburner to eat a slab of steak and sit through a movie with a woman.
Not good.
Austin reassured himself it was only because he couldn’t stand to see anyone hurting. He felt himself losing his footing as he stared into Hailey’s sad honey eyes. In defense, he turned away. “I’ll see you around.”
“Yeah, see you.”
Austin walked down the hall, then pivoted back, remembering his cap on the counter. He stopped cold in the kitchen doorway.
Hailey leaned against the huge panel of glass, arms wrapped around herself, staring out at the city lights far in the distance. She was so small against the massive windows and view beyond.
Austin took another step forward as a tear tracked down her cheek. “Hailey?”
She whirled, dashing her hand over her face. “I—I—just leave me alone.” She backed toward the door, feeling for the knob as she went. When she found it, she fumbled, pulled, turned, a
nd fled.
His instinct was to follow, but something told him Hailey was used to dealing with her tears, with her pain all by herself. Tonight he would let her go, would let her be as she’d asked, but that was going to change real soon.
Helpless rage chewed at Austin as he drove down the freeway on his way to help Hunter. Jaw clenched, shoulders tight, he dialed Ethan’s number and waited.
“Cooke.”
“It’s Austin. We have a problem.”
“What’s up?”
“Hailey.” He gripped the wheel tighter as he thought of her—small and alone by the big window. “She’s in bigger trouble than I initially thought. Jeremy is dealing drugs. He is mixed up with S-1, but more than that, he’s also in deep with the Mexican cartel—the Zulas. I captured footage of him shaking hands with Donte Rodriguez, the number two man in their organization. We need to get her out of here.”
The line stayed silent.
“Are you there?” he spat into the receiver.
“Yeah, I’m here. I’m trying to take it all in. Project Mexico doesn’t leave for another three weeks. There isn’t much we can do about that tactical problem.”
The urgency to do something left Austin restless. “We could send Hailey early. Send her on a vacation. That kid brother of hers is a fucking loose cannon. The organization knows Hailey exists. I heard them threaten him with her. She’s in trouble, Ethan.”
Ethan blew out a long breath. “Yeah, I know. Let me think about this tonight. We’ll come up with a game plan first thing in the morning.”
It wasn’t good enough—not nearly good enough, but it would have to do. She was safe behind the walls of Ethan’s Estate. Between the supermax-like features of his security system and Bear and Reece, no one was getting to her. The dogs wouldn’t let anyone touch her. “Okay. I’ll talk to you first thing. Oh, by the way, I have Sarah’s car. Some little fucker shot up my windows.”
“Well son of a bitch. You’re just full of great news.” Ethan’s voice lacked good humor.
“Yeah. I do what I can. I’ll call tomorrow.” Austin hung up and took his exit. He pulled into Club LAX’s parking lot, struggling not to turn around and head back to Sarah and Ethan’s. Hailey was safe for tonight, he reassured himself, and he had a job to do.
He got out of his car on a sigh, and met Jerrod Riley’s limo as it pulled up to the building’s curb.
Someone pulled the black bag from Jeremy’s head. He sat in the dimly lit office of a skeezy warehouse surrounded by guards and a man known to few—Zulas Rodriguez, the leader of the Zulas Family.
Jeremy swallowed hard, trying to keep his nerves and dinner down as his gaze skimmed over a samurai sword on the dingy table in front of him.
The guards pulled a bag from the man sitting next to him. Jeremy glanced over, realizing it wasn’t a man sitting inches away, but a kid who couldn’t be more than seventeen, eighteen tops. The kid muttered in Spanish, sweating profusely and on the verge of tears.
Jeremy stared straight ahead, choosing to focus only on Señor Rodriguez and Donte, his son. He sure as shit wouldn’t live long if he carried on like that. He knew he would either impress his leader tonight or die a very painful death. Jeremy kept silent as Señor Rodriguez stood across from him, staring, measuring.
“This is the young man who will change my route?” Señor Rodriguez said to Donte.
“Yes, Papa. After a conversation with Mr. Kagan, I believe he is just what we need. Let’s see if you agree.”
“I’m listening.” He nodded his go ahead, his eyes never leaving Jeremy’s.
“You see, Papa, Jeremy has a young, beautiful sister who will be taking part in Project Mexico, a University program based in Cozumel.” Donte tossed several photographs of Hailey on the same table as the sword.
Jeremy’s tongue darted across his lips as he stared at the pictures Señor Rodriguez spread out. In some shots, Hailey played with Kylee at a park, in others she stepped from the apartment building on her way to her car. In another, Hailey walked the aisles of a dive shop, buying snorkeling equipment. In yet another she put groceries in a cart. Jeremy swallowed hard. He had no idea they’d been watching Hailey for days.
“Yes. Quite nice, quite nice.” Señor Rodriguez nodded again.
“I believe this is the perfect opportunity to create our new shipping route while staying under the radar. Jeremy, being the dedicated brother that he is, can assist his sister with a most noble cause. Of course, the details are still in the works, but the front is perfect and slightly poetic. We’ll be helping Mexico while we help ourselves.
Señor Rodriguez smiled slowly, his face splitting with a grin. “I like this plan, Donte. Well done, my son. And what about him?” He gestured to the kid sitting next to Jeremy, his smile fading.
“Oh, I brought him along as an example. He has betrayed our organization.”
“No—no, Señor, I have not,” the young man protested, sweat flying from his face as he sputtered desperately. “I have not,” he repeated in an impassioned shout as he tried to stand.
A guard slammed a high-powered rifle against his shoulder, knocking him back in his chair, groaning.
Jeremy curled his toes in his shoes, mindful to appear relaxed, aware that eyes were on him.
“So, this man has betrayed us, Donte? Mr. Kagan…”
Jeremy’s gaze flew to Señor Rodriguez. “Yes, sir?”
“Do you know what happens to those who betray my family? Our organization?”
“Yes—“
“No.” He interrupted, frowning, and Jeremy struggled not to squirm. “Do not answer. Watch instead. We will trust you with some of our biggest secrets. You will want to avoid the same fate.”
The kid fought to stand, but his hands were tied to the chair. He screamed and begged in equal measure. “I did not betray you, Señor Rodriguez. I did not.”
“Have dignity on your way to death,” Señor Rodriguez demanded sharply.
Donte took the huge knife from the beat up desk.
Jeremy’s pulse pounded as cold sweat dribbled down his back.
The kid screamed, trying to move away, as Donte advanced forward, holding the sword to the tip of the kid’s nose. With a ruthless whack, Donte sliced it off. Blood poured from the hollow as the office echoed with primitive shrieks until the kid began to choke on his own fluid.
Jeremy took several slow breaths, fighting the urge to vomit.
“Now you look like the pig that you are,” Donte said calmly. “But we aren’t quite finished.” He sliced off the boy’s ears slowly, drawing it out as if he cut two pieces of bread. The kid no longer begged for his life. He stared in a trance, mumbling in Spanish.
A guard yanked Jeremy from his chair, tugging him back to stand by Señor Rodriguez. His legs trembled beneath his jeans as Donte held the kid’s hair with one hand, now matted with clots.
“Death to those who betray the Zulas,” Donte shouted as he swung the knife with great force, severing head from body. Blood spit from arteries, spraying across the room, landing on Jeremy’s face and his clothes. He wanted to wipe the warm drops away, but didn’t dare. Instead, he swallowed bile as his stomach shuddered.
Donte held the head in his hands, smiling triumphantly, before he set it on the table as if it were a gruesome Halloween prop. “Send this, along with his other parts to his mother,” he ordered to one of the guards. “She’ll be looking for her boy.”
Jeremy bit the inside of his cheek as gray dots danced before his eyes. If he passed out, he would die the same way.
“This, Jeremy Kagan, will be your fate and the fate of your beautiful sister if you betray the Zulas. There is no going back now. You are one of us.” Señor Rodriguez held out his hand. “You should feel honored. Welcome.”
“I do. Thank you.” Jeremy nod
ded, ill, as he returned the firm handshake. He had not only bound himself to a life he no longer wanted, but Hailey too. And there was no way out.
Chapter 7
HAILEY LET HERSELF IN THE front door of Ethan and Sarah’s house and was instantly surrounded by dogs. She crouched down, giving both Mastiffs an affectionate rub. “Hi, guys. How are my boys?” She was rewarded with warm, slobbery kisses against her cheeks. “Aw, guys, you shouldn’t have.” She grimaced as she wiped saliva away, brushing her damp hands on her slacks. “I mean really shouldn’t have.”
“You’re here!” Kylee bolted down the hall, overdressed in her frilly pink party dress. Friday night pizza and movies at the Cooke’s was turning into a fancy affair. “Come with me.” The pretty little angel with big blue eyes and golden hair, the mirror image of her mother, grinned, pulling on Hailey’s hand. “I’ve been waiting and waiting.”
Hailey stood before she fell. “What’s the hurry?” She looked at her watch. “I’m not late. Is the pizza here already?”
“Just come, Hailey.” Kylee tugged impatiently.
“All right, bossy.” Hailey smiled as she let Kylee pull her down the hall. The last week had been a whirlwind. Between helping Morgan with a massive filing project at the Bureau and staying with Sarah and Kylee on ‘stork watch,’ she hadn’t had a moment to herself.
Ethan had called Sunday night, soon after Austin left, to ask if she would be willing to stay at the house for the week, since his schedule was jammed with security details. Twenty minutes later, Morgan phoned, wondering if Hailey wanted to make some extra cash by helping her overworked secretary at the office. When Morgan named her price, Hailey couldn’t say no.
Other than the quick phone conversation with Jeremy mid-week, Hailey hadn’t heard from or seen him. Despite her best efforts to get to the apartment, she simply hadn’t had time. She’d planned to go home tonight after a full day at the Bureau, but Sarah had mentioned pizza and movies with the gang the night before. How could she miss out on an evening with her favorite people?