by Tawny Weber
Spence filled the admiral in on the new intel about Penz’s role in Alcosta’s stepbrother’s death, and on the stashed gun. He emphasized the social nature of the weekend’s gatherings and the challenge of keeping Mia safe.
“And you still believe that Penz is Alcosta’s target.” The words weren’t a question, but simply Admiral Cade summing up the sitrep.
“Yes, sir, I do.”
“Very well. Continue as before. I’ll notify Penz and suggest he take proper measures.”
“Will he cancel his appearance?” It was probably for the best, but Mia would be crushed.
“Doubtful. Prepare to secure each and every event, provide backup to Penz’s own security team and, if necessary, eliminate the enemy.”
“And Mia?”
“What about her?”
“Sir, if there’s a skirmish, she’ll be in the line of fire.” And knowing Alcosta, being used as a human shield.
“Your first priority is to keep her safe, but under no circumstances are you to break your cover.”
Relief surged through him, knowing that order meant he had a few more days with Mia before she hated him. Drawing in a long, painful breath, Spence reminded himself that Mia hating him was a small price to pay for her safety.
“Sir, she has to be told,” Spence insisted. “There is a clear and credible threat. The target will be attending at her request. Added to that, she has a lot riding on this event. Not the least of which are her career and her reputation.”
“Very well. I’ll send in backup. Mia will be safe enough. As for the rest, she was warned not to have dealings with Alcosta, but she chose to do so anyway. Perhaps next time, she’ll listen.”
“You’re using this threat to make a point?” Putting his daughter in danger so she’d listen next time he told her what to do?
“I’m doing as I think best, Lieutenant. You will do the same.”
Spence knew when to shut up, and the when was now. The admiral’s orders were clear.
“Admiral, with all due respect, she can’t go into this blind. Not only is her business—something she values and has worked very hard at—in jeopardy, but so is her safety. Your daughter is an intelligent woman. If I don’t appraise her of the situation, she’s quite likely to figure it out for herself.”
Spence didn’t need to see the admiral to feel his rage at being challenged. The fury of it came through the phone line, loud and clear despite the silence. But Spence stood his ground.
Finally his commanding officer said in a tone that could peel the skin off a man at twenty paces, “You have your orders, Lieutenant. Failure to follow said orders will result in retaliatory measures being taken. And in case you are harboring any misbeliefs about your current status as a civilian, be assured that if you do not follow orders, I will personally ensure that you do not get a position with Aegis, or with any other entity that I have influence with. And believe me, Lloyd, I have a great deal of influence.”
Well. Spence clenched his teeth as the line went dead. That was clear enough.
He had his orders.
Lie to the woman he loved, quite possibly putting her in harm’s way. Or throw away the rest of his career.
Destroy his own future.
Something he and Mia didn’t have.
He didn’t know how long he stared out at the bright green morning, watching the warming sun melt the dew off the grass before he returned to the bedroom.
Mia lay spent, her face flushed with sleep, her arm outstretched as if reaching for him.
That she was easily the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, the sweetest he’d ever known, didn’t matter. No matter how the rest of this weekend went down, he reminded himself, his work with Mia was finished come Monday. He knew it; she knew it. They both accepted it.
Was he going to throw away twelve years of training, a chance at the career of a lifetime and his reputation, to boot?
Cade was right.
He was a highly trained Special Operative. He could handle this mission, maintain its secrecy and keep Mia safe, all at the same time.
And if he felt like a lowlife, lying dirtbag doing it?
Well, that was his problem.
Chapter 11
This was his first time in a country club, Spence realized the next day. Leaning against the wainscoted wall, partially hidden by one of the pillars flanking the membership desk, he watched a gaggle of well-dressed, wealthy women giggle like a bunch of schoolgirls. Apparently a champagne-and-chocolate-themed spa day brought out giddiness, even in women wearing enough diamonds to buy a small country.
Amusement faded when he spotted Mia.
Instantly surrounded by the clamoring group of women, all he could see at first were a series of eye-popping lime-green straps holding her feet in mile-high stilettos. As great as heels made her legs look, he had a sudden craving to see her barefoot again.
The crowd parted as they walked toward the spa, giving him a great view of the rest of her. In sharp contrast to the off-shoulder, body-hugging bodice, the skirt of her dress flowed in deep pleats, from a tiny waist to full billows at her knees. The rich berry color made him think of raspberry ice cream. The kind he wanted to lick and suck and nibble.
He forced himself to tear his gaze from that body and focus on her face. Instead of the usual spiky disarray, her raven hair was slicked back from her face at the sides, rising high in a pompadour on top. The style seemed to accent those huge eyes and sharp cheekbones. He blew out a long, long breath, but it did nothing to cool his desire.
Damn.
She looked almost as good as she had that morning, naked and sleeping in a nest of silk sheets. It’d taken all of his willpower—and the fresh memory of her father’s voice in his ear—to keep from climbing back in that bed and losing himself in her sweetness.
Instead, he’d snuck out of her bedroom like the liar he was. Tiptoeing, boots in hand and looking over his shoulder with each step to make sure she didn’t wake. Then he’d silently eased the door shut. He’d felt like a jerk the entire way down the stairs and out the front door, but that hadn’t stopped him from leaving.
Later, truthfully citing a ton to do for the weekend’s events, he’d managed to keep all of their communications to text messages so far. Thankfully, between the auction, the spa gig and this afternoon’s golf tournament, she’d stay hella busy all day.
Knowing he was indulging himself by acting like a lovesick idiot, Spence still shifted positions so he could watch Mia until she disappeared through the frosted doors of the day spa.
Indulgence over, he allowed himself another long breath, then told himself to get his ass to work. His job was a busy one today.
Brief Penz’s team, liaise with Cade’s backup team, bring down a criminal and break Mia’s heart.
Given the option, he’d prefer to skip that last one.
But he was out of options.
As if life needed to emphasize that point, there was a commotion at the entrance. Six men in black suits, earbuds and dark glasses strode in, two taking position on either side of the door while the others approached the desk.
Showtime, Spence thought.
Where his staff and security teams went, Senator Penz was sure to follow.
With that in mind, he intercepted the leader, the senator’s chief of staff, if Spence wasn’t mistaken.
“Gentlemen, I’m Spence Lloyd. I’ve been instructed to brief you.”
“Jon Bertram,” the man said with a hearty shake. “The senator will arrive in two hours. Do you have an operations room ready?”
“This way.” Without waiting to see if they followed, Spence led the way down a narrow hallway, past the sports center and, unlocking it with a key card, into the large conference room he’d designated their CIC, or combat information center.
“Secure the room,” Bertram order
ed his men. “Equipment-check first, surveillance systems next, followed by perimeter detail. We have press arriving in three hours and need to be ready.”
At ease with his feet planted, hands clasped behind him, Spence observed from the door as the men got down to business. Geek business, Spence realized, a little intrigued by how cool their techie equipment was. Who knew politicians had better toys than the military?
He wondered how Aegis’s toys stacked up.
And if he’d ever get to find out.
By the time they’d set up their computers, checked their cameras and two of them left to set up the press room, the security team arrived. If the first wave qualified as geeks, these guys were gorillas.
Built like a fleet of aircraft carriers, four men filed into the conference room. It was a big space, but these guys seemed to fill every niche of it. Spence rarely felt small, but next to them, he was a hundred-pound weakling.
“Well, well, look who it is,” the burliest of the gorillas said when he caught sight of Spence. A grin splitting his face, he strode over. “The SEAL they call Improv.”
“Michelson,” Spence greeted, shaking his old friend’s hand. “How’ve you been?”
After a few minutes of playing catch-up, Michelson asked, “What brings a SEAL to a charity golf tournament?”
“Former SEAL.” A firm believer in full disclosure to anyone depending on him to cover their back—at least, when he was given that option—Spence briefly explained the accident that’d destroyed his night vision.
“Bummer, dude. So what? Now you’re moonlighting as a golf pro?”
Spence glanced around the crowded room, then tilted his head. “Do you have a minute? I’d like to run something by you.”
As he caught the tone, Michelson’s easy grin faded. With a nod, he gestured to the empty corner of the room where Spence filled him in on the same information he’d given the Admiral.
He outlined the senator’s role in Alcosta’s stepbrother’s death, detailing the steps required to access Penz’s sealed military records. He described the unregistered gun he’d found stashed in the bushes and his steps to search and secure the property. He emphasized the social nature of the weekend’s gatherings and the challenges of securing the senator’s safety, ending with the assurance that Admiral Cade had given that he’d personally contact Penz.
Ten minutes later, Michelson called Penz’s chief of staff over.
“Mr. Bertram, I think you’ve met Lieutenant Spencer Lloyd. We served together on SEAL Team One a few years back. Lloyd’s covering security at this gig, and he’s got a few things you need to hear.”
Used to reporting his way up the chain of command, Spence started again from the beginning. He answered the same questions Michelson had asked, along with a dozen or so more.
“The senator hasn’t told me any of this,” Bertram said, the suspicion in his tone echoed on his face.
“As I said, Admiral Cade indicated that he’d personally contact the senator. He didn’t fill me in on his timetable or plans beyond that.”
“I’ll be asking him about that,” Bertram snapped.
Ignoring Michelson’s eye roll, Spence simply nodded. He’d expect the guy to do no less.
“What’s your role in this?” Bertram asked once he realized the nod was going to be Spence’s only response.
“I’m here to assist in any way you deem necessary. When Aegis arrives at oh-ten-hundred, I’ll liaise between your team and theirs to ensure that your task of keeping the senator safe and theirs of bringing down the assailant are successful, while also protecting the Admiral’s daughter from all harm.”
“The Admiral’s daughter? That’d be Penz’s niece, correct? Is she prepared to assist?”
“No, sir. Per Admiral Cade’s orders, I’m to remain undercover,” he said, bitterness coating his tongue. “As she’s not on his NTK list, she is to be kept oblivious.”
“I agree that Ms. Cade doesn’t need to know. But you don’t like that order.” Bertram realized with a quirk of his lips.
“I don’t have to like orders to follow them.”
“My orders are to hand over the senator’s security to a bunch of yahoos I’ve never met before on an unverified rumor. So believe me, I know all about not liking orders.”
Unoffended, Spence relaxed enough to arch his brow.
“Can you talk Penz into canceling?”
“No chance. The senator never backs down from a threat.”
Before Spence could respond, one of the techies handed the chief of staff a phone. Bertram’s eyes went blank, his head tilting just a little as he listened. His jaw tightened as he announced to the room, “Aegis is in house.”
“Now things are about to get serious,” Michelson told Spence in a hushed tone.
* * *
Mia’s world was damn near perfect.
Part of the perfection came from falling to sleep with an orgasm still trembling through her, then waking to revel in another one.
Part of it was the way Spence’s words kept echoing through her head. He was proud of her. She was a success. A freaking success.
She bounced a little in the cushy chair of her temporary office. While the ladies—and two gentlemen—luxuriated in their spa experience, she’d settled in to work at one of the small outdoor tables, with her tablet, her notepad and her iced tea. With most everyone inside, enjoying the country club’s varied amenities, she worked in silence broken only by the trickling water from a nearby wall fountain.
Woo, yeah. On every level, the auction breakfast was just as successful as the previous night’s cocktail party. Generous bids continued to pour in, pushing the fund-raiser’s net contributions well over the three-quarters mark toward their goal. And that was net.
Net, baby.
Mia was actively dancing in her seat when her cell phone buzzed.
“Mia Cade,” she answered, her voice chiming with joy. That happiness dimmed when she realized it was the bank calling about a problem with the last two checks she’d issued.
“There shouldn’t be a problem. I verified funds myself—the account is more than solvent enough to cover all of these expenses,” she insisted.
It took her another ten minutes and a discussion with the head of the bank before the man was satisfied. Mia, however, wasn’t. Frowning, she stared at her notes as she absently hit the off button on her phone.
What was going on?
Before she could start delving into it—before she could even figure out how—footsteps ricocheted like bullets on the concert.
“Where’s Spence?”
“Hmm?” Mia looked up from her notes to give Jessica a questioning look. “Sorry, what’d you say?”
Undoubtedly it hadn’t been an apology or explanation for running out on the cocktail party, let alone the screaming fit she’d had there. Which, the more she thought about it, the more annoyed Mia became.
Jessica was not only employed by the company raising the damned funds, but technically she’d also been one of the hostesses in charge of socializing, soliciting and schmoozing last night. To say nothing of the fact that she’d spent months begging Mia to let her work with her, then ignored that work to run after her boyfriend, a man Mia still hadn’t met.
Jaw tight with irritation, Mia was about to point that out when she finally took in Jessica’s appearance.
It wasn’t the blonde’s furious expression that made her eyes widen. It was the woman’s bare face. In all the months they’d lived together, she’d never seen Jessica makeup-free.
“Spence,” Jessica spat. “Where is he?”
Biting back the flurry of questions over Jessica’s appearance, Mia glanced at her watch, then tapped the laminated print copy of the day’s schedule sitting on the table in front of her. “It’s 11:00 a.m., so he’s here at the country club, preparing security for this af
ternoon’s golf tournament.”
“You need to fire him, Mia. He has to go.”
This again?
“You need to stop whining about Spence. Look, I know what your issue is with him, but get over it. It’s not like the two of you have to actually spend time together,” Mia pointed out impatiently. “He’s great at his job and he’s made my work a million times easier. Even if he wasn’t, we’re in the middle of the biggest event of my career. There is no way I’m dealing with drama or making staff changes now.”
Besides, Spence was leaving the job next week.
Swallowing against the ache in her throat, Mia told herself that was no big deal. He wouldn’t work with her anymore, but even though they hadn’t actually talked about it, she was sure they’d still be together.
“He lied to you.” The words were tossed between them with the force of a gauntlet, their challenge demanding a response. “Spence Lloyd has been lying to you from day one.”
What the hell? Mia shook her head as irritation faded into confusion. Her chair scraped jarringly against the concrete as Mia pushed away from the table. She had a feeling she was going to want to be standing for this.
“He’s a lieutenant in the freaking Navy. And if that’s not bad enough, he’s a SEAL. A freaking SEAL, Mia.” Jessica spat the words like they were covered in filth instead of being one of the most prestigious professions in the country.
“A SEAL?” Mia breathed, gripping the table to keep from swaying as her heart sank to her toes in a long, heavy slide. Military? “Spence is in the Navy?”
Mia bit her lip, trying to remember if he’d ever actually said what he’d done before coming to work for her. He hadn’t. He’d told her how much he loved his career, how hurt he’d been when an injury had ended it.
Was that a lie, too?
“Why?” she breathed.
“Who cares why? The bottom line is that he lied to you,” Jessica said again, this time with enough satisfied relish to cut through Mia’s shock.
“Where did you get your information?” She didn’t bother asking why she’d gotten it. Jessica had obviously done a background check.