Witness (Guardians Book 1)

by Piper Davenport

  “Take a breath, honey,” I ordered.

  He frowned.

  “I gave you the code word,” I said. “I thought you picked up on that.”

  “I did. But then when you didn’t respond to my calls, I grew a little concerned.”

  “Who’s spiraling now?”

  He didn’t answer. Just pulled me into his arms and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and stood on my tiptoes to gain better access. I broke the kiss, but stayed close to him. “Still need to talk?”

  His eyes went dark and he took a step back. “You know me, Bailey. Do you really think I would murder someone and then try to cover it up?”

  I sighed. “Honey, I already figured out that my dad made a few things up, or at the very least, embellished.”

  “A few?”

  “Okay, more than a few,” I admitted. “Did you kill the guy?”

  “Yes.”

  “Was it self-defense?”

  Brock nodded. “Yes.”

  “What happened?”

  He stroked my cheek, his eyes growing dark again. “I walked in on Macey being raped.”

  I gasped. “What?”

  “I killed the man who was raping her.”

  “Oh, my god, honey.” I fell against him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “What happened?”

  “I don’t really want to have this conversation with you in your closet.”

  I gave him a gentle squeeze. “Fair enough. But you’ll tell me at some point?”

  “If you want to know, yes.”

  “I want to know.”

  He kissed my forehead. “It’s a promise.”

  I led him out of the closet and back into my bedroom. “What now?”

  “Your dad’s lying to you and I’m not sure why. It goes deeper than him thinking I’m not good enough for you. He’s been planning this for a while and we’re gonna sort that out. You just need to trust me.”

  I leaned back. “I do trust you.”

  He cupped my cheeks. “Now that we have that out of the way, kiss me.”

  I shifted so I was kneeling on the mattress, closer to his height. I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned forward. He chuckled and lowered his lips to my neck, kissing me in the sensitive spot behind my ear.

  “Sneak,” I whispered. “I want your mouth, mister.”

  “Oh?” he whispered as he slid his hands down to cup my bottom.

  “Now, Brock.”

  “So bossy,” he said, and kissed me, slipping his hands under the lace of my panties, skin to skin. I moaned, breaking the kiss and dropping my head back.

  A knock at my door had me scowling. “Bailey, honey, are you awake?” my mother called.

  “Yes, Mom. Just a second.” I stroked Brock’s cheek. “Hide in the closet,” I whispered.

  “I’m not hiding from your parents like an errant teenage boyfriend, Bailey,” he whispered back.

  “Do you want to explain why you’re here, in my bedroom; despite the fact Dad has a restraining order against you?”

  He frowned.

  “Exactly,” I reiterated. “Get in the closet, Brock.”

  “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” he grumbled.

  I grinned. “A lotta bit.”

  “Bailey?” my mother called again. “Why is your door locked?”

  “Go,” I ordered and shoved him toward my closet.”

  Brock pressed his lips into a thin line, but did as I requested.

  “I love you…baby bird.” I grabbed the robe from the hook on the door on the closet and then shut him inside with a smile…a smug one, but still, a smile. I heard his low chuckle as I made my way to my bedroom door. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Why did you lock your door, honey?” she asked, and walked into the room.

  “Habit, I guess,” I improvised, and forced a smile. “Ali and I always made sure we locked the apartment.”

  “Well, it’s good you stayed safe in Washington.”

  “Did you need me?” I asked.

  “Josiah called. He’s taking you to the club for lunch.”

  “What? No. Absolutely not.”

  “Sweetheart, you need to get this murderous man out of your mind and what better way to do that than to have lunch with someone more suited to you?”

  “Mom. Josiah Warren is not a nice man.”

  “He’s from one of the best families on the East Coast. Of course, he’s a nice man.” She smiled. “And it’s the only way you’re leaving this house.”

  “Mom. I don’t like Josiah on any level.”

  “You need a distraction from that boy who is clearly a bad influence on you.”

  I crossed my arms. “First, Brock isn’t a boy. He’s the man I’m in love with—”

  “Who murdered a man,” she interrupted.

  I took a deep breath. “That’s what Daddy said. I’m not entirely sure we have all the information, though.”

  “Bailey Amelia Harper, we did not raise you to be so naïve.”

  Well, yeah, you kind of did.

  I sighed. “Fine, Mom. I’ll go.” I heard a bang from my closet and grimaced.

  “What was that?”

  “I bet it was my bag,” I said, and quickly peeked inside my closet. Brock stood, his hands fisted at his sides, his face red as he gritted his jaw. I smiled and mouthed, I love you, before closing the door again. “Yep. My bag tipped. It’s fine, Mom.”

  “Do you want me to help you find something to wear?”

  “Mom, I’m almost twenty-two years old. I’ve been dressing myself for a while now.”

  My mother narrowed her eyes, but then gave me a nod. “I’ll approve it when you’re ready.”

  “Okay, Mom. I appreciate it.” I guided my mother back to my door. “I’ll just get in the shower now, okay?”

  “Look sweet, Bailey.”

  “Of course, Mom.” I smiled and closed the door behind my mother, locking it again.

  Brock pushed out of the closet, a scowl on his face. “You are not going to lunch with that parasite, Bailey,” he whispered.

  “I know I’m not.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m going to pack up a few things that I can’t live without and my incredibly hot and intelligent fiancé is going to figure out how to get said things out of my house, while I pretend to go to the club. I’m going to insist that my parents come with me, so that the house will be relatively empty. It’s Betsy’s day off and Daddy’s goons will go wherever he goes.” I slid my hands up his chest. “Then that same hot and incredibly intelligent fiancé is going to do what he came here to do, and once that is done, he’s going to whisk me out of the club and take me somewhere private and fuck me…hard.”

  Brock’s eyes grew dark. “Don’t like it.”

  “You don’t want to fuck me hard?” I asked in all innocence.

  “Babe.”

  I kissed his neck and slipped the buttons on his jeans. “Yes, honey?”

  “I don’t like this plan.”

  I shrugged. “Don’t care. It’s the best way and it means we can be done with this.”

  “Bailey,” he warned.

  I slid my hand under the waistband to cup him, stroking as I went. “Yes, honey?” He hissed air through his teeth and I smiled. “I have to take a shower. Join me?”

  “Your parents won’t walk in?”

  “No. They won’t. We’ll lock the door, turn on the radio, and have a little fun. Okay?”

  He nodded, his eyes dark and hooded with desire. I kissed him and then led him into the bathroom, hitting the power button on my radio as I passed it. Turning on the shower, I faced him and watched as he pulled off his shirt and jeans. He was already hard, and I licked my lips in anticipation. He dug his wallet out of his jeans pocket and pulled out two condoms, grinning as he set them in the shower.

  “Two?” I mused.

  “Absolutely.”

  I clapped quietly and then yanked my cami from my body, slipping my panties off simultaneously. Br
ock grasped me around the waist and pulled me close. “Eager?”

  “It’s been almost two days,” I complained.

  “Well, I better take care of you then.”

  He guided me into the large glass box, pointing the shower head slightly away from us, and kneeling in front of me, leaning into the apex of my thighs. I gasped as his tongue lapped at me and I slid my hands into his hair.

  “Spread your legs, baby,” he directed.

  I did as he asked, and he slid two fingers inside of me as he tongued and sucked my clit. “So wet, baby.”

  I whimpered. “Brock. I can’t wait.”

  “Don’t wait, baby.”

  I allowed my body to release and cried out as quietly as I could as the orgasm overtook me.

  Brock stood, sitting on the bench at the back of the shower and grabbing a condom. “Sit, baby.”

  I straddled his hips, facing him, and lowered my body…slowly, sighing as he filled me.

  “You have the greediest pussy.”

  “Your fault,” I rasped.

  He gripped my ass, guiding me up and down, before cupping my breasts and rolling my nipples between his fingers. He replaced one hand with his mouth and nipped gently, causing my body to spasm. “Too hard?”

  “God, no. Harder.”

  He smiled as he bit down on my nipple again, using his free hand to slide between my legs.

  “Brock,” I panted.

  “Faster, baby.”

  I obliged, using his shoulders for leverage and when I knew I was close, I took his mouth and kissed him hard, my scream muffled in the kiss as I exploded around him.

  Brock thrust into me once more and then wrapped his arms around me and held me, our bodies still connected.

  “It just gets better,” I said, kissing his neck.

  “For me too.”

  I grinned. “Once more and then we’ll get clean?”

  He held up the other condom packet. “So beautifully predictable, baby.”

  I giggled and kissed him again.

  Brock

  I WALKED SOUNDLESSLY down the hallway and into Bailey’s mother’s room. I shook my head as I stared at the ultra-feminine, flowery décor. Bailey had informed me that her parents hadn’t shared a bed since she was little. They’d apparently told her it was because her father snored, and she hadn’t thought it was weird, but with the new information about her mother’s infidelity, puzzle pieces were sliding into place for her.

  I stepped into the closet and pulled out the slip of paper Bailey had given me with the combination on it. I entered the numbers and the door clicked. Turning the handle, the door slid silently open and, with a quickness made of years of practice, I grabbed everything in the safe and began to photograph them, uploading them directly to the FBI database.

  I’d take the time to study everything later. For now, I wanted out of this house, but more importantly, I wanted Bailey out of the house…for good. As promised, she packed a surprisingly small bag of things that she considered must-haves and when she and her family left, she’d stowed the bag downstairs for quick access.

  I finished with my photos, neatly stacked the files back in the safe, and texted Dallas as I headed out of the room.

  “Don’t move.”

  I turned to find one of the goons holding a gun on me and I raised my hands in surrender.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” the man asked.

  “Dude, I was looking for Bailey,” I improvised. “I think I got the wrong room.”

  “You’re not real smart, tripping the alarm, Mr. Williams.” He waved the gun to the side. “Let’s head downstairs to wait for Mr. Harper to decide what to do with you.”

  “Yeah, man. Okay. Can you put the gun down, though? It’s kind of nerve-wracking having it waved in my face.”

  “Down the stairs,” the goon ordered.

  I nodded and started down the stairs. As soon as I hit the last step, I pivoted and caught the goon off-balance, tripping him the rest of the way down. Unfortunately, he didn’t relinquish his gun, but I was able to get him in a chokehold and render him unconscious before he could get a shot off.

  I heard a car coming down the driveway, so I grabbed Bailey’s bag and headed outside. Dallas drove up, I jumped in, and we took off.

  “Where’s Bailey?” I asked.

  “Jax has her,” Dallas said. “They’re back at the hotel.”

  “You took her back to the hotel her father booked for us?” I bellowed.

  “No,” Dallas countered. “She’s back at the hotel Jaxon booked under an assumed name.”

  I relaxed. “Thanks, man.”

  “Got your back.”

  I nodded and did my best to stay calm as Dallas drove to the new location. It was a little red inn on Main Street that looked like something from days gone by. Dallas parked the car out of sight and then led me inside.

  I’d just stepped through the door when a flurry of blonde threw herself into my arms. “You’re here.”

  “I’m here,” I whispered, and pulled her close.

  “I was so worried.” She glanced up at me. “Daddy got a call during lunch and he looked at me like he was going to kill me. He informed Lenny that the alarm had been tripped at the house and then when I said I needed to go to the bathroom, he wouldn’t let me.”

  “Did he hurt you?”

  “No.” She hugged me again. “I looked for a distraction, finally seeing a waiter with a tray of drinks coming by. I tripped him and he dumped everything on my dad. Even some of the wine ended up on me and my mom.” She gave me a tentative smile. “Mom insisted I come with her to the bathroom. Harpers do not allow red wine to stain clothing. Jaxon got me out when my mom went into a stall.”

  I stroked her hair, nodding my thanks to Jaxon. “Good.”

  “Did you get everything?” she asked.

  I nodded. “A treasure trove.”

  “And my stuff?”

  “In the car, baby.”

  She hugged me again. “Can we go home now?”

  I stroked her cheek. “Is that where you want to go?”

  “Yes. Home. Your home. Our home.”

  “Tomorrow. Tonight, I have other plans.”

  “As long as those other plans are to fuck me, I’m game,” she whispered.

  I leaned down and kissed her. “Your wish is my command.”

  One year later…

  I FLOPPED ONTO the sofa in the family room and stared at my husband. We’d returned from the sentencing hearing for my parents, who were sentenced to life for their role in the kidnapping of nine children, the death of Ali, and extortion of several of their acquaintances in an effort to get the money together to get Josiah Warren’s father, Brian, in a position to oust Burton Miller.

  Although my mother’s affair had started out of lust and affection, it had quickly gone downhill from there and she’d moved her interests from Burton to Brian. They’d concocted the plan to kidnap the kids using a few of Brian’s Russian contacts around the country. Which is how they ended up in Oregon. Ali and I had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time, getting caught in Dean’s deal with the mob who owned him due to his drug habit.

  Brock and his team had gathered enough evidence for a slam-dunk case, and on top of it, had inadvertently split open a human trafficking ring the Russians were running. Dean had owed the mob big money and trafficked young college women in an effort to pay off the debt. The bust of these people meant Brock, Dallas, and Jaxon all received bonuses, accolades and promotions. All three turned down the promotions, choosing to stay within their tight group, but they happily took the bonuses and kudos.

  Brock and I had been married in his parents’ backyard, surrounded by his family, Macey, Dallas, and Jaxon, two weeks after we’d returned home.

  Brock leaned over me and smiled, bringing me back to the present. “How are you?”

  “Glad it’s over.”

  “Me too.” He sat beside me and pulled me into his arms. “Are you sad?”<
br />
  I shook my head. “No, I’m kind of over it, actually. I don’t understand how two people I loved so much could be so inherently evil.”

  “I know.”

  “Were they always this way or did they just happen to make a few bad choices on their way down?”

  “I have no idea,” he admitted.

  “And what happens to the house? I know this seems weird, but I loved that house.”

  “I know you did. I would assume it’ll be auctioned off.”

  I sighed. “Which is just wrong.”

  “How about we go out there next week and see what we can find out?”

  I stared at him. “You mean, spend our one-year anniversary there?”

  “Yes.”

  “You did something, didn’t you?”

  Brock laughed. “I booked us in at that little inn on Main Street for a week.”

  I threw myself in his arms. “Oooh, I love you, love you, love you, Brock Williams.”

  “I love you more, Bailey Williams.”

  “Come on. I’m in the mood to show you my appreciation.” I rose to my feet and held out my hand.

  He joined me. “And I’m in the mood to let you.”

  I giggled as Brock bent at the waist and lifted me over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” I demanded and smacked his bottom.

  He gave mine a firm squeeze. “I’m takin’ my woman to bed and I’m gonna fuck her until she screams my name.”

  I shivered, my body warming at the thought. “Hurry,” I demanded.

  As we walked toward the staircase, the doorbell rang. “Who the hell is that?” Brock grumbled, setting me on my feet and pulling open the door.

  “Delivery for Bailey Harper.”

  “Bailey Williams,” Brock corrected, but took the package and signed for it, handing it to me.

  He closed the door and I tore open the package. “It’s from Daddy’s law firm.”

  Brock wrapped an arm around my waist from behind and read over my shoulder. “Babe,” he said.

  “Are you reading that too?”

  “Yeah.”

  I turned in his arms. “I…um…the house. It’s mine.”

  “Looks like it,” he said, and grinned.

  “Did you know about this?”