“Dani?”
Startling, she jumped then guiltily looked at Chad. “Sorry, my mind wandered.” Be professional, girl, and stop daydreaming! “Uh, what did you say?”
“You said there were two incidents,” Chad repeated, taking her hand and leading her to the table and ushering her into a chair. The five men sat down, as well, and appeared to be ready to listen to whatever she had to say.
“I was handed this letter on Friday when I went to the storage unit to close out my account with them. There were just a few more boxes that needed to be brought here and I retrieved them.” She handed the notification of the intruder to Chad and let him read it before he passed it around to the others.
He finished and lifted his gaze back to hers, a questioning expression on his face.
“It just so happens that my unit was on Section 2B and on top of that, look at my padlock.” She walked over to her large handbag and pulled out the padlock. Handing it to him, she watched as curiosity crossed his face only to be quickly replaced by anger.
“Which facility? We need to get their security tapes.”
“The kid that works there said someone came to pick up the video, but couldn’t tell me who. Do you think you can get a copy?”
Grinning, he said, “Babe, this is what we do for a living.” With a nod from Jack, Chad placed a call to Cam. “Hey bro, I’m at Dani’s and we’ve got a job for you. I need the security video feed for All-Safe storage unit on Lansom Street. Yep, for last Thursday night. Jude’ll meet you there and distract the manager and let you take care of the rest. Thanks, man. I owe you.”
Dani watched, impressed as Chad took control. Irritated that someone had been in her house, she knew the situation was out of her hands. In the middle of an investigation surrounding her, she smiled inside at the feeling that someone wanted to help.
Chapter 10
Jude left to meet with Cam as the other Saints continued to question Dani.
“What do you think they were after?” Jack asked her, his eyes warm, but alert.
Sighing, she said, “I’m embarrassed that I haven’t really thought about it. I was too busy being angry.” She looked over at her small living room, her mind processing the facts. “It has to be small, or there would be no reason to look behind pictures. In fact, it would have to be small and flat for that to be where it was hidden.”
The Saints observed as she continued. Her eyes found Chad’s and she said, “The problem is…I’ve got no idea what they were looking for.”
“Anything you’re working on at Marsden Systems?” Marc asked. “Anything work related or secure?”
“I’ve only been at the job for about two months but yes, I come in contact with confidential documents every day. I work in a highly secure area and have a top security clearance. But I assure you, I don’t bring home materials from work.”
She sat thoughtfully for a moment, then looked around. “Now that I think about it, this is actually the third thing that seems odd. I can’t be sure, but I think that my purse was searched when I was out of my office the other day.”
“What?” Chad bit out, followed immediately by similar curses from the other Saints.
Hustling to add, Dani said, “Now I can’t be sure. But when I got back from a meeting, my desk drawer was not locked. My purse was intact and all the contents were there…but I had a feeling someone had rifled through it. My cosmetic case was opened and the contents spilled out in the purse. Any of these things individually would be nothing…but all together? I’m either completely paranoid or someone is trying to find something they think I have.”
“Was there anything your husband was working on before his death?” Jack asked, drawing a glare from Chad.
“Adam?” She shook her head, with a slow smile on her face. “No, Mr. Bryant. Adam was with the ATF, like Chad. His specialty was explosive disposal. He wasn’t an investigative agent.”
The room became quiet, the silence eerie as she looked around at the faces of the men sitting at her table. Seeing the darted glances between them, she turned her attention to Chad. “What’s going on? Why the questions about Adam?”
Just then, they were interrupted by a call from Cam, who reported he had the CD in his hand.
“Any problems?” Chad asked.
“Don’t insult me,” Cam pretended to growl. “I’ll deliver it to Luke and have him analyze the tape before we turn it over to Mitch if needed.”
“Thanks,” Chad stated, knowing Cam would be able to obtain anything they needed…and not get caught.
“Good enough,” Cam called out, before disconnecting.
Chad turned back to Dani and ordered, “You need to pack your stuff so that I can take you out of here.”
Turning to stare dumbly at him, she said, “What? Why?”
Leaning over to her, he placed his hand on her shoulder and said, “Come on, Dani. Someone was here in this house and if they didn’t find whatever the hell they were looking for, they’ll come back.”
“Chad, I’m not leaving my house,” she declared, her eyes flashing her defiance. “I just started to get settled here.”
“Don’t make me beg because I will,” he said softly, moving in close so that his words were for her only. “Think of the baby, honey.”
Her face fell as resignation set in. A sense of fear slid in next to the anger she felt. “I’ve had so many changes in the past three months…how many more can I take?”
Wrapping his huge arms around her body, he pulled her in tightly. “I’m so sorry, babe. Honest to God, I am. But I can’t take a chance on someone coming back and finding you here. We’ve got no idea right now what could be going on, but I want you safe while we investigate what’s happening.”
Looking over her head, which was pressed against his chest, he noticed the other Saints had discreetly moved to the other room while he talked to her. Pulling her head back slightly so he could gaze into her eyes, he said, “Look, how about this. What if I stay here for a couple of nights? That way you don’t have to move again…at least not now. And I promise to do everything in my power to make you, and the baby, safe.”
She peered into his eyes, remembering how they made her feel almost two years ago when they met. Safe. Secure. Cared for. All the things that no matter how much Adam wanted to offer, he never could. “Okay,” she whispered, resignation settling.
“But for now, you and I are heading to Jack’s to check out the CD, talk about anything else that you can think of, and Jack’ll have a couple of buddies come in this evening to dust for fingerprints and set up a preliminary security system. Then, tomorrow, we’ll have a full installation.”
*
An hour later, Chad sat staring at Luke’s computer screen, his anger growing by the minute. He watched as a person dressed all in black with a hoodie pulled up over their head walked down the Section 2B hall, moving directly to one storage unit, not stopping at any others. Taking out lock cutters from underneath his jacket, he began to cut the padlock. Suddenly an alarm sounded and the person ran back down the hall, keeping his face away from the cameras at all times.
“I knew your computer equipment would enhance the non-existent quality most of these businesses have with their crap security systems,” Chad said. “But damn, there’s nothing to enhance.”
Jack looked over Luke’s shoulder as well, his face unreadable. “And this is the only unit he went to?”
“Cam got them all from that night, so yeah. This unit is the only one singled out.”
Looking down at Dani’s padlock in his hand, Chad showed the Saints the cut marks on the lock. Fuck! What did she have in that unit? Pondering the situation for a moment, he wondered if any of Adam’s belongings had been there?
Standing up straight, Chad said, “What if whatever they were looking for had to do with Adam?”
“You didn’t think he was involved in anything,” Jack said, meeting his gaze.
Running his hand over his face, Chad answered, “I don’t wa
nt to believe that he did, but I’m not willing to risk Dani’s safety just because of my possible false hope.”
Luke spoke up. “If they were unable to break into the storage unit because an alarm went off, they won’t be deterred. There’s a good chance they’d go back and try again…this time making sure the alarm system is disabled.”
“She said she emptied it out on Friday,” Chad said, then the realization rushed over him. “Fuck, if they realized the unit was empty, that’s why they tried her house next.”
“What I don’t understand is how this could be tied into her feeling that someone at Marsden Energy Systems rifled through her purse,” Blaise said. “Anyone with access to where her office is located would have to have a security clearance.”
Chad ran his hand over his face in frustration. “And if whatever the person was looking for did have to do with something cocked up that Adam was involved in, then that would have nothing to do with Marsden Energy System. Her job at MES came after Adam was killed.”
Monty looked over at Chad, and asked, “Not trying to get in your business, but how involved are you now? Will it be a problem to have her on our radar?”
Chad looked around at his friends. “Told you I fucked up. I was in love with her before I went back overseas, but never told her. Not making that mistake again.” He hesitated but understood they needed all her information to keep her safe. “She found out a few weeks after the funeral that she’s pregnant.”
“Fuck,” Marc said, then chuckled. “And she pulled out a weapon and searched her house.”
“Yeah, well don’t tell a former ATF investigator that she can’t protect herself,” Chad said, shaking his head. Sighing, he added, “You might as well know now…I’ve already told her that I want us to see if we can move forward as a couple and that includes the baby.”
He saw the smiles of the men around the table. “Adam was my closest friend at one time and while I moved away from them when I got back…well, that’s on me. But I plan on being with Dani and I want to be the man in her baby’s life. I owe that to Adam. I owe it to her. Hell, I owe it to me.”
“Fuckin’ yeah,” Cam said, his thoughts on his own impending fatherhood palpable.
Jack looked at his men all earnestly working the problem. “Chad, Ms. Turner is now on our radar and her security is of ultimate priority. We’re working the problem for the ATF and FBI, now just adding her to our mission as well.”
Gaining nods from around the room, they went to work.
*
Dani waited upstairs in Jack’s house while the Saints were in the compound’s conference room looking over the surveillance video. She was floored when they drove down the long driveway, through the forest of maple, pine, and oak trees. The redbud trees were just blooming, giving the spring green a flash of purple color.
When they reached the main house, she stared in unabashed awe. “Good grief, his log cabin is like a mansion,” she exclaimed.
Chad smiled, glad she agreed to come with him. Entering the house, she was greeted by Jack, who introduced his wife, Bethany. After meeting the other Saints, her eyes followed them as they moved down the hall.
Hearing a laugh from behind her, she turned to see the pretty blonde smiling. “I can see you’re impressed with the Saints eye candy, aren’t you?” Bethany asked.
“Oh, yeah,” Dani admitted while secretly thinking that Chad had them all beat in holding her attention.
Just then the front door opened and several more women walked in. “Hey,” the petite, dark-haired woman, wearing maternity nursing scrubs, called out. “Cam called and asked if I would come over after my shift.”
Dani met Miriam, Cam’s visibly pregnant wife. She noticed Miriam’s gaze drop to her stomach and when she lifted her eyes to hers, she smiled. Dani smiled in response but wondered if Miriam knew she was pregnant, even though she was not showing.
Before she had a chance to think about it, she was introduced to Faith, Bart’s fiancé, another petite, dark-haired woman. Dani was unable to hold back her grin. I just knew Bart was with someone special. A few minutes later, a curvy woman walked in, her blonde hair streaked with pink, purple, and teal. The woman carried a white box tied with colored string and Dani instantly recognized the Angel’s Cupcake Heaven logo on the box.
The beautiful blonde introduced herself as Monty’s fiancé, Angel, and the women immediately tore open the box to enjoy a cupcake. Just as Bethany served the herbal tea, in deference to Miriam’s pregnancy, another blonde walked in. Jude’s fiancé, Sabrina, tossed her designer bag onto the counter and grabbed a cupcake.
It only took a few minutes of tea and cupcakes for Dani to bond with the other women. Each unique, like their Saint, they appeared to understand the special careers the men worked in. Not upset at the late or odd hours, interrupting phone calls, or travel. It was obvious to Dani, these women were special…and adored. And after seeing their men…I bet the sex is amazing! Then her mind shifted to what sex with Chad would be like. Oh, Lordy, she thought at she squeezed her legs together. Shaking her head, she blamed pregnancy hormones on her thoughts.
*
Muhammad Hakim walked into the room, his dark eyes quickly moving over the others. “What did he get?”
“Nothing,” came Abdul Nagi’s frustrated voice. “The idiot did not cut all the alarms at the storage unit and was interrupted before he could get in and search. Then she came the next day and removed everything.”
Muhammad said nothing but kept staring, expecting the rest of the story. Abdul continued, “Then he went to her house. Easy break in and he said he left no traces of being there and that he found nothing. The boxes he searched did not contain anything of importance.”
“And?”
“The bitch returned and must have noticed something because when he drove by later, the driveway was filled with trucks and a group of security-type men were around.”
“He came back with nothing?”
“Nothing,” Abdul confirmed. “Whatever Adam Turner had, we haven’t been able to find.”
Muhammad’s lips thinned in anger as he turned away from Abdul. His mind calculating, he ordered, “Get rid of the incompetent. We’ll find another way to get what we want.”
Chapter 11
After getting back late from Jack’s, Dani and Chad walked into her house. Tossing her bag onto the dining room table, she looked toward the living room. Remnants of fingerprint dust were still visible, but Chad had already informed her that no prints turned up other than hers and his. Sighing heavily, she stood completely still. Chad moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle and chest as they both let the emotions of the day wash over them.
“Whatcha thinking?” he asked, his voice soft and his breath warm against her ear.
“I now think this was a bad idea,” she replied, exhaustion evident as her body slumped back against his.
Not knowing what she was implying was the bad idea, he stayed quiet.
“I so wanted to stay in my house. It’s not a great house, but I was making it mine. I was trying to build a life here…for me and the baby. Now I look at those goddamn straight pictures and the knowledge that someone was in my home…touching my things.” Suddenly she jerked out of his arms and ran into the living room, whirling around with her arms flung out to the sides. “Augggh!” she screamed. “My. House. My. Things!” she yelled, thumping her fist against her chest.
Chad stalked over, pulling her into his embrace as she let her weight drop against his. He bent and scooped her up into his arms, moving to the sofa. Sitting down, he arranged her so she was draped over his lap, still enveloped in his warmth. Holding her close, he murmured words of comfort as she cried out her frustration.
Spent of all tears after a few minutes, she rested her head on his shoulder. “I guess I don’t look so badass now, do I?” She felt his chuckle as it rumbled in his chest.
“Dani, you were always one badass and this little breakdown doesn’t change that. But yo
u feel violated by someone being here in your house, and we need to think about what’s the best thing to do.”
Using her free hand to wipe her tears, she nodded. “I hate the idea of one more change in my life, Chad. I’d hung up my pictures…a little crooked, but still, they were mine.” Her gaze latched on his beautiful smile and she continued. “I suppose, for safety’s sake, maybe I should stay at your place for a few days until we have a better handle on what’s going on.” She looked into his face, seeing the worry lines ease a bit. “But not tonight,” she hustled to say. “I’m really tired right now.”
Nodding, he said, “I’ll be here tonight. We’ll be safe.”
She laid her head back to his chest. “We’ll…,” she murmured.
“What, babe?”
“You said we’ll be safe, not you’ll be safe. I like that. I like the word we.”
Smiling, he stood with her in his arms as he walked into her bedroom and set her feet gently on the floor. “That’s what we are now.”
Dani smiled up at the handsome man she cared for and sudden shyness overtook her. Here he was in her bedroom, where she wanted him, and she now had no idea what to do.
“Hey, baby,” his gentle voice broke through her tangled thoughts. “Why don’t you get ready for bed and I’ll check the security again.”
She stood still until his hands nudged her toward the bathroom. Jolted out of her musings, she hustled into the bathroom, her nightgown in hand. Washing her face, moisturizing, brushing her teeth and then slipping on her nightgown, she stood staring into the mirror over the sink. Auburn hair with fiery red streaks, brushed to a shine, framed her pale face complete with the smattering of freckles across her cheeks and nose.
Her eyes roamed down to her breasts, now fuller and her stomach with its barely-there baby bulge. Splaying her hand on her tummy, she said, “Okay, baby. I love you and I promise I’ll make sure you know your daddy. But out there is a really good man…a man I had loved before I cared for your daddy. And he wants both of us. What do you think?”
Sacrifice Love: Saints Protection & Investigations Page 9