Southern Charm (Southern Desires Series Book 5)

by Jeannette Winters

  Wyatt stood at attention and said, “Yes, ma’am.”

  She really enjoyed seeing this side of him. He wasn’t a soldier or a protector. He was just a man. A funny, sweet, and sexy man. Randi didn’t want this moment to end, but it would, and she didn’t want to start something they couldn’t finish.

  Turning to the dishes, she decided it might be a good time to talk. She grabbed the sponge and lathered up another pan.

  “Wyatt, you asked me what happened that made Maggie break up with Nate.”

  “I did, but you didn’t seem ready to answer.”

  “I wasn’t. It was something I wanted to talk to Nate directly about, but I think it’s important for you to hear as well.” So you see why we can’t start anything because we already know how it’s going to end.

  “I’d appreciate it.”

  “She loved Nate so much. I never heard her speak of anyone the way she did him. She only used his last name, hence I thought you were Nate, but I knew everything else. How he made her laugh and dream of a future, one outside of the Corps.” She recounted all the memories she could. If she never had a chance to tell Nate herself, at least she knew Wyatt could.

  “Nate felt the same way.”

  “What she couldn’t do was tell Nate what was going on. She knew if she did he’d be involved, and she wasn’t willing to risk that. Maggie had intentionally arranged it so she was in North Carolina protecting . . . someone very important.”

  “Someone I should know about?”

  She was concerned about going into details. Marina Brimlow had suffered enough and finally felt safe. Then again, so did I a few days ago. Maybe none of us are.

  “General Floyd had a daughter he used and treated horribly, to the point he was willing for her to die if it meant he got what he wanted. She was extremely courageous and risked everything to ensure Floyd didn’t win.”

  “You mean she went head to head with her own father? A general?”

  “She had help, people like Maggie, to protect her along the way.”

  Wyatt put his towel down and held her hands so she couldn’t work either. “Let’s sit. Tell me what really happened to her.”

  Randi nodded and followed him to the table. “I told you she drowned.”

  “Yes.”

  “That was what they wanted people to believe. The truth is, Floyd allowed the terrorists to enter the lab, undetected, by providing them the security codes. Once inside, they took the Marines prisoner. It wasn’t a hostage situation. They were there searching for what Brimlow had. Since only the Marines knew where she was and what she’d done, they shot each one in the back of the head hoping to get one to talk.”

  Wyatt squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”

  “My sister was one of four Marines murdered. They blew up the dam upstream so the lab would be destroyed, and no one would ever know what had happened. But Maggie’s body washed up, and I was called to identify her. When I was there, I knew they were lying. She’d given me enough information about what she’d been working on and what she suspected, that I knew I needed to take her place and continue where she’d left off.”

  “And that’s what you’ve been doing all these years? Finishing what she started?”

  Softly she replied, “Yes.”

  She could see the questions running through his mind. Some she could answer and others she didn’t want to.

  “How does Mark fit in all this?”

  “The terrorists Floyd was working with were tied to the group that Mark had been trying to catch. It’s a very tangled and complicated web, and if you want more details you’ll have to talk to him directly. We’ve been working on this together for less than a year. Until Johnson’s funeral, I actually thought it was over. I was wrong.” We all were.

  “Why didn’t any of you take it up the chain of command?”

  She arched her brow. “Didn’t you hear me say General Floyd? We’re talking about corruption at the Pentagon level. It became a very low key, trust only a select few, mission.”

  “You mean you all worked outside the authority of the US military?”

  It was scary to admit. She wasn’t sure what he would do with that information. Each of them could easily be court-martialed. Even now, Randi wasn’t sure who was covering up for them. If Wyatt was able to link some things together, she was sure someone else could as well. It’s just a matter of time.

  “We did what the country needed us to do. The less you know about it, the better.” Randi’s voice was firm; she wasn’t going to waver on this.

  “Here you are now, filling your sister’s boots.”

  “Not even close,” she said somberly.

  “If you ask me, I’d say you’re doing one hell of a job. You knew the risk. Hell, you knew what they did to your sister, yet you sucked it up and faced those bastards head-on. It sounds like Maggie would’ve been very proud of you.”

  She met Wyatt’s gaze, and his sincerity and kind words ripped at her heart. She didn’t do any of it to make Maggie proud. She’d just wanted to make them pay. They’d taken the only person she had in her life. They had a connection only twins could understand. Her joy was my joy, her pain my pain. It didn’t matter how scared or foolish it was, Randi had no choice but to assume the life of Maggie. When she died, there was an emptiness that the only way to hold onto her was to become her. I don’t want to say goodbye.

  “Wyatt. I’m sorry. I can’t talk about this anymore. Not tonight.” She got up and left the kitchen. She was afraid he’d try to stop her, but he didn’t. Somehow he understood she needed to be alone. There are some things no one can help you through.

  It took everything in him not to follow her. She was hurting, and he wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her it would be okay. But Wyatt dealt in reality, and he wasn’t going to lie. She’d been through pure hell. Words weren’t the answer. If they were, he’d be by her side right now. The only way he could help was to do what he did best. Help her find the answers.

  Wyatt hadn’t missed Randi’s implication that Maggie knew it was highly possible she might not make it out alive. Someone willing to go that far would’ve made sure to have left something, detailing everything she’d learned. Randi had some information, but his gut was telling him there was more. And that’s what those bastards are looking for. They know what we don’t. That gives them the upper hand.

  It wouldn’t be pretty, but he needed to ask Randi to walk through every detail of the last few months of Maggie’s life. Knowing he was going to cause her pain made him sick. He’d do everything he could to ease that, but Maggie was the key. Until they had the information she died protecting, Randi’s life was in jeopardy.

  Wyatt didn’t want to admit it, but this was bigger than he could handle on his own. Mark was right. She needed protection. She needed to be here in the bunker. Those bastards would do anything they could to get whatever they want.

  He’d thought the attackers who’d been in his room were out to kill Randi. Now he wasn’t so sure. It was more likely they’d wanted to kidnap her. Once they had her, they’d torture her until she gave them some answers or was dead. She can’t leave here. Not until it’s over.

  Although he enjoyed spending time getting to know Randi, Wyatt couldn’t stay with her. He needed to be looking for whoever was looking for her. Waiting for them to find her and attack was not how he did things.

  Wyatt pulled out his phone to call Nate. With what he’d just learned, he needed more information to put the pieces together. Fuck. There was no signal this far underground. Watson knew what the hell he was doing when he built this place. It was great to keep someone safe, but he needed more, and locked away wasn’t working for him.

  Tossing his useless phone on the table, he started to pace. There was no way Watson would’ve created a place like this strictly with the comforts of home. He was too savvy of a businessman to be cut off from the world. All Wyatt needed to do was find what Watson hadn’t shown them.

  He knew there was m
ore than one floor. Watson made it a point not to show them. That didn’t mean Wyatt wasn’t going to find it on his own. He wouldn’t normally snoop in someone’s home. But this wasn’t actually a home; it was a safe house, and his job was making sure Randi was just that. Safe. He left the kitchen and went to the hall. He needed to think about this logically.

  Closing his eyes, he thought about the location of each room. He was sure Watson had them strategically placed. All he needed to do was get in Watson’s head and figure where he’d have put a communication room.

  He’d actually gone into each room except the only bedroom. He’d told Randi it was all hers, and he wanted to respect her privacy. Now he was regretting that decision.

  It wouldn’t have made any sense to put the room off the bedroom. He needed to think how Watson had hidden the control panel in the cabin above. It’s right in front of my eyes. I’m just not seeing it yet.

  He knew where it wasn’t: the kitchen, bathroom, or dining room. Although he wanted to be in the bedroom with Randi, this wasn’t the time. So that left the entertainment room. When he got inside, he looked at what the naked eye could see. Every gadget one could need was there, except for a phone. We have a streaming Internet connection because the TV works through it. That confirmed it. This room was the link to the others.

  Wyatt started knocking on the walls. Everything sounded like solid concrete. If it wasn’t pushing out, it had to be up or down. Wyatt looked at the red panic button Watson had mentioned and was tempted to push it, but he wasn’t one to cry wolf. There might be a time we actually need it.

  He went back to where the TV screen was. It had dropped from the ceiling. That meant there was a place above where it dropped from. Pressing the button for the screen to retract, Wyatt went to the wall again. Looking up, he saw what he was looking for. There was a faint light shining through the opening. Perfect.

  Since he knew where it was, it wouldn’t be hard to figure out how to get there. Another moving floor I assume.

  Wyatt just needed to find the control. Since it was the television that gave it away, he believed it had to do with the remote controllers. Grabbing the various controllers, he made himself comfortable on the recliner. The first one looked standard. He tossed it on the seat near him. The second one was very close in appearance to the first but included lighting and audio. Nothing jumped out at him.

  The third and final remote appeared to be identical to the first one. Why have two of the same? Wyatt reached over and picked the first one up again. Placing them side by side, he looked for differences. The menu and record buttons on the third controller were upside down. That’s not something most people would’ve noticed. But details jumped out at him. In the field, missing something this small could cost a life.

  No way it’s that simple. Pressing both buttons at the same time, he felt the room begin to move. Just opposite of the cabin before, this one raised up. It was much slower and only one level higher. Once it stopped, Wyatt got up from his seat and left that room. This was the floor he really wanted to see. One that Watson hoped he wouldn’t find.

  Unlike downstairs, where it was set up to look like a home, this was set up as a laboratory of some sort. Each step turned on automatic lighting. As the room became illuminated, he realized this was no ordinary bunker. It wasn’t just a safe house either. He wasn’t exactly sure what it was. He knew Watson was head of a major pharmaceutical company, but nothing he read about him said he had a chemical background. The guy is just a genius when it comes to making money.

  Wyatt looked further, trying to get a feel for what they might be researching here. He’d read about secret laboratories, and from what Randi said, Maggie was stationed at one. Although this had everything one could ask for, it didn’t seem like anything you wouldn’t see in a hospital. As he left the lab he found another room, which confirmed his initial thought. There was a hospital bed with monitors set up. Not like a trauma setting but more for one person who’d been sick.

  Everything about this place seemed to be personally geared toward one thing. Was Watson ill and keeping it secret? Watson seemed to be in his mid-fifties and in top shape. That didn’t mean he didn’t have something the world couldn’t see from afar. None of it’s my business unless it affects Randi.

  He was about to grab the remote and head back to the floor below when he saw another door he hadn’t entered. As soon as he opened it, he knew he’d hit the jackpot. It was the control room for the Internet, and it had satellite phones charged and ready. This room also doubled as an arsenal; Watson had enough automatic weapons locked up there to fight off a small invasion. I’m positively borrowing some of these when Randi and I leave.

  These weapons weren’t something you’d see in someone’s everyday possessions. Many government issues. Wyatt wasn’t concerned with where Watson got these things. Hell, I own several I’m not supposed to, like my grenade launcher. Wyatt grinned as he saw the same model on Watson’s wall. He couldn’t help but pick up several of the guns and check them over. All were extremely well kept and ready for action. Love Texans!

  Many other people would question Watson’s motives for having such a place, not to mention the stockpile of guns. Wyatt felt right at home and could appreciate what Watson had going on. This world is changing. A wise man is prepared for anything.

  Right now he couldn’t think about the world. He was supposed to be thinking of only one person. She needed his help, and playing around in this room wasn’t helping her. Laying down the M-16 he’d been toying with, he picked up the phone and dialed Nate.

  “McVeigh here.”

  “Nate, it’s Wyatt.”

  “Where the hell are you and what happened to your phone? I’ve been trying to reach you for hours.”

  Wyatt could hear the panic in Nate’s voice. It was unusual for him. He liked to joke and was laid back, but always in control. It concerned Wyatt, but then again, nothing was normal right now, why should he expect his brother to be? “Went off the radar. No phone service. What was so urgent?”

  “I had a few visitors last night.”

  “Fuck. Are you okay?” He should’ve realized when he and Randi couldn’t be found they’d go after Nate.

  “Damn, Wyatt. As soon as I met with the guys in Providence, I knew shit was going to go down.”

  “So where are you?”

  “Driving down to Florida. They were ransacking my place looking for something. I figure if I have anything they want, it’d be back home, not traveling with me.”

  That’s what he was thinking. They were connecting Nate with Maggie. That put Nate in a dangerous position. More than he even realizes. “Do you know if Randi was staying at Maggie’s old place?”

  “Who’s Randi?”

  “Mirranda. She goes by the name Randi.”

  “I haven’t dug that deep into her. You’re with her. Why not just ask? If you’re on a first name basis, maybe she’ll be forthcoming with you.”

  He got it. Nate didn’t want to be looking into anything about Maggie. It was only going to bring up things he didn’t want to think about. Like what happened to her. “I’ll get the information, and we’ll meet. Do not go to your apartment, Nate. Wait for backup. Mark is tracking them on his side. Let’s see what he comes back with.”

  “I’ll be in the vicinity, but stay clear until I hear from you. Is this a good number to reach you?”

  Wyatt wasn’t going to tell Randi what he found up there. For now, the lower level was all she needed to concern herself with. When they left, he’d decide what to tell her. “I’ll call you when time permits.”

  “Roger. Be safe Brother. My gut is telling me this might not end well.”

  Wyatt had to agree. That’s why he had no choice but to align himself with Collins. Right now he needed someone to flush the bastards out. I can’t do it all, and I’m sure as hell not going to use Randi as bait.

  Wyatt closed everything, pushed the two buttons again, and returned to the lower level. He walked down the
hall and peeked into the bedroom. Randi was asleep. Good. Fewer questions for me to answer.

  He headed back to the kitchen, and since he was still wired up, he picked up the soapy sponge and figured he’d bring a smile to her face by finishing the dishes. Normally I don’t care this much so don’t be getting used to this type of treatment.

  Chapter Eleven

  Randi woke with an entirely new attitude. She wasn’t running any longer. Wyatt was right. Maggie had known something, and she was the key to finding it. After six years the terrorists were still trying to obtain it. That meant it was Randi’s responsibility to ensure they didn’t get it.

  All night she tossed and turned, hashing out the next step. No matter how many times she played it out, the answer was the same. It was scary as hell, but she’d made up her mind. Now all she needed was to convince the others to see it her way. I’m doing it with or without them. I’d rather have them on my side. God knows I need them.

  She could leave the bedroom and have this conversation with Wyatt. He was here, and she knew she could trust him. But she also knew he would never allow her plan to be put into action. That left her no choice but to turn to Mark.

  She was glad Mark insisted she hold on to the satellite phone to communicate with him. Without Wyatt knowing. Randi hated that she wasn’t being upfront with Wyatt. They were making great progress. Enough for me to know he’d do anything to stop me from doing this. I can’t allow that. If he were using his head, he’d know this is the best course of action.

  She dialed Mark’s number and waited. It rang several times then went to voice mail. Not again.

  She lay back on the bed with a heavy sigh. Randi gave Mark ten minutes to call her back. If he didn’t, she’d implement plan B. From her experience plans never went as she envisioned them. She wasn’t sure Mark would go for it if he had answered. It was risky, but they’d done crazier things.

  When they decided to regain control of The Mountain in West Virginia, the odds weren’t in their favor. Yet they went in, outnumbered the others, and came out victors. But we had Johnson to back us up. We’re down a man. Wyatt could fill those boots easily. I need Mark to deliver that news.