Face the Music (COBRA Securities Book 9)

by Velvet Vaughn

  Luke sat down hard in a chair, instantly recognizing Leo and Ariel, even though they’d changed their hair. That’s why she kept misspeaking…they weren’t her children. And she’d kidnapped them.

  “The kids are here now,” he murmured. “She introduced them as her children. I remember a little about that case. Isn’t the stepdad some bigwig senator?”

  “Yep.” Tyler clicked another photo. A distinguished-looking man with a condescending smile stared back at them. “Eugene Mullins, senator of the great state of Georgia.”

  “And current candidate for president of the United States,” Logan added.

  Luke scrubbed his hands down his face. He’d been a cop. He’d sworn to uphold the law. Even though he no longer carried a shield, integrity still ran deep. If he knew about a crime, he was honor bound to report it. But there was more here than meets the eye. He remembered the stark terror on her face when she ran into him in New York City. That level of fear couldn’t be faked. And the kids seemed healthy and happy. They weren’t afraid of her. They didn’t act like they’d been taken against their will. There was a story and he was determined to uncover every detail. “Until I get the facts from her, this information stays between us.”

  “Absolutely,” Logan agreed. “Do you want backup?”

  Luke glanced at his partner and best friend. There was no one he’d rather have at his side on a case. But he needed to do this alone. “No. She’s already skittish. I don’t want to send her running. Again.” He exhaled and pushed to his feet. “I’ll keep you posted.”

  He took a deep breath before he opened his office door. He wanted to put Monica/Layla at ease. He wanted her to tell him the story on her own. Suddenly, that was very important to him. He wanted her trust.

  “The gym is amazing,” Monica/Layla gushed when he stepped inside his office. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to tear the kids away.”

  Her grin was wide and he just couldn’t match it. Her smile waivered.

  “It is impressive.”

  “Is something the matter?”

  Luke shook his head. “Just business. Why don’t we sit here?” He indicated the couch that offered a view of the lake. Hopefully the informal setting would put her at ease, but she still eyed him warily. He waited until she was seated before he said, “Tell me what’s going on so I can help you.”

  She nodded and chewed her lip. “The children and I had to flee a violent situation. My, er, ex was—” She looked up at him. “I can’t do this.”

  “Do what?” His heart pounded. This was it. Would she trust him with the truth?

  “I can’t lie to you.” Tears filled her eyes. “You’ve done more to help us than anyone in a long time. The kids love it here and I feel safe for the first time in a year.”

  He reached over and grabbed a tissue, handing it to her. She smiled gratefully.

  “I’ve been keeping the secret for so long, I’m not sure how to start.” She dabbed at her eyes. “I didn’t want to lie to you, but I’d do anything to keep the kids safe.”

  “Monica?”

  She winced.

  “I know.”

  Her brows puckered. “Know what?”

  “Who you are…Layla.”

  Chapter Nine

  Layla couldn’t breathe. Her heart was trying to break out of her chest. How did he know who she was? Was he working with Mullins? Had she walked right into a trap? She’d made a crucial mistake. She’d left Tiff and Sean with them and now they were in danger.

  She jumped to her feet. “I have to go—”

  Luke stood and blocked her flight path. His hands gripped her upper arms and she gasped at the contact. Heat pooled low in her belly. How could she be turned on when she was scared out of her mind?

  “Please move—”

  “Layla, stop.”

  “Tiff, Sean, I have to—”

  “They’re fine.”

  She didn’t even care that she’d used their real names. Panic consumed her.

  “Hey, breathe. It’s okay.” Luke gathered her into his arms. She didn’t realize she was shaking. The heat from his big body warmed her and she pressed closer. The steady beat of his heart comforted her. How easy it would be to unload all her problems on his massive shoulders but therein lies the trouble. She couldn’t afford to trust anyone. Tiff and Sean’s lives were at stake. She had no doubt Mullins would kill them. He wanted them out of the way so he’d have a clear line to her bank account.

  The shudders finally started to subside. Luke tilted her chin with a finger and she was lost in his blue eyes. She couldn’t look away. The overwhelming urge to press her lips to his overtook her.

  “Talk to me, Layla.” His voice was deep, husky. “Tell me what’s happened. Let me help you.”

  The use of her real name was like a bucket of ice water on her libido. She stared into his eyes and all she could see was sincerity, honor. She stepped away from him and instantly regretted it. In his arms, she felt safe, protected. Now all she felt was raw and exposed. She wrapped her arms around her waist. “How do you know who I am?”

  “Facial recognition. The cameras scanned you at the gate.”

  She closed her eyes and sighed. That made sense. Instinct told her he wasn’t working with Mullins. She had nowhere else to turn, no one else to help her. She’d made the decision to trust him, so she would. Moving to the plush leather sofa, she eased to the cushions. He came over and sat next to her, leaving enough room so that she didn’t feel crowded.

  “I was in California when my mother suddenly passed away.” She choked back the lump that lodged in her throat every time she thought about her beautiful, vibrant mom. A year later and she still wasn’t past the grief. She took a few minutes to gather herself and Luke didn’t push. She was thankful. This story was hard enough to tell without prompting. “The official cause of death was blunt force trauma suffered when she fell down the stairs.”

  “Was an autopsy performed?”

  She jumped to her feet, unable to sit. Her hands wrapped around her middle again. “No.”

  “Did you request one?”

  She laughed without humor as she paced. “I would have, but my stepfather had her cremated as soon as they pronounced her dead.”

  “Convenient.”

  She nodded. “The funeral was held two days later. As soon as it was over, Tiffany and Sean pulled me aside. I hadn’t had a chance to talk to them alone before. The twins suspected their dad was involved in illegal activities but they didn’t have any proof. Strange men came and went at all hours of the night and he would frequently disappear during the evenings as well. One night, my mom went into his study to take a plate of his favorite cookies but he was meeting with one of his associates. He screamed at her and they got into a heated argument. She was dead the next day. My siblings were at school and conveniently the housekeeper nor the cook were home at the time. The housekeeper found her at the bottom of the stairs when she returned.”

  She swiped at the tear she hadn’t even realized she shed. “I didn’t find out until later that night. My stepfather didn’t even have the decency to call. I found out that my mother had passed away from the housekeeper. By that time, she’d already been cremated.” Another tear fell. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye to her.”

  “I’m sorry,” Luke murmured. He grabbed her hand and led her back to the sofa.

  She gathered her strength. “After the twins told me their suspicions, I started digging. Tiffany was positive that Mom kept a diary so I tried to look for it but Mullins caught me. I was mired in grief so I accused him of killing her. I’ve never seen a look of such hatred on someone’s face before. He banned me from the house and from having any contact with my brother and sister. I told him that I was taking them with me and he had me physically removed from the house. Then he tried to kill me.”

  Luke’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding?”

  “The first time—”

  “First time,” Luke repeated. “How many attempts?�
�

  “Three.”

  He shook his head and she continued. “The first time, someone tried to run me off the road. I called the police and they shook it off as a drunk driver.”

  “They’re in his pocket?”

  She nodded. “The second time, someone took a shot at me.”

  “Let me guess, the cops said a car backfiring?”

  “Close. They claimed it was firecrackers. I called the head of my security team, Henry Graham, and he flew to Georgia. He was former special ops solider and he owned his own security business.”

  “What happened the third time?”

  “Someone cut my brake line.”

  “What did you do?”

  “After the first two attempts, I was cautious. When I noticed the give in the brakes, I immediately pulled over. I knew my step-father wouldn’t stop until he succeeded in killing me, and I knew there was no way I could keep Sean and Tiffany safe unless I took drastic measures.”

  “You staged your death.”

  She nodded. “With Henry’s help.”

  “That must’ve been hard, giving up your career. You were on top of the music industry.”

  She shrugged. “It was a tough choice, and I thought it would be hard, but Tiffany and Sean are happy and healthy. They’re worth any sacrifice.”

  “Not many people would’ve done what you did,” Luke said softly.

  “I couldn’t have made it without Henry. He helped us obtain new documents and set up an account that my stepfather would never know about. He instructed me on how to hide and he kept in touch. He was my anchor.”

  Another tear leaked out. “He planted one of his men on Mullins’ security team. He would let Henry know if Mullins was getting close to finding us. We’d pick up and relocate. Then a few weeks ago, Henry missed our weekly call. I tried to get in touch with him, but he didn’t answer. We had a special phone we used only with each other. One day, mine rang and I answered but no one spoke. I immediately hung up and waited a few hours. I tried calling him but when the phone was answered, no one talked. That wasn’t Henry’s style. I hung up again and waited for him to call me, but he didn’t.

  “When I…ran into you in New York, I’d just spotted a man who looked like one of Mullins’ crew. When I calmed down, I realized there was no way it could’ve been one of his people. We’d just decided to go the night before.”

  She reclined against the back of the sofa. “After we left the city, we drove to the small home we’d been renting in the Catskills. It was engulfed in flames. I was afraid the person who set the fire was watching, so we fled town and stayed in a small motel. I found a local library and did some research on the internet and discovered that Henry had been killed in a car accident.

  “After a month, I hoped whoever set the fire would’ve given up. I called the landlady and she said the firemen were able to retrieve a safe I’d left in the house.”

  “Documents?”

  She shook her head. “All our birth certificates, passports and important papers are in a safe deposit box in LA. It was music.”

  “That you’d written?”

  She nodded. “Being away from the spotlight has really opened my creative channels. I’ve made sure the houses we’ve rented had a piano. I’ve written a bunch of songs, probably my best work.”

  “You said the fire was arson?”

  “Yes but the police have no leads.” He looked deep in thought. “What?”

  “Do you think Mullins knows you’re alive?”

  “I don’t think so. He’s trying to find Tiffany and Sean.”

  “So whoever set the fire probably was watching the house, waiting for the occupants to return. And I’d say the phone calls from Henry’s phone were used to pinpoint your location.”

  She gasped at his insinuation. “If that’s the case, then Henry’s death wasn’t an accident.”

  “We don’t know that for sure. We were able to identify the man who tried to break into the motel room.”

  “Who was he?”

  “Hired gun. Rep for finding people who don’t want to be found.”

  “Is he dangerous?”

  “Very.”

  She shuddered. “I don’t know what we would’ve done if you hadn’t been there.

  Luke reached over and covered her hand with his. “I was there, so you don’t have to think about it. The kids are safe. You’re safe.”

  “But that’s just it. We won’t be safe until Mullins is behind bars. He wants my fortune so he’s trying to find the twins. They’re my heirs. If I hadn’t taken them and he did manage to kill me, he’d have figured out a way to get his hands on my money. He wants it for his presidential aspirations.”

  “Any way he could access to it?”

  “None. I changed my will to say that if something happened to Tiff and Sean, the estate would be distributed to various charities.”

  “So he wants the kids alive so he can cash in.”

  “Exactly. And with his run kicking into high gear, he needs the cash now more than ever. He’s ramped up his efforts to find them.” She swallowed hard. “But I’m afraid if he does find them, after he gets his hands on my money, he’ll kill them.”

  Chapter Ten

  “When did you lose contact with Henry Graham?” Luke’s voice was gentle.

  “About five weeks ago.”

  “And you’d been in touch every week before that?”

  Layla nodded, biting her lip to keep from sobbing.

  “Do you know the name of the man he had working for Mullins?”

  “No. Henry took care of everything.”

  Luke stood and padded to his desk. He picked up his office phone and punched a button. “Pete? You busy? Could you come to my office? I need your help on a case.” As soon as he hung up, he looked at her and he must have seen the panic on her face.

  “Layla, you can trust every single person who works for COBRA Securities with your secret. I trust every one of them with my life, or they wouldn’t be working here. We will keep you and your siblings safe. You have my word.”

  He sounded sincere and his gaze never wavered, still, she was reluctant. And she didn’t know why.

  A knock sounded on the door and Luke called out for the person to enter. Her heart went out to the man who stepped inside. One side of his face was covered in bandages that extended down his neck. He smiled shyly and she liked him instantly.

  “Peter Dennis is our top tech genius. He’s the head of all of our computer operations,” Luke told her.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Brooks.” He shook her hand, his gaze steady. “Please excuse the half-mummy look.” He waved a hand at the bandages.

  “I hadn’t even noticed,” she said and his smile widened.

  Peter took a seat and Luke briefed him on what she’d told him. “We need all the information you can get on the accident that killed Henry Graham. Also, see if you can find out who he planted inside Mullins’ camp.”

  Noticing her distress, Luke said, “Don’t worry. Pete’s like a ghost. No one will know he’s been looking around in their systems.”

  Peter stood. “Tyler gave you the information on Gary Palmer?” At Luke’s nod, he added, “We’ve got a BOLO out on him with all the local law enforcement agencies.”

  “BOLO?” Layla questioned.

  “Be on the lookout,” Luke explained. “His picture’s being circulated around town and the surrounding counties. Maybe we’ll get lucky and the cops will pick him up.”

  “I’ll let you know what I find out.” Peter waved and then slipped out the door.

  The man was so sweet and his smile genuine. “I hope he’s okay.”

  “Pete?”

  She jerked her gaze to Luke. She hadn’t realized she’d spoke out loud. She didn’t mean to be nosy, but she pointed to her face. “The bandages.”

  “Peter survived a fire that killed his family when he was young. He was severely burned. People overlooked his abilities because of his scars.”

>   “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  “Me, too,” Luke agreed. “Actually, it was my brother Ben who connected with Peter on a case. Pete was instrumental in helping solve it and proved his abilities with computers.”

  “Is he okay now?”

  “My sister-in-law’s uncle is a plastic surgeon. He’s been treating the scars.”

  Luke’s phone buzzed. He walked over to his desk and pushed a button. “Yes, Jane?”

  “I’m sorry to bother you, Luke, but Logan needs you to sit in on the conference call for a few minutes. He promised it wouldn’t take long.”

  “I’ll be right there.” He turned to look at her. “Are you okay for a bit? It shouldn’t be long.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  Luke smiled and left the office. Layla thought about getting up and looking at the pictures on his wall again but her body didn’t seem to want to move. By telling her story to Luke, she felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She wasn’t in this alone anymore. She snuggled further into the cushions. It felt good to have someone to confide in. And he wasn’t hard to look at, either.

  #

  Luke stepped out of the conference room and headed back to his office. The conference call via Skype had gone well and they secured another high-profile contract. The man wouldn’t commit until he talked to both owners, but now he was fully on board. They’d need to hire more agents soon.

  He was proud of the company he and Logan had built from the ground up. In the beginning, it had just been the two of them along with Dan. Now they were a multi-million-dollar operation with more business than they could handle. He’d never dreamed of this level of success when they booked their first client.

  He checked his watch. He’d been gone for twenty minutes. He’d asked BeBe to make sure Layla didn’t try to bolt again. He thought he’d won her trust, but after hearing her story, he didn’t blame her for being wary.

  “No sign of her,” BeBe informed him as he passed.

  “Thanks.” He opened the door to his office. “I’m sor—” His apology died in his throat. Layla was curled up on the couch, sound asleep, her head cushioned on her clasped hands. The tension that usually tightened her features was gone in slumber. An overwhelming sense of protectiveness crushed him and he staggered back a step. He wanted to don his white cape, keep her safe, slay all her dragons.