Desert Angel (Family Justice Book 2)

by Suzanne Halliday

  Drae looked over at Cam, who was gathering a bunch of blueprints into a pile, and jeered, “How ‘bout you take your mouth off his cock and stop with the goody-two-shoes act? It’s too fucking early for words. Admit it, you asshole.”

  Alex laughed when Cam grabbed hold of his crotch growling, “Suck me, St. John, you pussy.”

  Drae hurled a wadded ball of paper at Cam’s head, snarling, “Lube up your asshole, more like it!”

  Ah, the boys! He sure did love it when they were around.

  Flexing his dad muscles, he told them, “Settle down, kids. Class is still in session.”

  It was like watching a meerkat comedy routine when his two closest Justice brothers pushed and shoved each other to get to the head of the line then stood at attention like it was troop inspection time . . . waiting on his next words. Sometimes, like now, he couldn’t tell if they were just fucking with him or if their reaction was a result of their brotherhood.

  “So, while Brody’s the subject . . . any news on locating his kid yet? Was a fucking stroke of luck that he pinned down the birth certificate. Did it help any?” he asked Cam.

  Cameron Justice was their official tracker. The guy turned finding Waldo into an art form. Alex had heard it said about Cam that if they’d really wanted to find Bin Laden in a hurry, they should have just let him have at it. He coulda located that motherfucker and been done with it. In that respect at least, he was practically a legend so if anyone could figure out what happened to Brody’s kid, he could.

  “I wish,” Cam snorted. “Turns out this isn’t going to be so easy. The kid’s too young to be in the system as far as the department of education goes and Pole Dancing Tracey embraced that whole off-the-grid mentality. Poked around a bit in her parents’ business, but that’s essentially a dead lead. They’ve been estranged for years.”

  Drae cut in. “What about the boyfriend? Simon. Find anything on him?”

  Alex looked expectantly at Cam, who was shaking his head with a grim look on his face.

  “No. And I’m not sure he’s worth focusing on. Not even sure that’s his real name. What I have found out is that Tracey made buck working the pole. Fucking San Diego, man. Service town, you know? Tons of horny guys all eager for pussy.”

  They each shuddered or shifted uncomfortably remembering when they were the horny soldiers looking for some strange.

  “Anyway—she was doing all right for herself and with Brody, that stupid fuck, paying all her bills, she started betting on the horses. Strippers and racetrack folks—not all that interested in talking, if you catch my drift, but I’m checking out a new angle. She had to deal with a bookie. Let’s see where that takes us. One thing’s for sure though, she isn’t in San Diego. That trail went cold right around the time Brody said.”

  “He’s going to Boston for the wedding, right?” Drae asked.

  Alex snorted out a harsh laugh. “Did you imagine for even a second that Meghan would let him decline the invitation?”

  Both men chuckled. Everyone knew his Irish beauty had a soft spot for the agency’s dog guru. The two bonded over their backgrounds as teachers, and while Alex pretended to be okay with their friendship, he knew damn well that Cam and Drae were aware that the handsome veteran’s innocent interest in Alex’s woman made him see red. And not in a good way. On more than one occasion, he’d come close to ripping the man’s head off.

  “He’s bringing someone.”

  “What?” Alex and Drae asked in unison, looking at Cam who was openly snickering at them. Leave it to him to drop a grenade in the middle of the conversation and then laugh about it.

  “Yep. Bringing a plus one.” To Alex he jeered, “Dude—maybe you better step up with all that wedding shit. He and his date are on the seating list for the reception.”

  “And what the fuck do you know about my seating chart?” Alex hollered.

  “Lot more than you do, apparently,” Cam taunted.

  “Totally whipped,” Drae sniped, motioning with his head toward Cam. “Spends more time in that sewing circle the girls have going on than with us manly men.”

  Cam mimicked someone belly laughing then arched an eyebrow at Drae. “Laugh all you want, dickhead, but you’ll find out. If you want to see your son, better keep track of the women.”

  “So . . . wait a minute,” Alex interjected with a sharp snap of his head. “Let me get this straight. Jensen is bringing a date to my wedding and you know this because Dylan is held captive by the women?”

  “Pretty much,” Cam shrugged. Nudging Drae, he added, “By the way. Remind me later to go over your part of the flash dance the groomsmen are doing.”

  His two brothers looked over at him and openly laughed. Shitheads.

  “Nice try,” Alex smirked. “Maybe I’m not plugged in when it comes to seating charts, but I know a whole hell of a lot more than you two dicks about my own goddamn wedding. Turned into a high holy day. More likely that the Pope would make a guest appearance than a YouTube stunt. ”

  Cam grinned broadly. “Meghan’s a lucky girl.”

  “Yeah. And so is Lacey,” Alex agreed. “Tori—I’m not so sure about.”

  “Oh, bite me, you two!”

  Not for the first, hundredth, or last time, Alex marveled at the twists of fate that saw the three of them to this extraordinary moment in their shared history. Cam. Blissfully married and a new dad to boot.

  Draegyn, likewise, although he might be the biggest surprise of them all when it came to being a married man with a family. He’d grown up when things got tough with Tori’s pregnancy. Being a husband and father suited the man.

  “Listen,” Cam said in a deceptively offhanded way.

  Alex and Drae became very still. They recognized that tone and knew a change of subjected when it happened.

  “Um, when the wife and I go to Las Vegas for our anniversary . . .”

  He drifted off after that and looked sort of bemused. Yeah? What? Finish the fucking sentence! Alex wanted to grab Cam by the throat and shake him. Sometimes he took being laid-back too damn far.

  Draegyn cut in. “Jesus, Cam. Learn how to tell a story, would you? Don’t fucking stop a reveal.”

  Cam stood there, arms crossed, with a brooding expression. The usual. Except for the wedding ring and occasional smile, the man hadn’t changed from the serious hardcore, kickass beast he’d always been.

  “I’m going to tell my wife that I’ve located her father.”

  Was that an actual pin Alex heard dropping? Holy fuck! Lacey’s old man? This was huuuge.

  “I didn’t know we were looking for him,” Drae sarcastically bit out.

  Alex understood the anger he heard in Drae’s voice. Lacey’s dad was a bastard. The man wouldn’t find any friends among Family Justice.

  “Well, we weren’t. But Lacey was doing one of those ancestry things online for Dylan. She left the browser open one day and I saw the full names and birth dates of her parents. Just got me thinking . . .”

  “Does she know?” Alex asked. Good lord. He couldn’t imagine she’d be all right with her husband bringing that man back into her life. Grandparent or not. He’d fucking abandoned her. Plain and simple. The man was dirt.

  “Nooo,” Cam droned. “I was curious—not insane.”

  “What did you find out?” Hmmph. Drae. Always sticking to the facts.

  Cameron shrugged and relaxed; he unfolded his arms and casually checked to make sure his shirt was tucked in.

  “I think it’s Lacey’s right to hear the details first. I can tell you that he’s not a threat in any way except, of course, by his mere existence. And, uh . . . he’s got other kids.”

  Alex and Drae groaned at that news. Poor Lacey. All she ever needed was a family to love and support her. She’d found that here in Arizona. Cameron worshipped the ground she walked on. All of Family Justice adored her. She had a son now to carry on the family she and Cam had created. From nothing. Learning she had siblings was going to kill her.

  As if t
hat wasn’t enough, Drae cleared his throat abruptly and kind of choked out the words, “Uh . . . my parents want to come for a visit. Meet Daniel. And Victoria.”

  Was he being punked? Seriously, Alex wondered. What the fuck planet was he on?

  Meghan wanted to elope and make babies.

  Angie and Parker were keeping secrets.

  Brody had a female friend.

  Cam went searching for Lacey’s M.I.A. father and now the St. Johns came out of the woodwork?

  Jesus Christ. In all these years that the three of them lived side-by-side in the compound, not once had those people ever expressed any interest whatsoever in Draegyn or his life.

  Cam seemed stunned to hear this, too. Thank god. Alex didn’t want to be the only one standing there with his mouth hanging open.

  When neither of them recovered sufficiently to say anything, Drae rolled a shoulder and jammed both hands into his pockets. “I know, right?”

  Alex managed to rumble a confused sounding, “Uhhh . . .” but that was it.

  “Dude!” Cam groaned. “What did you say?”

  “Said no, of course!” he growled. “I’ve got enough on my plate right now. I don’t want their toxic bullshit anywhere near Victoria. Or my son.”

  “Maybe if Stephanie comes back it’d be easier for Victoria. She’d have her mother as a buffer.” Alex chuckled. “Stephanie Bennett can be a scary monster. That genteel Southern drawl is one hundred percent bullshit!”

  “Stephanie’s coming back?” Drae barked. “When were you going to tell me this, you dick? Do you have any idea what dealing with my wife has been like since her mother hightailed it back to Atlanta?”

  “At ease, man,” Alex cautioned with a meaningful look. “Don’t have anything definite, but when I do, you know damn fucking well that I’ll let you know. But . . . I did talk to my uncle recently and I’m pretty sure he’s going to man up and go to Georgia.”

  Drae picked up a leather jacket and slid his arms into the sleeves. “Oh, thank god. I’ve wanted to fucking murder Calder in his sleep for weeks, man. I mean, shit! Do you have any idea how weird this is for me?”

  Alex shook his head and snickered, too. “I’m totally with you on this, Drae.”

  “Oh, hey,” Cam horned in. “I hear Irish and your sis are headed out for a spa weekend in Sedona.”

  Alex checked his watch and noted the time. Yeah. These ass crack of dawn meetings worked for him, too. He got business out of the way, sometimes before Meghan had done much more than open her eyes and stretch. Gave him a chance to circle back when he was through and get the day started off right. And today was going to be fucking awesome. He had plans, man. Plans to rock Meghan’s world. Big time.

  Angie was puttering aimlessly around her room. It was still early. Way too early to go wandering, so she took advantage of the massive suite, one of several that made up the family quarters in the old hacienda, and simply enjoyed being home again.

  Pushing open the arched double doors leading to a small balcony hung with creeper vines and a smattering of flowers, she eased onto a comfy lounger and propped her bare feet up.

  Excited about the spa trip, she found herself envying Meghan. Alex was being such a sweetie. Seeing up close and personal how he doted on her was freakin’ adorable and then some.

  Remembering the wedding stuff she had in a file on her computer, she thought about how perfect it was that they’d have a long weekend—just the two of them. And! She’d finally get a chance to see Red in her wedding gown. The exclusive shop Meghan was using was eager to run through the alterations again so they’d arranged a fitting for first thing Saturday morning. Angie couldn’t wait.

  Sighing, she rested her head on the back of the lounger and stared at the sky. Soft, billowy clouds moved slowly against the vibrant blue of a newborn day. Sedona made her smile. So many memories here.

  Right now, surrounded by the things that spoke to her soul, it was hard to miss her life in Spain. Although the Villa kind of reminded her of the Valleja-Marquez casa grande, the similarity stopped with the architecture. Instead of an Arizona landscape outside the front door, it was their birthright—the rolling hills covered in ancient vines and the winery that bore the family crest.

  She loved her life there. For a million different reasons. But she needed this life here. Drifting as she cloud-watched, Angie’s thoughts swung from one unconnected thought to another.

  Did I pack enough sunscreen? Gosh. I better check.

  Mmmm. I like my toe polish. S’pretty.

  Sigh . . .

  Should I get my hair cut now? I’ll just have to do it again before the wedding. Eh, what the hell. Big brother is paying for it. Might as well let the stylists have at it.

  It smells so good when the sun first comes up.

  Better call Mom later.

  Sedona. I love Sedona.

  Sigh . . .

  Parker lives in Sedona.

  Angie sat up so fast, her hair snagged in the tight wicker. “Ouch!” she yelped. Her hand flew to her head when her movement was restricted.

  Carefully pulling her hair from its tangled snag, she muttered darkly, “Is that like some kind of a sign? Think about Parker and what? Zap?”

  Growling, she righted herself and kicked the lounger for the hell of it. Angie wasn’t totally dense. She knew Parker would have to make an appearance while they were in Sedona. No way around it.

  Thinking about what happened between them at Whiskey Pete’s didn’t help.

  Stomping back inside, her early morning reverie shattered, she headed for the shower. Hopefully, a nice long, steamy bath would be a better way to start the day.

  She was about to spend a couple of days being pampered, massaged, and waited on at one of her favorite spots, and she was going to enjoy herself, dammit!

  “YOU REALLY HAVE UPPED MY brother’s style score,” Angie quipped. “A limo? I mean, really! Alex has always been more of a beater truck kind of a guy.”

  Meghan blushed at Angie’s observation and smiled. Oh, he had the old truck all right and it had been the backdrop of some memorable fuckery. Shifting in her seat, she silently admitted, And so has this limousine.

  “Well, if I can learn to sit a horse, the Major can adapt to a fancy car!”

  “He’s really happy, Meghan. I’ve never seen him so full. Of life. Of love. Of the future. You know we almost lost him,” she ended on an emotional croak.

  Meghan instantly reached for Angie’s hand.

  “And afterward, for a long time, he just seemed really serious. Like he was always on a slow burn. Our folks were so worried. Especially Mom. He scared the shit out of her with the way he closed off. But now? Oh my god, Red. He’s Alex again. You just have no idea . . . thank you so much.”

  Emotion clawed at Meghan’s throat. No one should be thanking her. It was Alex who made the journey from doubt and remorse to happiness and hope. That was all him, and she’d never been prouder than at that moment when he left the past behind and turned toward the future.

  Had she been forced to leave his sorry ass and put thousands of miles between them in order to push him to that point? Yes. And it had almost killed her because until the moment when he laid it all on the line, the outcome had been uncertain. But he got there on his own—surrounded by good people who loved him. If he was Alex again, as Angie said, it was because he’d done the work to get himself there.

  “Angie,” Meghan murmured, still holding the other woman’s hand. “I swear to you that nothing matters more to me than your brother’s happiness. I think if I had to go away in order for him to be truly happy, I would. Even though it would kill me to lose him, I’d have no choice. I love him that much.”

  “Wow,” Angie whispered. “I guess that’s what unconditional looks like in actual practice.”

  She half-shrugged. “It’s not about me. I can’t live unless he’s happy.”

  “That’s what he would say too, you know. All he cares about is you, Red.”

  Indeed
. Meghan smiled and settled back in her seat. Angie prattled on for a bit until her phone buzzed. Looking to see who was calling, she waved it and winced.

  “Eek! Mi madre.”

  Ah haha. Meghan understood. “Go on.” She chuckled. “I’m just going to sit over here and daydream for a bit.”

  While Angie launched into a spirited conversation with her mother, Meghan stared at the scenery going by. It was a nightmare sitting there like nothing was amiss when each time she moved or squirmed, she became super aware of what she was wearing and the unavoidable fact that her panties were definitely a tad on the icky side.

  Alex. Their playful bargain where he wiped points off the slate if she let him assert his bad-boy charms had ended up being quite memorable. Damn him for it too because there was little possibility Meghan would be able to do anything now except replay the sexy scene he put her through earlier, over and over.

  Earlier that morning . . .

  They had breakfast together and, though he looked at her with a covetous hunger, no mention was made of what she should expect. He’d told her all she needed to know when they struck their deal. To lose the points, she was to let him kidnap and take her to the desert to be mercilessly fucked. His expression, not hers. What he wanted to do sounded so hot that she’d agreed so fast, she almost left skid marks.

  A couple of hours after breakfast, he called her into their bedroom and started barking orders about overnight bags. Bemused, she pointed out what she was taking, watching silently as he gathered her things and headed for the door.

  “I’m taking these downstairs for Ben. We leave the house in forty minutes. Get ready.”

  “Okay,” she murmured, completely turned on by his aggressive voice and body language.

  “And bathe yourself. I want to find you in the tub when I get back.”

  “But I already showered this morning,” she assured him.

  “Don’t care. Bathe again.”

  He stomped away after that, and she shivered with a smile. This was new to their playtimes. The role-playing. She’d gotten very good at understanding Alex’s signals. She knew when he wanted soft and when he needed hard. With just a few clipped words, he’d spelled out where this was going.