He shuddered and pulled me closer.
“Went crazy trying to get in. Holden finally had to deck me.”
“What about Logan? I saw him walk into the house. He’s dead, isn’t he?”
“No, that stubborn jackass was on the back porch I guess. Got blown across the yard. Ended up by the barn. Knocked out cold. Some burns on his back were pretty bad but he’s alive. I didn’t really notice. Jake found him. We went around the front. Two men dead and I was barking at the other guys who came up to see if we could get into that mess. Found another guy dead on the side of the house.”
I kissed him softly on his chest and hugged him.
“Found the car in a ditch. Didn’t think much of it until Holden starts yelling and dragging Dylan away. Dylan died on impact babe.”
“Poor Dylan.” I hadn’t known him well but he’d always been nice and quick with a smile. I felt a pang of guilt. If he hadn’t been with me, he would still be alive.
“Then we found you crumpled up in the backseat. You were talking nonsense. Well, some of it was nonsense,” he paused. “Had you flown out to a clinic we use locally. We dropped word to the media that four people died and I was missing.”
“But why did Julia tell me that I was dead?”
Aiden rolled into me and coaxed one of my legs to ride over his hip.
“Long story behind that babe. We need some sleep and I’ll explain everything in the morning. Deal?”
“Okay Aiden,” I yawned.
I was so tired from the day. Nuzzling up against his chest, I smelled the raw musky scent of him. His breathing became steady and his heartbeat had slowed.
I was just falling into a deep sleep when I mumbled, “I love you.”
Chapter Sixteen
We were up in the morning I think. It was hard to tell what time it was with the darkness of the room we were in. Aiden had turned on a light but otherwise I felt like it was a cave. No windows or morning light to tell.
Someone had thoughtfully brought my bag in. It had been in the car with me when I had left Aiden’s house the previous day. I was grateful for the pair of jeans and halter top that were stuffed inside. Aiden had been less than pleased and growled about wearing a sweater.
He had taken me through the building, down a long set of hallways. There were multiple doors that we passed but they had all been shut.
When we reached our destination, we entered a large room that looked like a command center. There were very few people in the room, but the ones that were all steadily tapped away at keyboards, their eyes scanning the monitors. There was a set of large TVs on the wall displaying what looked like city maps and topography of some unknown place. The news was on a smaller one set off to the side but muted.
We entered a large conference room in the back. Jake, Holden and another man sat at the table with laptops. They were eating from some dishes that were in the middle between them and had coffee cups.
Aiden kissed me on the forehead before he stuffed me in a chair. He walked around, gathered some food and brought it to me. Rather than sitting beside his men, he took a seat beside me and pulled some documents toward him that had been piled in the middle of the table.
He scanned through them quickly then tossed them back.
“Brock, what do you have?”
The man that was sitting beside Holden smiled. “Well good morning to you too sunshine.”
I recognized him from the afternoon that I had ventured into Muse. He was a large man, like the rest of them, but not as clean cut as I had initially thought at Muse. He wore a dress shirt that looked crisp with no tie. His hair was longer and had a spikey look to it that suggested it was purposely groomed to look messy. He had one small, black stud earing, and was wearing black glasses that were all the rage in men’s designer magazines.
Aiden turned to me and rolled his eyes. “Meet pretty boy Brock. Brock, Olivia.”
Brock flashed me a grin that was all white teeth and probably very practiced. “Hey, cutie.”
“Uhm. Hey.”
Aiden grumbled. “Yeah. So, updates? Anyone awake?”
Holden met my eyes briefly and nodded before turned to Aiden. “Okay, so are we able to speak freely?”
Aiden squeezed my thigh. “Yup.”
“Okay.” He turned to his computer, tapped something on it and the display on the wall in front of us came on. There was a photo of someone beside an old photo of Brandon on the screen.
“So, just for clarification I’ll run it down, since I haven’t had a chance to talk with you and Miss Dawkins is joining us. After I left the house yesterday we got lucky and found an address for the location of Brandon’s hideout. He was located in the middle of suburbia. House wasn’t that secure I might add. We went in with the local authorities, place was pretty bare.”
Aiden spoke up, “Were we able to find anything useful?”
“Glad you asked.”
Brock interrupted, “Holden sent me some files that were on a computer there and brought back some hardware. Our team was able to crack it. Normal shit mostly, like you would find on anyone’s PC.”
“However,” he tapped on his computer, “there were a few files that had schematics, photos of your house. The majority of files were related to Miss Dawkins.”
Holden directed us back to the display. “This is where it gets weird. So, Brandon has had a busy time having Miss Dawkins followed. We’re not sure when that started but it looks like about a year ago. I’m assuming he’s been trying to reach out to you for a while?”
I confirmed by nodding.
“Our friend at the FBI has concluded that after he got off on those charges for assault, he must have cracked. Escalated his obsession, and really started focusing in.”
He flipped the screen to show just the other man on the display.
“This brings us to Trevor. From what we can tell, he was approached by Brandon sometime while we were traveling and after you met Miss Dawkins. Not entirely sure why. But dear old Trev’s bank account showed a two hundred-thousand-dollar deposit that week.”
Brock tapped the table. “The real question I have is why Brandon didn’t approach her while you were traveling. I mean, obviously, at that point there wasn’t anyone around. She was on her own for a week.”
Jake replied, “That’s how we got lucky with the address. Holden has a friend at LPD that called and gave a tip. Brandon was arrested on a routine stop for being over the alcohol limit that week. One of his lawyers got it dismissed nearly immediately, but he was apparently busy dealing with some of that. He put down the address in suburbia on the papers.”
Aiden nodded, “What about the guy we picked up at the wreck?”
Holden answered, “Well, that contact at LPD was alerted only after we turned Brandon’s tight-lipped conspirator in. If the guy knew anything, I think we would have gotten it out of him pretty quickly, but he was with us for two days and nothing. We had to turn him over at that point. The guy started chatting with my contact, but it was mostly about Brandon offering huge money to help with that whole thing. Not much else. Other than claiming abuse while in our custody.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “Right. I think he just hired some local muscle and figured it was going to go his way. That idiot didn’t know anything.”
Aiden held up his hand. “So, Brandon gets hit with another legal thing. He’s already pissed and obsessed with Olivia. Figures the best choice is to enlist some help based on what?”
I cleared my throat. “Do you have a recent photo of Brandon?”
Holden tapped some keys and a new photo popped up. He had changed. Lost weight. His hair was buzzed so short that she wouldn’t have recognized him for who he was if he had approached her on the street. He did look familiar though.
I tapped my chin and then snapped my fingers. “I saw him.”
All eyes swung to me.
“So, that day I met you. First, he was across the street at the courthouse. I just thought he was some guy that was loo
king at the bar. But then later, I saw him in the parking garage. He got out of the elevator when I got up there. I took the stairs that day. He stepped out, looked around and then left. I guess he didn’t see me.”
Brock chimed in, “Just a thought here, but I’m thinking he sees you with her, she takes off and he can’t find her. Then he sees you go wacko that day trying to find her. I think we had ten guys looking around. Maybe he talked to one of them. Maybe he figures he’s going to need some help if she’s got that many eyes on her. Just a guess though.”
Everyone seemed to be considering that theory for a moment.
Jake frowned and took a sip of coffee before adding, “Trevor wasn’t happy that day. Was bitching about a wild goose chase. Maybe he talked with him and picked up on all that. I assigned Trevor to the follow-up car detail when we finally arranged for transportation for Miss Dawkins.”
“That explains why he wasn’t where he was supposed to be the day of the wreck,” Holden said. “He kept giving me some bullshit excuse when I was trying to get him to the location. He knew the route prior to pick up.”
Aiden leaned back in his chair. “Well Brandon had that going for him and it looks like he hired a couple of other people for a diversion while he tried to snatch Olivia.”
Holden nodded. “Sounds right. So, here’s the real shocker. That third guy we found on scene at the house. We ran dentals and got it pushed through. That was Trevor. We think he planted the bomb.”
I suddenly felt sick and stood up. The noise I heard in the house yesterday was likely Trevor sneaking around and planting that bomb. Brandon had also arranged the bomb then, right? My reality just kept getting stranger. Had I not left, had Aiden been in there, they both would have died. Aiden’s entire house was gone. The house his father built on that beautiful land.
Aiden grabbed my hand and looked up at me. “Deep breath babe. We’ll get out of here in a minute so you can rest.”
I nodded and put a hand over my stomach. This really was too much.
Jake looked at me sympathetically. “It wasn’t your fault. Trevor contacted Holden and I to show up at the house. He was gunning for all of us I figure. Aiden, Holden, me and probably the doc. Maybe even you if he couldn’t get Aiden. He obviously had his own agenda. Who knows if Brandon even knew about it.”
Holden shut down the display. “If his intent has been to snatch Olivia this entire time, then I doubt he knew about the explosives. Doesn’t seem like his style or his ultimate motive.”
I sat back down and put my face in my hands as I leaned against the table. “Brandon’s an asshole. Gawd, he is grade-A, prime quality, crazy asshole. He probably did know. He hates to lose and if he’s seen me with Aiden he knows he’s lost. He’s everything Brandon isn’t. Total opposite in all respects.”
Brock chuckled. “Yeah our Aiden here is top-notch.”
“Fuck off pretty boy,” Aiden growled.
I got up and started pacing around the room. First to the wall, then back to the chair, then around the table.
“Babe, what are you doing? What’s wrong?”
“I’m just pissed.” I stopped and stomped my foot. “Since I’ve met you, I’ve been in a wreck, shot at, had two head injuries, and a hospital stay. I was nearly in an explosion! Poor Logan is probably going to have burn scarring now, and he’s too pretty to have scarring. Dylan died. Holden could have died. The love of my life could have been killed. And Brandon is basically behind of this bullshit! What the hell do you mean, what’s wrong?!”
No one said anything.
Aiden cleared his throat. “Everyone out. Now.”
I looked at Holden who was making a hasty retreat. “Holden, I want a gun!”
Holden laughed but didn’t say anything as he left and shut the door.
Aiden stood up, his eyes were locked on me. His jaw clenched slightly but his eyes softly wandered over my face. “Babe, come here.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “No. I want a gun. I’m going to shoot him myself.”
“You’ll do no such thing. Woman, get over here now.”
“Why are you so bossy?! From day one it’s been now, here, do this. This is the kind of thing that makes me question this whole you and me business.”
He walked across the distance to me and grabbed my waist to pull me against him. “See, I compromised.” Then he picked me up by my hips, walked me back to where he was standing and set me down right where he wanted me to come to in the first place.
I gave him a questioning look and raised my eyebrow.
He shrugged.
I sighed. “Got your way, didn’t you?”
He gave me a lopsided grin. “Usually do. You like it though. Just admit it, makes you wet when I’m being bossy.”
I could feel my face turn red. “Uhm.”
“Uh-huh. And you wouldn’t love me any other way.”
I shook my head. “I never said I did.”
He sat down on the edge of the table and pulled me between his legs. His mouth started peppering me with small kisses on my neck as he spoke. “Oh, you said it sweetheart.”
I was distracted by the sensations his lips were causing.
“In fact,” he nipped at my earlobe, “you said it the first time we were together in bed.”
I pushed against him. “No. I clearly would remember that.”
He nipped again. “You did when you orgasmed, although you were saying a lot. You get chatty when my cock is buried in you. Then you said it when I pulled you out of that fucking car yesterday.”
I frowned, trying to remember what happened. “Uhm, no, I don’t remember that.”
“You were delusional. You also said it last night in your sleep.”
I shivered and leaned into him as his hand started tracing small circles on my back. “No, definitely not last night.”
He stopped and put a hand against my cheek. His thumb traced my lips and I unconsciously opened for him. He dipped down to give me a soft kiss.
“You just called me the love of your life when you were ranting in here babe.”
“I could have been referring to Logan.”
He laughed against my mouth. “I don’t think so babe. Don’t ever say that again. I’ll beat him and then shoot him. Then maybe beat him again. You love me.”
I growled at him, half playing and half annoyed.
He winked at me. “If this room didn’t have cameras, I’d bend you over the table right now. You’re so beautiful.”
A shiver ran down my spine and despite my best intentions I melted against him.
The hand he had on my back slid south and cupped the underside of my ass. He squeezed and then spanked me. Thwack!
I jumped, leaned back and scowled at him. “What was that for?!”
“Say it.”
“No!”
Thwack!
“Say it Olivia.”
“Ow! No!”
Thwack!
“I love you! Are you happy now?”
He kissed me. “Yeah babe. Don’t hold out on me again.”
I made a disgruntled snort.
His mouth grazed across my ear and he whispered, “Hell, I might just bend you over the table anyway. Let everyone see that you’re mine. Fuck you good. Let them watch me and hear you beg. Stretch you so you know whose cock belongs in that tight pussy of yours. Told you babe, your first and last.”
I felt myself get wet instantly. Maybe I did like his bossy behavior.
I turned my head so that my mouth was against his ear. I nipped at him.
He let out a small laugh. “Uh-huh.”
“Aiden, if you don’t stop talking like that I may have to go down on you and let everyone watch while I suck you off. Then they’ll know who really begs.”
He groaned and pulled me against his crotch. I could feel his large erection pressing at his jeans and I purposely rubbed against him.
Someone knocked on the door.
“What?!” Aiden barked.
The door ope
ned and Brock walked in with cocky grin. “If you two are finished playing suck face in here, we have more to go over.”
Aiden growled at him and flexed his chest. He looked like he was about to go ballistic.
I put my hand on his face and said, “Aww come on honey. We were done with our little talk anyway. That was so sweet of you to say that you value your friendship with each and every one of your buddies.”
Aiden looked at me like I was the devil.
Brock let out a thunderous laugh. “I can see why he likes you. Take a seat love birds.”
Holden and Jake came in next. Both were chuckling under their breath, but didn’t look either of us in the eye.
We resumed our seats. It took Aiden a minute to get into a comfortable position. He shifted several times.
I bat my eyelashes at him. “Everything ok there, champ?”
The look he gave me promised retribution.
Holden shook his head. “Jesus, are you two done?”
I smiled sweetly at him. “Yup. I still want a gun.”
He gave me a noncommittal shrug. Which technically wasn’t a “no” so I remained smiling.
“Lord help us,” Jake said. “Ok, so we reported four people dead. True, but haven’t released the identities. Logan is at the hospital burn unit under a cover name and we evacuated before the press got a hold of it. Four body bags got paraded out. You were reported missing to the media.”
Brock continued for him. “Yeah we have that splashed all over every news outlet. Now, since that could have caused a panic with our stocks…”
I zoned out. Brock was clearly the right person to handle analytical things in Aiden’s businesses. Half of the words that were coming out of his mouth I didn’t understand. I felt like I was in the middle of an economic summit. I made a snorting sound.
Brock stopped in the middle of his sentence and turned his head sideways at me. “…and the rest is going to bore the hell out of Miss Dawkins. Why don’t we pick that up later?”
I poked my tongue out at him.
Aiden nodded. “Yeah, sure.”
Holden chimed in, “So here’s what we’re going to do. You’re going to head up to New York. Calm everyone down, make it real public. Right now, Brandon doesn’t know who’s dead. Whether that’s you or me or even Olivia.”
Run (Lakefield Book 1) Page 16