by Peyton Banks
“And why do you have to be an ass to her? I’ve never treated Sarena with anything but respect,” he lowered his voice, noticing a few looks thrown their way from other patrons in the diner.
The first time he’d met Sarena had been in the Emergency Room of the local hospital. He’d been in pain and was pissed at getting shot. She’d stormed in the room and set him in his place. Since that moment, he’d had nothing but respect for her. She was good for Mac.
“I wasn’t an ass to her,” Mac denied with a shake of his head. “I would never be disrespectful to a woman. Especially someone in a relationship with my best friend.”
“I’m not even sure we’re going to classify this,” Declan murmured.
“Well, anyway. Have you checked into her? Something is off about her. Her eyes are haunted, as if she’s carrying secrets.”
Declan’s eyes flew to Mac’s, and he wasn’t surprised that Mac had picked up on it, too. He’d tried to ignore the warnings in the back of his mind, and had put them away as him being paranoid. But if Mac had sensed something was off, then Declan knew he wasn’t crazy.
“Yeah. It came back clean.”
“There is something—”
“Don’t worry about it. No need to try to decipher her. She’s who she says she is.” He held up a hand to cut off his friend. Maybe the long life in the Navy and law enforcement was making them both paranoid.
Aspen was a beautiful woman who made him smile. He glanced up, and his eyes met hers as she and Sarena made their way back to the table. His cock stiffened. Somehow he’d have to get this woman out of his system.
She could be dangerous.
“So, how’s the wedding planning coming?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Speaking of wedding planning,” Sarena said, arriving back at the table, turning to him. “I have a few things I need the best man to do.”
Aspen sighed and wrapped herself in her plush robe. It was late at night, and she didn’t even feel sleepy. She was still quite wired from her day. After breakfast with Declan and his friends, he had taken her back home, and somehow they had ended up back in bed again.
Her core clenched as memories of him braced over her came to mind.
She had to get him out of her head.
They couldn’t have a future.
She walked out of her bathroom and went into her bedroom. Being hidden in South Carolina was driving her crazy. She wanted to go back to her life. It had been a good one. She missed her parents and her friends. She needed to know how her family was doing.
It just wasn’t fair how the US Marshals had burst in her house and taken her away.
“They didn’t say I couldn’t be on the internet.” She grabbed her laptop off her bed. She walked into the living room and flopped down on the couch. It was explained to her when she was put in witness protection that she could no longer have any contact with family members.
Nothing.
But they didn’t say she couldn’t stalk them from afar on the internet. They did allow her to have a computer, but it was forbidden for her to be on any form of social media.
She tucked her feet beneath her and reached for the remote to the television. Needing some background noise, she flicked the television on. She flipped open the laptop and waited for the computer to boot up. Her heart raced with just thinking of what she’d find on the internet.
“Here’s goes nothing…”
The internet opened. She typed in Ray’s name, and countless stories returned. A gasp escaped her, and she read the first story.
Ray Acosta, former CFO of Irwin Enterprises, was indicted on charges of murder, embezzlement of two hundred million dollars, conspiracy, money laundering …
Her gaze flew along the words as she continued reading. She clicked to another news outlet and gasped again.
Ray Acosta, former CFO of Irwin Enterprises, indicted on multiple charges. He is facing a life sentence along with one hundred and fifty years in prison…
She closed her eyes briefly, still unable to believe that the person who was close to her family would do something like this.
She moved the cursor to the search bar and hesitated. Since she’d been in witness protection, she hadn’t searched herself. She had been warned against it, but at the moment her emotions were flying high and she needed to know what had been told to her parents. She knew they had faked her death, but it wouldn’t prepare her for what she found.
Tears filled her eyes from the multiple articles covering her death.
Irwin Enterprises founder and CEO Mason Irwin’s only daughter, Aspen Irwin, was killed in a horrific car crash, while driving late at night…
She brushed back the tears. The story went on to say an eighteen-wheeler had crashed into her car, killing her immediately.
She clicked on another of the local news channels in her old city. The waterworks burst forth—images of her parents at the funeral. Her father held her mother to his chest as she cried.
Her fingers had a mind of their own and clicked on a video link. She blinked through the tears, the video showing her parents leaving the gravesite and walking toward a waiting black limousine.
“A sad day today for business tycoon, Mason Irwin, as he buried his only child today. Such a sad turn events from having his best friend and longtime business partner, Ray Acosta, indicted on charges from stealing from his empire to now having to bury his child…” a news anchor’s voice droned on.
Aspen closed her eyes and let the tears flow. She cried for the pain that was etched on her parents’ faces. Growing up, she’d never seen her father cry. He was always a strong man who had been firm raising her, but had a heart of gold. She knew as a child that she was a daddy’s girl and he was wrapped around her little finger. She’d never taken advantage of it either. She’d always wanted to prove to him that she was just as strong as he was and yearned to make him proud of her.
But to see her father hold her mother with tears streaming down his face broke her.
Everything had been taken from her.
Her body was racked with sobs, and she just sat on her couch and cried.
Her father had always instilled in her that life would never be fair, but this was just going too far.
She wished there was a way she could reach out to them. Angrily, she wiped the tears from her face and vowed that she’d do what she could to stay safe so she could testify against the man who had stolen her life.
Ray Acosta would pay for what he had done to her, her family, and the countless victims who were affected by his embezzling from the corporation.
Her fingers flew across her keyboard as she pulled up another website. There were just a few other things that she had to check on.
Chapter 10
It was a scorching hot day to be running drills, but it was necessary. Declan was dressed in the normal tactical gear that he wore when they went out on real calls. They practiced as if they were really going out for live calls.
His body was weighed down by his ballistics vest, weapons, and tools. On his head was his protective helmet, and the only thing he chose to do different today was his face mask. No need to wear the mask for drills.
He leaned on the fence in front of him and watched Brodie, the team’s entry man, run through his target shooting drill. His body stiffened—a presence came to stand beside him.
“Her record is too clean,” Mac announced, resting his arms on the fence.
“I told you I had already run a check on her,” Declan growled, turning to Mac. “I told you I had already looked into her. She’s fine.”
“Declan—”
“I don’t need you snooping on me and the woman I’m involved with,” he snapped, glaring at his longtime friend.
Mac was a hound when it came to something he set his sights on.
“Look, I’m just trying to watch out for you,” Mac growled, pushing off the fence.
Declan could feel eyes on them as they stood facing each other. “Don’t worry ab
out me. I can take care of myself,” he snarled.
Off in the distance, his name was called, interrupting the tense moment between him and Mac. Without a word, he brushed past Mac and stalked away toward the entrance to the obstacle course.
“Hello, Sergeant Owen. You know the drill,” the obstacle course coordinator said upon approach.
“Thanks, Bill.”
Bill handed him the weapon Declan was to use. He gripped the MP5, feeling somewhat comforted by it. He did a quick check of the weapon to ensure it was ready for use. It was one of his favorites because of the ease of use and extremely reliable when they had to go in hot.
“Are you satisfied with the weapon?” Bill asked, standing by him as he inspected it.
“Sure am,” he grunted, reloading the magazine. He reached for his sunglasses from the pocket of his cargo pants and put them on. “I’m ready.”
Shooting things when he was upset always helped lighten his mood.
Bill called out that Declan was ready and to ensure all coordinators were off the course.
“Sergeant Owen, you may begin,” Bill announced.
Declan gripped the weapon in his hands and brought it up close to him. He steadily aimed it and entered into the course. He narrowed his eyes, on high alert for the targets to jump out at him. He walked down the main path of the fake town and instantly went into his hunter mode.
Time spent in the Navy had prepared him for any situation such as the ones that SWAT was called out to handle.
He tapped into his anger when the targets began to show. With his precision, he hit the targets while running through the course. He didn’t miss a bull’s-eye. His bullets hit directly in the middle of the target.
His feet moved on their own accord as he confidently made his way through the entire course. Bad guys appeared from behind closed doors, parked cars, and on the roofs of the fake buildings. He didn’t hesitate in unloading his bullets into them.
His anger grew with the thought that Mac couldn’t accept what he had told him about Aspen and their relationship. He released a growl and shot the last target, again hitting the bull’s-eye in the center. He had moved through the course too fast and wanted to continue. His anger was still boiling in his chest.
Maybe he’d go to the shooting range later.
Cheers and shouts echoed through the air, and he walked back through the course. His breaths were coming fast. He made his way back to the entrance.
“Shit, Declan. You got a perfect!” Iker slapped him on the back as he arrived. His team mates surrounded him, and he handed the weapon back to Bill.
“Remind me not to get on your bad side.” Zain chuckled.
“Well, men…” Declan began, taking his glasses off. He ignored Mac. At the moment, he was afraid if he said anything else, he’d say something he’d regret. Instead, he turned to his team and focused on them. “One day, you, too, could be as good as Declan Owen,” he finished.
They all scoffed and snickered at him. He tried to act as if he wasn’t bothered by Mac’s words as the guys joked. Ashton’s name was called for him to go next.
“Not sure how I’m going to follow Declan.” Ashton shook his head, moving over to the entrance.
Declan smirked and leaned against the fence, but he didn’t see the course at all.
Aspen’s smooth brown skin came to mind. Thoughts of the last time he was with her gripped him. After the breakfast disaster, they had gone back to her house and they’d spent a few hours in bed. He stiffened and knew he had to redirect his thoughts.
He glanced over and found Mac’s gaze on him. Declan nodded to him, knowing that deep inside, this was Mac’s way of protecting him. They had been through Hell and back when they’d been in the Navy. He knew Mac would take a bullet for him if need be.
Declan had killed for Mac so that he could have a life with the woman he loved.
He blew out a deep breath as the realization came to him. It was if someone had slammed a bat into his solar plexus.
He wanted what Mac had with Sarena.
Sarena had been able to accept Mac with his dangerous job of a police officer and SWAT officer.
Declan had never thought he’d see the day that he would want to settle down. Maybe it was because he was getting older. He blew out a deep breath, thinking it would be nice to have a little Declan or two running around.
He ran a shaky hand along his face, trying to concentrate on Ashton starting the course, but couldn’t. He couldn’t believe he was standing here contemplating having a future with just one woman.
His gut was telling him that his future was Aspen.
His gut was never wrong and had saved him multiple times when he’d been in the Navy and on a SWAT mission.
But could he trust his heart when it came to Aspen?
Aspen returned her vacuum cleaner to the hallway closet. She had the day off from the library and she was trying to take advantage of the free time to clean her house. The Marshalls hadn’t given her a large place, and she’d tried her best to make it homely.
But today, her domain would be cleared from top to bottom. There wasn’t much for her to do, and Evie was at work, and Declan…
She let loose a sigh as she fluffed the pillows on her couch. She didn’t know what to think about him and what was between them. Any other day in the life of the old Aspen, she would have loved to see where this thing between them was going.
But she was the new Aspen.
Aspen Hale.
A single library assistant who moved around every few years.
Secretly she wished that he did want more from her, but pushed that thought down. Even if he did change his mind, she couldn’t.
She didn’t even know where she’d be at in six months much less a few years.
Loud rap music filled the air outside her home. She rolled her eyes as it grew louder. She despised her current neighborhood.
“Want-to-be thugs,” she murmured and moved over to her front window. She flopped down on her couch and peeked out through the curtain and took in the low-income neighborhood they had stuck her in.
The houses on the street were all similar to hers. Small and compact with neat, tidy yards.
It was the complete opposite of the cushiony suburb where she had grown up in California.
A few kids were out in the yard next door. They stood around the car as the music continued blaring from the speakers.
“Of all the areas they could have chosen, why this one?” she murmured. But she already knew the answer.
They wanted her in an inconspicuous neighborhood where not too many people would notice her coming and going.
Tomorrow she had a meeting with the marshals. According to the text she’d gotten from U.S. Marshal Ball, they would be preparing for her testimony. With Ray being indicted officially, the need of her testimony was getting moved up. The grand jury would be convening within a few weeks, and she would be expected to be there.
She pulled back away from the window and looked around her. The small living room practically sparkled. Determination had set in. After her big cry, she vowed that she wouldn’t let her current situation get her down.
Once this was over, she didn’t foresee herself moving back to California. The southern city of Columbia was growing on her.
She’d find somewhere to start over.
If only her future could include Declan.
Her cell phone ringing broke through her thoughts. She reached over and grabbed it off her coffee table. Declan’s name was splashed across the glass screen. She swiped her finger and answered.
“Hello?” she breathed.
“Aspen.” His deep baritone voice came through the phone and instantly sent a chill down her spine.
“Hey, you. How was your day?” she asked, trying to make idle conversation.
Come over and fuck me until I can’t speak, was what she wanted to say.
But that may not be appropriate. The man was probably on his shift protecting the city. The f
ew times they had been together had left her becoming addicted to him.
“It was okay.” He chuckled.
She smiled, loving the sound of his sexy laugh.
“But it could have been better,” he added.
“How so?”
“I want to see you.”
His admission made her pause. She glanced down at her outfit and cringed. Leggings and a t-shirt were not sexy.
“When?” she asked, knowing she could be ready in twenty minutes.
“Now,” he replied.
She turned around and pulled back the curtains, finding a vehicle parked in the driveway.
“I’m not really dressed to go anywhere,” she said.
“I’m sure you’re beautiful. Come on,” he urged.
She bit her lip, unsure what to do. She watched as he stepped out of his car. The kids all turned to him, openly gawking at the white guy by the fancy sports car.
“Okay. I’ll be right out.” She hung the phone up and slid her feet into her flip-flops and grabbed her purse. She paused by her hallway mirror and realized that she didn’t look too bad.
She swiped her keys and walked out the door.
The sounds of the offending music grew louder when she pulled her door shut and locked it.
Her mouth curved up in a smile, and she took him all in. He leaned against the hood of his car. His jeans and t-shirt were molded to him, highlighting his muscular form. Her heart raced with his gaze slowly perusing her body. Her nipples pushed forward under his assessment.
“Hey.” She smiled, feeling eyes from the teens in the next driveway. She tore hers away from Declan and met the open stares of the young men standing around the car with the blaring music. “Where’s your truck?”
“At home. It’s a nice day, and I wanted to take this out one for a spin.” He snagged her hand and pulled her to him.
Her breasts crushed onto his chest, and his large hand slid down her back and gently cupped her ass.
She knew what he was doing.
Laying claim to her in front of their observers.
She tilted back her head, her body flush to his. She smiled, and for just a second she imagined she could belong to him. She basked in the feel of her body pressed up against his and his hands on the swell of her ass.