by Peyton Banks
“Are you all right?”
She pulled back with a nod. Declan reached up and wiped her tears away with his thumbs.
“As good as I can ever be.”
“I’m here for you. You don’t have to do this alone.” His eyes searched hers.
He cupped her cheek, and she leaned into it, knowing she could trust him.
Her heart skipped a beat. She shook her head slowly, unsure of what to say. How much did he know?
“I’ve been alone for so long—”
Their conversation was interrupted by the door opening. US Marshal Ball stood in the doorway. His mouth was pressed into a thin line, and he glared at them. Aspen leaned into Declan, not wanting to leave.
“I’m not sure who Captain Spook knows, but it would seem he has called in a favor. Sergeant Owen will be coming with us for the night.”
Chapter 14
“This is a safe house. We’ll use it for tonight,” US Marshal Ball announced, closing the door. He waved Aspen over to the couch while his partner disappeared into the kitchen.
Declan took in the space. The windows were covered with drapes, and a small couch and love seat faced each other. The decor was plain, but it wouldn’t be decorated as if a family lived here. He walked around the room intent on ensuring that this was a safe environment for Aspen.
The car ride had been silent and full of tension. He didn’t know what the hell was going on, but she had a lot of explaining to do.
Why the hell would those men be after her?
He turned, cataloging every detail of the house that was visible.
“I hope it’s to your liking,” Ball drawled, leaning against the wall.
“It will do,” he replied, his gaze landing on Aspen.
Her eyes were cast down to the floor, and he bit back a snarl. Her hands were collapsed together in her lap. The look on her face was of a person who had lost everything. He let loose a sigh and moved to her.
She needed him.
Even with them in the room, she seemed alone.
“I trust what is shared with you will be upheld with the strictest of confidence. I looked into you, Sergeant Owen, and you’re well-respected in the law community.”
“You’re damn right I am,” Declan said, settling on the coffee table in front of Aspen. He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers.
Her eyes flew to him in shock.
He gave her a tight squeeze to let her know that he was there for her. “Now tell me. What is going on?”
“Aspen has been in the witness protection program. She was the witness of a murder. The person charged with the murder is up for a lot of federal charges. She is the one person who can assure the bad guy is put away for a long time.”
Declan glanced at the federal agent. The other one, US Marshal Williams, entered the room.
“I’m going to double-check out back to make sure we’re good for the night.” He left out the front door and shut it behind him.
Declan returned his attention to Aspen who remained quiet on the couch. He was slightly relaxed knowing the feds were making sure Aspen was protected.
“That sounds like a lot. What happened, baby?” he asked.
She blew out a deep breath and kept her eyes lowered. “My name is not Aspen Hale. My real name is Aspen Irwin, and I’m from California.”
“Nice to meet you, Aspen Irwin,” he murmured, squeezing her hand.
Her lips tilted up in a small smile, and he was slightly relieved she could smile. Her eyes softened when she gazed at him.
“I was at work late one evening. I am—or at least I used to be—a forensic accountant, one of the best. My father runs a Fortune 500 company and asked me to look into some dealings and monies that seemed to have disappeared.” Her eyes glassed over as she told her story.
He watched her become lost in the tale. He remained quiet while she continued speaking, not wanting to interrupt her.
“I had figured it out. I couldn’t believe who was stealing from my father. He’d worked so hard to get his company to where it was supposed to be, and for me to find out it was his best friend, I was just in shock.
“I went to confront him. I had thought of him as an uncle. He and my father had been as close as brothers, but he chose to turn to the life of crime and stabbed my father in the back.”
This started sounding familiar to Declan. He swerved his eyes to the federal agent who crossed his arms in front of his chest and leaned against the wall. He’d remember hearing about something in California about a high-profile case of an executive. He turned back to Aspen. His heart raced, seeing the fresh trail of tears burning their way down her cheeks.
“I should have waited and gone to my father first, but I was just so angry and wasn’t thinking. I walked up to his office, and as I was about to push the door open, I heard angry voices. It was slightly open, and I watched Ray shoot that man.”
Declan knew the case. It was all over the news. He gazed at Aspen with a new understanding of who she was.
Holy shit.
“Ray Acosta?”
Aspen was shocked Declan knew who she was speaking of. But then, the case had been all over the national news. When she’d first been pulled from her home, she hadn’t been able to watch television without seeing his face splashed crossed the screens.
“Yes, he’s currently sitting in prison awaiting his trial. We have to keep Ms. Hale alive so she may testify against him,” Ball stated, breaking the shocked silence.
“Declan, there’s so much I want to say, but—”
“You’re not leaving.” His tone was hard and clipped.
“You don’t get to decide that, Sergeant.” Ball’s eyes narrowed on Declan’s back.
“I have to go,” she whispered.
Declan’s sharp eyes lingered on her. They softened the longer they stared at each other. Even with the shadow of the bruising appearing on his face, she thought he was the most handsome man she’d ever met. She reached out and cupped his jaw. His shadow of a beard prickled against her hand. “If this was any other time—”
“What are you going to do? Keep moving her from city to city, hiding her?” Declan snapped, turning his attention to Ball.
“That’s exactly what we are going to do. My job is to make sure that she stays alive and can testify.”
“And after she does that, then what?”
Her breath caught in her throat at Declan’s question.
She already knew what she would do. She couldn’t live her life forever staying in protective custody. This was no way to live her life. The money they provided her with wasn’t enough to live off of. With her bleak work history, the only jobs she would qualify for would offer minimum wage.
No. She couldn’t continue her life like that.
She’d been a damn good accountant and always planned for the what-ifs. She’d taken her own money and hid it far away, and no one had a clue. The government never knew that she’d taken enough of her own money that she’d received from her parents when she’d graduated from college and hid it in offshore accounts.
Aspen had always had a plan. Testify, see her family one last time, and disappear. Ray had ties to dangerous men, and once they found out she was alive, they’d go after her. She’d never be safe here in the States.
She’d have to relocate to another country. Anything to ensure she was safe, she’d be willing to do it, and if starting life on a different continent was the only way, she’d do that, too.
“After she testifies, we’ll hide her deep. She’ll receive a new identity and will live a quiet life.”
Declan ran his hands through his hair and closed his eyes. She stared at him, torn. Her heart was breaking watching the frustration appear on his face.
“She doesn’t have to leave yet,” Declan stated. He stood and paced the floor, concentrating on something unseen.
“If you have forgotten, she and you were attacked in a public area. Someone knows she’s alive. We have to move her. Tonig
ht.”
Aspen jumped at the news they were wanting to relocate her tonight. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. They usually moved her under the cover of darkness. She should be used to it by now, but this time, she was losing someone she had come to care for.
“I can protect her.” Declan stopped and faced Marshal Ball.
Aspen’s breath caught in her throat at the look on Declan’s face. He had slipped into his fierce SWAT officer role, and she had no doubt he would never let anything happen to her.
“You and what army? This is more than the local boys in blue can handle.”
“You know I’m more than qualified. Me and my men can protect her,” Declan snapped. He stalked up to Marshal Ball and glared at him.
“You and your men don’t have clearance—”
“You can deputize me,” Declan interrupted Ball, who paused. “I’m law enforcement and fit the criteria to be deputized.”
Aspen held her breath, wanting what Declan offered, but yet she didn’t want to drag him into the middle of this chaos. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if something were to happen to him.
“This isn’t something to take lightly, Sergeant. There is paperwork to fill out, and your captain would have to sign off on this.”
“He already has. Captain Spook has friends in high places. Just don’t take her away tonight.”
Aspen stood from her seat, her heart racing. She wiped her sweaty hands on her pants and walked over to Declan. She placed a hand on his arm and stood by him.
“Please. He and his men are good. We wouldn’t have to move at all. Between the marshals and the local police, I’ll be well protected. I just can’t move again,” she pleaded.
“One more night, and if this doesn’t go through, we are gone.”
Chapter 15
“Thanks.” Declan took the duffle bag from Marshal Williams and shut the door. He turned and leaned back against it, hearing the sink run in the en suite bathroom. He swiveled his gaze around the room and took in the queen-size bed, the simple decor of a nightstand and dresser. Thick drapes covered the windows, blocking out the world.
The sound of a click broke through the silence. Aspen appeared in the doorway. She froze and returned his stare. He took in the dark areas beneath her eyes. She looked drained. He was still in disbelief that she was a woman in hiding waiting to testify against one of the most dangerous men in history.
Ray Acosta’s rap sheet was longer than a city block. Pride filled his chest that she was going to face a man such as Acosta. It took balls to face someone like him in court.
“Hey,” she greeted him. She appeared unsure of herself, almost shy.
“Williams brought you a bag of clothes.” He stepped forward and made his way to her. He didn’t like the glint of uncertainty in her eyes. He stopped in front of her and held the bag out to her.
She gripped it and held it against her chest.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
Confusion lined her face, and Declan wasn’t even sure why he was.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and stared up at him. “Believe me, I appreciate you stepping up to try to help protect me, but I can’t help but wonder why? We’ve slept with each other a few times, and I will always cherish our time together. But soon I’ll—”
“Aspen, stop.” He closed the gap between them.
Panic filled her eyes, and it was escalating in her voice. He tipped her chin up so he could look down into her beautiful eyes.
How did he explain what he didn’t understand? “Let me help you, and then we’ll figure us out.”
“There’s an us?” Her voice ended on a squeak.
His lips tipped up in the corner. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. She leaned into him, the duffle bag crushed in between them. He loved the feel of her in his arms and knew he wouldn’t be letting her go.
That he knew for sure.
Now the air was cleared, he had a better understanding of why she’d seemed to be hiding something. He ran a hand along her back and knew he’d do anything for her. There was no question that he’d protect her.
Aspen Hale—Irwin—deserved to be able to live her life without having to be hidden or constantly have to look over her shoulder. No matter what happened between them, he would ensure she would survive, testify, and get some form of her life back.
“We’ll figure it out.” He eased back and laid a small kiss upon her lips. Glancing down at his watch, he saw it was getting close to midnight. “It’s getting late. Let’s go to bed.”
“You’re staying here?” she asked, moving to the bed. She sat the bag down and undid the zipper. Pulling it open, she took out some of the items.
“There’s no way I’m leaving, Aspen.” He moved to the bed and kicked off his shoes. He didn’t have any spare clothes with him, and he preferred sleeping naked, but since they were a guest in the home and had two federal agents located in the house, he thought it would be better for him to sleep in his boxer briefs. “That is, unless you don’t want me to.”
“I want you to stay with me. You make me feel safe,” she whispered, holding an oversized shirt.
Her eyes met his, and his stone heart that he had thought would never beat, pulsed.
“Come here.” He beckoned her with his finger.
She walked to him with her eyes wide. He had the sudden urge to take care of her. He helped her strip out of her clothes and put the t-shirt on the agent had packed for her.
There was an animalistic need inside his chest to care for her. Even the sight of the shirt on her body made him want to release a growl. It should be his shirt covering her, not some random man’s. In the back of his mind he was sure it was brand new, but he wanted his to cover her flesh.
He wanted his scent to slide along her body as it brushed against her.
He turned down the covers on the bed and helped her in. Pulling the covers up over her, he tucked her in.
“You aren’t getting in with me?” she whispered, rolling on her side. Her hand slid along the bed beside her. Her dark hair flowed over her brown shoulders, creating a dark cloud on the crisp white pillow.
He leaned over and placed a chaste kiss upon her lips. He lingered, loving the feel of her luscious lips.
“It wouldn’t be a good idea,” he said.
She pouted, and he almost gave in. If he slid beneath the covers and pressed his body against hers, there would be no sleeping.
Damn the feds in the house with them.
“Are you telling me you are afraid to sleep in the same bed as me?”
“I’m afraid there wouldn’t be any sleeping.” He chuckled then laid another peck on her lips and stood from the bed. He grabbed his cellphone from his jeans. “Get some sleep. We are going to have to get up early.”
He stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. Slid his finger against the screen of his phone. Finding the number he was looking for, he hit it and placed the phone to his ear.
“Yeah,” a familiar voice answered.
“I need a weapon,” Declan stated. No greeting was needed for this call. The gun Aspen had used on the thug had been confiscated for the investigation. If he was going to ensure she remained safe, he’d need a gun.
Aspen glanced down at herself and let loose a groan. The clothes the agent had given her made her look as if she’d enrolled into the Army. Her gray sweatpants had to be rolled up a few times to come above her ankles, and her white t-shirt had Army splashed crossed the chest.
She sighed, wishing for once she could dress as she used to. She would never call herself a snob, but gray sweats did not do her ass any justice. She quickly threw the tennis shoes on they had provided her and grabbed her bag. She stepped out of the bedroom in search of the agents and Declan.
She was grateful she had been able to sleep all night. Throughout the night she had sensed Declan in the bed with her, but she guessed he hadn’t slept a wink.
“Good morn
ing,” she greeted them, finding the men standing around the dining room table.
Declan’s gaze dropped to her shirt, and a scowl crossed his face. “Where the hell did that shirt come from?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Agent Williams asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
Declan turned his gaze to the federal agent, and Aspen felt sorry for the agent. Declan’s sharp gaze didn’t falter.
“A woman such as Aspen deserves quality brands,” he announced. His eyes cut to her. “Navy’s the way to go.”
“Is that so? Army here.” Williams turned to face Declan with a smirk. “Navy, huh?”
“SEAL.” Declan didn’t bat an eyelash returning the stare.
Aspen glanced at Agent Ball, not believing that two men would be arguing over the quality of a t-shirt with the military branch across the front. He rolled his eyes and placed his hands on the table.
“Gentlemen, this is not the time to try to argue the better military branch,” Ball snapped, interrupting their stare-off.
Williams settled slightly as Declan walked away and came to her.
“You sleep well?” Declan asked, placing a kiss on her forehead. He glanced down again at her shirt, and the disdain was evident in the look.
She’d have to remember to grab a new shirt when she got the chance.
“What is going on? You guys appeared deep in thought when I came out here,” she noted.
“I’ve been granted special leave to stay with you,” Declan said. He reached up and brushed her hair from her face.
“But how?”
“I’ll be deputized and then I can be with you the entire time.”
“So what does that entail? You take a pledge or something?” she asked, unsure of what it meant. She was thrilled that he’d found a way to remain with her.
“Unfortunately, deputizing someone in the name of the US Marshalls has developed since the Wild West.” Ball chuckled. He folded the papers that were on the table before him and straightened to his full height. “We will need to take a trip to the mayor’s office to start the process of getting Sergeant Owen deputized. Once he does then he’ll be on your case and will assist with your protection detail.”