by Katie Reus
His shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. “Not personally. Benito owes me quite a bit of money and I intend to collect.”
“How much?”
“A hundred thousand.”
Lizzy swallowed but tried to school her shock. Benny had had problems with drugs in the past but he’d been clean for a while. Unfortunately, he’d found a new drug of choice. Gambling. If she had to guess, he owed Orlando the money because of bad bets. Or maybe he was back into drugs. She just didn’t know. And she hated what her brother did to himself. He had such a good heart but he couldn’t seem to keep it together.
Her parents had the money. She definitely didn’t. And it was unlikely her parents would fork over that kind of cash for the black sheep of the family. Unless she could convince them it was for her. Despite the terror splintering through her, she stood her ground. “So you tried to beat the money out of him?”
His dark gaze seemed to penetrate right through to her innermost thoughts. “He’s lucky he’s not dead. Out of respect for your family, I’m giving him one week to pay me back.”
“And if he doesn’t?” She hated that the question came out shaky, but she couldn’t help it. She was scared, even if she tried to hide it.
“I sincerely hope he has a life insurance policy.” He placed his glass on the bar and covered the short distance between them in seconds. Before she could react, he’d pressed her against one of the columns lining the outer edges of the lanai. His breath was hot on her cheek and his expensive cologne nearly smothered her as fear clawed at her insides. “I might be willing to bargain, however, Ms. Martinez. You are a beautiful woman. Six months as mine, and I’ll let your brother off.” His hips jerked forward and she pushed back the bile in her throat when she felt his erection against her hip.
Instinct overtook her fear as she shoved at his chest. “You’re disgusting.”
He was immovable. Grabbing her wrist, he pinned it above her head. When she swung out at him with her other hand, he snapped it up with the same precision. She tried to tug against him, but the man’s grip was like an iron shackle. Cold sweat blossomed across her forehead and spread the length of her body. She hadn’t told anyone where she was going, and Orlando Salas was total scum. If he raped her, he wouldn’t let her live to tell anyone. No, he’d likely dump her in the ocean. She racked her brain, trying to think of a way out of her situation when a loud shout and glass breaking inside caused him to let her go. But not before he backhanded her across the face and growled, “Stay here.”
The abrupt action surprised her more than it hurt. A dull throb spread across her cheek, but it was nothing compared to what would happen to her if she didn’t get out of there. As he started to reach for a gun tucked in the back of his pants, the double doors flew open and the last person she expected to see stormed through, with a SIG in hand.
And it was pointed directly at Orlando.
“Are you okay, Elizabeth?” Porter Caldwell, her unlikely savior, asked in his typical clipped tone.
“I’m fine.” At the moment, all that mattered was getting out of there alive. She wasn’t exactly sure what Porter was doing there or even how he’d gotten past Orlando’s guards. She wasn’t going to balk at a chance to escape, even if her rescuer was her sort-of-ex/almost-lover. Even though they’d dated for a month and gotten pretty physical, they’d never actually had sex so she didn’t think that qualified him as an old lover.
“Do you know who I am?” Orlando spat, but Lizzy noticed he didn’t continue reaching for his gun. He wasn’t that stupid.
Porter’s pale blue gaze narrowed with deadly precision. “More importantly, do you know who I am?” Without waiting for a response, he strode toward Orlando and slammed the gun across his head with a vicious blow.
With a short-lived cry of surprise, Orlando crumpled onto the mosaic tile. Lizzy had expected more of a response from the man but maybe without his security to back him up he wasn’t so tough after all.
Porter grabbed Lizzy’s wrist and started tugging her toward the open doors. “We have maybe sixty seconds to get out of here before the rest of his guards realize what’s going on. I don’t know what the hell you’re doing here, but—”
She yanked hard against his grasp. “My brother!”
He paused to stare at her, his gaze unreadable. “What?”
She nodded at Benny. “We need to get him out of here too.”
His head cocked slightly to the side as if seeing the crumpled heap that was her brother for the first time. Mr. Tall, dark and annoyed muttered something under his breath before tucking his gun away. Then he lifted her brother onto his shoulder as if he weighed nothing. Benny was almost six feet tall but Porter was taller and much broader. And all muscle. “Follow me,” he grunted.
Clutching her purse to her side, she hurried after Porter. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“Saving your pretty little butt. Ask your questions later. We need to get the hell out of here.” His shoes were silent against the tile while her heels clacked noisily. If she didn’t think it would slow her down she’d take them off and run in her bare feet. When they reached the open foyer, she spotted two guards unconscious and face down on the tile. Broken shards of what had once been a vase littered around one of the men.
Fear skittered along her exposed skin. “I don’t understand—”
“Your car. Now,” he barked as he jerked the front door open. He didn’t even glance behind him as he strode outside.
Not bothering to pull the front door shut behind her, she started to slide into the passenger side of her car while Porter dumped Benny in the back. Before she’d even shut her door, Porter kicked the car into drive and sped off.
“What…what are you doing here?” She hated that her voice shook but she couldn’t control it. She was grateful he’d shown up but she hated that he’d seen her and her brother in this kind of situation. Keeping her family life private was too important. And Porter had already made it clear what he thought of her brother. She didn’t like giving him more ammunition against Benny.
“Don’t you know what kind of man Orlando Salas is?” he ground out. It wasn’t so much a question as a statement of disgust.
As he sped down the stone driveway, she glanced behind them to see two men running out the front door, guns in hand. At least they didn’t open fire on them. Thankfully the iron gate was still open as Porter tore through the opening. “How’d you get past his security? And where’s your car? And why are you even here?”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t ask that first question,” he muttered and chose to ignore her other two questions completely.
She bit back a retort and tried to take a few steadying breaths. Porter might drive her crazy with his bossy attitude, but Lizzy worked for Red Stone Security, which was owned by his father. And his brother Harrison was her boss. Not that she had any fear Harrison would fire her if she got into it with Porter, but still, she liked to pick her battles wisely. As the peacemaker of her family she was used to stopping fights, not starting them.
She glanced over her shoulder again and was relieved to see that no one was following them. Turning to Porter, she said, “Explain how you knew I was at Orlando Salas’s house.” She figured she probably should have asked nicely, not demanded an answer, but right now she felt as if her insides were actually shaking.
He shot her a sharp glance that put her on edge, but at the same time made something annoyingly feminine inside her flare to life. Without even trying the man exuded a raw sexuality that made her abdomen clench with need each time she saw him. Or thought about him. Lately that was too often.
“I put a GPS tracker in your car a couple weeks ago,” he said quietly.
It took a moment for his words to register. She shook her head, sure she’d misheard. “What?”
He shrugged and made another left turn. “It was the only way I knew to keep you safe.”
“Safe? What… Do you realize how crazy this sounds? You put a tr
acker in my car!” The tiny voice in the back of her head told her to shut up and be grateful he had considering what had just happened.
His sharp features never changed as he pulled up behind an SUV parked by the curb. He fished out a set of keys and handed them to her. “I want you to drive my vehicle and I’ll follow you back to your place.”
She sputtered and stared at his outstretched hand.
“Lizzy, please. I’ll answer all your questions once we get out of here.”
His use of her nickname took her off guard. He rarely called her Lizzy. The first time had been right before he’d pushed her up against a wall and kissed her until she was breathless and panting for more. They’d dated for roughly a month after that kiss and since their very brief relationship ended, she’d been nothing but ‘Elizabeth’ to him.
She mentally shook herself. Now wasn’t the time to argue with him. The part of her that wanted to get as far away from Orlando Salas’s house as possible knew that. She snatched the keys from his hand and hurried to his SUV. She might have a lot of questions for Porter, but more than anything she was simply grateful for his presence. If not for him, she’d probably be dead right now. Or worse. After what had just happened, energy hummed through her and she could actually feel her adrenaline high starting to crash. If he hadn’t shown up when he had…Lizzy shivered and a cold sweat blossomed across her forehead. She couldn’t think about that right now.
His to Protect
Red Stone Security Series, Book 5
Copyright © 2013 Katie Reus
“That is one hell of an ass,” Vincent murmured to Kell.
Following the other man’s gaze, Kell grunted the expected agreement, then froze. That was a nice ass. The best he’d ever seen. He’d also held onto it as the woman it belonged to wrapped her legs around him while he pumped into her for hours.
Though Charlotte’s back was to him, the formfitting red dress clung to her sleek—and a little curvier than he remembered—body like a second skin. In an opulent room where most of the men and women were wearing black or other dark formalwear, she stood out like a beacon. It wasn’t intentional, either. Even if she’d been wearing simple black, she’d have shined as brightly. The woman just seemed to glow. With dark hair, smooth pale skin, lush lips and an elegant bearing, she was the kind of woman men wrote fucking poems about. Well, not men like him, but she certainly inspired that kind of shit.
Right now her dark hair was piled on her head in some sort of complicated twist, revealing just how deep the V of that dress went. She wasn’t showing too much skin exactly, but he didn’t like the thought of other men seeing her. He nearly snorted. It wasn’t like he had a claim on her. Hell, he hadn’t even seen her in a year. Still…his gaze trailed over all that smooth skin and all he could picture was how she’d looked bent over her bed as he’d trailed kisses along her spine and backside.
He straightened, placing the still-full champagne flute he’d never intended to drink in the first place on the tray of a passing server. As part of their security cover tonight, he, Vincent and another dozen men and women were posing as guests at the extravagant party. The couple having the party didn’t want overt security. Didn’t want to offend their wealthy guests’ sensibilities, apparently. “When did she get here?”
“Who, red dress? Couple minutes ago…and she’s talking to Lizzy. That woman has the hottest friends. Hell yeah, I think I might ask for an introduction later.”
“Stay the fuck away from her,” Kell growled before stalking in their direction.
He loved Vincent like a brother. They’d been in the Teams together and the other man had saved his ass more than once. After the Navy when Kell had joined the FBI, Vincent had started working for Red Stone Security. Now years later, Kell was with the same company, but he’d kick Vincent’s ass if he ever made a move on Charlotte.
Coming to Miami had been a damn good career move, but right now the only thing he could focus on was the woman who’d stomped on his heart a year ago.
Not that he blamed her for how she’d reacted to what they’d done—fuck, he couldn’t even go there right now. Couldn’t even think about their history and how he’d messed things up so damn badly. All in one night, too. He’d completely screwed up a chance at even being friends with her when he’d made that stupid admission to her.
As he made his way through the room, circling around her, she must have felt his intense scrutiny. Though she was with Lizzy and two other women, she glanced over her shoulder, a relaxed expression on her pretty face—until she spotted him.
Though she was fair skinned, she paled even more as their gazes connected. Her dark brown eyes widened and she blinked twice, as if to make sure she’d actually seen him.
Oh yeah, sweetheart. It’s me.
Taking him completely by surprise, she turned away from him, murmured something to one of the women, then practically sprinted into the crowd.
Away from him.
Even though he was hyper vigilant about the guests and his surroundings, Kell’s gaze narrowed as he watched that fine ass run away. She’d never been a coward before so it shocked him that she was acting like one now. There was a lot of shit they needed to say to each other and while now clearly wasn’t the place, he couldn’t believe she’d actually tucked tail and run.
Not this time.
Rolling his shoulders once, he let her go. For now. He was working and wouldn’t let anything get in the way of his job. But he’d damn sure find her before the night was over. Glancing around the expansive room, he surveyed some of the wealthiest people in Miami. Glittering jewels, pricey dresses and some of the most expensive art anywhere in the world was on display.
The Garcias wanted to show off their collection while throwing a thirty-five-year anniversary party. Anyone who was anyone in Miami was there. Kell had met Corinne Garcia and the sixty-year-old woman was eccentric and adorable. Standing a little under five feet tall, she’d married a man twice her size who looked fierce where she was soft and sweet. Somehow they fit. Together they’d accumulated a mass of wealth. Kell’s job was to make sure there weren’t any surprises tonight. There hadn’t been any credible threats beforehand, but with all the art and jewels around, they weren’t taking any chances with their safety or that of their guests. Something Kell respected. Some wealthy people became blind to the everyday threats facing them, but not the Garcia couple.
“You see something wrong?” Porter Caldwell, Lizzy’s husband and one of his bosses, slid up next to him like a ghost.
Kell hated when he did that. But the former Marine moved like stealth personified. “No.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“You know the woman in the red dress Lizzy was talking to earlier?”
Porter shrugged and grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing server. Unlike Kell, Porter wasn’t working tonight. He might run Red Stone Security with his two brothers and father, but the man’s wife came from serious wealth and they’d been invited as guests, not security. Still, Kell knew him well enough that Porter was definitely carrying a weapon and was watching the crowd. “Lizzy’s parents know her parents. She’s visiting from Virginia. Or maybe living here,” he said distractedly, his gaze narrowing on the man walking up to Lizzy.
“You know why?” Kell asked, still scanning the room for any possible threats, but was thankful everything was calm and uneventful.
“Something to do with her kid. I don’t know, I wasn’t paying attention.” Porter let out an annoyed sound, but Kell ignored it as he tried to digest what his friend had just said.
Kid? What the hell? Charlotte didn’t have any children. Turning back to his boss, he gritted his teeth when he realized Porter had already melted into the crowd and was heading straight for his wife. The man in the expensive suit who’d been heading her way earlier was currently talking to her—and apparently Porter didn’t like that. Ever since Lizzy had gotten pregnant Porter had been acting even more paranoid than normal. Not that he blamed the guy.<
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Sighing, Kell turned and slowly started making his way around the west side of the room. Porter must have been mistaken. Maybe he was talking about one of the other women Lizzy had been talking to—though there hadn’t been any other women in red dresses he could have been referring to. Work came first and right now he needed to keep a sharp eye out for any possible threat. They weren’t expecting any trouble, but he wouldn’t let his guard down. Trying to shake that nagging feeling that something was off with Charlotte, Kell had reached the open French doors at the back of the house when someone spoke into his earpiece.
“Got a man secured by the back wall, but he’s working with a partner. Male, five ten, dark hair, wearing a tux, heading toward the pool house,” Travis, one of the other security guys, said, his words clipped.
“I’m on it. Those on perimeter stay put unless you see the suspect. Don’t leave your posts.” There were men and women placed all around the giant estate, and just in case this was a ploy to weaken their defense, he was taking this guy down himself. “Who’s the closest to the pool house?” he asked as he hurried across the yard, disappearing in between a cluster of thick oak trees.
“I am.” Iris Tarango’s quiet voice came over the line. The tall, reed thin woman with clear Native American roots was deadly with a blade. He knew she’d been in the Marines and there were whispers that she’d been part of a secret intel-gathering group before coming to work for Red Stone, but that could all be bullshit. What he did know was that she was damn capable.
“I’ll take the west side of the pool house, you take the east. If he’s trying to scale the wall, he’ll use the building as cover.” Kell drew his weapon from his concealed shoulder holster, holding his SIG at the ready if he needed to use it.
There weren’t supposed to be any guests this far back on the grounds so he wasn’t worried about anyone seeing his weapon. Even if someone did he didn’t care. He had a job to do. As he neared the pool area he slowed and ducked behind a tree, only peering out to scan the other trees and the pool house for threats. He wasn’t actually worried about someone dropping down from the trees to assault him, but in his experience it was better to be prepared than end up ambushed.