Unexpected Love (White Oak-Mafia #2) (15 page)

When they entered a gated community in the rich section of town. The guard at the gate balked at allowing such a run-down pickup truck onto their streets. Eventually, a dark sedan arrived, and two men in black suits walked to the pickup and opened Steel’s door. “Prince Alastair.”

“You may refer to me as Steel or Dr. Castile,” he growled.

Prince? Tess didn’t recall him saying he was a prince…only some far distant relative to the queen, whom he’d never even met.

She could sense his discomfort…even anger at being called Prince Alastair. She squeezed his hand and looked at the black-suited man who had spoken to Steel. “You can call me Tess, or Miss Campbell.”

Both men stared at her like she was some alien…a dangerous viperous creature. In the dark, she couldn’t see much more than vague shapes, but the vibes they sent were definitely hostile.

“May we have a word in private, Dr. Castile,” Grumpy One asked.

“If you wish to take us to whatever house you’ve arranged for me to stay in tonight, that is fine. If you think there is even a slim chance I’ll go without Tess, you are mistaken.”

They stared at him with their intense eyes, evidently trying to intimidate Steel into compliance, which was never going to happen.

“Or we could go home with Sheriff Cobbs. He probably has a couch we could sleep on,” Steel warned.

“The car is this way, sir,” Grumpy Two said.

Tess waved goodbye to the sheriff as the two Grumpies escorted them to their car. The drive to the safe house was only a few blocks away.

Steel cursed softly and buried his face when they drove up the gated drive of a mega-mansion.

Tess couldn’t believe anyone could justify a house this size. “If my taxes are paying for this safe house, then I’ll be writing my congressman,” Tess warned.

“The British Embassy arranged this,” Grumpy Two replied. “Our safe house would evidently be perceived as an insult to the queen.”

“So don’t put the queen in your safe house,” Steel snapped. “I assure you I’d have been fine there.”

They pulled to a halt before two etched-glass doors revealing a well-lit entry hall hosting a beautiful teardrop chandelier.

The driver opened Steel’s door while Grumpy Two opened hers. They escorted Steel and Tess into the entry hall where they were received by a horrified butler. Tess first thought his distress was due to the dour Secret Service, but upon further study, his horror seemed directed at Steel. While she was in jeans and a sweatshirt, Steel still wore his hiking clothes, which, given the day they’d just had, couldn’t look much worse if he’d wallowed in a pig trough.

“You are Prince Alastair?” the old butler asked, his tone challenging the possibility.

Evidently, the man’s tone pissed off Steel because his shoulders squared, and he sounded ghastly proper and stuffy as he responded, “I am. My companion and I will require baths and proper clothing. Please see to the matter at once.”

The butler nodded and led them into the main house. “Shall I show you directly to your room?”

Grumpy One snapped, “No, we need to talk with him first.”

The butler struggled with their response. He refocused on Steel. “Your Highness. While I have been instructed by my master and mistress to make your stay pleasant and oblige the requests of your security, I must draw the line on destroying fine furniture simply for the want of a bath and clean clothes.”

Steel stared at his pants, covered in dry mud. “I promise not to sit until my bath is drawn. I trust that will not be long?”

“If you wish to have your discussion in the parlor, I will retrieve you the moment your bath is ready.” The old butler opened a door for them to enter then rushed upstairs.

“Sir…Prince,” Grumpy One said.

“I’ve already requested that you call me Steel or Dr. Castile.”

“Dr. Castile. Our conversation will take longer than the time to draw a bath.”

“From my experience, it takes an insanely long time for a bath to be drawn. So have a seat in this treasured parlor while I stand. However, if you have failed to make your key points by the time my bath is ready, then you can either wait or join me.”

Both men’s brows furrowed.

“I don’t think he means in the tub,” Tess said and raised her right eyebrow at him.

“Thank you, Tess. That is correct. A proper bathing room should have seating and a screen to separate me from my audience.”

“So I can come, too?” she asked.

“No,” Grumpy Two snapped.

Steel smiled at her. “That depends. I asked him to draw two baths. Yours will, of course, be in a different room.”

“I’m cleanish,” she assured him. “But I do want to know how these guys plan to keep you safe while we build the park.” She took his hand in hers. “I think tonight clearly proved my father doesn’t give a damn what other people want.” She turned to the grumpies. “I believe the fire we put out today was set by his direction as well.”

“They don’t need to know about that,” Steel grumbled.

“Yes, they do! How can they protect you if they don’t understand the shit my father pulls?”

Just then the butler returned. “Your bath is ready, sir.” He then frowned at Tess. “Yours will be ready soon, miss.”

“I don’t need one. I’ll just wait here in the parlor with my charming companions.” She wasn’t going to argue anymore. Steel’s security needed to know what they were up against. However, if they chose to follow Steel to his bath, then she’d write them off and try to protect the man she loved on her own.

To her amazement, they both remained in the parlor with her, which cheered her immensely. They must have realized she could be helpful.  Or perhaps they just didn’t want to sit and watch Steel take a bath.

She eyed the silk settee and took a chair. Neither of the grumpies wanted to sit on the fragile thing either. The one she’d labeled Grumpy Two grabbed the other chair, leaving Grumpy One to stand. While she hadn’t been able to tell them apart in the dark, in parlor lighting, Grumpy One had a red-hued buzz cut and was slightly heavier than Grumpy Two, who was lean and had a brown buzz cut. Both had such a puss on their faces, brows furrowed and hard eyes, she was assured any conversation would not be pleasant.

“Miss Campinelli—” Grumpy One said.

“Stop right there! My name is Tess Campbell. That is my legal and heartfelt name. I am not part of this sick past my father and brothers wish to reestablish. I will do anything I can to help you keep Steel safe. And if that means you have to kill members of my family, I’m okay with that. They are horrible people! Like Grams, I want nothing to do with them.”

Her outburst left them confused and silent for a while. Finally, Grumpy Two leaned forward and spoke, his voice a bit softer and less hostile. “How long have you felt this way?”

“From my first memories, I was terrified of my father. My mother tried to keep me away from him as much as possible, but there were days when she was so beaten she couldn’t move. Then it was up to me to make dinner, and if it wasn’t good enough, he’d drag my mother out of bed and force her to make him a better meal. Finally, she couldn’t do it anymore and she killed herself. Or so it was ruled.”

Tess closed her eyes, recalling the image of her mother hanging from the ceiling beam. Nothing beneath her feet. Later there was a tipped over stool, but Tess was certain it hadn’t been there when she’d first found her mother. She would have used it to try to save her.

“My mother could not be buried in the family lot because she committed suicide, and according to the priest, for that she would burn in hell for all eternity.”

Tess gripped her hands and fought against the blackness of that time. “Within a few weeks, I had a new mother, whom I detested on sight. Within seven months, I had a new brother and another followed a year later. I liked my brothers at first. But when the eldest turned thirteen, Father decided he needed to raise the boys to ensure they became proper psychos. Within six months, they were bragging they had tortured and killed someone. I wanted nothing more to do with them. In many ways, I find them far more frightening than my father.”

“How so?” Grumpy Two asked.

“He at least seems sane when not angry. Not them. They are always feral monsters hungry for the next kill.”

“So you think your brothers are Steel’s biggest concern?”

“No. They do whatever my father tells them. They are an extension of him.”

She met the man’s eyes. “My father is the source of danger. However, he always has someone else do his dirty work, and in this case, I believe if he goes after Steel, it will be my brothers who come after him.”

“And how do you feel about that?” Grumpy One asked.

She focused on him. “If it came to saving Steel or shooting my brothers, I’d have no problem shooting those feral dogs.” She lifted her chin. “Does that shock you?”

He didn’t reply. So she refocused on Grumpy Two. “You cannot be around such evil and not be impacted by it. At least I couldn’t. My step-mother kept telling me to ignore the ugliness. But I can’t. They’re monsters. And my father is determined to control everyone, no matter the cost. So if I thought the only thing holding Steel here was me, I would send him away. But Steel came for other reasons. I suppose you know about his women problems of the past.”

Grumpy One didn’t reply, but Grumpy Two nodded, so she focused on him. “This job is his last chance to turn around his reputation and prove he’s a great archeologist. He’s discovered several one-of-a-kind finds in my woods that could make him famous.”

Grumpy Two pulled out his notepad. “I thought his title here is forest manager.”

“It is. But no one knew about the many sites he has located in the woods. We’re planning to split the jobs between us. I’ll manage the forest…something I’ve been doing since I was sixteen, and Steel will run the dig sites.” She leaned forward. “What I’m going to share next is a bit personal. Will you tell me your first names?”

Both remained silent.

She sighed. “So far, I’ve been labeling you Grumpy One and Grumpy Two. Do you really want me to call you that?”

Grumpy Two asked, “Who’s one?”

She pointed to the guy standing.

“I’m Dan Brown,” he said, evidently not wishing to be Grumpy Two.

She looked to the other guy. His crossed arms over his chest assured her he wasn’t giving her his name.

“Okay, Dan and Grumpy One.” She focused on Dan. “I never believed in soul mates. Hell, I didn’t believe in love…neither did Steel. But we meshed so well, I think we fell in love before we even recognized what it was. However, we are aware of the danger both to his career and life, so we’re determined to keep our relationship professional and platonic. We’re best friends. Nothing more.”

Grumpy One snorted.

“When I learned of Steel’s past, I knew he couldn’t leave my woods. He has to stay and succeed. I also know my father would cause problems if he believed I loved a man not of his choosing.”

“What sort of problems?” Dan asked.

“According to Grams, when a daughter of a Mafia Don tries to choose her own husband, the family will first bring the young man in and see if they can scare him off. If not, then the Don will try to corrupt him into becoming family.”

“And if that fails?”

“Then he disappears. However, Grams doesn’t believe that can happen to Steel. He has a powerful family who won’t let it go. He can’t just disappear.”

Dan nodded in agreement.

“So my plan is to invite all our new hires to live in my home. My father will almost certainly place a spy in the mix, and that person will be able to assure him we are nothing but co-workers.”

“How many bedrooms does your house have?” Dan asked.

“Four, but they are huge rooms. I’ll have a room, Steel will have a room, and I’ll put bunks in the other two. We can easily house twelve to sixteen.”

“If we can’t change his mind about leaving, any chance you’d let us stay there?”

“If you are serious about keeping him safe, then you need to be close by. But I don’t think he’ll put up with that unless you are useful. Any chance you’d be willing to go undercover as the security advisors for our new state park?”

“We can’t agree to that,” Grumpy One barked.

Steel spoke from the door. “Well, you better call whoever you need to approve it because it’s the best offer you’re getting. Tess is right. I’m not just here for her. This is my shot for making a name for myself. I’m not leaving this site.” His eyes met hers, and she could almost hear him add “or you”.

God, she loved him…even in dress pants and a plaid sweater vest.

Grumpy One tried to go into the hall, but Steel stopped him. “And before we go any further, I need to see both of your IDs.”

They handed them over. He read them and passed Dan’s back. “Thank you, Dan.” He slapped Grumpy One’s ID in the palm of his hand. “And Lionel, you need to check the attitude with my co-worker right now.”

How long had he been standing in the hall?

When Lionel didn’t reply, Steel added. “She’s irreplaceable. You’re not.”

That caused the man to frown at Tess. “If I have offended you, Miss Campbell, I do apologize.”