Authors: CALLE J. BROOKES
WATCHING (47 page)
***
Hell rushed to Georgia
’
s side, grabbing for her. She kept gasping; the impact of Agent Lorcan knocking her over had forced the air from her chest. Lorcan picked himself up, and stepped aside, apologizing for the roughness of his action. She coughed then rasped out Hell
’
s name.
It was the most welcoming sound of Hell
’
s life.
“
God, Georgia! Talk to me!
”
She didn
’
t. She shook her head, dragging in deep breaths. Then she hit him. Balled her fist up and drove it deep into his stomach.
Hell nearly doubled over, from both the force of her blow and from surprise. Not exactly the hero
’
s welcome he
’
d expected after saving her.
“
Damn, what was that for
?
”
She took two more deep breaths before her voice rose, drawing all attention her way as Bureau security and various agents rushed into the room behind her father and Dan.
“
Michael Hellbrook, don
’
t you ever do that to me again!
”
“
Do what
?
”
Hell rubbed her back, one hand coasting down her side, checking for any damage Stephenson may have inflicted. She appeared to be fine, with the exception of new swelling forming along her cheek and ribs
—
ribs which were clearly exposed for everyone to see. He shrugged his shirt off, revealing the white tee beneath. He wrapped her in the cotton, buttoning it gently.
“
God, sweetheart!
”
“
You know what! Jumping him in the dark? Are you crazy? I can
’
t do it again! I can
’
t watch another man I lo…I can
’
t, I can
’
t!
”
She continued rapping his chest with her fist, stopping only when he pulled her against him.
He buried his face in her hair. Breathed the scent of Georgia.
“
God, sweetheart, I was so damned scared!
”
“
Me, too. Me, too. Hell, where
’
s Matthew
?
”
Her words were muffled, but he understood them.
“
How
’
s Jules? Is she ok
?
”
“
They
’
ll both be fine, are fine. Dr. Bellows most likely has a concussion. Matthew
’
s with
Alessandra
Brockman. He
’
s fine; she
’
s making sure of it
, took him home to her mother. She
’
s a child psychologist. He
’
s in good hands
. Let
’
s get out of here, get him and go. We need to talk
.
”
“
First, man, maybe you
’
d better get that shoulder looked at
.
”
Lorcan motioned to Hell
’
s left shoulder, where blood was beginning to seep through the white shirt.
“
Hell
?
”
Georgia pulled back to look at him, her eyes wide and worried. Hell didn
’
t want to let go of her long enough to check what he suspected was a scratch, but he did so reluctantly.
She had that look in her eyes, the one that told him with no uncertain terms that he was to cooperate peacefully.
Or else.
He never wanted her angry with him again.
“
Scratch. I don
’
t think I ducked fast enough
.
”
Hell brushed it off.
“
It doesn
’
t matter
.
”
“
Yes it does,
”
Georgia said.
“
He could have killed you,
you idiot
!
”
“
I couldn
’
t take the chance that he
’
d kill
you
. I couldn
’
t
.
”
Hell rocked her against him as he felt the anger leave her body. Her hands wrapped around his neck.
“
I love you, you idiot
.
”
Th
ose
words were the sweetest he
’
d ever heard. His arms tightened around her. He
’
d never let her go again.
He told her that as he pulled her to her feet. Lorcan and McLaughlin were pulling a sobbing Stephenson to his feet. When Lorcan and Hell had lunged for Georgia and Stephenson, Stephenson
’
s gun hand had been knocked away. The round had
grazed
Hell
’
s shoulder
, then embedded in the wall behind them all
.
Not that it had mattered
; Stephenson
was broken. He
’
d probably spend the rest of his life in solitary confinement, on a suicide watch. He was ended.
Except for a few minor details, and a full exam for Georgia at the hospital, it was over. Hell intended to take her and her son back to his home. They
’
d tuck Matthew into bed and he and Georgia would be discussing their future.
The future they
’
d be spending together.
Epilogue
****
**
Jules was pale, but holding court on the couch in Georgia
’
s father
’
s living room. She
’
d been out of the hospital for less than two days, but she
’
d insisted Georgia hold Matthew
’
s birthday party. It had
already been delayed two weeks.
Matthew had been just as insistent that he not have a party until his Aunt Jules could be there. Georgia and Hell were in perfect agreement on th
at
idea;
knowing Matthew needed to see Jules whole and in a normal setting to fully begin to heal
.
Everyone was there—all of the CCU, including Carrie on crutches. Ana, Fin, and both
Malachi and his sister, Alessandra
. Matthew was ecstatic.
Georgia knew her father was supervising the handful of kids from Matthew
’
s preschool class that had been invited, as well.
Life had returned to normal. Matthew still had nightmares, only now the childish dreams had been replaced by a monster with a face. They
’
d started sessions with a child psychologist recommended by Malachi
’
s mother. This doctor was supposedly the best in her field.
And Georgia would help him through the trauma, using all her skills as his mother
and
a psychologist.
Mattie seemed happy to have Hellbrook around. Seemed to feel safer when the man was with them. It would take a bit of adjusting for all of them, but it would work out. She knew it would.
“
Matthew! Mommy
’
s going to get out the cake and your presents! Get your friends!
”
“
Cake or presents first, Mommy?
”
“
What do
you
want?
”
Georgia had an idea what her baby would choose.
“
Presents!
”
“
I thought so.
”
Georgia nodded at Hellbrook, who stood inside the door to the back hallway. Two of Matthew
’
s presents waited back there. Hell wheeled the first present out.
Matthew
’
s eyes were huge when he touched the new bike. It was his first, and had bright red training wheels on it.
“
You
’
ll have to teaches me!
”
“
We
’
ll do that later. Come try it out for a minute. Then I think your grandpa went outside to get your other present.
”
Five minutes later Georgia called for her father to bring the present in.
Her once pristine father held the wiggling puppy away from his shirt. His paw-printed, mud-covered white shirt. His tie was missing and his shirt untucked. His hair was as wild as Matthew
’
s.
Matthew went nuts, jumping up and rushing to his grandfather. Like Georgia had known he would. He hugged the puppy over and over.
Her father stood at her left shoulder, Hellbrook at her right. Her father laughed at the boy and dog.
“
Damned dog is a little Lucifer.
”
“
Lucifer! I like it, Grandpa! I
’
ll call her Lucifer!
”
Matthew squealed again, a sound the puppy echoed. All the adults laughed.
Georgia looked up.
“
A
dog named Lucifer, and a fiancé named Hell. What does that say about my future?
”
Hell laughed.
“
That it will be a hot one.
”
Georgia looked at him, then at her father. He smiled and nodded. Georgia smiled at her father, grateful for his understanding, his approval.
“
I think I can handle the heat.
”
****
**
****
**
Watch for more PAVAD novels and stories coming in 201
3
and 201
4
from Calle
J
. Brookes and Lost River Lit.
Visit
www.CalleJBrookes.com
for more!
Now Available
WANTING
Agent Sebastian Lorcan looked around, taking in the calm, muted, stately interior of the hallway. Red and whiskey accents against a warm cream. Like her. It suited the woman he
’
d come to see, and surprised the hell out of him. The door finally opened a portion; red hair and whiskey eyes were just visible in the gap.
“
Agent Lorcan, what are you doing here? I don
’
t have people from the Bureau here. Ever
.
”
Her words were low and he strained to her. Her tone was anything but welcoming; he didn
’
t blame her. He
’
d not exactly gone out of his way to be friendly with her.
“
I need to talk to you. It
’
s urgent
.
”
He pushed the door back and stepped into her apartment. The move startled her; she jumped back to avoid touching him.
Her loft apartment was definitely not what he
’
d expected. He
’
d always thought she
’
d eat, sleep, and breathe surrounded by her precious computers—in a small, cramped little hovel only minutes from the Bureau. This place
was
close to the Bureau, but that was the only thing he
’
d been right about.
He
’
d never pictured her in this luxury apartment with granite countertops, leather furnishings, and expensive accents. This woman had some serious dough, somewhere.
“
Nice place
.
”
“
My place. So why are you here
?
”
She didn
’
t glare at him, but Lorcan thought it was pretty damned close. She stood between him and the two small steps that led up into the living area off the kitchen.
“
I need your help
.
”
“
With what? Don
’
t you have someone on your team who can work a simple computer program? I doubt you
’
re an agent short
.
”
She blocked him with her body when he would have taken those steps into the living room. Her body was taut, and her hand firm where she rested it against his arm.
“
I can work the damned computer
.
”
He looked down at the woman nearly pressed against him. Her hair smelled wonderful—almost enough to distract him from his purpose. Almost, but he reigned himself in.
He
’
d always found Carrie Sparks distracting.
“
So what? A case
?
”
She bent and lifted the black cat that rubbed against her leg. She cuddled the beast against her chest. It purred. Lorcan couldn
’
t blame him. He
’
d want to purr, too.
“
I
’
m off for the next four days. I
’
ve built up too much paid time off for this month
.
”
“
This isn
’
t through the Bureau
.
”
She still eyed him warily, suspicion clear.
“
May I sit down
?
”
He didn
’
t wait for her permission, slipping passed her and approaching the couch. He glanced over his shoulder just as annoyance slipped over her face.
“
Sure. Go right ahead.
May I get you something to drink; beer, soda, water
?
”
It was the first he
’
d ever heard sarcasm from her. It surprised him; he
’
d always thought she was incapable of it.
“
Soda sounds fine. Thank you
.
”
She opened the fridge and pulled out two green cans. He settled on her couch; it was as comfortable as it had looked. She plopped his soda on the end table, before perching on the glass and chrome coffee table. The cat hopped up beside her
, climbing into her lap. He stretched one paw over the woman
’
s lap, and looked at Lorcan. His eyes were glowing with what could only be interpreted as possessive claiming of his mistress.
Lorcan repressed to urge to say anything to the woman
—
or the cat.
“
Thank you
.
”
“
Why are you here
?
”
She repeated her question, and he wondered if it was just her customary speech pattern, or if it was a product of her own annoyance at his intrusion.
“
Two days ago, this little girl ran away from home
.
”
He pulled a small picture out of his pants pocket. She took it from him warily.
“
Her mother called a friend of mine. Who called me
.
”
“
And the police have nothing
?
”
“
She
’
s fourteen, and has had trouble before. Frankly, I don
’
t think they
’
re looking that hard
.
”
“
So why can
’
t your team help you
?
”
She returned the picture to him, and turned to look out the window at the arch.
“
Why me
?
”
“
She wasn
’
t abducted. Case doesn
’
t fit the parameters required for my unit. My team is still with yours in Nashville. And you
’
ve also been given mandatory leave. And I had no one else. This shouldn
’
t take long. I want to find her, I need to find her. I
’
ve known her since she was six
.
”
She bit her lip and looked at him.
“
I don
’
t know. What do you need
?
”
She was close to capitulating. It was in the way she looked at the photograph in her hand. He leaned forward, but kept his shoulders relaxed. Unthreatening.
“
Please, Agent Sparks. She
’
s just a child and woefully unprepared for the world outside on the streets. I need to find her
.
”
She sighed and Lorcan knew he had her cooperation. She squared her shoulders and looked at him directly, making eye contact.
“
I
’
ll do it
.
”
At her words, the tension that had plagued him for the last three hours lessened slightly.
He needed her skills, and now he had them.
“
Thank you
.
”
“
What do you know so far
?
”
Carrie moved, sitting beside him. Her shoulder brushed his. Lorcan felt that ghosting touch and his whole body went on alert. This girl did something to him faster than any other woman on the planet, and with any other kind of woman he would have acted on it months ago.
But not Carrie Sparks and not just because of her obvious differences. She was not the kind of woman a man like him ever fooled around with. He knew and would just have to remind himself of that.
“
First, the computer. Her mom said she spent quite a lot of time online. Blogs, emails, social media. Then I want to talk to her parents, in person
.
”
Carrie nodded.
“
I can start on the internet searches from here. My computers are in here
.
”
He followed her to the back wall. Just visible was the outline of a built in sliding door. It so seamlessly blended into the cedar wall around it that had she not opened it, he would have missed it. One more indication that this place was pretty damned pricey. And that didn
’
t fit with who he thought she was. Junior agent, living on a beginning federal employee salary. It wasn
’
t enough to afford a place like this.
“
How long have you lived here
?
”
Chapter Two
Carrie watched the man invading her home and couldn
’
t help but feel the natural irritation that he always caused.
It was so much worse than usual; this was her sanctuary. And he
’
d invaded.
And what she was about to show him had never been seen by anyone other than herself and her closest friend since the day she
’
d had it built.
“
Eighteen months
.
”
She flicked the switch to power the lights and the six screens that were housed in the small room. It had once been a bathroom, but she
’
d repurposed it. Her pair of laptops that she carried with her on cases were her babies, of course, but this room was her heart. For higher than state of the art hard drives were lined up like neat little soldiers under a long table. She
’
d built the hard drives from spare parts. Two wireless keyboards were configured to operate any drive.
The room had no windows; she hated glare on her screens when she worked. It seemed smaller and darker than she knew it was. She attributed that to the man crowding behind her. She could hear his breathing over
the steady hum of her machines.
The hum usually comforted her as much as Linux
’
s purrs, but not this
time. Not with him in the room.
“
You need to understand something. No one has ever seen this room. I need your word that you won
’
t disclose its location
.
”
“
Why? Do you keep this quiet, I mean
?
”
“
I
’
ve had burglaries before. And they
’
ve stolen important code. This was in Virginia, and I was asleep in the other room.
I wasn
’
t able to stop them. Do I have your word
?
”
“
Of course. I won
’
t tell a soul
.
”
He nodded, though Carrie suspected he didn
’
t understand. But the night that her old apartment had been broken into had left an indelible memory, just as strong as the sight of her mother dying in front of her when she was nine.
Carrie needed a safe place, especially in her own home.
“
What is the girl
’
s name and do you have her email address
?
”
****
“
Ashleigh Cavanaugh
.
”
He repeated the email address he
’
d been given. The room surprised him, but not as much as his anger at her need for it
She would have been extremely young when living and training in Virginia, only twenty-three or twenty-four. Vulnerable. The idea of a young Carrie sleeping in her bed and some strange, faceless man breaking into her home infuriated him.
“
I
’
ll track her internet paths. Since she
’
s over thirteen, she can open her own social media accounts. If I can find her communications, you can profile her posts to see if we can get a read on what
’
s going on
.
”
She spoke with confidence, not repeating herself even once. It surprised him; she always took the background with her team. She was part of the Complex Crimes Unit of the FBI, and it was a team of Bureau superstars. Lorcan
’
s team often worked in conjunction with the CCU, and in the two months Lorcan had been assigned to St. Louis, he
’
d had plenty of opportunity to observe Carrie and her team.
She was the youngest and in Lorcan
’
s estimation, the most vulnerable. She
’
d proven that the first time he
’
d met her, having been the victim of an attack by a former colleague that left her battered and in a leg cast. He still didn
’
t understand why Hellbrook, her team leader, didn
’
t keep her confined to the police stations they visited. It was where she belonged, safe behind her computer screens. And that
’
s where her strengths lie. The girl was phenomenal with computers, but she had certification by Quantico to be in the field. Hellbrook required every member of his team to be investigative agents, as well as any specialist position they may be qualified for. The CCU had former police investigators, two psychologists, a media specialist, and a former ATF agent. Plus Carrie, with her computer skills.
She continued speaking.
“
In my experience, these kids always leave hints, or trails. They very rarely keep it entirely to themselves
.
”
“
Your experience
?
”
How much experience could this neophyte agent possibly have?
