Witness (12 page)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

B
ROCK
W
ALKED
S
OUNDLESSLY
down the hallway and into Bailey’s mother’s room. He shook his head as he stared at the ultra feminine, flowery décor. Bailey had informed him that her parents hadn’t shared a bed since she was little. They apparently told her it was because her father snored and she hadn’t thought it was weird, but with the new information about her mother’s infidelity, puzzle pieces were sliding into place for her.

He stepped into the closet and pulled out the slip of paper Bailey had given him with the combination on it. He entered the numbers and the door clicked. Turning the handle, the door slid silently open and, with a quickness made of years of practice, he grabbed everything in the safe and began to photograph them, uploading them directly to his FBI database.

He’d take the time to study everything later. For now, he wanted out of this house, but more importantly, he wanted Bailey out of the house…for good. As promised, she packed a surprisingly small bag of things that she considered must-haves and when she and her family left, he’d stowed the back downstairs for quick access.

Brock finished with his photos, neatly stacked the files back in the safe, and texted Dallas as he headed out of the room.

“Don’t move.”

Brock turned to find one of the goons holding a gun on him and Brock raised his hands in surrender.

“What the hell are you doing here?” the man asked.

“Dude, I was looking for Bailey,” he improvised. “I think I got the wrong room.”

“You’re not real smart, tripping the alarm, Mr. Williams.” He waved the gun to the side. “Let’s head downstairs to wait for Mr. Harper to decide what to do with you.”

“Yeah, man. Okay. Can you put the gun down, though? It’s kind of nerve-wracking having it waved in my face.”

“Down the stairs,” the goon ordered.

Brock nodded and started down the stairs. As soon as he hit the last step, he pivoted and caught the goon off-balance, tripping him the rest of the way down. Unfortunately, he didn’t relinquish his gun, but Brock was able to get him in a choke hold and render him unconscious before he could get a shot off.

He heard a car coming down the driveway, so he grabbed Bailey’s bag and headed outside. Dallas drove up, Brock jumped in and they took off.

“Where’s Bailey?” Brock asked.

“Jax has her,” Dallas said. “They’re back at the hotel.”

“You took her back to the hotel her father booked for us?” he bellowed.

“
No
,” Dallas countered. “She’s back at the hotel Jaxon booked under an assumed name.”

Brock relaxed. “Thanks, man.”

“Got your back.”

Brock nodded and did his best to relax as Dallas drove to the new location. It was a little red inn on Main Street that looked like something from days gone by. Dallas parked the car out of sight and then led Brock inside.

He’d just stepped through the door when a flurry of blonde threw herself into his arms. “You’re here.”

“I’m here, baby,” he whispered, and pulled her close.

“I was so worried.” She glanced up at him. “Daddy got a call during lunch and he looked at me like he was going to kill me. He informed Lenny that the alarm had been tripped at the house and then when I said I needed to go to the bathroom, he wouldn’t let me.”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No.” She hugged him again. “I looked for a distraction, finally seeing a waiter with a tray of drinks coming by. I tripped him and he dumped everything on my dad. Even some of the wine ended on me and my mom.” She gave him a tentative smile. “Mom insisted I come with her to the bathroom. Harpers do not allow red wine to stain clothing. Jaxon got me out when my mom went into a stall.”

He stroked her hair, nodding his thanks to Jaxon. “Good.”

“Did you get everything?” she asked.

He nodded. “A treasure trove.”

“And my stuff?”

“In the car, baby.”

She hugged him again. “Can we go home now?”

He stroked her cheek. “Is that where you want to go?”

“Yes. Home. Your home. Our home.”

“Tomorrow. Tonight I have other plans.”

“As long as those other plans are to fuck me, I’m game,” she whispered.

He leaned down and kissed her. “Your wish is my command.”

EPILOGUE

One year later…

B
AILEY
F
LOPPED
O
NTO
the sofa in the family room and stared at her husband. They’d returned from the sentencing hearing for her parents, who were sentenced to life for their role in the kidnapping of nine children, the death of Ali, and extortion of several of their acquaintances in an effort to get the money together to get Josiah Warren’s father, Brian, in a position to oust Burton Miller.

Although her mother’s affair had started out of lust and affection, it had quickly gone downhill from there and she’d moved her interests from Burton to Brian. They’d concocted the plan to kidnap the kids using a few of Brian’s Russian contacts around the country. Which is how they ended up in Oregon. Ali and Bailey had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time, getting caught in Asher’s deal with the mob who owned him due to his drug habit.

Brock and his team had gathered enough evidence for a slam-dunk case, and on top of it, had inadvertently split open a human trafficking ring the Russians were running. Asher had owed the mob big money and trafficked young college women in an effort to pay off the debt. The bust of these people meant Brock, Dallas, and Jaxon all received bonuses, accolades and promotions. All three turned down the promotions, choosing to stay within their tight group, but they happily took the bonuses and kudos.

Bailey and Brock had been married two weeks after they returned home in his parents’ backyard surrounded by his family, Macey, Dallas, and Jaxon. All of which she’d come to consider her life-long friends.

Brock leaned over her and smiled, bringing her back to the present. “How are you?”

“Glad it’s over.”

“Me too.” He sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. “Are you sad?”

She shook her head. “No, I’m kind of over it, actually. I don’t understand how two people I loved so much could be so inherently evil.”

“I know, baby.”

“Were they always this way or did they just happen to make a few bad choices on their way down?”

“I have no idea,” he admitted.

“And what happens to the house? I know this seems weird, but I loved that house.”

“I know you did, baby. I would assume it’ll be auctioned off.”

She sighed. “Which is just wrong.”

“How about we go out there next week and see what we can find out?”

She stared at him. “You mean, spend our one year anniversary there?”

“Yes.”

“You did something, didn’t you?”

Brock laughed. “I booked us in at that little inn on Main Street for a week.”

She threw herself in his arms. “Oooh, I love you, love you, love you, Brock Williams.”

“I love you more, Bailey Williams.”

“Come on. I’m in the mood to show you my appreciation.” Bailey rose to her feet and held out her hand.

He joined her. “And I’m in the mood to let you.”

Bailey giggled as Brock bent at the waist and lifted her over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” she demanded, and smacked his bottom.

He gave hers a firm squeeze. “I’m takin’ my woman to bed and I’m gonna fuck her until she screams my name.”

She shivered, her body warming at the thought. “Hurry,” she demanded.

As they walked toward the staircase, the doorbell rang. “Who the hell is that?” Brock grumbled, setting her on her feet. He pulled open the door.

“Delivery for Bailey Harper.”

“Bailey Williams,” Brock corrected, but took the package and signed for it, handing it to Bailey.

He closed the door and Bailey tore open the package. “It’s from Daddy’s law firm.”

Brock wrapped an arm around her waist from behind and read over her shoulder. “Babe,” he said.

“Are you reading that too?”

“Yeah.”

She turned in his arms. “I…um…the house. It’s mine.”

“Looks like it,” he said, and grinned.

“Did you know about this?”

“No way. Not a clue.”

“It looks like my grandmother put it in a trust for me. I took ownership when I turned twenty-one…something my parents conveniently forgot to mention.” She stared up at Brock. “That must have been why they were so frantic. They knew I had the choice to kick them out.”

“Must have been.” He took a deep breath.

“But I would have never made them move out.”

“I know you wouldn’t have.” He stroked her cheek. “What do you want to do?”

She bit her lip. “Honestly? I want to live here, but maybe find out if there’s an historical society or something I could loan the Vermont house to until we’re ready to either live there or sell or whatever? The house has been around for a long time. I think we could use our anniversary week to figure that out if that’s okay with you.”

He grinned, leaning down to kiss her again. “I love that idea.”

She dropped the paperwork on the foyer console and slipped her hands up his shirt. “Okay, time for you to take your woman to bed and fuck her until she screams your name.”

Brock lifted her again and rushed upstairs, giving her exactly what she wanted.

ABOUT PIPER

Piper Davenport writes from a place of passion and intrigue. Her debut novella in the Guardian Series is a fast-paced, sensual escape into the exciting world of smoldering FBI agent Brock Williams, and strong and sexy coed, Bailey Harper.

Look for Dallas Stone’s story coming soon!

Piper lives in Oregon with her husband.

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