Deadly Secrets (Hardy Brothers Security Book 11) (8 page)

Jake woke to his favorite feeling in the world the next morning: Ally’s head on his chest. He rubbed her back lazily, letting his fingers trail down her bare skin, and thought about how lucky he was.

Years in the military hardened him in certain ways, and he welcomed that granite veneer for a number of years because he was afraid to get close to anyone. He thought the war ruined him. In reality, he ruined himself.

The first chip in his protective covering came when he met James Hardy. Jake couldn’t be sure, but there was something about watching the man hold his injured girlfriend as she slept that touched him. He didn’t even know that was possible.

Of course, his introduction to Ally was what really threw him. She was a ball of energy from the first, barreling into James’ apartment and demanding the attention she felt she deserved. It was that family atmosphere, the sparring siblings and overt love that pulled him in.

Now he never wanted to let it go.

Jake glanced over at the clock on the nightstand and grimaced. Ally had five minutes to sleep before she had to get ready for work. He’d drag out this morning as long as he could if it was up to him.

“What are you thinking about?” Ally murmured, shifting in Jake’s arms.

“You.”

“Oh, good. My favorite subject.”

Jake smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It’s my favorite subject, too.”

“What time is it?” Ally’s hand roamed Jake’s chiseled abdomen, causing him to shift.

“Too late for that,” Jake said. “You have to get into the shower if you don’t want to be late for work.”

“I hate being a law secretary,” Ally grumbled.

“So quit.”

“And do what?”

“You can be my working girl,” Jake teased.

“Funny. What are you going to do today?”

“I’m probably going to go home and get some work done on the bike.”

Ally smiled. She loved Jake’s motorcycle. “Does that mean we can take it out next weekend?”

“That’s the plan, angel.”

“Okay. That sounds good.”

“Are you okay after dinner last night?”

“It’s not like you invited her,” Ally said. “Finn is on my list, though.”

“I’m pretty sure he knows that,” Jake said. “Once James had to wrestle Mandy into the house with his hand over her mouth, I think everyone pretty much knew it was a bad idea.”

“Well, she’s gone,” Ally said. “Good riddance, if you ask me.”

“She wasn’t always like this,” Jake said. “I think she’s just … lost.”

“I don’t care as long as you aren’t interested in finding her.”

Jake snickered. “I’m interested in finding something else,” he said. “Your hand has my mind wandering. I don’t suppose we could move this into the shower so we’re both happy before you go to work?”

“You read my mind.”

JAKE
was relaxed and happy when he pulled into his driveway. That feeling lasted exactly thirty seconds until he saw the figure standing on his front porch. Cara.

“Shit,” he swore.
What is she doing here?

Jake pocketed his keys when he got out of the truck, a tight smile on his face as he approached Cara. “Are you lost?”

“Are you? I’ve been waiting here for an hour. Where did you go this early in the morning?”

“I spent the night at Ally’s.”

“Of course you did,” Cara said. “You can’t do anything without Ally.”

“No, I can’t,” Jake agreed. “Are you here to insult her? Because, if you are, you can go now. I’m not interested in hearing it.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t care about your precious girlfriend,” Cara said. “I’m here because I need your help.”

“Now what? Is your laptop acting up again?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Cara was angry. “Are you mad because you helped me yesterday afternoon?”

“I’m mad because you used computer problems as a reason to try and suck me in,” Jake replied. “I’m not an idiot. I know very well what you were doing yesterday.”

“Yes, and I know what you were doing,” Cara said. “Do you think I believed James kept showing up like clockwork just because he wanted to?”

“I don’t really care what you think,” Jake said. “I was trying to give you an out so you could keep a little pride.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m with Ally,” Jake said, losing his temper. “I want to be with Ally. No matter what you want, that’s not going to change. You have to give it up.”

Hurt washed over Cara’s face. “Is that what you think of me?”

“I’m not sure what to think of you,” Jake said. “You’re not like I remember.”

“You didn’t like the woman I was then,” Cara said. “You dumped me.”

“I didn’t like myself then,” Jake said. “I knew we weren’t meant to be together, so I ended it before you could get hurt.”

“I was still hurt.”

“I can’t change that.”

“And what’s so special about Ally? Do you honestly see yourself with her over the long haul?”

“I certainly hope so,” Jake said. “If I were to lose her … I wouldn’t be able to take it.”

“But she’s so … normal.”

“She’s not normal,” Jake said. “She’s extraordinary. She’s the best person I’ve ever met. She’s sweet, and she’s kind, and she’s beautiful. She listens when I talk, and when I don’t want to talk she’s okay with that, too.”

“So, what, she’s a dog?”

Jake pushed past her, irritated. “You can leave now. I’m not going to sit here and listen to you malign her. I don’t want to hear it, and for the life of me I can’t figure out what you think you’re going to get out of it.”

“I don’t think I’m going to get anything,” Cara snapped. “I just … it hurts to see you with her.”

“I’m not going to apologize for being happy.”

“Every time I see you with her I can’t help but wonder why you couldn’t find that with me,” Cara admitted.

“When I was with you, I couldn’t find any happiness at all,” Jake said. “Ally is the one who gave me that back. I couldn’t find that with you because you’re not Ally.”

Cara pressed her lips together, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I’m … sorry.”

Jake rubbed the heel of his hand against his forehead, frustrated. “Don’t be sorry. Just stop badmouthing Ally. Stop getting digs in at her … and Mandy, while you’re at it, because she’s going to lose it … and just let it go. Nothing you say is going to change the way I feel.”

Cara held her hands up, surrendering. “I really am sorry.”

“You should be,” Jake said. “That display you put on last night was despicable. That’s Mandy and James’ house. They deserve a modicum of respect in their own house.”

“Well, to get one final dig in, I have no idea what he sees in her either.”

“The one thing he loves more than anything else in this world,” Jake replied, guileless.

“I guess love really is blind.”

Jake scowled. “Are you done?”

“I’m done with that,” Cara said. “I wasn’t lying about needing your help.”

Jake waited.

“I really didn’t need the computer help,” Cara said.

“Oh, really?”

“No one needs the sarcasm,” Cara said. “I realize I made a mistake. Can we move on?”

“I have no idea. Can we?”

“I wanted to tell you the truth the other night,” Cara said. “You were distracted, though. You were insistent on getting away from me. I just … I got scared.”

Jake studied her for a moment. “What’s going on?”

“Can we talk inside?”

Jake nodded. Something told him Cara was done playing games, and something really was wrong.

“OKAY,
lay it on me.” Jake pushed a mug of coffee across his dining room table.

Cara sipped from it, gripping the cup tightly and then lifting her head. “I’ve been getting a few … threats.”

“From who?”

“Cameron Mitchell.”

Jake froze, his heart tumbling as memories flooded him. He pressed his hands to the tabletop to steady himself. “Cameron Mitchell? I thought he was in prison.”

“Why? Because that’s where we put him?”

“Yes.”

Cameron Mitchell. That was a name Jake hoped he would never hear again. While stationed overseas and working a stint with military police, Jake and Cara uncovered a heroin ring. Soldiers were smuggling drugs from Afghanistan to the United States in mail bins. Mitchell was the head of that operation, and when he was taken into custody, he’d vowed bloody retribution on both of them.

“He’s out,” Cara said. “He’s been out for a few months.”

“But how? He got twenty-five to life. It’s only been … what … five years since he was sentenced?”

“He got out on appeal,” Cara said. “His conviction was overturned on a technicality.”

“What technicality?”

“I don’t know,” Cara said. “It had something to do with prosecutorial misconduct. He got some high-priced lawyer to file an appeal, and it worked. They released him.”

Jake pursed his lips. “This isn’t good. How did he find you?”

“It’s not like I’ve been hiding,” Cara said. “Not that I want him to go after you, but I’m kind of confused why he’s coming after me first. You were the one he really hated.”

“He did,” Jake agreed, leaning back in his chair. “Have you seen him in person?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Two weeks ago,” Cara said. “I was coming home from a job and he was at my apartment.”

“What did you do?”

“Well, he took me by surprise,” Cara said. “We were in the hallway, and I didn’t want to cause a scene, so I talked to him.”

“You invited him into your apartment?”

“No. I made him stay in the hallway.”

“Well, at least you were smart there,” Jake said. “What did he say?”

“He said he was going to keep his promise,” Cara said. “He said we were both going to die, and in a really horrible way.”

“Why didn’t he go after you there?”

“Because he couldn’t find you,” Cara said. “In case you haven’t noticed, you have a pretty common name. He wanted you more than he wanted me.”

“I guess that’s working to my advantage,” Jake said. “There are probably thousands of Jake Harrisons. There are a lot fewer Cara Dunphys, I’m going to wager.”

“He said I was easy to track down.”

Jake rubbed the back of his neck. “Did he hurt you?”

“He grabbed me and shook me, but it was nothing major,” Cara said. “He said he was going to find you first, and then he was going to take care of me. He seems fixated on you.”

Jake studied Cara’s face for a moment. “Did you really just happen upon me at Detcon?”

“Yes,” Cara said. “I knew you were in the area, though. I planned on hunting you down once the job was done. I took two weeks off work. I knew I needed help. Running into you was a stroke of luck.”

“If you could find me, Mitchell isn’t going to have a problem doing it.”

“I could only find you because I knew the name of your parents,” Cara said. “They wouldn’t tell me how to find you, but they did mention you were still in the state. I ran the names and eventually found you. Hardy Brothers Security isn’t exactly low profile.”

“Yeah, we’ve been in the news a few times over the past year.”

“I especially liked the story where Mandy was almost blown up.”

Jake shot her a look. “She almost died in James’ arms,” he said.

“That came out wrong,” Cara said. “I didn’t mean it like it sounded.”

Jake wasn’t so sure, but he had bigger problems to deal with now. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to try and find a place to hole up for a few weeks,” Cara said. “In fact, since you’re so under the radar, I was hoping I could stay here with you.”

Jake balked. “Ally is not going to like that.”

“Then don’t tell her.”

“I’m not going to lie to her. Not about something like this. It would hurt her.”

“Oh, well, I’m sorry Ally’s feelings are going to be hurt,” Cara said. “Our lives are in danger.”

Jake frowned and pushed himself away from the table, pacing. “Fine. You can stay here.”

“We’ll put our heads together.”

“I can stop by during the day,” Jake said. “I’ll be spending my nights with Ally.”

Cara’s face was unreadable. “That’s what I figured.”

“Okay,” Jake said. “Let’s start doing some research. We need to find out where Mitchell is, and what he has planned. If he comes here … he’s going to have a rude awakening. I won’t let him touch anyone I … care about.”

“I guess we’d better get at it then.”

“Yeah. I guess.”

“We’re only a few days away,” Finn said, smiling widely as Emma surveyed the apartment above Hardy Brothers Security. “What do you think?”

“I love it,” Emma said, beaming. “I absolutely love it. There’s so much more room here than we’re used to.”

“That’s going to come in handy when we start buying baby stuff,” Finn said. “That reminds me, once we get settled in here, I’m officially unleashing you on the baby store. You can buy whatever you want.”

“I thought you wanted to wait on some of that stuff.”

“We can’t wait forever, sweetie,” Finn said. “Once we have the baby, we’re going to need some stuff to take care of it.”

“Him,” Emma corrected.

“You don’t know it’s a ‘him,’” Finn said. “You have a
feeling
it’s a ‘him.’”

“You can’t call a baby an ‘it.’”

“I think it’s better than calling a girl ‘he.’”

Emma frowned. “I just know it’s going to be a boy.”

“We could find out,” Finn reminded her. “In a couple weeks the doctor is going to be able to tell us what we’re having. That would let us paint the baby’s room pink or blue.”

“I don’t want pink or blue,” Emma said. “I like the yellow.”

“Okay,” Finn said, holding his hands up. “I still kind of want to know.”

“I said no.”

Mandy cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. “Speaking of baby things, before you buy anything, you should make some decisions and register.”

“Register?” Emma furrowed her brow.

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Mandy sighed. She often forgot that Emma’s tortured childhood didn’t allow for the things others took for granted. “You register for the things you want,” Mandy explained. “You pick out baby monitors, car seats, strollers, a crib, playpens … all the stuff you’re going to need.

“Then you let people buy it for you,” she continued. “You shouldn’t buy anything yourself until you see what everyone else gets you.”

“Who is going to buy me anything?” Emma was flummoxed. “I don’t have any friends.”

Mandy groaned. “You have family. In fact, James and I are going to buy the crib.”

“No way,” Finn replied automatically. “Do you have any idea how expensive a crib is?”

“We’ve looked at a few,” James said. “We want to do it. We’re going to make sure you have a matching dresser, too.”

“That’s way too much,” Emma protested.

“This is the first baby in the family,” James pointed out. “It’s going to be spoiled rotten. I’m also buying one of those playpen things so we can have the baby in the office.”

“That’s so sweet,” Emma said.

“You need to pick out what you like,” Mandy said.

“And don’t go cheap,” James warned. “I’ll know if you do, and then I’m just going to buy what I like.”

Finn smiled at his brother. “Thanks, man.”

“Ally plans on buying two car seats,” Mandy said. “One for each of your vehicles.”

“And Mom and Dad are buying the changing table,” Grady said. “They already told us.”

“That’s just too much,” Emma said.

“We’re going to have a shower for you, too,” Mandy said. “You’re going to get a ton of clothes and diapers there.”

“Who is going to come to a shower?”

“You have us, and Rose, and Heidi. I’m sure we can find a few more people. Don’t get all … freaked out,” Mandy said. “It’s going to be okay.”

“We’re also hoping Jeff will be out of prison before then,” James said. “I’ve been in contact with the warden at the prison. He’s working to get Jeff out as soon as he can.”

Emma pressed her hand to her heart. Her brother Jeff had been locked up for five years for armed robbery. After being abandoned by their mother in the wake of their father’s arrest, Jeff had gotten desperate and tried stealing to keep Emma alive. His release was imminent, and the Hardys were all working together to make sure his reentry into society was seamless.

“You’re the best people ever,” Emma said.

“Don’t get sappy,” Grady warned. “It will ruin my street cred if I cry in front of women.”

Mandy slapped his arm. “Your street cred was ruined the day you walked outside with that hair.”

“My hair is badass,” Grady said.

“It’s very pretty,” Mandy countered.

“Manly. It’s manly.”

“Whatever.”

Emma turned back to the apartment, excited. “We’re going to be really happy here. I just know it.”

Finn walked up behind her and engulfed her in a warm hug. “We’re going to be ecstatic here, sweetie.”

“It doesn’t look like the same place we lived in, does it?” James asked, tugging Mandy down on his lap. “It’s just … different.”

“I think that’s okay,” Mandy said. “It’s not our home. It’s their home now.”

“You’re my home,” James murmured, kissing her chin. “I would even live in a box with you.”

“Oh, you’re so cute.”

“You’re so disgusting,” Grady said, popping James on the head lightly as he moved past him. “What’s the deal with the pool table?”

“What do you mean?”

“A pool table is going to be dangerous for a baby to be around,” Grady said. “There are a lot of hard edges.”

“I thought that was going,” Emma said.

“It is,” James said. “We’re renovating that storage room at the back of the office right after we’re done here. It’s only going to take four days, so the table is going to have to stay up here until we’re done. It’s too big and heavy to move twice. Then we’re moving it down there.”

“Oh, that’s fine,” Emma said. “We haven’t even picked out furniture yet.”

“Not that you haven’t been bombarding me with a nonstop litany of catalogs or anything,” Finn teased.

“That’s because you won’t pick anything out,” Emma countered.

“I told you to pick out whatever you want,” Finn said. “I don’t care. It’s just furniture.” He turned to James for backup. “Right? You went through this with Mandy. Didn’t you just let her pick out what she wanted?”

“No.”

“You said she was driving you crazy with the furniture,” Finn said.

“She was,” James said. “I also learned a valuable lesson.”

“That I’m always right?” Mandy asked.

“That if I don’t just do what she wants when she asks, she’s going to make things ten times harder than they have to be,” James said. “Do you remember the hobo furniture?”

“The furniture that’s in the bedroom next to my studio?”

“Yes.”

“That’s not hobo furniture,” Mandy argued. “It’s bohemian chic.”

“It’s fifty different colors.”

“It’s cute.”

“It’s too small to sit on,” James said.

“No one is making you sit on it.”

“It’s too small to do anything else on either.”

Mandy made a face. “That’s what the bed is for.”

“Sometimes I need more than a bed, baby.”

“You’re ruining the new apartment,” Finn said. “We’re going to have to do a sexorcism to erase all of the filthy things you two did in here.”

“I thought that’s what the paint and new carpet was for?” James teased.

“It’s still gross.”

Emma rubbed the edge of the pool table, her eyes bright as she regarded Finn. “You know, I’ve never done it on a pool table.”

Pregnancy hormones are a funny thing. One moment Emma was crying because a commercial broke her heart. The next she was riding Finn like he was a horse and she was a cowboy. Apparently the pool table was giving her ideas.

“We can’t do it on that pool table,” Finn said.

“Why?”

“Because Mandy and James beat us to it.”

“Only once,” Mandy said.

“After it was officially our apartment,” Finn pointed out.

“Blame your brother for that. I wanted to do it on his desk that day. There were just too many people in his office.”

James grinned. “I love my randy wife.”

“That makes one of us,” Finn said. “We’ll christen the apartment a different way, sweetie.”

Emma was disappointed. “I guess.”

Finn frowned. “I don’t suppose you have a canister of those antibacterial wipes around, do you?”

James arched an eyebrow.

“If I’m going to do it on that pool table, I’m going to have to wipe it down first.”

“I thought that was off the menu,” James said, wrinkling his nose.

“She’ll get what she wants. She always does.”

James smirked. “There’s a bunch of them in the closet downstairs. Don’t do it until we all leave. I don’t want to see it.”

“We’re not exhibitionists.”

“My understanding is that you’re a slave to Emma’s hormones right now,” James said. “I’m guessing if she wanted you to do it in front of us, you would.”

“Probably,” Finn conceded.

“You’d better get all of that out of your system now,” James said, taunting his brother. “Once you have that baby, it’s all downhill from there.”

“That’s not true,” Emma said, slapping James’ arm lightly. “Our love is going to burn brightly forever.”

“I was just joking.”

“I don’t think it was very funny,” Emma said, crossing her arms over her chest. “You hurt my feelings.”

“I’m sorry,” James sputtered. “I … I’m really sorry.”

“You’re forgiven,” Emma said. “Now go get those antibacterial wipes from downstairs. I have a few things I want to wipe down.”

“Yes, ma’am,” James said, kissing Mandy’s cheek. “I’m so glad we’re not having kids, baby. You’re bossy enough without the delicate womb to use as a weapon.”

JAKE
studied the computer screen in James’ office worriedly. He’d been running a search on Cameron Mitchell, trying to ascertain his location, for more than an hour. The search wasn’t spitting back a lot of information.

He’d considered asking James if he could run the search before doing it, ultimately deciding against that plan of action when he imagined the eldest Hardy brother’s reaction. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that James would spring into action and go on the offensive.

He would never put James in danger like that because he knew that would mean putting Mandy – and Ally, by extension – in danger as well. He wouldn’t risk either of them for anything.

“What are you doing?” James asked, strolling into the office.

Jake minimized the search window and maximized the data entry window before James could circle behind the desk. “I’m just updating some billables.”

“Why? Everyone is upstairs having fun. You should join us.”

“I’m almost done,” Jake said. “What are you doing anyway?”

“Emma tasked me with finding some of those antibacterial wipes so she and Finn can have sex on the pool table.”

Jake’s mouth worked, but no sound came out. He wasn’t sure how to respond. “Okay.”

“It’s a long story,” James said. “Suffice it to say, she has a mighty weapon in her womb right now. She has the power to make men – even ones she’s not sleeping with – do whatever she wants.”

Jake grinned. “I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

James stilled. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I don’t know,” James said. “You just seem … off. Did my sister give you a rough time about Cara being at the barbecue last night?”

“She was surprisingly easy to deal with,” Jake said. “I’ve explained to her that I don’t have feelings for Cara. I think she gets it.”

“Listen, man, I’m the last person who should be handing out relationship advice,” James said. “The thing is, a year and a half with Mandy has taught me a few things. One of the most important things is that low self-esteem pops up out of nowhere.

“Ally is pretty sure of herself, but she’s still going to feel vulnerable at times that baffle you,” he continued. “You can’t always explain it, and you can’t always head it off.”

“I think she’s okay.”

“Just be prepared to shower her with gifts and attention if she starts feeling low again,” James said. “I’ve found flowers, candy and jewelry are always welcome.”

“Thanks for the tip.”

James grinned. “Hurry and finish up. If you don’t get up there soon, you’re going to walk in on the main event after Finn and Emma kick us out … and no one wants that.”