Fatal Dreams (COBRA Securities Book 17)

by Velvet Vaughn

  His first instinct was to destroy all the bugs. Crush them under his boot until they were tiny pieces of black plastic confetti. Instead, he used his pocketknife to pop out the batteries and then deposited them in a Ziplock bag Esme held open for him. He wanted Peter and the tech team to look them over.

  “Is it safe to talk?” Esme whispered in a ragged voice.

  “Yeah, babe, it’s safe.” When tears flooded her eyes, making them glitter like the emerald green waters off the coast of Destin, Florida, Ethan couldn’t take it. He wrapped her in his arms and held her while she silently sobbed against his chest.

  He’d find whoever was doing this to Esme and he’d make them pay. No one made his woman cry—woah! His woman? He didn’t even know her, not really. But the connection between them was undeniable. She might not be his woman, but she sure felt like it right now.

  #

  Esme watched enough crime shows on television to know the small black disks Ethan found were bugs. Someone had been inside her apartment and they’d planted them to record her conversations. That was bad enough. But when he found the larger ones that obviously had video capabilities in her bedroom, that’s when she lost it. Someone had watched her dress and undress, sleep. For how long? Was there any way to find out?

  The tears had stopped but she was loath to move from Ethan’s embrace. She felt safe, protected pressed against his hard chest, his muscular arms wrapped around her. One broad hand anchored her head against him almost reverently, the other stroking comfortingly up and down her back. What she really wanted to do was press her lips to his. Pulling back she gazed into his sky-blue eyes.

  His smile was sweet as he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “Better?”

  She shook her head and his smile faded. Without giving herself time to think, she pushed to her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. She anticipated the spark and yep, it was there. But she didn’t back away. He was surprised for only a second before he took over. His hand was cradling her head again, this time holding her in place as he ravaged her mouth with supreme expertise. It was as amazing as the first kiss. Better. She’d never been kissed like this. It truly felt as if their souls were joining in. Out of her element, she let him take charge and tried to keep up. When he finally broke the kiss, they were both breathing as if they’d crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon.

  “Wow,” she whispered. The kiss was, for want of a better word, explosive.

  He nodded slowly, still staring at her. “Yeah, wow.” She felt a little sorry for him. He didn’t yet realize they were destined to be together. No way would she let him in on that secret. Not after she’d just told him that her dreams were coming true, and they were. In more ways than one.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ethan wasn’t sure what just happened, but kissing Esme was an out of body experience. It was almost as if he had to kiss her, even though she’d initiated the contact. Once their lips met, she’d become his breath. The same spark flared when their lips touched as it had the first time. Looking into her face now, he knew she felt it, too. Her lips were plump and moist from his and it took every single ounce of restraint not to dip down and taste them again. He might’ve—scratch that—definitely would have if her friend wasn’t missing and they hadn’t just discovered her house was bugged. She was in a weakened state brought on by worry, anxiety and fear. He’d be a jerk to take advantage of her.

  “I’m going to wire your house with Fort Knox-level security. No one will be able to get in or out, not even a mouse.”

  “You think that’s necessary?”

  The look of fear on her face gutted him. He vowed again to make the person who was harassing her pay.

  “The dead body in your shop and now the bugs make it necessary. Until we catch the guy who’s doing this, I need you to take extra precautions.”

  Right now, the attacks hadn’t been physically directed at Esme, though he was sure she wouldn’t see the invasion of her privacy as trivial. Ethan had been on enough cases to know the level of violence could escalate quickly. If the same person was responsible for murdering her coworker and then Merle, he was capable of anything. Ethan wanted to make sure Esme was safe.

  A state-of-the-art security system was the first step, one that would also alert him if someone tried to break in. He lived a good ten to fifteen minutes away, depending on traffic, so if something did happen, it would take him too long to arrive. If incidents escalated, he’d be moving in with her and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. The couch looked comfy enough, though he’d prefer sharing her bed.

  “I’ll only agree if you let me pay.”

  “We’ll see,” he hedged, having no intention of billing her. It was his idea, something he wanted to do for his peace of mind as much as hers. Knowing someone might want to hurt her angered him. Security was his job and he would use every bit of his expertise to keep her safe.

  #

  The sound of an approaching vehicle had them both jumping off the couch. They’d spent the early hours of the morning trying to track Sophie. They’d checked all area hospitals—the patients this time—and Ethan called a friend on the police force. Nothing had turned up. Esme tried her number several times to no avail.

  “I know that sound. It’s Sophie’s car.” Esme raced to the door and yanked it open. She gasped when it was just as swiftly slammed shut in her face. She spun around. “What the hell was that for? I just told you it’s Sophie.”

  “Dammit, Esme, after everything we’ve talked about, you can’t just go running outside with no regard for your personal safety. There’s no telling who might be out there lying in wait.”

  She paled. “I hadn’t thought about that. This is all new to me.”

  “That’s where I come in. It’s not new to me. Listen to what I say, and I’ll keep you safe. And I go first. Always.”

  He opened the door and carefully scanned the area. Her eyes widened when she realized he was holding a gun. “Where did that come from?”

  Either he didn’t hear the question or chose not to answer. “It’s clear but stick close to me.”

  No problem. Latching onto a belt loop, she trailed him outside.

  “Sophie!” She was so relieved to see her friend, she couldn’t contain the tears.

  Sophie’s eyes widened as she slid out of her car. “Esme, what’s wrong?”

  Sophie didn’t know about the dreams. She’d already confided in Lyra and Ethan, but she wasn’t comfortable with too many people knowing about her ability. “I had a nightmare where you were hurt. I tried your cell, but it kicked over to voice mail. You mentioned you worked tonight, but when I called, they said you weren’t there.”

  Sophie glanced away. “Yeah, I traded shifts.” She cleared her throat. “I, um, met someone.”

  Relief that her friend was unharmed and apparently dating made her smile. “You did? Who is he?”

  “That guy from the restaurant last night. Oliver. I slipped him my number before I left. He called and we ended up at his place.”

  Esme hugged her. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Sophie made a face. “It’s not like that. He’s nice and all, but I don’t see it going any…” Her voice trailed off as she noticed Ethan for the first time. “Oh my gosh, it’s the guy from last night.” She leaned close to whisper, “Did you steal him from that gorgeous woman he was with? Because if so, bravo, honey. He’s a stud.”

  Esme laughed. “Nothing so tawdry.” She indicated for Ethan to come closer. “Actually, this is the guy from last night’s brother, Ethan.” She waved between them. “Ethan, Sophie.”

  Ethan shook Sophie’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  Sophie stared at her purposefully. Esme knew she had questions, but she didn’t want to answer in front of Ethan.

  He must’ve read the non-verbal communication flowing between them. “I need to make a call. If you’ll excuse me.” He moved to stand by his SUV.

  Sophie elbowed her. “Looks like I’m no
t the only one spending the night with a hot guy.”

  “Actually, he was here for you.” At Sophie’s questioning look, Esme explained, “I was upset when I couldn’t get in touch with you and called him.”

  “Sorry I worried you. I feel bad.”

  “Don’t. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

  Sophie fought a yawn, her late night catching up with her. “I need to shower and then sleep for ten hours.”

  “We’ll talk later,” Esme promised, heading towards Ethan.

  He slid his phone in his pocket. “She hooked up with someone?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Just because she’s here now doesn’t mean she’s out of danger,” he pointed out.

  She stopped dead in her tracks. “You’re right. This really is foreign to me. I need to warn her to be careful.”

  “And carry pepper spray if she has it,” Ethan added. “I need to make more calls while you talk to her.”

  She felt his gaze on her as she rang the bell. Sophie whipped open the door.

  “I need to talk to you before you go to sleep.”

  “Sure.” Sophie stepped back so she could enter. Esme waved to Ethan to let him know she was going inside Sophie’s house.

  “What’s up?”

  “I wanted to caution you to be careful. In my dream, someone tried to kidnap you. It felt so real.”

  “Oh my gosh, are you kidding?” When Esme shook her head, Sophie plopped on her sofa. “Now I’m regretting the one-night stand with a stranger.”

  “You’re safe now but be extra vigilant if you go out. Ethan recommended you carry pepper spray if you have it.”

  “I do and I will. Where is Mr. Tall, Blond and Incredibly Sexy, anyway?”

  “Making calls outside.”

  Sophie wagged her brows. “So, he was here all night, eh? I want all the details, Esme. Leave nothing out. He looks like he’d be a monster in bed.”

  Heat rushed to Esme’s cheeks, and not just from embarrassment, but from her own salacious thoughts. After the kisses, she had no doubt that Sophie’s statement was one hundred percent true. “Remember when I told you about the man coming to my rescue when Aunt Lumi’s car died?”

  Sophie jerked a thumb towards the door. “That was him?”

  “That was him.”

  “Wow, it makes me wish my car would break down. I’d disable it myself to meet someone like him.” Her gaze turned speculative. “You said he was here all night. Are you two dating?”

  They weren’t officially together, but they’d been on one date, so it wasn’t a complete lie. “Yes, but it’s new. He was only here tonight because I was worried about you.”

  Sophie squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry again.”

  “No need to apologize. I’m just glad you’re okay. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “I promise.”

  Esme stood and walked to the door. “Make sure you lock up before you go to sleep.”

  Sophie rolled her eyes. “I will, Mom. See you later.”

  #

  After staying up most of the night trying to locate Esme’s friend, Ethan contacted his bosses. He filled them in on finding the bugs throughout Esme’s house. They offered him the resources of the company, which he deeply appreciated. Luke Colton and Logan Bradley were the best bosses anyone could ask for and Ethan knew how lucky he was to work for them.

  Next, he texted Noah a list of supplies he’d need to wire up Esme’s house and then contacted the local electrician they used when they needed work done locally. Saul, or Sparky as they called him, would arrive with his crew later in the afternoon.

  With that taken care of, Ethan needed to eat. When Esme returned from Sophie’s side of the duplex, he helped her in his SUV and headed for his favorite diner. It was no frills and if someone were passing through town, they might not give it a second look. But the food was delicious, the portions huge, and the place was always packed with locals. They found an empty booth and slid into the seats. A perky red-headed waitress bopped over and took their drink orders before fluttering away. She had entirely too much energy.

  Ethan handed Esme a menu. She still looked shell-shocked after finding out her house had been bugged. He needed to ease her mind. “The crew will be at your place this afternoon and we’ll get it secured.”

  She blinked her emerald eyes at him over the menu. “I don’t understand any of this. I can’t believe someone out there hates me this much. What did I ever do to them? I’m not a mean person, I swear.”

  Before he could offer a platitude that would probably do no good, the waitress returned with their drinks and then scribbled their orders on a notepad. He waited until she left before broaching the subjects he needed to discuss with her. The attacks were hitting too close to home. After speaking with his bosses, he decided not to wait. He was moving in. She might think she had a choice, but she didn’t.

  “Your house will be wired for security, but until we catch this guy, I’d feel safer if I stayed with you. I’ll sleep on the—”

  “Okay.”

  His brows raised. He’d expected a fight about needing to keep her independence or something along those lines. Her easy capitulation surprised him. He’d already texted Noah to bring some of his personal supplies with him. He kept a go-bag in his vehicle in case he needed to take off at a moment’s notice and it contained a supply of toiletries and other necessities.

  “With that situation settled, the other request I have is that you wear a Kevlar vest whenever you’re outside your house or shop.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “You mean a bullet-proof vest?”

  “Yes.”

  “You think someone might actually shoot at me?”

  “I’d rather not take the risk. We’re required to wear them when on assignment. I’d prefer if you’d wear one, too.”

  She sighed. “I’ll do it, but I hate this. I’m worried that my aunt might get hurt, or one of my friends. I really want this guy caught.”

  He reached over and threaded his fingers with hers. “He will be and until then, I’ll keep you safe.”

  The waitress returned with their orders and they chatted about a variety of topics including favorite television shows. They both enjoyed the same reality shows: American Ninja Warrior, The Amazing Race and Survivor. She was binge-watching several shows on Netflix while he tended to catch whatever sports program was on, when he had time.

  He could talk to her for hours and never bore. She was intelligent and funny and well read on a variety of topics. He was surprised to realize they’d both eaten with one hand, the others still linked together.

  After he paid the bill, he led her to his SUV and drove back to her house. A flash of lemon yellow caught his eye as he turned into Esme’s driveway. “That’s not the car Sophie drove earlier.”

  She peered through the windshield. “It’s not. It belongs to Joelle.”

  “She’s the college student who manages your website?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t know why she’s here. She didn’t tell me she was stopping by. And where’s Sophie? She said she was going to bed, but her car’s gone.”

  Ethan parked beside Joelle’s Kia. “It’s empty. Does she have a key to your house?”

  “No.”

  Ethan scanned the area but there was no sign of the woman. He palmed his gun and jogged around to help Esme down before scanning inside Joelle’s car including the floorboards. It didn’t have a trunk, just cargo space littered with trash and take-out bags.

  “Where is she?” Esme asked.

  “Is she friends with Sophie? Maybe they went for a bite to eat.”

  “They do know each other. Not well, but that must be the explanation.”

  A noise caught his attention as they navigated the sidewalk. He held out an arm to stop her. She looked at him quizzically before her brows narrowed.

  “That sounded like a moan,” she whispered.

  He eased around the side of the house. Esme tugged at his hand, dragging him forwar
d.

  “Joelle!”

  Her friend was lying on the grass, struggling to get up. Ethan helped her to sit. “What happened?”

  “Someone came up behind me. I was carrying my pepper spray.” She indicated a canister lying a few feet away. “I sprayed him, but I breathed in some, too. He pushed me down before he ran away.”

  “Did you get a look at him?” Ethan asked.

  Joelle shook her head. “No. I was too stunned.”

  “But you’re sure it was a man.”

  Joelle winced. “No, I’m not. He or she wore a hoodie. I couldn’t see a face.”

  “Did they say anything to you?”

  “No.”

  “Are you okay?” Esme asked. “We should drive you to the emergency room to get checked out. Your eyes are red.”

  “I’m fine,” Joelle insisted. “I just need to wash them out with water. I’m not hurt otherwise.”

  Ethan helped her to her feet, and they led her into the house. Esme found drops in her medicine cabinet for Joelle to use. After she rinsed her eyes, she joined them in the kitchen.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t home,” Esme apologized, handing her a cup of coffee. “I didn’t know you were planning on visiting.”

  “I should’ve called, but I was out running errands and they took me by your house, so I thought I’d stop.”

  “Tell us exactly what happened,” Ethan instructed.

  Joelle took a sip of coffee and placed the mug on the table. “I realized I was going to be driving right by Esme’s house, so I swung into the driveway. It was totally an impulse.”