Guarding Gabi - Kathy Ivan

by Special Forces - Operation Alpha

  “You are not an inconvenience. Aunt Patti adores you, and Uncle Douglas has already unofficially adopted you into the Boudreau clan. As they say, resistance is futile.”

  “I feel like such a fool. How could I have fallen for Tarik’s lies?”

  Gabi grabbed Salem’s hand and squeezed it tight. “You were in love. You couldn’t know what a monster the man would turn out to be. Or that his family would support him in keeping you a prisoner.”

  “I swear I was so infatuated with him, I swallowed every lie he told, including the one where he claimed to love me. If that’s love, I never want anything to do with it ever again.” She rubbed her hand against her belly. “Although I’m not sorry about this precious baby. It’s the one good and bright thing I got from Tarik.” Tear-filled eyes met Gabi’s. “If anything happens…”

  “Nothing’s going to happen!” Gabi nearly shouted the words, a trickle of fear gripping her. It was her worst nightmare, because if anything did happen to Salem, Gabi would have no legal rights to Salem’s baby. Tarik could and definitely would demand his rights as the father, and he’d whisk the child out of the United States and back to his homeland, where nobody wouldn’t be able to touch him. No matter what, she couldn’t allow it to happen. She’d kill the monster first.

  “I hate this, Gabi. Why can’t Tarik fall into a volcano or something?”

  “If only it were that simple. Heck, I’d push him in head first if I got the chance. Just concentrate on you and the baby staying healthy and happy.”

  “He’s never going to stop, is he?” Salem’s words were barely above a whisper, and Gabi heard the despair lacing them.

  “I’ve got some good news. You remember my brothers’ boss, Samuel Carpenter?”

  “Of course. Tall, blond, sexy. Billionaire owner of more companies than I can count. That Samuel Carpenter?” Salem gave Gabi a cheeky grin. “I always thought you had a bit of a thing for him.”

  “Ew, no! He’s like a brother to me.”

  Salem doubled over laughing, and pointed at Gabi. “If you could see the look on your face!”

  “I hate you so much.” Gabi made a strangling motion, pretending to hold Salem’s throat in her hands. “Seriously, Samuel’s always been there when I needed him, but nope, never had the warm fuzzies for him. But, he’s pretty damned smart and figured out Tarik has been harassing me, and—”

  “It’s gotten worse?”

  “Nothing I couldn’t handle. But he and my dopey brothers decided I needed a babysitter, and hired somebody to be with me pretty much all the time.”

  Salem stared at her. “You mean a bodyguard.”

  “Babysitter, bodyguard. Same difference. Anyway, his name is Dylan Roberts. He’s a former Navy SEAL who apparently owed Samuel a favor, and he got stuck with me.” Gabi couldn’t quite meet Salem’s eyes and she talked about Dylan, because she didn’t want her friend to get the wrong idea. Or make too much out of her being here with a man.

  “O.M.G.” Salem threw her arms around Gabi, hugging her close. “You like him! Okay, spill. Tell me everything about this Dylan Roberts. What’s he look like? How old is he? Have you kissed him yet?”

  “Whoa, hang on a second. Who said anything about kissing? I’m a job to him. Period.”

  “Right. And this squishy belly makes me the Pillsbury doughboy. Girlfriend, you are so busted.” Salem waddled across the room and perched on the edge of the bed. “When do I get to meet Mr. Roberts?”

  “In about an hour. Uncle Douglas dropped me off, and Dylan is going to pick me up. He wanted to give us a little time together, but I’d bet he’s already outside, scouring the surrounding area and looking for ways for somebody to sneak up on us. He’s definitely overprotective, but in a good way.”

  Gabi stood and walked to the window above the small sink, pushing aside the pale yellow and white checkerboard curtain and glanced outside. Her eyes scanned the area at the back of the cabin before spotting Dylan. Leaning against a tall pine, and dressed in all dark clothing, he nearly blended into his surroundings, and she probably wouldn’t have spotted him if she hadn’t been looking for him. Cell phone to his ear, his eyes scanned the area, constantly assessing the terrain, looking for anomalies. She couldn’t help the slowly spreading warmth deep inside, knowing he was there, watching over her and keeping her safe. Nobody other than her family would’ve noticed or even cared if she found herself neck deep in trouble. Even knowing he’d been hired by Samuel didn’t change the fact when she was around him, he made her feel a myriad of emotions. Ones which she hoped to explore once Salem’s problems had been dealt with and she didn’t have to worry about Tarik anymore.

  When Dylan’s eyes met hers, she motioned for him to come inside. He nodded, finished his call, and slid the phone into his pocket. Watching him move through the majestic stand of trees and make his way toward the cabin put her in mind of strength and power, a predatory grace few men possessed.

  “Looks like I was right,” she said as the front door swung inward, and Dylan filled the space, his presence seemed to dwarf his surroundings. Salem moved closer to Gabi, and latched onto her hand, and Gabi felt her trembling. She hated Salem feared men, though it was an understandable knee-jerk reflex. Who wouldn’t after suffering the kind of torment, physical, emotional, and psychological Salem had at the hands of a madman?

  “Dylan, this is Salem, my friend. Salem, this is the guy I told you about. Dylan Roberts. Dylan’s a former Navy SEAL and he served with my brother, Ranger. He’s here to help.”

  Gabi noted Dylan didn’t advance into the cabin, but remained framed in the doorway, allowing Salem to get used to his presence. Even that small action had Salem shaking like a leaf, and Gabi wrapped an arm around her friend’s shoulder, lending her support and encouragement. She hadn’t realized in the few months Salem had been staying with her aunt and uncle she’d become terrified in the presence of men.

  “Hello, Ms. Hudson. Nice to meet you.” Dylan’s calm voice, delivered in a soft and nonthreatening manner, seemed to get through to Salem. Though still trembling, she offered him a tentative smile.

  “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Roberts. Gabi was just telling me how you’re her bodyguard.”

  Dylan returned her smile. “True, and as I’m sure you’ve guessed, she’s quite a handful. Hasn’t made my job any easier. But I’m also going to watch over you, and make sure Tarik Amir doesn’t get anywhere near you or your baby.”

  Salem’s knees gave way, and if Gabi hadn’t been holding onto her friend, she’d have landed on the floor. Dylan rushed across the cabin’s small living space, and lifted Salem in his arms. Gabi directed him to place her on the bed. Salem’s breathing was ragged and quick, like she had difficulty drawing in air.

  “Panic attack.” Dylan spit out the words while grabbing the extra blanket folded at the foot of the bed and spreading it across Salem’s prone body. Her hands clawed at the fabric beneath her fingers, digging into the mattress under her body. Wide, terror-filled eyes darted between Dylan and Gabi.

  Her touch gentle, Gabi brushed the hair back from Salem’s forehead. “Everything’s okay, Salem. I promise, everything is fine. Dylan would never hurt you. Never.”

  Eyes closed, Salem’s breathing finally leveled out, and Dylan took a step back, his face wiped clean of all expression. Gabi was sure Salem hadn’t meant to intentionally hurt Dylan with her reaction; nonetheless, deep down, she realized this amazing man felt things deep to his core. Hurting a woman would be anathema to him.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Roberts. I don’t know why that happened.” Salem struggled to an upright position, her back leaning against the whitewashed metal headboard, and Gabi shoved a pillow behind Salem’s back. “I think it’s just everything hitting at once. Gabi being here, knowing regardless of what she’s telling me, she’s in trouble. Then hearing his name…” Her voice trailed off as she drew in a deep breath.

  “Don’t worry about it, Ms. Hudson. No offense taken.”

  “Please, call me Sa
lem.”

  “If you’ll call me Dylan.”

  She nodded, a wash of pink coloring her cheeks. “Dylan.”

  “I’ve scoped out the perimeter of the cabin. It doesn’t look like anybody has been here in a while. The only tire tracks are in the front, which I’m guessing belong to the Boudreaus. No footprints or signs of disturbances on either side or the back.” Dylan squatted down beside the bed, getting down on Salem’s level. Gabi’s eyes filled with unshed tears at the gentleness and care Dylan showed to her friend. Warmth flooded her as she watched him take hold of Salem’s hand and pat it, comforting her in that awkward masculine way men have when they don’t have a clue how to deal with a situation.

  “Do you need anything? Food, supplies? I can whatever you need, don’t be afraid to ask.” Dylan’s softly voiced question brought a smile to Salem’s face.

  “No, I’m good. Gabi’s aunt and uncle have treated me like part of the family. I’ve got power with the generator, enough food to last, and books.”

  “What about medical care? Have you seen a doctor?” Dylan looked at Gabi. “I know somebody in Costa Rica, an ex-pat, if you need somebody to check Salem out off the books. I can fly him out, have him here in less than twenty-four hours.”

  “I’m taking my prenatal vitamins, and I’m doing okay. No cramping or spotting. There are a few weeks yet before I’m due. I—I can’t risk Tarik’s men finding records. Mrs. Boudreau knows a midwife; she’ll bring her when it’s time.”

  “You got a phone?”

  “She has a burner phone. One I got her the last time I was here. We swap them out every few weeks, just in case. Nobody has the number except Aunt Patti, Uncle Douglas, and me.” Gabi perched on the edge of the mattress, answering Dylan’s question.

  Reaching into his pocket, Dylan tossed a cell on the bed. “Give me the old one and use this instead. My number and Gabi’s are programmed in.”

  “Okay.” Salem struggled up from the bed, and reached into the pocket of her voluminous skirt, and handed the phone to Dylan.

  “Salem, if there is anything you need, anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me. You’re not alone in this anymore. Nobody is going to hurt you.” Gabi’s heart melted at the gentleness Dylan showed toward her friend. He never ceased to amaze her with his insightfulness and care.

  “I’m not afraid for myself. I can handle whatever Tarik throws at me.” Her hand absently stroked the scar on her cheek. “But I’m terrified he’ll take my baby back to Abu Dhabi. If that happens, I’ll never seem them again.”

  Gabi watched Dylan straighten from his relaxed stance, a look of determination on his face.

  “Salem, the only way Amir gets his hands on your child will be over my dead body.”

  10

  The next morning, Dylan pulled into an empty space in front of the sheriff’s office, and watched the deputy he’d met the prior day fumble with the door handle, a tray of what looked like coffee held in one hand and a brown paper sack in the other. Sprinting the short distance separating them, he grabbed the door, holding it open.

  “Thanks, man.”

  “No problem.” Dylan racked his brain, trying to remember the guy’s name. It was something cowboy sounding. Rusty? No, it was Dusty.

  “You here to talk to Rafe?”

  “Yes.”

  “He was in his office when I went on the coffee run. Gonna warn you, he’s in a piss-poor mood, since the coffee maker broke and he hasn’t had his caffeine fix yet.”

  Dylan chuckled. “I totally get it. I don’t function well myself without at least half a pot first thing in the morning.”

  Dusty shrugged and gave Dylan a sheepish grin. “You’re not the one who bit my head off because you couldn’t find the file you were looking for, which was sitting right in the middle of your desk.”

  “Dusty, quit flapping your jaws and get my coffee in here, and bring Dylan with you.” Rafe’s deep voice echoed down the hall, and Dylan heard the frustration in each word. He wondered what had bored its way beneath the other’s skin to put him in such a cranky mood so early in the morning.

  Stepping into the sheriff’s office, the first thing he spotted was a large whiteboard with Gabi’s picture in the place of prominence in the middle. Several other photos circled around Gabi’s, but his gaze focused in on the one in the upper row, directly above Gabi’s picture. A Middle-Eastern man with a grim expression stared at the camera, his superior, condescending attitude apparent in his firm jaw and dark eyes. Even in a black-and-white photo, the man oozed wealth and power.

  “That’s Amir?” It was the first time Dylan got a good look at the man front and center of his current dilemma. The burning ember in his gut grew the longer he stared at the man tormenting Gabi. Staring at the photo, he knew this man wouldn’t stop, not until he accomplished his goal. Every inch of him exuded an attitude of entitlement, and he’d bet Amir had never been told no in his entire life.

  “Tarik Amir. It’s one of the few recent photos I was able to find. For somebody so wealthy, he apparently doesn’t like having his photo taken. After talking to Gabi yesterday, I contacted Carpenter and had him forward everything they had on Mr. Amir. This dude is a real nasty piece of work. This stuff reads like a textbook on how to be the perfect villain. He’s got his fingerprints on a lot of shady dealings, but nobody’s been able to gather enough evidence to take him down. And he’s constantly got a ton of private security around him. Our government and the U.A.E. haven’t been able to lay a finger on him, though not from a lack of trying. There have also been several unsuccessful attempts on his life.”

  “Too bad nobody succeeded.” Dylan perched his hip on the edge of the desk and studied each face delineated on the whiteboard, committing each to memory along with the statistics listed. Nobody was going to get close to Gabi, not on his watch.

  “Amen.” Rafe raised the cup Dusty handed him and took a long drink, giving a pleased sigh.

  Dylan pointed to the whiteboard. “I know Gabi and Amir. The redhead is Salem Hudson. Who’s this?” He tapped the photo of a woman who appeared in her early to mid-thirties. Dressed in European garb, she could be a business professional or corporate executive anywhere in the States or Europe. Slender build, not a hair out of place, tastefully applied yet subtle makeup. Though she smiled at the camera, her eyes belied the friendly expression. Dylan knew a predator when he saw one, and this woman screamed danger.

  “Name’s Jennifer Baptiste, Tarik’s half-sister.”

  “What do we know about her?”

  Rafe tapped his finger against the color photo. “She’s the black sheep of the family. Daddy Amir’s dirty little secret. The result of an affair between Amir Senior and Jennifer’s French mother. Never acknowledged publicly, but Daddy Amir paid for her support and schooling, though she never received an invite to meet the rest of the family, or the blessing of the family name. Tarik found out about her in his father’s will, and immediately connected with her, bringing her into the fold. The two of them are thick as thieves, and they meet whenever he leaves the U.A.E.”

  “Gabi never mentioned her.” Dylan pulled out his phone and dialed Gabi’s number.

  “Hello.” The sound of her voice sent warmth rolling through him.

  “Morning, Gabi. I’m in town meeting with Rafe, and we’ve got a couple questions. I’m gonna put you on speaker.” He hit the button before sitting the phone on the corner of the desk.

  “Hey, Gabi,” Rafe said before taking another drink from his extra-large coffee cup. “You all settled in? Momma taking good care of you?”

  “Aunt Patti’s been wonderful, as I’m sure you know. I’m surprised Dylan’s already in town. I thought I’d be coming in with him.” Dylan heard the censure in her voice, and caught himself before he apologized. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Besides, he’d wanted to size up Rafe and his department, weigh how much assistance he could count on, without Gabi’s presence coloring his perspective.

  “Thought you could use the time
to catch up with your family.” Dylan answered, ignoring Rafe’s chuckle. “We not doing much anyway, just going over the facts you already know, and trying to figure out where Amir might be and stopping him before he makes another move.”

  “Precisely why I should be there. I’m the one he’s targeting. I’ve learned how he works, how he thinks, over the last few months. His sole goal, his one focus, is getting to Salem before she has the baby. He won’t care who or what gets in his way as long as he finds her.”

  “And we’re going to keep that from happening.”

  “I’m scared for her.” He heard the slight catch in her voice, the way it trailed off to a whisper.

  “I’m scared for you. He’s been playing games up to this point. Slashing tires. Leaving phone threats. The break-in at your apartment was the first sign he’s escalating things, making it personal. You haven’t buckled the way he anticipated, standing up to him. The man is gonna be pissed when he realizes you’ve left New Orleans. I don’t think Amir is the kind of man who takes losing well.”

  “I hate this. All of it. Okay, okay, let’s get back on track. What questions do you have?”

  Dylan glanced at Rafe, who waved his hand, indicating for him to keep going. “Gabi, did Salem ever mentioned a woman named Jennifer Baptiste?”

  There was a long pause before she answered. “I honestly don’t remember Salem mentioning the name. Who is she?”

  “Tarik’s half-sister.”

  “He has a half-sister? I don’t remember hearing anything about her. I know his mother still lives in the U.A.E., and he has three brothers. I think two are older, and one younger.”

  Dylan looked at the board, his eyes moving to each photo as she named off Amir’s family, his mind racing. He needed to talk to Carpenter, find out where each member of the family was, especially Jennifer Baptiste. He’d bet his last buck Carpenter already had that information at his fingertips. C.S.S.’s computer wizard, Stefan Carlisle, could find anything on the web. Add in the way Carpenter treated Gabi, like an extended member of the family, and there wasn’t anything the other man wouldn’t do to keep her safe. Plus, from what he knew about Carpenter, he had white knight written all over him. He certainly wasn’t the type to sit back and do nothing, not when he knew somebody was in danger.