by Elisabeth Naughton, Cynthia Eden, Katie Reus, Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright, Joan Swan
Fear was important to Orlando too, but he didn’t want a life like his father’s. He wanted someone classy like Elizabeth to be his. Not some trashy dancer like his father had married. Orlando’s lip curled up as he thought about his dead mother. Good riddance to both his parents. His life was going to be much different than his father’s. He’d make sure of it.
Chapter Three
Porter tried calling his brother again, impatient as he waited for Grant to pick up. He’d gotten in touch with him last night and Grant had sent a uniform over to document Elizabeth’s yard. He’d wanted her to come down to the station but Porter had been adamant that she make a statement later. The time lag wouldn’t make a difference since they knew who’d left that insignia in her yard. Leaving a calling card wasn’t exactly a genius move.
Next he’d called his other brother, Harrison, and told him that Elizabeth wouldn’t be coming to work—though he expected her to fight him on that. That was too bad.
Now he needed more info from Grant so he could figure out how best to protect Lizzy. After eight years in the Marines and the six after that spent protecting people, he had a lot of training and experience when it came to security situations and he wanted to know as much about this enemy as possible. Any edge he had to keep Elizabeth safe.
Grant answered on the second ring. “Hey, I was just about to call you back.”
“What do you know?”
“Good morning to you too.” Grant’s voice was wry.
Porter didn’t bother with niceties or an apology. Right now he was too wired. “I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“I know, man. We’re going to keep Lizzy safe. Has she been able to tell you anything else?”
Porter ignored the twinge of annoyance by his brother’s use of Elizabeth’s nickname. So far everyone in his family was at perfect ease around her. She’d been working for Red Stone Security for the past couple years, and hell, she was the best friend of Harrison’s fiancé. If it hadn’t been for all the security jobs he’d taken around the globe the past couple years, he’d have met her in person long ago. Instead he’d only met her face to face months ago and he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since. He should feel comfortable around her and he hated that he always seemed to be edgy in her presence. “No, but she’s still sleeping. Didn’t want to wake her yet. And you know everything I know. Her youngest brother seems to have gotten into trouble with Orlando Salas and now Elizabeth is being targeted by the Seventy Ninth Street Gang.” Porter guessed to give Benny more of an incentive to pay up. Going after Benny through Elizabeth was actually smart. The Martinez family might have washed their hands of Benny but they’d never let anything happen to their daughter.
Grant cursed. “This gang’s been a thorn in my side for years. If we can bring them and Salas down it’ll be big for the department and the city. You gonna keep Lizzy at your place today?”
As if he’d let her go anywhere. “Of course. I have a meeting in a few hours but I’m going to work from home most of the day.”
“I’ll put out more feelers but I don’t have anything new yet. I promise to call when I have something. You don’t have to keep blowing up my phone,” his brother said semi-jokingly.
Porter cringed. He’d been doing just that all morning but he felt so damn helpless. “I know.”
“Let me know when she wakes up and we can set up a time for her to make an official report through me. I’ll come to your place, bring some pictures of the gang members we have on file on the off-chance she recognizes one of them.”
She hadn’t seen anyone last night but Porter knew there was a chance she might remember seeing one of the gang members before. “Thanks.” Once they disconnected he tossed the phone onto his kitchen counter and picked up his cup of coffee.
Right now he wished Benny was in front of him so he could wring his neck. It was obvious how much Elizabeth cared for her brother, and while her loyalty was commendable, it burned him up that Benny treated her like garbage. Benny called her for help or money and she went running to him regardless of how dangerous the situation. That wasn’t happening anymore as long as Porter was around. He’d do everything in his power to protect her, but he had the feeling she wasn’t going to make it easy for him.
Hell, if their past relationship was any indication she definitely wasn’t. When they’d been dating he’d made a few comments about the trouble her brother always seemed to get into and she’d shut him down fast. Right now he could deal with the fact that her brother was important to her, but if she wanted to run headfirst into danger he wasn’t letting her go alone.
* * * * *
The strong aroma of coffee rolled over Lizzy, forcing her eyes open. Inhaling deeply, she knew she couldn’t stay in bed any longer. She threw the satiny blue comforter off her and slid out of the guest bed she’d slept in. Porter’s condo in the high-rise building was definitely pricey, but the interior was a little sparse. It almost felt like a hotel. She’d been there a couple times and with the exception of the carpeted bedrooms, every other room had tile floors. Minimal decorations, a few family photos, a kitchen that looked as if it was never used and all the appliances looked brand new, as if he’d just taken them out of the box. After they’d arrived at his place last night he’d told her to get some sleep then had disappeared into his room. Unlike the times she’d been there before there had been no suggestion that they take things into his bedroom. It had felt weird to be here again under such different circumstances.
She’d hoped maybe they’d talk more about that kiss—or continue it—but Porter wasn’t exactly known for his communication skills. Maybe it was a good thing he hadn’t wanted to chat. Or do anything else. Because if he’d made a move on her, she’d have gone into his arms willingly and likely regretted it this morning when it was back to business as usual.
She dug her toes into the plush carpet before leaving her room to find him. The tiled hallway chilled her bare feet but the second she found Porter sitting at the center island of his kitchen sipping a cup of coffee and reading a newspaper, warmth flared deep inside her. It pushed out from her core, straight to all her nerve endings like an invisible flame lapping away at her insides.
He was already dressed in dark jeans, a polo shirt, and a sports coat. No suit for him today. She liked the change. Glancing down at her pink pajama pants and matching tank top, she bit her lip. Maybe she should have showered and changed first.
When he looked up at her, she froze, feeling like that clichéd deer in headlights. The absolutely primitive gaze he raked over her from head to feet had her nipples tightening under her top. She might as well be naked for how he made her feel so exposed, so aware of her body. Not wanting to draw attention to her physical reaction, she resisted the urge to cross her arms over her chest.
She cleared her throat and pointed at the coffee maker. “Got enough left for me?”
He nodded and his voice was slightly strangled as he said, “I’ve got milk in the fridge and that silver tin has sugar if you’d like.”
“Thanks.” Averting her gaze, she grabbed a mug
“Did you sleep all right?” he asked as she started to add a spoonful of sugar to her mug.
Not really. “Yes.” She slid into the seat next to his, hyperaware of his spicy scent. She’d been wired after what had happened but the most primal part of her had known she was safe sleeping under his roof so she should have been able to rest. She’d tried to order her body to listen but thoughts of what it had felt like to have his lips on hers, had kept her wide awake.
“I don’t have much in the way of food but I think I can scrounge up a bagel or toast.” His expression was apologetic.
“That’s okay.” She wasn’t a big breakfast person and as long as she got her coffee she was fine. She lightly tapped her finger against her mug as she tried to think of the right way to bring up last night. She’d always felt comfortable in her own skin except when she was around Porter. Even when they’d been dating she’d alwa
ys felt on edge around him. As if there was some sort of electrical current between them that was almost tangible. “Listen, about last night…”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about anything. I already talked to Harrison and he doesn’t have a problem with you not coming into work today, and Grant wants to talk to you personally so you can—”
“Wait, what? First of all, I’m not skipping work, but I do want to talk to Grant. And I wasn’t talking about that. I thought maybe…” She trailed off, hating the way her cheeks heated up. Yeah, talking about that kiss probably wasn’t the best idea. Obviously they were on two separate wavelengths. He was clearly more level headed than her. She was obsessing over it and he wanted to discuss what was actually important. She definitely needed to pull her head out of the clouds.
His pale eyes darkened as he scooted a fraction closer to her. “You shouldn’t be out today.”
“Why? Because some losers burned numbers into my lawn? I’m not going to live in fear. Besides, I work at one of the most secure buildings in Miami. I’d rather be there surrounded by people than cooped up here.”
He sat his mug down with a thud. “Damn it, Lizzy—”
“Don’t you ‘Lizzy’, me. You only use that name when you want something and it’s not going to work this time.” If he thought he could use her attraction to him against her, he was out of his mind.
She watched in fascination as a faint shade of red crept up his neck. “That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is. You always call me Elizabeth unless you’re trying to charm me.” Or when you’re kissing me. She decided to keep that thought to herself though.
“I’m not trying to charm you,” he muttered.
Her eyebrows rose. “Then what would you call it?”
“I’m trying to make you use common sense.”
She snorted very loudly, earning a surprised look from him, but she didn’t care. Pushing her chair back, she stood. “I’m not staying here and there’s nothing you can say to make me change my mind. I’ll go crazy so if you don’t mind, I’m going to shower.” Lizzy started to leave, but he grasped her upper arm.
Not hard, but he exerted enough pressure that she couldn’t move.
She glared at him. “Let me go.”
“You need to talk to Grant.”
“I will, but it doesn’t have to be here. I can meet him at the police station or he can come to my office or wherever.”
“You’ll be safer here,” he ground out.
She dug her heels in but didn’t say anything. He could argue until he was blue in the face. It wasn’t as if he could hold her hostage.
At her lack of response, he practically growled at her. “Why do you have to be so stubborn?”
“Why do you always think you know what’s best for me?” she shot back.
“You’re the most frustrating woman I know.” He let her arm drop and scrubbed a hand over his face. Without another word he moved past her and disappeared from the kitchen.
She stared at his retreating figure and frowned. Porter never let his guard down. Ever. But it seemed he was just as off-kilter in her presence as she was in his. The realization was strangely refreshing.
* * * * *
Lizzy glanced up as the handle to her office door jiggled. Before the door opened, she tensed. Porter had been so adamant that she not come into work this morning—an argument he’d most definitely lost—but she wouldn’t put it past him to come here and try to convince her again to go back to his place.
The tension in Lizzy’s shoulders relaxed when Carla Pickett, the receptionist for the eleventh floor, stepped halfway inside. “Hey, Lizzy, Mara’s here. I figured it would be okay if she came back, but I wasn’t sure if you were busy—”
She smiled and pressed the power button on her computer screen so it went dark. Her friend was a little early for their weekly lunch date but Lizzy had been working on security upgrades all morning and her brain was just about fried. “It’s totally fine.”
Mara was not only her boss’s soon-to-be wife, she was Lizzy’s best friend. Before she’d rounded the desk, Mara hurried into the room, an expression of pure panic on her face. “Harrison told me what happened. Are you all right? And why didn’t you call me?”
Lizzy hadn’t called her friend because she hadn’t wanted to worry Mara. Better to deflect with another question. “Is Harrison with you?” His presence at the office had been scarce over the past couple weeks. He was still coming in to check up with the various teams of guys he oversaw, but he wasn’t taking any direct security jobs due to his and Mara’s upcoming wedding.
“No, he’s working on… Don’t change the subject. What’s going on? And why did I hear it secondhand?” Mara shook her head as she pulled Lizzy into a tight hug.
“I honestly don’t know what’s going on. I think Benny might have gotten in a little over his head this time,” she murmured as she stepped out of the embrace. That was an understatement considering how much he owed Salas. One hundred thousand dollars. If she knew how to get in contact with her brother she would, but the cell phone he’d called her from last time had already been disconnected. She needed to get to her parent’s house to check out what he said he’d left for her in his note. First she’d need to convince Porter to take her there.
“A little? Porter told Harrison that a gang left their symbol burned into your front yard.” Mara raked a hand through her short blond pixie cut.
“Yes, but I don’t know why or even if it’s connected to my brother.” She didn’t actually have any doubts but she didn’t want to throw her brother under the bus.
“Well I certainly doubt they targeted you for any other reason,” Mara shot back, her expression grim.
Lizzy knew that much was true but held back a response. She didn’t want to talk about Benny’s shortcomings now. Her brother had protected her when she was younger in a way her parents hadn’t. If it hadn’t been for him…she shuddered, not wanting to think about the past. “I’m supposed to talk to Grant later today and look at some mug shots—not that I think I’ll recognize anyone—and I stayed at Porter’s last night so please don’t worry. Whatever is going on I’m sure we’ll figure it out.” If only she truly felt that way. Her insides quaked every time she thought about a gang knowing where she lived.
“Well at least lunch will be safe, and we’re not staying here. Harrison has given me a freaking security detail. I swear, our wedding is making him more paranoid than usual.”
Lizzy bit back a grin. Yeah, that definitely sounded like her boss. And right now she was thankful for his paranoia. She’d planned to eat downstairs in the cafeteria with Mara. When Porter dropped her off earlier this morning she’d promised she wouldn’t leave the building, but if her boss thought it was okay then she supposed it was.
Lizzy smoothed her hands down her charcoal pencil skirt as they headed for the door. “Something sort of happened last night.”
Her friend’s green eyes narrowed knowingly. “With you and Porter? Did you guys finally—”
“Mara!” Lizzy glanced around but no one was anywhere near the elevators. When she looked back at her friend, she was smiling like she’d just won the lottery. Lizzy had told her about her short, sort-of fling—just without the sex—with Porter because she’d had to tell someone. That didn’t mean she wanted the entire building to know. At the time she and Porter had made a deal to keep it quiet from everyone, namely his family, until they figured out if they even had a future. After they broke up she was very thankful she’d been insistent on secrecy.
She’d worked hard to earn a respected management position in the security department at Red Stone and she didn’t want people to think she’d gotten it by sleeping around. Sure, she still answered to Harrison, but as a senior systems security manager, she had a lot of people who answered to her and she didn’t want to lose their respect. Even though she’d been working at the company years before she’d even met Porter in person, it wouldn’t matter. People talked and
judged. “You didn’t tell anyone about…us, right?”
Mara snorted loudly. “If you’re asking if I told Harrison, the answer is still no. Your secret is safe, but you did stay at Porter’s place last night so…” She trailed off, a silent question hanging in the air.
Lizzy sighed as they stepped into the open elevator. “We sort of kissed. But this morning he didn’t want to talk about it.” Which maybe wasn’t such a bad idea. She could probably forget if he didn’t stare at her with such raw heat in his eyes every time he glanced in her direction.
Her friend started to say something but Lizzy cut her off with a shake of her head. She couldn’t start talking or thinking about Porter if she wanted to get anything done today. They had no future and she didn’t need the distraction. Clearing her throat, Lizzy brushed away thoughts of him. “Sorry, I don’t know why I even brought it up. Let’s not talk about him anyway. Are you excited about tonight?” It was Mara’s engagement dinner.
Mara’s eyes lit up. “I am, mainly for the food though. Some famous caterer owed Harrison a favor so they agreed to handle the engagement party and the wedding reception. I don’t think he cares either way who we use.”
“Probably not. He’d be happy if you had a barbecue in your backyard.” She’d worked for Harrison long enough to know that about him. The only time she’d ever seen him agonize over anything was when he’d been picking out an engagement ring. He’d do anything to make Mara happy.
“Truthfully, I don’t care what we do either, but so far everything is going off without a hitch.”
After the elevator doors whooshed open on the bottom floor, Lizzy paused when she saw four guys in suits waiting by the revolving glass doors. Fear snaked up her spine. She placed a light hand on Mara’s arm and didn’t make a move to get out. “Do you know those guys?”
