Dead No More

by L. R. Nicolello

  Derek was jealous. He wanted her. She wanted him. And she’d said no.

  Clearly, she was an idiot.

  Last night, curled up in bed, she’d recognized that Jackson still had a hold on her, a hold that needed severing if Lily ever wanted to find happiness again. And she did. With Derek. She snuck a peek at him. He leaned against the windows, arms crossed, face set. Regret blanketed her, and she had to force herself to shake it off—there was nothing she could do about that right now.

  Now she needed to focus on the task at hand: Rowland James.

  “Stay behind Marcus,” Evelyn said from her perch on the kitchen counter. “Keep your eyes on the ground. Rowland needs to believe Marcus is just as aggressive as he is, and that Marcus is furious with you.”

  “No problem there,” Lily muttered.

  Marcus chuckled, then picked up where Evelyn left off. “Introduce me, then let Rowland do all the talking. The fewer people in this dialogue, the better.”

  “Head down, eyes on ground, no talking. Got it.” Lily was feeling more than a bit low about her plummet from prized agent to silent sidekick, but it couldn’t be helped. This was the role she had to play to get them out of this mess, and she was determined to do her part.

  “If he buys it—and for all our sakes, let’s hope he does—Marcus will schedule a follow-up meeting with him in a few days.” Evelyn smiled. “That’ll give us some time to figure out the next step.”

  Marcus nodded. “It’s not ideal, but it’ll do.”

  Evelyn jumped down from the counter, flopped next to Marcus on the sofa and tucked her feet under her. “We make the most of the situation. Bottom line—if you hadn’t come up with this story, you’d be dead, and we’d be back to square one, or worse.”

  Silently, Derek moved to the piano bench and sat, face still set.

  “It was a mistake,” Lily said softly, refusing to look at him. “I shouldn’t have gone in the first place.”

  Marcus looked up sharply. “Stop right there, Lily.”

  Startled, Lily glanced up. Marcus had been nothing but kind and calm since he’d arrived, but this tone was different. It commanded her attention.

  “That kind of second-guessing yourself isn’t going to do you or any of us any good. I read your file and asked around. If you weren’t the best, Derek would have never brought you on board. Stop doubting your abilities and start thinking like the great agent we all know you are.”

  Evelyn smiled at Lily. “I don’t know a lot of agents who would’ve had the balls to go in the first place, let alone be able to come up with a story that would stick—and while a knife was shoved into their stomachs, no less. Don’t doubt your ability to do your job. None of us do.”

  Damn, they tag-teamed well. Lily was beginning to understand why Derek had called them in when things started going downhill. Family or not, they were amazing at what they did.

  “Thanks.”

  Derek had been quiet through their final instructions. Lily didn’t blame him. It was easier this way. Once this case was over, and they’d delivered Rowland on a silver platter, she’d be back in the game. And on a one-track mission: to find Jackson. He might want to become a ghost, but she wasn’t going to let him slip into oblivion.

  If it took her from here until eternity, she would find him.

  She glanced at Derek. There’d be no room for this. Whatever this could have been. She’d done what was best and shut him down.

  Why, then, did her heart feel as if it had shattered all over again?

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Monday, September 29, 5:00 p.m.

  MARCUS AND LILY stood in the back room of the Boiler Room, wrapped in silence. He glanced down at Lily and grinned. She could see the family resemblance between him and Derek. The Moretti men definitely had some great genes.

  “He’s here.” Her earpiece crackled to life with Derek’s deep voice.

  Lily fidgeted with her scarlet dress. The soft fabric draped her body perfectly and hid the .32 strapped to the inside of her thigh. She wasn’t going in unarmed. Not today.

  The ruching across her stomach also allowed breathing room for the bandage beneath. One move in the wrong direction and the throbbing flared. She’d pulled the bloodred dress from the back of her closet on purpose. She wasn’t planning on ruining another outfit. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other. Her feet already screamed. She hated heels.

  “Cute dress, Andrews,” Evelyn whispered through Lily’s earpiece. “Relax, you’ve got this.”

  This woman could read her like a book. “That obvious?”

  “That obvious.”

  Marcus winked. “Rowland will most definitely have a hard time focusing on me tonight. You’re smoking hot, Andrews.”

  “Marcus,” Derek said in an almost growl.

  Lily’s heart kicked. There was that tone again. Was Derek still jealous? Her cheeks flushed.

  “Easy, brother. Have you seen my wife lately?”

  Lily wasn’t used to the family banter, especially with her at the center of it.

  “Boys, focus.” Lily could almost see Evelyn’s smile through her earpiece.

  Marcus wrapped his arm around Lily’s waist and gently tucked her to his side. He leaned his mouth close to her ear. “Ready to kick some ass?”

  Lily pushed her shoulders back and smiled. “Game on.”

  “Marcus...” Derek’s voice, low and cold, came on again.

  “Hands off, lover boy.” Evelyn’s soft laughter echoed in their ears. “Your brother’s getting antsy up here.”

  Dropping his arm, Marcus grinned down at Lily. She bit her lip to keep her amusement at bay. Now was not the time to piss Derek off any more than she already had.

  Marcus folded himself into the back corner booth. Lily stood next to him, steady, confident. What was it with the Moretti men’s ability to put her at ease?

  Lily glanced at her watch just as Rowland James strutted into Boiler Room’s darkened private room. JB, his thug from the other night, smirked at Lily.

  She pointed at the door. “Guard dogs stay outside.”

  Rowland’s eyes narrowed, and he glanced at Marcus, who didn’t move. He held Rowland’s gaze, face blank. Lily swallowed her smirk. Whatever the outcome, she was enjoying Rowland’s present discomfort.

  “Wait outside.” Rowland tipped his head toward the door. “Don’t come in until I call for you.”

  JB left, and Lily felt vindicated, albeit briefly. She flicked her gaze to Rowland. Time to start this happy little party.

  “Rowland.” Lily stepped to the right and motioned with her hand. “This is my client, Desmund De Luca.”

  Marcus’s lip twitched. She had come up with that one, and immediately Evelyn jumped on board with the name. Lily wished she could see Derek’s face now. He’d griped about it being too metrosexual, but finally came over from the dark side. Not that he had much of a choice. They sure as hell weren’t going to give that sociopath Marcus’s real name.

  Playing the role of submissive eye candy, Lily rested her hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “Mr. De Luca, allow me to introduce Rowland James.”

  “It’s good to finally put a face to the name.” Marcus remained seated, cast a short glance up toward Lily. She dropped her hand quickly and clasped both together in front of her. “Addison’s told me all about you, Mr. James. Please, join me.” Marcus nodded to the empty seat across from him.

  Rowland lowered himself into the booth. “The pleasure is all mine, Mr. De Luca.”

  “My time is most valuable, Mr. James, so let me get straight to the point.” Marcus leaned forward. “I’m very interested in ARME and the potential items you might be able to supply my buyers.”

  “That is very direct.” The vein in Rowland’s neck kicked. “But I respect your candor. I ass
ure you, depending on the price, I can supply you with anything you want.”

  “That’s quite the claim.” Marcus steepled his fingers together. “How do I know this isn’t some sort of entrapment?”

  Marcus was killing that alpha-male role. What a freaking genius.

  “Addison mentioned you sent her to vet my company, to vet me. I’m assuming that process ran smoothly, and to your liking, or you wouldn’t be sitting here.”

  Rowland shot Lily a searing look.

  Her shoulders tensed. The last time she’d seen that look, he’d pressed a cold blade into her. She tipped her chin up. This man would not best her again.

  Rowland flipped his gaze back to Marcus. “Am I correct in my assumption?”

  “Ms. Moore’s involvement in this business exchange stopped the moment she slipped between your sheets, Mr. James.”

  Lily cringed. She knew Marcus was just playing his role, but still...that hurt. Marcus put his hand on her hip and tucked her to his side. “She’s here to facilitate this introduction, and nothing more.”

  Rowland glanced between Lily and Marcus, face hardening.

  “Someone doesn’t like you playing with his sparkly toy, Marcus. Well done, babe.” Evelyn laughed in Lily’s ear. Lily’s face grew warm.

  Marcus kept his hand on her hip. Despite the present hell they were in, his touch was soft and comforting. “She’s no longer part of this discussion, Mr. James, or the picture. I’m here to talk to you about ARME assets, not Ms. Moore’s.”

  Rowland cleared his throat and shot Lily a shielded glare. Her skin crawled. He cocked his head and studied Marcus.

  “Point taken.” Rowland reached for his glass of water. He took a sip and then set it down. Hard. “Well, then, let me get straight to the point, Mr. De Luca. You want guns. I can get you guns. You want missiles. I can get you missiles. You want bombs. I can get you bombs. ARME Industries is at my disposal. There’s nothing outside my reach.”

  Lily tensed. You cocky little bastard. Marcus tightened his hold on her hip and drew her closer. She took a deep breath and forced her body to relax.

  Marcus loosened his grip.

  “My buyers are eager to find something...compact, with the greatest impact.”

  A cruel smile spread across Rowland’s face. “I already have something in mind.”

  Of course you do, you asshole.

  “Excellent.” Marcus dropped his hand from Lily’s hip and pressed his fingertips together. “My buyers will be most pleased. How many do you have available?”

  “For the right price, I can get you as many as you’d like.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Monday, September 29, 7:30 p.m.

  LILY UNSTRAPPED HER thigh holster, checked the safety and set the gun down on the counter. She headed to her bedroom, unzipping her dress as she went. At this point, she didn’t care about modesty or who saw what part of her assets. Marcus had knocked it out of the ballpark with Rowland, but really? Did he have to hold her like that? More people had touched her—and rather intimately—in the past seventy-two hours than had touched her in over a year.

  The only person who hadn’t?

  Derek.

  The universe hated her.

  Lily pulled her bedroom door shut, stepped out of her dress, kicked it aside and slipped into her yoga pants. She tugged a black tank over her head and sat down on her bed.

  She was exhausted, mind and body.

  And this charade had just begun.

  She fell back onto her soft comforter and closed her eyes. Dakota jumped onto her bed, licked her face and nuzzled her arm. Lily slowly opened one eye. “Slave driver.”

  He licked her face again. Sighing, she pushed herself up, grabbed a hair tie and threw her hair into a bun that tilted to one side before joining the Morettis back in the living room.

  When she entered the room, Derek did a double take. His reaction warmed Lily’s cheeks. Maybe there was hope after all, and she hadn’t completely screwed up. A girl could dream, right?

  “So, how do you think it went?” Derek asked from his post on the kitchen counter.

  “He bought it.”

  “We nailed it.” Marcus popped open his Guinness and dropped onto the sofa. “I was surprised how quickly he came out and offered his services.”

  Lily curled up in the overstuffed chair. “I’m not. He’s gotten off scot-free for so long that he thinks he’s untouchable. Do you think he’ll be the seller?”

  Derek jumped off the counter and pulled out the piano bench. Sat. “Not a chance. He’ll send someone else to handle the exchange. Keep his hands clean.”

  “Unless he thinks Lily is still potentially part of the exchange.” Marcus wagged his beer toward her. “There was definitely something there. I just couldn’t tell what. Maybe we bring Lil around again and let me get another read.”

  She wasn’t so sure about being offered up as bait. But then again, she was the one who’d put them in this mess to begin with. She shrugged. “I don’t mind throwing it out there again. Maybe he’ll bite.”

  “No offense, Lily, but I don’t think he’ll care at this point.” Evelyn pursed her lips. “I think you’re a thing of the past.”

  Marcus threw his arm around Evelyn. “I don’t know, babe. You should’ve seen his expression when I grabbed Lily. It was crazy. That was the only time I saw anything that even resembled emotion. Murder ripped through that man’s face when I touched her.”

  “Yes,” Derek said drily. “We were privy to that little hand grab.”

  “Relax, brother. We had to make it legit.”

  “And you did, my love. I was impressed.” Evelyn kissed Marcus on the cheek. “I expect more of it for myself later.”

  Lily glanced between the three Morettis and smiled. It had been a long time since a family had gathered, and goofed off, in her home. Evelyn untangled herself from beneath Marcus’s arm and headed for the kitchen. Marcus’s gaze followed her every move as she made a beeline for the fridge.

  He took a sip of his beer. “All kidding aside, I’ve never seen anyone so cold.”

  Evelyn peeked around the door of the fridge and whistled. “That’s saying a lot.”

  “It was like staring into a black pit.” Marcus set his Guinness on the coffee table. “But something flickered behind those emotionless eyes when he looked at Lily. And I didn’t like it.”

  Derek’s raised his head, looking tense. He jumped up and moved closer, never taking his eyes off Lily. What was he doing? Staking claim on her?

  “Come on now, Marcus.” Lily didn’t want to give Derek any more ammo. “You made it pretty clear I was no longer an option. I don’t think we have to worry about that aspect.”

  “True. But option or not, I think we should consider a protective detail. Or at the very least, you not being here alone.”

  “No.” Lily climbed out of the chair and paced. “Not happening. That’s where I draw the line.”

  Marcus reached for his beer. “I’ve read my share of faces, Lily. Rowland isn’t someone to brush off.”

  “I’m not brushing him, or your concern, off. I’m just not taking a protective detail. I don’t need it.”

  “Lily...” Derek chimed in. His voice held a low warning.

  “This is ridiculous. Come with me.” She moved to her bedroom and walked into her massive closet. All three followed.

  Without a word, she yanked on the mirror frame. She stood back as it swung open, revealing row after row of weapons and ammunition tucked neatly within their hiding spots. Marcus’s eyes widened. Evelyn gasped. Lily hid her smile, crossed her arms and stared at Derek. Still think I need a protective detail?

  “Damn, Lily. You could’ve shared this little room of toys before.” A small, tight smile played at the corners of Derek’s mout
h.

  “Would it have made a difference?”

  “No.”

  Lily swallowed the urge to scream. How this man could be so stubborn was beyond her. Was there nothing she could do to make him see that she didn’t need to be babysat?

  “This is incredible.” Evelyn reached for the M4.

  Lily leaned against the door frame. “Like I said, I don’t need a protective detail.”

  “So you’re armed. More than Fort Knox.” Marcus nodded, then looked at Evelyn. “That doesn’t take away the reality that Rowland has you in his sights.”

  Evelyn put the gun back. “We might need to consider pulling you out, Lily.”

  Lily took a deep breath. She was not being yanked from this case. She was not going into hiding. And she sure as hell was not having a protective detail following her every move. “Absolutely not.”

  “I get not wanting a protective detail, truly.” Evelyn glanced between the two men flanking her sides.

  “No protective detail.” Lily pushed the frame back into place, hiding her case of weapons.

  Derek’s face was unreadable. “Lily.”

  Lily’s back straightened. “No.”

  Derek threw up his hands. “I give up. You’re the most obstinate woman I have ever had to deal with.”

  He turned on his heel and stalked out of the room. Lily bit her lip to keep it from trembling. She didn’t want him to think she was stubborn, but she wasn’t willing to let their fear of Rowland disrupt her life.

  “Sorry, Lil, but I agree with him.” Marcus shoved his hands into his pockets and made his way toward the living room.

  Lily pressed her two pointer fingers into the corners of her eyes and sighed. “It’s so not necessary.”

  “On the contrary.” Lily squirmed beneath Evelyn’s steady gaze. “Marcus came across as an equal, which we needed, but he also may have inadvertently put a bull’s-eye on your back.”

  Lily’s head spun. Again. “Not following.”

  “In Rowland’s psychotic, sociopathic mind, if he can’t have you, no one can.”