Witness Protection (Defenders of Love Book 1)

by LaRoche, Carolyn

  Angelina picked up the thick ham sandwich and nibbled at a corner of it, but her appetite was gone. She felt completely betrayed. How dare Logan tell her secret? Did he not understand the importance of secrecy in witness protection? She'd violated her contract by telling him. That was enough to get her in trouble with Jack. If he told his aunt everything, she could be kicked out of the program. And then who would protect her from Salvatore and his hit man?

  Logan.

  A tiny little voice inside her head reminded her that Logan, a complete stranger just a couple of days ago, had done more to protect her than witness protection.

  So, why couldn't she trust him?

  Because Angelina had difficulty trusting anyone on a good day and now she was expected to put all her eggs in the James family egg basket. And Logan had already blown her confidence.

  Logan's aunt had opened her secret home to them without question. She suspected the other woman could be trusted, even if her nephew couldn't keep his word.

  "I'm sorry, Ms. James. I don't know what came over me. I'm not usually so rude."

  "First of all, call me Clara or Aunt Clara if you prefer. Enough with the formal nonsense. Second, my nephew is the most trustworthy man you will ever know. What he told me when I guessed you were a cop is that I needed to talk to you to get your story. He

  wouldn't tell me a thing, which of course makes me want to know even more what is going on with you." She chuckled. "I am also dying to know why you and my nephew showed up on my doorstep this morning

  and why you looked like a homeless person when you got here."

  Angelina couldn't help but laugh then. "I did look pretty bad, didn't I?"

  "I suspect that a girl as pretty as you could never look bad." Clara winked at her.

  Clara James made Angelina feel comfortable. It had been a long time since she had felt comfortable anywhere. Her gut told her that she could trust Logan's aunt. Despite how difficult it was for her to admit, she needed to be able to trust someone. Smiling sadly at Clara, Angelina took a deep breath and jumped right in to her story.

  "I used to be a cop. In New York City, where I grew up. And then I got involved with the mob boss's son, took down his human trafficking ring while pretending to get shot and killed, and landed myself in witness protection. Only someone let the boss know I wasn't actually dead and he is trying to rectify that situation right now."

  "So you now have a mafia hit man after you?"

  "Yes indeed."

  "Any idea how he found you?"

  "The only person who knew where I have been living is my witsec agent." That's when it hit her. A rock formed in the pit of her stomach at the realization of what she had just said. Had Jack sold her out?

  Clara studied her thoughtfully. "You think he gave you up, don't you?" Clara asked quietly.

  "I don't know. I mean, no one else knew where I was. But Salvatore's hold is far reaching. He could have had one of his own investigators seek me out. If it had been my witsec agent, would it have taken over a year for them to find me?" Angelina looked down at

  her hands in her lap, weighing her words carefully before she resumed speaking, her voice a near whisper. "The only other option is Logan. He truly was the only one who knew where I was last night."

  Clara stood still, studying Angelina with an impenetrable gaze before she finally responded. "I raised Logan myself and I can promise you this, that boy—man—is as honorable as they come. Why on God's green earth would he go to so much trouble to hide you away if he was just going to give you up? Wouldn't it have been easier, on him, anyway, if he just turned you over this morning instead of risking the wrath of his crazy Aunt Clara by bringing you to my bunker?"

  Angelina, at once ashamed for believing the worst in Logan, slumped against the back of the chair. "Oh, I just don't know! Yeah, I guess so. What you say makes sense."

  "Logan is a good man. If he has undertaken the task of protecting you then that's what he will do." Clara slapped a hand against the counter for emphasis. "Besides, I get the feeling my nephew may be a bit personally invested in keeping you safe at this point."

  Clara winked at her mischievously. Angelina felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she thought about being in Logan's arms. Had Logan told his aunt what had happened between them? "I'm not entirely sure I know what you mean."

  "Oh, I think you do, honey. The chemistry between the two of you is hard to miss. That boy is like my own son. I even legally changed his last name after his momma died so he would always feel like he was part of our family. I'd say I know him pretty well and I

  have never seen him look at a woman the way he looks

  at you."

  "We hardly know each other," Angelina stated without any real conviction despite the deep flush rising into her cheeks. Truth of the matter was that her body didn't seem to care that her brain knew almost nothing about the man. Nope, her body didn't care at all. Just the very thought of his touch on her skin made her nerves tingle with anticipation.

  "So, you'll get to know each other." Clara shrugged as she dried a platter and put it away. "You could know someone as well as you know yourself but without chemistry it would be a very dry, very boring relationship. You two got as much chemistry as a meth lab. No doubt about that."

  "I don't have room for a relationship in my life. I couldn't stand the thought of putting anyone else in danger."

  As soon as she said it, she regretted it. Her very presence in that place was enough to put Logan and his sweet aunt into plenty of danger. Salvatore and his men would stop at nothing, including killing another woman, to get what they wanted.

  Clara seemed to sense her feelings as clearly as if she had spoken them. She walked over to where Angelina stood and patted her arm soothingly. "It's okay, honey. We James's are more than capable of taking care of ourselves."

  "I shouldn't have let Logan bring me here."

  "This is the perfect place for him to bring you. My little bunker here has more surprises than a hooker in a free clinic. No one knows what they are going to get when they sneak up on Clara James. Don't you

  worry your pretty little self over anything. You are safe here."

  "Thank you for saying that."

  "No need to thank me, dear. It's all in a days' work for my boys."

  "You have sons?" This was the first she had heard of cousins.

  Clara smiled, her expression proud. "Sure do. Twins. Kaiden and Keegan. As handsome as any. Smart and talented too."

  "Are they cops like Logan?"

  "Federal agents. One works for the FBI and one is involved with homeland security."

  She was right, they could take care of themselves. Angelina was impressed. "You must be very proud."

  Clara returned to the drying pile of dishes and began stowing them in their appropriate places. "Very. I did all right by all my boys. Even without a man around."

  "What happened to your husband? If you don't mind me asking."

  "Not at all dear. Jed was a good man, God rest his soul. His only fault is that he up and died on me when the twins were just toddlers."

  "Oh, I am sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

  "Nothing bad about remembering the man I loved. Good men are so hard to come by. I count myself as lucky to have had him for as long as I did. Not nearly long enough, of course."

  "Of course," Angelina agreed.

  "Logan is one of the good ones too, you know. His daddy, not so much, but Logan, well, he has a heart

  of gold. If only he would let himself use it." Clara eyed her from across the room. "Of course, all that might be

  about to change, Angelina."

  "I don't know. I mean, even if there were potential for something..."

  "Oh, there's potential, all right," Clara stated with a chuckle.

  Angelina ignored the hot flush in her cheeks, tried to act natural. "When this is over, witness protection will probably relocate me again. So, it won't matter what sort of potential there is, nothing c
ould ever come of it."

  "Love has a funny way of getting what it wants."

  "If only that were true. I don't believe in fairy tales, Clara."

  "Neither do I, young lady. But I do believe in fate and lady fate always gets her way."

  Aunt Clara didn't appear ready to budge on the issue. Angelina wished she could have such faith in something as abstract as fate. As far as she could tell, ol' fate had it in for her and she wasn't giving it anymore satisfaction. "At any rate," Angelina changed the subject, "thank you for allowing Logan to bring me here. I wouldn't have had anywhere to go if I were on my own. Actually, if not for Logan, I would probably still be at the bottom of that ravine." She shivered at the thought of a long, lonely death in the middle of the woods.

  Clara sat down in a chair opposite from where Angelina stood and reached across the table to pat her hand. "I raised my nephew to be a good man. Anyone he sees fit to spend his time with is welcome in my home—no matter the circumstances."

  "Thank you, Ms....um...Clara. I appreciate your kindness more than words can express. These clothes

  are real great too." Angelina gestured to the borrowed items and smiled.

  "You are very welcome, dear. Now why don't you go on outside and find that nephew of mine? I imagine his ego is suffering a bit."

  "I suppose I ought to go and try to smooth things over."

  She smiled wanly at Clara as she pushed back her chair and made her way to the door. It was time to eat a little crow, and apologies were never something she was very good at.

  ***

  Logan kicked at a loose rock as he paced the yard in front of Aunt Clara's bunker. He was angry that Angelina thought he would sell her out after all he had done to protect her.

  After all that had happened the night before.

  That was exactly why he avoided relationships. They were too damned complicated and the last thing he needed in his life was complications. Not that he had a relationship with Angelina anyway. A couple of near death experiences and a few hot kisses did not a relationship make.

  Just the memory of those few hot kisses sent his body into a fit, the front of his jeans tightening again as he almost felt her body pressed against his. He couldn't seem to keep his man parts in check since meeting Angelina.

  Knock it off, cowboy. He shook his head to clear it of the images that had been assaulting him over and over since they had arrived on the mountain. Angelina

  Ferrara is a damsel in distress. You have always been a sucker

  for distressed damsels.

  Only Angelina was no damsel. She was a big

  city cop on the lam from a mob hit man. She had held her own against one of the biggest crime families in New York City and she would hold her own now. She didn't really need protecting.

  If only Logan hadn't found her in that ravine, then he wouldn't be involved up to his eyeballs in a situation that didn't involve him one little bit. And Angelina would have been dead by the time the sun rose that morning. But at least she wouldn't have accused him of feeding her to the sharks.

  He kicked another rock. This time it bounced off the base of the windmill with a loud ping.

  "That windmill do something to make you angry?" Angelina asked softly from behind him. He had never even heard her coming.

  "At least it didn't accuse me of giving it up to a murderer." Logan scowled, regretting the words the instant they left his mouth.

  Angelina looked up at him through sad eyes. "I'm sorry about that, Logan. Really, really sorry. I don't know why I would say such a thing after you have done so much to protect me. It's just so hard to believe that the one person I was assured I could trust might be the one who sold me out."

  She hugged herself tightly as she spoke, fear and exhaustion battling the sadness in her expression. He felt instantly horrible. Taking Angelina by the elbow, Logan led her around the side of the bunker into a sunlit area containing an old style picnic table, a fire pit, and a glorious view of the valley below them.

  "Oh!" she exclaimed. "It's beautiful!"

  Logan laughed, pleased to see her smile finally.

  Angelina had a warm, beautiful smile sexy enough to make a grown man melt a little in his boots.

  Motioning to the picnic table, he dropped onto the bench and crossed his long legs in front of him. "This is my favorite place in the entire world."

  Angelina perched somewhat tentatively on the bench next to him. "I can see why," she murmured as she turned to face him again. "I really am sorry. I'm more grateful than you will ever know for your help. I don't want to die..." Her words trailed off.

  Logan's heart nearly broke in his chest as he watched the sadness consume her again. Reaching an arm out, he lazily rested it across her shoulders.

  "You won't," Logan promised with a ferociousness that surprised even him. "I...and Aunt Clara...won't let that happen. We just need to find someone we can trust on the outside."

  "Definitely not my witsec agent," she said. "Isn't he supposed to be making sure this never happens? Why would he sell me out?"

  "We don't know that he did. What makes you think that?"

  "Who else could it be? No one else even knows I am alive, let alone where I live. Jack is the only plausible explanation."

  Logan pulled her close against his side. Having her that close made his blood sing in his veins. "It could be about money, maybe. Greed can make people do crazy things."

  "It better have been a pile of cash, let me tell you. I'd hate to think that my head went for a few thousand bucks." She sounded bitter, but who could blame her? He had no idea what it was like to be in her situation.

  "We don't know for sure that's what happened. What if Salvatore's man was just really good at his job?

  For many killers, hunting down their prey is a big part of the thrill. Almost more exciting than the actual kill, believe it or not."

  Logan felt her shudder. "It would have been so much easier if I'd just died on that pier." Angelina leaned against his chest and let out a soft sigh.

  "I couldn't agree less." Logan replied vehemently, hugging her tight. "I, for one, am very glad you didn't die that night."

  "I don't want to die now either. What am I going to do, Logan?" she whispered.

  "I don't know yet but I will figure something out. I promise." Logan smoothed her thick curls away from her face with one hand. "I like your hair so much better like this." He took one curl and wrapped it around his forefinger. He imagined her natural hair color had to be infinitely better than the brassy blonde it currently was.

  "Me too. I hate the color even more than wearing it straight."

  "One day soon, you won't have to deal with any of it."

  "One day soon, I would like to go home. Get my job back and resume the life I was forced to leave behind."

  Resting his chin on top of her head, Logan breathed in deeply of the floral scent of Aunt Clara's homemade soaps. There was no way he could blame her for wanting those things. The trouble was, he wanted her to stay right where she was. There was so much about Angelina Ferrara he wanted to learn, so much he was to know about her. She had the right to

  be safe, to have the life that was stolen from her so abruptly. How far away was New York anyway? They

  could manage something long distance if they really wanted to. None of this was making him feel any better. Best to just stick with the problem at hand, protecting her.

  "We are going to stop this guy, Angelina. I promise."

  They sat that way for a long time. With each passing moment, Logan wanted more and more to lay her down right there in the long grass and wild daisies that grew everywhere in Aunt Clara's yard.

  He would have too, if his shirt wasn't suddenly feeling a little damp.

  Was Angelina crying? She had held it together through so much, it would surprise him more if she didn't break down eventually. He was oddly sort of pleased that she did it with him.

  He sat back and studied her tear stained face. It melted his heart. A h
eart he had almost forgotten he had. Wiping away one lone tear with his thumb, Logan looked deeply into her troubled eyes for a long time.

  Wrapping his arms around her he breathed deeply of Aunt Clara's homemade soap in her hair once again. It was amazing how the floral mixture seemed to have been created especially for her.

  "I can't imagine what it must be like having to give up everything and take on a life you didn't choose."

  "I miss my family and my job for sure. But, honestly, it's my appearance that I miss most. I feel like I'm in one of those movies where people switch places. I think like me and act like me but I'm not me when I look at myself. It's very disconcerting."

  "I suppose you had to change everything for the

  move to be successful."

  "Maybe it didn't matter. Salvatore still found

  me." Angelina let out yet another defeated sigh.

  "He is not going to get you. We won't let him that close. You know Aunt Clara won't think twice about using that shotgun of hers. The James family excels at protecting one of its own. "

  "I'm not part of your family. I'm not part of anyone's family anymore."

  Logan closed his arms around her a little more snugly. "You're with me. As far as my family is concerned, that's enough."

  "Logan?" She looked up at him through those big green eyes and he thought his heart just might melt in his chest.

  "Yes?"

  "I am glad you were the one who rescued me from that ravine."

  "Me, too." He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Getting lost just may have been the best thing to happen to me in a very long time."

  Chapter Twelve

  Angelina couldn't remember the last time she felt as safe or contented as she did right then. The feel of Logan's strong arms around her made her insides quiver with anticipation. Logan enjoyed the feel of her just as much, if the firm bulge against her back was any indicator. The sun shone in the clear blue sky, birds sang as they went about their business, and a monarch butterfly hovered nearby in a patch of wildflowers. She had finally begun to relax for the first time in forever when Logan's powerful body suddenly stiffened against hers.