His Undercover Lover

by April Zyon

  The Carver Ranch den had been turned into a war room of sorts. Papers, maps, files, and so much more spread out on every available surface. When she and Simon arrived at the farm, Brant had hustled the rest of the DEA team out of the room, closed the door, and handed her the evidence file he’d gotten together. It was thick, but not as thick as she’d hoped. Brant’s first words to her told her why with a simple, “We’re missing something.”

  She began to look through the files and frowned. “I have no idea what in the world it is that you are missing, though. It’s clear that we have the mayor and his buddies. It’s also good that he’s talking.” The man was spilling the beans on absolutely everyone that had anything to do with him over the years. There was no holding back. Idiot.

  “There is that, but take a look at page eight of his confession. I put a sticky arrow next to the part about the buyer. It’s the only piece we’re missing. He’s never fucking met the guy, Megan. We have no clue who he is. He hides behind middlemen who don’t know his face and does all his work over the Net from anonymous sites through multiple proxies around the globe, all in the hopes of hiding his true identity. And it’s working. The techs are going at it hard, but they keep hitting dead ends,” Brant told her. “Do you remember anything, anything at all that could give us a clue to this person’s identity?”

  “Shit,” she whispered. “No. Nothing.” Megan closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat. She didn’t like this, at all. “I refuse to go back to that freaking stage. I’m done with undercover work, Brant. I mean it,” she muttered darkly. “I will think on it, though. Give me time to see what I remember?”

  “Simon’s already made it abundantly clear you weren’t going back up there. Besides the fact, the club’s been closed down pending the outcome of the investigation, so you couldn’t even if you were willing.” He frowned at her, drumming his fingers on the top of the desk before him. “We have time still. All the interviews and submission of statements are taking a lot of time. Don’t take too long, though. The more time we give the buyer, the better he or she will disappear to never be found again.”

  “I know.” God, did she ever know! She had worked enough cases, or read about enough cases, to understand exactly what was at stake. “What about the women who were saved from the house? Did any of them have anything to say? Any of them recall anything at all that might be of use?”

  “I doubt most of them realize that they know anything. Most were heavily drugged, others were abused, so they are shell shocked, and the rest aren’t saying much of anything. All of them say the same thing—they damn well want to go home. Which I understand completely, but we can’t let them leave until we know it all.”

  “Maybe we should have Megan talk to them,” Simon suggested. “She was there, she was drugged, and they would all know that.”

  Megan nodded. “And I had lived through what they have lived through. He’s got a point, B. I think that Si is right. I should talk to them. I won’t do anything that would make them pull away from me like they would you guys. Don’t get me wrong, you are all protectors and I know it, but you are also all massively huge guys that would make a woman jerk away, especially one that had been abused. Nothing personal, just a cellular level reaction.”

  “Do you really think I’m that big of an idiot? I’ve only sent in women to talk to them, and they aren’t talking. But Simon has a point, too. It might be a good plan for you to talk to them. We have them set up, for the most part, at the boarding house on the edge of town. Some are still in the hospital and will be for a time. I’ll let the agents know you’ll be coming out to talk to the women, so they are expecting you.”

  “Sounds good to me.” She looked to Simon and smiled. “I should go alone. I will drive out alone and everything. It would likely be better, don’t you think?” That way, they wouldn’t have to worry about Simon scaring off any of the women or making any of them clam up and refuse to talk at all.

  “Not happening,” Simon said. “I’ll drive you out there, and then stay out of sight, but I’m going along, Megan. No way in hell I’m letting you out of my sight for longer than necessary. Not for a good long time, got it?”

  “Got it.” She moved so that she could take his hand when he rubbed his knuckles to her cheek. “I love you, too, Si,” she whispered for him and him alone. She needed him to know how much it meant to her that he wanted to protect and watch over her like he did.

  He gave her fingers a squeeze. “Glad you’re on the same page, babe. I’d hate to have to get mean with you.” Shooting her a grin, he pulled her hand close and kissed her fingers lightly. “Give the agents a call, Brant. We can head straight over there once we leave here.”

  Megan could just grin. As if he would ever be truly mean to her. He might be upset with her, but never mean. She winked at Simon and nodded. “Now then, what else do we need to go over before Simon and I leave?”

  “I need you to give your statement. Written, and video, of course. Later, we’ll need to go over everything on the case from the start until this point, but for now, that last night is all we really need. If you want to do the written first, that would likely be best.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Do you need anything else?” Megan took the notepad and pen from Brant so she could get started.

  “Right now? No,” he told her. “Do the written statement, and then we’ll get you in front of the camera for the video. Once you’re done with the question portion, we’ll send you off. You know the drill, Megs.”

  “Yep, sadly I know it well.” She sighed. “What about from Simon? Will you need anything from him?” As she asked that question, she started writing her statement out. She ensured that she gave all of the details that she could. However, she had to add in that at the time, she had been heavily drugged. She hated that addition because of the slime ball attorneys that would spin that out of proportion.

  “I already got everything from him. Same as I’m now getting from you,” Brant told her. “I went out to the farm to get his statements while you were drooling and blathering on in the other room. Did you really have a thing for Billy Hornsby in grade six?”

  At her side, Simon groaned, rubbing a hand over his face, and looking anywhere but at her or Brant.

  “You so shouldn’t have been listening in on things that you shouldn’t have been.” Okay, so that made more sense in her mind than it did when she muttered it aloud to Brant. She knew that her face was red, thanks to the heat that was in her cheeks. “Big poop,” she grumbled. “Besides, didn’t you know, thick coke-bottle glasses were hot back then.” Billy Hornsby had horn-rimmed, thick glasses, buck teeth, and freckles. He made a beautiful woman today, though, she thought to herself.

  “Uh-huh,” Brant said, a smirk on his face.

  “Quit bugging her,” Simon said. “She was a kid, and every kid out there goes through phases, as you well know. That was one of her phases, and one she’s outgrown, obviously. Her taste in men has improved marginally.”

  “Oh I would say that my taste in men has improved more than just marginally. I think that you are miles above Billy Hornsby, and you are seriously drop-dead sexy.” Damn if she wasn’t aching for his kisses, or better yet, to wrap her mouth around his cock once more. She had it bad.

  “Down girl,” he said with a look her way. Giving her a wink, he got up from the chair. “You want some water?” he asked, brushing a finger over her cheek lightly.

  “If you don’t mind, please. A nice cold bottle of water would be utterly perfect. Oh, Brant, if your mom has any of the pies that she likes to bake, too? I so wouldn’t turn down a piece of that.” She leaned back from Simon and frowned. Cocking her head to the side, she changed the subject quickly. “Was that Frank that I saw?” Frank Carver Jr, the elusive of the Carver brothers. A man she hadn’t seen in years. “What in the heck is he doing here? I thought he was in Alaska or something like that?”

  “Yeah, that’s big brother roaming around. No clue why he’s here, or where he’s been
. He really hasn’t said jack shit. Showed up, knew everything that’s been going on with everyone and their lives, and has otherwise stayed mum. Something’s up with him, though. He’s got one hell of a hollow-eyed thing going.”

  Simon shot them each a look, looking a little lost. Shaking his head, he squeezed her shoulder and headed out of the den.

  “Have you talked to him?” Megan had a feeling that there was something there. She just didn’t know what the something was in this case. “Or do you want me to?” God only knew that she had bugged Frank Jr. enough over the years. “Wasn’t he on an oil rig or something like that? I thought that was why he was gone from home for as long as he was.”

  “I’ve heard various rumors over the years. Oil rig in Alaska, working at some tech company over in Germany, tour guide out of Japan, stocks in Australia, but not a damn thing pans out. As of the moment he left Massey, Frank Carver Jr. ceased to exist. Hell, on the web, he doesn’t even exist here. You can’t find a birth certificate, educational background, nothing. He’s a ghost from what I could see, and I’ve been digging for all the years I’ve been with the DEA.”

  “That can’t be right.” Megan was frowning hard now. “If you dig far and deep enough, you will even find me, and I’ve been undercover for how long? No, this doesn’t sound right. Have you asked him? Cornered him and asked him? If there is something going on, you have to help him.”

  “I haven’t exactly had time to corner him, Megan,” he gritted out. Brant looked damn annoyed with her. “I’ve been a little busy trying to keep a bunch of women, yourself included, from being shipped overseas to be bought by some sick, perverted freak to never be seen again. When would I have the time to corner my big brother, and get through that fucking wall he’s got up?”

  “Hey, easy,” Simon said, coming back into the room. He passed her a bottle of water, and a plate with a very generous slice of pie on it. “You both have been stressed out by this. And you both have been working this hard, doing what needs to be done. No need to snap at one another.”

  “I wasn’t trying to,” Megan muttered, and then looked at the pie. “Oh God. Your mom makes the best pies.” She was talking to Brant as she took the pie from Simon. “You should have her demand to know what’s going on in Frank’s life. She could get it from him, I’m sure of it.”

  “She already tried. It didn’t go over so well,” Brant muttered. He heaved a sigh, and rubbed a hand over his face. “I’ll talk to him at some point soon. I know for sure he’s sticking around for the next couple of weeks. After that, God only knows.”

  “Well at least he’s sticking around for a bit longer than a couple days this time, right?” Megan was curious as to why now, but she didn’t voice it aloud. Instead, she just ate her pie, drank her water, and chatted with Simon and Brant about random things. “How’s Junior doing, by the way?” She grinned. Who would have known that Brant Carver would be such a mushy guy when it came to his kids? But he was. The man was so in love with his kids it wasn’t funny, but nothing topped the way he felt for his wife, Mercy, and that was clear to anyone with a set of eyes.

  The muscle in Brant’s cheek twitched when he glared at her. “Levi is doing great. Pretty much the only time I see the old Frank appear is when he’s cuddling with the kid. Levi’s loving the attention from his uncle, too. The two of them hit it off right away. I’m hoping it’s why Frank’s sticking around longer than normal. And then there is Angel.” Brant just smiled. “That kid is perfect. She’s too damn good and so much like her mother it’s not even funny. She’s beautiful, too, and one day will give me a hard time when she tries to date.”

  “I hope you’re right about Frank. Junior is such a great kid. If you let him have more time with Angel, as well, he might just stay.” She was poking a bear, but that was okay. They all tended to call Levi Junior just because the kid looked so much like Brant it was eerie. If there was such a thing as cloning, Megan would totally believe it just looking at Brant holding Levi. It was also funny to see the look on Brant’s face when she told him that he needed to let someone else have some time with his baby girl, a little girl that never was far from her father when he was close.

  “Quit poking him,” Simon said under his breath. At her look, he rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Your funeral if you keep pushing with the Junior bit, love, especially when you add in that he needs to let someone else get some loving in with his little girl. You should finish your statements up so we can head over to the boarding house. You do need to get a sense of how everyone is out there, and see if you can’t jiggle a few memories loose.”

  Megan just grinned and nodded. Once she had finished with the pie, she stood. “Okay, time for the video statement and then we will get out of your hair. If we learn anything new, I will make sure that Si contacts you, okay?”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Brant told her. Getting to his feet, he led her up to the bedroom where the video camera was set up. “Grab a seat.” He waved her to the chair in front of the camera. He went to the camera and adjusted it once she was sitting down. “Ready?”

  Once Megan was settled, she nodded to Brant. “I’m ready. Please get it started?” She heard his muttered command to go, and started to talk. She kept her focus on the blinking red light while she spoke.

  She could see Simon out of her periphery. He stayed silent, but she could tell he was tense. His tension came and went depending on what she was describing. When she was done, Brant stopped the camera, gave her a nod, and then left the room. “You okay?” Simon asked.

  “I don’t want to talk about that again.” Not until she had to. She turned to look up at Simon, and when he held out his arms, she didn’t hesitate. Megan hugged him as tightly as she possibly could.

  “I’ve got you, love.” He stroked her hair gently, his other arm wrapped tightly around her body. He rocked her from side to side slowly, like a slow dance of sorts, while talking softly to her.

  Megan simply held onto Simon, letting him ease her as only he could possibly do.

  Chapter Ten

  Two months later...

  Megan walked into the house and saw Simon sitting there reading. She grinned, leaned against the door frame, and watched him. She was thankful that he was in her life, that he had been sent to watch over her that fateful night so long ago. It was hard to believe that she and Simon had been together for nearly four months now.

  The slight curl of her lips turned into a full blown smile of pure happiness. Her Simon had stood by her through thick and thin. He was there for her, and he had actually been a leaning post for a couple of the women who had been damaged by the drugs that they had been pumped full of at the mayor’s ranch.

  He had helped the women as much as he had her, granted in much different ways. He had been one of the few people that they would talk to, Megan being another, and between the two of them, they gathered more information on the man that might actually be the ringleader of the human trafficking ring.

  Another oddity in town—Frank Jr. He had settled in for a time in the town, protecting and watching over not only the women, but Eli Davidson as well. It was interesting, odd too, but Megan didn’t say anything. She was just happy that he was still around.

  She moved from the door, settled into the couch beside Simon, and said, “Hey, you. Did you miss me today?” He had known she had to go out today. She went shopping with Mercy, and they had to take Levi and Angel to the doctor. Megan had to take the poor kids in to get their shots because neither their mom nor dad would take them to get stuck with needles, which was no surprise since they doted on the kids. Then again, Meg did, too.

  “Little Levi did well with his shots, Angel didn’t, however. The poor kid is going to have a massive bruise and knot from where she got the shot. Poor thing bruises at the slightest of touches. Thankfully, this was the last round for a couple years. Hopefully, when they have to go back, Brant or Mercy will be able to take them.” She snorted. He grinned and she shrugged. “Wishful thinking? Do you thi
nk that I should tell them that they really don’t mind the shots so much because they get extra hugs and love when they get them, or should I continue to keep that to myself so I get that time with Junior and Angel?”

  He put the book he was reading aside and laughed. “I wouldn’t bother to tell them. Use it as your excuse to have the time with them. When they are older, you can take them out for lunch afterwards, or to the movies, or whatever.” Looping an arm around her waist he pulled her closer to him, and then into his lap. Simon pressed kisses to her cheeks, neck, and anywhere he could reach. “I always miss you when you’re not here with me, you know that, so why the silly ass question, woman?”

  “So that I could get this treatment,” Megan replied with a laugh, wrapping her arms around his head and holding him close. “Come on, admit it. When I ask that, you always tend to go over the top with the kisses, touches, and lovings. You know that you do.”

  “Because I love to kiss you, hug you, hold you, and generally touch every part of you that I can. I love you, Megan,” he said. Grinning, he pressed a kiss to her lips, bending her back over his arm while taking the kiss even deeper.

  Megan shifted in Simon’s lap so that her knees were on each side of his hips and kissed him back. Finally, she pulled away from him and was panting. “I’m thinking.” Her hands moved down his t-shirt, and then once at the base of it, she pulled it out of his jeans and up. Her hands moved over his rock hard abs and she sighed. “I’m thinking we should get naked. I want to show you just how much I’ve missed you today.”

  “Yeah?” he asked. He looked very interested. “Here? Or should we go up to the bedroom where I have a surprise waiting for you instead? Actually, now that I think about it, we should stay here and wait until later for that other part.”