by Taylor Hart
Out of boredom, he leisurely walked the room and then slipped out the door and into the hallway, noting that it led down to a more private area. When he pushed the wall at the end of the hallway, it moved aside to reveal a somewhat secret library. He didn’t go in, only put the door back in place.
When he sauntered back down the hallway, the security guy noticed him and asked, “What are you doing, sir? You’re not supposed to go out that way.”
Parker shrugged. “Just looking for the bathroom.” It was always a good excuse. He wandered back inside like it was nothing and then found Chuck again, who was still on the dance floor with Karen next to an overly decorated Christmas tree.
When he and his brothers had been growing up, Parker’s mother would allow them to decorate the tree with homemade ornaments. Now, when he saw overly done Christmas trees, he rejected them out of principle.
Maybe he had mommy issues. Didn’t everyone who lost their mother tragically in a plane crash? Susan Kelly was the soft spot for the Kelly brothers; they’d tell her about their problems or their dreams.
Parker missed her fiercely after the crash. More than anyone, she’d understood his love for Ari. “True love,” she’d once told him. “It’s a hard thing to find, and when it’s your first love, too, it makes it even deeper. Makes it stick even more.”
His thoughts were interrupted by a tall woman with jet-black hair down to her waist. “Want to dance?”
His heart raced. He knew her. “Anna.”
She looked exotic in her deep blue dress, playing the role a tiny bit too hard. A smile touched the edges of her lips. “Parker, miss me?”
Every part of him turned to high alert. Anna had been his first partner at the FBI When he’d left, she’d been working on one of the FBI’s largest mafia cases.
She took his hand and led him to the dance floor. “If I remember right, you’ve always been a good dancer.”
A slow waltz came on.
Parker danced slowly, suspiciously. He thought about Chuck being here. “Have I been set up?”
“You having fun?” she asked, not answering his question because she didn’t have to. He already knew the answer.
He felt the gun strapped to her lower back. “I’m going to kill Chuck.”
Anna cocked an eyebrow at him, pulling him closer. “Listen, I’m undercover as part of the senator’s private security. But the case involves your favorite mafia family. The Fuentes family.”
He slowed the dance while his mind raced. “Why would you need me?”
The music stopped.
She glanced past him. “I have to go, but Chuck will fill you in.”
Clapping sounded through the room and she stepped away from him.
Senator Sanchez appeared at the top of the large staircase. Parker stood straighter. He’d been right about the woman from last night. She was standing next to him. Every part of Parker went on alert.
“Thank you for coming out tonight,” the senator said into a microphone. “And thank you for celebrating this season with me. I love the people of Oceanside, Carlsbad, and San Diego. I grew up here, and this is my home.”
What the crap was going on?
The woman—Sabrina Cope, as Karen had mentioned—wore a silver dress with a tight, short skirt and a slit that ran almost to the top of her thigh. Her heels made her legs seem like they went on forever. Her blond hair was up in a French twist with wisps coming down.
That was Ari’s neck.
No. Parker pressed his hand to his forehead. He couldn’t be doing this right now. He had mafia families to think about.
Senator Sanchez kept speaking. “You know what my purpose would be, if I was elected as governor of the great state of California—” He grinned and put up a hand as he was cut off by applause. “My purpose would be to reach out to people. To help them. I’ve started and funded countless outreach programs for youth. I have personally taken the homeless off the street, built more shelters, and helped get them into jobs.”
The room clapped again, and Parker joined in unenthusiastically. There hadn’t been a decrease in the number of people at the Surf and Soup. If anything, he’d seen an increase, and he wished he could do more for them.
“I have mayors throughout the state assembling next week to talk about how to make California the best state in the union, and with your help, we can do that! Many of you know we have a special guest attending, a man who has made a name for himself in the state of California. He has funded many after-school programs and is finding new ways to give free medication to people who can’t afford it. May I introduce Carlos Fuentes!”
More applause and cheers.
Parker quit clapping, his mouth going dry.
The senator went on for what seemed like forever, but he finally ended with, “Dance, eat, and enjoy. Merry Christmas.”
The music started back up.
Parker peered about the room for Chuck. After a minute, he spotted Karen and Chuck moving his way—only to be distracted by the blonde next to the governor. She was walking down the stairs on the senator’s arm, but when their eyes met, she gave him a familiar look.
No. No. No. He had to stop thinking about Ari. It couldn’t be her.
Chapter 5
Ari smiled tightly despite her irritation. Why hadn’t Carlos arrived yet? People at the bottom of the staircase were reaching out to shake hands with the senator, but they were supposed to be greeting Carlos on the roof right now. That had been the plan.
Then her eyes locked onto Parker’s. She cursed.
“What is wrong?” Jose turned to her.
She let out a light laugh and focused on him. “Nothing. Nothing.”
He patted her hand. “We will meet the people, then welcome Carlos. It will be good.” They reached the bottom of the stairs, and he was immediately engaged in conversation about a pollution problem.
She felt the heat of Parker’s stare on her. She glanced at him quickly then looked away. He was standing next to Karen, and it looked like they knew each other. What was he doing with her friend? Karen had never mentioned him.
Jose took her hand and pulled her away. “I am sorry. We have to talk with Senator Smith.”
Parker moved into her view, standing just out of Jose’s vision. She tensed.
“Are you okay?” Jose asked her.
Ari plastered on a smile. “Never better.” She touched the tiny purse hanging on her wrist. Inside lay a small gun she’d added once she’d known for certain they wouldn’t be getting scanned by security.
Chapter 6
Parker inhaled slowly, forcing himself to remember all the training he’d had over the years with the FBI. What was going on? He still didn’t know anything about the woman with Jose Sanchez, but he was sure whatever was going on with his FBI friends involved her.
Karen looked determined. “I’ll get you an introduction with the senator.” She lifted her hand. “Sabrina!”
“It’s fine,” Parker said, watching as the laughing senator received a drink from a waiter. “I think I’ll wait.”
“Are you sure?”
Chuck approached, watching Parker in the way the Secret Service would have watched a target who was trying to get close to the president. “You okay, man?”
Karen nodded to him. “He doesn’t want to meet the senator now.”
Parker met Chuck’s eyes and then took a glass of water off of a tray, chugging it back. “Fine.” He kept his answer nonchalant and distant. “Just thirsty.”
Chuck took the hint. “Karen, sweetheart, would you mind getting us more drinks?” He pulled her in and kissed her cheek, stifling her flicker of annoyance. “Please.”
“Right.” Karen sighed. “I’ll be back.”
Once she’d left, Parker glared at Chuck. “Tell me why I’m needed back.”
Chuck crossed his arms. “It’s just for this case.”
“Mafia.”
Chuck leaned in, speaking softly. “The woman you were looking for, the one you bro
ke about a million protocols to try to find, is involved with the mafia.”
Parker froze, turning wild eyes to his friend. He’d tried to tap into the US Marshalls’ WITSEC database to look up Ari, a move that had made him lose everything, but Chuck shouldn’t know the details. Wild rage pulsed through him, but he forced himself to stay still. “It’s her?”
“Chill.” Chuck put a firm hand on his shoulder. “I didn’t know until yesterday, but yes—it’s her.”
It was Ari—except with some plastic surgery on her nose. And … other parts of her. He kept a lid on his anger. That could wait until later. “What is going on?”
“Her family was involved in a cartel mess fifteen years ago. Her father testified against Marco Fuentes five years ago. But, recently, Lee Claire was killed. We suspect Marco had him killed. Marco’s son, Carlos, is suspected of killing Arianna’s father. And, he’s sworn to kill her, too.”
Feeling sucker punched, Parker demanded, “He threatened to kill Ari?”
Chuck leaned in. “Calm down. Breathe.”
“When did Lee, Arianna’s father, die?” Lee Claire had been so soft-spoken and kind.
“Six months ago.”
His mind still felt like it was on a tilt-a-whirl. “Now Marco’s going to kill her. Tonight?”
Chuck shook his head. “The funny thing is, we don’t think Carlos even knows who she is. You see, Sabrina has inserted herself into the senator’s life to try to get close to Carlos.”
“What?”
“We think she’s going to make a play to kill him tonight.”
Parker stared at Ari, who was smiling and laughing with people that surrounded the senator. “I don’t understand how.” He knew Carlos would be protected.
Chuck nodded. “We don’t either, but we’ve been watching her and we know she has a gun. It was her father’s. And she has a knife she bought at a pawn shop a few days ago. That, coupled with her sudden interested in Jose Sanchez, led us to believe she is making a play for Carlos.”
A flicker of motion caught Parker’s eye, and he noticed Karen moving back to them. “Carlos Fuentes killed her father?” Parker asked in a low voice, still unable to believe it.
Karen arrived. “Here ya go.” She passed each of them a glass full of water.
Parker chugged his back.
Chuck pulled her in and held her, whispering something to her while keeping his eyes on Parker.
Karen giggled and pulled him toward the dance floor. “Let’s go back out.”
Chuck lingered, though, and leaned toward Parker. “I need to know if you’re in or out.” His eyes darted to the side, and Parker followed them. Anna was staring at them, like she was waiting to know, too.
Parker cursed. He knew what he would do. Chuck had known, too. “I’m in for this one op. That’s it.”
“Then watch her,” Chuck said. “Talk to her. Try to convince her not to kill him, if that’s what she’s thinking. We don’t need World War III with a drug cartel in the middle of all of these civilians, ’cause you know that’s what it will become.” With that, Chuck and Karen headed to the dance floor.
Parker didn’t watch them go; he was too busy staring at Ari. So many mixed emotions warred inside of him as she danced with Jose.
She stumbled, and she leaned down and fixed the strap on her shoe. The slit on her dress revealed a hint of a nicely placed dagger. Of course, it didn’t show for long, and she recovered and stood.
Parker knew, without a doubt, that she really was planning to kill someone.
Her eyes met his, and he hardened his resolve. It was time for some answers.
Chapter 7
It was almost impossible for Ari to drag her eyes away from Parker’s. The man was gorgeous. If she’d thought he’d been intoxicating at seventeen, then she’d been all wrong. Parker Kelly, as a full-grown man, was every dream. Every fantasy. Every cover of a hot guy in a James Bond movie.
“The chopper will be here in two minutes. Let’s start heading over to the stairs and meet Carlos on the roof,” Jose whispered to her after checking his phone.
She nodded, ready to open her purse, take out her gun, and shoot the man. Or she could let him get close, slip the knife out of the leg holster, and shove it into his heart. It was time to avenge her father.
Jose motioned for his two security men to come with them to the staircase.
Every part of her had gone calm. She’d prepped for this. Too bad she could feel Parker’s intense gaze on her. She hadn’t prepped for Parker Kelly to be here. How had he shown up here tonight, of all nights?
They began moving up the stairs, but Jose suddenly stopped. He caught her as she stumbled. “Wait. Sorry. I think I just need to meet him alone. I need to ask him something before I bring him to the party.” He kissed her head. “You understand?”
“But I want to meet him,” she pleaded. She couldn’t miss this opportunity.
Jose patted her hand. “I know, the man is a legend, but I have to go alone.” He took off up the stairs and his security guys moved ahead with him, leaving her standing in the stairwell, staring after them.
Forget that, she would not wait. She rushed up the stairs.
Someone rushed beside her, blocking her. “May I have this dance?”
She stopped. Parker. Her heart rate spiked. He had the same beautiful blue eyes.
Gently but firmly, he escorted her down the stairs.
“I …” She was paralyzed. She had come with a purpose and now everything was going wrong.
He leaned into her as they stepped onto the dance floor. “Don’t worry. Your fella is going to come back.” He winked at her. “Plus, I saved you the other night. You owe me one.”
Did he know? He couldn’t possibly. But she played her part anyway. “Right. On the beach. Thank you.” She didn’t move. “I don’t think we should dance. I think I should wait for Jose to come back.”
“Naw,” he said, lightly twirling her. “We should dance.” His hand was on her waist, pulling her closer. She could smell fresh cologne. “I never got to ask your name the other night.”
She let out a nervous laugh. “Uh, Sabrina Cope.” All of the memories she’d been pushing away for so long assaulted her. The last night they’d been together felt like it belonged to a different life. “And your name?”
Pulling back, he gazed into her eyes.
Feelings she’d suppressed for so long surged within her.
“Parker Kelly.”
“Oh,” she said, feeling stupid. She felt like a teenage girl again. But she covered. “Nice to meet you.”
“I bet your boyfriend and Carlos will be a few minutes. Men like that always have a couple points of business to discuss before they come back to the party.”
“I wouldn’t know. Jose is the first man I’ve ever dated who had any political pull.” Which was true. After years of moving and starting over, she’d found that it was better to tell the truth whenever she could.
“Really?” He put his hand beneath her chin and turned her head so she would look into his eyes. “What kind of woman are you, Ms. Cope?”
Again, all of her nerves bounced around in the pit of her stomach. “The kind of woman you probably wouldn’t like.”
He let out a light laugh. “You think?” He twirled her.
It was probably true. After all, she’d turned herself into something completely different from the girl he had known all of those years ago. “Yep.”
The side of his lip tugged up. “What kind of woman do you think I would like?”
She sighed, remembering one or two social media posts she’d seen over the years. There weren’t many, and she had wondered a lot about him. “Hmm, I have no idea.” Her heart raced so quickly, it felt like a bird trapped in a cage. “Probably the type who likes to follow men around and just wants to be a showpiece.”
Anger flashed across his face, but he controlled it well. “You think?”
The music changed to a country Christmas song with a faster rhy
thm.
He easily moved into a two-step, and she followed along without thinking too much about it. He twirled her out, then pulled her back fast. His dancing had clearly improved since prom their junior year.
They danced for a while, and she couldn’t believe how at ease she felt with this man. Sure, there was that blanket of pure chemistry and attraction, but underlying that was a sense of calm that she could honestly say she’d never felt with anyone else.
“Isn’t that what you’re doing with the governor?”
“What?”
“Following him around and being a showpiece?”
The man was still infuriating. There would be no way she could stay around him. “I think we should be done dancing.” She let go of his hand.
The music slowed, but he kept her hand. “No, I like this song.” He twirled her back in. His hand trailed down her back and down her leg.
“Hey!” She tried to pull back.
“I know you have a knife.” He gave her a coy smile and kept dancing, nodding to the little purse on her wrist. “And you clearly have a small gun inside your purse. You don’t look like a girl who would carry.”
Butterflies swarmed in her stomach, and she stumbled.
“Oh no, can’t blow your cover now,” he whispered. He kept her close. “Plus, I have this little issue where I had this girl who left once, in the middle of the night without telling me. Maybe you could give me some answers about that.”
Panic erupted inside of her and her mouth went dry.
He cocked an eyebrow at her.
How did he know? She tamped down her panic. Her father had always reminded her to never give up a cover unless you were certain it was blown. “That’s rough. Sounds like it kinda messed you up.” She ignored what he said about her having weapons.
