To her amazement, they both remained in the parlor with her, which cheered her immensely. They must have realized she could be helpful. Or perhaps they just didn’t want to sit and watch Steel take a bath.
She eyed the silk settee and took a chair. Neither of the grumpies wanted to sit on the fragile thing either. The one she’d labeled Grumpy Two grabbed the other chair, leaving Grumpy One to stand. While she hadn’t been able to tell them apart in the dark, in parlor lighting, Grumpy One had a red-hued buzz cut and was slightly heavier than Grumpy Two, who was lean and had a brown buzz cut. Both had such a puss on their faces, brows furrowed and hard eyes, she was assured any conversation would not be pleasant.
“Miss Campinelli—” Grumpy One said.
“Stop right there! My name is Tess Campbell. That is my legal and heartfelt name. I am not part of this sick past my father and brothers wish to reestablish. I will do anything I can to help you keep Steel safe. And if that means you have to kill members of my family, I’m okay with that. They are horrible people! Like Grams, I want nothing to do with them.”
Her outburst left them confused and silent for a while. Finally, Grumpy Two leaned forward and spoke, his voice a bit softer and less hostile. “How long have you felt this way?”
“From my first memories, I was terrified of my father. My mother tried to keep me away from him as much as possible, but there were days when she was so beaten she couldn’t move. Then it was up to me to make dinner, and if it wasn’t good enough, he’d drag my mother out of bed and force her to make him a better meal. Finally, she couldn’t do it anymore and she killed herself. Or so it was ruled.”
Tess closed her eyes, recalling the image of her mother hanging from the ceiling beam. Nothing beneath her feet. Later there was a tipped over stool, but Tess was certain it hadn’t been there when she’d first found her mother. She would have used it to try to save her.
“My mother could not be buried in the family lot because she committed suicide, and according to the priest, for that she would burn in hell for all eternity.”
Tess gripped her hands and fought against the blackness of that time. “Within a few weeks, I had a new mother, whom I detested on sight. Within seven months, I had a new brother and another followed a year later. I liked my brothers at first. But when the eldest turned thirteen, Father decided he needed to raise the boys to ensure they became proper psychos. Within six months, they were bragging they had tortured and killed someone. I wanted nothing more to do with them. In many ways, I find them far more frightening than my father.”
“How so?” Grumpy Two asked.
“He at least seems sane when not angry. Not them. They are always feral monsters hungry for the next kill.”
“So you think your brothers are Steel’s biggest concern?”
“No. They do whatever my father tells them. They are an extension of him.”
She met the man’s eyes. “My father is the source of danger. However, he always has someone else do his dirty work, and in this case, I believe if he goes after Steel, it will be my brothers who come after him.”
“And how do you feel about that?” Grumpy One asked.
She focused on him. “If it came to saving Steel or shooting my brothers, I’d have no problem shooting those feral dogs.” She lifted her chin. “Does that shock you?”
He didn’t reply. So she refocused on Grumpy Two. “You cannot be around such evil and not be impacted by it. At least I couldn’t. My step-mother kept telling me to ignore the ugliness. But I can’t. They’re monsters. And my father is determined to control everyone, no matter the cost. So if I thought the only thing holding Steel here was me, I would send him away. But Steel came for other reasons. I suppose you know about his women problems of the past.”
Grumpy One didn’t reply, but Grumpy Two nodded, so she focused on him. “This job is his last chance to turn around his reputation and prove he’s a great archeologist. He’s discovered several one-of-a-kind finds in my woods that could make him famous.”
Grumpy Two pulled out his notepad. “I thought his title here is forest manager.”
“It is. But no one knew about the many sites he has located in the woods. We’re planning to split the jobs between us. I’ll manage the forest…something I’ve been doing since I was sixteen, and Steel will run the dig sites.” She leaned forward. “What I’m going to share next is a bit personal. Will you tell me your first names?”
Both remained silent.
She sighed. “So far, I’ve been labeling you Grumpy One and Grumpy Two. Do you really want me to call you that?”
Grumpy Two asked, “Who’s one?”
She pointed to the guy standing.
“I’m Dan Brown,” he said, evidently not wishing to be Grumpy Two.
She looked to the other guy. His crossed arms over his chest assured her he wasn’t giving her his name.
“Okay, Dan and Grumpy One.” She focused on Dan. “I never believed in soul mates. Hell, I didn’t believe in love…neither did Steel. But we meshed so well, I think we fell in love before we even recognized what it was. However, we are aware of the danger both to his career and life, so we’re determined to keep our relationship professional and platonic. We’re best friends. Nothing more.”
Grumpy One snorted.
“When I learned of Steel’s past, I knew he couldn’t leave my woods. He has to stay and succeed. I also know my father would cause problems if he believed I loved a man not of his choosing.”
“What sort of problems?” Dan asked.
“According to Grams, when a daughter of a Mafia Don tries to choose her own husband, the family will first bring the young man in and see if they can scare him off. If not, then the Don will try to corrupt him into becoming family.”
“And if that fails?”
“Then he disappears. However, Grams doesn’t believe that can happen to Steel. He has a powerful family who won’t let it go. He can’t just disappear.”
Dan nodded in agreement.
“So my plan is to invite all our new hires to live in my home. My father will almost certainly place a spy in the mix, and that person will be able to assure him we are nothing but co-workers.”
“How many bedrooms does your house have?” Dan asked.
“Four, but they are huge rooms. I’ll have a room, Steel will have a room, and I’ll put bunks in the other two. We can easily house twelve to sixteen.”
“If we can’t change his mind about leaving, any chance you’d let us stay there?”
“If you are serious about keeping him safe, then you need to be close by. But I don’t think he’ll put up with that unless you are useful. Any chance you’d be willing to go undercover as the security advisors for our new state park?”
“We can’t agree to that,” Grumpy One barked.
Steel spoke from the door. “Well, you better call whoever you need to approve it because it’s the best offer you’re getting. Tess is right. I’m not just here for her. This is my shot for making a name for myself. I’m not leaving this site.” His eyes met hers, and she could almost hear him add “or you”.
God, she loved him…even in dress pants and a plaid sweater vest.
Grumpy One tried to go into the hall, but Steel stopped him. “And before we go any further, I need to see both of your IDs.”
They handed them over. He read them and passed Dan’s back. “Thank you, Dan.” He slapped Grumpy One’s ID in the palm of his hand. “And Lionel, you need to check the attitude with my co-worker right now.”
How long had he been standing in the hall?
When Lionel didn’t reply, Steel added. “She’s irreplaceable. You’re not.”
That caused the man to frown at Tess. “If I have offended you, Miss Campbell, I do apologize.”
If? He had to be kidding. “Apology accepted. However, if you are planning to work for us, you’ll need to drop the titles and the attitude because both Steel and I have firing rights with the staff. That’s the only way to get a cohesive group
who will take orders from either boss.”
She hadn’t discussed this with Steel and glanced to see how he was taking to her idea. His smile and nod assured her he was in agreement.
“Not happening,” Lionel stated.
Steel walked over and stood by Tess. “The matter is non-negotiable. You may either go in undercover as my security advisors and actually do the job, or I’ll requests better agents. I intended to make you guys drive up the worse road imaginable on a daily basis to ensure I was still alive and then drive back down. Now, if you don’t know anything about securing a forest from trespassers, that’s a different matter.”
“I do,” Dan stated. “And I’m familiar with woods. Use to hunt with my dad.”
Lionel glared at his partner.
“Great. Dan would you let your boss know I have requested for you to go undercover and that Lionel isn’t going to work out. I would have already fired him for his attitude.”
“We are here to save your damn life, not play boy scouts!” Lionel yelled.
“If you require a second guy, try to pull in someone with the appropriate qualifications and a better personality.”
He then gripped Tess’s hand and pulled her from the room. “There are much better rooms than this one.”
“Thank God, or I was going to start feeling sorry for these poor rich people.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You are fabulous. First, your idea to put the security guys to work was brilliant and second, I love your idea that both of us can fire someone. I was worried that we might get some assholes who didn’t want to take instructions from a woman, and I didn’t know how I was going to solve that. But if we warn them right off we both have the right to fire them, there won’t be any going around the boss they don’t like or respect.”
“Well, just for the record, I have no intention of firing anyone on your archeological staff. However, there will be staff we share.”
“Fine. But if anyone on my staff gives you trouble, I want to know about it.”
She rewarded him with a happy smile. They always seemed to be in lockstep.
They arrived at what appeared to be a jungle. When they entered the room, the temp and moisture increased significantly. A glass ceiling arched a hundred feet above them.
Tess laughed. “Is there, by chance, a beach in here?”
“Funny you should ask that,” he teased and led her to twenty square feet of sand laid before what appeared to be a natural pool nested in rock.
“This can’t be real,” she insisted.
“No more than the Atrium at the Minnesota zoo. Jackie hired the same company to build her a modified version.”
“Who’s Jackie?”
“The owner of this house. She’s an expat from Britain.”
Tess shook her head and then smiled. “Still, it’s a billion times better than the ugly parlor.”
He sat down in a fabric lounge chair. “I agree.”
Tess took the chair next to his and leaned over to untie her shoes. “Do you think anyone would like that parlor?”
“Actually, there are some who would think it extraordinarily beautiful.”
“Are they blind?” she challenged.
“No. They are antique aficionados. That room should be in a museum.”
“Why the hell would the butler put us in there?”
He sighed heavily and closed his eyes. “British people get a little crazy about their royals, even one as far down the ascension line as I am. Jackie is a friend of my mother’s. I met her just after her marriage to an American Tycoon. I had seen pictures of this house and the atrium, so when Secret Service brought us here, I feared…”
He stopped talking, so Tess filled the rest in for him. “That your mother would find out about me?”
“No!” He playfully smacked her head. “Not even close.” He sighed again. “I feared Jackie would be inside, insisting upon a party so all her new American friends could stare at me like a foreign and endangered species.”
Tess smiled at his explanation. She understood exactly why he’d hate that. “That would certainly make me groan. Surprised you didn’t jump out of the car and run away.”
“And leave you. Not a chance.”
The door to their jungle beach opened, and Dan entered. He rolled his eyes, swatted a palm leaf out of his way, and approached, frowning when his shoes sank in the sand. “I talked to my boss. He wants you to stay here.”
“Not happening,” Steel replied.
“We’ve got a ton of work to do,” Tess added.
“In that case, then Lionel’s replacement, Brady Crawford and I will go undercover as security. However, our primary purpose is to protect you, so if you want your woods secured, you’ll have to arrange that separately.”
Tess frowned. “That rather defeats the whole undercover thing. Don’t you think the head of security will find it odd that you won’t do anything he tells you?”
“Yeah, this isn’t going to work,” Steel said as though he didn’t have a care in the world.
“It will if Dan is the head of security,” Tess insisted and looked at Dan. “While you will have to take the time to tell others what to do, you’ll at least have control of the situation and the other security guys carrying guns.”
He frowned. “Park security shouldn’t be carrying guns.”
“This is Iowa. Even the hikers can and often will be carrying guns. While they are supposed to remove the ammunition and place the gun in a case if they bring it into a state park, most don’t. And the rangers now carry military assault rifles.”
“Shit!” Dan declared and stared up at the glass ceiling towering above them. “I’ll talk to my boss…again.” He stepped behind the giant elephant leaves.
“It’s Dan… No, it’s not. He refuses to stay here. He’s going back to the state park… Not sure. I’m guessing sometime tomorrow… He made a good point about me going undercover. If they have to hire a real security head, the guy will fire me for not obeying his orders. If I’m head, then I can ensure Brady and I remain focused on our package… Okay, I’ll let them know.”
He exited the plants. “You’ve got your way on this matter. I just hope to God it doesn’t cost you your life.”
Chapter 15
“I’m never leaving home without my PC again,” Tess grumbled.
Steel kissed the top of her head. “I’m sure they have several here, but they won’t have your program.”
“Find me a computer. I sent Tom an update. I can talk him through converting the data to a program that everyone has, and he can email it to me.”
Steel walked to the door and spoke to a unit on the wall. “Please bring a laptop with guest privileges to the atrium.” He then returned to his chair.
“Glad one of us knows the secret handshakes of this place,” she said. “Any chance you can get Dan back in here so we can discuss security?”
Just then the butler entered with two laptops. “Mac or Microsoft?” he asked as if offering a choice of beverage.
“Microsoft,” Tess replied, now thirsty. “Any chance you have green tea?”
“Hot or cold?”
“Cold.”
“Sweet or unsweetened?”
“Sweet.”
“Bring two glasses and a pitcher,” Steel added. “And a table to work on.”
The butler frowned at that. “The master has a very fine library, Your Highness.”
Steel had tensed at his pretentious title. Damn thing had caused him nothing but misery most of his life. Technically, he should be addressed as ‘Your Royal Highness’, but that even annoyed him more.
“I will bring the table,” the butler quickly declared and escaped the room with the Mac. Evidently, he realized he’d pissed off Steel.
“Don’t become grumpy, or I’ll be forced to change your name to Your Grumpiness,” she teased.
His jaw relaxed, and he smiled at her. “Isn’t that what you were calling the Secret Service?”
“It was
, and you don’t want to get thrown in with that group.”
He chuckled. “They do seem to hate their job…or at least this assignment.”
“Can you call Tom and tell him to read his email,” she added as she typed on the PC.
***
Steel marveled at Tess’s ability to multitask. She managed to cheer him up and be efficient at the same time.
When the butler returned with a small table, their pitcher and their glasses, Tess asked if he could locate Dan and bring him here.
“The gentlemen have retired for the night.”
“Grumpy One can retire, but we need Dan,” she said as she typed on the laptop.
Steel took over one of her tasks. “Tell Dan we require his presence. Also, bring a third glass and another pitcher.”
The butler nodded and left.
Tess watched the old man leave and then whispered, “From now on, you are responsible for all butler communication. He doesn’t like me.”
Steel chuckled. “I doubt he likes me either, but he knows that I know how a proper butler should behave.”
“Had to be awful growing up with such a grumpy, disapproving fellow following you about.”
A hearty laugh erupted from his chest. Never once had anyone felt bad for him having a butler, but in fact, she was correct. His disapproving butler had been a constant rain cloud on his life. He smiled at her. “I suspect my childhood would have been a great deal more fun if you’d been there to make acute observations.”
“Are there woods in England?”
“Very nice ones. How can you not know that?”
“The furthest from Iowa I’ve been was when I went to school in Wisconsin last year.”
“Speaking of that, why is it that you couldn’t get work experience credits for some of your classes?”
She stopped typing. “Believe me, I asked. But all that did was piss my professors off.” She then grimaced. “In retrospect, I probably should have dazzled them with my brilliance for a few weeks of school, then asked.”
“Would you mind if Tom and I try to get you credit for working here this year? Honestly, I don’t see how I’m going to do this without you.”
Unexpected Love (White Oak-Mafia #2) Page 16
