Targeted (Firebrand Book 1)

by Sandra Robbins

  Max nodded and stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He trudged toward the door to the hallway but stopped and turned to face Lainey. “I’m sorry, Mom. I won’t do it again.”

  Lainey bit down on her lip and nodded. “I’ll talk to you later.”

  She watched him go, his shoulders slumped and his feet shuffling on the floor. She glanced at Ash who stared after Max, and in his eyes she saw a flicker of something that frightened her. A memory maybe of past conflicts in this house? He blinked, and the moment was gone. The hooded veil she had come to know years ago settled over his eyes, and once again he was the Ash she’d known.

  “Thanks for breakfast, Lainey. I think I’ll go outside and check with the team guarding the house.”

  Not yet recovered from Max’s anger, she watched as he turned toward the back door. Before he could open it, she called out. “Thanks for helping me with Max.”

  He hesitated and turned back to her. “He’s a great kid, Lainey. Don’t be too hard on him. He’s just beginning to try his wings and is testing how to gain his independence. He’ll be all right.”

  “I hope so.” She picked up the dishes from the table and stalked to the sink. They rattled when she set them down. She gripped the edge of the counter for a moment before she turned around and saw that he had followed her. He stood only a few feet away, his hands in his pockets just as Max had done a few minutes earlier, and stared at her with a questioning look on his face.

  “Do you have some concerns about Max?”

  She crossed her arms and leaned with her back against the kitchen counter. “Max isn’t a soldier who has to follow orders, and I don’t want you filling his head full of nonsense about your so-called glamorous lifestyle.”

  His eyebrows arched. “I told him it was anything but that.”

  “You can tell me that, and I believe it. But a ten-year-old boy doesn’t.” She straightened and glared at him. “I’m thankful you came home to help us, but I don’t want Max hurt in any way—physically or emotionally.”

  He blinked, and then his eyes widened in disbelief. “You think I’d hurt him?”

  “I don’t know. But your exploits certainly appeal to an impressionable boy. When this danger we’re caught up in is over, I don’t want to have to deal with Max’s disappointment when you disappear from his life. I did it and survived, but I don’t want that for my son.”

  Ash’s lip curled up in a sneer, and he let his gaze sweep around the room. “Yeah, you certainly did survive, and I have to say you didn’t do too badly. You ended up with everything my family worked for—the business, the house, and all the money. What more could you want?”

  His words felt like a kick in the stomach, and she recoiled. “You left me to go off and play army with your friends. What was I supposed to do?”

  He clenched his fists at his sides and took another step toward her. “You weren’t supposed to marry my brother!” he yelled.

  She lifted her chin and glared at him. “I told you if you left I wouldn’t wait.”

  He raked his hands through his hair and closed his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he lowered his arm and inhaled a deep breath. “So it was all my fault.”

  “I didn’t leave, Ash.”

  “I was in a jungle in training for over a year,” he yelled. “When I got back to this country, I called your cell phone, but it had been disconnected. I called home and got an answering machine. Finally William Mason caught me up on all the news since I’d been away. Imagine how I felt to find out that the woman I’d thought about every day since I’d been gone was married to my brother, and they had a baby together.”

  Her determination to not revisit the past with Ash had disappeared, and she had to get it back. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Ash. We may never be able to get over our past history, but I’m thankful those bad memories didn’t keep you from coming home when Max and I needed help. I don’t know who wants to hurt us, but I suspect it has something to do with you. I hope you and your friends in Firebrand can find out who that is before anyone gets hurt.”

  He turned away from her and took two steps before he stopped, exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck. His hands drifted to his side, and his fingers curled into his palms. After a few seconds he took a deep breath and faced her. “I’m sorry I overreacted, too. Discussing the past won’t do anything but stir up bad memories. All I’m here to do is to find out who wants to hurt you, and I promise I’ll do everything in my power to do that and protect you and Max in the meantime.”

  She struggled to hold back her tears and managed a small smile. “Thank you, Ash.”

  He stared at her for a moment before he walked to the back door and placed his hand on the door knob. “Like I said, I’d better go find the team that’s guarding the house and talk with them. Then I’m going out to the new facility to talk to Reese. He’s looking into a lead for me.”

  “About your phone call?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “Are you going to tell me about it?”

  He didn’t answer for a moment but just stared at her. “I will when I know something. Right now we’re just beginning to investigate the lead.”

  “Okay. But you will tell me when you’re sure, won’t you?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Also I need to line up the detail to accompany us to the school musical tomorrow. Do you mind if I use your car?”

  “Not at all. Feel free to use it anytime while you’re here.” She pointed to a wall hook next to the door. “The keys are hanging there.”

  “Thanks.” He reached for the keys and stuck them in his pocket, then pulled out his cell phone. “Give me your cell number in case I need to call you.”

  Her phone lay on the kitchen table, and she picked it up. “And I need yours, too.”

  When they’d finished exchanging numbers, Ash pulled the back door open but stopped before he stepped outside. His shoulders sagged, but he didn’t turn to face her as he spoke. “One more thing, Lainey. I really like Max, and I’m sorry I haven’t been around to see him. After all, he is Richard’s son and the only family member I have left. I should have done more for him after Richard died. I don’t want to lose contact with him again. After this is all over, I want to work on keeping a relationship with him. Is that all right with you?”

  Lainey’s throat closed up, and she swallowed. “Y-yes, if that’s what you want.”

  He glanced over his shoulder at her. “I do.”

  With that he yanked the door open and headed into the back yard. Lainey stood at the sink for a moment before she walked over and collapsed into one of the kitchen chairs. She crossed her arms on top of the table and buried her face in them as the tears flowed down her cheeks.

  When she’d gone to bed last night, she’d had no idea her life was about to be turned upside down. Less than twenty-four hours later, she and her son had been threatened with death, and a man she hadn’t seen in eleven years had swept back into her world.

  She had told Ash she didn’t want Max harmed physically or emotionally, but she wanted the same thing for herself. Every time she thought of the masked men and the knife at her throat, she trembled in horror. On the other hand seeing Ash again threatened to stir up long dormant feelings.

  At the moment she didn’t know which of the two was more disturbing.

  <><><>

  The back yard looked different than it had when he was a boy. There were fewer trees than Ash remembered. The one where his and Richard’s tire swing had hung was gone, but the biggest surprise of all was a swimming pool that covered the area where his father had once carefully tended his roses.

  The freeform design pool with its flowing lines and a waterfall feature at one end created the illusion of a natural lake in the middle of the yard. It reminded him of a secluded pond he’d once come upon when he was on a mission in South America. A large pool house faced him from the opposite side of the water.

  The back yard might not be the same, but the unde
rcurrent of disapproval he’d always felt growing up was still evident in the house. Years ago it had been the escape of his father’s constant criticism that had made him leave home. A few minutes ago he’d felt his father’s presence again when Lainey had warned him about hurting Max. As if he’d ever do that.

  He glanced over his shoulder at the house and swallowed. Had their argument upset Lainey as much as it did him? He didn’t want it to be this way. Through the years he’d developed the ability to hide his emotions, and he hoped she hadn’t seen how he really felt. He’d spent too many years telling himself how much he hated her. But once he’d seen her again, he wasn’t so sure of his feelings.

  Maybe it was the fact that he liked Max so much that made him want to mend some fences with Lainey, but that was going to take time. Right now he had to keep his mind on his reason for being here.

  He let his gaze drift over the back yard in search of Casey and her team, but as usual they blended right in with the landscape. He cupped his hand around his mouth and gave the emphatic whistle bob white that Firebrand used to communicate their whereabouts. An answering call came back right away, and Ash smiled when Casey Morgan stepped from behind a tree and walked toward him.

  He hopped down the steps and met her before she’d covered half the distance to the house. As expected, she was dressed in camouflage from her uniform to the covering of her helmet. With an M-16 in her hands, she presented an impressive picture of a seasoned soldier. She stopped in front of him and pulled off the sunglasses she wore.

  She smiled, and her blue eyes sparkled. “Hi, Ash. How’re things going with your sister-in-law and nephew? I’ve caught sight of them several times, but I don’t think they’ve seen us.”

  Ash shook his head. “No, they haven’t.” He glanced around. “Where are the others?”

  “Cactus is by the back fence, and I’ve had two out front, but I’ve called them in. Phillip and his team are already coming in the back way to relieve us.”

  Ash reached in his pocket, pulled out the car keys, and stared at them. The thought struck him that he didn’t need to leave Max and Lainey right now. Then he shook his head and frowned. They were being protected by his friends, but he had this strange feeling that he shouldn’t leave. Not yet.

  He looked up at Casey. She tilted her head to one side as if to ask what was wrong. He took a deep breath and shoved the keys back in his pocket. “I was going out to see Reese, but I think I’ll wait on that. Casey, can I ask a favor of you?”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  “Lainey is having a hard time with what’s going on, and I don’t know how to make it better for her. I think she needs a woman to talk to. Would you mind bringing your gear back here and staying for a few days? I really need you to help us tomorrow when Max has to perform in a school musical.”

  She smiled and nodded. “Of course. I’ll be glad to come back. And I’ll help any other way I can.”

  He reached up and squeezed her shoulder. “You’re a good friend. I knew I could count on you.”

  “Then let me get these guys settled, and I’ll head out to the new facility. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

  “Thanks, Casey.”

  “No problem.” She whistled, and her detail along with the four men there to relieve them converged at the spot where she and Ash stood. He listened as Casey briefed Phillip Tyler about their time at the DeHan estate and where her men had been stationed.

  Phillip nodded and then turned to the three men with him. “I’ll take Casey’s position. Hank, go to the back fence, and Mitch and Harvey, take the front.”

  Ash watched as the new patrol faded into the shadows and Casey’s team disappeared toward the back wall of the estate. After a few minutes, he turned and went back to the house. He dreaded telling Lainey about the two decisions he’d just made. For starters, Casey was going to stay at the house, but he felt sure she’d agree to that.

  He wasn’t so sure what she’d have to say about what else he’d decided. He intended to stay there, too.

  Chapter 5

  Lainey couldn’t believe it when Ash walked back inside. “You haven’t had time to go out to the training center and get back. What happened?”

  He hung the car keys on the wall rack, sauntered over to the table, and dropped down in the chair. “I decided I could go later. We need to talk.”

  She started to protest that they had talked enough for one day, but his stony gaze told her he wasn’t taking no for an answer. She swallowed and sat down across from him. “What about?”

  “I thought I’d stay out at the training center while I’m here, but I’ve decided I don’t need to be that far away from you and Max. I don’t want to impose on you, Lainey, but I really think I need to stay here at the house.”

  Her heart lurched, and she sat up straight. Ash in the same house with her? She didn’t want that at all. “Ash, I don’t think. . .”

  He held up his hand to stop her. “I know what you’re going to say. You’re thinking about the way things were with us years ago, but that’s in the past. I don’t want to pick up where we left off any more than you do. I can sleep in my old room and be available in case your night time visitors return.”

  Lainey’s face grew warm, and she clasped her hands on the table in front of her. His words made sense. Perhaps it would be better for him to be close. “Thank you, Ash. I would feel safer if you were in the house.”

  He breathed what she perceived as a sigh of relief and nodded. “I know this is uncomfortable for you, but it will give me a chance to get to know Max better, too. I thought it might also make you feel better if we had a woman here as well. Casey Morgan, the only woman who’s ever passed the entrance into Firebrand, is going to stay here, too.”

  Lainey wrapped her fingers around her coffee cup and stared down into the dark contents. Her relief of a few minutes ago when he’d tried to reassure her he didn’t expect a replay of their former relationship evaporated as the cold truth hit her. He hadn’t been warning her to make her feel better. He had simply been preparing her for the arrival of his current girlfriend.

  Her lips trembled, but she forced a smile to her face. “Casey Morgan? Who is she?”

  “She’s a great person. I think you’ll really like her.” He stood up, walked to the cabinet, and pulled out a cup. He poured himself a cup of coffee, grabbed a napkin, and sat back down before he continued. “She grew up in Virginia and served in the army for a while. When she heard about Firebrand, she wanted to join. We all kind of laughed about it at first, but she sure proved us wrong. She’s the only woman who’s ever passed the rigorous requirements to be admitted.”

  Lainey took a sip of her coffee and set the cup back in the saucer before she directed a somber gaze at Ash. “She sounds like quite a woman. And will she be sharing your old bedroom with you?”

  He had just taken a drink from his cup, and coffee spewed from his mouth. He grabbed the napkin and clamped it to his mouth as his face turned white. Pushing back from the table, he rushed to the sink and leaned over it as he tried to quiet his coughing.

  When he’d gained control again, he turned and stared at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. Slowly he walked back to the table, never taking his eyes off her. She squirmed under his searching gaze and looked down at her cup.

  He kicked the chair he’d been sitting in out of the way and leaned forward, his arms stiff and his hands planted on the table. She’d seen him angry many times, but this was different. “Do you really think I’d do something like that, Lainey? Do you believe I have so little respect for you and Max that I would bring another woman into your home?” His last words were nearly a shout.

  She pushed back from the table and leaned across it to face him. “I have no idea what kind of person you are, Ash. I haven’t seen you in years. When you said you were bringing another woman here, I assumed. . .”

  He straightened to his full height, gritted his teeth, and walked around the table to face her. They were
barely inches apart, and the heat of his fury set her heart to pounding. “Well, you assumed wrong,” he yelled. “Casey is a good friend to me, and she was to you last night. She stood out in your yard all night and until this afternoon keeping guard on you and Max. She’s only had a few hours sleep, and she’s willing to come back here and try to keep you safe tonight. She also has high morals and a deep faith in God. I won’t have you thinking badly of her.”

  Lainey tried to take a step backward, but he reached out and grabbed her arms. She tried to twist away, but his grip tightened. “I’m sorry I misunderstood. I’ll make her feel welcome here.”

  “And what about me?” he demanded.

  She stopped trying to escape his grasp and stared up into his flushed face. “What about you?”

  He leaned his head closer until she could feel his breath on her face. “Are you sorry you misunderstood me, too?”

  She hesitated for a moment as she stared into his stony gaze. Then she inhaled and nodded. “I’m sorry, Ash.”

  “You should be,” he muttered as he released his hold and pushed her away. He didn’t move for a moment as his gaze raked her, and her heart shriveled up from the fire in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but then seemed to change his mind about whatever he was going to say. He took a step back from her.

  “I think I’ll go back outside for a while. I’ll bring Casey in when she arrives.”

  He headed for the back door, but before he could open it Max’s voice rang out from the den. “Hey, Mom, we have a package that was just delivered. I think it’s some kind of clock. I can hear it ticking.”

  Ash stopped, his hand on the door knob. He turned to Lainey. “A package? How could that be? The gate is locked, and no one can get in.”

  Lainey’s knees grew weak, and she put her hand on the back of a chair to steady herself. “Why would there be. . .”

  The words died in her throat as Ash’s eyes grew wide, and his nostrils flared. He gave a strangled cry, and then he ran from the room. His shouted words seemed to bounce off the walls. “Max, don’t touch that box!”