by Marie Harte
“Central?” She looked to Deacon and raised a brow. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
He sighed. “Not my idea. Noel’s making all our decisions.” Deacon should have been more annoyed about the fact, and he was when he thought about it. But he trusted Noel. The guy would take a bullet for him, and Deacon couldn’t say that about many folks. Hell, just Noel and Hammer, really. Big Joe had too much invested in the Business to be totally trustworthy. As it was, though their handler had said Noel leaving would be no big deal, Deacon didn’t trust the easy acquiescence. Just one more instance of having to watch his buddy’s back on top of the assassination attempts.
As the three of them left Solene’s daycare and headed for Hammer’s huge truck, he tried to remain aloof, unaffected by the woman’s presence. Then he caught a whiff of her shampoo, something floral that went straight to his gut.
He had to swallow a groan. Man, I am so screwed.
“I don’t get it,” she said, her voice pitched low. “You guys took care of the thugs after Addy and Noel. Dickhead Brent is dead.” She blew out a breath, and he had a feeling the tossing and turning she did at night had more to do with her brush with violence than proximity to him. Deacon preferred to think of her lost in sexual frustration, sleeping so close but not close enough to him down the hall.
Yeah, he knew he was delusional.
“We took care of a few pieces of the puzzle, but it’s nowhere near complete,” Deacon answered, trying to get his head on straight. “It’s too pat, and Noel knows it. The assassination attempts, the mysterious locket, the baby…it’s all connected. I feel it.”
“Yeah? Well I feel nothing but hungry.” Hammer hurried them into his truck and drove to their go-to restaurant—the Treehouse Café in Lynwood. “Look, let’s talk about what we know. One: some woman dropped a baby off at Noel’s and said it was his. The age of the kid puts his time of conception down to that stint in Mexico. So, it actually made sense Noel thought the woman might have confused him for you or me.”
“Seriously? I am so much better looking than you guys.”
Solene chuckled, then coughed to cover it.
“Two,” Hammer continued and glanced at Deacon, “we all thought it was yours.”
Considering the three of them had been in Mexico around the same time, Deacon still felt a little miffed that they wanted to blame him for the dirty deed.
Solene sat behind him in the extended cab, and he could feel her stare like a heated brand. “Interesting how everyone assumes the boy is yours.”
“Assumed, past tense, since the paternity test showed it’s none of us,” Deacon retorted. “And sure, everyone thought it was mine. Because women love me. Normal women love me,” he corrected before she could say something sarcastic. In the rearview, her saw her pursed lips. “But I figure you’ve been through some stress, so I’m giving you some time before you too take the Deacon-plunge.”
Hammer muttered something under his breath and laughed. Deacon didn’t want to know.
Deacon continued Hammer’s bullet-points. “Three, we know Brent was a plant, made to look like a civilian while he kept an eye on Noel. And man, he was here for years. That’s freakin’ weird.”
Solene huffed. “Look, Brent’s dead, and good riddance. So, we have him, that guy who tried to kill Noel in Seattle, then those two other guys who tried to kidnap Addy. Again, all dead.”
“And the guy who tried to run Noel down in the city,” Hammer added. “But an acquaintance took care of him.”
“Don’t forget the woman Addy shot.” Solene shook her head. “I still can’t believe sweet little Addy blew someone away. My girl is awesome.”
“She bothers me,” Deacon admitted.
Solene got huffy. “Why? Because Addy can take care of herself and doesn’t need a man to do it for her? That threatens you?”
“No, Blondie. His contractor, Annette. The dead woman bothers me,” Deacon explained. “I mean, I get Brent acting out—a wannabe agent pissed off that Noel will always be better than him. Brent was a washout. They recruited him but the training didn’t stick. Same with the Wilkes brothers. But Annette Fusco was a legit contractor. A good one. I can’t see her working for Brent.”
“Maybe you’re wrong. All the bad guys are dead. We’re all safe; you can go home.”
“Wish it was that simple.” Hammer sighed. “Sorry, Solene, but we’re not out of the woods yet. From what I heard, Annette wasn’t working for Brent.”
“What did you hear?” Deacon and Solene asked at the same time, then Deacon smiled at her in the rearview and said, “Jinx. Buy me a Coke.”
“Jackass.”
He smiled wider.
“I’ll tell you guys when we’re all together, that way I only have to say it once.” Hammer frowned. “That Violet. She gets pissy if she thinks she’s being left out of anything. I swear that woman is more than a nurse. She’s a contractor. Has to be.”
“Why?” Deacon teased, loving the fact Noel’s nurse irritated the crap out of Mr. Easy Go Lucky. “Because she can kick your ass at darts, badminton, and Ping-Pong?”
Hammer scowled. “No. It’s the way she moves.”
Solene chuckled. “Sure it is.”
“Shut up,” Hammer growled. “And not one word out of you either.” He pointed at Deacon. “I’m hungry and tired and don’t need the hassle. Wait ’til we get back to Noel’s before driving me nuts. Instead, we’ll talk about more pleasant things.”
He parked and they all got out.
“More pleasant things?” Solene repeated. They sat outside, enjoying the crisp and surprisingly sunny October late afternoon. For once the weather felt warm on the otherwise overcast island. “Like what?”
“Like what it’s like to live with the man no woman can resist,” Hammer answered, a twinkle in his dumb brown eyes.
Deacon wanted to punch him. Hard. But knowing Hammer, the blow would bounce off his steel-hard abs and bruise Deacon’s precious hand. “You’re lucky I left my favorite baton at home.”
Hammer grinned and ordered enough to feed a small army.
Not to be outdone, Solene ordered a burger and fries. He didn’t know where she put her appetite on that trim frame. “Well, hot stuff? You going all manly and getting croutons on your salad or what?”
The waiter added, “Actually, the house salad is a pretty popular choice today.”
Considering he’d been about to order the house salad, Deacon paused. Was it so wrong to care about what went into his body? So he was a health nut. So what?
Hammer shook his head. “Sad, man. Just sad.”
Solene’s light brown eyes glowed like rich amber as she teased him. An ongoing argument they continued to have during their shared dinners. He tried to get her to eat healthy, while she tried to tempt him with bad carbs and sugar.
“He’s passably pretty, but such a lightweight. A salad? Really? I bet you’ll have a light beer to go with that. Or a diet soda? Maybe some rice cakes? What are you watching your figure for, precious?”
Annoyed beyond measure, Deacon leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against her lips, wanting to nip her and soothe the sting at the same time.
Man, he’d been waiting what felt like a lifetime to taste that smart mouth.
After a pause, she jerked back, her eyes wide. He loved the dark blush staining her cheeks, as well as her shock and—he wanted to think—awe.
“Why, I’m watching my figure for you, sweetcheeks. I wouldn’t want to gain a few pounds and turn you off. Not when you spend so much of your day leering at my fine self.”
Her parted lips and frosty glare soothed his ego. Oh yeah. She wasn’t immune to their connection, no matter how much she tried to pretend she was. He could only annoy her if he mattered to her on some level.
Hammer stared from Deacon to Solene, a wide grin on his face. “You guys feel strongly about…food…don’t you?”
The waiter coughed. “Your order, sir?”
Deacon gave a noncha
lant shrug. “Solene makes a good point. I should be trying harder to impress her.”
“No, you really shouldn’t,” she growled.
He glanced at the waiter, who waited patiently, trying not to laugh. “Bring me what she’s having—a big burger and fries. Medium rare. And hold the onion.” He wiggled his brows. “I’m getting lucky later tonight.”
Under her breath, Solene said, “Only with your right hand, buddy.”
Two
God hates me. Solene stared at the bane of her existence as they entered Noel’s house, wondering how she’d made it the past four weeks without shooting or seriously maiming him.
Deacon Shaw had to be the most annoying, sexy, god-like Adonis of a man she’d ever had the misfortune to meet. It didn’t help that he exuded danger, could handle himself with his fists or knives in a fight, and could no doubt handle her all over the place. On a gym mat, in a sparring match, between her silk sheets…
She wanted to bang her head against the table. As usual, when dealing with Deacon, her mind immediately went to sex and thoughts of seeing him without those blasted pajama pants.
She just knew he was doing it on purpose, wandering around her house to “protect her” in nothing but soft flannel bottoms. Damn him. Those abs. That jawline. Those eyes.
“Solene?” Hammer sounded concerned, but when she turned to him, she saw him smirking at her.
“Oh, shut it, He-Man. Let’s get this over with. The sooner you guys fix this mess, the sooner we can get back to our regular lives.” And she needed that to happen fast, because as much as Deacon annoyed her, he’d been chipping away at her protective walls with humor and oh-my-God sex appeal.
Deacon waited for her to pass him and sit on the couch then deliberately sat right next to her. His muscular thigh pressed to hers.
“You know, there are two chairs and a lot of couch for you to sit on. You don’t need to be wedged against me.”
Hammer sat down on his other side. “I’m sure he was saving this spot for me.”
She sighed.
Noel entered the room with Addy next to him. With the school day out, Addy must have come right home. Not to her home next door, but this one she now shared with Noel. Talk about moving fast. Granted, Addy had known of Noel for years, but she hadn’t started dating him until the last few weeks.
Looking at the pair, Solene badly wanted to believe in the possibility of a happily ever after for them. Relationships were tough enough. Adding assassins and dead bodies to the mix didn’t make anything easier.
“Hi, Solene.” Addy beamed. Tall, beautiful, her Eurasian features striking, the love in her eyes so soft. She’d always been a romantic at heart, and Solene hoped she’d found The One in Noel.
They’d become best friends a year ago, two young, single women with a love of bad sci-fi movies and the island in common. Solene couldn’t imagine her life without Addy in it. Addy’s charm and naiveté complemented Solene’s more cynical world view. Plus, she felt a need to protect her younger friend from the harshness life had to offer.
A glance at Noel told her that she wasn’t the only one wanting to protect Addy. More aloof than Deacon and Hammer, Noel Cavanaugh had a large presence nonetheless. Handsome with dark, watchful eyes, Noel gave the impression of being less of a threat than he was. He didn’t overwhelm with charm or size, yet from what Addy had said, the man could move, and he had a thing for guns.
The pair kissed and sat together in an overlarge chair.
“Aw, Noel,” Deacon said, his voice overly sweet. “You don’t have to do that. Addy, you can sit in my lap, honey.”
“Get your own girl,” Noel said, his voice chilly. But Solene saw a glint of humor in the curl of his lips. “And speaking of girl, Vi had to leave. She’s heading back home for a short break then onto the next broken body.”
Hammer nodded. “Good. One less unknown to worry about.”
“I liked her,” Addy said.
“I didn’t trust her.” Yet Hammer looked a little let down, to Solene’s way of thinking. She’d seen the attraction between the pair, even if neither had admitted to it, too busy sniping at the other.
After Noel’s brutal fight with Brent, Violet had nursed Noel back to health in no time, then spent her days working with Addy, giving the poor woman much needed physical therapy with that leg. Addy had been shot in the thigh and stomach, but by the grace of God the bullets had missed hitting bone.
“Let’s be honest,” Deacon said with a wink at Solene before directing his attention to Hammer. “Vi didn’t look like anyone’s nurse to me. Not in those tight jeans and all those Bears shirts she constantly wore.”
“It was the Seahawks, not Bears.” Hammer flushed at the pointed look everyone gave him. “Hey, I pay attention to details. It’s in the job description.”
“Uh-huh.” Deacon had gotten the rise out of Hammer he wanted, apparently.
Then again, maybe it was a good thing Vi had gone. Solene had overheard Deacon telling Hammer to keep her close—just in case.
Just in case they had to send Vi back in pieces? Make her disappear? Drop her off a tall bridge? Frankly, she couldn’t see the guys doing that. But she didn’t want an answer regardless.
How the hell did assassins make bodies vanish, anyway? Acid? Graveyards? She’d wanted to ask Deacon but hadn’t yet summoned the courage. Dealing with his flirting, no problem. With his occupation? Best not to know some things. Yet for all that, she had never been scared of him.
Weird.
As if someone had stepped over her grave, she felt a shudder course through her. Deacon pressed closer, and she concentrated on the meeting.
“So, what did you find out?” Noel asked.
Hammer sighed. “Nothing we wanted to hear. Annette wasn’t working for Brent. She was backup in case he failed.”
Addy scowled. “Which he did.”
“Yep,” Hammer agreed. “And so did she. You saw to that. Good job.”
Addy blushed, and Noel kissed her on the cheek.
God, they’re so cute it’s annoying.
Hammer continued, “I talked to some friends of Annette’s. Turns out she was doing a lot of side jobs for someone and making a fortune. This last job was one in a string of hits the past six months.”
“That long?” Noel sat straighter, holding Addy tight. “So, this has been planned in advance. I mean, we knew that with Brent, but the puppet master has laid some pretty smart groundwork.”
“Puppet master?” Addy said.
Solene answered that one. “Makes sense. Whoever’s behind all this is holding all the strings, controlling the play. Do you guys still not have any idea who’s behind it?”
“Big Joe said he’s going to send over some files,” Noel told them. “And Vi sent a message through him.”
“Working with a Handler?” Hammer sounded triumphant. “I knew she was more than a nurse.”
Noel smirked. “Big Joe confirmed that’s all she is, Hammer. And that Vi said, and I quote, ‘The guys are solid and mostly in good health. But that Hamilton. There’s something about him that bothers me.’”
Addy blinked. “Hamilton?”
He glared. “Don’t call me that.”
Noel shrugged. “Why not? It’s your name.”
“Hamilton?” Solene repeated, grinning. “You know, I see it now. You do look like a Hamilton. Or maybe a Chip. No, Topher. Oh, I know. How about Preston?”
Hammer turned beet-red.
“Anyway,” Deacon cut in, likely before Hammer’s head could explode, “I’d like to know why Big Joe really sent her. Hamilton, excuse me, Hammer was right. Something was off about that chick.”
“I know. But she helped. She was an asset, and Big Joe did vouch for her.” Noel paused. “Something else. Before she left, she handed me a thumb drive.” He tossed it to Deacon. “According to Vi, Big Joe said to look over these guys. I don’t know any more than that, and I didn’t ask. He sent it with her—in person—not electronically.”
&
nbsp; Solene frowned. “So?”
“So he didn’t want an electronic trace, and that’s not good. Means either he suspects someone in the Business is dirty, or he thinks we’ve been compromised. We’ll probably need to use the secure computer in the basement for this.”
Noel had a sound-proofed training facility below the house. Solene had seen it once and been astounded to know it was there under their noses. He had a freaking firing range, a side office with lots of computers and monitors, and another room for working out. Tons of weights and body dummies hanging from the ceiling provided a space for lifting and martial arts workouts.
Learning that Addy’s new boyfriend was a hitman had been unbelievable. But seeing Noel’s basement in addition to watching Deacon take out the thugs who had attacked her not so long ago, she’d become a firm believer.
“Noel, how do you want to play this?” Deacon frowned. “Solene keeps acting like the threat is over, but we know it’s not. Right, Hammer?” At Hammer’s nod, he continued, “And we clearly now know Brent wasn’t the mastermind behind the attempts on your life.”
Noel sighed. “I don’t know what to do. The baby is at the center of all this. Or at least a big part of it. We’ve still had no luck on deciphering the code or the name in the locket.”
No doubt reading Solene’s confusion, Addy said, “A locket came with the baby. It had a name and some code inscribed inside it.”
“Oh.” Solene hadn’t known that, only about the note with the baby naming Noel as the father. Hmm. What else had they been keeping from her? She should ask Deacon about it when they got home. To her home.
“The point is, we need to ID the person behind the attacks, pronto. If they went after Addy to get to me, you can bet all of us in this room are fair game.” Noel stared at Solene, then Addy. “The danger here isn’t over.”
Hammer sighed. “I have to babysit all the time now?”
“What?” Solene frowned. He didn’t mean her, did he?
“Well, Noel has Addy. Deacon clearly has Solene.”
