Protected by Shadows

by Aliyah Burke

  The call ended and Valentino scowled down at the phone in his hand. “Yeah, right. Like it will be that easy.” He downed the rest of his wine. “Nothing is that easy when it comes to Alexsa Camden. At least not where I’m concerned.”

  She returned to the kitchen while he was cleaning up. Without any remark, she jumped in and helped. Once all had been put away and the dishwasher was running, she wiped off the table.

  “So is it a yes or no?”

  He crossed his arms and stared at the top of her bent head. “You’re not really leaving me much choice.”

  “Hell, I’m sorry, because you gave me the same courtesy? Oh, nope. That’s wrong, you cornered me as well.” The rag was back over the sink divider and she faced him. “You don’t want to marry me, just leave. It’s not that hard of a decision. However, if you are staying and we are getting married, I hope you brought money because I’m feeling in the mood for one hell of a ring.”

  Her laughter mocked him as she left the room, fading only when her bedroom door closed with a decisive sound. He blew out a frustrated breath and left the room. Down her hall, he could see his bags on the floor in front of the other door. Muttering under his breath, he entered the guest room and found the bed had been made.

  He debated barging into her room and seeing what she’d do. His phone beeped and he glanced down at the screen. Then cussed. The message from Beau didn’t help his temper any.

  “I’m going to meet Beau,” he called out as he walked back up the hall.

  “Knock yourself out.” She never even opened her door.

  The walk wasn’t long and it didn’t entirely take out all his anger, but he had a better hold of it by the time he rang the doorbell of the Pepto-Bismol-pink house he stood before.

  Ethan opened it and waved him in. After following the man through the small house, he found the others in a back bedroom. A bunch of surveillance equipment lay scattered about the room. The only place untouched with equipment was the bed, which Beau currently lay sprawled upon. His massive size seemed so out of place on the small double bed. If it bothered the man, he didn’t let it show.

  “What did I have to come down here for?”

  Beau sat up. “Masters told us to tell you to come down and fill us in. Just like I said in the text. What’s with the attitude toward us?”

  Valentino leaned against the door and sighed. “She won’t go along unless the marriage is real.”

  Three sets of eyes watched him. Anabelle Lee was the first to crack. She burst into laughter and her brother soon joined in. Beau wasn’t far behind.

  “I fail to see how this is amusing,” he uttered.

  “Of course you do,” she retorted. “We find it immensely amusing. That woman’s got more grit than I gave her credit for. I think I actually may like her.”

  “You all know how I feel about marriage.”

  “You’re the one who claimed the two of you were married. You could have said you were just engaged. But no, you went with the whole kit n’ caboodle.” Ethan wiped the corner of his eyes.

  “He’s got you there, bro,” Beau chimed in from where he now reclined against the wall. “No one but you got yourself into this.” He flexed one massive arm. “Why exactly did you say the two of you were married?”

  “I don’t know. It just came out.” He shifted his weight. “Knowing Lexy, had I said that we were merely engaged, she would have found a way to break it off. Then I wouldn’t be able to protect her.” Valentino glanced at them all. “What’s with the looks of disbelief?”

  “You are so full of shit,” Anabelle Lee commented. “Admit it, Val. That woman means something to you. The sooner you admit it, the happier you’re going to be.”

  “Fuck all you.” He whirled around and stomped up the hall, laughter trailing him.

  “I’ll take you up on it, darlin’, but I don’t know how your wife will feel about it,” Anabelle hollered after him.

  He slammed the door behind him as he left their house. Their words wouldn’t leave him alone. Were they right? Why did he care? He’d do his job and get on with his life.

  * * * *

  “Why the brother?” Trevor demanded into the phone, which was on speaker.

  “Had to prove I…we…could get to her and those she cares about.”

  Trevor picked up the rag from the end of the table and wiped the blood off his face as he walked and stared at the man slumped nearly unconscious and bleeding in the chair.

  “Does she believe you now?”

  “I think so.” The answer came through the phone.

  He prayed for patience. John was proving to be a bit more difficult than Trevor preferred his members to be. “You think so?” He ensured he maintained a bland tone, showing emotion wasn’t in him. He was cold. Icy. Glacial.

  “Know. I know she does.”

  “So you’re confident then. Why are you calling and disturbing me?” He unrolled his favorite collection of devices with which to torture people.

  The man in the chair watched him fearfully with his one remaining eye. Blood streamed down his chin, courtesy of the earlier tongue removal. Seated at the corner of his work table, Trevor broke the eye contact and stared at the phone, willing an answer he would want to come through the speaker.

  “She’s married.”

  His eye twitched. “Did you not know this beforehand?” Everyone in The Watchers understood how he hated to be disappointed, and feared it. Realizing his question was a bit sharp, he took a deep breath. The metallic scent of blood filled his nostrils. “It doesn’t matter, threaten harm to the husband.”

  “Sir,” John said.

  “Surely there are other ways—”

  “Sir!”

  “What?” Trevor barked.

  Nothing moved in his building. Even the man in the chair was immobile, sitting there with blood running from his body parts, ears included, as Trevor had punctured his eardrums fifteen minutes ago.

  “Her husband is an investment banker. Perhaps he would be of use.”

  Money was always needed. “What’s his name?” He picked up a hacksaw and tested the blade’s sharpness on the tip of his own finger.

  “Cassano. Valentino Cassano.”

  Trevor froze. He knew that name. Blast from the past would be a way to explain it. Valentino had been rumored to be part of some clandestine government group, but he didn’t know for sure. It was a possibility—his source had been fairly reliable, despite being a bit unsure on how things were going to play out. Either way, they had a score to settle with one another. He for one wanted another crack at the arrogant bastard.

  “Keep an eye on them.” Trevor disconnected the call with a press of the button. His touch left a red smear behind.

  A minute later, he strode from the building, rigid with a mixture of perverse pleasure and anger at hearing that name again. The man in the chair was no longer alive. The hacksaw buried deep in his neck had sped along the draining of the remaining blood in his body. The dirt floor soaked it up hungrily.

  He passed two men. “Dispose of him.”

  By the time he reached his room, he was shaking. Cassano had been the one man who’d challenged him. Since the man was still breathing, in Trevor’s mind, he’d failed. And that was something he abhorred doing. This time around, he’d be the winner.

  His porcelain goddess lay sleeping on the bed and he removed his clothing, spread her legs and shoved his cock as far as it would go into her, grinning sadistically down at her as she awoke. Her mouth opened, but no scream came out. It never did. No one ever heard her cries.

  * * * *

  “Lexy, what are you doing?”

  Valentino sounded frustrated and she hid her smile. She’d deliberately been even more of a pain in the ass today. No one did to her what he’d done without some form of payback. Hell, at one point when they’d been before the judge, she’d thought Valentino was going to run out the door. His expression had seemed so pained. Granted, not when the judge looked at him, then he�
�d managed to appear like a man smitten with his soon-to-be-bride.

  Part of her was wondering why she’d gone through with this. Sure, she could have backed out and told her brother that Valentino had lied. But she wasn’t about to live with a man that wasn’t her husband, that was her own personal deal. That’s not all, her brain reminded her. Deep down, in a part of her she wasn’t willing to pay all that much attention to, she wanted to be married to Valentino. Be his wife.

  Then there was the challenge he had issued in front of her brother, which rankled. She hated to be challenged and tended to act rashly when someone came down like he had. Probably why the bastard was smiling before he said we were married. He knew it was a challenge I’d not refuse.

  “Admiring my new wedding ring.” She held out her left hand and allowed the sun’s rays to catch the diamonds and sparkle.

  “Can you admire it in the car?”

  There was such an edge to his words. Batting her eyelashes, she looked up at him. “Aren’t you having a good day, sweetie?” She lowered her gaze to the platinum band on his ring finger. For some reason it gave her a thrill in the pit of her stomach. “It is, after all, your wedding day.”

  A muscle jumped in his jaw and she knew he was close to losing it. He’d complied with everything she’d insisted upon. The chain about his neck still remained, however it made her pleased as punch that the damn gold band he had always refused to tell her anything about no longer sat on it. Yes, it might be petty, but she didn’t want that memory in bed with them. Not anymore. Not now that they were truly married.

  So now he’s going to be sleeping with you? her brain asked.

  “Let’s go,” Valentino said.

  Stepping up next to him, she slipped her arm through his and rested her head against his upper arm. “You know, you sure are grumpy for a man who’s supposed to be happy,” she muttered so only he could hear.

  “Seven,” he griped.

  Lexy didn’t have to ask. She knew what he meant. It had taken them seven jewelry stores before she’d decided on the ring she now wore. And it had actually come from the first of all seven stores.

  “It’s my day. You’re lucky I didn’t make you take me dress shopping. I mean, how often will I get to wear a wedding dress?”

  He paused and looked down at her. “Dress shopping?”

  “I did say you were lucky I didn’t make you go.” She began walking again, pulling him until he came easily.

  “You are a vindictive woman, Alexsa Cassano.”

  More of those little thrills rocked through her belly and her clit pulsed in anticipation. “You have no idea.” She veered to the left and took him with her to a vendor selling ice cream. “Chocolate, please, with a waffle cone. Anything for you, honey?”

  “Same, please.”

  Valentino paid and they walked a bit more. “Are we ever going back to the car?”

  She blew out a frustrated breath. “Oh, for Christ’s sake, Val. Learn to enjoy the day. The damn sun is shining, it’s warm and we have ice cream. Take a damn chill pill. What is so damn pressing you have to go now?” She removed her arm from his.

  “I have things to do.” His tone was gruff.

  “Fine.” She found the nearest trash can and tossed in her ice cream—which had about ninety percent remaining. “Let’s go.” She whirled around and strode back to the car.

  The air was rife with tension as he drove them back to her house. Once they’d parked, she didn’t even wait for him to open the door, just jumped out and went inside. In her bedroom, she paused for a moment and stared at her reflection. While she might not have worn a wedding dress, she still looked like a bride, in her estimation.

  With a snort, she began stripping. Kicking off her heels, she swiftly unbuttoned and lowered the zipper on her skirt. It didn’t take too much time for her to dress in shorts and a T-shirt. Seated on the edge of her bed, she strapped on her stilettos before getting up and heading for the door.

  She didn’t slow and didn’t stop to talk to Valentino, just left the house and hopped into her car. As she backed out of her drive, he stood at the door watching her.

  “Not sure what he has the right to be pissed about. All I wanted to do was enjoy the day for a moment. Should have known better. Even when we were just fucking, it was never something allowed out in public. Like he’s ashamed to be seen with me.”

  She glanced down at the massive diamond ring on her finger. “Well, I have something to pawn after it’s over.” Lexy turned up her music and tore off down the road.

  After a stop to check on her surgery patients, Lexy went to the hospital and sat with her brother. She told him all about getting married and how she had done something stupid and had fallen in love with Valentino. Eugene never stirred, and the room echoed with the beeps of his machines.

  She left him then walked through town before she sat on a bench out in the sunlight. Her phone rang and she answered without checking the screen. “Hello?”

  “How’s your brother doing?”

  The computerized voice snapped her upright from her slouched position. “Who are you and what is it you want from me?”

  “The time isn’t right. I just wanted to make sure you still understood the deal. You do what we say when we say it. Or there will be hell to pay.”

  “Before you said ‘I’, now it’s ‘we’, how many of you are there?”

  “You don’t get to ask questions. I do. And I have one for you. Who’s the man who is at your house?”

  “My husband.” The ease in which that statement flowed from her tongue was a bit of a surprise to her.

  “You’re married?”

  “Something you didn’t know?”

  “We knew.”

  Liar.

  “Don’t tell him about us. And never forget The Watchers have eyes everywhere.” Click.

  “Bastard.”

  “Mad at your husband already?”

  Lexy looked up at the question and bit back her groan at who she saw. “Something happen, Scarlett, for you to track me down?”

  “I really hate that name. And no, Red, isn’t any better.” The woman sat at the other end of the bench and rested an arm along the back. “He wanted me to make sure you were okay.”

  “Because he’s too much of a wuss to come after me himself.” Lexy shook her head. “That’s great. I’m fine. You can run back to him and tell him.”

  “I could but since you are supposed to have protection, I’ll wait until you go back.”

  “And if that’s not until morning?”

  Anabelle Lee held her gaze unflinchingly. “Then we don’t go back until morning.”

  “How long have you worked for…with Val?” She wasn’t sure it was best to mention the group.

  “Eight, going on nine years now.”

  “Does he ever have fun?”

  “Nope.”

  Lexy gave a bark of laughter. “Don’t even want to think on it?”

  “No need to. That man is the most work-driven person I’ve met in my entire life.” Anabelle Lee crossed her long legs and rotated her ankle. “Hell, I’d begun to wonder if he had emotions until I saw him with you.”

  Lexy shook her head. “I think it’s safe to call it hate when discussing the emotions he has for me.”

  “Don’t be stupid. It’s not hate. That man has it bad for you. All of us can see it. And it scares the living hell out of him.”

  “Why are you telling me this?” Lexy truly didn’t get it. By all accounts, this woman had no use for her.

  “Because it’s true.”

  “I thought you wanted me to prove myself.”

  Anabelle Lee laughed, a rich sound. “You already have. You demanded he marry you for real. That tells me all I needed to know.”

  “I could just be after his money.”

  “You would have married him sooner, or tried to. Instead the two of you had little meetings all over. He was always happier when he returned from them. Not that it lasted long—he’d notic
e one of us looking sideways at him and he would become the robot we all know and love.”

  Lexy smiled. “I know that one. Mr Emotionless. Cranky. All kinds of names I have for him.”

  They rose and began walking. Anabelle Lee was taller than her, but with her heels, Lexy was closer to her height. Her stomach growled and she led the way into a small soul food restaurant. They had a genial meal and headed back to her house after.

  Anabelle Lee followed her inside her house, shutting the door behind her. Valentino was in the living room, a scowl on his face.

  “Best friends now?” he snapped.

  They shared a brief glance. “Not a chance,” Anabelle Lee said. “More like banding together because of a common denominator.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Stupidity of men.” Lexy waved at Anabelle Lee. “Thanks for dinner, Red.”

  “No problem, bitch.”

  Lexy went to remove her shoes and when she came back it was just her and Valentino. He watched her as she walked to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water.

  “Something on your mind?” she asked around the straw before sipping the liquid. “Never mind. There’s something I have to tell you.”

  “Which is?”

  “Dude, you really need to lighten up. Anyway, they called again.”

  “They? Who they?”

  “The Watchers.”

  Christ and I thought he was rigid before. It’s like he just had a rod shoved up his ass.

  “When was this?” he demanded. She had to dig out her phone to give him the exact time. “Why didn’t you say something when it happened?”

  “I just told you.”

  “You were with Anabelle Lee.”

  “Yes, I was. But I told you.”

  He took several deep breaths. “What’d they say?”

  She relayed the conversation to him. “I guess they don’t know who you are, or they’re playing it cagy.”

  “I need access to your phone, Lexy.”

  “You want to listen in on all my calls? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wow, not violating any of my privacy there, are you. What’s the point?”