by Aliyah Burke
Unlocking the trunk, she looked around. After she was okay with her surroundings, she grabbed a towel from the back and slammed it shut. She used the towel to cover the seat, hopped in over the door and tossed her shoes on the passenger side. Key in the ignition, she cranked the engine and drove on her way.
She paused at a fast food joint on her way home. The porch light was on when she whipped into the drive and pulled up to park beside the Chrysler 300 Valentino drove. The childish urge to key it rushed over her as she got out and gathered her things.
Barefoot, carrying her shoes and food, she went in the house. Valentino had been seated on the porch, but she didn’t pay him any mind, just went on her way. Food on the kitchen counter, she made her way back to her bedroom where she dropped her shoes and stripped off her wet clothing. A hot shower was in order.
She felt better as she zipped up the side of her skirt. The shower had been just what the doctor needed. Stifling a yawn, she left her room and went back to grab her salad. Valentino stood near, a scowl on his face.
Lexy ignored him, well aware what would happen if she engaged him. Another fight or argument. And right now, she just wanted to eat her food. The junk food she’d had at the park needed something to counteract it.
Chapter Nine
Valentino stood behind Lexy as she sat on her couch and opened her salad. He saw mandarin oranges and almonds on top before she mixed it up. Here he’d been worried something had happened to her and she’d come strolling in like she had been swimming, wet all over and just beginning to dry.
“Where were you?” he asked, well aware his tone wasn’t all that pleasant. But dammit, he’d been worried.
Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. She ate her food and reached for the remote as she tucked her legs beneath her. With a point and click, she turned on the television and put it on MASN. It was airing a baseball game and she settled in to watch it.
His patience lasted about sixty seconds. Not long in the grand scheme of things but for him, pretty damn good. Leaning next to her from behind the couch, he lifted the remote and shut it off.
She stiffened and he could practically see the rage pulsing off her in waves. “Turn on my game.”
Her words vibrated with barely contained fury.
“We need to talk.”
“I don’t give a damn what you think is right, Valentino, but I had a long day and am hungry. I want to watch some baseball while I eat. My Nats are playing. So turn the fucking game back on before you lose something very vital to your personal happiness.”
More of her warning him of taking something of his he wanted to keep dearly. Never had he been around a woman who threatened his privates more than this one. Well, that wasn’t true—Anabelle Lee had been known to threaten to cut off his balls a time or two. Part of him thought she was kidding. With Lexy, he wasn’t sure in the slightest she was making a joke. He moved around to stand in front of her. “Give me your word we’ll discuss this after.”
“Is this how you plan to handle me, Val? Hold the remote hostage? You know what? Fuck you.”
She pushed to her feet, salad and drink in hand, then retreated to her bedroom. The door slammed with such force, pictures on the wall shook. He tossed the remote down on the sofa and headed after her when the doorbell rang. Hand automatically going to the pistol he wore, he went to the door.
“Yes?” he said, opening it.
Ethan stood there, a bag slung over his shoulder. “Got your information.”
“Come on in.”
The men sat down on the sofa and Ethan spread out the papers on the coffee table. “I’ve pulled up everything I could on them all. Then printed it out for you. Everything is also on that zip drive there, so you can peruse it at your time.”
“If it’s all here, what’s with the papers?”
“You wanted back to the diapers they wore, man. Bear with me for a moment.” Ethan shook his head. “Where’s the little lady?”
Valentino grunted. “Her room. I pissed her off.”
“Beau told me what you said.”
“No, since then. Christ, Ethan. I can’t ever seem to say anything right to her.”
“Why not?” Ethan didn’t look up from what he was doing with the papers.
“I don’t know. I want to keep her safe.”
“Perhaps that’s your problem.”
“Wanting to keep her safe? A woman I’ve been fucking for over two years and have recently married? How is that a mistake?”
Ethan paused and met his gaze. His blue eyes were straightforward and honest. “Let me ask you something, if you were guarding Anabelle Lee, would you try to keep her in the dark about everything? Or would you be completely upfront about it all?”
“Upfront. She can handle herself.”
“And Lexy reminds you of someone who can’t? Or needs to have you on her ass twenty-four seven? You know your problem is that you’re thinking of her in terms of your ex.”
Valentino went rigid. Alyssa. Just the thought of her created a sour feel in his gut. He’d been suspicious of her actions and had been on her all the time about where she was and who she was with. Turned out he’d been right to wonder, but to know he was being that way with Lexy…he didn’t like the revelation.
“You think so?”
“The fact you’re not biting my head off for even daring to suggest it tells me we both know this. Lexy is a capable woman. She’s a lot like my sister. I see the same fire in her as I do when I look at Anabelle Lee. Stop trying to keep her behind you. She’s not that kind of woman. She’s the kind who will be fighting at your side.” He leaned back and turned to have a straighter line of sight to Valentino. “Look, I get wanting to keep her safe, but this is her life. We’ve come in and messed it all up. It is her brother in the hospital.”
“When did you get so smart?”
“I’ve always been the smart one. Y’all just don’t want to recognize that fact.” He returned his attention to the papers.
Valentino grinned. “You have been? Since when?”
Ethan flipped him off. “She can be an asset to you, Valentino. Don’t try to keep a woman like that in a box. It won’t go well for you. Think Anabelle Lee when you think of her. While she may not have had all the training my sister has, they are kindred spirits.”
He’d not even thought about it that way, but it did make a lot of sense. He nodded and gestured to the papers. “What do we have?”
Ethan cleared his throat. “This here is the pile of ones who didn’t pop anything suspicious when I went through them, but I wanted to give them to you since you’ll be here, meeting them. The middle pile is some with a criminal history and what not.”
“What’s that pile?”
Ethan smirked. “The politicians in the group.”
“Christ, that is huge.”
“You know how they are. Dirty even when they appear to be clean. And a few of them do truly have dirty secrets. But not anything which I would say automatically connects them to The Watchers.” Ethan patted the final pile. “Happy reading.”
Valentino got to his feet and Ethan followed. “Thanks, man. I’ll see what I can find as well.”
“No one knows them like she does. Ask her for some help. Include her.”
“I’ll think about it. Take my car back with you to the airport. I have to purchase a vehicle so I’m not renting.”
Ethan smirked. “Take her truck shopping. That’ll be fun.”
“Truck shopping?”
His friend and fellow member of Theta Corps nodded. “That’s my wedding gift to you. The advice to take that wife of yours truck shopping.”
They shared a hug and Valentino handed over the keys then watched his friend stride down the walk to climb in the 300. He drove away and Valentino went back in the house. Locking the door behind him, he blew out a breath before making his way down the hall to Lexy’s room.
He paused before rapping with his knuckles. No response came from within, though he could hear the game. Tur
ning the knob, he pushed open the door and paused. Lexy was sound asleep.
Her empty salad dish remained on the bed beside her and the game played on the television that had come up from the footboard of her bed. That explained why he hadn’t seen it before. She slept propped up on some pillows, her tank top and skirt tempting him all over again.
He took the food container and her empty drink to the kitchen where he rinsed them before disposing of them. Then he returned to her room. She hadn’t moved.
Readjusting the pillows on the other side of the bed, he helped her lie on her side. Her deep breathing informed him just how exhausted she truly was. He wanted nothing more than to lie with her, but he made sure she wouldn’t fall off the bed then shut off the television before leaving the room, flicking off the light as he went.
Tomorrow. He could begin again tomorrow.
He returned to the coffee table and moved the papers to the kitchen. Then he went to grab his laptop and got to work. Ethan—as usual—had done an exceptional job in compiling information. He went through it and made his own notes based on his impressions of those he’d met.
His phone vibrated and he answered without checking the screen. “Yeah?”
“Everything under control there?”
Masters again. “It’s two in the morning, Masters. What do you want?”
“Where’s Ethan?”
Valentino sat up a bit, suspicion racing up his spine as energy pulsed through him. “What do you mean? I thought you said he was on his way to Greece with Anabelle Lee.”
“She said he’s not on the flight with her.”
“Were they traveling together?”
“Same flight but no, not together. Is he still with you?”
Valentino’s stomach rolled as cold fingers closed about his heart. “No. He left hours ago. He stopped by to pick up my car and drop off some papers.”
“Shit.” A heavy sigh. “I have to go.”
“Keep me posted.”
Masters was gone. Valentino didn’t waste time—he called Beau who answered on the first ring.
“’Sup?” His tone didn’t show any trace of sleep.
“Ethan’s missing.”
“What?”
“Masters just called me. Anabelle Lee said he wasn’t on the plane with her. He left me hours ago.”
“No answer on his cell?”
“Not that I heard. I am going to call the car place and see what time he returned the ride.” Valentino shook his head. “I’ll call you back after.”
“I’ll call his cell. They better not have touched my cousin,” Beau rumbled, danger echoing off his words.
Call ended between the teammates, Valentino placed one to the car company. The news he got from them he liked even less. He released a string of words in Italian and slammed his hand down on her kitchen table, fury surging through him.
* * * *
Lexy stood in the doorway and watched Valentino. This was the most emotion she’d seen from him outside the bedroom. She’d woken to find herself tucked in and the dishes from her meal gone. There was only one explanation—Valentino.
So she’d come to the kitchen to get a drink when she’d spied the light on and heard him talking. His voice was dark and deadly. She’d gathered it was about Ethan.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
His expression smoothed out as he lifted his head to meet her gaze. She recognized the look—professional, the wall up to keep others out. Sure, she’d been pissed off when she’d gone to bed, but she actually liked Ethan. So she walked closer and took a seat across from Valentino.
“I overheard you. What’s going on with Ethan?”
His gaze assessed her. “He didn’t make his flight.”
Didn’t sound so bad. “And he’s not taking a later one?”
“We don’t know. No one can reach him.”
That sounded bad. She bit the inside of her cheek and sighed. “Maybe he can’t call at the moment but will as soon as he can.”
“I hope so. Anabelle Lee is unable to do anything since she’s on the plane to Greece. The plane Ethan was supposed to be on. Beau’s in Georgia for something else. It’s not common for the boss to call me and ask where someone is.” He rubbed at his eyes and cracked his neck.
She rose and walked to his side. “Get some rest, Valentino.”
“What happened to being angry?”
“I’ll be angry later. Right now, take the niceness while you can. Come on. I’ll put your papers on the desk in your room. Go get ready.”
He stumbled away and she rested her hand on her laptop. “Such a damn sap, Lexy,” she said to herself. It didn’t take her long before she had his things on the desk in her guest room.
It was three in the morning and she had to be up in a few hours, but she made sure Valentino lay down. She closed the door on her way out and went back to her room. It would have been so easy to crawl in with him. Pleasurable as well.
Since sleep was out of the question for her, she sat down and tried to figure out a bit more of what was going on. Pad and paper beside her, she made a list of the family members she’d lost touch with over the years and made a note to ask Hector about them to find out what he knew.
When five o’clock rolled around, she was backing her car out of the drive and heading to the clinic. Hector met her at the barns and together they walked in.
“What do you know about the cousins and stuff we don’t really talk to anymore, Hector?” she asked.
They paused at the first stall and she waited while he went in and checked the equine’s condition. “I haven’t been in contact with them since Merle passed. I sent some flowers from all of us.”
She pursed her lips. “Merle. Cousin on Mom’s side, right?”
“Yes, got caught up in some dumb drug shit and was killed. But I figured his family should know we were thinking of them.” He patted the horse and left the stall. “Why are you asking?”
“Just am.” She made an abstract gesture with her hand. “This whole thing with Eugene has me thinking more about family.”
“I have some of their addresses if you’d like to get in contact with them. I can send them to your email, so if you do decide to pursue it, you will have all the information right there in front of you.”
She reached out to the bay stallion they went to next. He nudged her hand and she rubbed along his velvet soft nose. They got through the rest of the equine barn quickly then were on to the next one.
She waited while he took care of the bull in the first stall. The bovine wasn’t one of her favorites, but Hector swore this one had a great personality. She would let him think that. After they finished that one he paused beside her.
“Family is important,” he said. “So want to tell me why you married that man and how come we didn’t know about him before he showed up as your husband?”
“Nope, not really.”
“Thought as much, yet I’m still waiting for you to say.”
“I don’t have an option, do I?”
“Nope, not really.” He tossed his words right back at her.
She smacked him in the arm. “Ass.”
He kissed her on the cheek and used his foot to kick her in the ass. “Explain.”
“I already told you he’s Jaydee’s brother-in-law, so I met him through her.”
“And it was love at first sight?” Skepticism rang thick.
Lust would be a more apt word. “Not at all. It was a very contentious relationship.” Still was, but he didn’t need to know that.
Hector sat on a hay bale and stared up at her. “So what happened?”
“I blackmailed him into marrying me,” she deadpanned.
Her eldest sibling lifted an eyebrow before pushing to his feet. “Right. I buy that. You had no intention of marrying anyone, Alexsa, so why you think I’m going to believe that line of shit, I’m not sure.”
They left the barn and began the trek to check on her patients. “I tried.” It was the tru
th. “One thing just kind of led to another, Hector. Guess he was the one man who could change my mind about marriage.”
“He must be one hell of a man then because I’ve never seen anyone so adamant about not getting married as you.”
She turned her head and stared over the property. “He’s something for sure.”
“Well, I’m happy for you, Lex. And I know Eugene would be as well. Wishing y’all nothing but the best.”
They chatted about a few clinic things as she changed IV bags on some, administering meds on a few others. Terry, another vet who worked there, arrived before they headed out.
“Hey, Terry,”
“Lexy. Hector.” The brunette gave them each a smile. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, just came in to check on my patients. If you can keep an eye on Malcolm the Dobie, I’d appreciate it. I’ll be by after closing again.”
Terry smiled and gave a thumbs up. “Not a problem. So, big plans with the hubby on your rare day off?” She leaned over the counter toward them, a huge trouble-causing grin on her face. “Or are we staying in…all day long?”
“I don’t know,” Lexy admitted with a shake of her head. “Have to see what he wants to do.”
Terry waggled her eyebrows before winking and heading to her office. “Have fun whatever y’all chose to do.”
“Crazy woman,” she muttered. “I have to get on my way, Hector. I’ll stop by the hospital and see Eugene today.”
“I’ll try to make it in, but I have a few surgeries today so not positive I’ll be completed with the operations in time.”
She hugged her brother. “He’s going to pull through.”
Hector brushed a kiss along her forehead. “I know.”
It wasn’t easy though. The longer Eugene remained in the coma, the harder it would be for him to make a full recovery, if any. She headed out of the side door and waved at Minnie who was just on her way in.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” Minnie said by way of greeting.
“You don’t see me, Minnie. It is just an apparition.”
The lady snorted. “You work too much. Go. Enjoy your day.”
Lexy nodded and went to her car, unsure what type of mood Valentino would be in when she returned. Hopefully there would be some word on Ethan.
