Protected by Shadows

by Aliyah Burke

  Way to lie, Lexy. Way to lie. She wanted to look at him, see if he was buying her claim. She didn’t, instead she remained where she was and did her usual acting job as she’d grown good at doing around him—as if it just didn’t matter.

  After some time of silence, she turned her head and opened her eyes. He remained where he’d been sitting, his gaze over the backyard still. Hell, it was as if he’d not even moved a muscle.

  “Tell me about Theta Corps.”

  “Can’t.” He never even looked at her.

  “Why not? I’m your wife.” Interesting situation though it might be.

  “Don’t ask this of me, Lexy. I won’t tell you and I don’t want to have to lie.”

  A sharp bite of laughter exploded from her, not bringing any humor with it at all. “Why is now any different? You’ve been lying to me since we met, investment banker man. Can’t you just tell me the truth about something?”

  “The truth?” He rose from the chair and moved toward her like a predator about to take down his prey. “You want me to tell you the truth about something?”

  His hazel eyes had ice chips in them and she nearly shivered from the coldness of his stare. Every inch of his hard body was rigid and she sat upright, wondering if this had pushed him too far.

  “Yes,” she retorted, still unwilling to back down.

  “Very well, Mrs Cassano, here’s a truth for you.” He picked her up and placed her on the railing then boxed her in with his arms and body. “I told someone about what I did. About what I truly did. Not the gritty details but enough so that she knew I wasn’t an investment banker. She even knew some of the people I worked with. I was sure I could trust my wife—why shouldn’t I be able to? It turned out I could trust her. To steal from us, plot against us, kill members of my group and let’s not forget how she allowed her lover to use my son as a shield to get away. My son who I then later had to bury. The truth is, I had zero intention of ever marrying a woman again. I didn’t want another wife. My first one betrayed me, killed our son and took the easy way out by dying herself instead of facing the repercussions she should have. My son wasn’t even a year old. Not even my parents knew about him.”

  He leaned closer, his breath hot and angry. “So don’t assume you know all, Lexy. I have reasons for playing things close to the vest.” That said, he whirled away from her and went inside.

  Lexy slumped against the pillar and shook her head. What kind of woman would do that? Her heart hurt for him and what he’d gone through. Made a lot of sense why he wasn’t so chipper and happy all the time, though. She mulled over a few things then hopped off the rail and went inside.

  She went back to his bedroom and pushed in without knocking. Her breath caught in her throat as she found him there wearing only jeans. His tanned skin begged to be touched, caressed, licked.

  He held her gaze, one eyebrow arched. “Need something?”

  She took a fortifying breath and asked her question. “This man, the bastard who is responsible for your son’s death. Is he the head of The Watchers?”

  Valentino didn’t speak for a moment. She refused to relinquish his gaze. When the tip of his tongue snuck out to dampen his lower lip, she tensed. For more than one reason.

  “Yes.” The word was singularly flat and yet in it, she could hear the death of that man.

  Chapter Eleven

  Valentino wiped the sweat off his brow as he walked up the drive to the house. After his confession, or truth, to Lexy, he’d gone for a run. A long one. It had taken a lot for him to say those words to her. What had surprised him was the anger in her gaze when he had—she had been pissed on his behalf.

  The noise from the mower had him heading through the house and out onto the back porch. Holy hell. Lexy was out there pushing the mower. She wore a pair of shorts, which barely contained the firm globes of her ass, and a bikini top. When she turned for another pass, he saw the top didn’t contain things much better than her shorts did.

  The sun glinted off her belly-button ring and lust pounded through him with every beat of his heart. She had earphones in and he could see her shaking her ass a bit as she sang along with whatever music she listened to.

  His need increased and he forced himself to turn around and go back inside, straight to the shower where he turned it on cold and stepped naked beneath the spray. He hissed at the sting of pellets on his skin.

  Bracing his hands along the tile, he didn’t move until he acclimatized to the temperature. Then he got to the shower. His cock, hard and angry, demanded attention, but he ignored it. He wasn’t about to jack off in here. He wanted to be buried deep inside her hot pussy, feel the heated walls of it rippling around him. Unload in her and hear her cries of pleasure.

  Good job, dumbass. If you don’t want to jack off you shouldn’t think along those lines, his brain reprimanded him.

  So he turned his thoughts to something else. Not that much worked, but when he thought about Alyssa, his cock wilted and he could finish the shower quickly. After he’d dried off, he walked to his room, the sound of the mower still there.

  He grabbed a pair of khakis and slid them on after his boxer briefs. Then he left the room and went back to the porch, stopping in the kitchen on his way for drinks. He heard her home phone ring as he was putting the pitcher of iced tea back in the ice box.

  He reached for the receiver. “Hello?”

  Something wasn’t right and as he waited, he could hear slight scurrying sounds on the other end. Then a man’s voice came on the line. “Is Ms Camden there?”

  His lip curled with distaste at hearing Lexy’s maiden name. She wasn’t that any more, she was his wife. “Mrs Cassano is busy at the moment. May I take a message for her and have her give you a call back?”

  “I’m calling from the hospital about her brother. Please have her call as soon as she can.” The person hung up.

  He withdrew his own cell and placed a call.

  “Yeah, Cassano? I am not giving you advice on how to please her.” Masters paused. “Did what I could about the comforting and from what I saw, looked like it worked out well.”

  Didn’t make it any less creepy to think his boss had been watching him. “Masters, I need a trace on the call that just came into her home line. I’ll give you the number.”

  After Valentino had relayed it, Masters cleared his throat. “Why the suspicion?”

  “They called her Ms Camden and it took a few before they even asked. It’s like they weren’t expecting anyone but her to answer.”

  “Interesting. Okay, here we go. It was made from a pay phone in Virginia Beach.”

  “Thanks.”

  He hung up. That wasn’t good. A pay phone meant the person was most likely gone. His phone beeped and he looked at the message. Masters had sent him the corner it had been made from.

  “Why would they be calling from Virginia Beach to get to her? Is that where they are?” He slammed his hand on the counter. “There’s too many damn questions and not nearly enough answers.”

  He grabbed the drinks and made his way back outside. She still mowed and didn’t seem to be hating it. Drinks on the table, he walked down to the bottom step and waited for her to acknowledge him.

  Christ, her bikini top was a cotton-candy blue and her shorts were white. Both did a number on him, especially combined with the dark hue of her skin.

  “Need something?” she asked after stopping beside him and releasing the handle to shut off the mower. One earbud was out and in her hand so she could hear him.

  “Brought you some tea.”

  “Thanks.” She bent down to the pull start and he had to tear his gaze away from her full breasts, which taunted him.

  “I’ll finish this.”

  Her smile was nearly kind. “No thank you. It’s good for me. Besides you’re not wearing shoes. If you’d like to do something, I have some stones over by the shed which have to be moved to the gate.”

  “Okay.” He began to head in that direction.

&nbs
p; “May want to rectify that shoe situation first,” she called out. Seconds later, the mower began again.

  Valentino muttered to himself as he went inside and reached for his shoes only to jog to his room and change into jeans again. Then he slipped on his tennis shoes and went back outside.

  The pure physical work felt good. Having worked with his mother in her gardens and landscaping ventures while growing up, he saw immediately what Lexy had planned to do.

  So into what he was doing, it took him a bit to register the mower had fallen silent. Glancing over his shoulder, he spied her behind him, pressing the glass to her sternum. Her gaze remained fixated on him and there was no trying to disguise the look. She kept it out in the open, brash and blatant.

  “Need something?” He sat back on his heels and wiped the sweat off his face with his wrist, mindful of the gloves he wore.

  “Just enjoying the view.”

  He raked his gaze up and down her figure. “Understand the feeling.”

  Her grin was anything but welcome. “Hope you stacked up on lotion and tissues because that’s as close as you get.” She pivoted and strode away.

  “Guess the truce is over.” He blew out a breath and got back to laying the stone.

  As he worked, he tried to figure out the call. It didn’t make sense to him on any level.

  “Lexy!”

  “What?” her cry came from inside.

  “You had a call while you were mowing.”

  The door slammed and her shadow fell over him, bringing no respite but plenty of temptation with her sweet scent of spring rain and fresh flowers.

  “You answered my phone?” Her words were icy.

  “We are married, Alexsa.”

  “Don’t get too comfy in my house, Val. You’ll be gone soon enough. Who was it?”

  “A man who called you Ms Camden.” He rose, brushed off the gloves and relocated them from his hands to his back pocket. “He said he was from the hospital and it dealt with Eugene.”

  As he was braced for her fury, her pause shocked him.

  “A guy?”

  He nodded. “What are you thinking?”

  “Did he leave a name?” She chewed on her thumbnail. “Number?”

  “Neither. But I know the number was from a pay phone in Virginia Beach.”

  She paced and muttered. “I’ve never dealt with a man calling about Eugene. Wait…Virginia Beach?” She halted and wheeled around to face him.

  “That’s what the trace said.”

  “Trace?” Her voice shot up a bit. “You’re tracing my calls?”

  “Not all. This one I did.”

  “Why?”

  “Some man calls my wife—and calls her Ms Camden, by the way—and acts all suspicious and shocked you were married. With everything that’s going on now? You don’t think I would have it traced?” Not even he could deny the possessive tinge to his words.

  “Meddlin’ in my life, Valentino, doesn’t make me happy. Of course people don’t know I’m married. It’s not like we had a big wedding reception locally here.” She scowled at him and resumed pacing back and forth.

  “This isn’t about you being happy, Alexsa. It’s about keeping you safe.”

  Her brown eyes shot fire at him. “Obviously it’s not about me being happy. I’ve been unhappy since you moved in!” She stomped back up the porch steps.

  Damn her! Why did she have to make things so difficult? She could push him like no one else. “Not according to the screams you released when I was fucking you hard in bed or the shower. Or the smile on your face after as you lay in my arms damn near comatose.”

  She went rigid, hands on the screen door and paused before glaring back at him. Fury radiated across every line of her body.

  “That smile? Don’t take it personally. It’s the same one I’ll have after I use my vibrator. Probably will be screaming as well. Still don’t mean I’m happy you’re here.” The door slammed behind her, shaking the frame surrounding it.

  Lexy swore as she entered the kitchen. Who she was pissed at most of all, she hadn’t a clue. All she knew was she was livid. People were fucking with her and damn it she’d had enough.

  “Damn it!” She smacked her hand against the countertop. “Who the fuck is messing with my life. I’ve had it up to here with all this shit. Some psycho trying to control me for something, all my calls are being traced and a man who only wants to be around me when he can fuck me is in my house. I want my life back!”

  Her chest heaved as she tried to calm down. Fingers clenching and unclenching, she struggled to regain her composure. Given she’d already broken down before Valentino, she didn’t want a repeat of such an act. Problem was, her anger didn’t stay at the front—it had been usurped by fear and sorrow.

  Fear her brother would die and she’d lose him. Sorrow for what had happened to him and even over Ethan. Although she didn’t know him that well, she was worried about what might have happened to him.

  Truthfully, she wanted to crawl into bed and cry. Either that or inflict pain on someone. Or something.

  “Alexsa.”

  Only he can say my name like that and make it come across as dirty and sexual. Knowing him, he’s not even trying.

  His deep voice tempted her to allow the comfort she knew he would offer. He had at the park—granted, it had surprised her then. It wove around her, bringing with it warmth and security.

  Battling back tears, she turned slowly and saw him standing there. Gorgeous. Sexy. Hard-bodied and able. He was propped against the doorframe, arms crossed over his sweaty, bare chest. His hazel gaze was direct and pinned her to the spot.

  “What?”

  “Come here.”

  She scoffed. “Fuck off.”

  One eyebrow quirked. “Come. Here.”

  She longed to fight—especially him as they’d been doing it for so long, being at each other’s throats had become second nature—but at that moment, there was nothing left. Lexy walked to stand before him. She shoved her hand through her hair and stared up at him.

  “What?”

  “Are you done?”

  “Probably not.”

  “I know this isn’t what you wanted, Lexy. We need to be on the same page, not fighting all the time.”

  “I know,” she said and lowered her head. “I’ve been thinking that as well. Problem is, Val, that’s all we know how to do well together, fight and snip back and forth with each other.” She turned away from him and began to walk away. He grabbed her arm and brought her back to face him.

  “Not all we know how to do well.”

  Heat coursed through her at those truthful words. Instead of responding as she’d like to, by licking his muscular body all over, she shrugged as if it didn’t matter one way or the other.

  “This is my fault,” he said. His statement shocked her. “I’m the one who deals with this kind of stuff all the time and yet I allowed our past to create problems between us. I’m here to keep you safe and I know you don’t want me here. You’ve made that abundantly clear. I hope this won’t take too long to figure out then we get who we’re after. Then I’m gone. You’ll have your divorce and can be Ms Camden again.”

  She could be an adult as well. “Not only your fault, Valentino. I haven’t been making things easy for you. And I shouldn’t be such a bitch all the time. Like I said, it’s become an ingrained habit for me, after doing it for about two years with you now.” It wasn’t something she was truly proud of, but it was what it was.

  They stared at one another and she thought about not only his words, but the ones she’d spoken as well. ‘Divorce’ was the one that stuck in her throat. Shoving back personal feelings, which had no place there, she broke the eye connection, worried he’d see the truth. She glanced at the hand on her arm. Strong fingers, scarred skin. Square nails. A strong hand. Capable. Like the man it belonged to. The strength was obvious. His tanned skin blended nicely with her skin tone. He allowed her to step free.

  “A truce then?�
�

  “Yes.” Stomping her increased feelings toward him in a tiny box, she quadruple-locked it. This was business. Nothing more. It wasn’t like things between them would change, so why hope? “Best if we just stay out of each other’s way as much as possible. That way there won’t be arguing. Thanks for the rock-laying. I’ll fix supper in an hour. Keep me apprised of what’s going on, that’s all I ask. You have a clone of my phone, so you’ll hear any calls that come in.”

  She went to her room and flopped back on the bed. After staring at the ceiling, she rose then gathered clean clothes before taking a shower. Then she returned to the kitchen to start the meal. Music played and thankfully allowed her mind to go blank. There was no more dwelling over this woman who’d betrayed him. No thinking about what had gone on between them earlier either.

  Five minutes before she would have gone looking for him, Valentino entered the room, all fresh from a shower. Her knees trembled. He had dressed in khakis and a white shirt. She placed the last dish down then carried the water pitcher from the fridge to the table where she filled the glasses. Although it was mighty tempting to dump it down the front of her shirt to try to cool down.

  Valentino sat across from her and served her first. The fried pork chops and wild rice smelled divine and her belly growled with anticipation. She ate quietly until she blurted out, “Where’s Beauregard?”

  He snapped his head up, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Regardless, his tone remained on an even keel. “Georgia.”

  Apparently he wasn’t someone she was to ask about. Letting it go, she focused back on her food. Valentino finished first and took care of his dishes. Behind her, she heard him placing them in the dishwasher.

  “Thank you, it was delicious.” With those words, he walked out, leaving her alone.

  When she’d cleaned up after herself, Lexy went to her hammock and curled up with her sketch book in hand. The day’s heat hadn’t faded much, but there was a nice breeze. Putting pencil to paper, she began to sketch.

  Time passed and when her phone rang, she just answered. “Hello?”

  “Listen. You need to get me a code.”

  The computerized voice rang firmly in her ear. A chill washed over her and she bolted up, sketchbook and pencil tumbling to the porch.