Protected by Shadows

by Aliyah Burke

  “Code? For what?” She hastened to her house and slipped inside. Without thought, she walked to Valentino’s room and opened the door. The man she sought sat at the desk, one of his pistols dismantled before him. He watched her with his hazel gaze.

  “It’s him,” she mouthed.

  “The armory.” The reply came after a short pause.

  “Armory? What armory?” She was baffled by this demand. She had no access to an armory. Much less the codes to get to one. “Aren’t they well-guarded?”

  Valentino was using his phone, keeping his attention split between them.

  “The one near the base your cousins work on in the US.”

  She frowned. “I’m sorry, what cousins?”

  “Your cousins. You know, you should really pay more attention to your family. You never know when you could lose them. Take Eugene, for example.”

  Anger churned in her gut. “Don’t make idle threats. Obviously you know more about my relatives than I do. Why don’t you go directly to him? Or her?”

  “Don’t provoke them,” Valentino muttered, nearly unintelligibly.

  “This isn’t about what’s easiest for me, Alexsa Camden. This about you learning to take orders without any backtalk. A lesson I see you aren’t learning well. Perhaps another demonstration is in order on how we have our hand on the pulse of your life. Don’t forget, you breathe because we allow it.”

  She narrowed her gaze. She hated bullies and these people—this group—had just catapulted to the top of her list. “That’s what this is about? Teaching me to take orders without backtalk? I thought you said you knew me. I never take orders without backtalk. I’ve been mouthy my entire life and will continue to be so.”

  “I don’t think so. You’ll come around. Are you willing to risk the lives of your brothers because you want to be arrogant and not take me seriously?”

  “You’re nothing but a damn computer voice. You want to give me an order, come to my house and try it. See how far it gets you when you can’t hide behind this mask you’re wearing. This damn group is pissing me off.”

  “You will not distract me. I want the code to the armory. You have until your party this weekend to get it to me. Someone will contact you there. Give it to them without fuss and I will overlook your recent outburst. But Alexsa, this is your only warning. You need to learn decorum.”

  The call ended and she swore before chucking the phone across the room. “Motherfuckingbastard!”

  “Focus, Lexy. What cousins?”

  She threw her hands up in the air. “I don’t know. Let me see the papers you brought me on them. Maybe it says there.”

  She moved to the stack he had on the desk and sat on the edge of the bed. Flipping quickly, she found five people who were serving. The number quickly dropped down to two when she realized who was stationed at a base out west. The others were deployed.

  Frustration washed over her. “So what do I do now? There’s no way I can contact some family member I’ve not spoken to in years and get the code to the armory they are guarding. Not happening.”

  “I know. We can get the code. Don’t worry about that. Right now we need to figure out how they’re getting information. Didn’t you say that party was mentioned when you were in the park? Down by the water?”

  “Yes. But that could have been mentioned another time too, as they’ve been planning it.” She kicked her foot. “Doesn’t mean they’ve gotten back in the house.”

  “True, but we need to lock it down.” He cleared his throat and stared at her. “I don’t know how this will sit with you, but think about it.”

  Her belly tensed. Valentino was so serious it worried her. “What?”

  “We need to kill your brother.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Her expression went ice cold briefly before she composed herself. “I’m assuming this plan of yours means I can’t tell Hector either.”

  It wasn’t a question. He shook his head. “Nope. Hector has to believe it if we’re going to sell it. Problem is, Eugene’s a liability right now. If they are getting information like they are, I can’t guarantee his safety from retaliation if they crack and want to hurt you. I don’t know the doctors or nurses at the hospital. You’re worried about him as well. I can have him moved to a safe location where he’ll get the best of care and you’ll get daily updates on him. I couldn’t promise that safety in a public hospital but if you let me move him, I can promise it.”

  “Will I be allowed to see him?”

  He exhaled. “No. It would be too risky.”

  She worried her lower lip and rocked back and forth on the bed. “Let me see if I get this right. You want me to let you”—she made air quotes—“‘kill’ my brother then have your people take him somewhere to be in hiding. During which, hopefully, he doesn’t actually die. Yet I can’t tell our other brother this is all a fabrication to try and find some fuckin’ nutjob. And I’m supposed to trust your other people as well?”

  “I won’t force you to do this, Lexy. I’m offering it as a solution.”

  “Solution to what, Val?” she hollered.

  “Keeping your brother out of being used as more leverage against you. They think he’s stable in this coma. If they lose that leverage—”

  “What’s to stop them from going after Hector?”

  “Nothing,” he said.

  “Fuckin’ shit!” She scrubbed her hands over her face.

  “There’s no way to guarantee his safety, Lexy. I won’t lie and tell you moving Eugene will make it all better. But you’ll know he’s safe. It’s not a perfect plan, but it’s the best we have right now.”

  “But I’ll be kept apprised on his condition?”

  He knew this was tearing her apart. “Daily, if that’s how you want it.”

  “Would you do this?”

  “For Eugene? Yes.”

  “No, if it was one of your brothers. Would you send him away, knowing you’re not able to tell the other one?”

  “Yes.”

  She watched him, skepticism all over her expression. “Okay, do it.” She stood up and approached him. He turned slightly as she brushed by him and began to reassemble his sidearm. Normally he would have stopped anyone who tried to touch his piece, but this was Lexy.

  Her motions were smooth as she put the Glock back into working order. “Make sure he’s well protected, Valentino, for if something happens to him that’s not natural, I’m holding you responsible.” She placed his assembled weapon before him and it hit the desktop with a distinctive, slightly ominous sound.

  “I know you will.” He reached for his phone and called Masters. “I need a crew to move a man, he’ll need round-the-clock care. He’s in a coma.”

  “This her brother?”

  “Yes. They keep using him as leverage. I also need the codes for an armory. She has until the weekend to get them. I’ll send you the name of it after Eugene is moved and relocated. He needs to die first, however.”

  Masters was silent for a while then he grunted. “We’ll make it so. After he’s safely in his new place, I’ll let you know.”

  “Very good. We’ll need daily updates on his condition.”

  “Daily?” Masters sounded put out.

  “It’s the only way she would agree. It’s her brother, Masters. What did you expect, she’d not want to know how he’s doing? She’s visited him daily.”

  “If the man is supposed to be dead…”

  “She knows about this and wants to be updated daily. Make it happen.”

  “Don’t forget who gives the orders, Cassano.”

  “I’m not budging on this. It could be the way to drag out The Watchers. I’ll also need someone here this weekend—someone is supposed to make contact with her at the party for the code. Once she identifies who it is, whomever you send can follow them.”

  Lexy moved away from him and paced back and forth before the open door. Eventually she left the room and he assumed it was to retrieve her cell phone she’d thrown e
arlier.

  “I’ll send Paula. She blends in well.”

  “Fine. Apprise her of the situation because I’ll be very limited in what I can say to her.”

  “Not my first rodeo, Cassano. I know how things are done.”

  Your first with my wife in the mix. “Thanks.” Valentino hung up.

  “When does Eugene go?”

  Valentino shook his head. “I don’t know. I won’t know when it happens, but it will be before the weekend.”

  “Thank you for keeping him safe.” Lexy left the room again and he forced himself to let her go.

  Sinking back in the chair, he sighed. This could get messy and fast. Hopefully his plan would work and they could pull this slimeball out of hiding and into view. After slamming the magazine in his Glock, he set it back on the desktop. He picked up a pencil and tapped the eraser on the smooth surface. Frustrated, he pushed up, shoved the pistol in the back of his waistband then went out to the back porch. It was empty. Night had finally fallen and a soft light from her solar lamps illuminated the covered area and parts of her back yard.

  To his left, he spied something near the hammock and went to pick it up. A sketchbook. Opening it after righting all the papers, he smiled at the artwork. Lexy didn’t stick to just one thing—the collection on the pages was eclectic to say the least.

  From water to trees to weapons. Animals, cars and homes were also in there. On one page near the back, he paused at the sight. It was him. She’d captured part of his face and put the rest in shadows. The resemblance was uncanny. The small bump on the side of his nose from having been broken was even there. Stony-faced, there was death in the eye he could see. A hood was pulled low, adding more mystique to the image.

  “Impressive, Lexy,” he said.

  He bent back to grab the pencil then walked back in the house. Setting the book and pencil on the chair by the back door, he then headed to the kitchen for a drink. Lexy was in there eating a slice of peach pie. Well, more staring off into space than actually eating, but a few bites were missing.

  “There’s some on the counter if you’d like a piece.” Her words were pretty bland and he almost declined as he thought about her saying how they should avoid one another.

  Like hell, Lexy. I’ve no plans to avoid you. I want you back in my bed where you belong. Or me in yours.

  So he got a plate down and served himself a slice, warmed it then put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.

  “I have to go up to Blacksburg tomorrow,” she said. “After work, that is.”

  “For?” He ate a bite, pleased with the taste. The buttery, flaked crust melted in his mouth and the peaches were rich, warm and gooey with the cold ice cream. Pure perfection.

  “I’m giving a speech to some of the upcoming graduates of the vet school at Virginia Tech. Sorry I forgot about it before. I’ll drive up and stay overnight, driving back the following day.”

  “How far is it away?”

  “It’s in Blacksburg. From here, that’s about three hundred miles.”

  “I’m coming.”

  She ate another forkful. “Of course you are.” She finished her pie.

  He wasn’t sure if that was an irritated voice from her or not, so he left it alone. She hadn’t argued it with him and that was the main thing. Lexy put her dish in the sink and walked to the living room. Moments later, he heard a rerun of NCIS come on.

  He ate slowly, enjoying the dessert and allowing her some time to herself. Then when he joined her, he picked up a magazine from the table and leafed through it, not talking.

  * * * *

  The next morning, she was gone when he woke and he fought his urge to roar in anger. Instead, he went back outside to finish laying the rock for her. He worked until noon and took a break for lunch before getting back to it. It neared six when he finished. Pushing to his feet, he brushed off his hands and looked over his work with pride.

  “Not bad, if I do say so myself.”

  When he stepped out of the bathroom, clad in only a towel, Lexy was home. Her gaze moved over him possessively, but she merely sighed and put her hands in her pockets.

  “I’m ready to go when you are.”

  “Just let me throw some clothes on.”

  Her pupils dilated a bit on that statement. Their passion was too great for it to be ignored as she was apparently trying to do. He went to his room and dressed quickly before throwing some extras in a bag. Hefting the handles, he scanned the room, making sure he’d not forgotten something. Content, he left to find her outside by her car, leaning against the driver’s door with the top down.

  “You’re driving?” he asked.

  “All my materials are already loaded. Let’s go.”

  He tossed his bag in the back seat and it landed next to hers, which said Navy on it.

  “Navy?”

  “Gift from Jaydee.” Lexy got behind the wheel as he climbed in and buckled up.

  “Have you talked to her lately?”

  “No. I didn’t want them involved in this. It’s enough I have to worry about Hector and Eugene. If I had to worry about her or the triplets, I’d drive myself batty. Plus Halyn, Liev and Gina. Not to mention Gio or Enzo.” A deep shuddering breath. “And your parents. No, it’s best I cut ties from her for a while.”

  She started the engine and backed out of her drive. He watched her in silence. “You know you can use my phone to call her. There’s no way that one will be traced.”

  Her fingers clenched around the wheel before she shifted to first and drove on. “I may do that. Sometimes it’s just good to talk to her.”

  “How did the two of you become friends? Don’t take this wrong, but you’re not exactly alike.”

  “We met when her father brought her here. Some kids at school were trying to pick on her. It didn’t work and since she wasn’t responding they were beginning to get physical. So I stepped in.” A small grin lifted the corner of her mouth. “I began bringing her home to meet my family. She would have holidays with us since her father didn’t celebrate them. It grew from there. When she went off to Annapolis I figured we’d be growing apart. I was wrong.”

  “You can say that. I’ve never seen two women closer. It’s like you know what one another are thinking.”

  This time she laughed. “I’ve been told that before. We both have.”

  “So being so different and living so far apart, how do you manage to stay so close?” He was intrigued by the dynamic of their friendship—had been since he’d first met them both.

  Lexy never took her eyes from the road. “We accept each other for who we are. I understand her lack of social skills and know when she’s had enough, so I can get her out of there or step in to intervene. I’m safe for her to allow herself to try new things because she knows I’m fiercely protective of her and won’t let anything happen. From her point—erm, I can’t answer that for her. I reckon it’s ’cause we are so different, we just fit.” They left the small town, one of many that dotted the road they were on, and sped up again. “You are closer to Ethan and Beauregard than your own brothers. And way different from either of them. Especially Beauregard.”

  He tensed at her casual mention of them. Ethan wasn’t as much of a concern as Beau was—that man oozed sexuality and never met a woman he didn’t flirt with. The staggering amount of jealousy that smacked him also was a surprise to Valentino.

  “Point?”

  “That they’re laid-back Southern men and you are Italian and way uptight.”

  He ground his jaw. “I meant, what’s your point about that I’m closer to them than Gio or Enzo.”

  “That. Why such good friends with them?”

  He readjusted his legs and drummed his fingers on the outside of the car door. “We’ve shared experiences, heartaches and loss. I’m not sure they would consider me a friend, though.”

  He did recall recently Beau called him one in Zurich.

  “If they’re not your friends, you need to relearn the definition. All of them
, Red included, think very highly of you.”

  Anabelle Lee hated that nickname. “We’re partners.”

  She laughed and looked at him briefly. “Admitting you have friends, Val, won’t kill you. May make you a bit more human.”

  Her assessment of him hit much too close to home and he struck out in the way he knew, with bitterness and sarcasm. Being cold and emotionless.

  “Is that your problem with me, Lexy? I’m not kind enough for you? I don’t heap platitudes on people and I prefer to stay in the background instead of being the center of attention like you do?”

  Her hands flexed on the steering wheel. “Nope.” The single word had as much warmth in it as his statement had possessed. “I don’t give a damn about it in the slightest.” Her drawl grew thicker and he knew she was pissed off. “My mistake for believing you wanted my opinion when you asked a question, but hey, that’s my bad. I forget what I bring to this debacle of a business arrangement.”

  With that, she turned up the music and he fought the wince as KISS blared through the speakers. Great, pissed her off again. He didn’t want to acknowledge her words had more than just basic merit. Hell, he’d shrugged off Beau’s friend comment with another snide remark.

  Lexy had hit it square. Ever since Alyssa had ruined his life, he’d closed himself off. The few friends he’d had were gone. Family—he kept at an arm’s length. Beau, Ethan and Anabelle Lee put up with his antics. They were always there for him, whether or not he wanted to admit it. Or if he deserved it or not, which he doubted he did.

  The rest of the trip to Blacksburg, Lexy didn’t say a word. It was as if she had tape over her mouth and blinders on her eyes. She didn’t look at him or even acknowledge him. Despite the heat of the summer night, he felt the chill from her as if he stood in a walk-in freezer in his skivvies. And she did it all without a single word or glance.

  Darkness had fallen when she parked before the hotel she’d chosen. She put up the top and jumped out, snagging her bag along the way. He followed her and the beep of her car alarm activating came shortly after he shut his door. They went to the front counter.