John stepped out of the way and brushed his hand down Alice's back. He tried to hold her steady because she was shaking like a leaf in a windstorm.
Peter and Victoria hugged. Jennifer didn't budge from the first row for a few seconds. Then she trembled as she joined them. Alice tried to slip her hand free, but John kept her close. He glanced down at her and Alice whispered, "This is a family moment, John."
Jennifer's eyes watered as she walked over to Victoria and Peter, though Alice braced as the woman glided past them.
He shook his head, holding Alice tight. Victoria would want her best friend, and he needed to keep them all safe. Together.
Everyone watched through the rolling cameras.
Victoria and Peter stepped out of their hug. She asked, "Is Dad really dead?"
"We should have checked your casket." Peter smiled then stepped aside.
John tilted his head. His brother's face read like he had already known that Vicki was alive. There was no shock, not like everyone else. Had Peter known all along? His sister's funeral had been faked and he'd fallen for that. Their father must have been laughing in his grave at how gullible he'd been. John's spine turned ice cold.
"You're hurting my hand." Alice twisted her wrist and he let go.
Alice needed to be protected. He turned to her and again placed his hand on her arm. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine." She smiled with a warmness that felt like concern. "We all thought Victoria was dead—you turned into an icicle. John, sweetie, are you okay?"
He gazed over her and stared into the network news camera that was aimed right at his face.
"Yes." John looked beyond her and toward a camera that recorded the entire funeral. There was no way he could let Alice leave, not now. She'd be in danger. "Come, help me get the family out of here."
Victoria hugged Jennifer as the television actress cried in front of the cameras. At Castle Morgan, the family home that wasn't truly a castle, but an estate, they'd be safe. Alice wouldn't like that arrangement. John held her elbow and guided her as he said, "Peter, let's take Vicki to the back room, away from the cameras."
Jennifer took Peter's hand and the five of them pushed past his father's casket and out the side door. Alice stayed with him until they were at the exit. He let go so she could enter, but she stepped to the side. John tried to call her back, but she slipped into the crowd.
Vicki would be safe with Peter and Jennifer, but Alice wasn't. She had no idea about the danger. He rushed into the crowded room to get her.
Walking fast, she'd already reached the front room near the main door, and he called out, "Wait."
Her face was red as she turned around and glanced at the crowd of people around them. "Why did you follow me?"
At least she stayed still as he approached. He needed to explain so she'd understand. With his palms up, he tried to sound reasonable. "Don't go."
She shook her head, her fingers on the door handle. "What are you doing? You should be with your family right now."
He reached out to stop her. "Stay with me."
She averted her gaze and looked over his shoulder at the people around them. "Victoria is in there. She'll call me later. Be with your family."
The thought of Alice outside alone sent a chill down his entire body. "I can't let you go."
Her face turned a deeper shade of red. "John, our date last night was great, but it was just a fantasy. Our worlds are different." As she spoke, a red laser appeared on her face and his mouth dropped.
Without a word, John grabbed her and positioned her between his chest and the wall as a bullet crashed through the glass doors right beside them. Alice screamed and then put her palm over her mouth to stop.
He covered her head with his arms to block any shattered glass.
Shouts sounded behind them.
He patted her strawberry-scented hair as her smell helped block out the stench of gunpowder.
From both sides of the church foyer, Secret Service came out of the funeral with guns drawn. Alice shook. He held her tight as he called, "Bullet came from outside."
At least he hadn't given back his gun or badge yet, as his training was why he was wore his weapon.
One of the agents had his finger to his ear as he answered, "We have two Presidents to protect. Our men are en route."
Alice trembled in his arms and he rocked her to keep her calm. This was his fault. No one would get to her. In the security mirror, near the entrance, he saw she was pale. "Can I take her to sit down?"
One of the men in sunglasses said, "I need to see identification."
Her lips shook. "My license is in my purse, John."
No one should scare her like this. He'd have to find out who did this. John nodded, but held her waist to keep her close as he opened his jacket to reveal his FBI badge. "She's with me. She was almost shot."
The men with the guns pointed at them held their weapons higher and let them pass. He took her toward one of the rooms to the back and away from the funeral. Alice stayed in his arms as she followed. She stayed close until he closed a side door. Then she blinked, tried to stand taller, and swallowed. "Who shot at me?"
His heart constricted in his chest. He had no idea how much to reveal. He couldn't tell her that this was a threat against him. "Could be anyone."
She took his bicep in both of her hands. "Did you see a laser on my face? I thought I saw a red light."
"Yeah. It's why I dragged you in my arms."
Her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity and fear. Her cheeks grew red. "Your skills as an agent were spot-on perfect."
"No, that wasn't what happened. I was lucky."
She shook her head, placed her palm to forehead like she recalled the feel of the red laser, and then closed her eyes. "Wow. I'll be fine. It was probably someone trying to shoot the President."
She walked away from him, and he reached out to keep her close. Again the smell of strawberries played in his throat. "They almost shot you."
Her face went pale as she stiffened. "That doesn't make any sense. I'm not the President. I'm no one important."
His hands froze on her back as he realized he had to tell her. He gazed into her eyes, wishing he didn't have to reveal his true feelings. "Someone threatened to kill anyone I loved."
Her lips parted. "What? I still don't qualify. You don't love me."
John let her back away as his spine stiffened while he waited to be knocked out from a punch he had no power to stop. What he said sounded extreme, but his heart knew the truth. He promised himself that no one was going to hurt her because of him. "Just now. On national television? We appeared close."
She frowned. "So someone thinks you love me?"
It shouldn't be that hard for her to believe that he had feelings. He took a deep breath and steered the conversation back to the point. "We need to focus on your safety."
Her arms stayed at her sides as her eyes grew wider. "What about my family?"
Alice should think more about herself. He nodded. "I'll keep a patrol at your parents' farm."
She shook her head like it wasn't enough. "They have to be safe."
As she wasn't a fan of his family, he wouldn't mention the Morgans had their own security that rivaled any government run organization. By staying out of sight, no one should go after her parents. John crossed his arms so he'd not attach himself to her. "You're the primary target. They'll go to them if they can't get to you, but you have to be kept out of sight."
"That wasn't very reassuring."
"I don't know how to soften my words or lie to you."
"My mother pretty much hates your family."
Only Alice would spend this long worrying about others and not herself. Her sweetness was more palatable than sugar. He stayed still so she wouldn't jump. "Good. Whoever hears her tell that to the world won't bother with her. Right now, I want you with me until I find out who is behind the threats. If you go home, you risk putting your family in danger. It's safer if I put a patrol on the out
side while you're with me."
Her eyes misted like she might cry, though her pale cheeks stayed dry. She stared at him like he'd set out to hurt her. "So I can't go home?"
He'd have to go slow with her and not push too hard too fast, but no one would get to her on his watch. "I have to insist you stay with me."
Her lips twitched. "You don't have a place, and I'm not staying at Castle Morgan."
His brother's home would have state of the art security where no one would get to them, though he'd rather not bunk with Peter. He had his own version of a Morgan home that he never used and the family service just stocked for him. "I don't want to go there either."
"I won't be your shield from your brother. You need a better plan if I'm staying with you. The hotel?"
"No." He rubbed his chin. "Let me think."
She crossed her arms too as if this was an argument she could win. "I finalize buying my condo next week…."
He dropped his arms to his sides so he wouldn't close her off. She needed to agree to be with him. He missed the rest of what she said and blinked. She turned to leave. He said, "What?"
She turned back around, shook her head and threw her arms to her sides. "Yeah. I do have a life, John."
He reached out with both hands and stroked her arms until she calmed down. She gazed up at him and her blue eyes welled with tears. He lowered his head and the scent of strawberries caught in his throat. He spoke softly but firmly as he vowed not to bring up every type of criminal out there and what they might do. "If you intend to keep that condo, then you stay with me. We don't know who is after us yet."
She licked her lips but shook her head. "This is insane."
He texted the service his family used to ensure that the house was livable. With Morgan security it would be the safest place for them.
Victoria poked her head into the room he was in with Alice. John saw Peter and Jennifer in the background. Peter had his hands in his pockets, wearing a confused expression as he looked at Alice. Vicki smiled at them and opened her arms. "John, Alice, come join us. I've missed you both so much."
John had no words. Perhaps his family hadn't heard the shot or they were pretending again. The attack had used a silencer. His sister wasn't a ghost, but he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing either. He took Alice's hand. A spark of fire grew in his belly. No harm could come to Alice because of his stupidity today. He'd find a way to keep her safe until this was over.
His gaze returned to Peter. For Victoria, they'd work together.
Chapter Nine
Alice's entire body shivered. Her mind replayed the bullet that blasted through the door and shattered the glass above her head. John had protected her with his massive, muscular chest by shoving her against the wall. She could have died.
Everything else right now was a complete blur.
John's strong arm was still on her back, and his presence helped steady her fast-paced heartbeat. She rubbed her arms with both hands. This whole day was like a dream come true. Vicki was alive. Her childhood crush now held her.
A bullet to the head wasn't part of that fantasy. She sighed. The others were talking about what had happened. Perhaps John was wrong about the threat against those he loved. Who knew what happened to Victoria and how she'd escaped to come home?
The beat of her heart overshadowed her hearing. She moved closer.
Peter Morgan was on the phone with someone and Jennifer stroked Vicki's hair. Alice stayed near John and asked, "Vicki, did your dad kidnap you and keep you from all of us?"
"No." Victoria averted her gaze and looked toward both her brothers. "I faked my death."
Alice turned to John as his mouth formed the shape of an O and his eyes grew wider. His hand stayed on Alice's back.
John asked, "Why would you do that?"
Victoria's face grew white. "I had to get away from Dad and everything he'd done."
Peter stepped in and blocked her view as he took his sister's hand. "What happened between you two?"
John snorted. "You don't know?"
Peter shook his head and then turned toward them. "When it came to our sister, Dad never said anything."
"You weren't surprised to see Vicki today." John's accusation caused silence all around.
"I saw him an hour before the funeral. He was surprised then," Vicki explained. "He couldn't track you down for a private meeting. I'm sorry."
John's fingers pressed into her arm and Alice turned to take his hand. "You don't have to pretend our family is normal, Vicki."
Vicki rocked on her feet and hugged her waist.
Alice stepped away, but John's fingers circled the small of her back. If he needed her right now, she'd stay. She needed his strength, too, as her mind was a whirlwind, and she couldn't quite feel or think.
John said, "Peter, in many ways you are just like him. You should have told me when we were walking in."
Peter stood still. "Vicki wanted to surprise you."
John's palm heated. "Dad would have said that too."
"He trained me since birth to be who I am." Peter returned his attention to Victoria. "I never thought to escape as you did."
Vicki's face paled until she almost matched her all-white dress, but then she licked her lips which had the only trace of pink color. "I see my brothers both decided to keep my friends as girlfriends."
Alice's face flushed. "John and I are just friends."
Jennifer rolled her eyes. "Sure, and I'm applying to be a nun next week. Alice, we're adults now. You don't have to pretend to be an angel."
Alice clenched her hands. Jennifer was too much. "Not everyone is like you, Jenny."
Jennifer's nose curled at her old nickname. Alice bit her lip and then realized she had nothing to be guilty for. One kiss didn't make a relationship. This whole thing was crazy. She had avoided Jennifer for years and would again, once they all left this room.
Victoria smiled and nodded at how John and Alice held hands. "I approve of you two, if that means anything to either of you."
Alice broke into a laugh. This was a ridiculous conversation. Someone was out to kill someone—her—and they spoke about dating. They were no longer teenagers.
John released her hand, and Alice's body chilled. He went to the door to speak to security as she glanced at the bulge on his spine that must be his gun. Her heart almost stilled as he returned to her, placed his hand on her spine, and addressed his brother. "Our family reunion needs to be better planned. Peter, ensure that Vicki is kept safe tonight at Castle Morgan. I'll plan our escape from here and see the rest of you tomorrow."
Alice opened her mouth and almost asked, "What about me?" but clamped her lips together. Her mind returned to the fact that she was at a funeral where two former US Presidents showed up and the current one had sent his apologies. The shot had to be related to that, and not some threat to John. No one was going to kill her. Or her family.
John took Alice's hand and dragged her out the door.
Her feet stumbled to keep up, but he held her close as he went to a Secret Service agent. He spoke to the man so fast that Alice turned toward the funeral and tuned out their conversation. Guests sat in the pews of the church, talking animatedly. "She's alive?" "It's better than a soap opera." "Do you think the old man is dead or will he wake up later today?"
Once again Mitch Morgan set off a firestorm in his family, at his own funeral. Her mother would say he was stirring trouble from the grave.
Alice's face heated. Victoria's funeral had been with a closed casket while Mitch Morgan's waxy face beamed from his silken coffin. He had been the richest man in the world who craved power over the rest of mankind.
John told the agents, "My father loaned the government money to pay the national debt. This threat is either against the Presidents, me, or my family. I'm heading to a safe house with this woman. Cover us until we make it out of the parking lot."
"Woman?" Alice said as he turned her on her heel and they headed back where someone had almost
killed her.
He opened the door and didn't bat an eye. Her heart raced. "The Secret Service cleared the parking lot to get the Presidents out. I'll have your car brought somewhere safe, later, but we're heading to my car."
John kept her hand in a tight lock, and she shivered as she ran to stay beside him. "Don't call me woman. My name is Alice."
He stopped at a brand new black Mercedes Benz with tinted windows. Her white SUV on the other end of the lot was dusty from the road but right now it seemed like a shrine toward home. John opened the passenger door and waved for her to get in. "Alice, I didn't mean to offend you."
Her shoulders curved inward. Part of her wanted to run toward her SUV and take off for the family farm. The other part didn't think that was a good idea. Her body shook. "I don't feel safe outside right now."
He placed his hand on her shoulder and she jerked back at the touch. Then she took a breath and relaxed. John said, "I'll protect you, but we can't camp out at the church."
Noise behind them caused her to spin on her heel and stare at the Secret Service taking one of the Presidents to a limo. Alice rubbed her arms and turned back to John's strong profile. His five o'clock shadow somehow soothed her. "Where are we going?"
He tilted his jaw in the air. "I can't tell you."
She wasn't a child and that was not a good answer at all. She shook her head. "Why not?"
John leaned closer. "In case someone is listening."
"What?"
He opened the door. "We're outside, open targets. Alice, please get in."
She stared into his blue eyes. Then she slowly nodded and ducked into the passenger seat of his car. "John, okay, I'm going to trust you."
He locked her door and then swung around the car and joined her. He found his sunglasses and then sped out of the parking lot. Alice massaged her forehead. "Your brother canceled his contract with my family."
"What?"
This was a topic she'd have discussed with him over coffee. The original plan sounded like a dream. "Peter spoke to me before we all went in. He canceled the contract. It was why I was upset earlier when you came over to me. I have no idea how my parents can retire without that. I have to get to work."
Secret Crush (The House of Morgan Book 1) Page 7
