Guarding Midnight

by Kacey Hammell

  Gavin’s jaw ached from clenching his teeth. He’d asked her to open up, and he couldn’t turn away now. But down deep, he realized that perhaps he wasn’t ready to hear this. She’d become too important to him, and knowing she’d been hurt...

  He drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. He had to let her tell her story. For herself. He remained silent.

  “After about six months, Brian began to change. He became more aggressive, domineering, and made me quit my job. He wanted someone to cook, clean, fetch him whatever he wanted when he came home from work, and he wanted someone ready, willing, and able in bed every night. Every night—no matter if I was on my monthly or not.”

  Tears fell down her cheeks. Gavin was too lost in her words to lift a finger. He was numb from head to toe. He wanted to stop her from saying anymore, but her eyes churned with memories of the past.

  “When I wouldn’t do what he wanted, he’d whip me with his belt. Over and over. One day rolled into the next. Days turned into weeks, weeks into years. Sex became rape. And he’d beat me until I was too numb to care. He locked me in whenever he left. Nailed windows shut, kept me hostage in the home he once said was all mine. I did everything I could to never displease him, but something always did, no matter how small. Until, one day, he died in his sleep. Just like that.” She snapped her fingers, startling him, but he didn’t speak. “After beating me so badly the night before, I woke the next morning to find him dead. The police came, did an investigation, and since the wounds on my back and face were very plain to see, they believed me. Then once the autopsy came back that he’d died of a cardiac arrest in his sleep, I packed up the meager belongings I had and never looked back.”

  Gavin’s heart ached for the pain she’d endured, and for the innocence shattered. No woman should ever be treated so horribly by any man.

  “I moved around a lot after that. Got the odd job and stayed in one place as long as I could. But once I found myself wishing to stay put and wanting more out of life, I’d leave and start all over again. Then once I got a job at a library, I began reading everything from action-adventures, to romance and how-to books. I found myself continuously reaching for the nursing books. I didn’t know how I’d do it, but I promised myself then and there that I would find a way to put myself through nursing school and to have something that was all mine.”

  She glared at him, as if defying him to try and take that away from her. He wanted to pull her close and promise her that he’d never devalue her in any way.

  “I met a woman named Stephanie at the library one day. She’d been in a lot exchanging books, and I was always envious of the way she dressed and looked so happy. Heels, short skirts, beautiful makeup and hair...I wanted that too. And our friendship grew every day. Then she told me what she did for a living. I couldn’t believe it. A dancer. Of course, I thought she really meant a stripper, but when she invited me to come watch a rehearsal, I was taken aback by it all. Fun skits, wild dances, a way to truly be free and uninhibited...I wanted to show myself that I wasn’t that abused, spineless woman anymore. I needed to prove to myself that I was in control of my body, and that no one would ever hurt me like that again.”

  “Of course you did. And you do. Always. And you are hardly spineless. I love your confidence. I’m sorry for what that bastard did to you.”

  As if coming out of a trance, Shree stared up at him, wide-eyed. “Oh no. No.” She tried to get away from him. “I didn’t want you to know any of that. You should go.”

  “Shree, wait.” He hauled her back in front of him and held her close. He hated holding her like this, so tight that she couldn’t move, but he needed her to hear him. “It’s okay. There’s nothing to hide from. It’s just me and you here. Your secrets are safe with me. Please. It’s okay. I promise.”

  She stopped struggling then laid her forehead against his chin. Breathing heavy, she shook her head. “My secrets. I’m sorry.”

  He relaxed his hold a bit, then settled against her. “Your secrets are safe with me, baby. Always.”

  Tension left her body as she controlled her breathing. Once she put her head on his shoulder and curled her arms between them, Gavin felt the weight of exhaustion settle over her.

  “Just sleep tonight, Shree. Nothing will happen while you’re with me. I promise.”

  Her deep breathing was the only sound in the room. He ran his hand along her back lightly, hoping to show her that he was there for her and would never harm her.

  As her breathing evened out and sleep overtook her, Gavin vowed that one day, he’d show her all the true pleasures of the world. And show her true happiness.

  In that moment, he knew he’d never let her go.

  ****

  Shree walked through Charlie’s open office door. “Do you have a minute?”

  Charlie looked up from her computer and smiled. “Sure. Have a seat. Can I get you something cold to drink? Coffee?”

  “No, I’m good.” She took a seat in the chair across from her boss. “I need to discuss a couple things with you.”

  Charlie sat forward, hands clasped on her desk. “Fire away.”

  “First off, I enjoy working here a lot. You know I’ll be leaving when I finish classes.” Shree linked her fingers in her lap, nerves skating along her neck.

  “Yes, of course. Is something wrong?” Concern marred her brow. “Do you need to leave sooner?”

  Shree lifted her shoulder, confusion clogging her thoughts. “I don’t know, Charlie. I’m frustrated. Angry.” She got to her feet and strode to the water cooler in the corner. Filling a glass with water, she gulped the cold liquid, thankful for the wetness to cool her dry throat. She didn’t know which way to turn, how to deal with Gavin as her protector and still lead her own life. The things she’d shared with him last night...she still couldn’t believe it. And waking with him in her bed this morning had shaken her to the core.

  “Shree, just tell me what’s going on. I know we haven’t known one another that long, but I’ve never seen you so on edge. You look ready to jump out of your skin.”

  Turning back to her boss, she shook her head. “I don’t know how much to tell you. Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea. I know how close you and Gavin are.”

  Charlie stood and crossed to her. Placing her hands on Shree’s shoulders, she directed her to the loveseat in the corner. “You can tell me anything. Gav’s like my honorary big brother. I love him to death and rely on him a lot now that he’s here. But I know how pigheaded and controlling guys like him are. My dad was military, so is my brother Sean, so trust me when I say, I feel for you. Getting involved with a man like that isn’t going to be easy.”

  Shree flushed under the other woman’s scrutiny.

  “You and Gav are involved. It’s no secret. I feel the heat between the two of you whenever you’re in the same room. Hell, the other day in the gym, I needed a cold shower.” She laughed out loud. “You’re both terrible at hiding your feelings.”

  Shree sighed. “It’s probably the worst decision for me, isn’t it? Getting involved with someone who works for you—being coworkers and all that.”

  “We’re friends. At least I’d like to think so.” Shree nodded. “Gav is working here pro bono, and you’re really not coworkers in the grand scheme of things. You’re free to see whom you please, and I am sure you know this, but he isn’t the type of guy to stick in one place too long.”

  “Yeah, I figured. I’m not really looking for that either.”

  Charlie smirked at her, then patted her knee. “So what is it you wanted to talk about?”

  Shree was sure she was being placated, but let it go. “The danger of this Hagen guy. It’s serious. Gavin thinks like the man’s going to come in here guns blazing and looking for blood. Did he show you the picture left on my table?”

  Charlotte sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. “He didn’t show me, said it was too personal, but he said enough for me to get an idea about the content. I’m so sorry, and I’m terri
fied to be honest. Those big goons who come in here every night—I fear for all you girls. I should really shut the place down until the matter is done with, but I know so many of them—bartenders and maintenance—all count on the income. I know safety comes first, but the money is important to so many.”

  Shree shook her head. “Don’t second-guess yourself about it. You’re doing the right thing. But do you really think Hagen will do anything to take this place away from you? Even to do harm to others? It sounds extreme to me. It’s just a club, no offense.”

  “None taken. But Hagen knows we’re in a prime location. The number of customers a night has quadrupled since you arrived, but it’s always been the hotspot. I plan to hold onto this place with every fiber of my being. This place is all I have left of someone who meant the world to me. I plan to preserve it in his memory as long as I can. It’s a family legacy so to speak.”

  Shree heard the grit and determination in the other woman’s tone and had to admire her for it. The need to make one’s way, to have something all your own...Shree could relate.

  “Gavin’s hard-assed about keeping me under lock and key. I can’t live like that.”

  “You’re the number one star. He knows Hagen will take a hit at you at some point. I’m sorry for that.”

  “Not your fault. You’ve nothing to apologize for. You explained it all before I came here and I took the risk. But if I might be a key to all this as well, maybe the best thing for me to do is quit. Find another place to live and a different job until I finish school. Perhaps then this guy will back off.”

  Charlie grabbed her hand. “Please, and I understand that you have to do what is best for you, but Hagen was nosing around long before you arrived. I don’t want you to quit. If you feel it’s your safety you’re worried about then I can’t fault whatever you decide, but know that I would hate to see you go. Especially after that photo. I’m worried about your safety.”

  “I just don’t want to put more of a target on this place. Having the income from dancing will continue to make things comfortable for me while I’m still paying for school. Taking a pay cut with another part time job would make things difficult.”

  “Good, then it’s decided.” Charlie stood and sat back behind her desk. “Now Gavin, well he’s a different issue. Your relationship with him is none of my business, Shree, but he’s very protective of those he cares about. He’s not going to sit by and let you wander around alone.”

  “Do you really and truly feel that I might be in some danger? That I need his hovering constantly?” Shree had to understand Gavin’s motives. She didn’t want a repeat of history and couldn’t be making the same mistakes. “I feel as though he’s blowing some of this way out of line. I’ve never even seen this Hagen guy or been approached by his goons.”

  “Trust me, you’ll know when you meet any of them. Creeps, all of them.” Charlie pulled open her right hand drawer and drew out a small handgun. Shree didn’t know much about weapons, but her heart nearly stopped at the sight of the deadly object. “But I plan to be ready for anything. I never leave this baby too far away.”

  Shree stood and paced back and forth. “Jesus, you’re as bad as Gavin is.”

  “Not quite.” She put the gun back in the drawer and closed it. “There’s more to Hagen than even I know. Gavin hasn’t filled me in on everything, and there’s another agent coming later today to have his back. They’re hoping they can find enough evidence to put Hagen away. Going through the local law is no help at all.”

  Nodding, Shree crossed the length of the room, then back again. “Yeah, Frank something-or-other is coming. Says that he’s got a lot of info on Hagen, and I hope for all our sakes it’s enough to close the door on this guy once and for all. There are all types of creeps in this world who need to be put away and never allowed to be free again.”

  Silence filled the room. Shree stopped pacing and glanced at her friend. Her eyes searched the other woman’s, surprised to see understanding and support behind them.

  “I know what it’s like to live under a man’s thumb, to be constantly ruled and pushed around. Do you want to talk about it?” Charlie offered.

  The need to sit and pour her heart out was strong. Shree had never found anyone to talk about the past with, to share an understanding and commonality with someone who’d suffered some of what she had. Not even Stephanie, who’d taken her in and given her encouragement to be herself.

  And today wasn’t the day to be vulnerable. Not after the night she’d had with Gavin. Her defenses were already weakened, the walls she’d built merely a few speckles of cement now. As much as she wanted to confide in this new friend, she had to maintain some emotions for herself.

  “Thanks. I appreciate the conversation, and clarification about what is going on. Maybe another time we can dish the dirt on the pasts.”

  “No problem.” Charlotte got up and came around to stand in front of her. “We’ll go out to dinner, get totally blitzed, and pour our hearts out some time. Maybe in the morning, neither of us will remember what all was said, but at least we’ll have gotten it off our chests, right?”

  “Sure. Sounds good. I’m going to head back to my room, catch a few hours of sleep before tonight.”

  “All right. Let me know if you need anything.” Charlie pulled Shree into her arms. Surprised, but with no choice but to return the embrace, Shree hugged her back. “And I’ll let Gav know where you are if he asks.”

  Nodding, Shree turned and made her way toward the back stairs.

  Charlie had confirmed Gavin’s suspicions about Hagen and the dangers that lingered. She had to allow him to protect her, but it was something that would change once the man was behind bars.

  There was no way she could live in another man’s prison again.

  Down deep, she didn’t think Gavin would go to such lengths with her, but she never would have believed it about her ex either.

  Chapter Six

  Gavin read over the papers laid out on his table again. Everything Frank had already sent him about Hagen lay in front of him. Hagen was a man who liked to live high on life—on other people’s suffering—and did as he wanted.

  Gavin read the pages of data on the employees the man had in his enterprise over the last five years. Over fifty percent of them were missing. Frank’s information was detailed. The avenues he’d pursued to find some of these women—entertainers—who Hagen employed were exhausting just to read. He had to admire Frank’s determination and work ethic.

  Glancing at his watch, he winced, knowing he had to get a move on. Frank had called from the airport after hailing a cab. He should arrive soon.

  Gavin pulled the towel from around his waist. Naked, he strode to his dresser for clean clothes. He’d worked out for over an hour after leaving Shree this morning, and had gotten buried in Frank’s research after showering.

  He threw a black t-shirt and blue jeans on his bed, followed by black socks and grey boxers. Rolling his shoulders to relieve some of the tension from reading over those files, he flinched.

  Frowning, he glanced behind him into the mirror. Long red scratches covered much of his back, deeper gashes in the middle, filling him with pride. Shree was a hellcat in bed. He loved that about her—the inhibitions she showed, the passion that flowed from every pore.

  She was a woman made for loving, day and night, over and over.

  And he was glad he was the man loving her now.

  Love, hotshot? That a new word in our vocabulary?

  A pounding on the door caught his attention. He admonished himself for his thoughts as he walked to the door. “Hang on,” he called. He grabbed up his clothes and quickly dressed.

  “Come on, Bennett. If you got a broad in there, get off her. We have work to do.”

  Smiling, Gavin did up the button on his jeans and stalked toward the door. Yanking it open, he grinned. “Shut up, ass, there’s no one here. Come on in.”

  Frank Shaw strode through the door, grey briefcase in one hand an
d pulling a brown suitcase with another.

  Taking in his friend’s black jacket and dress pants and white shirt, Gavin chuckled. “So, how was the flight, 007?” He shut the door behind him and grabbed a chair. Turning it around, he straddled it and watched his friend get comfortable at the other end of the table.

  “Bite me. I came here after a debriefing on a case in Dallas. Looks like you’ve been busy.” He nodded at the paper all over the table. “Find anything new?”

  Gavin shook his head and ran a hand over it in frustration. “As if you’d miss anything. Great work here, man.”

  “Yeah, well, lot of good it’s done me.” He grabbed one of the pictures off the table. “So much waste. So many girls used and abused, never to be seen again.” Gavin frowned at hearing the cracks in the other man’s voice. No one got that emotional on a case unless...

  It dawned on him. The first agent he’d spoken to at the FBI was adamant that Frank was the man he needed to talk to. That while the case against Hagen was open, there was a lot of top brass who would rather steer clear of the criminal because he was heavy-handed with civil suits. Since he and Frank had known one another a long time, he trusted him and knew they’d make a great team. He had no doubts about the other man’s experience or how to get the job done. Plus, Frank’s notes and reports, knowing every minute detail about the case...it was personal for him.

  “Someone you know?” Gavin asked lightly, nodding his head toward the woman in the picture.

  Frank met Gavin’s gaze. The raw desperation and fire in the other man’s eyes told Gavin his suspicions were confirmed.

  “Who was she to you?”

  Frank laid the picture on the table then sat back in his seat. “My cousin, Victoria. She got messed up with the wrong crew in high school, could never seem to get out. I tried for years to help her, put her in rehab, let her live with me for a while, but nothing worked. When I heard she’d found a job after the last stint in rehab, I was glad to hear that she’d moved in a new direction, got a job, and planned to live right. But once I dug into who her boss was, I tried to convince her it was a bad idea. Hell, I even went to see him.”