Guarding Him

by Kori David

  A chuckle floated through the white box, oddly distorted. “Just bring everyone up, little brother. I have some things to show you.”

  Ian glanced at his sister. She shrugged, but her lips were pressed in a fine line, and a slight tremor shook her hands as she crossed her arms. It was chilly inside Evan’s home, and he could see the goosebumps on Nic’s arms. Not that she noticed. She and Drake were eye-locked in silent communication. They all moved closer together. “I’ve never known Evan to carry any weapons or even own them,” Ian said.

  “How many times have you been over here?” Nic asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “You or Izzy?”

  “Once,” Izzy admitted. “He threw a housewarming party when he moved in.”

  “We’ve never been invited back,” Ian said.

  “You have to throw out everything you think you know about your brother,” Drake said, his voice a low rasp to avoid being overhead if possible. “This is a man who was willing to pay someone to kill you. Don’t forget it, and don’t let your guard down.”

  “I’m waiting. It’s the open door at the end of the hall.”

  They all turned to look at the intercom. Ian shrugged and mounted the stairs, following Drake, who took the lead. Isobel was right behind him with her hand in his. Nic frowned at him when he looked back at her, but the worry in her eyes warmed him. He was feeling numb, and the cold of the house wasn’t helping. Ian wanted to be done with this. He’d turn in his plans and take Nic to bed for a week. It was the only thing keeping him going, the thought of having her in his arms and his bed.

  Drake cautiously made his way down the hall, Ian on his heels. Every room was empty—of furnishings, of life. Nothing of Evan’s personality was in any part of the house, from the tastefully decorated first floor to the empty second floor. He quietly acknowledged Nic’s distaste of his own home. He’d been negligent of his own tastes and personality, and it struck him how similar his home looked to Evan’s. It caused a small shiver of dread to sink into the pit of his stomach.

  “Ah, welcome,” Evan said. He stood behind a wide desk, polished to a sheen and empty of anything except a monitor, a bottle of Scotch, and a single tumbler that was half full. He held his arms out wide, encompassing the room. “Welcome to my trophy room.”

  Ian looked around at the odd collection of stuff on the walls. There were stuffed animal heads and pictures of Evan with various women, even some articles about marketing campaigns that Evan had worked on before coming to Jamison Electronics. The only furniture in the room was the desk and a plush leather chair. Everything of value to Evan hung on the walls or was mounted in some way, displayed to its best advantage.

  Glancing around the room, it took Ian a moment to realize that Nic wasn’t with them. He felt that the house was empty, but it bothered him that she wasn’t in the room. Where the hell did she go?

  * * *

  Nic wrinkled her nose. There were candles lit in the house, the kind that gave off a strong smell of cinnamon and something else—maybe pine? Evan was so fussy about smells that she found it odd that he’d have such a strong aroma in the house. Not only that, but Nic was wary about this whole confrontation. Evan was one step ahead of them and had been this whole time. He’d covered his tracks well, so why the grandiose invite into his home office? What else did he have planned?

  Nic slipped through the formal front room, sliding past the cameras as quick as a cat. Something was bothering her. Something about the smell. Drake would protect Ian and Isobel while they sought the truth. Nic was seeking something else, but she wasn’t sure what. All she knew was the hair on her arms and back of her neck were standing up—a sure sign of danger.

  Her cell pinged with a text. It was from Courtney. She stopped and read it quickly, eyes widening at the last little piece of information in the bio. Nic had Courtney run through Evan’s entire life. Suppressing a shiver, she slid the phone back into her pocket.

  No cameras in the hall leading to the kitchen and dining areas toward the back of the home. Also, nothing that proved it was a home, no personal pictures, or anything that reflected the owner. The lack of furniture bothered Nic as well. It was as if everything was packed up and shipped off. Closer to the kitchen, the smell of the candles faded a bit, and something else burned her nose.

  The rotten egg smell that was used to indicate natural gas hit her square in the face as she pushed open the swinging door to the kitchen. “Damn it,” she muttered. It wasn’t strong yet, but the room was filling up. Evan planned to go out with a bang, all right, but he also planned to take his siblings with him. Unless he had an exit strategy, which she didn’t think he did. No, he planned to kill them all with a gas explosion.

  Nic raced toward the stove. It was sitting slightly askew, and when she looked behind the big gas range, she saw that the metal hose connecting the stove to the wall was cut clean. No reconnecting it or shutting off the gas in time. Pulling out her phone, Nic called 9-1-1.

  “9-1-1, what is the emergency?”

  Nic rattled off the address and the problem and asked for the fire department to respond; then she hung up before she was asked any further questions. Police would automatically respond in case the building went up in flames. Going to the window to open it, Nic saw the nails that were driven through the panes. The back door, leading to the postage-stamp-sized backyard and the gas turn-off valve was also locked up tight with a chain and deadbolt. Evan, damn his miserable hide, had thought of everything. Once the gas filled the room, it would seep into the front room with all the candles going—then boom.

  Nic had to get everyone out. Now.

  * * *

  Ian stared at his brother. It was like he’d never seen him before, or maybe he’d never really looked this closely. Evan gloated about what he’d done. He was happy to share his life with Izzy and himself, to boast about his conquests. It was disgusting.

  “All those women,” Izzy said. “You terrorized and subjugated them for fun.” She shook her head, eyes wide as she stared at the pictures. Evan pointed to each one and bragged about what he’d done to them, and although it was rarely physical abuse, he’d mentally tormented those women to get what he wanted. Whatever sick satisfaction he needed, sometimes it was money or getting ahead of an opponent in business.

  “And the stuffed animal trophies?” Drake asked.

  “Paid someone else to get them for me, even the endangered ones. I have videos of each and every kill,” Evan said, his tone proud. “I hate being out in the middle of nowhere, but money can buy anything.” He shrugged and stroked the black panther nearest his desk. “This guy was a real fighter. Killed one of the hunters before catching a bullet.” Evan smiled, looking up into Ian’s eyes. “Saved me some money.”

  “Why did you do all this, Evan? Is it the company you want? Tell me something that makes sense.” Ian was at a loss. His own brother was a monster, and he’d never even suspected. This was going to kill their parents.

  “I want to win,” Evan said simply.

  “And he’s going to do that by killing us all,” Nic said, coming back into the room.

  Drake swung around, gun out and pointing at Evan. “What did you find?”

  “He’s cut the gas line in the kitchen. I blew out all the candles on my way back up here, but since all the windows and doors are bolted or nailed shut, I’m guessing he has another way to get the job done. Also, he’s managed to lock the front door remotely, so we’re all trapped inside.”

  “You sound very calm, Miss Montgomery,” Evan said. He smiled at her and took a drink of the amber-colored liquid in his glass as if they had all the time in the world.

  Ian felt Izzy take his hand and move close to him, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Nic. “It’s over, Evan,” he said, ripping his gaze from the love of his life to the brother he’d never understood. “Let’s go to the police station and work it all out. If you turn yourself in, maybe they can offer you some kind of plea deal.”

  Evan laughed, high pitched
and mocking. “You two are such naïve fools.” Taking a bigger drink from his glass, he continued to chuckle. “I always win.”

  “You have stage four pancreatic cancer,” Nic said. “That’s the only reason you’re staging this little performance. You’re as good as dead anyway.”

  Evan smiled and took another drink. “I really wouldn’t do well in prison.”

  “And that’s our cue to leave, people,” Nic said. “Captain Insane is ready to go down with his ship, but I’m not. And he’s not taking anyone else with him.”

  Ian heard the sirens in the distance. Taking Izzy by the arm, he pulled her backward. She’d been frozen, staring at Evan while he talked. “We have to go, Izzy.”

  “You too, Jamison,” Drake said, gun still pointed at the other man. “You don’t get off that easily.”

  “Oh, but I do.” Evan laughed hard and then stopped abruptly. He leaned over and clutched his stomach.

  “What did you do?” Ian whispered. “Evan, come with us. Think of Mom and Dad.”

  Ian watched as Nic moved around the desk and picked up the glass. Taking a sniff, she jerked her head back. “Old fashioned cyanide. It’s got that bitter almond smell.” Setting the glass down, she turned to look at Ian. “He’s not going to prison, and he’s not planning to burn to death like he hopes we will. He’ll be dead in a matter of minutes.”

  Ian watched as Evan started choking and vomiting, hunched over the desk. He started forward, and Drake stopped him. Shooting him a look, he said, “He’s still my brother.”

  “He’s a dead man, by his own hand. Leave him.”

  “He’s right, Ian,” Izzy chimed in. “Let’s get out of here now.”

  Nic grabbed his other hand as she rounded the desk. “This way.”

  She led them back down the stairs and to the front door. “Drake, I need you to shoot out the window. It’s double-paned glass, and there’s nothing in here strong enough to break it. The bastard really did think of everything.”

  Izzy had her nose covered, but the smell of rotten eggs was strong. Ian couldn’t believe he’d missed it when they’d come inside. They’d walked right into a trap. There was a thumping from upstairs, and Ian took a step toward the stairs again but stopped. Evan had poisoned himself to avoid taking any responsibility for his actions. He thinks he won. And he was about to if they didn’t get outside soon.

  “Everyone, cover your ears.”

  Drake put a circular pattern of bullets through the glass. Once he’d put his gun away, he shrugged out of his jacket. Knowing what he was doing, Ian did the same. Once their hands and arms were covered, they moved together and started hitting the glass, breaking it out and away from the wood frame. Over and over, they hit the glass that wasn’t just double-paned; it was thicker than normal glass. Nic already had a sliced and stitched arm; Ian didn’t want any part of her or his sister getting cut up by the glass.

  “We’re through it,” Drake said, breathing heavily. “Ladies first.”

  Ian unwound the jacket from his arm and laid it on the window frame as padding. Picking up his sister, he slid her feet out first. The first team of firefighters had just arrived, and one of the guys ran over, putting on his fire gear. He had Izzy in his arms before her feet could even touch the ground. Nic was next; Drake already had her in his arms and was handing her out the window.

  Drake was straddling the window when they both heard it. It was a loud ding from the kitchen. There was a moment of utter stillness, and then the explosion. The swinging door blew off its hinges, and flames, tipped in bright yellow and blue, clawed toward them. The sound of the fire was a dull roar that deafened Ian.

  Ian thought he heard Drake begin cussing as he turned and shoved the big man out the window. Heat sluiced up his back as he flung himself after the FBI man, feeling his arms being caught and pulled. His hips and legs banged against the window frame as he was tugged all the way through. He was going to be bruised in places he’d rather not think about, but he was alive to tell the tale.

  “Your brother was an asshole,” Drake muttered.

  “I would have to agree,” Nic said. Both were sitting on the ground next to him, having pulled him through the window.

  “Apparently, he was a bit more than that,” Ian gasped, still dragging fresh air into his lungs. He felt singed from the inside out.

  “I always knew something wasn’t quite right with Evan, but I never suspected anything like this,” Izzy said. Tears streamed down her face as she stared at the second-story window. Flames licked at the window they’d come through, and controlled chaos reigned around them. Police were evacuating the houses on either side of Evan’s, and more fire trucks arrived, men unfurling hoses and throwing on helmets and oxygen masks.

  The four of them were guided toward waiting ambulances as questions were asked. Was anyone else inside? Were there any pets? Did they have any idea where the fire started? Ian’s ears rang from the explosion, and he had a couple of superficial burns on the backs of his arms and neck, plus his hair was as singed as his clothes. He noticed Drake was with the police sergeant on scene, talking off to one side.

  A warm hand slid into his, pulling his attention away from the house. Nic’s violet eyes reflected his sadness. Not that she was sorry his brother was gone, but he knew she was sorry for the loss. His fingers tightened on hers. “You saved us.”

  “A perk of the job,” she said, her voice solemn. “I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but it doesn’t surprise me that Evan did what he did.”

  “He always liked to win, but this,” he said, gesturing toward the house. “This is madness. I just don’t understand any of it.”

  “Well, he didn’t win this time.” Nic touched his face. “You are never going to understand what drove him. Neither of you will. There was something broken in Evan. He didn’t understand love or empathy or any of the higher emotions.”

  “I’m going back to the hospital,” Izzy said. “I don’t want to watch any more of this. I can’t take being here anymore.”

  “Nic and I will take you.”

  Nic leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You take her. You need each other right now. I need to get back to the office.” She got to her feet in one lithe move. “Don’t forget, you have a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff today. You might try and get some sleep at some point.”

  Ian watched the woman he loved walk away. He was sure of his feelings and secure in hers, for the most part. But he didn’t like that her life wasn’t completely entangled with his. She had her own office and her own home, but after everything they’d been through, Ian wanted her with him. Every second. It wasn’t realistic, especially since she already said she wasn’t giving up her job, but he couldn’t stop the thought.

  He wanted to yell that he loved her and that she’d better come back to him. Instead, he caught his sister’s look. “I know,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “You have the same look when you watch Cody. I’m not even embarrassed by my feelings.”

  Izzy shrugged. “You shouldn’t be. I’ve just never seen you wear that particular look before.”

  “I’m half afraid she’ll realize what a complete nerd I am and never come back.”

  Izzy stood and held her hand out to him. Pulling him up to stand next to her, she said, “You haven’t been that nerd since high school, and you’ve never been this nervous before.”

  “I’ve never been totally and completely in love before.” He sighed, long and loud. “We’re going to have to tell Mom and Dad.” He nodded toward the house, which wasn’t even partially under control yet. Flames shot skyward, and hoses were blasting the house and the houses on either side with water.

  “Goddam him.”

  Izzy put her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. Tears were steadily falling, making her cheeks glow. “Let’s get our statements out of the way and get out of here.”

  “What the hell are we supposed to tell the folks?” His parents were going to be devastated. There was no w
ay either of them was going to tell them what kind of a monster their oldest son was. Ian wasn’t sure what they would say, but he wasn’t going to worry about that now. Nic was right, he needed sleep, and he needed to make his presentation. After that, he’d figure it out.

  And then he’d find Nic and make good on his plan to stay in bed with her for a week. Or more.

  Chapter 24

  A week had passed since the morning of the fire. A week since Nic had crept back to the monstrosity of a house that Ian called home, taking her things and leaving him a note. The note had simply said that they both needed time to process what had happened and that she would see him soon. She’d asked that he didn’t call or try to track her down and to really think about what being together meant.

  Nic wasn’t running scared, but she was worried that the closeness and love that Ian felt for her wasn’t real. It wouldn’t be the first time a client thought they loved their bodyguard, only to find that once the danger was gone, so were the feelings. Ian deserved the time to decide if his feelings were real or not.

  Hers were. Real enough to keep her awake at night, hoping and praying when she went back to him that he’d look at her the way he did when she left him at the fire. Her worst fear was that he’d open that door and see her, and there’d be nothing in his eyes—no feeling, no love, just nothing. It had happened to one of the girls before, and she’d been devastated. Nic would go on, just as her friend did, but it would change her forever. This was the first time she’d ever fallen in love, and it had been hard and fast, like nothing she’d ever felt before.

  But, before she could go back and face that fear, she and the rest of the team had to get through Lindsay’s funeral. Favors from around the globe were called in, clients were put into safe houses, or another agency would step in for a day. Every single member of the K.A.W. Protection Agency was present today for their fallen teammate.