by L. P. Dover
Lexi: Thanks. You too. I’ll see ya in a couple of days. The shop is locked up.
Me: Awesome! Thank you!
It was almost five so I stood and whistled at my mom to get her attention. She’d been swimming laps in the surf for the past twenty minutes. When she looked at me, I waved my hand in the air and yelled, “I’m going inside to take a shower. I’ll help you with dinner when you get done.”
She waved back. “Sounds good. Be there in a minute.”
Grabbing my empty glass, I walked to the back door of the house and slipped inside. The cold, conditioned air whipped across my body and it felt good against my heated skin. I hurried to the bathroom and turned on the shower, the steam billowing into the bedroom. My cell phone rang before I could even take off my bathing suit. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw the name flash across the screen.
“Hey, Noah.”
“Happy Birthday, sis. How does it feel to be twenty-nine?”
I laughed. “The same as any other day.”
“I know how that goes. Just wait ‘til you hit forty.”
“You’re such an old man,” I teased. “So, what do I owe this pleasure? Something tells me this isn’t just a social call.”
My brother was fifteen years older than me. I guess you could say my parents thought they were done having kids, until I popped up unannounced. By the time I was three years old, he was in college, dreaming of the time he could follow in our father’s footsteps.
Noah laughed, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his tone. He’d forgotten how easily I could see through him. “You’re right, it’s not. I’m having a Fourth of July celebration and I want you to come.”
“Seriously?” I gasped. “But that’s tomorrow. Couldn’t you have given me more of a warning?”
He sighed. “Sadly, things tend to happen pretty quickly around here.”
“Do you want or need me there, Noah?” No matter the reasoning for his party, I knew that if he needed me, I’d be there. But if it was just a social gathering, there was a certain vice president I wasn’t ready to see yet.
“I’m sorry, Brina, but I need you here. It’s important. We have a situation.” That was all he had to say.
Groaning, I glanced out my bedroom window at our mother still swimming around in the ocean. “Did you invite mom as well?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea if she comes. I know how hard it is for her to be here.” Our mother had been to the White House to visit Noah on a couple of occasions, and each time, she suffered panic attacks. He was right. It was best she stayed away.
“I agree. She’s doing much better now that she’s spending time with me.”
“Hey, she mentioned something about you needing to talk to Wade Chandler?”
Huffing, I rolled my eyes. “I swear, that woman.”
“Just so you know, I had an invitation sent to him. Is everything okay?”
“Business is a little slow,” I admitted regretfully. “She thought I should ask him for help, since rescuing businesses is just one of the things he’s good at.”
“So I hear. He’s like his father. I haven’t seen Wade since he was a little boy.”
Neither had I. I hadn’t seen him since I was five years old and we spent our days playing in the ocean and making sand castles. It was hard to believe I was ever that young. “Me either, but Mom wants me to speak to him. She’s been trying to help me as much as she can.”
“That’s good. Think she’ll be okay by herself in Charleston for a couple of days?”
“She’ll be fine. I, on the other hand, am a different story.” With a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes. “I’ll be there though.”
Wade
I’d just set my bags on the bed and opened the door to the balcony when a knock sounded on the hotel room door. I opened it and Peter stood on the other side, holding a folder in his hands, his face a mask of worry. I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years, but the stress had weathered his appearance. His hair was fully gray now, and he had a web of wrinkles around his eyes.
Peter nodded. “Glad you’re finally here. We don’t have much time.”
I opened the door further so he could walk inside. “What all can you tell me?” He hadn’t discussed much over the phone. I was going into the mission blind.
Sighing, he looked out the window. I had a direct view of the Washington monument. Loosening his tie, he turned to face me. “I wouldn’t have gotten you involved if I didn’t need your help.” He handed me the folder. Ever since I took over Chandler Enterprises, I hadn’t taken on as many jobs as I used to, but with my social status, it helped me get into areas that most other assassins couldn’t achieve. And no one would ever suspect I was a killer.
I looked inside the folder and pulled out death threat letters, all addressed to the president; along with pictures of the suspect. But then a piece of paper with my name on it caught my attention. “What’s this?”
Peter pointed at it. “That’s a copy of the guest list for the president’s Fourth of July party. When we found out you were on it, I knew there was no other person who could take the job.”
I’d gotten an invitation to the party before Peter’s call. However, I couldn’t help but wonder why I was on the guest list and not my father. He was the one who was closely connected to the Carmichael family.
Peter cleared his throat. “According to the letters, we think an assassination attempt is going to go down at the party.”
“Does the president know?”
He huffed. “Yep. He refuses to cancel though. He’s hoping it’ll draw this person out so we can end it.” Peter pulled out one of the pictures of the suspect. “This is Danny Wheeler. We found a fingerprint on one of the letters. It turns out he works at the catering company that’ll be servicing the party. He’s also a strong supporter of Robert Blake.”
Blake had lost the election to Noah Carmichael. It had been a nasty election, but what made the running interesting was that they were friends in college. Not so much anymore, if the tabloids were to be believed. I looked down at Danny’s picture, a thirty-something who didn’t resemble a killer at all. Then again, neither did I. “Why haven’t you found him, if you know who he is?”
“We’ve tried,” he said regretfully. “He’s been missing. Our goal is to handle this quietly. Which is why I want you to go to the party and find him. If he’s a threat, I want you to take him out. We can’t take the risk.”
“Got it.” The invitation said there’d be fireworks. My guess was he’d make his move then.
Peter held out his hand. “Good luck. If anyone can find this guy, it’s you.”
I shook his hand. “I’ll get it done. You have my word.”
The White House was impressive. The party was out on the south lawn and there were people everywhere, drinking and having a good time. There were even a few celebrities sprinkled here and there. It was obvious from the music and laughter that everyone was oblivious to the fact a killer could be among them.
Finding Danny wasn’t going to be an easy task. The servers from the catering company were all dressed alike in their white and black uniforms. In my search, my gaze wandered over to the president, who in return was focused on me. Our families had been close for years, but I hadn’t seen him since I was six years old. His blond hair was darker than I remembered, and he was the same height as me, but with a lanky build. I watched him curiously as he left his group, heading straight in my direction.
“Wade Chandler,” he said, holding out his hand. “It’s been years since I saw you last, but you look exactly like your father. How are you?”
I shook his hand. “Good, thanks. It’s nice to see you again, President Carmichael.”
“Please, call me Noah.” Grinning from ear to ear, he finished off his drink. “And thank you for coming tonight.”
I nodded. “Thanks for inviting me.”
He stared inquisitively at me. “You’re welcome. Have you by any chance seen Brina yet? I believe she
wants to talk to you.”
“No,” I replied. “I haven’t had the pleasure of speaking to her.” She probably didn’t remember me after all these years.
“I’m sure she’ll be around soon. You can’t miss her.” He slapped me on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you again. Have a good rest of the night.”
I watched him walk off as if nothing was amiss. With his wife on his arm, he made his rounds, smiling and carrying on like he didn’t have a target on his back. What kind of man would put his family in danger like that? His wife could easily get caught up in the crosshairs. She probably didn’t even know what was going on.
“Arrogant jackass,” I grumbled, finishing off my tonic.
“Yikes.” A woman laughed from behind.
Clenching my teeth, I glanced over my shoulder, only to freeze in my tracks. I recognized her immediately. It was hard not to, since she grew up in the country’s eyes, but I would’ve known her without that.
She joined me at my table and set her empty glass down. “Surely, you weren’t talking about my brother, were you?” Her red dress hugged her body like a glove. There was no mistaking how sexy she was with her wavy, strawberry-blonde hair and green eyes.
I set my glass down beside hers. “Just thinking out loud.” I held out my hand. “Wade Chandler.”
She smiled. “I know. I’m Brina,” she said, shaking my hand. “We apparently knew each other a long time ago.”
“I remember.” By the look on her face, that surprised her.
“You look just like your father. Although, I’m sure you hear that all of the time.” Her green eyes twinkled as she let go of my hand. “I haven’t seen him in a while. How is he? I know he took it hard when your mother passed.”
Everyone had taken it hard, but the cancer never brought her spirits down. She fought ‘til the very end. “He’s doing good. Retired now, but that hasn’t stopped him.”
Her lips pulled back in a smile. She was so fucking sexy. “That doesn’t surprise me. He’s a charming man. We stay in contact pretty regularly.”
“You do?” I asked, genuinely curious. He’d never said anything about her.
“All of the time. After my father was killed, he made it a point to check up on me. I half expected him to come with you.” She gazed around the room. “Or at least a female.”
“Sorry to disappoint. I don’t see anyone escorting you around either.” A quick glance down at her vacant ring finger made me smile.
Her eyes glowed mischievously as she caught me staring at her hand. “That’s because I came alone.”
“Your brother said you needed to talk me?”
“You’re right, I do.”
I glanced around at the crowd, at all the men who couldn’t keep their eyes off her. “Surely there’s someone else you’d rather spend your time with?”
She snorted and waved her hand dismissively. “Most of the men here only want me because of who I am. I now have a strict policy to stay away from men in politics.”
“Now? So you didn’t have this rule before?” Everyone in the country knew about her relationship with Christopher Parks.
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m sure you know the answer to that.”
I shrugged. “Not a fan of gossip.” Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Parks staring daggers at me. “Although, it looks like a certain vice president doesn’t like you talking to me.”
Pursing her lips, she didn’t even bother to look around. “I’m sure he doesn’t. But my relationship with Chris has nothing to do with why I wanted to speak with you.”
I chuckled. “You might want to tell him that. I’d hate to get arrested for fighting with the VP.”
She tried her best to hold back a laugh and failed. “Now that would be a sight. But I’d hate to see you lose your chance with one of these women,” she said, nodding toward the crowd. “Then again, you are one of the most eligible bachelor’s in the country, so I’m sure they’d make allowances and snap you up.”
“You’d be surprised.”
“Would I now?” She glanced down at her phone, tucking her bottom lip between her teeth. “Say, would you like to meet up after the party for drinks? I need your business advice on something. That is, if you think you might be able to help me.”
Her voice was going to drive me in-fucking-sane; it was so smooth and sexy. I’d met many women over the years, but none as interesting as her. “I’m sure I can help,” I replied. “Just tell me where you want to meet.” I had something I needed to handle first.
“Eleven, at The Jefferson Hotel bar. It’s where I’m staying.”
“You’re not staying at the White House?” I asked.
She scoffed. “I lived there long enough. It’s good to be on my own.” Christopher Parks walked toward us, his serious gaze burrowing into my skull. He might be the vice president, but I didn’t give a fuck. His title wasn’t going to keep me from going after what I wanted.
“Brina,” he called out.
She turned around quickly, her ass coming dangerously close to brushing against my thigh. If she was trying to make him jealous, it’d worked. “Chris, hey. It’s good to see you. I didn’t think you were going to make it.”
His eyes flitted over to me, and I could tell her proximity to me was driving him mad. “I got held up, but I’m here now. Do you mind getting a drink with me?”
“Sure.” She looped her arm with his and glanced back at me. “It was nice seeing you again after all these years, Mr. Chandler. I look forward to our business meeting.” They walked off and she looked back at me once more before disappearing through the crowd.
Glimpsing down at my phone, there wasn’t much time before the fireworks started. Fuck. It was almost dark and I had to find Danny. One of the servers, a young woman with short hair, walked over with a tray.
“Are you done with these glasses, sir?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said, placing mine on her tray as she grabbed Brina’s.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Before she could walk off, I gently grabbed her elbow. “Excuse me. I want to see if you can help me. I’m looking for one of your servers, he has dark brown hair and glasses. I wanted to give him a tip for helping me earlier, but I didn’t have money on me at the time. Do you know where I can find him?”
She paused in thought. “I think I know who you’re talking about. There’s only one man on our staff who wears glasses. He should be back soon. A glass of wine spilled on his uniform, so he went to the van to change.”
“Thanks.”
She walked off and I hurried out of the tent, scanning the grounds. If Danny went to the van to change, then he was most likely not in his server clothes. Not good. The lawn was wide open, but it didn’t mean Danny couldn’t make the shot from afar. There weren’t many places he could be, other than hiding in the trees.
“Good evening, everyone.” The voice caught my attention and my pulse spiked. “Who here is ready for the fireworks?” Everyone hooted and hollered as they gathered around him.
“Fuck.” I growled, searching the grounds frantically.
“Showtime begins in five minutes.”
Heart racing, I searched everywhere, trying my best to be discreet. How the hell did they expect me to find the fucker with nothing to go on? I could only find one tree that stuck out. It was thick, and its branches hung low to the ground. Anyone could hide inside and not be seen. And it was further away from the crowd, which was probably what Danny wanted.
Being my only lead, I made my way over to the tree, sneaking around out of sight just in case he was there. If he saw me coming, who’s to say he wouldn’t try to kill me? However, the closer I got, the clearer everything became. Someone was there, crouching underneath the branches. I could see their figure, waiting. Son of a bitch.
Pulling out my gun, I slowly approached the tree, keeping my gaze on him. The wind blew the stench of blood my way. It was a distinct smell you couldn’t miss. I moved closer, yet the man never moved.
Hell, he wasn’t even breathing.
“What the fuck?”
There was a rifle on the ground and his hands were nowhere near it; they were lifeless at his sides. I hurried over and pushed my way through the branches, only to find a dead Danny Wheeler with a bullet hole through his head.
Holstering my gun, I pulled out my phone. The line rang until finally Peter picked up.
“Is it done?” he asked.
“Yeah, but not by me. What the hell’s going on?”
“What? I don’t understand.” He was just as shocked as me.
“Someone got to him first, Peter. They shot him through the fucking head.”
“Goddammit,” he growled. “I have no idea what’s going on. Get away from there for now, and I’ll see what I can find out.”
“Hurry.” He wasn’t the only one who wanted to know.
Brina
Wade Chandler was a mysterious, charming man, and there was something different about him that made him stand out from the rest. I’d met many men over the years and most turned out to be shallower than a kiddie pool. Not Wade though. With a father like Glenn Chandler, I knew he’d be different, even after speaking to him for the small amount of time I did.
Chris pulled me over to a secluded corner, his tone laced with jealousy. We’d officially called it quits, but I knew he still had hopes of a reunion. “Business meeting? What the hell is that all about?”
I tried to locate Wade in the crowd, but he was nowhere to be found. Chris’ fingers touched my chin and he turned me to him. Blowing out a frustrated sigh, I looked into his stark, green eyes. The last thing I wanted was to tell him about how I needed help with my shop.
“I just need his business advice. He happens to be a successful businessman. Plus, he’s Glenn Chandler’s son. The man was my father’s best friend. We all go way back.”
He scoffed. “And he wants to fuck you. I could see it in his eyes. You need to stay away from him.” Eyes wide, I crossed my arms over my chest, my resolve hanging by a thread. He knew I didn’t like it when people tried to tell me what to do. Realizing his mistake, his expression softened. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not my place to tell you what to do. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
