“She was due in over an hour ago,” Taylor said. “But I can’t seem to get her on the phone.” She tossed a look over her shoulder one way then the other. “I shouldn’t be telling you this.” Her voice was barely audible.
Josh inched closer to her with his right ear facing her.
“There were two men here yesterday, dressed in suits, looking for Liza.” Taylor rubbed her lips together. “When I asked them who they were with, one of them said, ‘We’re friends of Liza’s from Boston. We can’t say much more than that.’”
Riley’s muscles tightened as nausea settled in her stomach. All she could think about was that the men were from Liza’s old place of employment.
Before Riley had left Boston, the news had been reporting that Stefano Moretti, Liza’s former employer, had been arrested on tax evasion and money laundering. Riley’s mind was going down a lane that was making her pulse climb.
Liza had been questioned by the FBI after the raid on her former employer, Moretti Retailers, but she’d claimed she had never witnessed anything illegal while employed there.
Maybe the mafia family was trying to shut up all past and present employees so they wouldn’t testify against their patriarch. Riley had to admit she’d watched a mafia movie a time or two, but it wasn’t unheard of for someone like the mafia to shut up anyone who threatened their livelihood.
Taylor touched Riley’s arm. “Riley, you look pale. Do you know the men I speak of?”
“No.” She didn’t sound at all convincing.
Josh raised an eyebrow, those green eyes appraising.
Riley kept her thoughts to herself. For one, she didn’t want to scare Taylor, who already had fear in her blue eyes; and two, Riley didn’t want to come off as a crazy woman.
Josh whipped out his phone, tapped on the screen, and raised it to his ear. Riley imagined he was calling Liza.
Edging back from Taylor, Riley gulped down some air to clear her mind. “You told me on the phone that Liza was stuck in a meeting with a client yesterday. Is that true? Or was she in a meeting with these two men?”
“She’s not answering her phone,” Josh added. His tone was laced with concern. “What did they look like?”
Taylor considered Riley first. “I told you the truth. And she never spoke to the men I mentioned. When I told them she wasn’t available, they hesitated, exchanged some kind of look, and then left.” She turned to Josh, clasping her hands in front of her. “Both were tall. One was bald with a goatee. The other had thick black hair—handsome if you ask me. That’s all I can tell you.”
“Did they leave a card?” Mafia didn’t leave calling cards. Their idea of a calling card was a dead person. But Riley asked just the same. Maybe they weren’t who she was thinking of.
Taylor shook her head, and a stray blond hair came loose from behind her ear. “Nope.”
The whoosh of the elevator doors sounded. An older gentleman wearing a pinstriped suit waltzed in, carrying a briefcase.
“Look, I’ve got to run. As soon as she comes in or I hear from her, I’ll call you,” she said more to Josh than Riley. Then she darted off behind the man in the suit as though she were in trouble.
Josh threaded rugged fingers through his hair. “Something is wrong. I can feel it.”
Riley agreed. If Liza had to work, then she would be there. She was never late, but if she were, she would’ve called her assistant at least.
Riley gnawed on a nail, a habit of hers when she was nervous or thinking. “I say we check her apartment. Maybe she overslept.”
Josh closed the short distance between them and gently grasped her wrist. “No need to worry.”
Riley raked her gaze over him, angling her head. His tone earlier had hinted he was concerned, but he appeared calm, cool, and collected. She shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, he’d been on deadly missions, and Riley suspected he’d been trained not to panic.
He guided her hand down then laced his fingers in hers. “I do have a key to Liza’s apartment. When she travels, I’m her cat whisperer.”
Riley giggled. He was handsome, a pure gentleman, compassionate, and he was slowly becoming a woman whisperer with the way he began tracing lazy circles on her palm with the tip of his finger.
Charlie wormed in between them, almost as if he wanted to hold Riley’s hand. Josh took the dog’s leash with his free hand, steering Charlie to walk on Josh’s left.
The entire trek to Riley’s rental car, Josh kept his hand in hers. She swore if he let go, she might whimper. The last time she’d held anyone’s hand was when she was with the guy before her ex. John hadn’t been a hand-holder. She found the act intimate, warm, and tingly.
Once they were in the car and the engine was running, Josh said, “Liza’s fine.”
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Riley asked.
He engaged the gearshift. “Let’s not think the worst. Sometimes Liza hangs out at a coffee shop near her place before she goes into work. She told me that she likes to catch up on emails before she hits the office.”
Riley would’ve believed that if Taylor had heard from her.
Chapter Six
Josh knocked on Liza’s apartment door while Riley paced. She’d chewed her nails on the ride over. Josh was calm on the outside, but his antenna was up, and his gut was screaming that something was definitely wrong. He didn’t want to show Riley he was just as freaked out as she was. He’d always been taught to stay calm in tense situations and not to draw conclusions before he had all the facts.
Charlie pawed Josh then raced over to the top of the stairs and ran back. Riley stopped in her tracks midway across the landing. Then she hurried to see what Charlie was trying to alert Josh to.
Josh didn’t have to look to know that someone was probably climbing the stairs. Liza’s apartment building was only three floors with four apartments on each floor. So it was either Liza or someone who lived on her floor.
Josh knocked again as he kept his gaze trained on Riley and the stairs. Riley’s shoulders were hunched up to her ears until the person came into view, then she chomped on a nail again.
A balding man, who looked to be in good shape, emerged. He was carrying a paper bag with a loaf of bread sticking out of the top. When he saw them, his gaze swung from Riley to Josh then settled on Charlie, who was now next to Josh.
Josh grabbed Charlie’s leash just in case the man was afraid of dogs. Charlie wouldn’t hurt a fly unless someone was attacking Josh, and the old man didn’t come across as someone who would hurt anyone.
Josh had only been to Liza’s apartment a handful of times, and he’d never paid attention or talked to any of her neighbors.
“If you’re looking for Liza,” the man said, “she left late last night.”
All Josh could think was that she’d headed to the inn and her car broke down. Otherwise, his cousin wouldn’t have left to go anywhere in the middle of the night.
Riley clutched her chest as if she were having a heart attack.
The old man stuck his key into the lock on the door next to Liza’s. “Let me put my groceries down.”
Riley rushed to Josh’s right side. “Late last night. What is going on? She wouldn’t take off like that.”
He wrapped his arm around her and drew her to him. “Breathe.” Josh should have taken his own advice, but it was hard when Riley was pressed up against him. Now he was the one who needed oxygen.
“What if she decided to surprise me?” Riley pushed her body into his as if she wanted to bury herself inside him.
Josh’s mind started down a path that wasn’t appropriate at the moment.
“She could’ve gotten into an accident,” Riley continued. “We should call the police.”
We should, Josh thought, but they didn’t know much yet, and there was a twenty-four-hour window before the cops would do anything.
His gut twisted.
The old man returned, holding out his hand. “I’m Grayson. I just moved in not too l
ong ago. How do you know Liza?”
Josh extended his hand. “I’m Josh Bandon, Liza’s cousin. This is her friend Riley.”
After the intros, Grayson said, “She had a visitor last night about midnight. I couldn’t sleep, so I sat out on my deck off my bedroom. I couldn’t hear much. But I did hear her arguing with someone—a female if I’m not mistaken.”
Riley and Josh exchanged a confused look.
The old man petted Charlie. “The argument didn’t last long. I got the impression they knew each other.”
“Did you happen to see the woman or anyone?” Riley asked.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t.”
Josh had no idea what their next move would be. He didn’t know any of Liza’s friends except Riley. The only person he could think of was Taylor. She was close to Liza, since she was her assistant.
“Thank you, Grayson.” Josh held up his key to Liza’s apartment. “Riley and I are going to look around inside. If Liza does show up or you hear any activity inside later on, could you give me a call?” He pulled out one of his business cards to the Redwood Cove Inn that he carried in his wallet.
Grayson read it. “I will. I do hope she’s okay. She’s a lovely person.”
Once Grayson returned to his place, Riley and Josh went into Liza’s. Josh blinked several times to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.
Riley sucked in a sharp breath.
Charlie took off, searching the bedroom and bathroom for Liza’s cat, something he always did when Josh came to feed Salem.
The cat screeched before she ran out of the bedroom with Charlie chasing her.
Normally, Josh would tell Charlie to leave Salem alone, but he was too dumbfounded at how trashed the living room and kitchen were. Furniture was turned upside down, and kitchen drawers were left opened, along with the cabinet doors.
Riley scraped a hand over her forehead. “I don’t understand.”
Josh didn’t either. Then he remembered something. “Back at Liza’s office when Taylor asked if you knew the men that paid Liza a visit yesterday, you said you didn’t. But I agreed with Taylor that you turned white. What didn’t you tell us?” He’d meant to probe more when they were in the car, but he’d been deep in thought, praying nothing had happened to his cousin.
Riley stepped over a lamp then settled at the window that overlooked the bay. Liza lived in a swanky neighborhood in San Fran where views of the Golden Gate Bridge poked out above the marine layer in the distance. She hugged herself. “Did Liza fill you in on her former employer in Boston?”
Josh sidled up to her. “Yes. She worked for Stefano Moretti.” When Liza had filled him in on what had gone down, Josh had done some digging on the Internet. The family had been in the news quite frequently because of their ties to the cartel and other illegal business dealings. “The FBI raided the joint but didn’t find anything to hold her boss on.” Josh couldn’t say he was surprised about her employer. His time as a SEAL had taught him that corruption was everywhere.
Riley let out a nervous laugh. “Before I left to come out here, the news was reporting that Stefano Moretti was arrested for tax evasion and money laundering.”
“And you think that has something to do with Liza?”
She shrugged.
Cars passed by below, and whitecaps crested on the surface of the bay beyond the traffic.
“Let’s say for the sake of argument that you’re right,” Josh said, hoping beyond hope that Liza wasn’t entwined in any mafia business. “Why would the Boston mafia track down Liza? She left them, and from what I understand from Liza, she had no blowback or interaction with the Moretti family after she quit.”
Riley puffed out her rosy cheeks, her straight black hair hanging freely. Josh liked her hair down, but he preferred the updo style, which showed her long, smooth neck. “Call it a hunch. Maybe Moretti wants to be sure no employee, past or present, testifies against him. The FBI put Liza through the wringer.”
“But she told the Feds she hadn’t seen or had knowledge of any illegal activity.”
“Unless she did and didn’t tell us,” Riley said.
At that thought, Josh’s stomach churned like a bad day at sea, and he’d had a few of those during his time as a SEAL.
He scanned the room. Charlie was lying down next to Salem. Or rather Salem was nestled into Charlie’s belly.
Josh rubbed two fingers across his chin. “Given how this place has been ransacked, I’m guessing someone thinks Liza has something of value.” Whether any of this was related to the mafia in Boston or not, he wasn’t sure.
Tears clouded Riley’s gray eyes.
Josh gently grabbed her shoulders and bent his head slightly. “Hey.” He tipped up her chin with the pad of his finger. “We’ll find her.”
Riley sniffled then threw her arms around him. “I’m scared.”
Closing his eyes, Josh rubbed her back. It had been too long since he’d had a woman in his arms, and it felt amazing. He eased back, holding her face in between his palms. Her skin was silky and smooth.
She studied him, her gaze roaming back and forth and up and down.
The only body part Josh had in his scope was her lips—plump, pink, and so very kissable. The mess around them disappeared, and the only thing he could focus on was to kiss her or not to kiss her. If I do, will she slap me? Should I ask permission first? A gentleman always asks first. Dad had always counseled Josh on women. “Son, when it comes to women, treat them with respect. And never assume she wants the same thing you do.”
But Josh didn’t have to think at all when Riley pressed her lips to his so softly and tentatively, he swore he was imagining it. Magic came to mind. In that moment, he felt as if he was in a fairy tale and she’d cast a spell on him, because he couldn’t move. All he could think about was her and him and the magic they could make.
She jumped away. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to kiss you. I’m so emotional right now.”
Josh touched his lips, which were on fire along with his body.
She wasn’t getting away that easily. He tugged her to him. “You don’t need to be sorry.” He combed his fingers through one side of her hair until his hand rested on her neck.
Her gray eyes met his green ones as she sucked in her bottom lip, an act that was so darn sexy that it made every cell in him come alive.
Walk away, man. You’re supposed to be taking care of her on Liza’s request, not making out with her. Then Josh stiffened. Riley had a boyfriend.
She frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s none of my business. I thought you had a boyfriend back home.” Please say no.
“Not anymore.”
All his muscles loosened because luck was on his side. Then his phone vibrated in his jeans pocket. He dug it out. “Drake, is everything okay?”
“Um. Kind of.” His tone said it wasn’t. “Your dad’s caretaker had to leave because of an emergency, so he’s at the inn with me. Are you on your way back?”
There wasn’t much they could do at Liza’s other than call the cops about the break-in, although Josh wasn’t sure it was a break-in. The mess could’ve happened the night before when Liza was arguing with that woman Grayson had mentioned.
“I’m leaving now.” Josh ended the call.
Dad would be fine at the inn. On many days, he spent time in the office, doing accounting and helping out where he could since he could still use his hands. But the inn was probably busy, and Dad had a knack for getting in the way, especially when he started telling everyone what to do.
“Everything okay? Is it Liza? Is she at the inn?” Riley held her breath.
Josh wrapped his arms around her. “My dad’s caregiver had to leave early.”
Her hands ended up under his T-shirt on his lower back.
Goose bumps fired up his arms. If they didn’t separate, he would probably go against his gentlemanly manners. “Let’s head back. We’ll regroup. I should take Salem with us.” Reluctantly, he let go of Rile
y and made quick work of getting Salem’s crate.
Riley gathered her hair and twisted it up on her head before securing it with a band she had around her wrist. “Should we call the police? This mess could be a result of a robbery.” She was learning to raise her voice around him.
He poked his head into Liza’s bedroom. Except for her nightstand drawer, everything else seemed to be in place, including the TV.
“I doubt anything was taken. Let’s give it twenty-four hours.” He couldn’t recall if he’d mentioned lip reading to Riley. “By the way, I can read lips too.” And I’ll be riveted to yours.
Her mouth formed a perfect O.
He checked the door. “If it was a break-in, then it was an expert.” The lock didn’t show any signs that it had been tampered with.
Riley rolled back her shoulders. “I’m staying here and waiting.”
She gave Josh the vibe that she was a strong woman and that she could handle herself. Regardless, he wasn’t leaving her alone. If in fact someone had broken in and hadn’t found what they were looking for, then they might be watching the place.
“I’d rather you not,” he said as he put Salem in her crate.
Charlie watched him intently.
“Then stay with me,” Riley said.
Josh’s body was saying yes, but the logic in him was saying no. He had a lot of willpower, but he was afraid being alone with Riley would lead them to the bedroom, and while that was something he would like to happen, it was too soon. Not only that, if he spent one night with Riley, he would be madly in love with her.
Chapter Seven
Riley couldn’t eat. She could barely keep still. The only saving grace she had going for her was a walk on the beach, alone, with the wind in her face, her feet in the sand, and the cold Pacific sliding over her toes every now and then.
Josh had convinced her to return with him to Redwood Cove. The only reason she did was because he promised they would do some detective work after he took care of his dad and made arrangements to have another caretaker come.
Rescuing Riley: The Gold Coast Retrievers, Book 2 Page 4
