“Sounds serious.”
“There were numerous indictments in Houston related to the pain clinic there,” Gunner said. “A few months ago, a drug-trafficking network was busted. Doctors, clinic owners, pharmacists, and drug dealers were involved.”
“What does that have to do with Lori?”
“The operation was responsible for distributing millions of opioid pills,” Gunner said. “Pill mills are magnets for crime, which leads me to believe that the Italian mob is involved in something similar out here.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m starting to put the pieces together,” Gunner said. “The attorney for the mob had been to that clinic to meet with a client. Lori had been there to give a talk. The two connect, and not long after, the mob approaches her to suggest that she go into the drug distribution business with them.”
Travis steepled his fingers under his chin. “I’m catching your drift. The mob wanted Lori to cooperate and she refused, which might have put her in danger. Lorenzo Cambio is not used to being denied, so isn’t likely to let the matter go.”
“Exactly, and that means Lori is involved whether she wants to be or not,” Gunner said. “The indictment alleged that the drug dealers involved diverted and distributed drugs to the street.”
“I’m sure we’re talking about a sizable amount of money,” Travis said.
“The Department of Justice stated that over twenty-three million pills were distributed from Houston to the East Coast,” Gunner said.
Travis let out a breath. “That’s a ton of cash. And the market for painkillers isn’t limited to certain areas; the demand is countrywide.”
“It would be to the mob’s advantage to gain the cooperation of the largest pain clinic in L.A.”
“Lori needs protection until the danger is handled. I’ll give Tessa the word, so she can reassign the bulk of your work and take you off the roster for new cases—at least for a week or so.”
“I’ll stay close to Lori,” Gunner said. “The mob won’t get their hands on her on my watch.”
Travis assured him that he had the team’s backup, then Gunner left, anxious to see Lori. She had texted that he should pick her up at the clinic, because she had to work later than anticipated. She wouldn’t have a chance to go home before dinner.
That was just as well, since Gunner didn’t want her leaving the safety of the clinic. He finished the paperwork on a couple of clients, then informed Tessa that he was out for the day. She was focused on her computer screen, so just waved at him without looking up.
It was about time for the clinic to close, but the door was still unlocked. Gunner strode through the lobby and the receptionist waved toward the hallway. “She’s at the nurses’ station.”
Gunner nodded. “Thanks.” He spotted Lori talking with Adam Reed. The doctor seemed like a decent guy, and Lori had mentioned that she considered him a friend.
“Hey,” Adam said, lifting his hand.
“Good to see you, Adam. I’m here to whisk Lori off to dinner, once you’re finished.”
Lori smiled at Gunner. “I’m ready. I just need to get my purse and jacket.”
Before Lori could turn toward her office, a man strode toward her, getting Gunner’s attention. The guy was lanky, with blond hair and blue eyes, and he walked like he owned the place. “Hey, sis.”
“Nick, I wasn’t expecting you,” Lori said, then added, “This is Gunner, a friend of mine. Gunner, this is my brother.”
Gunner didn’t reach for Nick’s hand, sensing that he wasn’t friendly. Plus, there was something off. Nick’s pupils were dilated, and he seemed agitated, making Gunner wonder what he was on.
“Have you heard what she’s up to?” Nick said to Adam. “Can’t you talk some sense into her?”
“Calm down,” Adam said. “This isn’t the place to talk about this. If you’re here to see Matt, he’s in his office.”
Nick glared at Adam, then gave Lori a disgusted look. He didn’t bother acknowledging Gunner. Without another word, he strode away.
“Sorry,” Lori said. “He can be difficult sometimes.”
“No problem,” Gunner said. “Shall we go?”
Lori thanked Adam for handling her brother, then went to get her stuff. Gunner followed and waited in the hall, then escorted her to the parking lot.
On the way to the restaurant, Lori shared more about Nick. His drug addiction continued to be an issue, and the more Lori talked, the more Gunner was concerned about what her brother was involved in. He must get his drugs from a dealer, and he didn’t want Lori anywhere near that connection. But it might be a challenge to keep Nick’s lifestyle from impacting Lori.
Gunner drove to an upscale café in Santa Monica that had plenty of parking. Downtown had good places to eat but parking was often an issue. The café had a large lot in back, with many open spots. After parking, Gunner helped Lori out. He noticed that she seemed anxious, but didn’t think it was running into her brother that was the cause.
At the entrance to the restaurant, Lori hesitated. “I forgot my phone. I better get it just in case the clinic needs to reach me.”
“You wait here; I’ll grab it for you.” Gunner jogged to the car and found her phone on the floorboard. He waved to Lori that he had it.
As he walked back, Gunner saw Lori cross the main lane of the lot. She walked toward him with her hand out for the phone. When he was a couple of rows back, a dark sedan entered the lot, but it didn’t slow to allow Lori to cross safely.
Gunner sensed what was going to happen. He slipped the phone in his pocket then sprinted for Lori. In that second, the sedan’s engine revved and the car shot forward. The noise alarmed Lori, and she glanced toward the moving vehicle.
With every ounce of speed that he could muster, Gunner ran for Lori. Without slowing, he leaned low and grabbed her around the waist. Fluidly, he lifted her over his shoulder and lunged toward the sidewalk. As he plunged toward the ground, he twisted so that he landed underneath Lori, protecting her from the fall.
As they flew through the air, Lori screamed. The impact knocked her head against his chest. Gunner caught a glimpse of the sedan as it sped down the opposite aisle then out of the lot. He hugged Lori tight, relieved that she was alive and breathing.
Gunner helped Lori up then held her hands. “That was close.”
Lori was breathing hard but didn’t respond.
“Are you hurt?” Gunner said.
“What was that?” Lori said. “That car almost hit me!”
Gunner could see that she was in shock. “Let’s go inside. It’s not a good idea to stand around out here.” He put his arm around Lori and guided her into the café.
At a table along the back wall, Gunner seated Lori then took the chair across from her. The waitress came by with menus, and he said, “The lady needs a drink.”
“A martini, please,” Lori said.
Gunner opted for water. He held Lori’s hand, hating to see her so pale.
The drinks arrived and Lori took two sips. “I could have been seriously hurt. I was distracted and not paying attention.”
“That driver was gunning for you.”
“Why would he? I’ve never seen that car before.” Lori looked at Gunner, then the situation seemed to become clear. “He was trying to run into me?”
“He hit the gas the moment you stepped into the aisle,” Gunner said. “He intended to kill you, or at the very least, scare you.”
Lori rubbed her temples. “It worked. I am scared… I could have died.”
Gunner gave her a moment to process things. It had been damned fortunate that he’d been on the scene. He cringed at the thought of Lori alone.
“Should we call the police?”
“That won’t do any good,” Gunner said. “I didn’t get the plate on the vehicle. It was all I could do to save you.”
Lori stared at her drink. “What should I do? What if it happens again?”
“I’ll be here,” Gu
nner said. “I won’t let anyone harm you.”
That seemed to reassure Lori, but she was shaken up. When she drained her glass, Gunner order a refill for her. He didn’t like what was happening. While Lori waited for the autopsy to proceed, the enemy was getting antsy. He needed to find out who wanted Lori out of the way.
“Do you have any idea who is after me?” Lori said.
“Clearly, you pose a threat to someone.”
“Do you think that was a warning?” Lori said. “Maybe endangering my life was a message to back off, to call off the exhumation.”
“That could be,” Gunner said.
“But we don’t know that for sure. It could be something else,” Lori said. “But what?”
Gunner didn’t want to frighten her more, but she had to know what she was up against. “The mob is way too interested in you.”
“But I only treated the boss that one time,” Lori said. “I refused the connection.”
Gunner let her work it out.
“You think I got on the wrong side of the mob?” Lori said. “That they won’t let me walk away?”
Gunner filled her in on what he had learned about the drug business. “And every single oxycodone pill that left the premises of the pharmacy that was involved was the highest available dosage. Drug dealers wearing lab coats conspired with street dealers to flood the community.”
Lori’s eyes widened. “And you think the mob expects me to write prescriptions so they can profit.”
“I’m sure they’d give you a cut.”
“That’s a bad joke,” Lori said. “I wouldn’t do such a thing anyway.”
“Then you’re a problem to them,” Gunner said. “You own the largest pain clinic in the city.”
Lori’s expression showed that she realized what she had gotten involved with. “It’s terrifying. I lost my father and I’m just trying to do the right thing. I don’t need the mob breathing down my neck.”
“I know, honey,” Gunner said, and squeezed her hand. “Let’s get out of here…what do you say?”
There was no way that Gunner was going to leave Lori alone. Eating out had lost its allure, since Lori didn’t have much of an appetite. The best option was Gunner’s place. It was smarter to go somewhere other than Lori’s house, the place where she would be expected to show up.
Gunner took Lori’s hand. “I have a house not far from downtown. How about if I make dinner for you?”
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”
Chapter 11
Gunner’s place was a single-level two-bedroom home. After retiring from the service, he’d wanted a place of his own. It had hardwood floors and a fenced backyard. The interior had needed work, but he had fixed it up and painted the walls ivory. He wasn’t much for decorating, so he figured white would go with anything.
Lori walked around. “I like your place.” She sat on the black faux-leather sofa and admired the white brick fireplace. “It’s comfortable…homey.”
“Glad you like it. You can take the spare bedroom tonight.” Gunner felt like an idiot. He wished he could carry Lori to his bedroom and make love to her. Instead, he was treating her like a visiting cousin.
Lori smiled. “That will be nice.”
The look in her eyes heated Gunner’s blood, so he turned away. He had to stay alert to danger and keep her safe. Giving in to desire would be an amateur move.
“Are you hungry?”
“Not especially.”
“I think I have a couple of beers in the fridge. Can I get you one?”
“That sounds good,” Lori said.
Gunner should keep wine on hand, but he hadn’t made a habit of having women over. Bringing a woman to his home was intimate, so he preferred their place. Lori was an exception, since protecting her from danger was his primary concern.
A tinge of pain shot through his ankle. With all the excitement, he hadn’t noticed that it was slightly swollen. The race to grab Lori from the brink of disaster had stressed his injured joint. While he was in the kitchen, he took a couple of mild painkillers to handle the discomfort.
Lori had her shoes off and hugged a sofa pillow to her lap. She reached for the beer. “I appreciate you looking out for me…in case I haven’t said that.”
“I’ll continue to do that, don’t you worry.”
“I’m less worried with you around.” Lori took a swig of beer then stared at Gunner. “You saved my life.”
“I’m just glad I was there.”
For a while, Lori talked about other things. It was good to see her relax. Under other circumstances, Gunner would consider taking the relationship further. But he was torn. Having sex was tempting, but love and romance were out of his depth.
The mother of his own child wouldn’t have him. Gunner had gotten the message and couldn’t deny that he was a tough guy at his core. If a woman wanted charm, tenderness, and sensitivity, then he didn’t fit the bill. Most women he had hooked up with had wanted some or all of the items on that list. It was foolhardy to deceive himself. It was best to stick to dating for mutual pleasure without commitments.
Lori was looking at him. “I’m always doing the talking. I want to know about you.”
Gunner cringed. He really preferred talking about her.
“You mentioned that you have a son.”
“Daniel just started college,” Gunner said. “I’m proud of him.”
Lori smiled. “You’re a man of few words.” She sipped her beer. “When was the last time you saw him?”
“I can’t recall exactly,” Gunner said. “Years, I suppose. It was his birthday last week and I sent him a gift.”
“What about seeing him?”
“I’m not sure he wants to,” Gunner said. “His mother raised him while I was in the service. I can’t blame him if he resents that I was away so much. I wasn’t there as his dad during his formative years.”
“You would have been,” Lori said. “Why wouldn’t Rebecca marry you?”
“You remembered her name,” Gunner said, then looked away, searching for the right response. “I’m guessing that she was initially attracted to my strength, without realizing that she was getting the whole package.”
“What does that mean?”
“A guy has to be tough to be a Navy SEAL, and I fit the profile,” Gunner said. “That’s not a brag, just a fact. But Rebecca wanted a softer side to her husband. I failed at that, although I did try…for her and my son.”
“You are the kindest man I’ve met.”
“You don’t know me that well,” Gunner said. “I’m hardcore; I’ve seen a lot. I’ll do what it takes to protect. But when it comes to the personal stuff, I lack what most women are looking for—in a husband, anyway.”
Lori studied him, and Gunner feared that he’d blown it. But it had to happen. There was no point hiding the truth from her.
“But why couldn’t you have a relationship with your son?”
“That’s trickier,” Gunner said. “I don’t want to malign Rebecca, but she didn’t make it easy. I sometimes thought that she set out to destroy my relationship with Daniel, and maybe she did. She put doubts in his mind about my fitness as a father and sabotaged my efforts to see him. The relationship became strained, and even though I had visitation rights, I didn’t exercise them as much as I might have.”
“Do you wish you had?”
“I can wish a lot of things,” Gunner said. “But I have to deal with reality. Daniel was fed lies about me, and he began to believe the worst. I was overseas a lot, and that didn’t help. It’s just too late now to repair all that damage.”
Lori’s expression softened. “What if it’s not too late?”
“I hope you’re right.”
Gunner was uncomfortable talking about his personal relationships. That was one area where he struggled. For the rest of the evening, the mood was subdued, and he sensed that Lori wanted to ask more. There wasn’t much more he could add, as he had revealed the worst already.
Dinner was a couple of steaks Gunner defrosted and grilled. Lori made side dishes. After cleanup, he showed her to the bedroom then made sure she had clean towels and anything else she might need. It was a pity that he had to sleep alone.
Lori was all he wanted in a woman, and he had a hard time keeping his craving for her under control. But he couldn’t see any reason for her to get into a long-term relationship with him. He was wrong for her in every way—even he could see that. And Lori wasn’t a woman to have sex with then forget. Gunner went to bed, but he doubted that he would get much sleep.
*****
It had been an odd night for Lori. She had ended up sleeping in a room next to Gunner, when she would have preferred to be in his bed. She had been tempted to walk down the hall and go to him—but he hadn’t invited her.
Lori probably shouldn’t have pried into Gunner’s private life, but she wanted to understand him better. He was a tower of strength and had lifted her out of the path of danger. Yet Lori could tell there was more to him than physical dexterity and muscle.
Despite what Gunner had shared with her, Lori couldn’t see him as the man he tried to portray. He had cared about her from the start, taking threats against her seriously. Gunner was a man she could count on. He was a friend, and she wanted him to be much more.
Yet Gunner hadn’t even kissed her. Instead, he had ignored the chemistry between them and shifted into being a good host. It was frustrating. Lori wanted to tell him that it was okay, that she didn’t agree that he was a hard man without a heart.
Lori had spent the night, but the benefits had been a meal and a bed. She didn’t consider Gunner’s house her personal hotel, no matter the danger that rose from the shadows. She decided that she would return to her own bed at home and not impose on him further.
Saturday was a short day at the clinic. Gunner had driven Lori home to change clothes, then escorted her to work with an assurance that he would return for her later. She had a few early patients, then was free to catch up on email and see to other tasks.
During the week, Lori’s attorney had kept her updated on the progress of her case. An email had arrived late Friday, after she had left for the day. She read it then leaned back in her chair. It was really happening. Her father’s body had been exhumed and was in the care of the medical examiner.
Savage Peril: Military Romantic Suspense (Stealth Security Book 6) Page 10
