Watching From The Shadows: Trident Security Book 5 (17 page)

Harper grinned, clearly pleased he wanted to include the baby in at least part of their plans. “I’d think she’d like that—she’s going a little stir crazy, just like everyone else. One of her friends had hip replacement surgery the other day and I know she’d like to go visit her at the hospital.”

“Done. I’ll talk to Dev later about adding it to the schedule.” He took her hand and led her to where Ian was opening a few bottles of champagne which Kristen had hidden earlier in a nearby cooler. “Come on. Let’s get something to drink and eat. We’ve got a lot of celebrating to do.”

* * *

“God damn it! Are they ever going to leave that fucking compound? And why didn’t you take care of the bitch the other day when she was at her office?”

Lairson was getting fed up with being yelled at. This was supposed have been an easy gig, but that was before those military assholes got involved. “How the fuck was I supposed to do that with all those goons watching over her? It’d be fucking suicide.” He was still upset that Grant Rodgers had been killed. Not that he gave two-shits about the jackass, but he was afraid he might be next, despite reassurances that it wouldn’t happen.

After hearing about it on the news the other night, he’d picked up the throwaway phone he’d been using for this cluster fuck and hit the speed dial number he’d programmed in. The explanation he’d been given was that Rodgers was a loose end who would’ve blabbed the moment the cops came looking for him. And it was obvious the jackass had screwed up somehow, because why else would the bomb squad and half the cops in Pinellas County have been knocking on his door?

“I don’t want excuses. I want results. If you can’t get close to her, then use your fucking head and get her to come to you. And do it soon, or I might start thinking that you’re a loose end and find someone else who can get it done.”

The caller disconnected and Lairson was tempted to throw the phone across the room. “Fuck!” There was no way he was getting out of this alive unless he got the job done, left Tampa for parts unknown, or took out the person who hired him. “Fuck!”

C
HAPTER 13

Pulling into a parking space in front of Donovan’s Pub, Marco killed the engine as their escort did the same in the space behind him. He’d picked this place for several reasons—in addition to knowing the owner and the fact that the team spent a lot of down time here. One—the food was awesome and the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. Two—when Trident first opened its business, Ian and Devon had created several escape and evade routes, in case anyone ran into trouble like Angie and Brody had last year. The brothers paid to have both the inside door to the office of the restaurant and the one that led from there to the back alley reinforced with bulletproof materials. The locks were heavy duty and the doors couldn’t be kicked in easily. In fact, it would probably take the impact of a dump truck to break them down. There was a weapons safe installed next to the business’s safe and it had everything the team would need in a crisis. Like the system at the compound, the safe could only be opened by a hand scanner. Mike had been trained how to help if needed, although his and his staff’s safety were his number one priority if something happened.

Before opening his door, Marco glanced at Harper. “Stay there until I come around for you.”

While he was being very cautious with their surroundings, he knew she’d been excited to get out of the compound for a while, and the change of scenery would do them good. It was one thing to keep Harper and Mara safe, but it was another to stop enjoying life because of some maniac. He wouldn’t have even considered this excursion, though, without his back-up being in place.

There was the normal Sunday traffic and shoppers out and about, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Foster and McCabe confirmed they agreed to his silent assessment with quick nods of their heads. He’d sent the two men over here this morning with Brody, when it had just been Mike, his chef, and sous chef inside getting ready for the day. The geek had programmed their palm prints for the safe and he showed them around, so they were aware of the setup.

Marco opened Harper’s door and held her hand as she climbed down. He then opened the rear door and pushed the release buttons to unlock Mara’s car seat, before lifting the sleeping infant out of the vehicle. The kid had passed out cold as soon as they’d hit the highway.

Taking Harper’s hand again, he led her to the entrance of Donovan’s with their two guards—one on point, the other on their six. Foster posted himself at a small table that had been reserved for him at the front of the restaurant, while McCabe strode to his assigned seating at the rear. The men had the entire bar and dining area within their sights and would quietly monitor the patrons coming and going.

Taking a booth also near the back, so the office was only a short distance away, Marco set the baby seat on the bench, and then stepped aside to let Harper sit next to their daughter. Just as he took his own seat, Jenn came rushing over, having spotted them as she came out of the kitchen after dropping off an order. “Hi, Harper. Hi, Uncle Marco.
Aww
, you made my day bringing Mara in, but I wish she was awake. Any time you need a babysitter, look no further. I’ll even do it for free.”

Harper grinned as she removed the sleeping baby’s blanket, showing off the cute, pink and purple outfit she had dressed her in. “You’re on. As much as I love spending time with her, I’d be crazy not to take anyone’s offer to babysit. But I insist on paying you if you do it. And don’t worry, she’ll be waking up again soon, I’m sure.”

Placing his cell phone on the table, Marco glanced from the baby to Jenn. “Do you believe I remember when you were that tiny, Baby-girl? Back then, the entire team was terrified to hold you—not just me.”

“It’s hard to believe I was that small.” She smiled at him. “And you were great holding her last night—you’re going to be an awesome dad. Trust me on this because you’re an awesome uncle.” He winked at her in appreciation as she began to step away from the table. “Let me grab you some menus and the specials.”

The young woman hurried off and returned moments later with two leather folders, then took their drink orders. While Harper perused the menu, Marco, knowing the choices by heart, only glanced at the specials before folding his arms on the table and watching her. She must have sensed his stare, because her gaze met his. “What’s the matter?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. I’m just remembering the last time we were here together—”

“Nina’s funeral.”

“
Uh-huh
. It’s just amazing how much has changed since then.” He jutted his chin toward the baby. “And not just the new addition. It’s weird, but when Nina passed away, Kristen and Devon had only been dating a short time, which had already blown everyone’s mind since Devil Dog never dated. Then Angie came along and,
boom
, there goes Ian. Kat and Boomer were next, followed by Jake and Nick, who again, blew everyone’s mind. No one saw that coming, including them. And I was happy for them. All of them. But it wasn’t for me. I figured Brody was next and I’d remain the team’s consummate bachelor.”

She closed the menu and leaned back against the leather padding. “And now?”

“I think Nina is laughing her ass off at me. Seriously. I had a dream last night about something that happened years ago. We were kids—I was maybe fifteen or sixteen. I’d come home from school and our grandmother had gone to the casino again, or something. Nina had been taking a home-ec class and had learned to make meatloaf. Or thought she did. That afternoon, she’d taken her babysitting money and picked up the ingredients at the store to surprise me. It’d been years since we’d had a meal that wasn’t frozen, out of a box, or fast food. I asked her what she was up to and she said she wanted to be able to cook for her family someday. She wanted to get married and have kids. I thought she was crazy and asked why, since our home life had been such crap.” He paused then the corner of his mouth ticked upward. “You know what she told me?”

“No. What?”

He snorted and shook his head at the memory. “She said everyone was entitled to their own happily-ever-after, but it was up to us to want it and demand it. If we wanted it badly enough, we could look beyond our past and embrace our future.”

“Nina said that? At what, thirteen? That’s pretty deep. But, actually, I can hear her saying something like that. Despite what you two went through, that woman had the sunniest disposition I had ever come across. And I think it was because of you. She thought you walked on water.” He took a deep breath, but she held up a hand to stop him from interrupting her. “Don’t think she didn’t know you were human and made mistakes like everyone else, but no matter what, Marco, even from a young age, you put her first. She once told me she wanted to have a son someday so you could be his idol. She said every boy deserved an uncle like you to look up to.” She paused, and when he remained silent while absorbing everything she’d told him, she asked, “What ever happened with the meatloaf? You said she
thought
she’d learned how to make it.”

A chuckle escaped him as he leaned back in the booth, his face lighting up with amusement. “Oh, God, it was awful. I don’t know what she ended up putting in it, but I didn’t want to disappoint her, so I said it was good, and tried to swallow it without tasting it. She finally took one bite and spit it out all over the place. It was the first time in ages the two of us laughed until our stomachs hurt. We threw out the meatloaf, or whatever the hell it was, and I used the money from my part time job to take her out for burgers.”

Harper smiled and pointed at him. “And
that’s
why she adored you…”

Whatever she was about to say next was interrupted when Jenn came back for their food order. The rest of their lunch was spent chatting about a variety of things. Marco realized that as close as he was to Nina, and as close as Nina was to Harper, there was so much about the woman sitting across from him he never knew. It really did feel like a first date, getting to know each other in a way they never had before. The more they talked, the more he recognized they were compatible in more than just sexual attraction. This was a woman who would challenge him every day, yet submit to him in the bedroom. She would be his equal as well as his submissive. Well, technically, she wasn’t his…yet. But he was hoping to change that real soon.

She swallowed the last of her sandwich, and the movement in her throat brought his gaze to her bare neck. He didn’t have any collars in his toy bag except a simple black leather band, which had been worn by very few women and for only the length of a temporary contract. And that wouldn’t do—not for Harper. He wanted to give her one that no one else had ever worn. Tonight when they went to the club, he’d take her into the fetish store on the second floor. There he could purchase one she could wear in the club for now. But if things worked out for them the way he was now hoping they would, he’d have to check out the jeweler where his teammates had gotten permanent collars for their subs.
Huh
. It was amazing how his life had changed in just one week.

After paying Jenn for their lunch, he stood while Harper bundled the baby back up. The temperatures had dropped back to normal for this time of year. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed someone approaching, and after seeing who it was, he inwardly sighed and gave McCabe a subtle signal that everything was fine. He pasted on a thin, polite smile for the newcomer. “Hi, Paula. How are you?”

The former Trident secretary beamed as she stopped in front of him. “Hi, Marco. I didn’t expect to see you here. I’m good. Just meeting some friends for lunch, but it looks like I’m the first one here.” She turned toward Harper. “Hi. I’m sorry. I remember you were a friend of Marco’s sister, but I can’t recall your name.”

Harper stood and held out her hand, which Paula shook. “Hi. It’s Harper.”

Recognition dawned on the shorter woman’s face. “Harper. That’s it. And who’s this?” She pointed to the car seat which Harper reached over to pick up. The baby was now wide awake, and would probably want a bottle as soon as they got back to the compound.

Getting more and more accustomed with calling her his child, Marco chose to answer. “This is our daughter, Mara.”

Paula’s eyes opened wide in shock. “
Your
daughter? Oh my gosh. Congratulations, but I didn’t know you were a couple and I thought you didn’t want children, Marco.”

It was obvious the former secretary had been more meddlesome than he remembered. He recalled a few times she’d overheard personal conversations at the office and interrupted with her own opinions, which hadn’t been asked for. “Yeah, well, things change, don’t they? Sometimes life gives you what you didn’t even know you wanted.”

The woman laughed. “Isn’t that the truth? Well, it was nice seeing you. Tell everyone I said hello.”

She stepped out of the way to let them pass and Marco took the baby from Harper. “I will. And it was nice seeing you, too.”

As they walked to the car with McCabe and Foster flanking them, Marco couldn’t help but think that, all in all, their first date had been really nice. Now he couldn’t wait for their second date this evening at the club.

C
HAPTER 14

Standing outside the entrance to the women’s lounge, Marco waited impatiently for Harper to change into appropriate club wear. They had stopped by her house earlier to check on things and let her pack a duffel bag. She couldn’t exactly get dressed in something skimpy back in the apartment with her mother there, so she’d put on a black skirt, comfortable top, and a pair of killer high heeled shoes. He still had no idea what she was changing into, but knowing Harper, he was certain she’d rock whatever she put on.

As for him, it hadn’t taken him long to swap his jeans for a pair of black club leathers to go with his black boots. He’d kept his shirt simple, opting for a heather grey T-shirt, which showed off his muscular physique. Cassie, one of the submissive waitresses, walked by and he grabbed two plastic bottles of water from her tray. She would add them to his monthly tab when she went back to the bar and the computer they had there. In addition to keeping track of members’ bar tabs, the system was used to make sure no one who had more than two alcoholic drinks entered the play area downstairs. It also alerted if a member had missed a six-month medical clearance needed to maintain their privileges. Security was posted at the grand staircase leading down into the pit, and everyone had to present their membership card so it could be swiped and approved.