Watching From The Shadows: Trident Security Book 5 (3 page)

“Marco, I’m so sorry for your loss. If there is anything I can do…”

“Thanks, Paula, but I think everything has been covered.” He tried to step away, but her grip on his arm tightened.

“Have you been eating right? I could cook a few meals for you.”

Jeez.
He knew the woman had a crush on him when she’d been at Trident—well, she’d actually had a crush on several of them—but he thought she would’ve been over it by now. Even if he’d been attracted to her, she wasn’t his type. She was a woman who wanted to settle down and have kids—neither of which he was inclined to do. “Ah, no, thanks. The freezer is full of meals from Nina’s PTA.” He spotted Harper across the room, waving for him to come join her with Nina’s school principal.
Thank God
. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to say good-bye to a few people.”

“Sure.”

He hadn’t missed the disappointment in her voice, but right now he couldn’t give a fuck. He was beyond exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and just wanted this day to be over.

A half hour later, his teammates followed through with their promise and began thanking everyone for coming, subtly indicating for them to get the fuck out. Soon, all that was left were the people he was closest to and he took a seat at the bar. Devon’s girlfriend/submissive, Kristen, sat next to him.

“I’m not going to ask if you’re okay because you’re probably sick of that question, but is there anything you need us to do back at the house?”

He sighed heavily. “Yesterday, hospice came to pick up the hospital bed and the rest of their stuff, so that’s done. Nina had given me a list of a few personal things which are supposed to go to certain people, but Harper said she’d take care of it. And most of her clothes and stuff have already gone to a local women’s shelter, at her request, so there’s really not much left of her at the house.”

He choked up on those last few words and Kristen silently put her arm around his shoulders and gave him a sideways hug in support. It was almost as if Nina had never existed, but she had. The sharp pain in his heart was a clear reminder of that. But he would never hear anyone call him ‘Marky Mark’ again—just like the singer turned actor. She’d called him that ever since they were little, and while it had been embarrassing at times, he’d loved her too much to complain.

The faint scent of a familiar perfume tickled his nose and he knew Harper was near. He didn’t know the name of the fragrant stuff, but she was the only woman he’d ever noticed wearing it. And it drove him crazy that his dick noticed it, too. But Harper wasn’t a woman he wanted to get involved with, either. She was beautiful —fucking gorgeous, if he was being honest. She was also sweet, funny, reliable, and everything else a man looked for in a life-mate. Well, every man but him. Marco needed someone who was just like him...someone who wanted a little fun with an end date. That was one of the reasons why he loved the BDSM lifestyle and its contracts. Just negotiate the terms of the relationship and agree on how temporary it would be—nothing to worry about. Harper wasn’t into the lifestyle, though. But damn, her natural submissiveness had him wishing she was.

Rotating the swivel bar stool, he came face to face with her. Dressed in a simple black sheath, that accentuated her hourglass figure and endless legs, she tucked a strand of pale blonde hair behind her ear. The piece hadn’t been long enough to stay tucked into the subdued bun she’d put her hair up in this morning. She stood five inches shorter than his six-foot-two when she wasn’t wearing heels. Today, her stilettoes gave her three more inches and brought them to almost eye level with each other. Her hazel eyes were filled with sadness and exhaustion as her gaze roamed his face before she pointed to his new beer bottle. “Got one of those for me?”

“Absolutely.” He stood and offered her his stool, then flagged down the bartender. “Another Dos Equis, Vince, when you get a chance, please. Thanks.”

Taking his vacated seat, with her back to the bar, Harper crossed her legs, and Marco held back a groan which almost escaped him. God, she had some of the nicest legs he’d ever seen on a woman. Tearing his eyes away before he had a natural reaction in his crotch, he glanced up at one of the bar’s TVs, which had been turned on as the funeral reception winded down. Damn, he needed to get laid…and soon. It was the only reason he could come up with of why he was attracted to a woman who had shown no interest in him, other than he was her best friend’s brother.

Harper and Nina had been roommates in college at the University of Virginia. His sister’s major had been Elementary Education, while Harper’s had been pre-law, before she’d stayed there after graduation and continued her studies for her law degree. Nina, in the meantime, had fallen in love with Harper’s hometown of Clearwater, Florida, from their spring, summer, and winter break visits. Following graduation, she received her state teaching license so she could move and teach there. A few years later, Harper also returned to Clearwater and joined a local law firm.

Marco had been so happy when Nina found a friend who would become the sister she never had. It had made his tours of duty overseas that much easier on him, knowing she had someone she could count on—especially if something had happened to him.

“Marco?”

Huh?
He must have zoned out and missed whatever Harper had said. Mentally shaking his head, he focused his attention on her. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

She gave him a small smile. “I said, you look as tired as I feel. Do you mind leaving?”

Her car was at his house. Since the funeral home had given them use of their limo to the service and then the cemetery, they’d decided last night to drive there together this morning, leaving her car behind. Boomer had then made sure Marco’s truck made it to Donovan’s from the funeral home.

After swallowing the last of his beer, he placed the empty bottle on the bar. “Not at all. It’s been a long day…and you’re right, I am tired. Let me just go grab the food Jenn packed up for us and we’ll head home.”

C
HAPTER 3

Present

Sitting in the passenger seat of Brody’s Ford F-150 as the geek raced them toward Clearwater, Marco tried to wrap his brain around what Murdock had told him. From the pictures in the house, the police estimated the baby girl was somewhere between four and six months old. The timeline given meant the child could be his, but they had used protection their one night together, hadn’t they?
Shit!
The memories flooded his mind. The first time had been fast, furious, and up against the wall. But as soon as he’d realized he hadn’t used a condom, he’d pulled out and Harper had reassured him she’d been on the pill for years. The kid couldn’t be his. So why was his gut filled with dread?

“Is it yours?”

It didn’t surprise him his best friend would be the first person to ask the question out loud. Marco ran his hand down his face in frustration. “Honestly, Brody, I have no fucking idea. It was only one night…the night of Nina’s funeral. The stress and…and grief just kinda hit us both and it happened. Is it possible? Technically, yeah, it’s possible. But Murdock wasn’t sure, yet, how old the kid is. Maybe it was someone she met after me. Maybe it was something she planned, like artificial insemination or something. Maybe she adopted the kid.” He was reaching for straws and they both knew it. “I don’t know, man. I mean, wouldn’t she have fucking told me if it was mine?”

“All right. First things first. We go find the kid and make sure Harper is okay. Then we can figure out if we need to send out engraved announcements and start a college fund.”

Marco groaned and threw his head back so it bounced off the cushioned headrest behind him. “Fuck! What the fuck am I going to do if it’s mine? You know me. I never wanted to get married, and I sure as hell didn’t want any kids.”

Turning onto the street Murdock had given them, Brody pulled up behind one of the many patrol cars and crime scene vehicles, then shoved the gearshift into park. “One step at a time, brother. Let’s go find out what’s going on.”

The two men climbed out of the truck as Ian parked behind them and also got out with Devon and Boomer. None of them had changed, so aside from Brody, the rest of them were dressed in their club leathers, which drew some stares from police officers and bystanders alike. But Marco didn’t give a shit and walked straight up to one of the cops guarding the yellow-taped perimeter. “Officer Murdock called me. Can you tell him I’m here? Marco DeAngelis.”

The young cop’s wary eyes brightened in recognition. “
Uh
, yeah. Actually, it’s Detective Murdock now. He got promoted a few months ago.” The man lifted the yellow tape to allow them entry. “He told me to let you in, and anyone you came with, but the officer at the front door will call him outside for you. They’re still processing the scene.”

Striding up the long driveway, Marco took in his surroundings. The house was a split-level ranch in a nice neighborhood. The landscaping had been well taken care of, and from what he could see, it didn’t appear the property needed much work. The same went for the house. The siding looked new and the roof a few years older. A fence blocked his view of the backyard, but he was sure it was just as nice. Harper had found a pleasant home for her and her child—too bad it hadn’t been safe from whomever had broken in.

Stopping at the front porch, Marco waited impatiently for the detective to come out to meet them, after being summoned by the officer guarding the door. The rest of his team remained silent by his side, minus Brody, who had stayed back at his truck and was covertly filming the crowd of bystanders who’d been drawn to the large police presence. The team knew there was no way this many people lived on the quiet street, and it was possible whoever was behind this was watching the activity. Once the geek finished recording, he would join them at the impromptu briefing.

A few long minutes later, a man in his early thirties strode from the house, looking like he was at the end of a twenty-four-hour shift. His sports jacket was disheveled and his dirty blond hair was sticking up in several directions as if he’d dragged his hand through it a few times. “I’m Drew Murdock. Which one of you is DeAngelis?”

Marco held out his hand and the detective shook it. “This is Ian and Devon Sawyer. And Boomer Michaelson. Any sign of the kid?”

“Not yet,” Murdock informed them while frowning. “According to the neighbors, it’s a girl named Mara. Five months old. Ms. Williams just moved into the house last week, so the neighbors have very little information on her.”

“Purchased or rented?” Ian queried.

“Purchased.”

“Security system?”

“Yeah, but a crappy one—wires were cut at the outside junction box.” Murdock glanced down at his open notepad. “We got the call about ninety minutes ago. Neighbor across the street saw a male Caucasian—blond, mid-20s, black sweatpants and tee, otherwise non-descript. He ran from the front door, hopped into an older model silver Ford Escape, and tore out of here. The front door was left wide open, so the neighbor came over to see if everything was okay and found Ms. Williams on the floor, unconscious and bleeding from the head. Looks like it was blunt trauma. A bloody bookend was found next to the body.”

Marco winced at that last word. Harper wasn’t dead, but he knew Murdock was just stating the facts as he would to any other investigator. “Was the perp carrying anything? And what about an Amber Alert?”

Stepping aside to let a crime scene tech exit the house, the detective shook his head. “Neighbor didn’t see the baby with the perp at all. That’s the only reason we haven’t issued an Amber Alert yet. We’re hoping she’s with a babysitter or another family member. We’re still trying to figure out if this was a random or targeted attack. How well do you know the vic? Does she have any family in the area?”

The team knew the Amber Alert system had specific criteria before an alert could be released for a missing child. Hopefully, the nation-wide system wouldn’t be needed. Marco ran a hand through his short, black hair. “Her dad died when she was younger. As of a year ago, her mother was still alive and living here in Clearwater somewhere. But that could’ve changed. She also has a brother in Washington D.C. and a sister on the west coast…Los Angeles, I think. I haven’t spoken to Harper since my sister’s funeral, thirteen months ago—they were best friends. Harper’s a lawyer with her own practice now, but as for her employees or other friends, I have no idea who they are.”

“Detective Murdock?”

The men all turned to see a uniformed officer escorting an older woman who was carrying a baby wrapped in a pink blanket. Marco recognized Harper’s mother from her visits to see Nina, and also from the wakes and funeral. The woman had been so nice to his sister, even calling Nina her ‘adopted daughter’.

As she approached, her face was pinched in fright. “What’s wrong? What happened? Where’s Harper?”

Detective Murdock stepped forward and introduced himself. “Who are you, ma’am? Are you related to Ms. Williams?”

“I’m Karen Williams. Harper’s my daughter and this is her daughter, Mara.” The relief that statement brought was evident on the face of everyone present, including Brody who was walking up behind her to join the rest of them. “What happened?” she repeated. “Where is she?”

“There was a break-in. Ms. Williams was found unconscious by a neighbor who called 911. But she’s alive and at the hospital now.”

“Oh my God!” The poor woman appeared to not know what to do next, but when Marco stepped forward to speak to her, her expression quickly changed from fear to loathing. “What the hell are you doing here? Did you have something to do with this?”

Shocked didn’t begin to describe what he felt at her accusation, and for a moment he was speechless. She thought he would hurt Harper?
What the fuck?

Murdock took control of the conversation again, but his next question didn’t help the churning in Marco’s gut. “Ma’am, why would you think Mr. DeAngelis had something to do with the attack?”