CHAPTER 10
Oddly, Luke couldn’t get back to the vault and Daisy fast enough. She was safe there, safe anywhere in Watermark, so it wasn’t about safety so much as it was just that he missed her. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Short of missing his Ma when he went to boot camp, he couldn’t remember a time where he missed anyone, like he missed Daisy. When he walked in and saw that she was on the balcony where he left her hours before, he couldn’t help but smile. The smiling was happening more frequently – that was Daisy’s doing too.
Luke stood in the doorway to the balcony and listened to her make magic. Papers were scattered about, a pencil in her hair, and one in her mouth too. She was in her element, completely focused. She was writing a song, it appeared – a beautiful song.
With a gentle knock to the door jam, as not to startle her, he got her attention. “Hey, brought take out from Scoops. You hungry?”
“Oh my God, yes. That place has quickly become a favorite.”
“That song, it’s…beautiful. You’re writing it.” He said a statement, not a question. “Why don’t you do that professionally? Your talent is endless with music, you could do a lot with it. In fact, we have a client that’s…”
“Whoa, reign it in, big guy.” She laughed, cutting him off before he could finish. “It’s just a hobby. I love it, but if it becomes a job, it will be forced and no longer fun. It’s my escape from everything, always has been.”
“You’ve never thought of selling songs, just here and there?”
“I have, but again, I don’t want to lose the magic. Where would I escape to then?”
He wanted to say, his bed, but thought better of it. “What are you writing?”
Daisy smiled. “My song for Liam and City. When she asked me to sing if I was still in town, I told her that even if the case was over, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Luke wasn’t sure what he liked hearing more, that she was so generous with his family, or that she wasn’t planning on hanging around for a while. “You’ve become close with them.”
“I adore them. It’s like the sisters and annoying brothers I never had.” She chuckled.
His immediate thought in that moment was, I adore you, but chose to say, “They are annoying.”
“But in a good way. You’re lucky you know…to have them.”
I’m lucky to have you. His own thoughts surprised him, all of which he couldn’t repeat because by doing so, he’d have to explain them, and he didn’t understand them himself. “I suppose.”
Luke knew how lucky he was. His family was his safety net. They were his sanity, despite how crazy they made him. They were his reason and purpose. In that moment, he wanted to share that with her, he wanted her to have that too…with him. Daisy was quickly becoming his reason and purpose.
That scared the shit out of him. It was like Daisy flipped on a switch – one that made him feel and think of things he never had before. In such a short time she became the greatest part of his life, the part that could go on…forever.
“No, you really are. I would give anything to have family like that. You all just…take care of each other, even in subtle ways. Just knowing you have that must be…healing and comforting. It’s like home…always there with the lights on.”
I’d give anything to have you, Luke thought, then he realized, he was screwed.
An ounce of sadness fell from her words, and he wasn’t sure how to handle such raw emotions. This was all too new to him. Determined to shift the mood, he asked, “Did you just recite the song – is it a sappy family strong song?”
“Funny…but I mean it. You are lucky to have them. I’ll miss them…when…you know.”
And I’ll miss you. I don’t think I can let you go…not now…but I have to, he thought, but couldn’t say. Playing it safe with his poker face on, he said, “There’s always texting, email…it’s a quick plane ride too.”
The pained look on her face told him he wasn’t saying what she wanted. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she wanted to stay. Wanted him to ask her to stay. He couldn’t, though, and eventually she would see that.
He didn’t deserve her, or anything that resembled a relationship with her. He was broken, damaged goods, and didn’t deserve to be loved by anyone, especially someone like her. His family was stuck with him, but she wasn’t, and he wouldn’t ruin her like he knew he could. If she knew what he had done throughout his life, the awful things…she would be running from him.
“Well, when this is all said and done, I don’t know if I can go home, ya know? Too much happened there. I like it out here. Maybe I’ll travel a little, plant new roots and bring Gran out here when I’m settled. She’d love it here.” She went on, “Not here here, but this part of the country, it’s a different world out here. I like it.”
He knew about her Gran, more than she let on. Her optimism was commendable, but he dealt in harsh realities and the truth of the situation was that she wouldn’t be moving her Gran anywhere. Deep down he could tell she knew that but wasn’t ready to deal with it. Her Gran didn’t have a lot of time left, hence Daisy’s plan to travel, but he’d let her wander around in the place that she was in mentally and be there for her when she had to face the truth. If her Gran, her only relative, made it through the weeks and months they had until they finally had a smoking gun and trial, he would be surprised.
The tears welling in her eyes told him she was thinking the same thing. He sat next to her and put an arm around her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and silently wept while they sat in silence. He didn’t need to say anything for her to know how he felt, he didn’t have the words anyway.
“I miss her” she whispered.
It broke his heart – something he didn’t think was possible. Her only family was hidden away from the world, all alone. Even if she wasn’t always lucid enough to be aware, the knowing was painful, especially for Daisy. He’d see what he could do about that. He’d call in some favors.
Days passed into weeks, and Carter was officially declared off the grid and considered missing. They gave him the time he requested and still hadn’t heard from him. The teams in DC and Nashville had grown in numbers and expanded their reach. Each with an ear to the ground, they still had not seen or heard anything from or about Carter.
Brother’s Keeper had officially deemed him a priority case calling in all resources – with little to nothing to work with. Liam was using the software he was developing for the government to test its abilities – and because every little bit helped – it was pulling a few leads. For the most part, they were flying blind with a double-edged sword. If Carter got to close to something and it bit back, there was no telling how close it was getting to Watermark and Daisy.
It had become abundantly clear that it wasn’t by choice that Carter was MIA. Whoever had him was good – too good, which meant Daisy may not be as safe as the brother’s thought, even if she was locked in the vault. It had Luke on edge. He was leaving Daisy less and less, and the cramped quarters were getting more and more cramped. He couldn’t ignore the feeling that they’d been compromised. Carter’s disappearance only validated that inkling he had been wrestling with. Whatever darkness was looming had landed, and it felt like it was coming from all sides – even if it was in their blind spots, he knew it was there. Luke and Daisy spent their days on edge, nerves raw, and their nights working out their problems in bed.
Daisy challenged him, made him think, want, feel, need. She was the devil and an angel that made him both dislike her and adore her. He couldn’t have the things she made him want. He couldn’t be honest with her, and if they had anything more between them, it would require total honesty – complete transparency. If she knew his truth, she would fear him more than the men she watched kill Senator Martinez in cold blood. Luke didn’t fear anything, except her knowing who he really was. And perhaps losing her.
Luke had been bringing the ladies up to the vault to keep Daisy company and set up a smartphone on their own internal network that couldn’t be traced beyond Watermark. With only the numbers she needed to talk, text, and even Facetime the ladies, or Colleen O’Reilly who’d quickly become a fan. Despite all the options, all Luke did was call and send cryptic texts…technology in this form wasn’t his thing. He could navigate a team out of a burning jungle using analog resources and intuition all day long, but a smart phone? He was at a loss.
Luke was getting ready leave. They were sending him on a recon mission to find Carter or at least more clues. Wylie and Eva were going too – she was their connection to the cartel and the cartel cells were what they were after. The cartels still trusted her and believed she was a hired liaison, so to speak, for Brother’s Keeper. It was important that she maintain that persona where they were concerned, as well as the other less than desirables they often infiltrated. They didn’t know she was on Brother’s payroll and under cover – nor could they know.
Luke had already packed his bag, so he’d be ready at a moment’s notice, all while trying to stay quiet while Daisy slept. He’d already been for his run with Gibson, showered, and was now staring at himself in the mirror.
He didn’t know what they would encounter while gone. Would he come back with more blood on his hands? Carter? Would they compromise the case and make Daisy vulnerable?
Every mission was different, and he walked through it a thousand times asking similar questions with everyone. Luke always thought ahead and reconciled what was at stake but this time the stakes were different. He didn’t recognize the emotion leaving Daisy and facing this mission provoked…he already missed her. And there was that other thing digging at him, demanding his attention and focus because it was the one thing that could interfere with the mission, and his own safety as well as that of his team. He supposed it might be considered fear.
Fear from missing her, fear from losing her, fear for putting her life potentially on the line with one wrong move – fear of never coming back to her. Death was always a possibility and a sacrifice he was willing to make for the greater good, for the republic. But now, even that was up for question. How far would he go for the republic if it came down to a choice between life or death, success or failure, or simply coming home to Daisy?
Luke dragged his hands through his beard, scary, he thought and laughed to himself. Daisy wasn’t wrong, it intimidated his enemy, but it was nothing more than a mask, a shield, a façade that was quickly changing. Changing because of her. She had become the one thing he thought could never come between him and his work, him and his country, him and his own family. Given a choice, he suspected it would always be her and that was the problem.
He needed to get out of his own head, get mission ready. He braced himself with each hand on either side of the sink. What had he gotten himself into and how was he going to get himself out? If there even was a way out, would he take it?
The smell of smoke caught his attention followed by the smoke detector. Rushing from the bathroom, he saw the bed was empty. Daisy was probably franticly looking for a way out and feeling trapped by whatever was on fire. Just outside the bedroom, in the open concept living space, he found Daisy perched on a stool at the breakfast bar in tears, fanning the smoke detector above the stove.
“I tried to make breakfast. I suck at cooking!” Daisy said breathlessly, trying to wave the smoke away. “I wanted to do something for you for a change. Like a good home cooked meal before you leave. I would have ordered in, but can’t because I’m locked in the tower like fucking Rapunzel.”
He grinned at her cursing and rant; even her frustration was adorable to him. He grabbed a plate, piled on burnt pancakes and runny eggs and ate it while she continued to fan the space and watch him in either awe, or disgust, he wasn’t sure. Then, he bit into burnt bacon with a hearty crunch, and that was enough for her. She plopped on the stool and buried her head in her hands.
Luke turned her barstool to face him. “Thank you. Breakfast was great.”
“It was awful – you must be used to eating dirt.”
“Sometimes.” He wasn’t kidding. He’d had his fair share of bad food when out in the field on a mission. “This is really…great.”
“Thanks for trying, but I know you’re lying. You don’t have to eat it.”
“But I’m enjoying it. The eggshells add an interesting texture. Probably protein or something too.”
Daisy swatted his arm. “See? It’s terrible.”
Her eyes welled up. “I’m absolutely useless here. I can’t even clean up because you’re oddly neat and tidy…like really neat and tidy.” With her arms fully extended, she scanned the room, as if showing him something he didn’t already know. The space was immaculate.
“You do plenty around here…” he reassured her.
“Like?”
“Like you keep me company and entertained. I can listen to you sing all day.” He bent over and kissed her softly before pulling her head closer, his mouth taking hers harder. “And at night? In bed…” Luke leaned forward, sliding is hands under her ass so he could scoop her up and pull her into his lap, “well, that’s entertaining too.”
With Daisy’s legs firmly around his waist, he grabbed the hem of his oversized shirt she was wearing and took it off her, revealing she had nothing on underneath. “Sweet Jesus, baby, this is all I need for breakfast.”
Luke reclined her back against the counter, giving himself easier access to everything he was craving – her perfect breasts. Dragging his hands up and down her sides, he couldn’t feel or taste enough of her. It was when she starting to grind her hungry mound against the hard ridge behind the fabric of his shorts that he needed more.
In one swift motion, he cleared the space behind her and sat her ass at the edge of the cool hard stone counter, spreading her wide so he could bury his face in his favorite place. Toying with her swollen bud, using his tongue to taunt and tease, he quickened his pace with each and every moan he drew from her – a sound he would miss dearly while gone.
He dipped a finger, then two, stroking her as he played, tempting her pleasure with every glide of his tongue and drive of his fingers. He felt her begin to tighten, her cries coming harder and louder, until she finally fell over the edge, her heat pulsing, her breath catching.
He looked at her, completely bare, completely open, on perfect display on his kitchen counter. It was no wonder he’d fallen for this sexy siren. He watched her writhe with pleasure, drunk from his touch, and everything he’d questioned began to fall into place. She. Was. Everything. To. Him.
As she caught her breath and her heavy-lidded eyes found his, she smiled. She was ready for more; it was his turn. Careful not to slide her bare skin against the stone, he lifted her as gently as he’d placed her there, and turned her to her stomach, her ass just over the edge of the counter.
Dropping his shorts, he stood between her legs, holding them at his waist while he drove into her from behind. He loved feeling her this way. With every push and pull of his long, hard length, he watched her react to every slick move, and knew she loved it too. Picking up on her cues, he drove faster and harder, until they were both on the brink and hit a wall of pure unadulterated ecstasy.
It was like it was their first and last time all at once. As primal and untamed as it was, it was more than just sex. Something exchanged between them. Something neither could take back.