CHAPTER 9
Daisy woke to an empty bed – both Luke and Gibson were gone. They’d spent hours getting to know each other intimately throughout the night, until Gibson was ready for bed and didn’t care what they wanted. Daisy giggled at the idea and let out a breathless sigh at the thought of what had changed between them.
A note on her bedside let her know they were out for their morning run, so she decided to take advantage of the alone time and the large bathtub to sooth her newly aching muscles. With every step and new twinge, she smiled, welcoming what it represented.
She noticed her bag of things on the chair in the corner on her way to the bathroom. How the hell had he moved around like that, so stealthily, and do so much without a sound? Her heart pinched when she noticed he hadn’t just brought what he promised, but the guitar too. It was sweet and thoughtful – two of Luke’s finest qualities – but that meant she was locked in there. For God knew how long. By herself. She didn’t know whether that made her happy or pissed her off – quite possibly both.
After a long soak, she made her way out of the bathroom, feeling recharged and refreshed. She stopped in her tracks when she noticed the guitar was gone.
Wandering through the bedroom, out to the living room, she found it empty. There were plates on the counter, and the oven was cracked open. He had breakfast made and was keeping it warm for her. But where was he?
As if on cue, the strum of the guitar pulled her toward a frosted glass door. She pulled it open, finding her guy and her dog. It was a balcony of sorts. No view, just a tall wall with an open top. If the space was supposed to be hidden, it made sense there was no visible balcony from the outside.
Leaning in the doorway, she listened to him play, unsure if he knew she was standing there. If he did, he didn’t let on. As he played and sang, Gibson laid on her back next to him with her head in his lap, completely entranced. Lucky dog, Daisy thought.
His voice had a deep sultry timbre that was warm and soothing. Quite the opposite of his tough edgy presence. How interesting. To her, it simply confirmed what she already thought – he wasn’t the guy the façade depicted, he was the guy from that voice. Comforting, affectionate, and unwavering. She could listen to him all damn day.
He stopped abruptly, looking over his shoulder at Daisy before he smiled and returned to the music. Now he knew she was there. He felt her. Finishing the song, he set the guitar to the side and reached out to Daisy with one hand while he patted Gibson with the other.
“Gibby wasn’t sitting too easy. She seemed a little nervous still after our run.”
“Gibby?”
“Gibby suits her better,” he said as the dog licked his hand. “See? She likes it.”
“I think you’ve stolen my dog,” she teased. “She loves music. Sometimes, it’s the only thing that will settle her down.”
“I know. I…uh, I’ve watched you.”
“Now I know why everyone at the bar knew your name. You’re a singer, Luke.”
“No, I’m a soldier – was a soldier. I just know a few chords on the guitar is all.”
“That wasn’t a few chords. Your voice is…it’s – I know why Gibs…Gibby likes you so much now.”
Luke snapped his fingers, prompting the dog to sit at his feet while he stood. Daisy raised her eyebrows, surprised at how obedient her ill-mannered pup was being. Luke had that dog dancing out of the palm of his hand, minding his cues without a single word. Impressive. Remembering their night together, she decided she’d do the same to get more of him.
“You should sing more,” she said as he approached her, placing his hands on her hips. “Do you sing for your family?”
“No. I’m not a singer, just a…mean scary guy, remember?” He laughed before pulling her against him and giving her a morning kiss. “They don’t know anyway.”
“Luke…” Daisy blocked him from entering the apartment. With their eyes locked, she saw something she hadn’t before. Maybe an insecurity of sorts, she wasn’t sure, but she decided to drop it for now. At some point, he had to realize just how incredible he was.
“Breakfast is getting cold.” He smiled, breaking the silence.
She stepped aside and let him by. “I was right. You’re so much more than you believe you are, and you’re exactly who I’ve thought you were all along.”
A long pause ensued. There was so much Luke wanted to say in that moment but couldn’t. Maybe it was because he didn’t want to get too serious, or perhaps out of fear of her knowing how wrong she was about him. Either way, he didn’t have the words to say everything he felt and everything he thought she should feel about him. Call it a selfish moment of self-preservation, he thought. He wanted to hang onto the magic between them, just a little longer because as they say, all good things must come to an end.
He broke their silence the best way he knew how. “Bacon?”
“Why are you always trying to feed me? I never even eat breakfast.” She laughed, taking a seat at the breakfast bar.
“That’s the problem. You should always start your day with a good breakfast.”
Curious about his choice of words, she queried, “How is it a problem that I don’t?”
“You can stand some bacon – you don’t eat enough.” He shrugged.
“I eat plenty.”
“I’d like it if you ate more.” His voice was stern and went from playful to serious. “I don’t want to worry about that too.”
“Oh, you don’t need to worry about me, Luke. I have a bodyguard, remember.” Daisy’s remark was snide and annoyed. What started as a good morning turned to sudden angst.
What happened to the man that made slow sweet burning love to her all night? Was that love? It was more than just sex. She’d have to reconcile that feeling and why that word was the first to come to mind. She’d known this man a handful of weeks and he’d pissed her off more than he hadn’t so why did he have this affect, this hold on her? Why did she care so much what he thought or how he treated her?
“Simmer down.” He said, sensing her change of mood. He hadn’t meant to sound as put off as he had, this is why he wasn’t any good at this stuff. “Put your claws away.”
“You first.” Daisy subconsciously smacked herself for such an adolescent comeback, you first? Luke was really getting under her skin.
He grunted and wore a half assed smile. She saw it even if it was just a flash. Somehow that smile pleased her, but she’d never let him know.
“Your tough guy grunt, scary beard and big…muscles aren’t working anymore. I know what’s under all that I’m no good exterior you’re faking. That guy isn’t who you are. The guy that spent all night in bed with me? That’s who you really are. He did naughty deeds with me and made me say dirty words – I can stand some more of him today.”
Defiant to the core, she grabbed a banana before grabbing the guitar and heading out to the half assed balcony to play her music.
Luke could hear her playing over and over in his head as he sat in the lair on a video conference with a client buying a new system custom designed by Liam. It was a government contract, nothing new. But this was a bigger project than usual for Brother’s Keeper. It would be used by all branches of intelligence and national security. Big. Despite that fact, Luke couldn’t focus. Thoughts of Daisy sitting on the balcony, the sound of her voice, then images of her under him – it all consumed him.
She was feisty, but not last night, she was soft, sultry, and something he didn’t know how to describe just yet. It was as though there was a certain connection, something new, and different between them – something only they saw, felt, and understood. It frightened him as much as it thrilled him.
When his thoughts drifted to a bedroom fantasy that had her naked and on display for his taking, he had to scoot his chair uncomfortably close to the table and cross his legs to hide the affect she had on him. She was as feral and wild as she was soft and sultry. The perfect mix of good girl gone bad – and he liked her oh so bad.
Daisy was both frustrating and sweet – both consistent and a contradiction. She made him want things he couldn’t have, but made him believe he could. He would protect her, job or not, and the thought of the case eventually closing and life returning to normal left an ache he hadn’t experienced before. She was his new normal.
In such a short time, she had gotten under his skin in a bad way. Daisy owned the only piece of his heart that felt a damn thing. He didn’t even know that piece was there. She was his greatest nightmare and his dream come true. He couldn’t want her, couldn’t let her in any more than he had. She already saw a piece of him he wasn’t proud of, and that was nothing. He had blood on his hands, more than he cared to remember.
Brought to the present when his name was mentioned for phase two implementation, Luke tucked away this new thing called feelings and got to work. Liam had designed a program using a combination of existing methods to collect intel along with new methods that would also learn and build new algorithms on its own based on patterns of use. It was state-of-the-art advanced technology like no other. Luke went over how the intel collected would translate into tactical maneuvers, foreign and domestic, both radical and subtle. In other words, how did you use the intel to grab your bad guy. Liam was the brains, Luke the brawn.
Carter Landry was scheduled to participate and weigh in as a liaison for the US Attorney’s office to ensure both sides were within foreign and domestic law to increase prosecutable cases. With Carter’s whereabouts currently unknown, the brothers covered for him, stating it was their choice to postpone his contribution until the final conference call meeting – phase III, implementation and prosecution. Liam threw in some crap about him being a busy man and no need to waste the taxpayer’s money. The politicians ate that garbage up.
It was important that the brothers didn’t let on to any more than they had. The special committee charged with overseeing the program from inception to completion was made up of some of Washington’s most powerful influencers. DC movers and shakers from branches of defense to members of Senate and Congress and everything in between.
If Carter was right, and the Senator’s murder traced back to those influencers, movers, and shakers, they very well could have one on the line with them at that very moment. Government or not, they kept it under wraps. Carter’s life could depend on it.
FBI Director Francis Waterman – he went by Frank – concluded that members of the committee would be in Portland soon enough for a face to face meeting, and Carter could weigh in at that time. It wasn’t critical until they were fully functional and ready to launch. Reality was, legalities wouldn’t influence how the program was used. Carter’s part was more or less to find ways to bury the things that might fall in the margin of questionable. They were the United States Government, they did what they had to do for the good of the nation.
The call ended leaving the brothers conflicted. This was their biggest contract yet, and it was an international game changer. But their friend was still off the grid and assumed missing due to foul play.
“That was the best call yet, they seem pleased.” Declan said, offering a round of high fives.
“Boys, we see this thing through and we all can retire – live the good life.” Wylie wasn’t exaggerating, the deal was that lucrative. “I think I want a yacht. I’ll stick it right out there in the Willamette River, so I can look at it all day from my place upstairs.”
“You’re too young to retire, kid.” Declan corrected. “And you better name that boat Collie after Ma or she’ll smack the back of your head every time she sees you for buying something so extravagant.”
“We aren’t retiring.” Dace interrupted. “We’d get bored. You can only go fishin’ so much.”
“Amen.” Liam laughed.
“Where are we with Carter’s case?” Luke asked, changing the subject to one that affected him directly. As long as Carter was missing, things with Daisy remained in limbo. “We are considering him a case now, right? I know we sent a team, but anything new?”
Liam tapped at his keyboard, pulling up an unusual looking screen that didn’t have typical digital features the common cellular or internet-based messages did.
“What the hell is that? It looks like own of those analog or DOS screens from the nineties or something.” Dace questioned.
“It’s the private messaging system. It’s an untraceable system that combines old technology like DOS and analog but sends it using modern stuff like Wi-Fi and cellular signals by bouncing them off of multiple towers at random until they finally hit a jammer that will ensure anyone that was able to follow the message will lose it at that point. Not to mention that the message itself isn’t readable because I built the system and unless I give them access it just looks like old code and crap. They’ll never be able to piece it together and read it.” Liam finished with a pleased chuckle, all but patting himself on the back for being brilliant.
When he looked up, he saw four sets of eyes staring at him, confused and perhaps slightly irritated because what he just said may as well be a foreign language.
“Oh, uh. It’s just a program I’m testing for things just like this. I’m surprised he remembered to use it. Here.” Liam said, clicking a few last keys. “Now you can read it – it’s deciphered.”
“Does City find all that…sexy?” Dace asked, waving a hand in the direction of Liam and his wall of screens with a disgusted look. “I think you just gave yourself a hard-on.”
“Fuck you.” Liam said, offering a middle finger gesture to seal the sentiment.
Luke recited the message as it read on the screen. “Found something – major break – following lead - off grid – I’ll be in touch – need time to nail it all down and make it stick.”
“Jesus, that’s cryptic,” Declan added. “Off the grid? Needs time? How much time?”
“I don’t know.” Liam shrugged. “The fact that he used this system to message us tells me he knew someone was on him, listening, maybe watching.”
After running his hands through his hair, Luke leaned forward and buried his face in his hands while he thought this one out. “We need to give him time. He knows what he’s doing – he’s one of us – can handle his own.”
“Then what?” Wylie asked.
“Then we follow our gut.” Luke hated saying that because his gut was already in knots. “Let’s keep the teams in DC and Nashville. Eyes and ears everywhere.”
“Ro and Ryker are laying low, watching everyone. And nobody is making a move.” Declan offered.
“Then we wait until they do.” Luke rebutted.
As much as Luke wanted to do something drastic, go on a mission, find Carter and figure out what the hell he was chasing, he knew they were flying blind. Acting on a whim, or in his case, emotion because of Daisy, could cost them everything. Lives could be compromised and lost.
One thing he knew for certain, something didn’t smell right. It was not like Carter to disappear for so long without telling them more, or at lease sending a sign of life. It was dangerous in their line of work, especially given the enemies each of them had generated over the years. Luke feared an enemy caught up with one of them.
“Yeah,” Luke said, sharing his private thoughts out loud. If for no other reason than to convince himself that waiting was right. “Give him time – he’ll come up for air. He said this thing ran deep and he might find himself dismantling the Capitol if it ran the way he thought.”
A senator’s murder at a dinner party in such close quarters didn’t scream assassination by a ticked off constituent. It was personal, calculated, planned. DC was as dangerous as any criminal gang out there, maybe more so.
Luke wasn’t sure time was what Carter needed. In fact, the longer he was off the grid, the more he felt drawn to Daisy and keeping her stowed away, safe from the world. His brothers were already onto him and giving him shit where she was concerned. They were a bunch of assholes like that. He didn’t dare tell them anymore than he had to about his relationship with her – nor did he tell them about that razor-sharp chill that raced down his spine when he thought about what was at stake. Something dark and menacing was circling, and it was coming their way. He could feel it.