CHAPTER ELEVEN
Piper felt as though she’d taken a punch to the gut. “That can’t be true. Uncle Gino didn’t approve of Matteo’s activities. You said law enforcement suspected money laundering. They don’t have proof.”
“The feds are close to having what they need to file charges against him.”
No. Just no. Pain speared her heart. “Uncle Gino knows how I feel about Matteo. He admitted his old friend had changed and not in a good way.”
“Be prepared, Piper. If your uncle is involved with Barone, he’s going to prison.”
She dropped her head against Liam’s shoulder, too stunned and hurt to reply. She prayed the feds cleared her uncle.
“Keep digging, Zane.” Liam rubbed his cheek against the crown of her head, offering silent comfort. “We have to know for sure.”
“Copy that. Now, what do you need?”
“Access the security footage for Wicks, Delilah Rainer’s candle shop in Otter Creek.” He gave Zane the date. “Start at noon and make a copy of the feed until seven o’clock that night.”
“What am I looking for?”
“A man with salt-and-pepper hair, black-framed glasses, built, dressed in camouflage pants and black shirt.” He frowned. “He’ll be the one asking Piper for a date.”
Zane laughed. “Are you serious?”
Liam growled. “Just do it.”
“You can’t convince me you’re checking this guy because of jealousy. I doubt she looked twice at him. What’s behind the sudden interest?”
He explained about the break-ins at Piper’s house and his. “Can’t prove it, but I think this man is involved in the security breach at my place.”
Zane gave a low whistle. “Are the break-ins connected?”
“Doubt it. Piper’s place was tossed. Mine was searched but nothing is out of place. Whoever broke into my house was trained. In addition, run a deeper search for interest in me or Piper.”
“Your teammates report security breaches?”
“No. This feels personal.”
“I’ll see what I can find. Expect the security feeds in your email within the hour.”
“Transfer me to the boss. I haven’t reported to him yet.”
“Roger that. Later.”
In seconds, another deep voice filled the cabin. “You’re home from deployment less than a day and you ran into trouble. What’s going on?”
“You’re on speaker with Piper Reece.”
“Ah. Nice to talk to you, Piper. I’m Brent Maddox, owner of Fortress Security. What’s happening, Liam.”
He gave a rapid-fire report. “Zane is running a deep check to see if someone is inquiring about us.”
“I assume you haven’t taken out an ad or fired up a social media presence in recent days. Has your family or Piper mentioned you online?”
“Not me.” Piper was aware of the extra lengths the operatives’ wives went to in order to protect their mates. No one mentioned a spouse on any social media platform and said almost nothing about their work with the townspeople, much to the annoyance of Otter Creek’s gossips.
“I’ll talk to my mother and sister, but they’re used to a media blackout from when I was in Special Forces. They don’t view my current job in a different light.”
“Is it possible Barone is targeting Piper through you?”
“The MO is different for both break-ins, Brent.”
“He might have hired a trained professional since you work for Fortress.”
“How would he know?” Piper asked. “I haven’t talked to my uncle since I left Alabama. Gino doesn’t know I’m involved with Liam.”
“People pass through Otter Creek all the time, especially since the community college is so large. Who would notice another stranger in town? A little reconnaissance and Barone would have the information. People talk. Go to Delaney’s Diner, mention Wicks, and I’d bet the waitress would talk about the staff at Wicks and their significant others. The whole town’s been watching your relationship with Liam slowly come to life.”
“It’s my fault Liam is a target.” The knowledge she might be to blame for another threat to Liam made her insides knot.
Liam pressed a kiss to her temple. “We don’t know that. When we identify the culprit, we’ll track him down and find out why he chose my house. Brent, the security cameras at my house might have caught an image. Given the professional nature of the search, I’m not holding my breath on that.”
“I’ll have Zane check anyway. If the security breach is connected to you, which direction we should look?”
He was silent a moment. “I was involved in an incident six months before I mustered out of the Marines.”
“Spencer?”
Liam chuckled. “My file is supposed to be classified.”
“Nothing is out of Zane’s reach.”
“Yeah, I’m beginning to see that. Start with Spencer and Major Conrad Graham.”
A soft whistle. “You don’t mess around when you tick someone off, do you? I’ll get back to you.”
After the call ended, Liam glanced at Piper. “Ask.”
“Do I have a neon sign on my forehead?”
“It’s natural to be curious. I’d be surprised if you weren’t.”
“Who are Spencer and Graham?”
“Spencer was in my unit and Conrad Graham was our CO.”
“Why do they have a grudge against you?”
“I turned Spencer in to our CO for stealing artifacts and selling them for profit. Turned out Graham was in on the scheme and I almost died in my effort to keep the Marine Corp’s name clean. Spencer and the CO were sentenced to prison for antiquities theft. They were dishonorably discharged and will forfeit their pension.”
“What happened to you?”
“Our unit was sent on a mission in Afghanistan to retrieve an HVT.”
“Wait. HVT?”
“Sorry. High-value target. Anyway, we walked into an ambush. I lost three good friends that night.”
“I’m sorry, Liam. Were your other teammates hurt?”
“Two had minor injuries.”
“And you?”
He remained silent.
“You were shot, weren’t you?”
Liam nodded. “Once in the chest, once in the abdomen.”
Piper sucked in a breath. “Is this the incident that landed you in a hospital for months?”
“Yeah, it is. I had a lot of time to think while recuperating. A few buddies visited or called. Didn’t take long to figure out my CO was responsible for leaking my unit’s location to the area insurgents.”
Horrified that she might have lost her chance to know Liam because of greed, Piper couldn’t stop herself from planting a kiss on his jaw. So close.
Liam wrapped his hand around hers. “Me, too. I feel guilty, though.”
“Because you survived and your friends didn’t.”
“They’re dead because the CO targeted me. Graham knew I suspected someone else helped Spencer. He was afraid if I kept digging, I’d track the leads to him. He used insurgents to do his dirty work.”
“Would you have stopped your investigation before you found the partner?”
He slid her a look, his expression grim. “Never.”
Once Liam locked on, he wouldn’t let go. “How serious were your injuries?”
“The doctors weren’t sure I would pull through.” He shrugged. “They were wrong.”
“No matter what happens with us, my life is better for having known you.”
Liam didn’t say anything, just squeezed her hand. The miles passed with him watching the mirrors and the surrounding area. Over an hour after leaving Otter Creek, Liam parked in the lot beside the ski resort’s main lodge. He met Piper at the front of the SUV. “It’s beautiful here.”
“This resort used to be one of my favorite places to retreat from the real world.”
He tilted his head. “What happened?”
“Gavin brought Brandy here.”
Liam tugged her into his arms. “I hate that he hurt you, Sunshine.”
“I’m over it and, looking back, I’m grateful.”
“Why?”
“Gavin showed me his true self before I fell too hard for him. He was pushing for more, but something held me back. Now I’m glad I hesitated to make a deeper commitment. If he cheated on me with Brandy and Anita, he would have done the same throughout our relationship and marriage.”
He cupped the side of her face. “You don’t have to worry about that with me. I wouldn’t cheat on you.”
Piper tightened her grip around his waist. “I know.” When Liam gave his word, he kept it.
After pressing a kiss to her forehead, he released Piper. “Let’s store our gear in the suite and meet Simon.”
“Maybe he found Gavin and confronted him.”
A somber glance from the man at her side. “Nothing is ever that easy.”
They registered at the front desk and obtained a key card. Liam escorted Piper to the suite and returned to the SUV for their gear. When she offered to help him, he waved her offer aside. “Explore the suite. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Piper freshened up, then wandered onto the balcony. She breathed deep, dragging in pine-scented air and shivering as a cool breeze blew across her skin. She’d forgotten how cold the temperature could be at the resort in December. She wouldn’t be surprised if snow fell in the next few days.
Liam returned to the suite with Simon on his heels. Both men carried bags inside.
Piper left the balcony and locked the French doors. “What do you think of the resort, Simon?”
“It’s nice. I might return the next time Bravo is on a break and do some skiing.”
Liam’s eyebrows soared. “You interested in a date with a ski bunny?”
A quick smile. “Maybe. Depends on whether or not the woman I have my eye on in Otter Creek is interested in going out with me.”
Piper grinned. “Who is she, Simon?”
He shook his head. “I’m not saying.”
“Aww, come on.”
“Forget it, Piper. If she turns me down, I don’t want pitying looks from my friends.”
“Fine. Have it your way. Have you chosen a bedroom yet?”
“It’s ladies’ choice. I don’t care which room I sleep in.”
“I’ll take the room on the right, then.”
Liam carried her bags to her room and returned to sit on the couch with Piper. “What have you discovered?” he asked Simon.
“I flashed Gavin’s picture around the resort. A waitress and a ski instructor remember him being here yesterday.” He slanted a look at Piper.
“Let me guess. He hit on them?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“He hasn’t changed since I broke up with him.” Once again, she was grateful she’d seen the truth before it was too late.
“Is he still at the resort?” Liam asked.
“I chatted up one of the housekeepers. His bags are here but no one’s seen him in hours.”
They would find Gavin and get some answers. “What about his vehicle?”
“I located a late-model black Escalade with Alabama tags in the parking lot. According to Zane, the tags are registered to Gavin James. He’s at the resort somewhere.”
“He’s waiting for Piper to arrive,” Liam said.
Piper’s eyes narrowed. “I want to talk to him.”
Liam slid her a look. “So do I.”
Oh, boy. That look said Liam wanted to do more than talk. Great. She might have to enlist Simon’s help to keep the two men separated. “What should we do first?”
Liam glanced at his black watch. “We have about four hours of daylight left. Do you want to eat first or try to find the cave?”
“Cave.”
“If we can’t find it within two hours, we’ll try again tomorrow.”
“I’ll grab my pack,” Simon said.
Minutes later, they left the lodge. Liam and Simon each carried packs on their back.
“Why are you carrying equipment into the forest?” Piper asked Liam. Simon walked about twenty feet in front of them, his gait covering the terrain with ground-eating strides.
Man, the Fortress operatives were in fantastic shape. Liam and Simon weren’t even breaking a sweat while Piper was breathing hard and they were only fifteen minutes into this hike.
“We don’t go anywhere without survival gear.”
“Even in Otter Creek?”
Liam threaded his fingers through hers. “I keep a bag packed in my SUV at all times.”
“What’s in the bag?”
“Enough supplies to keep us comfortable for a couple days and basic camping gear.”
“That’s part of expecting the best but being prepared for the worst?”
He nodded as Simon stopped and looked back at them.
“The path forks. Which way, Piper?”
“Left toward the rock face.”
The other operative surged ahead.
Liam pulled a sleek black phone with a metallic pink cover from his pocket. He handed it to Piper. “Your new phone. It’s encrypted. No one will intercept your calls or texts. I’ll also be able to talk to you while I’m deployed now.”
She took the phone from him and grinned in delight at the cover. “Thank you, Liam. I miss hearing your voice while you and your teammates are gone.”
“I planned to give you the phone before we deployed last month but Fortress only gave us an hour’s notice at two in the morning. I didn’t have the heart to wake you to deliver the phone.”
Piper gave him a sideways glance. “I wouldn’t have minded. I hated that I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye.”
“Me, too. I missed you like crazy.”
“Same here. You were gone a long time.”
“Longer than we anticipated. We had to assist another team.” He was silent a moment. “There will be times I’ll be gone for several weeks. It’s part of my job, Piper.”
“I understand.”
“I don’t have control over when the deployments occur. We go when and where we’re needed. That means I will miss some birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries.”
Anniversaries? “I’ll handle the absences like the other women involved with Fortress operatives. I’ll stay busy until you return.” She nudged his shoulder with her own. “I expect you to spoil me when you return from deployment.”
“I’ll do my best to make up for my absences. Most women can’t handle what we do and the unpredictable schedule.”
“I’m not most women. Give me a chance to prove I can handle it, Liam. You’re worth the learning curve.”
The subtle tension in his body eased. “I’ll do anything I can to help you adjust. I don’t want to lose you.”
She squeezed his hand.
They walked in silence until Piper recognized a large split rock. “Simon, head for that rock formation to the left.”
With a wave to acknowledge her instructions, he veered to the left. Ten minutes later, Simon stopped at the foot of a mountain with multiple caves dotting the rocky surface. As he waited for them to catch up, he studied the terrain. “I hope you remember which cave your friend referred to, Piper,” he said when she and Liam stopped beside him. “There must be a dozen caves up here.”
Piper studied the hillside. She pointed to one of two caves near the center of the mountain. “I think it’s the one on the right.”
“We’ll find out soon enough.” Liam slid his pack off his shoulders, grabbed a bottle of water, and gave it to Piper. While she drank, he scanned the area.
“I feel it, too,” Simon murmured.
Piper looked from one man to the other. “Feel what?”
“Someone is watching us.” Liam wrapped his arms around Piper and turned so her back was to the mountainside and his body stood between her and the observer.
She pushed at his chest to look for herself.
Liam didn’t loosen his hold. “We don’t want to let on that we’re aware of his presence. Act as though we’re on an outing with a friend.”
Although the idea of someone watching them from the shadows creeped her out, she snuggled into his embrace, her head resting over his heart. “I hate that you have to protect me.”
“I will always stand between you and danger, Sunshine.” Liam held her for a couple minutes before easing her away from him, still keeping his body between her and the unseen threat. “You ready?”
“Let’s get this over with.”
“Simon will take the lead. You go up after him. I’ll be right behind you.”
Covering her back and protecting her with his own body. Almost sick with worry for his safety, Piper hurried after Simon. The sooner they were inside the cave, the quicker Liam would be out of the crosshairs.
After fifteen minutes of climbing, Simon skirted the large outcropping of rocks near the cave entrance. He walked to the mouth of the cave and came to a sudden stop. He looked at Liam, expression grim.
“What’s wrong?” Piper asked, her heart rate accelerating.
“Don’t go into the cave.”
“Why not?”
“Stay with her.” Liam pressed a light kiss to Piper’s lips and disappeared inside the cave. He returned two minutes later. “Describe Gavin.”
No. Oh, no. “Black hair, brown eyes, about six foot two, maybe two hundred pounds.”
“Any distinguishing characteristics?”
“He has a mole near the outside corner of his right eye. Liam, what’s going on?”
He pulled her against his chest. “I’m sorry, Piper, but Gavin is dead.”