Edge of the Enforcer

Chapter Seventeen

As the crackling fire in the huge lodge fireplace exuded welcome heat, Lindsey curled against the couch arm and listened to Simon and Dixon talk. She couldn’t seem to come up with the energy to join in. Ever since yesterday when she’d confessed her past, time had moved like a drunken armadillo.

Last night, the hours had flown by as she’d teased Zander until he cursed and took control. Completely. After they both got off, he’d exacted his revenge, bringing her to the brink of orgasm over and over, until she was begging mindlessly. When he’d finally taken her to their mutual satisfaction, he’d stayed inside her, watching over her as she fell asleep. She’d never felt so close to anyone. So protected.

But today had dragged interminably. After breakfast, Zander had taken the memory drives and disappeared into Logan’s office to try to break the code. Simon had been on the phone all morning. Rona had slept late. Logan had been doing lodge-keeper duties. An elderly couple had needed to be checked in, a single lodger later.

Lindsey had wanted to run errands with Becca or go with Kallie to help with chores at the Masterson place. However, with Zander’s overprotectiveness in full flood, he demanded she stay close, and she hadn’t had the willpower to say no. Not after yesterday. She sighed. Another week and she’d be back to her normal stubborn self.

Thank goodness, Dixon had shown up, and the women had returned. Between him, the women, and the baby, conversation had been lively. Distracting.

After lunch, she’d started worrying again and had retreated into the main lodge to think. To stew, her daddy would have said. A few minutes ago, Dixon and Simon had joined her, talking around her, keeping her company.

How had she won such wonderful friends?

With a mild squeak of hinges, the door of the lodge swung open, and Lindsey opened her eyes to look.

A tall, absolutely stunning man in a sheepskin coat, jeans, and boots stepped in, paused, and crossed the room directly to their small group.

“Simon.” The man held out his hand as Simon rose. “Good to see you again.”

Simon shook his hand. “Stanfeld. It’s been a while.” He turned. “Lindsey, Dixon, this is Homeland Security Investigations, Special Agent Jameson Stanfeld.” He smiled at Lindsey. “He’s a recent transfer to California from Texas.”

Keen gray eyes in a tanned face surveyed Lindsey. “It’s good to meet you, Ms. Parnell.”

Parnell. He knew her real name. Sheer terror impacted her chest, stealing her breath. He stood between her and the door…too close.

The man took a step forward. “Lindsey—”

Instinctively, she cringed.

“Uh-uh.” Dixon jumped up and blocked his path. “Back off, sweet cheeks.”

“No, Dixon,” Lindsey hissed. The big man could crush him with one hand. Shoot him. “No, don’t. He’ll hurt you.” Her legs shook as she stood. Seizing Dixon’s wiry arm, she tried to jerk him back. Tried to step in front of him.

He stubbornly stayed put.

“Christ Jesus,” the agent muttered to Simon. “They’re both cute enough to die for and braver than many a soldier I’ve known.”

“That they are,” Simon said. “Dixon, listen. You don’t—”

“Stand down, buddy.” Stanfeld held his hands up. “I have no intention of hurting or arresting your friend. Simon asked me to come.”

All the strength drained out of Lindsey’s legs, and she sank back onto the couch, pulling Dixon down with her.

“What the fuck?” From nowhere, Zander appeared—and stepped right into Dixon’s place between her and the agent. His hand was under his jacket, on the pistol he wore in a shoulder harness.

“Zander, this is a good guy,” Simon said, his voice relaxed and calming as he went through the introductions again. “Lindsey was a bit…”

“Lindsey overreacted.” She managed to stand up. Leaning slightly on Zander, she held her hand out. “I’m pleased to meet you, Special Agent Stanfeld.”

“Likewise—and make it Stan.” He took her hand gently and undoubtedly felt the way her fingers trembled.

The minute Stan released her, Zander tucked her against his side. And she’d never been so happy to be under an overprotective Dom’s care.

Simon resumed his seat. “I met Stan when Demakis Security provided protection to a model threatened by a serial killer. We’ve been friends for years now.” He leaned forward. “I called him yesterday. Having come from Texas recently, he has contacts we need. This morning, he and I had a conference call with one of his Texas friends, a special agent in charge—name of Bonner. Bonner has quite an interest in you, Lindsey.”

Riiight. I’m the woman who murdered her husband and a police officer. Bitterness filled her mouth. “I’m sure.”

Zander gently pushed Lindsey down on the couch beside Dixon and set his hip on the armrest beside her. Staying close and staying mobile, she knew.

Stan took an empty chair directly across from Lindsey and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “You sent Bonner an e-mail attachment of Victor Parnell raping a boy.”

The thought was enough to make her sick, but she nodded.

“Bonner had already been looking into your husband’s and the young officer’s murders. He’d noticed the investigation was somewhat…irregular, and after talking with Simon, he’s very interested in knowing more. Since I’m stationed in San Francisco, I volunteered to drive here this morning and talk to you.”

And arrest me too. Her hands closed into fists as despair started to weigh her down.

His gray eyes met hers. “Lindsey, did you kill the police officer?”

“What? No.”

“Didn’t think so.” He leaned back.

Wait. Wait. “You believe me?”

“I’m good at detecting liars.” His smile transformed his face from stern to gorgeous, and she heard Dixon give a small sigh.

To her surprise, Stan’s gaze shifted to Dixon with sufficient appreciation to send her gaydar dinging. The agent liked her Dixon? Hold on one cotton-picking minute. Dix had been through enough. Lindsey put her hand on top of Dixon’s and gave the man a narrow-eyed stare as a warning.

He tilted his head in acknowledgment, and she had to give him props for picking up on her unspoken threat. He continued, “Bonner plans to interview your sisters, by the way.”

Oh God, would he arrest Melissa and Mandy for aiding and abetting or something? “They don’t know anything. They don’t.”

He gave Simon an amused glance. “Like I said…”

When Zander chuckled, she looked up at him in surprise.

“You really are a lousy liar,” Zander said.

She frowned. Should she take his comment as an insult or a compliment? “Well. Now what?”

“Simon told me the encryption on the jump drives from your husband’s safe has been broken. I’d like permission to go through the information. Do I have it?”

Her heart skipped a beat. The last time an agent wanted those drives, she’d almost died. If he confiscated them… They were her only proof Victor had been a criminal. “I—”

He studied her for a minute before rubbing his forehead wearily. “Let’s take a step back. Simon says you talked with a border patrol agent who worked for Parnell. Tell me about it.”

She pulled her legs up onto the couch, huddling into herself. “I—”I don’t know you.

“Lindsey, I can’t reassure you unless I hear everything,” he said quietly. His eyes were level.

Simon nodded at her.

Zander set his hand on her shoulder, holding her to the course and steadying her at the same time. She wasn’t alone. “In San Antonio, I called the border patrol and got Agent Orrin Ricks.”

Stan took out a pad and started making notes.

“He sounded like he believed me. And he was worried I’d get ambushed if I came to his office, so he told me to meet him at a safe house. The place was in a nice neighborhood, but I was so paranoid, I parked a few houses down. Agent Ricks let me into the house.”

Stan frowned. “You didn’t give him the drives?”

“I didn’t have them. When I got out of my car, there were a bunch of men on the sidewalk—all in suits and ties and stuff.” She attempted a smile. “I was so nervous, I left my purse in the car and ran to the house before I realized they were Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses or something.”

“Got it. So Agent Ricks talked to you?”

“He seemed nice at first. Professional.” Tall, bullishly muscular like a weight lifter. He had narrow eyes, straight red-brown hair in a conservative style. Polite. Her mother would have considered him adequate son-in-law material. “He asked me about everything. Then he pulled his gun.”

“Jesus,” Zander muttered. His hand tightened on her shoulder.

She swallowed, remembering how the pistol had seemed so huge. How her skin had flinched away. “He called Travis to report he had me and that Victor had probably put incriminating recordings on the flash drives. During their arguing, he said he’d collect the drives from me, but it was Travis’s job to dispose of me.” She halted, unable to face the next part. So she wouldn’t. “When I got away, I—”

“No, pet.” Zander shook her shoulder lightly. “Yesterday, you refused to talk about this. Today we need to hear it.”

“But…”

His expression held the frightening combination of a Dom’s sympathy…and determination. “All of it, Lindsey.”

Even as she pushed at his hand, his command helped. She wanted to tell someone—needed to—if only it hadn’t been so difficult. Staring at her fingers, she forced the words out. “Agent Ricks said since Travis would kill me, he might as well have fun first. He knocked me down. Kicked me so I couldn’t breathe.” Couldn’t scream.

She had to stop and swallow back the sickness. “I fought.” But he hit me and hit me. “He unzipped my jeans and…” The words wouldn’t come.

“Go on, pet,” Simon said softly. Yet when she managed to look up at him, she saw his expression was filled with rage.

“Before he could—the doorbell rang, and I could hear voices. It was the people who’d been in the van.” She realized she was rubbing the scar on the back of her right hand. The big one. “When he put his hand over my mouth, I poked my fingers at his eyes, and he let me go, and I dove through the front window and ran.”

Zander took her arm and pushed her sweater sleeve up, showing the scars. “Did glass cause these?”

“Uh-huh. When I covered my face, the glass ripped my arms instead.” She paused. “I terrified the religious people. They were calling and running toward me. Probably to help, but I panicked. I ran and didn’t realize till I got to the car that I was all bloody.”

The sound Zander made was sheer fury. “Did you go to a hospital?”

She shook her head. “I was too scared. I used socks to stop the bleeding and went to a drugstore. Got a ton of butterfly strips and gauze and antibiotic ointment.” She frowned at the scars. Did they bother him?

He ruffled her hair. “Smart girl. He’d have found you otherwise.”

“Did Ricks give chase at all?” Stan asked.

“Uh-uh. He didn’t even open the door. The religious guys didn’t even know he was there. Heck, they probably figured I was some druggie burglarizing the house.”

“You’ve provided a pretty damning statement of Ricks’s involvement with smuggling.” Stan sighed. “I’ll tell Bonner. And I can see why you’re wary about agents.” He stared at the fire for a moment before looking at her. “How about this—Simon will stay with me while I go through the evidence. Once I know what’s there, we’ll talk some more.”

“I want to see what these guys look like.” Zander stroked her hair. “Will you be comfortable if Dixon stays with you?”

“I’ll let you beat me at pool if you make me a margarita afterward.” Dixon bumped his shoulder into hers.

Dix was a terrible pool player. She gave a tiny laugh. “You’re on.”

***

After beating Dixon at pool and mixing him a couple of drinks—and having some herself—Lindsey pushed all her worries into a corner of her mind. This might be her last chance to hang out with friends; damned if she’d spend it huddled in her cabin.

In the kitchen, Rona was sitting with Jake’s wife, Kallie, at the long center table. Standing at the counter, mixing something, Becca said, “I heard an awful lot of moaning. Did Dixon lose the game?”

“He is one whiny loser.” And he’d gone out of his way to keep her spirits up, bless his heart. A ton of alcohol was bubbling in her bloodstream. “What can I help with?”

“How about cutting up carrots for the salad.” Becca started to hand over a knife and had it plucked away by Rona.

“I don’t think so.” When Rona pointed to a chair, Lindsey obediently sat. “Alcohol and knives—not a good combination.”

“Maybe not for cooking.” Kallie patted her shoulder. “However, from what Logan said you went through, I think you deserve all the liquor you can get.”

“And we’ll keep you company,” Becca said, her eyes warm with sympathy. She held up her spoon. “Since we’ll be playing in Jake’s dungeon, make sure it will wear off by tonight. Perhaps a glass of Bailey’s for now?” Receiving assenting nods, she poured three hefty drinks, and a smaller one for herself.

When Lindsey looked surprised, Becca nodded to the baby monitor. “Can’t indulge much these days; probably not until he goes to college.”

“It definitely puts a crimp in ever getting drunken sex,” Rona said, amused.

“Logan mentioned you weren’t playing in the main lodge anymore.” Before Becca got pregnant, the Serenity Lodge had specialized in “special” parties where a swing or BDSM or leather club might rent all the cabins and take over the place. And last summer, Lindsey had enjoyed the dungeon party held in the lodge.

“Nope. With Ansel here, we’re going mainstream.” Becca grinned. “We can’t use the lodge for play parties if there are non-BDSM people renting cabins. Like this weekend, besides the Dark Haven group, we have an older couple and two single men who’ve rented cabins—all vanilla-straight.”

“The guests are why Jake designed a good-size underground dungeon when we built our house.” Kallie waggled her eyebrows. “It’s really well soundproofed.”

“The parties are smaller, but at least we still can play,” Becca said.

“It’s a shame Abby and Xavier couldn’t come today,” Rona said. “I know they were looking forward to seeing the new dungeon.”

“Lindsey.” Logan stuck his head in the kitchen. “Got a call for you. Use the phone on the reception desk.”

“Oh. Okay.” Lindsey followed him out.

Sprawled next to the reception desk, Logan’s dog thumped his tail on the hardwood floor twice to express his overwhelming pleasure at her arrival.

“Hey, Thor.” She ruffled his fur and stepped past him. The desk held an old-fashioned landline with a spiral cord connecting the receiver to the phone. Logan turned the phone around so she could use it easily.

She picked up the receiver. “This is Lindsey.”

“Mija,” Mrs. Martinez said, her voice unhappy.

“Mrs. Martinez?” As Lindsey frowned, she saw Zander come through the door leading to Logan’s private quarters upstairs. Logan stepped to his side, talking. Turning slightly, Lindsey returned her attention to her call. “What’s wrong?”

“I got a call from your neighbors. They still had our office phone as your contact number.”

Oops. She’d never updated her information, had she? “Is there a problem?”

“The police were at your duplex.”

“Police?” At her raised voice, Logan and Zander looked up.

Putting his arm around Lindsey, Zander squeezed her closer, his ear next to hers so he could hear.

“Yes. Someone broke in,” Mrs. Martinez said. “They went through your belongings and damaged some things.”

“Burglars? I don’t have valuables…”

“Waldo and Ernesto weren’t sure. They didn’t think anything was stolen except for your laptop—unless you took it with you. Not the television or your jewelry.”

“No, I left the laptop there.” A chill swept over Lindsey although the lodge door was closed. Her pretty little duplex damaged. Her home. A cold knot grew in her belly as the realization slammed into her. She’d been found. Her lips were numb as she forced herself to stand, to talk. “Do the police want me to go in?”

“Waldo talked with them. I talked with them. So the police say you can call them when you return.”

“Okay.” She couldn’t go back to San Francisco. She made her lips curve into a smile. “Good thing I bribed you with Christmas candy, huh?”

“And excellent candy it was. I barely managed to keep my new son-in-law from eating it all. I’ll talk with you Monday, mija.”

She was a rabbit, wolves closing in, trapping her. Ready to rip her to shreds. Parnell and Ricks knew she lived in San Francisco. Her hand shook uncontrollably as she hung up the phone. God, what am I going to do? She stared at the desk, fighting the desperate urge to run to her car and just…drive. Inside, a voice was shrieking run, run, run.

When she tried to flee, an arm tightened around her waist. “No!” She spun and shoved—Zander. “Oh God, I’m sorry. What am I doing?”

“Panicking, I’d say.” He held his arms out, and she buried herself in his embrace.

“They found me.” Shivers coursed through her as she whispered, “I’m so scared.”

“I’m here, babe.” He kept her tucked to his side as he turned toward the door behind the desk. “Meeting’s already started. Let’s give them a briefing.”

Upstairs in Logan’s kitchen, Lindsey filled a glass of water while Zander updated the others on the phone call. By the time she’d emptied the glass, she felt steadier. Quietly, she took a seat between Simon and Zander. Jake, who apparently had been briefed, sat on the other side with Special Agent Stanfeld. Logan leaned against a counter.

“So they discovered you’re living in San Francisco,” Stan said.

“Guess so.” Lindsey worked to make her voice firm. “I don’t know how they found me.”

“Probably me,” Zander said. “I ran searches on you when you started working for Simon.” His mouth tightened. “I set off another a few days ago—for Lindsey and Melissa combinations—and found Lindsey Rayburn.”

“Oh my God, seriously?”

“Yeah.”

“Where’s my favorite castration knife when I need it,” she muttered.

A dimple appeared in his cheek. “Ouch.” He set one hand over hers—over the fist she’d made—and squeezed her shoulder. “I wasn’t worried about protecting your identity, so I didn’t hide my tracks. Sorry, Tex.”

After a second, she sighed. She had been lying, after all. He’d been upfront that he intended to protect Simon from her scheming ways. It might be a tad bit unfair to geld him when he was there supporting her. “S’okay.”

Moving on. She looked at Stan. “Now what?”

He shifted in his chair, looking uncomfortable. “The flash drives contain enough evidence to arrest Ricks and Parnell for smuggling. Unfortunately, nothing there connects them to the two murders.” He frowned. “It will be your word against theirs, and I daresay they cleaned up after themselves. The coroner in your town isn’t particularly competent, and when he released the bodies, both were cremated. We’re trying to find the boy, but…either Parnell got him or he joined the thousands of illegals in the area.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying nothing completely clears you of the murder charges. The police chief, especially, can muddy the water enough to leave you hanging for quite a while.”

Lindsey felt the blood drain from her face. He meant they’d arrest and jail her. She’d have to go to trial.

Zander slung his arm around her shoulders.

“What can I do?” she asked.

“They didn’t find the drives when they searched your duplex.” Stan rubbed his cheek, frowning. “So once you’re home, one of them is going to come after you. Probably both. They’ll have your place staked out in hopes of grabbing you.”

“You don’t think they’d hire someone?” Jake asked. His lean face was hard, blue eyes angry. “Contract her murder out?”

“Doubtful,” Stan said. “Ricks knows about the flash drives. Neither of them will rest easy until the evidence is destroyed—and I doubt they’ll trust the other guy to do it. They’ll have to be here in person to get her to hand over the drives. They won’t kill her until they have it.”

“You want me to be your bait,” Lindsey said steadily. This felt like a really, really bad television show. “To wear a wire so they can incriminate themselves.”

“Exactly.”

“No,” Zander said flatly.

Stan stared. “What?”

“Not fucking happening. We’re not going to use her. Find another way to get the evidence.” Zander’s jaw looked like granite.

“We’re not going to use her.” Did he just say that? Lindsey stared at him, a shivery sense of wonder filling her.

“This is the best way,” Stan said. “We can protect her.”

“Fuck, you can’t keep that promise for sure.” Zander crossed his arms over his chest. “They’ll know I’ve been with her. I can contact them. Blackmail them so they’ll come after me.”

“We’re not going to use her.” He wanted to risk his life to keep her safe. Her heart felt as if he’d enclosed it in his strong hands. Her eyes filled with tears as she turned and put her fingers on that hard, hard jaw.

He looked down at her. “Don’t bother to argue with me, girl. This is—”

“I love you.” The words spilled from her like a river spilling over a dam. “I love you so much.”

His face went blank. Oh God, what had she said? But the damage had been done. Now he’d run. He’d…

With a groan, he lifted her into his lap, holding her so tightly she couldn’t draw a full breath. As she buried her face in his neck, his chest rose and fell. “Fuck, I love you too,” he muttered into her hair.

Around her, the men spoke in low tones. A door opened and closed, and there was only silence in the kitchen and only Zander’s arms loosening far enough so he could kiss her senseless.