Watch Me (Alpha Four, Book 3) Read online

  “You’re scaring the guests.”

  “What guests?”

  “Well, you would if there were any still here.”

  He turned his brooding gaze onto hers and her nerves tingled beneath her skin. The look he tossed her way reminded her of an impending storm – dark, electric and serious with a hint of fear thrown in. Not that she was afraid of him – that was the last thing she felt around Thunder – but she also knew without a doubt whoever left the gift should be shaking in fear. The leader of Alpha Four was definitely a force to be reckoned.

  “I’m a scary guy.”

  Although she agreed that he intimidated most people, she rolled her eyes at the absurdity in his admission. “Yeah, right.”

  “You’re the one who said I was scaring people.”

  “I only meant because of the scowl on your face.”

  “What about it?”

  “Oh good grief, Thunder, smile!”

  For half a second she wondered if he would comply. Come to think of it, she’d never seen Thunder smile. He always wore the same serious, determined, all-business look on his very distinguished, very handsome face. Something told her it would take an act of God to change that.

  And then the earth moved.

  His gaze softened and turned impossibly darker just as a grin split his lips. She worked very hard to stand upright. She cleared her throat in an attempt to disguise her severe shock. That grin, that tiny yet clearly-existent smirk, threatened to make her strip naked and beg him to take her.

  “Better.”

  “You didn’t happen to see anything suspicious, did you?”

  “No. Kat, Sophie, Carley and I were all together behind the fruit table. I haven’t actually seen the …. party favor.”

  Another smirk almost took her to her knees. “The technicians bagged it for processing. Do you know any of the guests personally?”

  “Most of them.”

  “Anyone have a score to settle with Carley?”

  “Not to my knowledge. Carley is a well-respected businesswoman in the community and I’d be extremely surprised to discover that there was someone who thought differently.”

  “Do you do business with any of them?”

  She nodded, curious where he was headed with his questioning.

  “What about Sophie and Kat?”

  “I don’t know for sure, but probably. Why?”

  “Just trying to put the pieces together. Everyone’s a suspect and a victim until we do.”

  She frowned. “Do you really think someone walked around here all evening with a --.” She paused to swallow hard before she continued. “Finger in his pocket until the opportunity arose to drop it in the fountain?”

  He simply folded his arms across his bulky chest, obviously not as bothered by the question as she. “Anything’s possible.”

  “Really? Civilized people do that sort of thing?”

  “Trust me, you’d be surprised what people do to prove a point.”

  “Carley shouldn’t be alone.”

  “Not an issue.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  “Negative.” He gestured with his head, drawing her attention to the war zone that once represented the dining area. Her friends stood there with the remaining members of Alpha Four, Ace’s arm casually draped across Carley’s shoulders as if staking a claim. Obviously, Carley was in good hands.

  “Ace will drive her home; I’ll drive you.”

  Something in his authoritative tone caused her nerves to quiver. Alone in the dark with this commanding, virile man piqued her undivided interest and she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to analyze him.

  He was definitely a control freak - that was an undeniable fact. Yet, she was willing to bet that beneath all that rough and gruff exterior lay a compassionate, soft, cuddly teddy bear. The mystery – could she expose it? Assertive. Check. Overpowering. Check. Trainable. Check.

  “Have you made arrangements to get my car home?”

  “Yes.”

  She raised an eyebrow when he didn’t elaborate, not surprised by his lack of communication. And, both instinct and professional training told her he wouldn’t oblige until she almost insisted. Instead, she simply folded her arms across her chest and moved her gaze around the room while she patiently waited for a response.

  “The hotel valet will deliver your car tomorrow morning,” he said finally. “The detectives will need to run all the plates on the property.”

  Satisfied by his response, she fought the urge to celebrate her small victory. Although her silent technique worked on him this time, she was convinced his intelligence would most likely prevent him from falling for it again. In fact, she was a little suspicious that he’d answered. She mentally shrugged. Whatever his reasoning, she’d take it.

  “Thank you.”

  “You shouldn’t be alone either.”

  She stood deathly still next to him while her heart skipped several beats. Skill allowed her not to react while she attempted to determine the meaning behind his statement – a skill he sorely tested. The rational, professional, polite part of her believed he was practicing gentlemanly and professional concern. After all, he was a modern-day superhero, extremely handsome and built to rescue damsels in distress with one beefy arm and take the villain out with the other. Wanton, extreme desire, and hope, however, explained it quite differently. In that realm of lustful thought, he meant to scoop her up and show her the extent of his superpowers all night long.

  Suddenly, the room became very small and amazingly warm.

  She released a slow breath and tread very carefully in her attempt to gain information. “Do you think I’m in danger?”

  “Not necessarily.”

  “But you think I need company?”

  He nodded, his body armor still impenetrable.

  She waited a few seconds to see if he’d fall for the silent prod once again. And, he didn’t – just as she suspected.

  “I’ll stay with my parents,” she said finally.

  “Is the compound secure?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Thunder. My parents will be there and the security system is one of the best.”

  “It’s adequate.” He grasped her elbow and urged her toward the area where her friends now stood.

  “You researched my parents’ security system?”

  “No, your father and I discussed it.”

  “Wait.” She dug her heels into the floor and stopped. So much for tact, she wanted answers. “You asked my father about his security system before you knew I would stay there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “In case you hadn’t caught on, safety is the name of my game.”

  Touché. She bit her lip to keep from grinning at his comment.

  “Okay, well … thank you again. My family’s safety is important to me.”

  “Liv.” He released a hard breath. “Stop thanking me.”

  “I just appreciate your concern, that’s all.”

  “Duly noted.” He steered her past her friends and toward the exit. “Now, I’d appreciate it if you’d get your pretty little ass in my truck and stop giving me the third degree.”

  “Never.” She grinned as they left the building. “You’re an enigma Thunder, and I intend to pick you apart – question by question.”

  ***

  He sat behind the closed doors of his inner sanctum, thankful for the solitary silence. He had put major time and effort into the whirlwind of the evening’s earlier activities and now he was exhausted. Exhausted and irritated that he’d been pushed to extreme measures. He released a hard breath. Why did people have to be so damn difficult? And since when had it become almost impossible to convince them to accept his word at face value?

  His wit and charm were the two attributes that skyrocketed his popularity and allowed his success. He’d climbed his way up the ladder of success at light speed without a hitch until now. Now, when he was poised to make an even more successful le
ap, an obstacle stood in his way. One he had every intention of moving without fail. It would just take some creative thinking on his part.

  Unable to put off the phone call any longer, he dialed his cell phone.

  “The package has been delivered,” he said into the mouthpiece.

  “Excellent.” The tone in the smooth, rich voice on the other end echoed satisfaction. “Perhaps now she will know we mean business.”

  “Maybe,” he agreed cautiously,” but I will monitor the situation closely to be sure.”

  “What makes you believe there will be problems?”

  “Something in the depths of my gut.”

  “Should I question your ability?”

  He considered the other man’s question for a moment. Could he pull this off without endangering himself in the process? He dismissed the doubt as soon as it crossed his mind. He knew going in there was no turning back.

  “No. I have everything under control.”

  “Good. Keep me informed.”

  “Of course.”

  He disconnected the call and silently mentally kicked the gnawing sense of doubt in the ass. He could do this. He could complete this operation and then reap the rewards promised to him. Only one obstacle stood between him and his goal and he would stop at nothing to remove it.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The next morning, Carley took a deep breath and then released a slow sigh as she sat in the peaceful environment of Relax and Renu. She had to hand it to Kat, the spa did amazing things for the body and soul. She snuggled deeper into her pink, terry cloth robe and melted into the comfort of an oversized reclining chair behind her cucumber mask, grateful to concentrate on something other than last night’s fiasco.

  She opened one eye and glanced at her friends who sat next to and across from her. “These cucumbers smell good enough to eat.”

  “Maybe.” Kat giggled without smiling, an impressive move in her opinion. “But please don’t eat your mask. It’s drawing the tension from your skin.”

  Sophie rolled her head to one side. “Have you heard anything else about the … you know what? Rebel left early.”

  “Alpha Four is meeting this morning,” Liv said as she crossed her ankles. “Apparently, Thunder likes to get a jump on things.”

  Curious, Carley sat up and moved her gaze onto Liv; obviously Sophie and Kat shared the same curiosity because they sat forward too.

  “And you know this how?” Kat prodded.

  Carley bit her lip to keep from giggling when Liv attempted unsuccessfully to move her eyebrows. “Thunder took me home last night, remember?”

  “Don’t frown,” Kat scolded. “You’ll crack the mask. You actually had a conversation with Thunder?”

  “I don’t know if I’d call it a conversation, but I was able to get a couple sentences out of him.”

  “He is a man of few words,” Sophie agreed. “What did he have to say?”

  “Mostly I got the lecture about practicing safety, especially since no one knows exactly why someone left a finger in the fountain, but he did say they would meet this morning.”

  “I got the same lecture.” Kat leaned back in her chair. “I’m not arguing this time.”

  Guilt forced Carley to swallow hard. At least her life hadn’t been threatened; Kat hadn’t been so lucky.

  Sophie tilted her head to one side. “Do you suppose it was someone’s idea of a sick joke?”

  “It was sick, alright,” Carley mumbled.

  “Well, I have news that will take our minds off it.” Sophie said. “Rebel and I set a wedding date.”

  “About time,” Kat drawled. “It’s for real this time, right?”

  Sophie rolled her eyes at Kat’s mention of Sophie and Rebel’s previous pretend engagement – the one staged to attract an art thief. “Yes.”

  “Congratulations!” Carley managed a slight smile beneath the tight paste, relieved to turn her mind to more positive things. “When?”

  “The twelfth of next month.” Sophie bit her bottom lip. “I hope that’s enough time to plan.”

  “We’ll make it work,” Carley promised.

  “You’ll do it, right?”

  “Of course!”

  “I don’t know how you do it, Carley.” Liv sighed. “You are the most organized woman I know.”

  “Nah.”

  “Are you finished with the Mayor’s Reception?”

  “Almost. I’m finishing up today. You guys are coming, right?”

  “You know we wouldn’t miss it.”

  Carley cleared her throat. “And your plus-ones?”

  “I’m assuming you’re talking to me,” Liv said. “Sophie and Kat obviously have a date.”

  “So?” Kat prompted. “Who’d you ask?”

  “I haven’t yet.”

  “Who are you going to ask?”

  “Thunder.”

  “Really?”

  Liv nodded. “I figured it would give him a chance to practice his people skills.”

  “And you?”

  Carley almost winced when Kat turned her attention to her. “I’m working,” she said easily. “My date would be alone and bored to death.”

  “What about Ace?”

  “What about him?”

  “He’ll be the only member of Alpha Four not invited.” Kat shrugged. “You know what they say, never leave a man behind.”

  Carley giggled. “Smooth, Kat. I’ll think about it.”

  “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Only you would have to think about it.”

  “You know I don’t do spontaneous very well,” she mumbled.

  “Just don’t think too long,” Liv said gently.

  Kat stood from her chair. “I don’t know about you guys, but my face is ready to crack. Let’s rinse.”

  Carley followed her friends to the sinks that lined one wall of the facial room, considering their suggestions to invite Ace to the reception. On one hand, it would be nice to have him to talk to while she worked. On the other, having him close to her all evening may be a very big distraction. She’d spent enough time around him to know he never missed a beat; if the opportunity arose for him to take charge, he’d do it.

  She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands, and then splashed water on her face. She hadn’t scheduled a date into her party itinerary but she could probably re-work the plan to include one. Besides, the event only required her supervision. She had a well-experienced staff to take care of the particulars.

  She reached for a towel hanging beside the sink and blotted the moisture from her skin. Who needed structure? Maybe a distraction was just what she needed – a big, strong, delectable one.

  ***

  In the conference room of the Alpha Four office, Ace sat at the rectangular, oak table and glanced around as he mentally prepared himself for the briefing he wasn’t exactly looking forward to hearing. Although, he had to admit it would be informative; their whole operation came close to being something right out of a super-spy movie.

  Equipped with state-of-the-art computer equipment and software, they didn’t have to look far for intelligence. Rebel’s sixth sense, paired with his tracking skills, made him an expert at uncovering Intel. And with Thunder’s connections, both professional and not, they operated as a well-oiled machine. Thunder laid out strategy, Rebel forced the perp out of hiding, and he and Chaos took him down. Short, sweet, and to the point. Sometimes.

  Even though Thunder had spent most of last night with the Everglade Springs PD, he was willing to bet Alpha Four had more information than the detectives. In fact, he was positive that both Rebel and Chaos had access to inside information; both Sophie’s Senator-father and Kat’s judge-father had many tools at their disposal when it came to digging for evidence.

  He released a hard breath in frustration. Unfortunately, even the best tools in the business wouldn’t shorten this mission; they had absolutely nothing to go on.

  He moved his attention back to the issue at hand when Rebel pushed a button
and a panel opened in the middle of the table. In seconds, a computer screen and keyboard sat in front of his teammate.

  Thunder leaned forward, braced his elbows on the table, and steepled his fingers. “Let’s review the guest list. Read the roster, Ace.”

  “City Council members; the Mayor, Chief of Police; District Attorney; Senator and Mrs. Graystone; Judge Abbott and his assistant, James Foster; Charles and Eva Kensworth: Henry and Charlotte Kensworth; and Richard and Elizabeth Blackwell, to name a few.”

  “Prominent members of the community,” Rebel summarized.

  “Yeah. Carley’s not your average event planner.” He couldn’t help but feel proud. “Most of her clients are high-end.”

  “Any one of them could have a crazed fan,” Chaos mumbled.

  “Affirmative.” Thunder folded his arms across his chest. “We’ve just got to figure out which one.”

  Rebel pressed keys on the keyboard. “The most logical would be Judge Abbott.”

  “Possibly,” Chaos agreed, “but in this case every single one of those guests could’ve very easily pissed off our perp. I would imagine the Chief of Police does it daily.”

  He frowned at the captain. “Do we have the victim’s identity?”

  “John Doe.”

  “Naturally,” Rebel drawled.

  Thunder shrugged. “Suspect used the middle finger – no matching prints in the database.”

  “So we’re dealing with a professional.”

  “Maybe. He obviously knows something about fingerprinting.”

  Chaos sat forward, rested his elbows on the table, and steepled his fingers. “Any direct threats on Carley?”

  “No,” Rebel confirmed, “I’ve checked the Better Business Bureau and all of her social media. No complaints or negative reviews.”

  “Neighbors?”

  “Love her.”

  “What about her parents?”

  Ace spouted information he knew by heart – information he’d taken the time to acquire almost the exact moment the petite, raven-haired firecracker had caught his eye. “Charles and Eva Kensworth. Mr. Kensworth is the President of Kensworth Investments, founded by his father, Henry Kensworth. Henry still holds a seat on the Board of Directors. I couldn’t find any suspicion there, either.”