Vendetta (Otter Creek Book 10) Page 11

  He turned to Paige, surprised to see tears trickling down her cheeks. “Sweetheart?”

  “I hate what happened to you and the loss of Chelsea. Do you still love her, Marcus?”

  “A part of me always will, but I’m a different man now. My memories of her are sweet, the loss an ache, not the agonizing pain I experienced when I woke in the hospital.”

  She was silent a moment. “What else do you need to tell me?”

  How could she know? “You’re sure there’s more?”

  She pressed a soft kiss to his mouth, a balm to the renewed ache of the memories from his former life.

  “If you look up Chelsea Daniels’ name, you’ll see she was engaged to a man named Matt Watson who disappeared from the hospital and is presumed dead.”

  Paige blinked. “You’re living under an assumed name.”

  “Matt Watson doesn’t exist anymore. He died in that hospital. I’m also Fortress’s first client for private witness protection and relocation. I haven’t seen my family in seven years. I could probably have Brent arrange a meeting. I just haven’t.”

  “Because you’re afraid the Irish mob will target them. Does your family know you’re alive?”

  “Brent contacts them once a month to tell them I’m safe.”

  “Will you ever be able to go home again, Marcus?”

  “When the price on my head is lifted or Sean O’Reilly is dead.” In other words, probably never. The Irish mob had a long memory.

  “Is there anything Brent can do? According to his people, he’s a miracle worker.”

  “In the beginning, I spent my time healing. When I was well enough to be released from a doctor’s care, I tried not to dwell on what I’d lost, and concentrated on creating a new life for myself. That’s part of the reason I didn’t pursue a relationship with you sooner. I was a work in progress.”

  “And now?”

  He raised their entwined hands and kissed the back of hers. “Now you see all there is. If you remain a part of my life, you’ll be under the same restrictions I am. You can’t tell anyone my real name until it’s safe, if it’s ever safe. Even with O’Reilly gone, his cronies have long memories. Now that you know my secrets, are you still willing to take a chance on me?”

  Paige released his hand. Marcus clenched his jaw to stop himself from begging. Rather than walking away for good, Paige wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his head to hers to indulge in long minutes of deep, heated kisses.

  When their mouths finally separated, Marcus reeled from the emotions rushing through him. He couldn’t believe he’d been blessed to find a woman who would stay with him despite the danger she would face. “Thank you for taking the risk. I promise to protect you with my life.”

  “You’re worth the risk, Marcus.”

  He prayed she never regretted that statement.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Paige climbed onto one of the red-cushioned stools at Perk’s counter. A woman with dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail turned and smiled.

  “Hi, Paige. It’s great to see you. What can I get for you this morning?”

  “Do you have to be so perky, Sasha?” Fatigue from the interrupted night’s sleep had hit Paige like a ton of bricks on the drive into town. How could her friend be that energetic when the woman arrived at the coffee shop by four o’clock every morning?

  The shop proprietor laughed, her brown eyes sparkling. “I sample my shop wares, especially the espresso.”

  “A vanilla latte with two pumps of espresso sounds perfect this morning. If you have anything infused with great heaps of energy, I’ll take that, too.”

  Shaking her head, Sasha began assembling Paige’s drink. “I planned to call you later today to see how you were. You look great considering your ordeal.”

  “A scary situation, one I never thought I would face in Otter Creek. Marcus scared the guy off just in time.”

  “You didn’t recognize the man who attacked you?”

  “The community center was too dark to see his face. Nick and Ethan will capture him before he hurts someone else.” At least she hoped they would. She worried over her grandmother’s safety. Despite Jo Jensen’s gritty attitude, she was growing older, her body frailer than Paige’s. Paige had barely survived her encounter. She didn’t want to contemplate what might happen if Gram ran into this man. Even worse, Paige wouldn’t recognize her attacker if she passed him on the street. How could Gram protect herself if Paige wasn’t able to identify the man?

  Sasha set the latte on the counter. “What about a breakfast sandwich or a scone with that? I’m trying a new recipe and I’d love your opinion.”

  “The blueberry cream cheese scone last week was a winner.”

  Her friend grinned. “This week it’s cranberry orange.”

  “Oh, man. I’m in.” She glanced around to be sure no one was close, then leaned toward Sasha. “Don’t tell Gram, but I am tired of apples and apple-flavored desserts.”

  “Hmm. Blackmail material for the next occasion when I need cheap labor at a town-sponsored event.”

  Paige scowled. “See if I spill secrets at this counter again.”

  Sasha laughed. Her gaze shifted to the two men sitting at the corner table, talking earnestly. Her smile faded. “How is Mr. Wilder?”

  “Devastated.”

  “Van could be a little wild, but he was a good kid. He had his whole life ahead of him and now he’s just gone.”

  Paige blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. Her tears would distress Marcus, and he had enough on his shoulders at the moment. “You knew him?”

  A shrug. “He came here with his dad every Saturday since I opened the shop. He loved the power sandwiches and the blueberry muffins.” She gave a quick smile. “I never could interest him in coffee. He always went for the chocolate milk.”

  “Did he seem troubled about anything when you saw him Saturday?”

  “Can’t say he did. The shop was pretty busy, though. Why do you ask?”

  “Curious. He and Dalton had a falling out and both boys seemed devastated. Just didn’t know if you heard him talking about the fight.”

  “Sorry. When I brought their order to the table, Van clammed up. Maybe he talked to one of his friends.”

  “I’ll talk to Dalton again, see if he’ll tell me what happened.”

  Sasha dropped her voice a notch. “What’s this I hear about you and the hunky pastor?” She slid a plate with the scone in front of Paige. “More important, why didn’t I hear the news from you instead of the Otter Creek grapevine?”

  She bit into the scone, sighed. “Oh, goodness, this is perfect. You definitely need to add this to the standard menu.”

  “The balance of cranberry and orange is right?”

  “Don’t change a thing.”

  Sasha beamed at her. “Good to know. Now, spill, Ms. Jensen. What’s going on with you and Marcus?”

  Paige darted a quick glance at the man in question. As if he felt her gaze, he looked up and caught her watching him. He winked at her. That simple action made her heart melt.

  She smiled at the man who was slowly capturing her heart, then returned her attention to the coffee maven. “We’re dating, but we haven’t told many people.”

  “When did this happen?”

  “The night I was attacked. Marcus stayed with me at the hospital and held my hand the whole night.”

  “That’s sweet. Does he have a brother? I haven’t had much luck since I moved to town.”

  “Are you kidding? PSI is full of single men. Trent St. Claire’s teammates just moved here and none of them are married.”

  Her friend wrinkled her nose. “They come in here to purchase big vats of the hardiest coffee I brew and race off to the bodyguard school. None of them have exchanged more than a few polite words with me since they hit town. I’m starting to think I’ve lost my touch with men.”

  “They’ve been busy at PSI. Has one of them caught your eye?”

  Sasha turned as
ide to grab a clean rag and a bottle of cleaner she favored, and started wiping the counter. “Maybe.”

  “Ooh. Details, please.” Paige chewed another bite.

  “Doesn’t matter if he’s caught my interest. He hasn’t acknowledged me beyond a head bob to thank me for the coffee.”

  She racked her brain to come up with a name. Which one of Trent St. Claire’s teammates was oblivious to Sasha’s charms? “Description.”

  “Why? We’re not in elementary school. You can’t nudge him to ask me out. I’m afraid any encouragement from an outside source might scare him off.” She slid a pointed glance to Paige. “I don’t want him going to my coffee competition to buy his morning brew. At least I see him every day even if he doesn’t talk to me.”

  “I would never sabotage a potential love interest, especially given my long history of wishing Marcus would notice me. I told you about my interest in Marcus. Now it’s your turn. Who is this mysterious silent man?”

  Sasha seemed skeptical, but eventually nodded. “His name is Cade Ramsey.”

  Oh, yes. A very good match for her friend. “I’ve met him. He’s a nice guy.”

  “Wait. He actually talked to you?”

  “Sure. He’s an interesting man.” And now that she knew of Sasha’s interest in him, she’d be sure to include her in the invitation list the next time she invited Trent and Grace to dinner along with Trent’s teammates. Hopefully, Sasha wouldn’t be aggravated with her if dinner was a group event. In fact, now that she thought about it, the gathering would be more fun if she and Gram invited the Durango team and their wives to dinner as well. Gram loved a good party, and she had a soft spot for Josh Cahill.

  She would talk to her grandmother before she made definite plans. Paige glanced at the corner table and noticed Marcus had closed the notepad he brought with him. “Could you pour Marcus a coffee to go?”

  “Sure. What about one of the power sandwiches? He likes those.”

  Paige checked her watch. Marcus may not have enough time to stop at a restaurant for lunch. “Do you still have one of those insulated bags to keep his food warm?”

  She nodded. “I’ll bring him a bottle of water, too.”

  By the time Sasha placed to-go order on the counter in front of Paige, Marcus laid his hand on Paige’s shoulder.

  “You ready?”

  She nodded, then smiled at her friend. “Thanks, Sasha.”

  On the sidewalk, Marcus said, “Looked like you had fun with Sasha.”

  “I did. I plan to talk to Gram about a cookout with Sasha, Durango and their wives as well as Trent, Grace, and his teammates. Does that sound like something you would like to attend?”

  He chuckled as they walked across the square to the police station. “If it involves food cooked on the grill, I’m there. Let me know when and what I can bring to help out.”

  Excellent. Now all she had to do was get Gram on board, then extend the other invitations. Maybe in a neutral place with his teammates surrounding him, Cade would be more inclined to strike up a conversation with Sasha. Playing Cupid for Cade and Sasha might be fun.

  As Marcus laced his fingers with hers, Paige noticed people watching them. Did they not have anything better to do than stare at a man and woman holding hands? In all fairness, she wasn’t that surprised. She and Marcus hadn’t dated other people in years. Wonder if their friends and neighbors were taking side bets on how long this relationship would last?

  “What did you find out from Sasha?”

  Her head whipped his direction. Had Marcus overheard her conversation? Oh, man. She hoped not. She didn’t want Sasha’s fascination with a certain Fortress operative to get around town. “Please tell me our voices didn’t carry to your table.”

  His eyes lit with amusement. “Sounds like I missed an interesting conversation. I didn’t hear anything, but her shop is a gossip hub. I thought she might have noticed something out of the ordinary or heard rumors that might help us figure out who hurt you and why.”

  She wished. Finding out that information would mean a swift end to the danger. Then she and Marcus could enjoy their time together without watching over their shoulders. “The most fascinating thing Sasha talked about was her interest in a member of Trent’s team.”

  Marcus’s eyebrows shot up. “Explains the sudden interest in grilling for a crowd. You’re bringing Sasha and Trent’s teammate together in a neutral setting. I like the plan, but why do you need to intervene on their behalf?”

  “He’s shy around her. Although he goes in every morning for coffee, he hasn’t said a word. I thought he might talk if he was surrounded by his teammates.”

  “Regardless of the reason for the cookout, it sounds like fun.” He opened the station door and approached the bulky police man sitting behind the desk. “Chief Blackhawk is expecting us.”

  The buzz-cut brown-haired desk sergeant inclined his head toward the row of plastic seats against the wall. “Have a seat.”

  Five minutes later, the police chief pushed open the double doors and motioned them inside the bullpen. He led them through the maze of desks manned by cops and into his office. He motioned to the chairs in front of his desk. “Would you like coffee? It’s Serena’s signature Home Runs blend.”

  When they both declined the offer, Ethan sat behind his desk and pulled a yellow legal pad closer to him along with a pen. “Let’s get started.” He turned to Marcus. “You ready to talk now?”

  “As long as I have your promise that whatever we discuss stays in here.”

  Ethan was silent a moment. “I can’t guarantee I’ll never be forced to share the information. I give you my word I won’t share it lightly and only if I have no other option.”

  Paige gripped Marcus’s arm. “What about your safety? Marcus, if the wrong people find out, you’ll be in danger again.”

  He pressed her fingers. “My priority is your safety.”

  “Not good enough. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “I don’t have a choice. I can’t hamper Ethan and Nick’s investigation. We don’t know if this is about me, Paige. We do know you are at risk and so is Jo.”

  “Care to let me in on your secrets, Marcus?” Ethan asked, his tone wry.

  A snort from the handsome preacher. “You already know, don’t you?”

  “Humor me.”

  Marcus recounted his tale, then sat back and waited.

  “So, Maddox was the SEAL you saved.” Ethan rubbed his jaw. “Didn’t see that coming. I knew everything else.”

  “I haven’t told anyone my birth name since I was released from the hospital.”

  “I still have good connections in the black ops and Special Forces community. Your bravery is legendary in those circles.”

  “Not brave. In the wrong place at the right time to help Brent. You’ve been keeping an eye on me since you stepped into the police chief’s role, haven’t you?”

  Ethan’s lips curved. “You weren’t only what you appeared to be. You were too aware of your surroundings and moved like you were trained. You avoided social media and stayed out of the limelight. I’m a cop, Marcus. Anomalies capture my attention.”

  “Good thing I’m buried in a backwater town.”

  “The world’s a small place these days. One slip or one picture posted on someone else’s social media account, and Otter Creek could have unwanted visitors targeting my favorite preacher.”

  Marcus stilled. “Should I leave town?” he asked softly.

  “Not yet.”

  Paige’s breath caught. Oh, please, no. If he left, she couldn’t watch his back. What if O’Reilly or his henchmen caught up with him? Marcus needed someone to protect him. In Otter Creek, many people with black ops training could keep an eye out for trouble. He wouldn’t have that support system anywhere else. Losing Marcus would shatter her heart.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Marcus spoke to Nancy Kirkland, hugged her, and left her home with Paige at his side. Nancy’s family surrounded her a
nd the last of the mourners left behind a kitchen filled with casseroles, sandwiches, and desserts.

  He felt the tension slowly melt away. Handling crowds in an enclosed space was his least favorite part of the job. Paige, on the other hand, had appeared comfortable sharing close confines with the crowd. Because she was a natural, Paige had freed him to concentrate on Nancy and her family instead of multitasking.

  “Are you okay?”

  He glanced at the woman walking beside him, surprised she was concerned about his welfare. The last time someone worried about him was seven years earlier, another lifetime. He’d forgotten the comfort of someone caring about him as he ministered to his church and community.

  “Tired, but not exhausted as usual after a funeral. Those who are grieving have a great need, and my ability to comfort is limited to words, hugs, and a shoulder to cry on. I always feel inadequate.”

  “You help more than you know, Marcus. I’ve heard church members say they wouldn’t have weathered a crisis without your presence. You have a gift for speaking the truth in love and soothing those who grieve. There’s no doubt in my mind that you are called by God to be a pastor.”

  Not knowing what to say, he changed the subject. “Are you hungry?”

  Paige wrinkled her nose. “Not really. You need to eat, though. Let’s go back to the B & B. Gram always has food available. Maybe we can go for a walk after we eat.”

  Great idea. He’d skipped jogging the past three mornings. “Sounds good.” Marcus opened the vehicle door for Paige. “How is your headache?”

  “Much better. As soon as the bruises on my throat fade, I’ll be back to normal.”

  Couldn’t happen soon enough for him. Every time he saw the marks marring her soft skin, he remembered how close he came to losing her, and longed for a face-to-face meeting with the man who hurt Paige. “After the walk, do you want to pick up your car?”