No One to Trust (17 page)

Porter looked at the sales clerk who was just
gaping at them. “Call the police.”

His words seemed to snap her out of her
trance. Nodding, she scrambled with her cell phone and dialed.

Porter was about to tell Lizzy to get their
driver when he spotted the guy rushing toward the front door. “I
called the cops when I saw what was going on. I’ll stand watch by
the door,” he said quietly as soon as he was inside.

Porter nodded silent thanks. In case this
shithead’s friends were around, he needed someone to watch his
back. Underneath him the guy was muttering curses about how this
was a big mistake but Porter ignored him.

Porter would have liked to tell their driver
to put Lizzy in the SUV but he didn’t want her outside and out of
his sight. He needed her close.

All Porter cared about was getting Lizzy back
to his place. While he wanted to know what the hell had gone wrong
with the sting operation to bring down Orlando, it was on the
backburner of his mind right now. Lizzy was obviously in shock from
her brother’s death and he needed to get her to safety before the
numbness faded and the true grief set in. Unfortunately he knew
that they’d be stuck dealing with questions and would have to make
statements. When he risked a glance in her direction, he wished he
hadn’t. She was peering around the aisle he’d told her to duck
behind, staring at the gang member on the floor.

Dried tears marked down her face, leaving
trails of mascara smudged under her eyes. Her face was pale and her
dark eyes full of sorrow.

What Porter wouldn’t give to gather her into
his arms and just hold her. He inwardly cursed as he pinned the
gang member to the floor. Somehow he was going to help Lizzy get
through this.

It felt like an eternity passed, but minutes
later blue and red flashing lights filled the parking lot. Almost
immediately a stocky patrolman took the gang member into custody.
The punk cursed at the cop telling him this was all a big
misunderstanding as he was being dragged from the store.
Considering there were three witnesses and if the video
surveillance worked, further proof of what he’d been about to do,
Porter wasn’t concerned about the guy. The gang member would be
going to jail for a long time.

But that was the least of his worries right
now. Men and women in uniform milled in and out of the store and
even though Lizzy shrugged Porter’s arm off when he tried to
embrace her, she stayed near him, watching everything unfold around
them.

After answering a couple dozen questions over
and over, the cops finally let them go without taking them down to
the station for questioning. Porter knew the only reason they were
being let go was because of his brother Grant and because Porter
worked for Red Stone Security. They hired a lot of off duty cops
for local security work and had a good working relationship with
the department.

Once they were let go, he settled Lizzy into
the back seat and slid in next to her. “It’s too soon to go back to
your place, Lizzy. Not until we know if Orlando has called off his
dogs. Considering what happened at the gas station…Ah, do you want
to go to my home or a hotel or a safe house?” He’d take her any
damn place she pleased as long as it wasn’t her home. That was just
too dangerous.

“Take me to my parents.” Her voice was
monotone as she stared out the window at the patrol cars and police
officers.

“Honey—”

“Don’t call me honey! Don’t…just don’t. I
want to go to my parent’s house.” Her voice broke on the last word,
absolutely shredding him.

Porter glanced at the driver and gave him the
address. Once they steered out of the parking lot, he turned back
to her. She still only gave him her profile, refusing to glance in
his direction. “I’m so sorry about Benny.”

She whipped around to look at him, tears in
her eyes. “Don’t say his name. I don’t want to talk about him with
you. I just want to…” Now the tears started falling. Turning in her
seat, she gave him her back. Her fragile shoulders shook with each
silent sob, breaking his heart.

He started to place a comforting hand on her
back, but stopped himself at the last moment. She’d made it clear
she didn’t want his help. Feeling more helpless than he ever
had—including when he’d been in the Marines and had been left
behind enemy lines for two months without a way to contact his
team—he sat there staring at her, unable to do a damn thing.

When they made it to her parent’s house, she
got out of the vehicle without a backward glance at him. While he
wanted to chase after her he knew it would be a fruitless effort.
He couldn’t force her to let him comfort her. To take care of her.
If he tried she’d just push him further away than she already
had.

Feeling numb, he instructed the driver to
take him down to the station. He knew that’s where Grant would be
and he planned to get answers about what had gone wrong tonight and
why Lizzy’s brother was dead.

Chapter 15

One week later

Lizzy shut the front door of her house and
sagged against it. After Benny’s funeral, then the gathering at her
parent’s house afterward, she just wanted to sink to the floor and
sleep for days. There had been too many people there. Most of whom
hadn’t even known her brother or cared about him. But they’d come
because her parents were wealthy and well known in Miami.

She’d been staying at her parent’s house
since then. Porter had continued to call her and she’d talked to
him a few times, but she couldn’t bear to see him. Or to be alone
with him. He made her happy and was so damn understanding about
everything and she didn’t want that right now. She didn’t have a
right to be in love and happy when Benny was dead.

At least Orlando was in prison, as were the
gang members who had targeted her on his behalf. The cops didn’t
think they’d be a threat to her anymore because she wasn’t going to
have to testify against them. They’d turned on Salas and had cut a
deal so her testimony wasn’t necessary. Part of that deal had meant
admitting guilt to coming after her. It was the only way the
state’s attorney would even consider a deal for less jail time.
Considering they had one of the guys on video at that gas station
drawing his weapon on her, taking a deal had been the smart
move.

And Orlando had a hell of a lot more problems
than her at the moment. She wasn’t even a blip on his radar now
that news of his little black book had gotten out. Apparently many
of his competitors were feeling very homicidal over it. If he was
lucky he’d survive his imprisonment and stay in as long as he
could, because if he got out, he wouldn’t last long on the outside.
Though something told her that he wouldn’t be untouchable in jail.
If someone wanted him dead bad enough, it would happen.

And if something happened to him she sure
wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. Especially since she had some
homicidal thoughts herself considering Benny had been killed
because of him. She still hadn’t received a straight answer on who
shot her brother, but he’d been gunned down in the crossfire
between Orlando and the Miami PD at the marina. One of Orlando’s
men had apparently seen one of the SWAT members and things had gone
crazy in seconds.

As she pushed away from her slumped position
at the door, the bell rang and she nearly jumped out of her skin.
Peering through the peephole, she saw two men in black suits and
someone in between them. He was wearing a hoodie and…Lizzy’s heart
stopped for a moment. She jerked the door open, trying to catch her
breath.

Before she could move or speak, the two men
in suits barreled past her, dragging her with them until they shut
the door. But she didn’t even mind being manhandled. Not when she
was staring at Benny.

Unless he was a ghost and she’d officially
lost her mind…Reaching out, she shoved the hoodie back and touched
his face.

Benny’s smile was tentative as he stepped
forward. “I’m so sorry, sis,” he whispered.

Unable to stop herself, she threw her arms
around Benny’s neck and squeezed hard. Her throat was too tight to
speak and if this was all a dream, she didn’t want to wake up. When
she eventually tried to talk, nothing came out except for tears
which streamed down her cheeks.

She wasn’t sure how much time passed, but
eventually Benny took her arms and entangled himself from her. “I
don’t have much time—”

“We need to talk and you need to listen,
ma’am,” one of the men in suits who she’d forgotten was even there,
said softly.

Wiping at the tears that just wouldn’t seem
to stop, she turned and nodded. “Okay,” she said in a raspy voice.
Grabbing Benny’s hand, she motioned to the living room and pulled
him with her. She refused to let go of his hand. Was afraid that if
she did, he’d disappear.

The two men entered first and one of them
drew her blinds shut. With wobbly legs, she made her way to the
long couch and sat, pulling her brother with her. “I thought you
were dead. I went to your funeral.” Her voice cracked and she had
to swallow hard before continuing. “Does anyone else know about
this? Do Javier and Santos? They were heartbroken at your—”

Clearing his throat, the tall, dark haired
man with flawless ebony skin sat at the loveseat across the coffee
table from them. “Ma’am, your brother has been placed in
WITSEC.”

“The Witness Security Program?” She blinked,
looking from Benny to who she assumed must be a US Marshall.

“You’ve heard of us?”

Snorting, she nodded. “I watch television.”
There was a new show about the WITSEC program she was addicted to.
She wasn’t sure how much of it was real and how much was bogus, but
she’d at least heard of them.

“Your brother is in the program and one of
his only stipulations…” The man sighed, as if it pained him to
speak, “…was that you know he wasn’t dead. He said he wouldn’t join
otherwise. Now, you get two minutes alone, but we’re still
listening so Benny, you don’t tell her where you’ll be living or
what your new name is.” The man stood, nodding at the other man
hovering by the window and they both exited into her foyer, leaving
Lizzy alone with Benny.

Two minutes.
Lizzy felt as if her
heart would jump right out of her chest. Her brother was still
alive! “Why are you going into the program? Why did you fake your
own death?”

Benny scrubbed a hand over his face. A face
that looked surprisingly fresh and full of hope. He didn’t have
that gray pallor she’d come to associate with his drug problems.
“That wasn’t my idea. Eventually it’ll come out that I’m still
alive but for now they want everyone to think I’m dead. The state’s
attorney is building a case against Orlando and his entire
organization so until a trial date is set, I’ll be in protection.
In case anything else falls through, I’m going to be a star
witness. He kidnapped and attempted to kill me. That alone would be
enough to put me in the program, but he likes to talk and…well,
he’s got a big mouth and he assumed I’d be dead soon so he didn’t
mind talking business in front of me. Arrogant bastard,” he
muttered, shaking his head.

“So how long will you be gone?” she asked,
unable to hide the hope in her voice that it wouldn’t be very
long.

He shook his head as he threaded his fingers
through hers, holding her hands tight. “I have no idea, but don’t
get your hopes up. This might be a permanent thing.”

As her throat tightened and she felt tears
start to well up, he shook his head and pulled her into a tight
hug. “I love you more than anyone,
hermanita
. For the first
time in my life I feel like I can give something back. Make a
difference. I can’t tell you where I’m going or anything about my
new life, but they’ve already lined up a counseling program for me
to get a handle on all my addictions. Knowing you showed up at
Orlando’s house because of me…” He shook his head. “If I could go
back in time I’d redo a lot of things, but dragging you down with
me was a shitty thing to do. And I’m not just talking about this
mess with Orlando. You’re the best sister anyone could have ever
asked for. I don’t know why you stuck with me so long, but…I’m
sorry for all the grief I caused you and the danger I put you in.”
His voice shook as he pulled back from the embrace.

She squeezed his hands in her own. “Benny,
you don’t have to apologize.”

He grunted. “Yeah, I do. I got a raw deal
with our parents. Hell, we both did. But I’m taking control of my
life and it feels good. You’re the only person who ever believed in
me, who ever…really loved me, I think. I love you so much and I
know how much you’ve sacrificed over the years looking out for me.
Please know that I understand and appreciate all you’ve done. More
than you’ll ever know. I’m going to miss you, but I’m glad I’m
getting a fresh start.”

“I’m going to miss you so much.” She could
barely squeeze the words out.

Benny drew her into another tight embrace.
She savored the feel of her brother’s arms around her, knowing it
would be the last hug they shared for a very long time.

As they pulled back, he paused for a moment,
as if trying to decide what to say. Finally he spoke. “The Caldwell
brothers know about me going into the program.”

“
What
?” If she hadn’t been sitting,
she was sure her knees would have given out.

Benny nodded. “I just thought you should
know. Grant is part of the select few who know I didn’t die last
weekend and…as of yesterday, Porter and Harrison know too. They’ve
both got classified clearances, but I think the real reason they
know is because of Grant’s insistence. He told me that you and
Porter, uh, well…anyway, your boyfriend knows too.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.” The words were
automatic. Hell, she didn’t know what she and Porter were now.