Protecting His Witness (Red Stone Security Series) (3 page)

As she spoke, his gut clenched. He had a feeling he knew where she was headed but he remained silent, letting her speak. She was talking so fast he could tell she was just trying to get the words out and he wanted to hear everything.

“He pled not guilty even though he clearly was. As the only witness, they wanted to put me into WITSEC until the trial. At first I said no but he had a twin brother he was close with who they suspected was his accomplice. Eventually Woods admitted his brother helped him and he told the authorities where most of the bodies of those women were. He gave them twenty-one graves but held back one. Sick bastard,” she muttered. “But before he confessed to everything, his attorneys dragged everything out for years. He was eventually convicted and a few months ago his brother was found dead behind a bar in Abilene, Texas. A week after that Woods killed himself in prison. So…I’m free again. I took my real name back and left the program. Vincent, I…I’m so sorry for leaving. I’ve missed you every single day. I…” She stopped talking, as if she’d run out of steam and watched him with a touch of fear in her eyes.

That just pissed him off. She should never be afraid of him, but he was so fucking angry he could barely see straight. “I remember when they caught that guy.” He vaguely remembered the details of the news coverage because he’d been so busy getting his life squared away to move. “I also remember that you didn’t fucking
disappear
for days after he was arrested. You know why I remember? Because we fucked so much I could barely walk.” It had been such an intense time in their relationship, like she’d been branding him as her own. Now he realized it was because she’d planned to leave. “I
loved
you, Jordan.” She was the only woman he’d ever loved, something she’d known. He’d stumbled over telling her that first time, had felt like an idiot, but once he’d told her, it had been freeing.

“You could have asked me to join WITSEC with you.” God, he would have too. In a heartbeat. But he didn’t say that because she clearly hadn’t cared enough about him to ask. She hadn’t felt the same way he had.

Jordan let out a harsh, scraping laugh that sounded hollow. “Vincent, I wanted to so badly but… I couldn’t put you in that position. You would have had to leave your family and life forever. At the time I had no clue if Woods’ brother would ever be caught or found. I planned to be in WITSEC forever and I couldn’t make you leave your family like that. You wouldn’t have been able to work in the field you chose and you’d have had to leave
everyone
behind. Your mother, your sisters, all your friends in the Navy. Those men are like your brothers. How the hell could I do that to you? To the man I loved?”

He scrubbed a hand over his face and forced himself to stay where he was when he wanted to stalk across the kitchen and shake some sense into her. “So you made the decision for me? You just decided I didn’t love you enough to go with you?”

“No! It wasn’t like that. We’d only been together four months and you hadn’t even mentioned me moving to Miami with you. It wasn’t fair of me to ask you something so life changing. I knew the type of man you were and I was worried you’d feel obligated or something. I didn’t want to put you in a position where you
had
to make that choice. If you’d said yes, eventually you would have either resented me or just died inside. No way was I tearing your life apart like that.” Tears shimmered in her hazel eyes, but he hardened himself against the sight.

Grabbing her car keys out of his pocket he strode toward her and slammed them on the island. “Get the fuck out of my house.”

She flinched at his words. “Vincent, I’m sorry. So sorry you can’t even know. You’ve never left my mind. God, I’ve missed you so much and I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I’m asking for it. I’ve been working up the courage to see you for the past two months and—”

“Get. Out. Now.” He barely managed to get the words out before he turned his back on her and took a deep breath.

“Vincent…” Her voice cracked and he felt the light brush of her fingertips on his back, but he stepped away and stalked out his backdoor into the humid summer night.

Fuck, fuck,
fuck
. He could barely see or think straight. Seven fucking years without a word and she thought she could just walk back into his life and say she was sorry.

Living without her had been hell. He didn’t know how to handle this, how to handle having her abruptly show up again. She wanted his forgiveness but what else did she want from him? He felt like a fucking idiot still desiring her. How could she have left like that without telling him? He’d bought her a ring, had been ready to propose. Hell, he still had the thing in his safe. For some reason he’d never been able to force himself to sell it. Taking a deep breath, some of his anger dissipated. No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t let things end like this. He couldn’t just kick her out. Not when he still needed answers.

Even though he had no clue what to say to her, he headed back inside and found the kitchen empty. The subtle scent of her familiar perfume lingered in the air. Light vanilla and something that was all Jordan wrapped around him as he raced back through the house. He didn’t have her phone number or any clue where she was staying. He wanted to kick his own ass when he jerked open the door and saw the taillights of her car turning at the end of his street.

Cursing at himself he pulled his cell phone out and called the one person he knew who would be able to help quicker than anyone; Lizzy Caldwell. The woman might have had a baby two months ago but she was a computer genius and Vincent knew she was itching to get back to work. Now that Jordan had reclaimed her own name, Lizzy would have no problem tracking her down.

Whatever hell Jordan had put him through, Vincent intended to finish this one way or another.

Chapter 2

Vincent stood in the lobby of Porter and Lizzy’s high rise condo building, trying to control his racing heart. It was no use. The longer it took to see Jordan again, the more stressed he got. What the fuck had he been thinking, kicking her out like that? He hadn’t been thinking at all. He’d just been so pissed at everything. All the years she’d been gone, the fact that she hadn’t trusted him enough to make the decision about their future for himself.

And…he hated that she’d had to go through so much by herself. Starting over, leaving everything she’d known, testifying against a monster—it had taken a lot of strength to do that even if she should have told him the truth from the start.

“You can go up.” The man behind the security desk finally spoke as he placed the cordless phone back on its base on the desk.

“Thanks,” Vincent murmured.

Porter’s place had excellent security and all the residents had to use a biometric scanner to access the elevators—unless a security member overrode the system. And those guys were armed to the teeth. Normally Vincent wouldn’t bother any of his coworkers with something like this, but he needed help, and Lizzy and Porter were more than just co-workers. So he swallowed his pride because finding Jordan was worth it. He just couldn’t let her walk out of his life again.

The ride up to his friends’ place was quick. Too damn quick. He felt so exposed knowing he’d have to admit why he wanted Lizzy’s help. The elevator opened up into an airy, open entryway. There was only one door ahead of him and before he’d taken two steps it opened.

Porter strode out, looking exhausted—likely from being a new parent—but he also looked worried. “Everything okay? We didn’t realize our phones were even off until security buzzed us.”

Another reason Vincent felt like a jackass showing up at their place unannounced. They could have been catching up on sleep. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I, uh, I would never ask this unless it was important. I need Lizzy’s expertise finding someone.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“This isn’t work related.” Not a question.

Vincent shook his head. “It’s…personal.”

Porter’s blue eyes widened. “Holy shit, is this about a woman?”

Vincent’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t respond.

To his surprise, Porter grinned, his smile wide and almost mocking. For a man who rarely smiled except at his wife, the action took Vincent off guard. It also pissed him off. “This is funny to you?”

Porter shrugged. “It’s a little funny. Come on. We just put the little guy to sleep. Probably won’t stay down long but you have good timing.”

Moments later he found Lizzy in the kitchen sitting at the counter with her laptop and a bottle of water. Wearing one of Porter’s old Marine T-shirts and pajama pants that were also likely her husband’s, she glanced up when she saw him and the same concern he’d witnessed on Porter’s face was etched on her pretty features. “Vincent, is—”

He nodded, cutting her off. “I’m good, I just need a huge favor and only you can do it. I swear I wouldn’t have bugged you guys, especially with the new baby, but I didn’t know who else to ask.” And he wouldn’t have had to come to his friends if he hadn’t kicked Jordan out of his house. He shoved that thought down as he tried to push away the memory of her tears. Right now he wanted to kick his own ass.

He should have stayed and hashed things out. And found out exactly what she wanted from him other than forgiveness. Because he wasn’t sure he could let her walk away again. That thought pissed him off more than anything. It was just a reminder of how much power the petite woman wielded over him.

Lizzy’s dark eyes lit up. “I’ve just been catching up on work emails so a chance to do something fun… Will any of this be illegal?” She sounded practically gleeful as she asked.

Vincent shrugged and despite his dark mood, he grinned. “I need to track a woman down by any means necessary. Tracking her credit cards, whatever it takes.”

Lizzy started to speak, but the sound of Maddox wailing made them all pause. “I thought he was down for good this time,” she murmured, exhaustion creeping into her gaze.

When she started to get up and Porter moved into action with her, Vincent shook his head as he pulled out the envelope that contained everything he knew about Jordan and laid it on the counter. Having worked with Lizzy before many times, he’d known what kind of questions she’d have so he was prepared. “Unless he’s hungry I can take care of him and give you guys a break.”

Porter and Lizzy looked at each other, both unsure.

Vincent had been over a few times since the birth so it wasn’t as if he was a complete stranger to their baby. Plus, he had more than his fair share of experience with his two married sisters’ kids. “My sisters call me the baby whisperer. Trust me.” Without waiting for a response he headed for Maddox’s room. Sure enough, the moment he picked up the tiny bundle of flailing fists and feet, the baby quieted down, giggling softly. Babies just liked to be held and made to feel secure most of the time. One of his sisters had told him it was because it reminded them of being in the womb.

Sitting in the rocking chair in the corner of the room, Vincent rocked back and forth in a steady rhythm, holding Maddox close to his chest. He had no clue what it was but babies just loved him. And he really loved them too. They smelled good most of the time and had such open, adorable expressions. Right now, he could sure use the distraction.

At one point Porter popped his head in the room and gave him an incredulous look, but just as quickly backed out again. Vincent wasn’t sure how much time had passed because he started to doze too, but eventually Lizzy walked in looking very proud of herself.

Smiling at her sleeping baby, she gently took him from Vincent’s arms. “I think I found your girl.”

* * * * *

Jordan wrapped her beach towel tighter around her waist before gathering up everything she’d brought to the pool and dumping it in her red and white striped beach bag. Her worn paperback book, phone and sunscreen were all she needed today. After seven years of living in a state of fear and feeling like a giant liar to everyone she became friends with, she finally felt free. If a little lost.

And a little heartbroken. Not that she had anyone to blame but herself. Maybe she should have told Vincent the truth all those years ago, but she’d just loved him so damn much she hadn’t been willing to shred his life apart. The thought of pushing him into a situation against his will like that had been too much to bear. She thought she’d been ready to give him up too. Until the reality of her new life had set in, but by then it had been too late.

As she headed for the stone stairs that led to the condo where she was staying, she rubbed the back of her neck and shoved those thoughts away. Seeing him two days ago had seriously messed with her mind.

She wasn’t sure what she’d hoped to gain from seeing him. Forgiveness, for sure. Also, a little closure. She should have expected his anger, but for some reason she hadn’t been prepared for the depth of it. After months of working up the courage to go see him, she still hadn’t been ready to face him when he’d taken the decision out of her hands. She’d been so startled when he’d come up on her car like that she’d just opened the door without a thought.

Then when he’d kissed her… It had been like no time had passed between them. She swore the man had gotten even sexier.

The US Marshal who had been her handler had given Jordan all the information she’d requested on Vincent’s current whereabouts when she’d left the program, including a recent picture of him. Jordan wasn’t sure if it was even legal, but her handler had said she wanted to do it as a favor, so Jordan had taken all the information on Vincent and devoured it.