“THIS IS RIDICULOUS,” Dana grumbled to no one in particular. Which was a good thing. No one was listening. She didn’t know where the idea had come from, but it was totally stupid.
“Where do you want these?” Leonard, Skye’s key IT guy, asked as he walked in with three laptops still in their boxes.
“On the desks,” Dana told him, pointing to where the furniture guys were moving desks into place.
Lexi looked up and smiled. “Oh, you have the computers. Thank you, Leonard. You’ll stay to set them up, won’t you? I’m so not in the mood.”
His gaze dropped to her belly. “Um, sure, ma’am. Shouldn’t you be sitting down?”
Lexi rubbed the small of her back. “Probably.” She sank into a rolling chair and motioned to the boxes the furniture guys had brought in first. “If you bring those to me, I’ll start opening them,” she told Dana.
“Right. And then I’ll be in trouble for making the pregnant lady do the hard work.” Dana crossed to the boxes and pulled out her pocket knife. “I’ll do it.”
“You are so crabby,” Lexi told her.
“We don’t need an office. We’re not selling sandwiches.”
“We need an easy way to coordinate what we’re doing. Garth and I think it’s better to have one central location.”
“As long as you and Garth think it’s the right thing to do.”
Lexi blew her bangs off her face. “Don’t make me roll my eyes. It makes me feel like I’m twelve. With the office, all the information is kept in one place. Leonard is going to put in a fancy firewall so Jed can’t get into our system. If he wants to come after our information, it’s not in someone’s house.”
An excellent point, Dana thought, still wanting to grumble. Opening an office was too official. This was a private investigation. It should be kept private.
“As soon as Leonard gets us up and running, I’ll see if I can access Jed’s private computer,” Lexi said. “I know several of his passwords, or at least I did. Plus I have a few passwords from my ex-assistant.”
Before Dana could remind her how she felt about anyone breaking the law, the front door opened and a petite, well-dressed blonde swept into the room.
“Just so we’re clear,” she announced as she set a black leather briefcase on a desk. “I’m in charge.”
Lexi looked at Dana who was staring at the woman. She recognized the piercing blue eyes, the determined mouth, the flashy diamond cocktail ring.
“Mary Jo?”
“Good morning, Dana. I’d heard you were involved in this mess. What was Garth thinking?”
Dana hadn’t seen the other woman in years. Not since Dana had arrested a bank officer and Mary Jo Sheffield had been his attorney.
Lexi stood. “Who are you?” she asked coolly.
Her tone was “Who the hell are you, bitch?” but Lexi would never say that. Not at a first meeting.
“Mary Jo Sheffield. Garth’s attorney. He told me what you all were planning and I came by to make sure I approve.”
It was the battle of the blue-eyed blondes, Dana thought, not sure if she should back away or pull up a chair.
“Your approval isn’t required,” Lexi told her. “But thanks so much for stopping by.”
Mary Jo didn’t even blink. “I’m Garth’s representative. I’m here to look after his interests.”
“He’s being protected by a girl?” Dana said with a grin. She couldn’t wait to mention that to him.
Mary Jo raised her eyebrows. “Dana, you of all people know what I’m capable of.”
That was true. She’d been in court and watched Mary Jo in action. It had been damned impressive.
“How do you know her?” Lexi asked, turning to Dana. “Who is she?”
“We were on opposite sides of a case. Mary Jo used to work for a big law firm.”
“Now I work for Garth,” Mary Jo said with a smile. “Exclusively for Garth. He has a lot to lose.”
Dana had always liked Mary Jo, but family came first. She moved between the lawyer and Lexi. “The Titan sisters have discovered that not only is their father willing to sell them out to the highest bidder, he arranged for an explosion that nearly killed Izzy. I would say they have a whole lot more to lose than Garth.”
Mary Jo smiled. “That’s my girl. I’m looking forward to working with you, Dana. I know how formidable you can be.”
Dana cocked her head. “Right back at you, Mary Jo.”
“Okay.” Lexi looked concerned. “Can we trust her?”
“I’m standing in the room,” Mary Jo pointed out.
Dana ignored her. “Yes. But she’s not kidding about working for Garth. Don’t for a second think she’s neutral.”
“There shouldn’t be sides,” Lexi said with a sigh. “There should be a single goal.”
“In a perfect world.” Mary Jo smiled. “But we’re in this one. Now where are we?”
Dana let Lexi bring her up to speed. She went to help Leonard with the computers, doing the unpacking while he set them up. Next she tackled office supplies, which she quickly put away. Mary Jo had a heated conversation with the phone company. Fifteen minutes later, all their lines were working, including their high-speed Internet.
Mary Jo and Lexi seemed to have established an uneasy peace. Dana figured there would be trouble later, but she was willing to accept the calm while it lasted.
About eleven, Garth breezed in.
Dana didn’t have to look up from the notes she was making. She could tell he was there by a subtle shifting inside her body. Her chest got tight and anticipation filled her. Talk about acting like a girl, she thought in disgust. This was why she never got involved with anyone like him. She hated that he was on her mind, that she was aware of him in the room. That she noticed he greeted Lexi and Mary Jo before coming over to her.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“It’s not. There’s too much activity. It will be better when the setup is done and everyone gets out of here.”
He laughed. “You’re such a people person.”
“Bite me.”
“All right. I’ll tell you something you’ll like. I’m about to piss off Jed Titan.”
“By doing what?”
“That would be my question,” Mary Jo said, hurrying over to them. “Nothing illegal. We’ve talked about that.”
“Several times,” he agreed, settling on the corner of Dana’s desk. “I’m backing him into a corner. I want him pissed and panicked. Both will cause him to act without thinking. That’s to our advantage.”
Dana glanced at Lexi, who was listening from her desk. “You okay with this?” she asked.
Lexi nodded. “Perfectly. He has to be stopped and this is the only way. It’s not just for us, but for Erin and my baby. We can’t trust him. He’s proven that.”
“What are you doing?” Mary Jo asked.
“I don’t want to spoil the surprise,” Garth told her. “It’ll be in the papers soon enough.”
“I hate it when you do things behind my back,” his attorney said. “It usually means trouble.”
“That’s why you get the big bucks.”
“I might need a raise.”
Dana listened to the exchange with interest. Garth could have hired any lawyer in the city. Or the state. Why had he chosen an opinionated woman who wouldn’t be afraid to tell him he was wrong? Did he want the truth? If so, it was an unusual characteristic for a man used to being in charge. Jed had never liked dissenting voices.
“Do any of you need anything?” he asked. “Except for Mary Jo and her raise.”
“We’re good,” Lexi said, returning her attention to her computer.
Dana nodded.
“That’s what I like to hear.” He stood. “Dana, want to walk me out?”
“It will make my day complete,” she muttered, but rose and followed him. Once they were outside, she faced him and folded her arms across her chest. “What?”
He smiled. “You’re kind of prickly.”
“Part of my charm.”
“It’s subtle. I need to talk to you.”
She braced herself for bad news. He didn’t want to see her again socially. Not that they were dating. They weren’t. They were working together and they’d spent the night together. Big whoop. So he wasn’t interested in sleeping with her again. She didn’t care. She wasn’t sure she even liked him.
He leaned in and kissed her. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. Want to do something?”
Huh? “What do you mean, something?”
“Go out. Have lunch or dinner or both. Help me pick out drapes.”
“You need drapes?”
“No. I’m saying let’s spend some time together.”
On purpose? It wasn’t a date. It wasn’t that specific. It was…
“All right,” she said cautiously.
“Good. I’ll pick you up at ten.”
“I’ll come to your place.”
He chuckled. “Sure. If that’s better.”
“It is.”
“I’ll see you then.” He walked to his car and opened the driver’s door. “Oh, I wanted to tell you. Lexi and her sisters know. About us. They came to see me and asked me my intentions. See you tomorrow.”
He got in the car and drove away.
She stared after him, unable to believe the words. Lexi had told her sisters and they’d gone to see Garth? Obviously she needed to have a very serious talk with all three Titan girls. Starting with Lexi.
“WE HAD TO TALK to him,” Lexi said later as she propped her feet up on a box.
Dana had waited a very long forty-five minutes until Leonard and Mary Jo had both finished and left. Now she stared at her friend, unable to believe she wasn’t sorry.
“He’s not your usual type,” Lexi added, sipping on bottled water. “Come on, Dana. He’s very successful with women. He has a reputation. We love you and want you safe.”
“You’re saying I couldn’t handle him? I can so handle him. I don’t need you protecting me.”
Lexi sighed. “Yes, you do.”
Just then Izzy breezed in, a bag of sandwiches in her arms. “Hi. I brought lunch.” She looked from Lexi to Dana and back. “What happened?”
“I just found out Lexi told everyone about me sleeping with Garth and that you went to see him.” Dana’s voice rose with each word. “What is wrong with all of you?”
Izzy’s eyes widened. “I’ve never heard you shrill before. Careful, Dana. You’re acting like a girl.”
“Not funny. None of this is funny. Why would you do that? Why would you get involved?”
Izzy put the sandwiches on the desk and sat next to them. “If it makes you feel any better, I also told Garth he needs to be careful, too. After all, he’s in as much danger of getting his heart broken.”
Apparently aliens had swooped down and taken over the world. Or they’d all fallen into an alternative universe. None of this made sense.
“Seriously?” Lexi asked. “You’re worried about Garth?”
“Dana’s different for him, too. I’m not saying if I had to pick, I’d take his side, but Dana has all of us and he doesn’t have anyone. He thinks he knows the rules of the game and I think he’s wrong.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” Lexi said slowly. “Maybe you’re right.”
Dana glared at them both. “You two will stop it right now. We’re not having this conversation. Is that clear? You will stay out of my life. You won’t discuss this anymore, not even among yourselves. It’s my life and my business. Not yours. And leave Garth alone. He can take care of himself.”
Izzy grinned. “Have you met us? We get involved. We give advice and we talk. A lot. So sue us.”
Lexi nodded. “She’s right and you know it. We love you, Dana.”
Dana wanted to scream with frustration. When had she lost control of the situation? “I can take care of myself. I’m perfectly capable of protecting my heart. As for Garth, I’m not sure he has one.”
The idea that he might be at risk of falling for her was laughable. As if. He would never care about her that way, she thought wistfully.
Izzy dug in the bag and held out a sandwich to each of them. “He has one. We’ll see what happens there. As for you, Deputy Dana, you’ve been protecting your heart your whole life. Maybe it’s time to let go and see what happens.”
“When pigs fly.”
Lexi smiled. “I saw a flying pig just the other day.”
“You make me insane. Both of you.”
Izzy handed over chips. “You’re getting shrill again. You need to watch that. Next you’ll be buying fashion magazines and talking about shoes.”
“I’d rather be dead.”
Lexi unwrapped her sandwich. “Don’t be dramatic.”
“She’s probably close to her period.”
Dana gritted her teeth.
Lexi held up her water. Izzy grabbed a can of soda. They toasted, as if they’d just won.
“We’re good,” Izzy said.
“The best,” Lexi agreed.
It was all Dana could do not to scream.
GARTH’S CALL TO CHINA was interrupted when his office door burst open and Jed stalked in. Garth excused himself just as Jed reached his desk, braced his hands on the edge and leaned in.
“I don’t know what you think you’re playing at, you little fucker, but this is going to stop.”
Garth leaned back in his chair, letting his satisfaction show on his face. “Hey, Dad. Nice to see you. What brings you by?”
“You know exactly what.” Jed’s usually tanned face was flushed with anger. “You bought my horses.”
“The race team? Yes. The deal closed today. I was surprised you were selling them, especially at that price. It was a bargain.” He feigned concern. “Are you having a cash problem, Dad? Do you need a loan?”
Jed straightened. “You won’t get away with this. Any of it. I swear, I’ll make you regret ever taking me on.”
The last few months had not been kind to Jed. His face was lined and there were bags under his eyes. He’d put on twenty or thirty pounds but hadn’t bought new clothes, so everything pulled and gapped. He looked like what he was-a washed-up loser.
Garth stood. “You should know better than to threaten someone who is kicking your ass, old man. You’re hemorrhaging money and I’m cleaning up. Soon I’ll own your soul.”
“Never.” Jed practically spit the word. “You’re not as smart as you think.”
“I only have to be smarter than you and that’s not a very high bar. I’m buying up your company piece by piece.”
“I’ll take that information to the shareholders.”
Garth smiled. “And tell them what? That a very successful businessman is interested in their well-being? They’ll be happy to hear the news. Ever since you were taken in for questioning, your investors have been nervous. It’s not going to take very much for them to start leaving in droves. Your problem is, there are so many ways you’ve screwed up. Which one is going to come out first?”
Fury blazed in Jed’s dark eyes. “I’ll kill you before I let you win.”
“Did I mention I record many of the conversations I have in this room?” Garth asked casually.
Jed glanced around. Worry replaced anger for a moment, then he shook it off. “The police can’t use an illegally recorded conversation.”
“True, but it gives them a place to start looking.”
Jed’s hands curled into fists. “I’ll stop you. You think I don’t know about your games with my daughters? Your office and how you plan to hack into my computer system? It won’t happen. Any of it.”
Garth moved toward him and lowered his voice. “Let me be clear. You touch anyone working with me and you’ll be the one feeling the pain.”
Jed scoffed. “What do you care about your sisters? You want to win.”
“There are many ways to define victory.”
“Not for you.”
“Don’t test me on this,” Garth told him. “You won’t like how it ends.”
Jed turned and left. Garth watched him go.
Would the old man listen or had things just escalated to the next level? He couldn’t be sure, so precautions would have to be taken. The Titan women weren’t going to like it, but their annoyance would be nothing when compared with what Dana was going to say.
DANA TOOK THE EXIT for Titanville. There were two miles of open road between the crowded freeway and the slower speed limit of the city limits. Normally she enjoyed the quiet, but this afternoon she felt restless.
She couldn’t stop thinking about what Lexi and Izzy had said. That she needed to protect herself against the likes of Garth. While her friends were well-meaning, they could also be idiots when it came to men. She wasn’t at any risk. She could take care of herself.
So what if he was different? She could handle any situation that came up. She was strong and she knew how to stay safe. Years of surviving her father’s beatings had taught her that. She knew better than to care too much when it came to men. Showing a vulnerable side just meant a stronger possibility of getting hurt. There were-
The skin on the back of her neck prickled, interrupting her thoughts. She immediately glanced in her rearview mirror, then out the side windows. Nothing had changed. The black Suburban was still behind her. The F-250 truck that had been in front of her had gone into the other lane, which would have been fine, if it hadn’t suddenly slowed. Something was wrong.
She sped up. Both vehicles paced her. The speed limit was forty-five. She punched it to sixty, then seventy. They stayed with her. Dark, tinted windows meant she couldn’t get a look at either driver.
If she braked suddenly, the Suburban would rear-end her. Not an outcome to be hoped for. She needed another plan.
Without warning, the truck swerved toward her, slamming into the side of her smaller truck. Her whole body crashed against the door. She struggled to keep control, but weight was against her. In a battle of sheer tonnage, the larger truck would win. Slowly she was pushed off the road.
If the embankment had been steep, she would have rolled for sure. As it was, she simply drove off onto the dirt. The two other vehicles sped away.
Dana slowed, then came to a stop. She reached for the notebook she kept in her glove box and wrote down both license plates. The plates or the vehicles were probably stolen, but the information would be a start. She got out of her truck and was pleased that her legs weren’t shaking at all. Her left arm hurt and she’d banged the hell out of her knee, but otherwise she was fine.
After drawing in a few deep breaths to chase away the adrenaline, she circled her truck to survey the damage. The whole passenger side was smashed in. It wasn’t pretty.
Someone had sent her a warning to back off. A very clear warning that would cost a few thousand dollars to fix. Had circumstances been different, she could have been seriously hurt. Someone else might have taken the admonition to heart, but not her. If Jed Titan thought this was enough to scare her away, he didn’t know her at all.