Framed Shadows: Shadows Landing #6 Page 12

  Peter and Paxton shared a look. “Looks like we’re going on a road trip.”

  Paxton turned to Tinsley then and took her hand into his. “I hate leaving you. Do you think you can close your gallery for a couple of days? I don’t want to leave you unprotected while I am gone.”

  “She can stay with me,” Ryker said. “My house is well guarded and the men staying for the meetings all have bodyguards.”

  “I know when to be cautious. I’ll stay with Ryker. But what happens if I close the gallery and Maurice and Murray become suspicious?” Tinsley asked.

  “I have to bring my team back to Charleston. They weren’t equipped for surveillance.” Peter said. “I could have one of them stay at your gallery with you during the day.”

  “It’s not necessary,” Ryker said calmly. “I’ve just ordered private security for her. She’ll be here tomorrow morning.”

  Harper looked over at Tinsley and grinned. “Paxton, Peter, Dare, Granger, and Kord on a guys’ trip to the sunny and welcoming Myriad territory in Atlanta. Who’d have thought? I wonder if they’ll have a pillow fight?”

  Tinsley laughed as she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Walker Greene. He was Edie’s brother and had grown up in Shadows Landing before joining the Navy SEALs. He was then recruited up to DEVGRU, which was the old SEAL Team Six. He was the elite of the elite. He’d been injured in the same act of treason that left Edie’s husband dead. It had been a long road to get to Shadows Landing and have Gavin fix him up medically, but that’s how they met their Keeneston cousins.

  Tinsley’s great-grandmother had been a piece of work and not the good kind. She’d treated her daughter, Marcy, horribly. She’d wanted a servant, not a daughter. When her great-grandmother moved to South Carolina from Keeneston for Tinsley and her cousins’ grandfathers to join the Air Force, Marcy had stayed in Keeneston with the love of her life. Tinsley’s great-grandmother had disowned her and told Tinsley’s grandparents lies about her that caused a long-standing rift.

  But then Walker needed help and Gavin had sucked it up and asked Dr. Layne Davies, their cousin and expert physical therapist, for help. Walker and Layne fell in love, and the Davies and Faulkner families had healed old wounds to become one big happy family.

  Tinsley’s phone rang a second later. She excused herself and headed for a quieter spot in the bar to talk to Walker. “Hey!”

  “Hey? You’re asking me about dangerous gangs and trusted police officers and you say ‘hey’ like we’re going to chat about the fam?” Walker asked, sounding all big brotherly even though he was only a cousin by marriage. Tinsley filled him in and Walker grumbled. “I don’t like this. Should I come for a visit? I can bring an army.”

  “No kidding. I’m fine here. Ryker said he’s hiring a private bodyguard for me while Paxton goes to Atlanta.”

  “I thought you didn’t like that guy?” Walker asked.

  “I didn’t get him. I thought he was making fun of me, but he wasn’t. He’s quite wonderful and if you or any of the cousins or uncles ruin this for me, I will have my vengeance.”

  “I make no promises,” Walker said. “But I can get the guys some support. I’m sure one of the uncles will know someone who can help. How’s my sister? I talked to her a couple of days ago. She sounds good, but I could tell it was for show.”

  “She’s getting better every day. I know it’s been a little while since she lost her husband, but she’s just not ready to move on yet. However, she’s getting out more now. She’s involved in the community and we have plenty of girl time together. She’s taking self-defense at the church with me, too. I think that’s helped more than anything. She’s truly skilled with a blade.”

  “Gotta love Shadows Landing. Send me Paxton’s number, and I’ll let him know what I find out.”

  “Are you going to threaten him?” Tinsley asked, knowing darn well Walker would do so.

  “Of course I am. Talk to you soon. Call if you need anything. I can catch the next flight there if you need me.”

  “Thanks, Walker.”

  Tinsley hung up and sent the contact. A second later, she saw Paxton look down at his phone and frown. Walker moved fast with his threats. He was never one to sit back and wait. Unfortunately, that was all Tinsley could do now. Sit back and wait for Paxton to solve his case.

  15

  Paxton had made contact with Walker Greene, who promised to have someone on the ground in Atlanta by lunchtime. The guys were meeting at seven and driving down in an FBI SUV that was used for undercover work. That left tonight with Tinsley. He didn’t like leaving her but the faster he could put the case to bed, the faster he could take Tinsley to bed and not worry about leaving it ever again.

  He had it bad. So bad he was packing up their things and loading the suitcases into their cars to go off and spend the night at Ryker’s house. He wasn’t sure how it would be any safer until they pulled up. Then it all made sense. Ryker Faulkner was a crazy protective super-rich guy with a dark past and a chip on his shoulder. Of course he went overboard to keep his private life private.

  Paxton followed Tinsley through the iron gate and counted the number of cameras and motion detectors he saw, guessing there were three times that number of hidden ones.

  Paxton parked and got out to help Tinsley carry in her bag. She didn’t blink at the large house or the armed guards at the door to the guest house. Instead she talked about how sweet Ryker was. Paxton wasn’t buying it. There was nothing sweet about Ryker. He was a stone-cold businessman who was known to take no prisoners during negotiations or takeovers. He ran his shipping company with a ruthlessness that would make mob bosses seem cuddly. The garden door at the back of the house opened for them and Ryker glared at him.

  “Thanks for letting me stay here, Ryker.” Tinsley leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek before brushing past him and walking inside.

  Paxton wasn’t so lucky. Ryker crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

  “Yes, thank you for keeping Tinsley safe while I’m away,” Paxton told him, but Ryker didn’t move. He didn’t even blink. So Paxton leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on Ryker’s cheek. Ryker was so stunned he let Paxton walk by him and into the house.

  “Should we take the guest room at the top of the stairs or the end of the hall?” Tinsley called out from somewhere in the house. Paxton hurried forward and found her halfway up the stairs.

  “Tinsley, you’re in the room next to mine. Paxton’s staying in the guest room down here,” Ryker said with steel to his voice.

  Tinsley just laughed and motioned for Paxton to follow her. Ryker’s hand clamped onto Paxton’s shoulder. “My house, my rules. Your room is around the corner and down that hall. It affords a good view of the front drive.”

  Paxton dropped Tinsley’s bag at Ryker’s feet and smiled. “Thank you. I’m sure it’ll be perfect.”

  Paxton walked over to Tinsley who looked ready to explode and kissed her slowly on the lips. “Goodnight, Tinsley. Sweet dreams.” He headed for the room and smiled to himself as Tinsley read Ryker the riot act. Paxton had to give it to the man. He didn’t give in, even when Tinsley stomped on his foot.

  Paxton closed his bedroom door and headed for the window. It was a good security location. An hour later there was a soft tap on the door. He knew who it was before he opened it.

  “Do you need another kiss?”

  “Bite me, Kendry.”

  “Ooh, I should have guessed the powerful Ryker Faulkner is into the kinky stuff. But hey, I don’t kinkshame.”

  Ryker rolled his eyes and Paxton stopped joking as he saw the strain on the man’s face. Ryker pushed past him and dropped into one of the lounge chairs in the large room.

  “Did something happen?” Paxton asked as he took the seat next to Ryker.

  “Something is always happening, Kendry. Only this time it’s Tinsley. Look, I know she has an older brother, but you don’t understand what she means to us. Harper is Harper. Hell, I think she’s tougher than all o
f us cousins. Tinsley is the complete opposite of Harper. She’s all happy colors, rescuing butterflies, and finding the good in everyone. I don’t know how you got it, but I guess you saw what happened to me. Tinsley is the reason I’m still here. She was a little slip of a teen when it happened. As you can imagine, I was in a very dark place. Everyone wanted to help. I know that now. However, it was Tinsley who saved me. It was her pure heart, her goodness, her faith in humanity that saved me. Well, as much as I ever could be saved after what happened.”

  “You were found innocent,” Paxton said. As much as he wanted to give Ryker crap, it was clear the man loved his family and Paxton would never give him crap for that.

  “Doesn’t mean I am innocent.” Ryker took a deep breath. “Did she tell you about the assault?”

  “Assault?”

  “Walker, the guy who texted you from Keeneston, was in trouble. Someone was looking to kill him. His sister, Edie, had just lost her husband who was a part of Walker’s DEVGRU team. She was staying at Tinsley’s house. The man who killed her husband and was after Walker broke in, beat up Tinsley, and kidnapped Edie. I will never, in a million years, forget seeing Tinsley bruised and battered. Tinsley is special to me. You hurt her, you hurt me. You break her heart and I’ll break you. So, do what you need to in order to make Tinsley safe. If you can’t, because your hands are tied by being an agent, call me. I’ll handle it. But I swear, you put her in harm’s way and she gets hurt, I’ll kill you. You know I’m capable of it.”

  “I would never let harm come to Tinsley. I swear on my life. It’s yours to take if I fail.” Paxton had to calm himself. He hadn’t known about the assault or the kidnapping. Just thinking about it made him sick to his stomach.

  Ryker stared at him and then shoved himself up. “You’re not who I pictured for her, but she’s happy. She’s confident now. I noticed the change even if Ridge is pretending she’s still a little kid and burying his head in the sand.”

  “Does that mean I have your approval to be with her?”

  “Do you need it?” Ryker asked.

  “No, but family is important to her. It’s important to me, too. It’s not easy to admit. You did a search on me. You know what the past years have been like for me. I care for her, Ryker. More than anything. I will do everything I can to make her happy, and having her family’s approval will make her happy.”

  “I don’t don’t like you,” Ryker admitted.

  Paxton chuckled. “I’ll take it.”

  “That’s a good-looking man,” Paxton heard a woman whisper.

  “Not my thing, but even I can appreciate a torso like that. There’s just something about the way his ab muscles seem cut from stone,” a second female voice said.

  Paxton pretended to stretch in his sleep and then he was sitting up with a gun pointed at the early morning intruders. One was a tall woman with long, blonde hair pulled up in a high ponytail. She had on a form-fitting white cotton tank with a lightweight, short-sleeved blazer over it. Her lips were red, her dark-wash jeans were skin-tight, and her heels were high. The other woman was a petite brunette with stunning eyes and an impeccably fitted suit. Both women had bulges on their hips indicating they were armed. Neither seemed fazed at having a gun pointed at them.

  “Darlin’, I’m everyone’s thing,” Paxton said with a slow Southern drawl.

  “You’re my thing if I weren’t an unspecified number of years older than you or married,” the blonde said with a smile.

  “She’s more my thing. Think your delicate male ego can handle that? Do you need a tissue?” the brunette asked.

  “Who are you two and why are you in my bedroom?” Paxton asked, still not lowering his weapon.

  “Ryker hired me to look after your probationary girlfriend. I’m Mallory Westin-Simpson. I own Westin Security in Atlanta. By the way, here’s a police contact for you.” She tossed him a business card, but he didn’t look to see where it landed.

  “Probationary?” Paxton questioned.

  “I hear you’re the one on probation until your ability to keep Tinsley safe has been determined,” the brunette answered. “I’m Blythe Kencroft of Creed Security. Walker sent me to keep an eye on Tinsley. I’ve met her at some Keeneston weddings. Walker told me I could castrate you if you stepped out of line or if you proved unworthy. Just one sec.” Blythe pulled out her phone and snapped a picture. “Marcy Davies should see this.”

  “I sent your fingerprints to Ahmed while you were sleeping. I’ll know everything about you in the next ten seconds. Or less,” Mallory smirked as her phone pinged. “Ouch. I’m looking at your medical records from when you were shot.”

  “Don’t worry, the scars are sexy,” Blythe said with a wink.

  “Look at this, Blythe, he got a B- in high school chemistry. Let’s hope he has better chemistry with Tinsley,” Mallory said as she showed the phone to Blythe.

  “Who the hell is Ahmed and how does he have access to this information?” Paxton demanded as he leaped from bed. The flash went off again on Blythe’s phone. “I’m starting to think I am your thing.”

  “Nope. Totally not my thing. However, Marcy asked for it and if Miss Marcy asks for something, you get it or you don’t get any apple pie. I would kill someone for that pie.”

  “Then you’ll have to try Miss Ruby and Miss Winnie’s apple pies,” Tinsley said from the doorway. “Blythe, what are you doing here? Is Veronica with you?”

  Blythe, still ignoring the gun aimed at her, turned and hurried to hug Tinsley. “No Veronica on this trip. I’m here on business.”

  “Business?” Tinsley asked, and then her whole face changed. It went from wondering, to realization, to unfettered delight. “You’re here to look after me?”

  “We both are. Hi, I’m Mallory Westin-Simpson.”

  Paxton lowered his gun as he was completely forgotten. As the women chatted, he grabbed his phone and headed for the shower. While the water heated up, he searched out the two women. They were exactly who they said they were, but Mallory was way more than just the owner of one of the region’s largest private security firms. Her father had been a senator and she’d married into the powerful, Atlanta-based Simpson family that ran a large international corporate conglomerate. The fact that Mallory was here and not one of her employees spoke volumes to what kind of relationship she had with Ryker.

  “Paxton?” Tinsley called from the other side of the door. “Can I come in?”

  “Of course,” he called out from the shower. He saw the door open through the fogged glass.

  “When do you leave?” she asked as she leaned against the granite counter in the bathroom.

  “In twenty minutes.” Paxton turned off the shower, and when he opened the glass door he found Tinsley leaning against the counter with the towel in her hand.

  “I thought you were going to come to my room last night,” Tinsley confessed as she handed him the towel.

  “Ryker and I had a talk. Then I had to plan for Atlanta. I’m sorry. I wish I had more time with you. But the faster this case is solved, the faster I can come home to you,” Paxton told her as he wrapped the towel around his waist.

  “You’d better come home to me. Don’t do anything stupid like getting yourself shot.” Tinsley reached out and pressed her hand over the cluster of scars on his chest.

  “I won’t. As much as it kills me, I’m going to be the one in the van. We can’t risk anyone recognizing me. Tinsley, call me immediately if anything happens or if you get any weird gut feeling. I’ve learned to listen to my gut over the years. Promise?”

  “I promise. Paxton, be safe. I—” Paxton kissed her then. She looked so worried for him he couldn’t stand it. Whatever she was going to say was lost on his lips.

  Tinsley became wild in his arms as she ripped off his towel. Her lips were just as demanding as her hips. Paxton smiled against her neck. She was assertive and went after what she wanted and he was happy to comply with her demands.

  “Normally I love to hear you scream,
but I might get shot if you do it today,” Paxton told her as he rested his forehead against hers.

  Tinsley pulled a condom from her pocket and shrugged. “Eh, you’ve been shot before. You’ll live.”

  “You’re perfect for me, Tinsley. I think you were made for me to love.”

  Paxton saw her eyes shoot up at his. Love. He hadn’t meant to go there yet. He hadn’t even gone there in his mind yet, but when he lifted her onto the counter and she wrapped her legs around him, he admitted he was wrong. She wasn’t just made for him. He was meant for her, too. They were made for each other.

  16

  Atlanta, Georgia

  Paxton looked down at the text message from Walker. “Next right. We’re going to meet his contact and then go meet with Mallory’s contact.”

  Peter maneuvered the SUV down the street lined with hotels. A man in jeans, cowboy boots, a worn T-shirt, and mirrored sunglasses stood looking in their direction. His head was shaved, and as they drove closer Paxton noticed the man was a little older than Paxton had first thought. In fact, he looked to be old enough to be his father. Though Paxton didn’t know any fathers who looked like this scary-ass dude.

  Dare snorted in the seat behind him. “I know our contact. You all thought we were badasses? That’s Harper’s Uncle Cy Davies.”

  “That guy scares me,” Kord told them as they drove closer.

  “I’m man enough to admit he scares me, too,” Granger said.

  “Who is he?” Peter asked.

  “A former spy. That’s all I’ve gotten from the few family things we’ve been to. He’s retired now and runs a farm, as well as training people at their military training center. I know his sons, Parker and Porter, better. Parker is a new US marshal and Porter is a top-ranked professional rodeo rider,” Dare told them as they approached.