Secrets and Seduction: 5 Romance Novels (80 page)

“Bro, he used you,” Rick said.

Charlie sighed. “I know that.” Disappointment weighed on him. And shame. His brother and Juliana were witnessing his failure.

“You going to give him a drug pipeline?” Montoya asked.

Charlie’s free hand fisted. He’d taken a bullet for nothing. He’d risked Juliana for nothing. He’d been belligerent with the police—the real good guys—for nothing.

His shoulders slumped. “No.”

“Where’d you stash the relic, Charlie?” Rick asked.

All for nothing. Charlie had changed his life so he could make a difference, make his family proud of him, make them value him the way they’d valued Billy. There must be a way to make a difference this time. Billy was probably killed by someone on drugs. Could Charlie use the statue to strike a blow against the drug world? Avenge Billy in some way?

“If I produce it,” he began, “is there a way to use it to prove Jordan Hessler is a drug dealer?”

Montoya and Hunt looked at each other, and Montoya answered. “We’re not familiar enough with the California drug community to answer that.”

“Can your counterparts out there or the DEA tell me?”

“Probably.” Montoya frowned. “You’re proposing a trade?”

Charlie inhaled. “I’m proposing a sting. I’ve already got an in with Jordan. If I get on a plane now, I can be there before evening, before Montgomery gets out of surgery and can issue any orders, if he lives. They can wire me and get it on tape, whatever they need.”

Montoya shook his head. “You’re a civilian. The DEA isn’t going to go for that.”

“No, Charlie,” Rick said.

Charlie shot to his feet. “I’m not a civilian. I’m a licensed private investigator. I’ve had training. I’m not useless. I can do this.” He had to salvage something out of this and prove he was capable, that he could contribute.

“You were fumbling around on this end,” Hunt reminded him.

“I know better now. You’re concerned about some Columbian drug lord funneling drugs into your city. Hell, he’s going to funnel them somewhere no matter what. Why not do a sting on
him
?” God, yes.

Juliana shook her head. He saw fear in her eyes. For him. Not her, too.

“Mr. Ziffkin, that’s pretty naive,” Montoya said.

“Why is it naive? Why isn’t it brilliant? We’ve got something he wants badly. We’ve got leverage. Why can’t we use it to catch him?”

“Stuff like that only happens in the movies, Charlie.” Rick’s expression told him to get real.

Charlie burned with frustration. “Why? Because it’s what we all want so badly? Dreams only come true in make-believe, is that what you’re saying?”

“Reality isn’t always pretty,” Hunt said.

“Then why do the three of you come to work every day if nothing you do will make a difference?”

The cops looked chagrined and resigned.

Juliana took a deep breath. “I’ll help you, Charlie.” He looked at her in awe, hope rising. She looked frightened but resolved. “I’ll go with you to California. Hell, give me a photo of this drug lord and I’ll take you to him.”

“Juliana,” Montoya scolded. Rick chimed in, too.

“If one person can make a difference,” she said, “then two should be able to make twice the difference. And I have a gift.” She rose and looked at Charlie. “I’ll need things from my apartment. We can make airline reservations from there.”

“You can’t go,” Montoya said. “It’s too dangerous. You should be in protective custody.”

“I’ve been in protective custody since I was sixteen. No more. Charlie needs me.” Her eyes glittered with challenge. “C’mon, Charlie. Without a Miranda they’re screwed and they know it.” She picked up his jacket and held it out to him. He stepped to her side and took it.

“I need my bags,” he said.

“My dad will get them.” She glared into the mirror. “Won’t you, Dad?” She turned back to Charlie. “You ready?”

He looked at the detectives. “I would have liked your help. A soldier doesn’t like to go into battle alone.”

“Especially against overwhelming odds,” Juliana added.

Charlie couldn’t help smiling at her. “We could make a mint in Vegas betting on those odds. Remind me to call an odds maker I know from the airport.” They headed for the door.

A chair screeched. “Charlie, don’t be stupid,” Rick said.

Charlie turned and faced his brother. “This is the clearest my thinking has been in years. Tell Mom I’m sorry I couldn’t stay.”

Juliana pushed open the door, and Charlie followed her out. Her father met them in the hall. “This is crazy. I forbid you to go.”

“It’s the right thing to do,” Juliana said. “And I’m going. I’m done allowing you to protect me. We need a ride to my place.”

Her father looked from her mulish face to Charlie’s set one. His shoulders drooped. “I’ll get you released.”

Charlie felt like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Yes, they were going into a dangerous situation. But he’d have Juliana at his side like old times. Hot damn.

• • •

They had their plane reservations. Charlie would drive them to the airport so he could return his rental car. Juliana packed, and she and Charlie changed clothes. They’d altered their appearance as much as they could. Juliana’s hair was tucked into a French braid. Charlie had his hair slicked back and sported a mustache and goatee. They both knew the danger they’d be in from the time they arrived at the airport until they got past the security barriers if Montgomery had regained consciousness.

Charlie touched her cheek. “Juliana, you’d be safer here.”

“I’m going with you.”

He closed his eyes then opened them. He lifted his bag. “Ready?”

Juliana looked around her homey apartment, at the colored pots she loved. She lived and worked here. It was safe, but she was just learning it was a prison, and she’d allowed it to happen. Her world had shrunken in so many ways since she’d lost Charlie. If she’d been stronger, she could have broken free. But she hadn’t. Because
he
hadn’t been here.

Things would be different when she returned.
She
would be different. She was going to live with Charlie until this was over. They would share their lives—and their bodies—for as long as it took. She’d help him achieve his dream and build new ones of her own.

She drew in a breath and set her shoulders. “I’m ready.” She’d be with Charlie. She’d followed him into adventure and excitement through childhood and adolescence, and he’d kept her safe. Now she would follow him once more, only this time, she’d do everything she could to keep him safe.

But when they exited her apartment, they found Rick Ziffkin instead of her father. Juliana braced for trouble.

Charlie stopped on the stairs. “Rick.”

Rick straightened from where he leaned against a tan sedan. “I’m driving you to the airport. If I can’t stop you from this insanity, I’ll at least make sure you’re safe.” He held up his hand to forestall whatever Charlie was going to say. “I know someone in the DEA from a case I worked last month. I called him. A DEA agent named David Fuentes will meet your flight in California.”

Charlie’s grip on her wrist relaxed, and he continued down the stairs. “Thanks, Rick.”

“They’re not guaranteeing anything beyond hearing you out,” Rick cautioned.

“I’ll do this on my own if I have to.” Charlie glanced at Juliana. “Juliana and I will. But we’d have a better chance of success with their help.”

Rick strode forward and took a bag from each of them. “Do you have bandages to take care of that arm?”

They followed him to the car. “Yeah. Juliana bought some last night.”

“Did you get blood in the car?” Rick asked in a sharp voice. “Did you use your rental?”

“Yeah,” Charlie admitted.

“I’ll get it cleaned before I take it back to the rental agency. Maybe keep it another day. Give me the keys.”

Charlie dug in his pocket and handed over the keys. “Thanks. I didn’t think about that. It’s Enterprise. It’s the dark gray one over there.”

Rick pocketed them. “You haven’t been a P.I. long. Do you do it part time?” He opened the trunk.

Charlie handed Rick his garment bag. “I’m a full-time P.I. I don’t have any other job.”

“Until you get bored and go back to acting.” Rick loaded Juliana’s bag and slammed the trunk.

“That’s not going to happen. I told you I gave up acting.”

Rick scoffed. “When?”

“After Billy died.”

“I don’t believe it.”

Charlie shrugged. “Whatever.” He opened the back door for Juliana. She saw the pain in his eyes and looked from him to his brother.

“Talk to him,” she whispered.

“I told you they can’t accept it. I need this sting to show my family I really am different.”

She gripped his wrist. “If something happens to you, to me—”

“Nothing’s going to happen.”

“There are no guarantees in life. We both know that people die unexpectedly every day. You should make peace with your brother. Sit in the front with him.”

“It won’t do any good.”

“Please.”

He sighed. She slid into the back seat, and he closed the door. At least she’d hugged her father and told him she loved him. She knew he didn’t understand any more than Charlie’s brother did.

Charlie and Rick slid into the front seats. Rick glanced at her. She gave him an encouraging smile. He started the car and headed for the airport.

“I was wasting my life out there, Rick,” Charlie began.

Rick glanced over at him. “What do you mean? You always wanted to be an actor.”

“I barely made a living. I had to work other jobs to make ends meet. I’ve been living in apartments for twelve years.”

“You’re waiting for your big break. And I live in an apartment. Lots of people do.”

“I’m at the same place as thousands of eighteen-year-olds who’ve just arrived in Hollywood. My big break’s not coming.”

“You got discouraged, I understand. But you can’t give up your dream.”

“It’s done. When Billy died I re-examined my life. I’ll never be smart like him or cure cancer like he might have, but I can do more than sell toothpaste.”

“Charlie, do you think you’re dumb because you’re an actor and not a biochemist?”

“I didn’t even go to college.”

“You still can. They have plenty of schools out there in California.”

“You don’t understand. I like what I’m doing now. I’ve made a difference to a few of my clients. I never made a difference before.”

Rick was silent for the rest of the trip. Charlie hadn’t spoken with the despair he’d used to discuss his life choice with Juliana, but sincerity resonated in his voice. She hoped Rick heard it, too.

Rick pulled up to the terminal. “I’ll make sure you get inside, then go park the car.”

He flashed his badge, which got a nod from security. He guarded them while they checked their bags, his eyes scanning the area around them. Then he walked them to the door.

“I’ll be back as soon as I park the car.”

“Right.” Charlie tugged her into the air-conditioned building. They walked straight to the security line. Juliana kept hold of his hand while she surveyed the crowd.

“Don’t be nervous.” He kissed her temple. “You’ll attract attention.”

“They could be here waiting.”

“Then relax so you don’t stand out. Think about spending the next few days at my place. No interruptions. We don’t have to get out of bed if we don’t want to. You can live out all your fantasies on my body.”

“
All
of them? I have a lot.”

“Even the kinky ones. I’ll be your willing sex slave.”

Her lower body clenched in anticipation. “We got the tape back from the cops.”

“Oh, you’re naughty.”

“Not yet, but I’m going to be.”

“I can’t wait.”

By the time it was their turn to enter the metal detectors, Rick rejoined them. He waited with them for their flight, which gave him and Charlie more time to talk. Juliana noticed Rick’s interest in her relationship with Charlie. The cop’s eyes noted every touch, caress, kiss, and intimacy. They catalogued how Charlie and Juliana held hands, Charlie’s use of her nickname, and how they looked at one another. Like many cops, including her father, Rick had learned to control his face, so she wasn’t sure how he felt about her and Charlie.

When their flight was called, Rick walked them to the gate. “Keep your eyes and ears open, both of you. This isn’t a game.”

“We know,” Charlie assured him.

Rick hugged him. “I don’t want to get a phone call saying I’ve lost another brother. I love you, Charlie.”

“I’ll be careful. I love you, too.”

“Watch your back.”

Billy Ziffkin had been stabbed in the back.

Rick let go of his brother and held his arms open for Juliana. She went into them, and he hugged her tight. “Take care of Charlie,” he whispered.

“I will.”

“I’m glad he has you.” He released her.

She took Charlie’s offered hand, and they walked down the jet way toward their chance to prove themselves to their families. Five and a half hours later they entered the baggage claim area at LAX. A Latino man held a cardboard sign that read “Ziffkin.”

“I’m Ziffkin,” Charlie said.

“Fuentes, DEA.” The man showed them his I.D., then waited while they collected their luggage. “Where can I take you?”

“To Jordan Hessler’s house preferably, but I live in Van Nuys,” Charlie replied. “Is your office closer?”

“Van Nuys it is. My partner will bring the car around. Then we can talk.” He led them toward the doors. “Nobody followed you?”

“Not that we saw. My brother, who’s with the Miami P.D., waited with us at the terminal.”

“He gave me a summary of what’s going on. Nobody knew who you were when you retrieved this relic?”

“I don’t think Montgomery’s men got either of our license plates. But if they find out who Jordan Hessler hired, they’ll know who I am.”

“Hmm, loose end.”

“Or if they bribe the car rental agents to divulge any cars rented by Californians in the past week.”

“That’s a lot of leads. And that’s assuming they know you’re from California.” Fuentes scanned outside, then led them through the sliding doors into the cool California evening that made Juliana shiver after the hot Miami afternoon.