Cover Me (10 page)

Chapter Six

Panic immobilized Lily. Had someone abducted Winston?

Or... Winston had been so upset; what if he’d run away?

She raced to the phone and called Mack, worry clawing at her. It was late. The streets of New Orleans weren’t safe. There were more murders in the city every night—

“Lily?”

“Mack, it’s Winston. He’s gone.”

“What do you mean,
gone?
”

“He’s not anywhere in the house or yard. I...thought he might have come to see you.”

Mack hissed. “He doesn’t know where I live. Hell, Lily, he doesn’t even have my phone number.”

Tears blurred Lily’s eyes. “Then where is he?”

A tense pause, then she heard Mack moving around. “Does he have friends? Someone he might go to?”

“A baseball friend but he lives across town, so
he wouldn’t go there,” Lily said.

“How about your father’s house?”

“I don’t think so. He heard what you said about Dad lying. He’s mad at all of us.”

“Call him anyway,” Mack said. “I’ll start combing the streets.”

Lily hung up, her hand trembling as she dialed her father. If anything happened to her son, she would never forgive herself.

Horror stories about children being
kidnapped, of murders, abuse and child trafficking, haunted her.

The phone rang four, then five times then rolled to voice mail. Frantic, she left a message then tried her father’s cell phone, but he didn’t answer that either, so she left a message on that phone as well, then ran outside. She checked the backyard, calling Winston’s name repeatedly.

“Winston, if you’re out here, please
answer me.”

But only the sound of the wind whistling echoed in the silence.

“Winston!” she shouted again. “Honey, where are you?”

She ran to the front of her house and looked up and down Saint Charles Street. Across the street lay Audubon Park. Winston loved to watch the people walking their dogs.

What if he’d gone into the park? What if he got hurt or someone kidnapped him
and she never saw him again?

* * *

M
ACK
WIPED
SWEAT
from his brow as he jumped into his SUV and raced toward Lily’s. Surely Winston was near the house. He was mad, upset, just wanted to go somewhere and think.

He hoped to hell that was what had happened.

With Barnaby locked up and Mack asking questions, the others involved in the corruption were probably worried.

Worried
enough to kidnap his son to force him to stop nosing around?

His nerves on edge, he sped around a car, the dark bayou reminding him of the evil he’d seen as a detective.

Of the people who wanted him out of the way.

God...he didn’t want that evil to touch his little boy.

By the time he made the turn onto Saint Charles Street, his heart was hammering.

He slowed, searching
the alleys, pausing at a stop sign to check both sides of the street. Something moved to the right, and his breath stalled as he narrowed his eyes. But a second later, a dog ran from behind a garbage can, and Mack moved on.

By the time he reached Lily’s, fear consumed him. He parked on the street, jumped out and jogged up her front steps. Lily met him at the door, her face streaked with tears.

“Mack, oh God, Mack, I’m so scared.”

He gripped her arms. “Shh, we’ll find him,” he said, praying he was right. “Any word from your father?”

“He didn’t answer. But he would have called if Winston had shown up. He knows I’d be worried sick.”

“Lily, look at me,” Mack said, his voice firm in spite of his own terror. “Let’s stay calm. You said he was angry. If he did run away, where
would he go?”

She gulped back a sob. “To the park maybe. He loves it there.”

Mack nodded. “Okay, I’ll check the park. You stay here in case he comes back or your father calls.”

“Did you call the police?” Lily asked.

Mack gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to tell her that he didn’t trust them. Not after the way they’d railroaded him eight years ago. “Not yet. We will if I don’t
find him in a few minutes”

She nodded. “Winston likes the walking trail. But he also likes the zoo.”

The zoo would be closed at night, but Winston might have slipped inside. There were also more dangers waiting there. Wild animals, vagrants who slept on the benches. Drug dealers looking for a quiet place to score.

Mack jogged across the street, then ran into the park. He scanned
the fountain area and walking trail. The lake drew his eye and sent another sliver of fear through him.

Dammit. He didn’t even know if his son could swim.

Heart pounding, he called Winston’s name then used his flashlight to illuminate the path and water.

He was halfway around the trail, near the entrance to the zoo, when his cell phone buzzed. It was Lily’s number, so he snatched
it up.

“Mack, Winston’s at the police station.”

“How did he get there?”

“Apparently, a cabdriver picked him up walking. Winston said he needed to talk to the police, and the driver didn’t want to leave him on the streets so he drove him to the station. I’m going to go get him now.”

“Wait,” Mack said. “This is both of our mess. Winston needs to see us together.”

Mack didn’t
give her time to argue. He jogged the rest of the way around the trail then cut across the street to Lily’s. She was waiting, but the moment she saw his shattered back window, she halted.

“Mack, my God, what happened?”

Mack grimaced. In his haste to get there, he’d forgotten about the shooting. “Someone took a shot at me earlier.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “Someone tried to kill you?”

Mack shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I’m fine.”

She rubbed her arms, her look panicked. “We’re not taking your car. Not to pick up Winston.”

Dear God, she was right. Being around him might endanger Winston.

“All right, let’s take your car. But I’m driving.”

She handed him the keys, but tension riddled the air as they sped toward the station.

Showing his face at the
police station where he’d been locked up might not be a good idea.

But he was going to do it anyway.

He had to make sure his son was okay.

* * *

L
ILY
TWISTED
HER
HANDS
in a knot as Mack drove. Part of her wanted to punish Winston for scaring her to death.

The other part couldn’t wait to hug him.

As soon as Mack parked, she jumped out of the car. Mack led the way,
and they hurried into the station. They stopped at the security desk, and Lily explained about the phone call.

“Your son is in the acting chief’s office right now.”

Lily slanted Mack a nervous look, but his expression was closed. The receptionist led them through the doors to the bull pen, the buzz of phones and voices humming through the room. Then she knocked on the door and a minute
later, gestured for them to enter the room.

Lily took one look at Winston, raced to him and pulled him into a hug. “Oh, honey, you scared me to death.” She tried to stop the tears, but they overflowed anyway. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, Mom.” Winston squared his little shoulders as he pulled away.

Mack hung back, his heart in his eyes, though, as he looked at his son. “You scared
us both. We’ve been searching the streets for you.”

The tall black man behind the desk cleared his throat and introduced himself as ACOP Samuel Greer. “Hold on. You need to hear what your son has to say.”

Winston frowned, his dark eyes somber. “You said you used to be a policeman here, that the police framed you. I came here to find out the truth.”

Mack’s eyes hardened. “We’ll discuss
this at home, Winston.”

“But I want to know,” Winston said. “Are you going back to jail?”

Mack clenched his hands at his sides, but the man behind the desk spoke up. “I explained to your son that I’m new to this office. I came from Slidell. But I looked and there are no records here of your arrest.”

The breath eased from Mack’s chest.

Greer gestured toward Lily. “Will you take
your son outside for a minute, please? I’d like to speak to Mr. Rivet alone.”

Lily nodded, her stomach churning. Had he only been placating Winston? Was he going to send Mack back to prison?

* * *

M
ACK
BRACED
HIMSELF
for whatever Greer planned to throw at him. If it was more charges, he’d call Remy. With Barnaby’s exposed corruption, maybe he had a fighting chance at clearing himself.

“Close the door, Rivet.”

Lily and Winston left, and he turned to Greer, who looked more like a football player than a police chief. But something about his eyes hinted that he was a man Mack could trust.

Still, he’d thought that before and been wrong.

“They brought me into the department when Barnaby was arrested,” Greer said. “You have anything to do with that arrest?”

Mack forced himself to remain calm. “Not directly, sir. But I’m not surprised.”

Greer made a low sound in his throat. “Tell me what happened eight years ago. Your side.”

He wanted to know his side?

Mack took a deep breath. “Remy Comeaux and I were both detectives for the NOPD back then,” Mack said. “An FBI agent named Ray Storm was investigating police corruption and corruption in
the city. Remy and I worked with him on the task force to expose the corruption and the parties involved.”

Greer’s massive head nodded. “And—”

“The night Special Agent Storm was about to reveal the evidence he thought would bring down those involved, Lee Barnaby had me and Comeaux arrested. Katrina hit, the jails flooded...” He made a motion with his hand. “You know the rest. Files were
lost. Ray Storm was pulled from the case. And I laid low, hoping to find a way to clear myself.”

Greer’s coal-black eyes pinned Mack to the chair.

“I was brought in here to clean up this city, and that’s what I intend to do, Rivet. If you’re telling the truth, I’ll do everything I can to help you.” He leaned forward. “But if you’re one of the rotten ones, I’ll see that you go to prison.”

Mack gave a clipped nod. “Fair enough, sir. I will prove that I’m on the right side of the law. I always have been, always will be.”

Greer hooked his thumb toward the door. “I hope for that kid’s sake that you are.”

Mack nodded again, then shook the man’s hand and left the room. When he spotted Lily, she looked shaken.

“Let’s go home,” he said, then realized he didn’t live with
them. That irked him, but tonight wasn’t the time to push, not when Lily looked ragged and his little boy exhausted.

He escorted them back to Lily’s then walked with them inside. When they entered, Winston started to climb the steps, but Mack asked him to stay for a minute.

He looked wary, as if he was expecting some punishment to be doled out. “Let’s sit down and talk,” Mack said.

They all filed into her den, a cozy room with comfortable chairs and a denim couch. Winston collapsed onto it, but he chewed his lip as if he was nervous.

“Winston, we’re glad you’re safe,” Mack said. “But you scared your mother and me both tonight.”

Winston started to speak, but Mack held up his hand. “I know I haven’t been around the last few years, but that’s not because I didn’t
want to be. Unfortunately, we all have to accept that Katrina tore us apart.”

Winston looked at Lily and she conceded with a nod.

“But I am here now and I’m going to be part of your life. So don’t ever run off on your own like that, especially at night.”

Winston started to object but Mack remained firm. “I mean it. Your mom was frantic, and she had a right to be. It’s dangerous—”

“I’m not a baby anymore,” Winston said.

“No, but you’re also not an adult. And I worked in this town long enough to know what can happen to a kid, to a grown-up even, when they’re alone at night.”

“I got it,” Winston said, an edge to his voice.

Mack liked his spunk, but he also had to rein the boy in. “Do you understand?”

Winston nodded.

Mack squatted down in front
of his son. “If there’s anything you want to know, just come to your mother or me.” He tilted Winston’s chin toward him. “I promise I will tell you the truth.”

Winston stared into his eyes for a minute, questions lingering. “You didn’t do what they said?”

Mack shook his head. “No, son, and I’ll prove it. Just give me a chance. I want to be a father to you. I want to take you fishing
and out to my place in the bayou and you can ride in my pirogue.”

Winston perked up. “I can steer the boat?”

Mack chuckled. “Yes, you can.”

Then he ruffled Winston’s hair and told him good-night.

When Winston disappeared up the steps, Lily followed to tuck him in. Mack paced the den, unable to make himself leave.

His family, the woman he’d loved and his son, were here.

But he lived miles away. Maybe farther in her heart.

The sound of Lily’s footsteps echoed on the stairs, her face glowing in the lamplight as she returned.

She looked so damn beautiful that she took his breath away.

“Thank you for tonight, Mack,” she said softly. “I was scared out of my mind.”

“Me, too,” he said.

She shivered, and he pulled her into his arms. “He’s
going to be okay,” he whispered. “You’ve done a good job with him, Lily.”

Lily’s expression mirrored his own emotions. “You should have been there with him when he was born...when he learned to walk...”

He cupped her face in his. “I know, and I wish I had been. But I’m here now.”

Unshed tears glistened on her eyelashes, then a breath escaped her, a sigh of need following.

That sigh was all he needed.

He closed his mouth over hers.

Chapter Seven

Lily parted her lips for Mack. His strong arms encircled her, drawing her against his chest. Heat flared inside her as he ran his hands over her hips.

He groaned, the sound a heady aphrodisiac to a woman who hadn’t had a lover in eight years.

Because no one had measured up to Mack.

His tongue made a foray into her mouth, teasing her as one hand rose
to slide over her breast. Her nipple instantly hardened, hunger and need mounting.

Then he started to unbutton her blouse, and she realized where they were, that Winston could come down the steps at any minute.

“Mack,” she whispered against his ear. “Winston—”

He pulled back enough to look into her face. “You want me to stop?”

The emotions and desire in his eyes made her blood
sizzle. She had loved him and lost him, and missed him and wanted him back so badly. She couldn’t stop now.

“No, my room.”

“Upstairs?”

She shook her head. “To the left.”

The lecherous, bad-boy grin that had always stolen her soul flared, and he swung her into his arms and carried her into the room. When he threw her onto the bed, he tore at her clothes. Heat rippled between
them, the passion so intense her skin tingled as if it was on fire.

He stripped her, then paused to look his fill. Lily shivered at his blatant perusal, smiling as he removed his shirt.

She’d always loved his body, the way his muscles rippled across his chest, the way his arms bulged, the way the planes in his face strained when he held back from rushing their lovemaking.

He had
that look now.

She thought she’d never forget his body, but it was even more masculine than she remembered. Not an ounce of fat, just sinewy muscle and bold, taut lines.

And his sex, it seemed bigger, thicker, longer...

She wanted it inside her, filling her, reminding her they’d been married, that he had loved her and she loved him.

Another sinful look crossed his face, then
he lowered himself beside her. Her breath caught as he slowly trailed his fingers over her skin, teasing her. Shivers ran up her spine, then he licked his way along all the tender places he’d touched, and Lily’s body trembled.

But two could play that game, and she tortured him the same way.

He hissed between his teeth as she straddled him, her breasts swaying, heavy and achy, her nipples
jutting toward him in need.

He teased them with his fingers, his gaze latching onto hers.

“Mack,” she whispered, hurting for him.

His eyes danced with mischief, then he took one nipple between his teeth and suckled her while he explored her inner thighs with his fingers. Lily threaded her hands into his hair and pulled him to her, rocking herself on his hand.

Seconds later,
he flipped her over and pushed his sex between her thighs.

“I missed you so much,” he murmured as he thrust inside her.

“I missed you, too.” His length filled her, driving her to the brink, then he pulled out and thrust inside her again.

She moaned, nearly coming apart as he lifted her legs around his waist and pushed deeper, so deep that her orgasm rippled through her.

Mack
pulled out again, then paused. “Dammit, a condom.”

She didn’t care about a condom or if they had another baby. All she wanted was him inside her now.

She slid her fingers around his length, and he jerked toward her, the heat between them so intense that he plunged into her, filling her to the core.

She groaned his name, then looked into his eyes as his release rippled through him,
his groan of pleasure echoing in the air.

* * *

M
ACK
MADE
LOVE
TO
L
ILY
over and over through the night. He couldn’t get enough.

But finally in the wee hours of the morning, Lily fell asleep. For a long while, he simply watched her. She was so beautiful and strong and was such a good mother to their son.

He wanted to be with her and with Winston as he should have been all along.

But first he had to prove that he was worthy of them.

Reality interceded, and he eased from bed, dressed, then went outside to his car. He retrieved the files Einstein had hacked into for him, brought them into the house and brewed a pot of coffee.

He spent the next few hours studying each fundraiser and meeting Landry had had in the past few years. Then he turned to Landry’s financials.
His father-in-law kept a hefty checking and savings account, and had set up one primary account for the rebuilding fund.

Then he noticed several other businesses Landry had established. Landry was an entrepreneur, but Mack was still curious, so he did a Google search of the first one and found a website but no product. He called the phone number but a recording clicked on saying the number
was no longer in service.

Mack went down the list, studying the bank accounts for each corporation, then spent the next couple of hours trying to verify the businesses. But he couldn’t find any evidence that the companies were legitimate. He found a Swiss bank account in the name of one of the dummy corporations. A Swiss account attached to Landry’s name.

Damn. His father-in-law was
in big trouble.

He studied the mayor’s accounts next and found discrepancies there, as well.

He went back eight years and analyzed their accounts and realized several of the companies had been set up pre-Katrina, meaning Landry and the mayor had been laundering money for years.

When the mayor established the rebuilding fund, they’d immediately started skimming money from it.

A little more digging, and anger set in. A notation next to his name indicated that Landry had paid an anonymous source fifty thousand dollars a week before the flood hit.

Proof that Landry had paid someone to frame him.

Mack had to go to the police.

But if he had Landry arrested, he would hurt Lily and his son.

Still, it was time for the truth to come out.

He picked up
the phone to make the call.

He was going to fight for the woman he loved and his son.

He just hoped Lily didn’t hate him when she found out he’d turned her father in.

* * *

L
ILY
WOKE
TO
AN
EMPTY
BED
. She inhaled Mack’s scent on the sheets and missed him already. Sun glimmered through the lacy sheers of her room, and the scent of coffee and bacon filled the air.

She pulled
on a robe, splashed cold water on her face and ran a brush through her hair. It was so tangled she finally pulled it back in a ponytail, the memory of making love to Mack so fresh that she wanted him again.

Maybe Winston was still asleep and she and Mack could crawl back into bed.

She hurried into the kitchen but found Winston at the table, making a bacon-and-egg sandwich just like Mack
had on his plate.

They looked so much alike that her heart squeezed. They even had the same scowl as they bit into the breakfast sandwich.

Mack looked up at her, the twinkle in his eyes making her body tingle with need again. But a second later, worry darkened his expression.

“Look, Mom, Dad cooked breakfast.”

Dad.
The fact that Winston used that endearment told her how much
he wanted a father.

“I see.” Lily smiled. It was such a normal, everyday ritual to share a morning meal. But it was something else Mack and Winston had missed. All the mornings and days and nights together.

She poured herself a cup of coffee, then noticed a file on the table. But Mack grabbed it and shoved it down into an accordion file folder beside him.

She frowned, then the phone
jangled, and she saw her father’s name, so she answered. “Dad, I’m sorry I called so late—”

“What’s this about Winston? Is he all right?”

“Yes, Dad. It’s a long story, but he’s fine.”

“Good, but I have a problem, Lily. Call my lawyer immediately.”

Lily tensed at his terse tone. “What’s going on?”

“The police are here with an arrest warrant and warrants to search my house
and computer.”

Lily’s heart stuttered. “What? What are they accusing you of?”

“Money laundering and framing your husband.”

Lily gasped, then turned toward Mack. He couldn’t have had anything do with it, could he?

Regret flickered in his eyes for a second before his expression shut down. Her stomach knotted.

“Get Tate now,” her father said. “And, Lily, if you see Rivet,
don’t say anything to him. And for God’s sake, don’t let him near your computer.”

A chill slithered up Lily’s spine. She didn’t have anything to hide, so why was her father worried?

Then anger mushroomed inside her. Had Mack already looked at her computer?

Was that the reason he’d come inside last night and slept with her?