up well. He could go undercover as a druggie or infiltrate the Russian mafia if need be. With his nonspecific features and medium skin tone, he’d been able to pass for almost any nationality, and it didn’t hurt that as an army brat he was able to speak several languages. The government agency had solicited him; he’d been content traveling back and forth from Miami to South America. DEA had sent him south numerous times to bust a newbie drug cartel before they got out of control like their counterparts.
This was Reece’s first classified investigation, which he was certain they’d sent him on because he was a rookie in their eyes. A simple Google search by a homicide detective had attracted his office’s attention, but now Murphy O’Brian was dead. The scene on the disc was interesting enough to keep Reece investigating, but certainly not worthy of the detective’s execution. The detective hadn’t done anything but mouth off to a few other detectives that some agent had walked in and taken his evidence. But as always, Reece’s orders were to do his job, so he didn’t question his superiors’ motives. From now on, though, Reece decided he’d keep all the information he gathered on his person and to himself before forwarding it to his boss. He wanted more time to interview a potential witness before they needed silencing.
When Reece had been parked outside Kristina Heskin’s apartment earlier, waiting for her to come home, her boyfriend had looked in his direction. The film on the government-issue vehicle’s windshield was similar to the advertisements on busses; only, the outside image was clear instead of having a print on it. Reece loved the anonymity it gave him. But for some reason, he would swear that the man had looked him dead in the eyes. The same man who’d jumped off a hundred and thirty-five foot bridge and pulled up the girl who’d jumped.
Reece examined the image on his phone. Just a red wax seal with a ‘C’ stamped into the middle, but it meant something. Why use a relic as a calling card? When his boss indicated that the stories might be connected, Reece didn’t see it, but then the same man he’d been tracking had shown up.
“Who are you Derrick Ashton? Or
Chapter Twenty-three
“So why can’t I be a part of the meeting?” Kristina asked again from the passenger seat.
Derrick took his eyes off the highway and smiled at her pout, her arms crossed over her chest, her lip jutting out a fraction. He resisted smiling, knowing it would only irritate her more than she already was. “It’s not that I mind, but there’s a very good reason other than the others just feeling uncomfortable, which I tried to explain to you earlier.”
Kristina cocked her head and shrugged her shoulders as if to tell him she didn’t care what the others thought.
Derrick decided to continue with the rational reason why. “If authorities discover us, we can escape, you cannot. We—okay, I’d rather you not ever be put in a position where you would have to lie more than you already have to.”
She released a sigh as if she understood, but still didn’t buy it. “So, I just sit around and wait while you discuss using me as bait?”
He squeezed his fingers around the steering wheel. He should have never told her that Michael wanted to draw the rogue out by leaving her unattended. “We are not using you as bait, Kristina,” he said with finality. “Besides,” he continued, not giving her an opportunity to argue, “my mother has never been involved. She understands that she isn’t a superhero.”
A burst of laughter shot out of Kristina’s mouth. “A superhero? Is that what you are Derrick?”
At that remark, he found himself pouting slightly. There wasn’t a UFC fighter, boxer, or creatus that could take him out with their bare hands, but somehow, this tiny woman could bring him to his knees. “Some would say so,” he offered. “I don’t go around trying to act like one, and I may not be able to fly, but I can leap tall buildings with a single bound.”
Kristina leaned over the center console, draping her arm around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder. “You’re my superhero, Derrick. Always have been.”
Pacified, he kissed the top of her head, breathing in the raspberry scent, which he’d discovered was the shampoo she used. She could also lift him up faster than anyone else could.
After pulling onto his parents’ driveway, he drove around to the rear of the house this time. He threw the gear in park and jumped out, anxious to get the day over with and get home.
Kristina jumped down when he opened the door and marched off toward the house without a glance backward. She was such a firecracker. Spunk, as he’d always known, the girl had spunk.
He heard his mother greet Kristina when she walked into the kitchen, and then the kiss she’d certainly placed on her cheek. “
“
Derrick shook his head and walked off toward the barn, smiling, listening as his two favorite women walked out the front door chattering to each other. He was thrilled they were getting along so well, even if they planned to talk about him. He stopped in his tracks. No. They couldn’t go off on their own, he realized. He took off in a sprint and leaped the house, landing in front of them.
His mother threw her hand over her heart. “Oh, my word, Derrick. You scared the—I’m not used to you showing off, and you know better than that,” she lectured.
“I’m sorry. I really am. And I swear you can talk about me all you want. I promise I won’t listen, but you can’t walk to the lake by yourselves.”
“Why on earth not?” Sabrina retorted, folding her arms over her chest in defiance. His mother wasn’t the type of woman you told what to do, he knew.
“The rogue was here, Mom. At the lake when Kristina and I went for a paddle. He’d like nothing better than to take the two most important people in my life away from me, I’m sure.”
“Oh…” his mother said, and Derrick exhaled in relief, thankful that she didn’t plan to argue with him. Sabrina focused on Kristina and nodded. “He’s got a point, sweetheart. We’ll walk down together later, the four of us.”
“Okay, Derrick,” Kristina conceded. “But I’m taking a sign language course, and then I’m going to teach your mother.”
Derrick leaned in and kissed his mother on the cheek and Kristina on the lips. “Works for me.” He took off in a hurry, listening as his mother locked up the house. He’d make a conscious effort to tune them out, except of course if they were in danger. But he doubted the rogue would come anywhere near the house. Unless he or she was already in the barn waiting.
Michael intercepted Derrick at the door. “Good call on Mom. I’d hate to think she was in danger just because she was next to Kristina.”
Derrick crossed his arms, tucking his fists beneath his arms, resisting the urge to punch his brother. Michael was really getting on his last nerve. “So, you couldn’t care less what happens to my future wife as long as Mom is okay?”
Michael rolled his eyes. “You know that’s not what I said. Man, you’re in an awful mood these days. Still haven’t had sex, I take it.”
Rolls of laughter emanated from inside the barn.
Unable to resist, Derrick smacked Michael upside the head. At least he hadn’t punched him. “I don’t think you said that loud enough for the Mid-West family to hear you. Want to borrow my phone so you can call them?” Derrick stopped talking as he heard a familiar voice. “Jonas is here?” He slammed past his brother, understanding why he’d met him at the door.
Michael hurried up alongside of him. “Chill, Derrick. He’s cool. It’s not as if we banished him. Jonas left because he wanted to leave.”
