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“We don’t know for sure who they’re planning on forcing to wear the explosives,” Bo answers. “It’s a wild card that if we don’t figure it out in time could cost someone their life.” Marley pales, realizing if we hadn’t gotten her away from those men, she could have been wearing a suicide vest alongside Daisy.
“How can you find out who they’re planning to use?” Marley eventually asks breaking the uncomfortable silence that has descended on the room.
“We just have to keep combing through all the evidence we found,” Bo states. “I’m sure we will find the rest of their plan. I just hope we find it in time.” We sit another few minutes in silence as we all consider the gravity of the situation. One thing is abundantly clear. I have to keep Marley safe and secure. Bo stands.
“Well, I’m going to get back at it,” Bo declares. “Time is not on our side.” He exits my office, leaving Marley and I alone again, but the mood has changed from sensual to subdued in a few short minutes. I just wish I could have spared Marley from learning these details. I run my hand up her side giving a gentle squeeze. She leans her head over on my shoulder as we comfort one another.
“Luke?” she questions softly. “Do you think they’re going to try to get to me again?” She’s deduced the one conclusion I was hoping she wouldn’t come to. I should have known she’d figure it out. My woman is not only beautiful but smart, too. I shrug my shoulders, not wanting to lie to her but not really wanting to tell her what Bo believes.
“I don’t know for sure, baby,” I reply. “I promise my brothers and I will do everything within our power to keep you safe.” She nods against my shoulder, and I tighten my grip on her. I need to stay focused and diligent. I have to keep her here with me, safe and sound.
MARLEY
It’s been a week since I agreed to work for Luke at Invictus Securities. While I’m loving the job and the feeling of accomplishment I get from helping the guys around the office, I’m still worried about the investigation. Luke nor any of the other guys are willing to tell me any of the details they’ve uncovered. I know they’re hiding something from me, and I know why they’re doing it. They have good intentions. They don’t want to upset me or having me worrying about things I can’t control, but what they don’t realize is I am worried. The not knowing is only making it worse. No matter the security measures Luke has taken to keep anyone from getting close to me, I still feel exposed whenever I’m not at home or at the office, even though I have a body guard where ever I go.
I’ve begun seeing a therapist, but it’s only been a few times. I know it’s going to take time and that’s what she keeps telling me, too. I need to be patient with myself, but that’s easier said than done when you aren’t sleeping or eating properly. I’m tired of being broken and afraid. I feel like ever since Luke and I have been together, he’s done nothing but take care of me. He’s done his best to keep me from losing it altogether, and I love him allthe more for it, but it isn’t fair to him. I don’t want him to think of me as the damsel in distress even though I have to admit that’s what I’ve been. Luke deserves a strong, confident woman to be by his side, not the blubbering mess I’ve been.
The phone begins to ring, drawing me out of my worries. “Invictus Security and Protection Agency, how may I help you?” I answer the call.
“I need to speak to Luke Robertson,” a man demands in a harsh tone. I’m not used to his clients being so gruff. Most of them have been very nice, but I know it takes all kinds.
“May I ask who’s calling and what it’s in regard to?” I inquire in my most calm professional voice. A huff comes over the line before the man replies.
“This is Agent James Morris with the FBI,” he growls. “It’s urgent I speak with Mr. Robertson, right away.”
“Yes, sir. Please hold while I get him for you.” I place the call on hold and get up from my desk. I know Luke and the rest of the guys are in the conference room in a meeting. I hurry down the hallway, pausing to knock on the door, waiting to be granted entrance.
“Come in!” Luke calls out at hearing my knock. I ease the door open and peer inside, catching sight of him at the head of the table immediately. The white board behind him suddenly goes dark but not before I catch a glimpse of what was on it. Pictures of me at Jay’s, in front of my hair dresser’s shop, and at the grocery store I’ve been shopping at since moving in with Luke. All recent photos. My heart begins to thunder in my chest as it hits me what their meeting is about. It’s about me and the danger I’m still in. Who else would have taken these photos if not the group who’d targeted me?
“Marley?” My eyes fly to meet Luke’s, concern coloring his handsome face. I clear my throat, hoping it will help me to be able to speak after the shock I’ve just had.
“Um, there’s an urgent call for you from an Agent Morris,” Imanage to say clearly. “Do you want it sent to your office or in here?” I swallow, trying to keep my composure, but inside I’m a nervous wreck. Realistically I’ve known all along I was still in danger from this group, but I’ve convinced myself Luke is just being overly cautious with me. From what I’ve just seen, I know that’s not the case.
“Send it in here, please,” he answers. I nod and back out of the room. I notice the other men looking at me with sympathy, which only manages to piss me off. They shouldn’t be discussing my life without including me in the conversation. I return to my desk, informing the man I’ll be transferring his call. I then set the phones to ring at Erik’s desk before heading back to the conference room. This time I don’t knock. I just open the door and stroll on in. Every eye in the room turns to look at me. Luke frowns, but I can tell he realizes I saw the board before he shut it down. Agent Morris’s voice is coming from the speaker in the center of the table.
“…we know they’ll act soon from what the informant has been able to learn. You need to keep a close watch on her, Luke. She’s still their primary target, especially since their men have disappeared. So far, they haven’t found out for sure what happened to their men, but I’m sure they have deduced the outcome.” Luke has not taken his eyes from me the whole time Morris has been speaking. I can’t seem to make my feet keep moving.
“Agent Morris,” Luke begins. “Marley has joined us.” The room is suddenly silent. Only the sound I hear is the pounding of my heart in my ears and my ragged, rapid breaths. I will myself to calm down. The last thing I need is to pass out from hyperventilating during a panic attack. Luke backs up from the table as if to come to me, but I manage to get my feet moving again. Rosco gets up from his seat on Luke’s left, holding it out for me. Indicating he wants me to take his seat. He nudges Enos to movedown a seat. Once I’m seated, Rosco sits back down next to me on my left.
“Luke are you sure this is a good idea?” Agent Morris questions. Luke stares into my eyes. I lift my chin in determination. I won’t be a helpless victim anymore. I won’t allow him to keep me in the dark about what’s happening around me. “I don’t think Ms. Morrison needs to hear the details of this investigation.”
“This ismylife you’re discussing here,” I say heatedly, never taking my eyes off Luke. “I have every right to be here, to know what I’m facing. I won’t be kept in the dark any longer. Do I make myself clear?” I take a deep breath, fearing I may have just pissed off the FBI and a whole room full of larger-than-life men, but I need them to take me seriously.
“You’re right, Marley,” Luke concedes. “I’m sorry that we’ve kept things from you. I just…I thought we could diffuse the situation before it became a problem, but the information Agent Morris has obtained is proving me wrong.” He reaches out to take my hand. I nod, squeezing his hand and giving him a tight smile. I know he has my best interest at heart. He can’t seem to help being a caveman. Honestly all of these men have the tendency to be that way when it comes to someone they care about.
“Ms. Morrison anything we discuss cannot leave this room,” Agent Morris counsels. “I can’t stress that enough. This is very sensitive information. A matter of national security.”
“I understand, Agent Morris,” I snap. “Who would I tell? I’m literally only around the men in this room. I haven’t seen or even spoken to my mother or any of my friends in over a month, so you have nothing to worry about me leaking any information.”
“All right then,” Agent Morris replies. “The informant is supposed to give another update in the next forty-eight hours. He’s attempting to learn the exact targets the organization has in mind to bomb. Currently he’s overheard talk of the Washington Monument, the White House, the Pentagon, and Capitol Hill. Wedon’t firmly believe these will be their initial targets. It’s likely they will hit smaller, not as secure, targets first working out any problems with their plan of attack. It is strongly believed they will be making a move in the very near future. Likely on July 4th. They want to hit America where it hurts and killing thousands of us on our Independence Day would make a huge statement.”
“You really think they will be able to kill thousands?” I ask, not caring if I shouldn’t be interrupting their meeting. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I know things like the World Trade Center bombing in the early nineties and 9/11 bombing of the twin towers and high jacking of passenger planes happened, but I’m having a hard time processing that I could be in any way involved in something like that.
“If we don’t find out more information so we can stop them…then yes,” Agent Morris says. “I do believe they will be successful. It’s happened before, but I’ll be damned if I don’t do everything in my power to prevent it from happening again.”
“Thank you for the update, Jim,” Luke says. “We will stay diligent here on our end. If we are able to find anymore information, I’ll let you know.”
“Luke, don’t be poking around in this,” Agent Morris grumbles. “I’ve already told you if you blow this investigation, I won’t be able to keep you from getting charged with obstruction.”
