Loving Vin (Barretti Security Series, #1) (16 page)

Mia closed her eyes and brought a picture of Vin into her head the second she realized the sick asshole was going to pull the trigger. The gunshot resonated through the air and something hot and wet hit her face but it took her several long, precious seconds to realize there was no pain...no blackness as death claimed her. She forced her eyes open and let out a muffled cry at the sight of the man lying dead at her feet, a gaping hole in the side of his head, his lifeless eyes staring straight ahead. Her eyes darted around until she found what she was looking for. Not what...who.

Not more than fifteen feet away from her with gun still raised stood Ren.

***

“A
re you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”

The hospital was absolutely the last place she wanted to go so she shook her head at Declan. It had been nearly an hour since the shooting and she felt like she was going to have a complete meltdown if Vin didn’t get here soon.

“How much longer?” she asked.

Declan seemed to know what she was asking and smiled gently at her from the other side of his desk. His office was tiny but neatly organized. There were no pictures or decorative items that hinted beyond his life on the force.

“Vin should be here in a couple of hours. They left Spokane about an hour ago.”

Mia nodded. She’d forgotten that Vin and Dom were meeting a new client on the other side of the state.

“How’s Ren?”

Declan hesitated as if he were searching for the right words. Ren hadn’t spoken to her after the shooting other than to ask if she was okay but he’d gently wiped the specks of blood from her face with his sleeve before putting the gun on the top of the car as they waited for the police to arrive. She’d protested when the cops put Ren in handcuffs but she’d been told it was just procedure.

“He’s hanging in there,” Declan responded.

“You can’t lock him up,” Mia whispered. “Not after what he’s been through.”

Declan got up and came around the desk to sit in the chair next to hers. “He’s not in a cell but we’re keeping him in an interview room until the prosecutor can get down here to talk to you and him. I called in a favor so you guys should both be out of here within the hour.”

“He saved my life, Declan.”

“He won’t face charges, Mia. But I can’t release him until the prosecutor officially confirms he did it in your defense.”

Mia managed a nod. “Can I see him?”

“I’ll see wat I can do once you’ve both talked to the D.A.”

She was surprised when his hand closed over hers. “Everything will be okay.”

“Who was he?”

“His name was Owen Pritchett. We found his car in the alley behind the warehouse. Our techs think he hacked Riley’s phone to get your number and then used a spoofing app to make it look like she was the one texting you.”

Mia felt tears sting her eyes as the whole situation began to sink in. “I’m such a fool,” she whispered. “I just thought the sooner I got things back to normal...”

“It’s not your fault, Mia.”

“Yes it is. And Ren...”

“Ren will be okay. I’ve known him for a long time. He’s strong – he’ll get through this,” Declan said firmly.

God, she hoped he was right because she wasn’t sure Vin could face losing his brother all over again.

***

M
ia followed Declan into the small interview room and watched with concern as Ren fidgeted where he stood in the corner of the room. Declan led her to the table in the middle of the room and pulled out the chair for her. After she sat down, she glanced over her shoulder and saw that Declan had placed himself near the door. It was clear he wasn’t going to leave her alone with Ren.

She shifted her eyes back to Ren. He was clearly struggling to maintain his control and his eyes kept flipping between her and Declan.

“She just wants to talk, Ren,” she heard Declan say and she was surprised to see Ren settle somewhat. But it was clear he wasn’t going to sit down.

“Thank you, Ren,” she said softly.

He gave her a sharp nod but didn’t say anything.

“How did you know?” she asked.

Ren’s eyes once again searched out Declan before he said, “I’ve been following you.”

Surprise went through her. “Since you left?”

He nodded. Ren had walked out of Vin’s house nearly three weeks earlier.

“Why?”

When he didn’t respond, Mia nodded in understanding. “You were looking for some kind of proof against me.”

She thought she saw a flash of shame cross his features. “I know what that bitch did to him.”

“You mean Elise?”

He nodded. “Vin’s been protecting us his whole life...”

Further explanation wasn’t necessary. Little brother was trying to look out for big brother. “Is there anything I can say to prove I won’t hurt him?” Mia asked desperately.

His silence was his answer and she felt a sense of dread go through her. What kind of future would they have as a family if Ren never trusted her?

“Declan,” Ren said and Mia glanced up from where she’d been studying her hands. The young man motioned something to Declan.

She felt a big hand close gently around her upper arm and guide her to her feet. Ren was dismissing her. She followed the detective towards the door but stopped and turned to face Ren. “Come home, Ren. We can make it work.”

Ren closed his eyes as if in pain and turned his head away. She had her answer.

***

V
in’s relief was palpable when he slammed through Declan’s office door and saw Mia sitting hunched over in one of the chairs. It wasn’t until he got closer to her that he realized she was asleep.

“She’s okay,” he heard from behind him and saw Declan striding up to him and Dom with two cups of coffee in hand.

“And Ren?” Dom asked.

Declan glanced into his office and motioned for Vin and Dom to take a few steps back from the doorway, presumably so Mia wouldn’t overhear if she woke up.

“He’s gone,” Declan said softly.

“What?” Dom nearly shouted.

“You let him go?” Vin snapped.

Declan set the coffee down on a nearby desk and crossed his arms. “The prosecutor deemed the shooting as justifiable. I couldn’t hold him.”

“Damn it, Declan, he wasn’t in his right mind.”

Declan reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Dom. Dom opened it and then sucked in a breath before handing it to Vin.

Don’t look for me.

Vin closed his eyes as a wave of sadness swept through him.

“I’m sorry,” Declan said gently.

Vin handed the note back to Dom and went into the office and knelt down next to Mia.

“Baby,” he whispered as he brushed a kiss over her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open and then quickly filled with tears.

“I’m sorry, Vin,” she managed to get out before she wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her out of the chair and held her against him.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he responded softly. “Let’s go home.”

***

V
in heard Mia suck in a breath at the sight of news trucks lining the street as they neared the house. “We knew this was a possibility,” Vin reminded her as he reached a hand across the console to close around hers.

“I know,” she sighed. “I just hoped they wouldn’t figure it out so soon.”

They’d left the TV studio less than an hour ago yet the press had still managed to beat them home. Mia’s first on-screen TV interview had gone well but he guessed it wouldn’t be her last, especially since news of Owen Pritchett’s identity had been leaked. But somehow Declan had managed to work his magic and keep Ren’s identity a secret though Vin knew it was just a matter of time before some sharp minded reporter didn’t buy the story they’d come up with – that it had been a private bodyguard who had come to Mia’s aid.

There’d been no word on Ren since he disappeared from the police station and his loss was felt by both himself and Dom. But it was Mia who was struggling with his absence since she continued to blame herself for him leaving. She’d gotten it in her head that if she weren’t in the picture that Ren would have stayed and no amount of arguing on his part seemed to dissuade her of the notion. But in his own heart Vin knew he and Dom would have lost Ren no matter what. Whatever demons were driving Ren, he wanted - maybe even needed – to handle them on his own.

“You want to talk to them?” Vin asked as he activated the gate leading to the house. He made sure to leave the second gate farther up the driveway closed so the dogs wouldn’t get loose as he waited for Mia to decide.

“Tomorrow,” she finally said.

Vin nodded and pulled the car in, ignoring the throng of people calling out to Mia and taking pictures.

“It’ll quiet down eventually,” Vin reassured her as he parked the car in front of the house.

Mia nodded and gave him a smile that said volumes before she climbed out of the car to greet Bane and Briego. She’d come a long way since the day he’d discovered her hiding out in his house. So had he, for that matter.

As he went around the car, he reached out to take Mia’s outstretched hand and led her into the house. “I have a little surprise for you,” he said with a smile before punching in the security code for the front door.

“Does it involve whipped cream or chocolate sauce?” she asked coyly. The question caught him so off guard that he laughed heartily a second before sweeping her into his arms for a scorching kiss. When he finally was forced to come up for air, he made himself drop his arms from around her waist so that he could tug her into the den.

Mia came to a halt when she saw the three kittens sitting in the crate in the far corner of the room, their mewling cries increasing as they realized they were no longer alone.

“What are they doing here?” Mia murmured. “Riley said they all found new homes.”

“They did,” Vin said as he reached down to flip open the latch on the door so the kittens could come out.

When he turned around, he was surprised to see tears flowing down Mia’s face. He pulled her into his arms. “I thought you’d be happy, baby,” he whispered against her neck.

She pulled back and nodded. “I am,” she managed to get out.

Before he could respond, Georgie wandered into the room and Mia gasped.

“Vin, I’m sorry, I don’t know how he got in-” she cried out as she turned to grab the pig.

Vin snagged her wrist and dragged her down to the loveseat. “Look around his neck,” he said gently. Mia reached down and fingered the soft nylon collar around the pig’s thick neck and then froze when she saw the small box attached to it.

“The doggy door was tall enough for him but I did have to have it widened just a bit,” Vin said as he patted the pig’s side. “Figured if he was going to be a part of the family, he should be able to come and go as he pleases.” He pointed to a perch in the corner of the room. “I got Percy a few additional perches so he doesn’t feel too left out.”

“Family...” Mia said with a mix of awe and surprise. “That’s what we are, isn’t it?”

Vin nodded as he trailed his fingers through her hair and he didn’t object when she climbed into his lap and kissed him sweetly. When she drew back he said, “I thought of a few names. Riley said they were all boys so I was thinking
Jaga, Lion-O, and Tygra.”
At her strange look he realized she was too young to get the reference and explained, “They’re characters from a cartoon Dom and I used to watch religiously as kids. But you can name them something else...”

She cut him off with a kiss. “The names are perfect.” Her thumbs brushed gently over his cheeks as she held his face. “Vin, do you think you’d want children with me someday?”

Emotion clogged his throat as he imagined what his son or daughter with Mia would look like. He found it hard to speak but managed to get out, “Yes, I want it all with you, Mia. Marriage, kids. Whenever you’re ready.”

“I’m ready,” she whispered.

He tensed as hope unfurled deep within him. “But your career,” he said.

“There’s no reason I can’t have both, right?” she said.

Now he
was
too overwhelmed to speak so he just nodded. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tucked her face against his throat. “How’d I get so lucky?” she asked softly.

“I’m the lucky one, Mia. I love you so much,” he said before his lips found hers and he kissed her. Five seconds later he felt the first set of razor sharp claws digging into his leg.

“T
here’s been another hack,” Dom said as he strode into Vin’s office.

Vin sighed and scrubbed his hand over his face. “What did they get this time?”

“The research I did on Logan and his friends,” Dom said angrily. “Fucker could ruin all the work Logan has done with the foundation,” his brother muttered. “He’s spent months getting it off the ground, getting donors. They find out what he used to do for a living...”

“Sit down, Dom, before you worry a hole into my rug,” Vin muttered. His brother was an incessant pacer when he got angry and any threat against Logan was sure to drive Dom into a full on rage. Not that Vin could blame him – if anyone came after Mia that way, he’d tear them to pieces.

“Did they get anything else?”

“Stuff on Savannah too. And Gabe and Shane,” Dom said wearily. “Whoever they are, they’re really good.”

“Any news from Cade?” Vin asked.

They’d sent one of their best men, Cade Gamble, to track down the owner of an IP address that Dom’s IT team had discovered after the hack.

“He’s on his way back,” Dom said. “He should be here tonight – he says he found something.”

“We’ll get the bastard, Dom. Logan and the others will be okay. We’ll make sure of that. No matter what.”

Dom nodded. “I need us to be a family again, Vinny,” Dom admitted.

“Ren will come home,” Vin said as he got up and went around his desk to sit next to his brother whose eyes were downcast. “Rafe too,” he whispered. “We’re going to keep our promise to both of them.” He dropped his hand on Dom’s shoulder.

Dom’s hand came up to cover his for a moment.

“Vin, can I ask you something?” Dom said in all seriousness.