Protected by Shadows (14 page)

“I like you quivering below me, Alexsa.” He nuzzled her ear. “I want more of last night.”

She turned slowly to face him, a cold grin fixed in place. “Sorry, that was nothing more than me forgetting how things are between us. You like to use me on the down low and keep it a dirty secret. No need to let it develop any more than that.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. “We’re married now.
You
made sure of that.”

“Because I knew
you
wouldn’t be happy. And you’d take that fucking ring off the chain around your neck, which I had to deal with all the time. That’s why I did it, not because I was in love with you, Val. Nor because I couldn’t go without you in bed. Trust me, I have ways to deal with that.”

His gaze narrowed on her face. “I catch you with another man, Lexy, I’ll kill him.” The words were issued in a low, dangerous tone and he knew the moment he said them, they were nothing but the truth.

“I would suggest then you get to work and catch these fuckers because I don’t need you in my bed. Either that, or buy a lot of tissues and lotion.” She blinked. “Now get your hand off the door, I have work to do.”

She left without a look back and it was his turn to swear. How had it gone from her being potentially agreeable to them arguing over sleeping together again? It didn’t make any sense.

Story of our relationship.
A dry snort escaped him.
Relationship? We don’t have one. I don’t know what it is, but it’s far from a relationship.

That bothered him. He didn’t like that bit of knowledge. He returned to her desk chair and lowered himself into it. How the hell were his siblings making it work? Gio? Enzo? Both of them had been male whores in his opinion with the number of women they’d fucked all over the world. Pilots and race boat drivers seemed to attract a lot of women who would do just about anything to say they’d slept with someone in that profession.

He wasn’t like that. True, he’d been married for a time, but even before that and since then he’d been way more selective than either of his brothers had in choice of bed partners. There hadn’t been a string of nameless women parading in and out of his hotel rooms. Not even a string of named women.

Ignoring his need to be near Lexy, Valentino began perusing her employee files. There was nothing that jumped out at him. However, he sent the list of names to Ethan to dig deeper.

“Got them,” Ethan said when he called to make sure all had arrived.

“I want everything on all of them, Ethan. I want it all the way back to the type of diapers they wore as a baby.”

“You got it, boss. Oh, Beau wants to talk to you.”

“What?” Valentino asked after the phone had been handed off.

“Anabelle and I have been called away. Ethan too, but he said he will get you what you need first.”

“Where to?” He liked having them near but understood when the call came, they had to go.

“Anabelle Lee is headed to Greece with Ethan. I’m on my way back to Georgia.”

“Give my best to Mrs Maybelle.” Beau’s grandmother was a character all to her own.

“Come for a visit, she’d love to see you and your new wife.” Beau cleared his throat. “You going to be okay?”

“Meaning?” Valentino leaned back in the leather chair and stared up at the textured ceiling.

Beau chuckled. “Meaning that cute wife of yours seems to be more than a slight handful.”

Valentino moved his gaze to a picture of her with Jaydee. “I got her handled.”

Flat-out laughter this time. “Not a chance, man. But I love your optimism. Good luck thinking that way.”

“Fuck off, man. I can handle a woman. And I can handle Lexy.”

The clearing of a throat had him looking up to see Lexy standing there, one eyebrow lifted as her arms and ankles were crossed.

“Is that so?” she asked in monotone.

Shit.

Beau laughed even harder. “Stepped in it this time. I doubt flowers or chocolate—”

Valentino hung up on him, never taking his gaze from Lexy.
This isn’t going to make things any better between us.

“I’m ready to leave. Shut down my computer and let’s go.”

Lexy walked off without another word. He did as she ordered, all the while waiting for something to come flying at his head. Nothing did, but he never let down his guard. He headed out to reception and realized a lot of time had passed while he’d been in her office. Everyone had left for the day, aside from the two of them. Lexy waited at the counter, scratching Benny—one of the clinic’s two Himalayans—and whispering cooed words into his ear.

“I’m ready.”

When she glanced over her shoulder at him, he spied the facial tic and knew she was still beyond irritated with him. With a kiss for Benny, she walked out of the door. Valentino stared at the sway of her ass in her jean shorts. The heels she wore only accentuated her long legs and bubble butt. The scrubs she wore during work hours didn’t hide her sexuality but now, since she’d changed, it was even more prevalent.

“Hurry up,” she snapped at him, waiting by the alarm code pad.

I should probably be looking for ground up glass in my food tonight.
He didn’t tarry and was soon beside her in the convertible as she cranked up the music, pointedly ignoring him.

She seethed as she drove. The fact she couldn’t see any steam rising from the top of her head actually came as a surprise. He could handle her. Handle
her?
Her jaw hurt from the pressure she exerted upon it so she took a deep breath and willed herself to calm down.

From her periphery, she could see him slanting glances at her. At least the man looked a bit worried.
Good. He should be.

“Lexy. Let me explain.”

“I think it best you don’t say a word. Period.” She downshifted as she came into her neighborhood and slowed the car according to the posted speed limit.

He shifted in the seat but remained blissfully quiet. She pulled into the drive and idled the car. Valentino didn’t move, just looked at her.

“Out.”

His brows converged. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t answer to you, Val. Don’t make that mistake, now or ever. Get the fuck out of my car. You’ve broken into my home before, I assume you can do it again.”

“I’m not getting out. We need to talk.”

Rolling her eyes, she scoffed, “More of this damn talking. Why? You don’t know who is doing this. I don’t know. And right now, I think I may do you considerable physical harm if I don’t get away from you. So, for the last time. Get your annoying Italian ass out of my car before I get violent and have to tell the cops why I’m visiting them again.”

She knew he was taken aback by her statement. He tilted his head to the side. It had to be the ‘visiting the cops again’ comment—that always threw people.

“This isn’t going to go away, Lexy.”

“Right now, I’m just wishing
you
would go away.”

He finally climbed out and shut the door. She drove away without giving him a chance to say another word. Or get back in the vehicle.

Music loud and pumping, she drove until her rigid muscles began to relax. At a local park, she pulled in, turned down her music and idled in the car for a bit longer. When she was sure she was back in control, she hopped out after shutting off the engine and walked to the lake, rubbing her neck. A headache was fast approaching and she wanted to avoid it as best she could.

Lifting one foot at a time, she removed her heels then meandered to the water’s edge. The cool liquid lapped at her toes before she progressed deeper into the body of water. Eyes closed, she continued until the surface hovered just below the hem of her shorts, mid-thigh. Her shoes, dangling from one hand were submerged and she didn’t care.

She wriggled her fingers and fought the desire to just sink below the surface. When had her life spun so far out of control?

“I want off this ride, it’s no damn fun.”

Part of the blame could be placed on that very first day she’d met Valentino Cassano, for she knew that had put her into a tailspin for sure. She’d flown out to Oregon to give Jaydee—her best friend—support after she’d called saying Gio’s family had shown up. At the time, Jaydee had been pregnant and Gio had been deployed.

Jaydee’s upbringing had been…different…to say the least, and she really didn’t do well with people in her space. So the arrival of a large, boisterous Italian family hadn’t been her idea of fun.

The day Lexy had arrived—with Gio, who’d she met at the airport, in tow—she’d met Valentino. Eldest of the three Cassano brothers. Also the most serious. He’d called her a pit bull then later that night down along the lake, near the dock, she’d learnt what it was like to sleep with a Cassano. Valentino confused her. Challenged her. Aroused her.

Since that first time when passion had exploded between them, hot and powerful, she’d been addicted to him. Like a drug. And part of her had figured him to be just as bad for her as drugs were for others.
He
was her drug of choice.

And now I’ve gone and married him.
She shook her head. It didn’t make any sense. For the past few years, they’d met up when they could and had shared nights and days of incredible pleasure. But like she’d realized in Zurich, it wasn’t good for her anymore. She’d fallen for him. She was in love with him.

Add in the fact he was some clandestine operative and that only made things even more confusing and difficult, in her opinion.

“Throws a huge cramp in my style.”

Then to top it all off with, there was this group of crazies who wanted her for something. Exactly what? She hadn’t any clue. All she knew was it had brought Val back into her life and had made him her husband.

“Hey, Dr Camden!”

The child’s cry drew her attention. Lucy Kramer. She was in an inner tube and frolicking about.

“Miss Lucy.” Lexy waved to Lucy’s parents.

Before long, she’d tossed her shoes to the shore and was reclining in her own large tube, completely soaked from head to foot. Playing with the children and simply relaxing did wonders for her disposition.

After the sun had begun to lower in the sky and they’d all trudged up from the shore, Lexy stopped to swipe her shoes, which might very well be ruined. She held them by the straps and looked them over.

“Are they okay?” Barbara Kramer asked.

“It doesn’t matter. I needed the break. Thanks so much for allowing me to crash all y’all’s party.”

The blonde shook her head. “You didn’t crash. Lucy loves you. She’s decided she wants to be a vet like Dr Camden.”

Lexy smiled. “If she still feels that way when she’s older, I’ll find work for her at the clinic so she can get some hands-on experience. I’ll make sure to tell the guys as well, so if it’s large animals or exotics, she can have her pick.”

Barbara touched the cross that hung around her neck, eyes somber and serious. “Eugene is in our prayers, honey. If there is anything we can do, you let us know.” Her expression brightened. “Thank you for looking after our Lucy like this. We know you wouldn’t have to, but to have someone give her such support…” She held her arm. “She idolizes you so.”

“We all love her and want to see her succeed so, like I said, when she gets older, if that’s what she wants to do, we’ll make it work. Perhaps on a day when I don’t have too much to do I can bring her in and let her do some rounds with me for my patients who are there overnight.”

Barbara’s husband, Kenneth, took the inner tube from Lexy and tossed it in the back of their large truck. “Good to see you again, Lexy.”

“You too, Kenneth. I’ll see you later, Barbara.”

Barbara smiled. “Yes. We’ll have to do a potluck. We all want to meet this husband of yours.” Her blue eyes cut to the large diamond ring on her finger.

Forgot I was even wearing it.
Lexy splayed out her hand and nodded. “It was kind of a secret until we could tell my brothers. Happened over in Zurich when I was there a little while ago.”

Barbara beamed with elation. “I’m so happy for you. Been waiting a long time for you to get married and settle down.” She gripped her arm. “Children won’t be that far behind.”

Lexy nearly froze at that idea.
Children. With Valentino?
It wasn’t anything she’d thought about.

Why are you thinking about it now? This is a sham of a marriage. As soon as these freaks from The Watchers are caught, he’ll be on his way again and you’ll be alone all over again.
Okay, so that wasn’t the nicest thought.

“I’ll set it up and we’ll have a get-together this weekend.”

Lexy nodded. There truly wasn’t any stopping Barbara once she got in this mode. Past the blonde head, she met her husband’s sympathetic gaze. He gave her a nod and got one in return before she leaned in and hugged Barbara.

“I have to get going. Kind of got sidetracked.” The lights in and around the park began turning on. “I’m sure I could use some dry clothing as well.”

The Kramers got on their way after she’d hugged Lucy. Alone, Lexy finished the walk to her car. Her keys were a bit wet when she pulled them out of her pocket, but she wasn’t worried
—
her car wasn’t one of those new ones that had a bunch of electronics just to get in it.