“When he saw you come running back out, obviously upset, he went upstairs and found your family.They must have used silencers because the agents never heard gunshots.”Looking somberly at Moriah, he continued.“Agent Samson was very sorry about your family, but the agency had no clue they were in danger.If they did, they would have protected you and your family.The DEA didn’t even know why they were killed.I told Samson about the money and gun—so, it appears that mystery is solved for them.”
Moriah’s bottom lip and chin quivered.“W-why haven’t they arrested Leo and the other men?”
Knowing the unfortunate answer, KC took her hand.“They’re low men on the totem pole, sweetheart.The DEA wants Hernandez.”
Sean nodded.“That’s right.”
Confused, she glanced back and forth between the two men.“Then, why doesn’t the DEA tell the police what happened?”
“Samson’s sure that Hernandez has several contacts in the Chicago PD.At the moment, they’re not sure who they can trust.”
Her shock was evident on her face and in her tone of voice.“So, no one will be arrested for killing my family, and I have to run again to stay alive?”
The men knew the workings of law enforcement, but as a civilian, it was hard for the woman to comprehend things had to work a certain way to reel in the bigger fish.Sitting forward, Sean spoke in a soothing tone.“I told Samson you were hidden somewhere safe, but I didn’t say where you were located.He assured me the case was coming to a head soon, and in addition to the drug arrests, there will be charges in the homicides.”
Her shoulders sagged, and when she spoke again, it was so softly that the men had to strain to hear her.“What happened to my family?Where were they taken?”
“They’re still at the county morgue.Unfortunately, if no one claims them soon, they’ll be buried by the city in a potter’s field.”
KC’s heart and gut squeezed as Moriah sobbed.“I’m their only living relative.My mother was an only child.”
Putting his arms around her, he hugged her tightly to his chest.“When this is over, I’ll see to it that they receive a proper burial.”
“I-I can’t ask you to do that,” she mumbled into his shoulder as her tears soaked his T-shirt.
“You’re not asking.I’m offering.No strings attached.”
Biting her lip, she lifted her gaze to his.“Th-thank you.”
Brian stood.“So, now what?We just wait?”
The other men reluctantly agreed.“We wait.”
Chapter19
After KC tucked an exhausted Moriah in her bed and told her he would join her soon, she immediately fell into a deep sleep.He stood watching her momentarily from the doorway as her chest rose with every inhalation and fell with every release.She looked so small in the king-size bed, and her dark hair contrasted sharply with the white pillowcase.He couldn’t help but think he had never met a woman who meant this much to him and had never expected to.But they needed to free her from this horrible mess she was in before he told her how he felt.Then, if she was willing, they could decide if what existed between them was something that could last a lifetime.For the first time in his life, he prayed it was.
Closing the bedroom door, he ambled to the living room, where his brothers and uncle were still seated.They’d spent the rest of the late afternoon and entire evening going over the little intel they had obtained and trying to devise a strategy.Sean would contact Agent Samson again in the morning to check if the man had acquired any further information for them.They also decided Uncle Dan would inform his good friend, Matt Griffin, the local sheriff, of what was happening in his town in case the Malone men needed any additional assistance.Brian advised his uncle that Griffin could call him with any questions.In the meantime, they would keep Moriah safe and hidden in case Brian’s phone call to Detective Parisi had raised some red flags.
Leaving for the night, Brian and Dan said their goodbyes with promises to call in the morning.Sean was taking KC’s bedroom.No one had batted an eye over the fact that KC would be sleeping with Moriah, and she had been too tired earlier to be embarrassed about it.He planned to stick to her like glue until this was over.The day had taken its toll on her.In telling her story for the first time, the deaths of her family hit her again with full force.She was terrified, but the brothers and their uncle had assured her nothing would happen to her on their watch, and she’d thanked them for their vows of protection.
Before going to bed, KC contacted his team’s gadget specialist.Tobias Anderson III, known by his nickname T3, was a genius with anything electronic.The six-foot-five, two-hundred-thirty pound, former Navy football linebacker was intimidating in broad daylight and downright scary in the dark.A scar ran from his left temple down his cheek to the jawline.KC had been on that mission when a terrorist carrying a wicked knife had surprised them and managed to get one connecting swipe before taking a bullet that sent him to Allah.T3 had killed the tango and extracted another wounded teammate, all while his cheekbone protruded through the gaping incision the knife had inflicted.The naval surgeons sutured more than 150 stitches to close the wound.While on some men, the large scar might be a hindrance in the looks department, on T3, it had only increased his sex appeal with the opposite sex.The ladies loved him.
Shortly after KC’s call, T3 had driven down to the Malones’ beach house with a knapsack full of goodies for the brothers.In addition to silent entry alarms, which could be attached to windows and doors to alert them to intruders, he’d also included several boxes of ammunition for the Glocks both KC and Sean carried.It was enough to take on a small army.
When KC raised his eyebrows at the stash, his SEAL teammate held up a hand to halt a verbal question.“Don’t ask, don’t tell.I could only scrounge up six alarms on short notice, but I was able to pick up two receivers for you.I hope that’ll be enough.If not, I can probably locate a few more in the morning and run them back down.”
“No, this should be fine,” KC assured him as he glanced around the living room.“The only easy access points are the windows along the deck and the back door, so this will be plenty.The other door leads down to the garage, and you can’t help but hear the overhead door roll up.”
T3 snorted.“I doubt you’re dealing with rocket scientists.They’ll take the easy way and probably kick the backdoor in.”
KC thanked his teammate as he left and promised to call if he needed more assistance.Now, before getting some sleep, Sean and KC began the task of attaching the silent alarms to the doors and windows that could easily be breached.They also set up a receiver in each of the bedrooms.With the house as secure as it could be for the night, KC clapped his brother on the shoulder on his way to the hallway.“Moriah changed the sheets on the bed earlier for you.See you in the morning, bro.And thanks for coming.”
Sean let out a soft “Yee-haw,” which had KC chuckling all the way to the bedroom.It had been a long time since the brothers had played cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers together, but this was the first time as adults that they were teaming up against a real enemy.
After placing his loaded weapon on the nightstand next to him, within easy reach, KC climbed into bed and stretched out next to Moriah.The silent alarm receiver sat on the dresser, where he could see the flashing red light and hear the low warning alert if it went off.He was still dressed in his jeans but had taken off his T-shirt.He didn’t expect any trouble tonight.However, he wanted to be able to move in a hurry if he had to.
Gently, he wrapped one arm around Moriah’s torso and brought his leg over her thighs in a protective embrace.He was rewarded as she snuggled closer to him in her sleep.Before he realized it, he succumbed to the darkness himself.
