Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

W averly was not happy. She loved the sex. She loved spending time with Kane and talking to him. She loved how their feelings both seemed to deepen and their bond tightened over the last three days, but she didn't love sitting in Kane's home doing nothing else. She was getting antsy. She wanted to work, and she didn't want to constantly feel she was in danger. The only time she could let those feelings go was when she was in Kane's arms.

"Lark should be there by now," Waverly said as she paced the living room.

Kane looked up from his computer and nodded. He'd been sending updates to her boss on the failed negotiations and trying to find Bruno's current location. So far, he was a ghost.

Kane's phone rang and Waverly about jumped. "It's Quad," Kane said, answering on speaker. "Did you get it?"

"Hey, bruh. Yeah, so there's been a development. We got the photos but Waverly's house was trashed," Quad told them.

"Are you okay?" Kane asked instantly and Waverly was relieved his first priority was Quad and Lark.

"Yeah, we're all good. No one was here. What do you want us to do?"

"Where are you right now?" Kane asked and Waverly could see his mind turning. Kane had told her he liked to watch her work, but she could say the same for him.

"In the driveway."

"Okay, look upset, which I'm sure you are. Slowly glance around. Let me know if you see anyone sitting in a car watching you."

Waverly gripped the back of the couch as she understood what Kane was getting at. Quad and Lark could still be in danger.

"Two guys in an SUV three houses down," Quad said a couple of seconds later.

"Hang tight. I'm calling Peter." Kane muted the phone and made the call. Waverly didn't think she could move. Her fingers dug into the couch and her heart was hammering. She wanted to yell for Lark to run to get as far away as possible. Kane hung up and switched back to Quad. "I'm on my way, so is Peter. See if you can get a photo, but don't be obvious. I'll stay on the phone with you the whole time."

Waverly went to grab her shoes when Kane shook his head at her. "Stay here. Hunter is coming with me. Maggie and Natalie are coming over to keep you company. Damon will be here as soon as possible too."

Waverly wanted to protest, but Kane gave her a look that told her it was futile. "Lark," she said. He knew by the desperate tone exactly what she was saying.

"I need you to be safe." Kane kissed her quickly. "I will protect your sister. I promise you. I'll call you as soon as I have anything."

"Be safe," Waverly called out as Hunter's SUV slid to a stop out front. Maggie jumped out carrying a paisley rifle case, a basket, and wearing the cutest pink sun dress. She smiled and waved the men off as she walked toward Waverly.

"Morning! I brought breakfast."

"In a rifle case?" Waverly asked as she held open the door.

"Oh, that's just in case anyone interrupts our breakfast. Ah, here's Natalie."

"Good morning!" Natalie called as she walked down the street in athletic pants and a tight tank top. "I have two hours before I have to get to work. I'm sure the guys will have this wrapped up by then."

Waverly blinked. It didn't seem real. "Aren't you worried?"

"About what?" Natalie asked.

"Terrorists? Kidnappers?"

Maggie giggled. Giggled! "Nah. We're good. Speaking of which, tomorrow is ladies' night at church. Do you want to come? You'll love it."

"I'm not really religious," Waverly said, a little concerned.

"Oh, don't worry about that. It's not the Bible we're studying at ladies' night," Maggie told her as they came inside.

Thirty-seven minutes was how long Waverly listened to Maggie and Natalie doing everything they could to distract her. Maggie's phone rang and she simply handed it off to Waverly before even answering. "This will be for you."

Waverly's hands were shaking as she answered it, fearful for any danger Lark was in. "Hello?"

"Hey, sweetheart," she heard Kane's voice and while she was relieved, she was still wound tight.

"Lark?"

"Is safe and unhurt. She and Quad played their roles perfectly. Quad got a picture of the people in the SUV but they left the second Peter's FBI cruiser appeared. Peter got a plate, so they're running that."

"Tell her it looks like cartel members," Hunter called out.

"How can you tell?" Waverly asked.

"We could see a tattoo when we zoomed in on the photo. It's for a local criminal organization here in Charleston with ties to a cartel in the Dominican Republic. Cartels and gangs are international now," Kane explained. "It appears they're still looking for you. I think they ransacked the place and then watched to see who showed up and what their reaction would be. Your sister freaked out in the driveway and called 9-1-1. It worked perfectly to keep her cover."

"That drama camp paid off!" Waverly heard Lark call out. Suddenly tears of relief filled her eyes. Lark was safe and hadn't been freaking out.

"Hunter pointed out that the motivation to find you could be twofold. One is the murder for hire. And two, to prevent your technology from going forward. Criminals would not want law enforcement to have that tool and would do anything to stop it," Kane told her. "We're meeting with Peter now. Are you okay there for a while longer?"

"I am. Give Lark a hug for me."

Waverly handed Maggie's phone back to her and was suddenly enveloped in hugs. "Don't worry, it will all work out and Lark is safe," Maggie told her.

Waverly took a deep breath. "I don't understand how any criminal would have found out about my research project. I wish we had a criminal to ask."

"I think I know someone we could ask," Natalie said into the silence.

"Who?" Waverly asked.

"I might happen to know a mafia boss. Well, his family was in the mafia, but he's turned their businesses legit. I think."

"Who? And how do you know him?" Waverly asked.

"Nico Saccone. Want me to call him? He might be in Charleston right now." Natalie was already pulling out her phone.

Waverly nodded. She was tired of sitting back and waiting. "Ask if he will meet with me."

Natalie grinned as she sent a text. She got a reply almost immediately. "He says he can see us now. Ready for this?"

"Let's go."

Waverly grabbed her notebook, Maggie her gun, and Natalie her keys. Waverly opened the door and skidded to a stop. Maggie ran into her back as Natalie stumbled to the side.

"Going somewhere?" Damon asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yes," Waverly told him. Damon might look way more intimidating than the average male scientist, but that didn't mean she would back down. "We're going to see a mafia boss to find out if the people after me know about my research project or if it's an inside job."

Damon frowned but then nodded. "Makes sense to me. I'll drive." Waverly was surprised as Damon turned and headed to the SUV with no debate. "We just have to make one quick stop."

"Where? Nico is waiting for us," Natalie told him.

"The airport. I was on my way to pick up Penelope."

"Aww! The baby has returned to the nest," Natalie said with a smile about the youngest Townsend.

"Baby? I thought she was grown up," Waverly whispered to Maggie.

"She is. She graduated from college a couple of years ago."

Waverly nodded in understanding as she did some math. "That's a lot of kids very close together."

"One every thirteen to eighteen months," Damon said and then paused. "Well, two in a year since Forrest and Rowan are twins."

"I look forward to meeting Penelope. Is she similar to Olivia?"

Maggie shook her head. "Complete opposite. Pen looks like a very pretty Damon with black hair and gray eyes. She's also easy going and not scary, but I also don't know if I trust that."

Damon chuckled. "I would advise never underestimating the women in my family. And that includes you three."

Waverly saw Penelope and instantly knew who she was. Her long black hair was vivid against a silver silk blouse that matched her eyes and fitted black slacks. She was striking. And while she had a huge smile on her face, there was also a lot of Olivia in the way she carried herself.

"Oh, we got another one. Watch out Damon, you boys are losing your majority." Penelope held out her hand to Waverly. "I'm Penelope. Which brother do you belong to?"

"I don't belong to anyone, but I guess you could say I'm dating Kane. Although, we haven't really been able to go out on dates since someone is trying to kill me."

Penelope's smile widened. "Lovely! You sound perfect for him. I can already tell you're going to fit right in. Now, what's this about someone trying to kill you?"

Waverly gave her the edited version, which ended as they pulled up to a stately house turned office building downtown. "We have to have a chat with a man about a cartel. Why don't you wait in the car?" Damon asked his sister, who simply laughed and got out of the car.

Damon grumbled but didn't force her back into the car. He led the group of women into the lobby, told the assistant they were here to see Nico, and then stepped back to let Natalie take the lead since she had been the one to contact Nico.

They were shown up a sweeping staircase and into an immaculate office. A man with dark brown hair that was so dark it might be black but who had piercing blue eyes was sitting behind a desk. His blood-red tie, crisp white shirt, and a suit that had to be custom fitted to him like a glove as he stood to walk around his desk.

"Natalie, it's good to see you again." Nico stopped before the group and looked at them all. He was completely at ease, especially considering the glaring Damon was doing. Waverly saw his eyes lock on Penelope. "How can I help you?"

Waverly swore she heard Damon growl.

"Oh, I doubt you could help me, but it sure would be fun to see you try," Penelope said smoothly.

"We are not here to flirt," Damon snapped.

Nico's lip twitched in amusement. "I always love some foreplay before we get to the heart of the matter."

Penelope cocked her head to the side. "But are you a giver or a taker?"

"Enough." Damon looked ready to punch Nico, so Waverly figured it was time to step in.

"Hi. I'm Waverly Davenport and I'm the one who needs your help. The kind that doesn't include foreplay."

Nico's lips turned up into a full smile and Waverly realized Damon was in trouble. Nico was ruthlessly sexy. "What can I do for you, Miss Davenport? I have a feeling this isn't an investment you want funded."

"It's Dr. Davenport," Damon said, correcting Nico, who bowed his head quickly in acknowledgment.

"It's more to do with the rumors of your criminal background," Waverly said, getting worried when Nico's smile vanished.

"I run legitimate businesses, Dr. Davenport." Nico's voice lost the flirtatious warmth in an instant.

"I know, but I kinda need a criminal right now. Someone is trying to kill me and I'd like to find out who."

Nico's eyebrow rose. "Townsend women do bring out the passion in people."

"You wish," Penelope muttered.

Nico winked at her and Damon stepped in. "Can you help or not, Saccone?"

"I need a little more information." Nico indicated for Waverly to take a seat as he moved back behind his desk and waited.

Waverly worried her lip. She didn't know how much she could trust him or how much she could tell him. Nico simply waited. He didn't push. He just watched her.

"I was kidnapped from a resort in the Caribbean along with a boatful of people and held hostage. I was the only one not let go. I was injured on the first night and the wound was turning septic, so Kane Townsend rescued me and saved my life. As he was rescuing me, he found evidence that I was never supposed to survive. It was to appear as if it were a hostage taking gone wrong, not a murder for hire," Waverly explained.

"Are you married?" Nico asked.

"No."

"Anyone in your family want you dead to inherit money?"

"No. My parents have passed and it's just my sister and me. Lark is the one who went to Kane for help."

"Do you have an idea who took you?" Nico asked her.

"Yes," she answered, going into detail about Bruno and his organization.

Nico nodded, not looking surprised. "I know about Bruno. So, you want to know who paid Bruno to have you killed."

"Exactly." Waverly was relieved he understood what she needed but was worried that he knew Bruno. "How do you know Bruno?"

"Don't worry. I know of Bruno but don't like Bruno. He's a mercenary who takes work from bottom feeders. He doesn't follow the old ways."

"You mean the mafia ways?"

Nico smirked. "I don't know what you're talking about, Dr. Davenport. I'm a businessman. The question is, what do you have that someone wants?"

"You can trust him. Right Nico?" Natalie said, challenging him to give his word.

"You can, Dr. Davenport."

"I invented something criminals wouldn't like. Did they find out about it and did a terror group or a cartel hire Bruno? Or if they don't know about it, it narrows it down to the small group I work with."

"Ah. And what is it you do, Dr. Davenport?" Nico asked, leaning forward.

"I'm the chief science officer at Charleston Research and Development Institute. I developed, in simple terms, advanced tunnel mapping abilities."

"Isn't ground penetrating radar already used?" Nico asked.

"Think of it as GPR on steroids."

"That's not all it is, is it?"

Waverly shook her head. "But that's enough for you to see if anyone has talked about it."

"This is an interesting challenge. I'll work on it."

"Thank you. Natalie, can you send him Kane's number?"

Natalie nodded.

"I'll be in touch." Nico stood and moved to open his office door.

"Thank you," Waverly told him, hoping she hadn't made a huge mistake.