Page 6

CHAPTER 6

Tension hung heavy in the air as Ethan followed Brooklyn into the house.

“How was it, dear?” Mrs. Forbes asked as she rose from the sofa, her warm smile genuine despite the late hour. “Did you manage to take care of everything?”

Brooklyn cleared her throat but her voice remained tight. “Yes, it was fine. I can’t thank you enough for helping me out these past few days.”

Mr. Forbes stood, his movements slow and deliberate, the shuffle of an elderly man with limited mobility. “It’s been our pleasure, dear. You know we think of you as a daughter, and Liam is such a treat.”

Brooklyn’s lip trembled slightly, and Ethan stepped closer, searching for something to say to ease the pressure building in her. He could see how much she was struggling to hold herself together. “I hope Mojo behaved himself,” he offered.

“What a fine animal!” Mr. Forbes said, glancing around the room. “He was just here a moment ago. Must have wandered back to Liam’s room.”

“Yes, he’s a good dog,” Ethan agreed. “I’ll just go fetch him. It was nice meeting you both.” He shook hands with Mr. Forbes and nodded politely to Mrs. Forbes before heading down the hallway.

Ethan quickly checked the other bedrooms and bathroom, finally poking his head into Liam’s room. Mojo was curled up on the foot of the bed, his ears twitching slightly. Ethan gave a low whistle, and the dog perked up, obediently hopping off the bed to follow him.

When Ethan returned to the living area, Brooklyn turned from locking the front door, her expression hesitant. “I want to apologize for yelling earlier. It was unfair. I was upset, but that’s no excuse.”

Ethan waved her off. “You’re under a lot of pressure, and you’re scared. I’ve been yelled at before—it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Still,” she said, her voice quieter, “I owe you an apology. You’re helping me, and I should have treated you with more respect.”

“Brooklyn,” Ethan said, leaning casually against the back of the couch, “you don’t need to apologize. It’s all good. The bigger question is, do you feel safe here?”

She hesitated, her gaze darting around the room. “I… you just put up the cameras, so it should be fine… right?”

“Do you feel safe here?” he repeated, his tone firmer. “Cameras or not, if you don’t feel safe, you won’t sleep, and Liam will pick up on your stress.”

She frowned, chewing her bottom lip. “Where else would we go? To a hotel? I doubt I’d feel safer there. Jackson decided to redo his floors while he’s away so we can’t stay there either.” Her explanation sounded rushed and defensive.

Ethan crossed his arms, watching her carefully. She didn’t feel safe. He could see it in the set of her shoulders, high and tense. Her fingers fidgeted at her sides. He couldn’t leave her like this—it wasn’t in him to walk away when she and Liam were vulnerable.

“I can move you both to the Brotherhood Protectors’ ranch,” he suggested. “They have secure cabins you could stay in until this is sorted.”

Brooklyn’s eyes met his, and for a moment, he saw the appeal of the idea flicker in her expression. But she shook her head. “No. I appreciate it, but I think that would upset Liam even more. With his father gone and the science fair coming up, it’s better to keep him in familiar surroundings.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. She was scared, and that didn’t sit right with him. He had another idea, though he doubted she’d like it. “I’ll sleep on your sofa tonight. Mojo can stay in Liam’s room.”

Her lips parted in surprise. “I?—”

“I won’t interfere,” he said quickly. “I’ll just be here, in case anything happens. To be clear, I doubt they’ll come back tonight, but I can’t guarantee it. All I can promise is to protect you both.”

Brooklyn hugged herself, visibly battling some internal war. He could tell she wanted to agree but couldn’t bring herself to say it.

“I’ll leave before Liam wakes up,” Ethan added gently, “so you won’t have to explain anything to him.”

She hesitated a moment longer before nodding, letting out a sigh that seemed to release some of the tension coiled in her. “I guess that would work.” Her tone was resigned, but her shoulders relaxed slightly. It was a small victory.

“Let me take Mojo out, and I’ll check the property,” Ethan said. “It’ll take ten minutes, tops. Then we’ll be good for the night.”

“You don’t have to sleep on the sofa,” Brooklyn murmured, her voice soft. For a second, Ethan thought she might be offering him her bed, but she continued, “There’s a spare room.”

He shook his head. “The sofa’s better. It puts me between all the entry points and you two. Mojo will stay with Liam, and as long as you keep your door open, we’ll both hear if anything happens.”

“Fine,” she said brusquely, her tone shifting to business-like efficiency. “That works.”

Ethan nodded, signaling to Mojo, and the two stepped outside. As Mojo sniffed around, Ethan grabbed a couple of weapons from his truck, checking the property with a sharp eye. Satisfied that everything was secure, he called the comms center to confirm the cameras were operational.

A few minutes later, he returned inside. “We’re good to go,"

Brooklyn gave him a weak smile. “Thanks for doing this.” She stood next to the sofa, which she’d already made up with a sheet, a pillow, and a blanket.

“I want you both to be safe, Brooklyn. We will get to the bottom of this.”

She nodded and turned away but not before her eyes started filling with tears. “I’m just going to make myself a cup of tea. Do you want some?”

“Sure.”

“I have cranberry, mango, chamomile…I think I have more, but I can’t seem to find them.” She rummaged through the cupboard next to the fridge.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having.” He leaned on the counter and waited.

She cleared her throat but kept her back to him and bustled around the kitchen. Finally, she stood in front of the kettle on the stove as if willing it to boil. The sound of a muffled sob reached him and that was all he needed. He went over and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.” He knew it was stupid to promise anything. Too many years in the Special Forces had taught him that, but he couldn’t deal with Brooklyn crying. The situation was terrifying, and he needed her to know she wasn’t alone in this.

“I…” her voice broke as she turned and rested her head on his chest. He held her tightly as she cried softly, wetting his shirt. She clung to him in a way that hurt his heart but it was also…familiar somehow… As if he’d done this before. And it felt good. Right. As if this was where he was supposed to be. He hadn’t felt like that in a long, long time.

“I’ve got you. We’re not going to let anything happen to Liam. We will get to the bottom of this.” He squeezed her tighter. He breathed in her scent. Vanilla. A small pang of disappointment hit him. The woman in his dreams wore something citrusy. He gave himself a mental shake. Brooklyn was real and she was in his arms. Nothing was better than that. Certainly not some dream that haunted him. The citrus smell was probably his laundry detergent.

Brooklyn sniffed and lifted her head. “I’m sorry I made your t-shirt wet.”

“Not a problem. I know this is hard and incredibly stressful, but hang in there. Liam needs you to be strong. You cry on me whenever you like, okay? I’m right here with you.”

She nodded as her gaze locked with his. A jolt of electricity ran straight through to his cock. Damn, he wanted her so badly it hurt. He leaned down to kiss her, his lips barely brushing hers. She froze for a second and then started to respond. Her soft lips brushed his and then deepened the kiss. Ethan squeezed his arms around her, and she melted against his torso. The piercing scream of the kettle made them jump, and she quickly turned away, avoiding looking at him.

“Here’s your tea.” She gestured to the mug on the counter. “Thanks for staying,” she said and then turned and disappeared down the hallway.

It was still dark when Ethan sat up, yawned, and stretched. It had taken him a long time to drift off after what happened in the kitchen. His body ached to hold Brooklyn. She fit him perfectly, but he felt guilty. This was not the time to make a pass at her. She was in a vulnerable state, and he didn’t want her to think he was trying to take advantage. If only she didn’t feel so damn good. If only this all didn’t seem so damn familiar. His mind flicked once again to the woman who haunted his dreams.

Ever since the accident, this mystery woman visited his dreams. He couldn’t make out her face or her voice, but he felt her next to him. Her soft touch on his skin. He wanted her like no one he’d ever wanted before, and in his dream, her long hair smelled like citrus and something wholly feminine. And…was there something about a tattoo or a birthmark? For some reason, that struck a chord within him. Something island shaped, maybe? But his memory was so faulty lately. Part of him hoped she was real. But the other part, the realistic part told him to let it go and deal with what was in front of him. Mooning over some ghost girl haunting his dreams was just plain stupid.

He sprang up, folded everything, and left it on the couch. Quietly, he used the bathroom, gave the house a quick once over, and then grabbed Mojo. They went out and got in his pickup. They drove around the block and found parking down the street. He’d agreed to leave before Liam woke but he wasn’t leaving them alone. The attempted kidnapping had happened during daylight hours so he would stay there until backup arrived. He wasn’t taking any chances.

The rumble of an engine caught his attention as Cooper Harris pulled up behind him. Coop strolled to the driver’s window, his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets.

“Long night?” Cooper asked, leaning casually against the door.

“Not too bad,” Ethan replied.

“So, what the hell do you think this really is?” Cooper asked, his tone more serious now. "If they came back to stake out the house, it's far more serious than I think any of us first thought."

“Agreed, and I have no idea. Not a freaking clue,” Ethan admitted. “Teens taking kids for joyrides? No. It doesn’t add up."

"I’m checking on that license plate, but it might be a while. Nova got a phone call early this morning and took off right after. She said she’d let me know when she got the info on the plate, but I’m not holding my breath. Whatever happened this morning that led to that call was serious.” Cooper frowned. “I've asked Bellamy and Rusty to run the plate whenever one of them gets to the comms center, but it won’t be until later today."

Ethan stifled another yawn. "Thanks."

Copper nodded. "You and Mojo head home. Get some breakfast, a shower, maybe even catch some shut-eye.”

“Sounds good. Thanks for holding the fort.”

“Don’t mention it.” Cooper clapped Ethan on the shoulder.

Ethan watched Coop return to his truck and then headed for home. He fed Mojo, grabbed a quick shower, and caught a couple of hours of sleep. A few hours later when his phone rang, he answered immediately.

“Foster,” he said.

It was Bellamy. “Coop filled me in. What’s your take on all this?”

“It’s weird,” Ethan admitted. “There’s something else going on here. Nova rolled out early this morning, and you know how she is. If it’s DEA-related, it’s big.”

Bellamy paused before replying. “You think it’s connected to Liam?”

“I don’t know. Could be coincidence, but I’m not a huge believer in coincidence. If there’s something big involving the DEA happening on the Big Island, then chances are there’s some kind of connection."

"I think you're right. I’ll head to the school and check out their security. Just to be sure they can't get to Liam there. Rusty is coming along as well. No way these guys get Liam.”

“Good call. Let me know if you need more backup. I really appreciate the help," Ethan said. “Brooklyn’s scared out of her mind, even if she won’t admit it. I appreciate you all stepping up.”

Bellamy chuckled. “She came to you for a reason. Just keep your head on straight.”

Ethan laughed. “No promises.”

The parking lot was full when Ethan pulled into the police station, but he was able to spy Brooklyn getting out of her car as he climbed out of his truck.

“What are you doing here?” he called out. “Is everything okay?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” she replied, her voice tight.

Ethan hesitated. He didn't want to scare her off or anger her by overstepping. “I figured it was time to talk to the cop who took your report on Tuesday. They need to know that the van was at your place last night. I thought you wouldn’t want to deal with Peterson. The way you described him wasn't flattering. Sorry if I’ve overstepped."

Brooklyn sighed as she brushed a stray tendril of hair out of your face. “I appreciate your efforts, but it isn’t necessary. I got a call this morning. They’ve got some guys in custody. I’m here to see if I can identify them. I didn’t want to bring Liam unless I had no choice.”

“That’s smart,” Ethan said, holding the door open for her. “Let’s get it over with.” She looked like she was going to argue with him but then, with a shrug, she entered the building.

Inside, Officer Peterson greeted them with a curt nod. “Miss Alexander." He glanced at Ethan. "And you are?"

"Ethan Foster. I am a security consultant hired by Ms. Alexander."

Peterson's eyebrows lifted. "I see." He glanced back and forth between Brooklyn and Ethan, but her expression never changed. Peterson gave a small shrug. "We have three boys in custody. I’d like Ms. Alexander to take a look… See if you recognize any of them.”

The cop led them to a small room with a window looking into another room. “One-way mirror. They won’t be able to see you,” he explained. “Each one will be identified by a number. Let me know if you recognize anyone.”

Brooklyn nodded stiffly. “I understand.”

One by one, the boys were brought forward. Brooklyn studied their faces carefully. She leaned closer to the glass before shaking her head. “It’s none of them.”

Peterson frowned. “You’re sure?”

“Positive,” she said firmly. “The guys who tried to grab Liam were older—early twenties, maybe. These boys are too young. Also, none of them have bruises.”

“Bruises?” Peterson asked, narrowing his eyes.

Brooklyn folded her arms. “I hit one of them in the throat. Hard. It would’ve left a mark, and none of these kids have any.”

Peterson sighed. “These are the kids we’ve got for joyriding pranks. Are you sure you got a good look?" Doubt laced his voice. "You know, in the heat of the moment, things can get… confusing. Maybe you don't remember the whole thing the way you think you do."

Brooklyn's eyes narrowed to slits. "I remember it perfectly. It's hard to forget when someone tries to kidnap your family."

"Um… yeah, well, sometimes it's not so cut and dried. Anyway," Peterson continued, "several other families have identified the boys so they will be charged. You can tell your nephew he's safe now."

“Yeah,” Brooklyn said coldly. “Sure. As soon as you catch the guys who tried to grab him.”

Peterson shifted uncomfortably. “Right. Okay, in the meantime, let me know if you notice anything else unusual.”

Brooklyn opened her mouth but caught sight of Ethan shaking his head. She closed it again.

“We'll be in touch," Ethan said and then placed a reassuring hand on Brooklyn’s back, ushering her toward the door. “We’ll figure this out,” he said quietly. "There's no point in arguing with him. He doesn't believe you and no matter what you tell him, you won't change his mind."

Brooklyn didn’t answer. She stared straight ahead, her jaw tight. Ethan escorted her toward the door when he heard a familiar voice call his name. He turned to see Nova Martin approaching briskly.

“What are you doing here?” Ethan asked, surprised. He knew as a DEA agent she usually operated out of a different office.

Nova gave him a tight smile. “There’s a…problem I’ve been asked to help with." She nodded toward Brooklyn. “Hey, Brooklyn. How are you doing?”

“I’m okay,” Brooklyn replied, her voice steady but subdued.

“Sorry to hear about what happened to Liam. That’s really tough,” Nova said sympathetically.

Brooklyn nodded politely. “Yes, it is, but we’re managing.”

“That’s good. I know Ethan is keeping an eye on you guys. You’re in good hands with him and the rest of the boys,” Nova said with a brief smile. Brooklyn gave a small nod but didn’t comment.

“Anyway,” Nova continued, turning to Ethan, “can I chat with you for just a second?”

Puzzled, Ethan nodded. “Sure." He turned to Brooklyn. "Why don’t you give me a minute, and then I’ll walk out with you?”

“No need,” Brooklyn said, shaking her head. “I’m going back to work. Maybe I’ll catch up with you later.” With that, she disappeared out the door.

Great, Ethan thought. That’s not going to be helpful at all. He wanted to talk to her about their next steps and now she seemed pissed with him.

He sighed to himself as he turned back to Nova. “What’s going on?”

Nova glanced around before gesturing for him to move closer to the corner near the door. “This morning, I got a phone call. The two guys who were in Halawa Prison on Oahu for the drug ring—my former boss and his accomplice? Someone shanked them. They’re both dead.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “What do you think is going on?”

“I think someone’s tying up loose ends,” Nova replied, her voice low.

“Makes sense, I guess,” Ethan said but he was completely puzzled why Nova would be sharing this with him. “Why are you telling me this?”

“You remember that plate number you asked me to check?” Nova asked.

Ethan’s gut tightened. “What about it?”

“The vehicle is registered to a company—one we know is a front for the Yakuza.”

“Your former boss was Yakuza?” Ethan asked incredulously.

She shook her head. “I think he had contacts within the Yakuza. I think they did business together.”

“And now you think the Yakuza had something to do with the kidnap attempt on Liam.”

Nova nodded. “I know it seems far-fetched, but…” She hesitated, then sighed. “You know as well as I do that sometimes kids get involved in all kinds of crap.”

Ethan’s chest tightened. “There’s no way Liam is involved in anything to do with the Yakuza. No way.”

“I’m not saying he is,” Nova said quickly. “But why would the Yakuza want to go after him?”

“No clue,” Ethan said, frustration creeping into his voice.

“Look, Ethan.” Nova glanced toward the officer behind the desk who was calling her name, “I’ve got to go. But I need you to talk to Brooklyn. See if she knows anything—anything at all.”

Ethan frowned. “I will, but it’s a long shot. She’s going to be as confused about this as I am. And Liam? He’s just a kid. He’s got his head buried in science fair projects, video games, and middle school shit. He’s not that kind of kid.”

“I hope you’re right,” Nova said. “But check it out anyway, will you? Let me know what you find.”

“I will,” Ethan replied.

Nova gave him a nod before walking off. Ethan stared after her, his mind racing. He couldn’t figure out why the Yakuza would want anything to do with Liam, but whatever was going on, he was determined to get to the bottom of it.