Deadly Ever After (Hardy Brothers Security Book 6) (18 page)

“This house is just beautiful,” Rose enthused, sipping from her margarita as she settled into one of the outdoor chairs on the back patio of the new house. “I can’t believe how beautiful it is. Don’t you think it’s beautiful, Mary?”

Mary smiled. “It’s big,” she said. “I don’t think Mandy is capable of cleaning a house this big.”

James tucked his tongue into his cheek. His future mother-in-law hadn’t stopped tossing hidden digs at his fiancée since she’d arrived. It was starting to grate. “I’m hiring a maid to come in once a week.”

“That’s wise,” Mary said sagely.

“The house is too big for anyone to keep up on their own,” James said. “Mandy works forty hours a week, and she wants to work on her art. She doesn’t have time to clean.”

“You mean she doesn’t like to clean,” Mary corrected.

James got to his feet. “Mary, would you like another drink?”

Mary nodded.

“Richard?”

Mandy’s milquetoast stepfather shot James an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

James moved over to the barbecue, joining Finn and Jake. “I’m going to kill that woman,” he muttered.

Jake gave him a sympathetic look. “If it’s any consolation, I don’t think she realizes how … obnoxious … she’s being.”

“I don’t care,” James said. “She’s done nothing but insult Mandy since she got here. She doesn’t like the dress. She doesn’t want me to pick out flowers. She’s insisting on cooking us breakfast tomorrow because Mandy doesn’t like pancakes. I’m going to … .” James mimed choking an invisible person.

“That’s probably why Mandy disappeared,” Finn said.

James glanced around the party. “She
has
been gone a long time.”

“I’d leave her be,” Finn said. “She’s obviously on edge. I swear, when her mom said that the furniture you guys picked for the living room was blasé, I thought Mandy was going to kill her right there. It’s a good thing you guys haven’t bought knives for the kitchen yet.”

“I have no idea how Mandy turned out so normal,” James grumbled.

“Mandy watches shark movies instead of porn,” Finn pointed out. “She’s not normal.”

James smirked. “Maybe I’ll pop
Jaws
in before we go to sleep tonight,” he mused. “She needs to relax.”

“I thought you were sick of that movie?”

“She’s not,” James said. “That’s all that matters.”

“You’re so whipped,” Finn teased.

“And proud of it.”

The sound of Ally squealing assailed James’ ears. He glanced over to see his mom leaning in to whisper something to his sister and Emma.

“Mom seems okay with the whole being-shot thing,” Finn said.

“She’s not okay with it,” James countered. “She’s doing a great job of acting like she is, though.”

“Well, it’s something.”

James shrugged. “When is Grady supposed to be getting here? I expected him and Ally hours ago.”

“I think they’re enjoying their time away,” Finn replied, a hint of mischief flitting across his face. “Grady sent me an email. He’s got some interesting news. He also told me Sophie had never stayed in a hotel before. I think that’s why they stayed two nights.”

“Well, great,” James complained. “A madman is trying to kill me, and Grady is getting his rocks off with room service and do-not-disturb signs.”

Finn sighed. “You know that’s not what he’s doing.”

James ran a hand through his newly shorn hair. It was a little shorter than he was comfortable with, but arguing with his mother in front of the barber had seemed like too much effort. “I know.”

“You’re on edge,” Jake said.

“Do you blame me?”

“No. There’s nothing you can do about it tonight. You should just enjoy the evening.”

James stuck his tongue out, causing Jake to smirk.

“Where is Mandy?” Mary asked, getting to her feet. “What kind of hostess hides from her guests during a family party?”

James scowled. “I’ll get her.”

“I’ll get her,” Mary offered, shooting James a winning smile. “I don’t mind. She might need a kick in the ass to get going.”

James downed his beer. “I’ll get her.”

HE
found her in the room next to her studio. She was sitting on a beanbag and flipping through a catalog. Her legs were extended in front of her, the black garters he loved so much poking out from beneath her black skirt. Her face was drawn and focused.

“What’s up, baby?”

Mandy glanced up. “I’m hiding.”

“I noticed.”

Mandy turned back to the catalog. “I’m just looking at furniture.”

James nodded, sinking down on the floor next to her and resting his head against the flimsy beanbag. “I thought we were done looking at furniture?”

“Didn’t you hear my mother?”

“Your mother is a trip,” James said. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that our visits up north usually consist of one night.”

“I love my mother.”

James balked. “I know. I didn’t mean … .”

“I love my mother,” Mandy said. “There are times I want to kill her, though.”

“Join the club.”

Mandy giggled, resting her head against James’ shoulder. “I wish we could just elope.”

James glanced down at her, blonde hair obscuring her face so he couldn’t ascertain how serious she was. “Do you want that?”

Mandy stilled next to him. “Do you?”

“I want what you want.”

“I want … I want the wedding I planned,” she said. “I want to say the vows I’ve prepared in front of people. I want people to know how much I love you.”

“I know how much you love me,” James replied. “That should count for something.”

Mandy lifted her head, pressing her lips against his softly. “It counts for everything.”

James cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss. “I love you, baby.”

“I love you.”

Their tongues met, and the energy in the room shifted from sweet to hot. James reached over, his hand lodging beneath her rear as he tugged her to him. Mandy crawled onto his lap, facing him, and rested a thigh on either side of his hips. James raised her skirt, running his hands over her bare rear.

“Are you going commando tonight?” He was hopeful.

Mandy shook her head. “And risk flashing my mother? Are you crazy?”

James smirked, slipping his fingers higher and pushing her thong to the side so he could rub inside her wet nether lips.

Mandy moaned. “We shouldn’t do this. They might come looking for us.”

“I don’t care,” James said, biting her lower lip lightly as he touched his tongue to hers. “If they risk coming up here, they deserve what they get.”

Mandy reached down and rubbed the impressive bulge in the front of James’ pants. “You’re going to have to be quiet.”

“I’ll try.”

She unzipped his pants, and reached inside, wrapping her hand around his hard length. She flicked his head with her thumb, causing him to shift. “Push yourself up so I can pull your pants down.”

James did as instructed. Mandy shimmied his jeans down his rigid thighs, not far enough to remove them, but far enough to clear the way for what she had in mind. She moved closer to him, rubbing her warm center against his twitching cock and causing him to moan.

James captured her mouth with his welcoming lips, pulling her closer to him. He pushed her thong to the side as she lowered herself on him, relishing the way she slid over him.

They groaned together as she pushed all the way down, taking his full length to the hilt.

Mandy pulled away so she could look him in the eye. Neither of them said anything for a full minute. Neither of them shifted. Then, she lowered her forehead so it rested against his and lifted her hips.

James sighed when he felt her slide back down. Her movements were purposeful, tantalizing.

James dug his hands into her rear, her skirt fanning out above them. He used his arm muscles to help push her back up, digging his short fingernails into her flesh as she thrust downwards.

The room was filled with soft sighs, muted moans, and the occasional mewling of a content coupling. James moved his right hand from Mandy’s behind and pressed it against the excited nerve bundle on the high ridge of her moist mound.

Mandy’s forehead was still resting against James’ forehead, her eyes never leaving his. “Oh.”

James smiled, pressing harder with his thumb.

“Oh.”

Mandy increased her pace, building toward mutual satisfaction for both of them. James rubbed his thumb in a circular motion, causing her breath to catch in her throat. When she slipped over the edge, she stiffened in his arms. James never lost the rhythm, jerking up from beneath her until he careened into the abyss with a self-satisfied cry.

Mandy was trembling as she rested against him, her warm lips offering a series of sensual kisses to the side of his face. James shifted his chin so he could do the same against the pulse point in her neck.

“I needed that,” James said, tightening his arm around her back.

“Me, too.”

James was still inside her, and Mandy made no effort to slide off. As much as she loved the sudden invasion when he entered her, she dreaded the feeling of emptiness that followed his retreat. She was delaying the inevitable – and she was fine with it.

“Omigod!”

James stiffened, pulling Mandy tight against his chest as he looked over her slumped shoulder and came face to face with his mom. Oh, and Mandy’s mom was there, too.

“Did you two just … ?”

James made a face, making sure Mandy’s skirt covered her backside, and his still frisky member. “What’s up?”

Mandy’s body was shaking. At first, James was worried that she was about to fall apart. Then he realized it was silent laughter sending her into convulsions. Unfortunately, her inadvertent movements were causing him to harden again inside of her.

“Did you two just have sex?” Mary was incensed.

James considered the question. “Yes.”

“Don’t you think you should be more embarrassed?”

“Not really.”

“But … .”

“What are you doing up here?” James asked.

“Looking for you.”

“Huh.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

“I’m not sure what else there is to say,” James admitted.

“You should be ashamed of yourselves,” Mary said.

“Funnily enough, though, we’re not.”

Mary opened her mouth in incredulous outrage.

“Why don’t you guys go and get some dinner,” James suggested. “We’ll be down in a few minutes.”

“But … .”

“Give us five minutes.” James twitched when Mandy shifted on top of him. “Twenty minutes tops.”

Mary made a face. “This is just … .”

Rose tugged on Mary’s arm. “They’re in love.”

“But still.”

Rose smiled. “Sometimes you just need to express your love.”

“So, why are Mom and Mary as pale as ghosts?”

Grady and Sophie had arrived twenty minutes before, Louis corralling Sophie so they could catch up, while Grady conversed with his brothers and Jake next to the grill.

“Mom and Mary went looking for James and Mandy and found them having sex,” Finn supplied.

Grady barked out a laugh. “What really happened?”

When no one responded, Grady scanned the assembled faces and then focused on James. “Seriously?”

“It’s their fault,” James said. “We weren’t doing anything wrong. It was an accident.”

“Yeah, the first time can be referred to as ‘an accident’ – kind of,” Finn said. “The second round, the one after they left with red faces, that was just salt in the wound.”

Grady’s laughter bordered on hysterical.

“It’s not that funny,” James said.

“Oh, God, it’s funnier than anything I’ve heard in days,” Grady sputtered.

“If you’re expecting me to feel guilty, I don’t,” James said. “We needed it.”

“You guys always need it. Why was this time any different?”

James pointed at Rose and Mary. “Well, for starters, Mom decided to cook us breakfast in bed this morning and found us naked.”

Grady’s grin widened.

“And then Mary won’t stop poking Mandy and making her feel bad for not wanting a big wedding. She’s picking at her constantly. I don’t like it.”

Grady’s face sobered.

“That’s not right,” he said. “It’s Mandy’s wedding.”

“It’s not fair,” James said. “I want her to be happy.”

“She is happy,” Grady said, pointing to the lounge chair where Mandy and Ally were giggling. “You just have to look at her to see that.”

“I want to keep her happy,” James said. “What did you find out?”

“Not much,” Grady admitted. “The house was mostly empty. I’m not sure he ever plans on returning.”

“You didn’t find anything?”

“One of his neighbors – a delightful woman named Edna, who is convinced I’m gay and Sophie is in for some heartbreak, by the way – did have an interesting tidbit,” Grady said.

James waited.

“She said that Anderson was pretty much a loner,” Grady said. “She called him a ‘good’ neighbor. She said his only visitors were of the male persuasion, and they only stayed for one night and then never returned.”

James furrowed his brow. “I don’t understand.”

“Sophie has a theory.”

“Doesn’t she always?”

“After some thought, I’m leaning toward agreeing with this theory,” Grady said.

“Is that because you were fornicating like freaks in a hotel for two nights, or is it really a legitimate theory?” James queried.

“You’ll have to decide that for yourself.”

James cleared his throat, extending his hands, palms-out, for emphasis. “Are you going to tell me?”

“Sophie thinks that Anderson is gay.”

James mulled the statement over. “Why?”

“Because it sounds like male escorts visited the house for one night and then never returned,” Grady said.

“Maybe they were just friends?”

“Maybe,” Grady agreed. “But what if they weren’t?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Jake broke in.

“What if Jeff Pace and Tony Anderson were more than friends?” Grady said, filling in the blanks for three curious minds.

“Oh,” Finn said, tilting his head to the side.

“Oh,” Jake echoed.

“Oh,” James said, wracking his memory for appropriate clues. When things snapped into place, his heart plummeted. “Oh.”

“Do you think it’s true?” Grady asked.

“I think … God … yeah.”

“Did you ever see them … doing stuff?” Grady shifted uncomfortably, the question hanging in the air.

“No,” James said. “They often volunteered to go on supply runs together, though. Neither one of them wanted to go with other people.”

Jake made a face. “Oh, man.”

“Hey, if they were in love, they were love,” James chastised him. “It’s no different than one of us doing the same thing. Not you, you’re not allowed to do that with my sister. The rest of us, though? We’ve all done it.”

Jake took a swig from his beer, avoiding three sets of brown eyes as they landed on him in turn. “I’m fine with it.”

“You’re a sick man,” Grady said, punching Jake lightly on the arm.

“I didn’t say anything,” Jake protested.

“We all know what you’ve been doing with our sister,” James said. “Keep it to yourself.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

James shifted his attention back to Grady. “What do you think we should do?”

“I think we need to solve this sooner rather than later,” he said.

“I agree.”

“Sophie and I have a meeting with Peter tomorrow,” Grady said. “We’re going to ask him to track Anderson for us.”

James was surprised. “I thought you didn’t want to ask Peter for favors.”

“I don’t,” Grady said. “I want Mandy to have her day even more.”

James leaned forward, hugging his brother quickly, and then breaking away before they could draw too much attention. “Thank you.”

“I love her, too,” Grady said, his voice low. “We all need a happily ever after here.”

“ARE
you sure he’s not going to have a problem helping us?” Grady asked, squeezing Sophie’s hand for emphasis as he brought it to his lips.

They were parked in front of Peter Marconi’s palatial mansion in Grosse Pointe, two mob enforcers staring at them from their spots next to the front door. It was Friday morning, and the clock was ticking. The Hardy brothers had forty-eight hours to solve a mystery – and save a wedding.

“He’ll help,” Sophie said, pushing her door open. “He likes Mandy. He finds her delightful.”

“We all find her delightful,” Grady said, jumping down from the truck and landing on the solid concrete of Peter’s driveway. “That doesn’t mean he’s going to help.”

“He’ll help.” Sophie waved at the guards as she led Grady toward the front door. “Peter is expecting us.”

One of the guards opened the door and ushered the duo inside. Peter was waiting for them in the foyer. “Sophie, I’m so glad to see you.”

The brunette reporter hugged him warmly. “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice.”

“You don’t have to make an appointment,” Peter chided her. “You’re always welcome here. Even if I’m out of town, this is still your home.”

“I know,” Sophie said. “I need you now, though, not your home.”

“This sounds serious,” Peter said.

“It’s very serious.”

Peter led Sophie and Grady into a sitting room and listened to their story. When they were done, his face was thoughtful. “Well, that’s quite the tale.”

“I need help,” Sophie said. “Mandy and James need their wedding.”

“Ms. Avery is a true joy,” Peter said. “Anything I can do to help, I’m here.”

“We need to track Tony Anderson,” Sophie said. “We can’t go to the police. We have no proof. We know he’s in the area. We need to find him.”

“You want me to run his credit cards, don’t you?”

“We can’t do it,” Grady said. “Our search engines are limited. It could take days. We don’t have days.”

“And you’re okay with asking me for help?” Peter’s question was pointed.

“I’m okay with making Mandy’s dreams come true,” Grady replied, not bothering to avert his eyes from Peter’s probing gaze.

“You know, Mr. Hardy, when Sophie first picked you as a match, I wasn’t sure about her choice,” Peter said. “The fact that you’re willing to put your own suspicions aside in an effort to help your brother and his fiancée, well, that speaks volumes.”

“I love my family,” Grady said. “I love Mandy, too. I’ve known her since she was young. I’ve known her when she was scared of being herself, and I’ve known her when she embraced being herself. Now I just want her to get everything she’s ever wanted.”

Peter smiled. “I like your candor.”

“We need your help,” Grady said. “We’re running out of time. James is going to go through with the wedding no matter what, even if it’s a bad idea. We need Tony Anderson neutralized before the wedding. To do that, we have to find him.”

“Will you kill him if you find him?” Peter asked.

Grady considered the question. “I don’t know. Does it matter?”

“I’m just curious.”

“I do not want to kill a man in pain,” Grady said. “I also don’t want to go to a funeral before Mandy and James get their happily ever after. If we get the chance, we’ll take Anderson in alive. If it comes down to it, I have no qualms about killing him.”

Peter patted Sophie’s hand reassuringly. “Well then, let’s find Anthony Anderson and make sure the delightful Ms. Avery gets everything she’s ever wanted.”

“I’VE FOUND
him,” Peter said, moving back into the sitting room.

Grady and Sophie jumped to their feet.

“Really?” Sophie’s brown eyes were tinged with hope.

“He’s staying in a rat hole in Eastpointe,” Peter said. “It took some doing. He’s not using his own credit cards. After running his known associates, we found that someone using a card in the name of Jeff Pace has been staying at the Sunset Inn on Eight Mile for the past two weeks.”

Grady grimaced. “How did he get a credit card in Pace’s name?”

“It’s not as hard as you would think,” Peter said. “That’s what’s so scary about the information age.”

“Thank you,” Grady said. “You don’t happen to know what room he’s in, do you?”

“Eight.”

Grady pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I owe you.”

“You owe me nothing but Sophie’s happiness,” Peter countered.

Grady nodded, searching through his contact’s list.

“Please hold on to the feeling you have right now,” Peter said, his tone grim.

Grady stilled. “Why?”

“Someone set up a trap and trace on the credit card number,” Peter said. “Once we found it, the user was tipped off that we had discovered it. He’d installed a Trojan horse.”

Grady faltered. “He’s going to run.”

“Yes.”

“Shit,” Grady muttered. “We’re already too late, aren’t we?”

“I don’t know,” Peter admitted. “I need you to remain calm.”

Grady tilted his head, his brown hair dipping low on his left shoulder. “Why?”

“I dispatched a retrieval team five minutes ago.”

“Retrieval?”

“I told them to take Anderson into custody alive if they can,” Peter said. “If that wasn’t an option, I told them to kill him.”

Grady sucked in a breath, trying to calm himself. “Why?”

“Because I didn’t have time to think,” Peter said. “I hope you understand, I’ve given you enough information to incarcerate me for the rest of my life with this admission. I figured Ms. Avery was worth it.”

Grady was torn. “I’m not sure what to say.”

“Say what’s in your heart.”

“My head says that what you’ve done is wrong,” Grady said. “My heart says something else entirely.”

“I understand the feeling.”

Sophie reached over and clasped Grady’s hand. “I’m sorry.”

Grady met her steady gaze. “I’m not.”

“You’re not?”

“If I had taken the time to call my brothers and move on the hotel, Anderson would surely be gone,” Grady explained. “We would have lost him. The wedding would have still been in limbo. Now? We’ll either catch Anderson or scare him out of the area. Either way, the wedding is saved.”

Sophie sighed, relieved. “Are you sure?”

Grady brought her hand to his lips and kissed the ridge of her knuckles. His answer surprised even him. “Yes.”

Peter nodded, respect moving across his features. “I admire the love you have for not only your brother, but the woman he loves.”

“I’ve known Mandy for a long time,” Grady said. “I’ve loved her for as long as I’ve known her.”

“And your brother is okay with that?”

“We were kids together,” Grady said. “There are many different kinds of love.”

Peter glanced at Sophie fondly. “There are at that.”

“ANY
news?” Grady asked, biting his thumbnail nervously. The three of them had been waiting in the sitting room for what seemed like forever.

Peter made a face. “I’ve been sitting here with you. Have you seen me receive any news?”

Grady scowled. “No. Sorry. I’m just … nervous.”

Peter smiled indulgently. “Maybe we should talk about something to pass the time.” He turned to Sophie. “Tell me about the wedding.”

“I’m wearing a blue dress,” she said. “It’s really pretty.”

“You’ll show me pictures?”