Leverage (The Brannock Siblings) Read online

  Lucas filed that away. Looked like the man was cautious around his partner. Too cautious.

  "She doesn't need your protection," Lucas said dangerously. "I suggest you stay away from her while she is in town. Her brothers don't take too kindly to… well, anyone really."

  He heard Ash snicker behind him and he grinned at the image that formed in his head. Con and Gus would be happy to hold the man down and let Lucas beat the hell out of him.

  "Don't get too comfortable, Shade," Gibbs replied, obviously catching the hint. He glanced over to where Con and Gus were watching him, then backed away carefully before hurrying after his partner.

  He felt Ash's hand release his jacket before he took a deep breath and turned to her. "You okay?"

  She nodded, her eyes red from the crying he assumed she had done while she was alone. "I just can't believe the things they are accusing you of."

  He ran his eyes down her long hair, his fingers itching to tangle with it. He wondered how it was possible to be so angry and so aroused at the same time and came to the conclusion that it was only possibly when Ash was around. She had a power over him that no one else ever would.

  "Well, keep not believing it. Those two are on my radar, especially Gibbs. Your brothers don't feel right about them either, which tells you something."

  She gasped, "Do you think he is the leak you are looking for?"

  "Not sure, but it's a start." He turned to watch Gibbs climb into his car and drive away. "It could just be that he really actually thinks I'm involved."

  She tugged on her hair, "I can't imagine why. He knows how close you are to my family. He had been working with dad for years."

  Yeah, that's what had been going through his head, but people were capable of anything and Gibbs knew that as much as he did.

  He placed his hands on her shoulders and bent down to level with her eyes. "You ready to go, baby?" he asked softly.

  Her lips twitched with a smile, the one he had been going for. It thrilled him to know that the endearment made her at least a little happy on a day like this. "Yeah, let's go."

  He walked her back over to her brothers and quickly introduced her to Rains.

  "It's a pleasure, Ms. Brannock. You take care of this guy, yeah? Protect his tiny heart," he said to her and slapped Lucas on the back.

  Her eyes narrowed for a moment, studying Rains, then she shook her head stuttered, "Oh, I-I'm not… we're not…"

  Justin laughed, "Okay, I get it. See you all soon." He walked away and climbed into his car after waving to them once more.

  "He's nice. I think I saw him at the station before with Dad, but I don't think I've ever talked to him. Does he… does he know?"

  Lucas shook his head. "No, he just knows I have a thing for you and he won't say anything about it, but he is under the impression that you want nothing to do with me. And we want to keep it that way. For everyone."

  She nodded and glanced at her brothers before blushing and looking back at Lucas. "Is that why you haven't really touched me today?"

  Her brothers rolled their eyes and groaned.

  Lucas felt his heart break a little. He wanted to hold her and comfort her, but everything else was in the way. He watched her blush deepen and the need to make her his was unbearable. He placed his hand on the small of her back and started leading her to the car. "That and I wanted to give you some space," he murmured in her ear.

  She nodded in understanding and they made their way to Lucas' car with both of her brothers grumbling behind them. He watched Ash take one last look at her father's grave before smiling and sinking into the passenger seat while he held her door open. He watched her hands adjust the hem of her skirt, covering up the small length of leg that had peeked out and he groaned quietly.

  It had been difficult to watch her struggle with everything today and to give her the space he knew she needed when all he wanted to do was be the one she leaned on. But now he was going to make sure she got what she wanted, whether it was space or not.

  Her brothers climbed in the back of his car as he started the engine.

  "The next few days are going to be important," he said as he turned out of the cemetery then glanced in his rear view mirror and made eye contact with both Conall and Fergus. "I'm going to need you two to keep your heads down while you help with the investigation. We are all a little compromised."

  Ash looked down at her hands that were fidgeting with her skirt. "I'm ready to do whatever you need me to."

  "Stay close to one of us at all times," he said quickly.

  He knew it wasn't what she wanted to hear, but it was what she needed to do.

  "Okay," she muttered and looked out her window.

  He hated to see the disappointment on her face, but it was necessary. She would probably need some time to accept it now that her brothers were here and they were going to enforce her protection more than ever before. He would give her that time, but she was his now and he was going to take care of her.

  ***

  The next day was pure torture. Lucas had been at the station going over different leads while Ash and her brothers made the trip to the airport to set everything up for the supposed flight home that Ash was taking.

  Not long after they had left, he got a text from Gus saying they were being followed by Gibbs. The man was usually more careful than that, but Lucas presumed he wasn't really trying to be inconspicuous since his feelings about him had been blatantly obvious. He hadn't been able to focus on anything for the next couple of hours, worried about Ash and her brothers. Then he got the text from Gus saying they were on their way back to the house with Ash hidden in the back seat. He planned on getting the details later even if it was going to kill him to wait.

  Montgomery had been at his desk making endless phone calls for most of the morning and Lucas hadn't gotten a chance to speak with him about his partner, until now.

  "Hey, Ray. You got a minute?"

  He looked up at Lucas who was stalking towards him and immediately paled. "Um, yeah. What do you need?"

  "I just wanted to find out why your partner wants me off this case so badly?" No point in beating around the bush. If the man was hiding anything, Lucas would find it.

  The detective sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as if he was fighting off a headache. "Look, Shade. I don't want any trouble with you, but I gotta admit that the red flags that have been popping up everywhere are digging you in deep."

  "What red flags? Me living down the street from the captain? Me working my ass off to try to take Banetti down as soon as possible?" Lucas pressed.

  Montgomery shook his head, "I can't discuss this with you and you know it. If you have nothing to hide, then just keep your head down for a while and we'll wait and see what comes up. Please." His voice wasn't threatening or even angry, it was pleading with him.

  Lucas didn't expect the man to be so sincere and wasn't sure exactly how to process it, yet. It did ease his mind, however, that Montgomery wasn't a part of whatever Gibbs was trying to force.

  "I'm just trying to do my job," Lucas said on a sigh. "Yes, the captain was like a father to me, but I grew up with that family. There's no way I would do anything to hurt any of them like that."

  Montgomery shrugged and lifted his phone to make another call, "Then maybe you should hand over the case, Shade. Prove it."

  Lucas felt his jaw clench and his knuckles tighten. "I can't do that. I made a promise, Ray. I need to take these guys down." Plus, handing over the case would go on his record and he didn't want to be thought of as unreliable, even on the worst cases.

  Ray stared at him for a moment, understanding crossing his face, then started talking to someone on the other end of the phone. It was more than Lucas had hoped to get out of him. Now he just had to figure out what exactly those red flags he was talking about were.

  He went back to his desk and put his head in his hands after checking his phone again for any messages about Ash. He had too much to do, too much to worry about, b
ut he couldn't stop himself from wishing he could go home and make love to her over and over again.

  The two times they had been intimate were enough to prove that they would be incredible together. She had been made for him and him alone. When he had found out that she was still a virgin, he had been terrified of the thought of taking that from her. Now, he couldn't get it out of his head and it brought out the possessive part of him that he had always felt for her. She was willing to give him everything and it made him feel invincible.

  She had no idea how many guys he had threatened back when she was still in high school. They had all wanted to take her out on a date, but he knew how they thought. They wanted nothing more than to get in her pants and he wasn't going to allow that. If her brothers knew some of the shit that was said about her in school, they would have gone ballistic. He had protected her, at least, that's what he kept telling himself.

  Now he felt like he had done nothing more than lock her up the way her brothers and father had. He was sure that she would have found a man she cared about enough to give that part of herself to in the last seven years. A part of him hoped she hadn't because she was saving it for him.

  A very selfish part of him.

  He loved her. He always would. That's the only thing about his life that he knew for sure. Everything else could take a back seat. Even his career.

  His phone beeped and he looked at the screen.

  Gus: Home. Ash upset. Gibbs got to her. Call when you can.

  His heart thudded and he stood up so quickly that his chair flew back against the wall a few feet behind him and fell over with a crash.

  Justin looked up from his desk with his eyebrows stretched over his forehead in surprise. "Everything okay man?" He started to stand, but Lucas put his hand up to stop him.

  "Yeah, I just need a few minutes."

  Justin watched him for a moment while he tried to get his fury under control, then nodded. "Hurry back."

  Lucas stormed out of the offices and toward the elevator. He needed to know exactly what had happened and he wasn't going to find out over the phone. He ran to his car and peeled out of the parking lot while dialing Gus.

  "Shit, man, your buddy is a real pain in the ass," Gus answered with an edge to his voice.

  "What the fuck did he say to her and why didn't you tell me sooner?" Lucas growled.

  "Whoa, calm down. We were with her the whole time and we were too busy trying to get her back home to tell you. He didn't give a shit that we knew he was following us. Just walked right up to us and started in on Ash. Told her that she needed to make sure she went straight to her apartment back in Ohio and keep contact with you to a minimum."

  Lucas felt the plastic on his phone start to crack from his grip and he dangerously weaved in and out of traffic. "Why does that bastard care about what she does in Ohio? What else?"

  "That was about it, but Ash was pissed. Poor guy nearly got her fist in his face," Gus said with a laugh. "I mean, he would have deserved it, but damn… has she been working out lately? Con and I could barely hold her back."

  He felt his lips twitch, so damn proud of his girl that he wished he could have been there to see it. Or take care of it himself.

  "Anyway, man, she's pretty upset. Said that she wants to go to the station and tell them that she has been in town the whole time. Tell them she's your alibi for whatever they have against you."

  "No! She can't do that. It's too risky."

  "I know, I know. We talked her down, but I still think you should put in your two cents. This Gibbs guy may have worked with my dad for a long time, but his behavior seems a little uncanny. Sending her in there… well…"

  "I'm almost to your house. I'll talk to her."

  "Okay, see you in a minute," Gus replied and disconnected the call.

  Lucas took a few deep breaths to calm himself. It wasn't helping and if anything it was just making him even more furious that Gibbs had the balls to confront her like that, or even just show up. Red flag? Yes. He was going to get one of her brothers to follow him, see what he was up to when he wasn't trying to put Lucas behind bars.

  He pulled up to the Brannock's and raced up the steps. The door opened before he could knock and Con let him inside.

  "She's upstairs in Dad's room. Said she wanted to be alone, but we all know better than to listen to her. At least this time we do."

  The guilt that spread over her older brother's face made Lucas second guess himself. He didn't want to continue to pressure her to stay invisible, in fact, he didn't want her to have to hide out at all and if he could do anything to change it, he would do it in a heartbeat.

  He climbed the stairs and stepped up to the closed door of her father's room. He wasn't sure about what he would say to her, but he knew he would hold her for as long as she needed him to.

  He knocked softly a couple times and turned the doorknob, swinging the door open slowly. She was lying on the middle of the bed staring up at the ceiling looking deep in thought. He knew she was aware he had come in, so he shut the door behind him and made his way over to her.

  "You know? When I came back to live with my dad, I had no idea you were still in town. I thought you would have left a long time ago after all the talk about New York and all the action the cops get to see out there. When I saw you on the porch that morning, it was like the last seven years never even happened." She paused and looked over at him. He had stopped at the foot of the bed watching her as she spoke, his chest tightening with each word that left her mouth.

  He hadn't left because he wanted the chance to make things right with her and staying close to her father was the only way he could. He had told himself it was the only way to move on, but now he knew it was because he wouldn't pass up another chance to be with her. He wouldn't let her go again.

  "I never thought I would still love you as much as I did back then and I don't. I love you so much more and I can't stand the thought of you losing everything you have worked so hard for. I know you love your job, I know you love your freedom, and I know more than anyone that you wish your childhood would have been different, because I wish mine had been different, too."

  "Ash…"

  "But I wouldn't change it now. I would go back and do exactly what I did all over again. All the confinement, all the restrictions… even that night when I told you I loved you and you laughed at me. I would do it again if it meant ending up with you right here, right now."

  He wasn't sure how to respond, but he didn't look away from her. He would change lots of things, mainly the things that had to do with her. He wouldn't have kept his mouth shut about his feelings for her. He would go back and get his ass kicked by her brothers a million times over if it meant being with her.

  "I've never really made my own decisions," she said slowly, her stormy grey eyes filling with regret. "Even when I was on my own, I let everyone else tell me what to do. The only decision I feel like I can make on my own… is my decision to love you unconditionally. But I can't let you destroy your career because you're afraid you can't protect me if people know I'm here."

  He watched a tear fall into her hair as she turned back to look at the ceiling again.

  "Aislinn, I don't-"

  "No," she said firmly. "I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to do. I'm going to be the weak Aislinn Brannock everyone expects me to be because I know it will make all of your lives easier for now. But I swear to you, the minute your life or your career or anything you care about is put in jeopardy, I'll do what I need to do."

  He was relieved and terrified all at the same time. She thought that she was weak because she had let people tell her what to do and what not to do her entire life and maybe she had been weak when she had let that stop her from living, but not to him.

  He climbed onto the bed, stretching out beside her, and gathered her in his arms, burying his face in her neck as her arms wrapped around him in return. "Ash, you aren't weak. Not even a little bit. It takes guts to do what you're told. To put a
ll that trust in the people around you without question. I'm honored that you have put that trust in me and I swear to you, I'll do everything in my power to keep it. Give me a little more time. It will be worth it."

  "Okay," she whispered against the top of his head and raked her fingers through his hair. "Okay."

  He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. Eyes he wanted to get lost in. He slid his hand up between them and ran his thumb over her bottom lip desperately wanting to kiss her, but holding back. If he started, he wouldn't be able to stop and he wanted to take his time showing her what it was like to be loved completely by him. He wanted to stay buried inside of her for hours.

  He didn't have that time right now, though.

  They stayed wrapped around each other for several minutes until the shrill ring of his phone sounded throughout the room. He released his hold on her and checked the screen.

  Justin.

  He was probably wondering where the hell he had run off to. He needed to get back to work.

  "I'll see you tonight," he said and climbed off the bed, lifting her with him.

  "Okay, be careful." She tugged on her hair nervously and looked up at him. Her eyes were brighter, more understanding than they had been over the past several days, and they were begging him to kiss her. He cupped the back of her neck and brushed his lips over hers ever so softly. She gasped and clutched the front of his shirt, making him ache for her in ways he would never be able to put to words.

  He forced himself to pull back before she got the chance to really start kissing him because he knew with certainty that he would never get back to work if he let her. He was hanging on by a thread and any push from her would make it snap in an instant.

  "Call me for anything," he rasped, then turned and walked to the bedroom door.

  "Same to you," she smiled.

  He winked back at her and left the room. He called Justin back, waving to Con and Gus who were sitting in the living room with curious faces. They didn't ask what happened. That was between the him and Ash.