Unconditional (Masters and Mercenaries #5.5)(37)

“They’re trying to dig up dirt on me,” Ashley whispered.

“I followed you around for a couple of days and thought I was shit out of luck. But then you came here. What is this place? It’s some kind of club, ain’t it? It’s an underground club,” Harper said with a leering little smile. “You working here? Or do you just pick up some guy for the night? Who’s with the baby because this looks a little like a family affair to me. That’s your sister and your brother-in-law. It looks like you’re into some kinky shit.”

If she hadn’t been sitting right next to him, he would have gone over the table at the guy. “If you say one thing about her to anyone, I’ll kill you.”

Derek Brighton walked in followed by another man. Jesse Murdoch. He worked for McKay-Taggart as well, but Derek was Dallas PD. Great. He’d threatened to kill someone in front of a cop. He was batting a thousand tonight. Brighton walked by him, slapping him lightly on the shoulder in what he took as a show of support. At least he wouldn’t get hauled to lockup. Jesse carried what looked like a laptop. Or it used to be. It was pretty mangled.

“Boss, I found this outside in the parking lot.” Jesse grimaced. “You know how clumsy I am. I dropped it. And then I drove over it a couple of times. Three really. I get confused about forward and backward sometimes. It’s the PTSD. Do you think it will still work?”

Taggart took the sad-looking thing and gave his employee a high-five. “Nope. This is an ex-laptop.”

“Hey, that’s my property. It was in my truck,” Harper said. He reached into his pocket. “I’m calling the cops.”

Jesse grimaced again. “Yeah. I think you dropped your phone outside, too. I might have thought it was an IED. Again, PTSD.”

Taggart shook his head. “Poor Jesse. All that time in an Iraqi prison really did a number on him. It’s okay, buddy. You did your best. Did you run over the phone, too?”

“Nah. I kicked it into the sewer. You could go look for it, I guess.”

Keith was starting to like the kid.

Harper was turning a nice shade of red. “Where’s my camera? It was in my truck, too.”

Taggart leaned forward. “You mean the camera you used at my private place of business to take pictures of my clients? That camera?”

“Yes.” Harper’s voice trembled a little.

Taggart smiled. “No idea, man. Jesse, did you see a camera when you looked through his truck? Which, by the way, is sitting on my property. My private property.”

Jesse shook his head. “Nope. I haven’t seen a camera at all.”

He was a good liar. Thank god for Taggart and his team or Harper might have e-mailed his client pictures that could damage Ashley. Keith’s brain raced. He already knew the lawyer he would call. He would put the guy on retainer tonight and slap her ex’s parents with a harassment suit.

“I’m calling the cops as soon as I get out of here. You guys are dicks,” Harper snarled.

Derek pulled his badge. “No need. I’m right here. Mr. Taggart called me in when he realized he had an intruder. I asked him not to shoot you. Next time I suspect he will, so I would watch myself. Mr. Taggart, would you like to file a complaint? I can have the DA here in five minutes.”

Karina shook her head. “She spent a little time with Damon there. She’s still recovering. Better give her ten.”

Derek smiled slightly. “Ten minutes then.”

Harper threw his hands up. “Fine, I get it. You’re power players. I f*cked up. Are you going to arrest me?”

Derek sat back, looking at Karina. “What have you got on him?”

Karina looked down at a list in front of her. “Two arrests in Wyoming for drunk and disorderly. He was a college kid. Divorced twice. Second wife accused him of battery, but it looks like he paid her off. He came to Texas a couple of years ago and now he works nasty divorce and custody cases for corporate types. Reid Industries is one of his major clients.”

Keith looked at Ashley. He knew that company well. “You were engaged to the heir to Reid?”

She nodded. “Yeah. His dad inherited the company. He doesn’t run it anymore. He hired a CEO and settled into small-town life. I think they liked being the lord and lady of the town.”

And they’d judged her. From what he could tell, everyone in that town had judged Ashley.

“I think I’ll forgo arresting you tonight,” Derek said. “But if I see you anywhere near this place of business again, I’ll haul you in.”

Taggart smiled one of his barracuda grins. “I’ll just shoot you.”

When he was offered the door, Harper nearly ran.

“I’ll follow him,” Jesse offered. “Make sure he doesn’t hang around.”

“Let’s get this party down to family,” Taggart said with a frown. Everyone left with the exception of Taggart, Ryan, and Jillian. “Ashley, you’re my employee. I’m offering you my services. I’ll get Adam on the parents and the attorney they’ve hired. Keith?”

“I’m calling her an attorney tonight. He owes me a couple of favors. He’s a shark.” He squeezed her hand.

“I can’t afford any of this.” Ashley shook her head. “And I don’t understand. They didn’t want her. They wanted me to abort her.”