SECRETS: Passion, Deceit, And Revenge (Beauty 0f Life Book 8) Read online

  Secrets

  Passion, Deceit, and Revenge

  Beauty of Life

  Book Eight

  Laura Acton

  Copyright © 2018 by Laura Acton

  All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise except for use of brief quotations in a book review.

  ISBN: 9781719998536 (paperback)

  Secrets: Passion, Deceit, and Revenge is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  ‘Rules’ poem © 1960 by Jerrell J. Ferguson, used with permission.

  By Laura Acton

  Beauty of Life series (in order):

  Forsaken: On the Edge of Oblivion

  Solace: Behind the Shield

  Belonging: Hope, Truth, and Malice

  Outlier: Blood, Brotherhood, and Beauty

  Purgatory: Bonds Forged in Hellfire

  Serenity: A Path Home

  Guardians: Mission to Rescue Innocence

  Secrets: Passion, Deceit, and Revenge

  Acknowledgements

  Kate, Martha, and Lisa, I couldn’t do it without you ladies.

  Thank you for all your awesome input and continued support!

  Contents

  1) Pants Prank

  2) Thunderstorms and Unicorns

  3) Attack of the Unicycles

  4) The Spice of Life

  5) Getting the Job Done

  6) The Darwin Effect

  7) Humpty Dumpty’s Great Fall

  8) Comfort and Concern

  9) Everything is FINE

  10) Battling Monsters Within

  11) Shoulds, Woulds, Coulds

  12) Demigods and Demons

  13) Sweet and Sour

  14) Muddled Mayhem

  15) Curiosity Might Kill This Cat

  16) Hindsight Always Illuminates

  17) Exceptional Women

  18) Keep Your Head on A Swivel

  19) Compassionate Men

  20) verything but the Kitchen Sink

  21) Lucky Breaks

  22) Late Night Discoveries

  23) Steadfast, Lovable, and Brave Friend

  24) Don’t Shoot the Messenger

  25) Equal but Opposite Reactions

  26) All Things Point to Plouffe

  27) The Kiss of Judas

  28) Lighter Moments of Life

  29) And So, It Begins

  30) The Nine Lives of Dan Broderick

  31) Blowing Off Steam

  32) A Fool for a Client

  33) Fighting Lions with Steak

  34) Judgment Day

  35) Hamlet with More Bodies

  36) Coping Mechanisms

  37) Whatever It Takes

  38) Another Stinking Mission

  39) Beware the Ides of March

  40) One Good Turn Deserves Another

  41) Truth and Consequences

  42) Bourbon, Tea, and Chocolate

  43) He’s a Keeper

  44) Something Wicked This Way Comes

  45) Decisions and Recognition

  46) The Devil Always Collects

  47) We Take Care of Our Own

  48) Simple Pleasures

  49) Everything Happens for A Reason

  50) Hungover, Harangued, and Hamstringed

  51) Not His Dyeing Wish

  52) Rebukes, Regrets, and Respite

  53) Burying the Hatchet

  54) Surprises

  55) Restoration in Progress

  56) Cupid’s Day Schemes

  57) The Pack Has Lexa’s Back

  58) Welcome to My Parlor Said the Spider

  59) Not Fooling Everyone

  60) Rainy Day Surprises

  61) Dantastic Hears a Who

  62) Feelin’ Great

  63) Masked Bandit Attacks

  64) Strange Reactions

  65) Too Many Coincidences

  66) Dan’s Favorite Place

  67) Revenge Backfires

  68) A Small Price to Pay

  69) Blue to the Rescue

  70) Simple Acts of Love

  71) Declarations of Love and Bloodlust

  72) Dude, You Have to Ask?

  73) Bedlam, Blood, and Blame

  74) Concerned for Your Welfare

  75) Absolution, Acceptance, and Hugs

  76) Secret No More

  Sneak Peek: Outcast: Trust, Friendship, and Injustice

  About the Author

  Secrets

  Passion, Deceit, and Revenge

  Pants Prank

  1

  January 6

  TRF HQ – Men’s Locker Room – 11:55 a.m.

  Sheer unadulterated panic gripped Constable Daniel Broderick as his mouth went dry and his palms became sweaty. The situation he now faced never occurred before, and Dan found himself at a complete loss as to how to proceed. His eyes darted to Alpha Team’s sergeant. Nick Pastore’s uncanny ability to read people, made him an asset to the Tactical Response Force and a threat to Dan’s continued position on this team.

  With hesitation unraveling him, Dan feared Boss would pick up on his sense of dread and combine that with the pants he held, thus figuring out the secret Lexa McKenna and he kept from the team. Dating his teammate on the sly was fraught with danger. They chose to break the non-fraternization rule which might end with them reassigned to different teams or worse yet, fired!

  Right now, Dan didn’t mind they couldn’t go out in public. It left more time for bed sports. Having been with many women, he was no saint, and his best friend called him Sinner years ago. But Sexy Lexie was by far the most intriguing partner, and to him what they shared was more than only sex. Lexa was his beauty of life. Though Dan realized last night, he must be patient and gain her trust before she would commit.

  All his plans might be moot now. After fulfilling his fantasy of having sex in the laundry room, he and Lexa left their folded clothing in his basket. Neither remembered to set an alarm, and as a result, they woke with only moments to gather their items before rushing out of his apartment.

  They barely made it to headquarters on time. Lexa entered through the front, and he came in the back door. He ran up the stairs to the lockers and tossed his go bag on the bench before joining the team in the gym for a shorter one-hour workout, since they shifted to the noon to midnight rotation.

  Dan glanced at Jon Hardy. His tactical lead’s keen, gunmetal gray eyes didn’t miss much either. Dan grimaced at the thought of the verbal dressing down he would receive from Jon if the team discovered he was sleeping with Lexa. The guys might pulverize him, they behaved as protective brothers, though Lexa didn’t require a man’s protection. She could hold her own. They all received bruised biceps at one point or another as proof.

  The others finished dressing and began closing lockers while he still stood in his boxers. Dan dropped his head and stared at the gray uniform pants in his hands. I’m a dead man.

  TRF HQ – Women’s Locker Room – 11:55 a.m.

  Lexa stood before the mirror as she pulled her hair into a ponytail. She stopped and gazed at herself and questioned, “What are you doing, Lexa? You worked extremely hard and sacrificed everything to achieve your dreams. Are you willing to screw up the whole enchilada for sex with a hot blond?”

  She sat on the bench and tugged on her black, TRF undershirt. Picking up her long-sle
eved uniform shirt, she brushed over the sniper patch attached to the pocket flap, a tangible representation of all her hard work, hours on the range. Her other accomplishments, profiler, and negotiator, didn’t have a patch but were no less valued. If only her father and brothers would accept her choice and that the entirety of her skills helped save lives and made the world a better place.

  After slipping her arms into her shirt, leaving it unbuttoned, Lexa peered at her reflection again and answered. “Yeah, I am going to play with fire. Perhaps I’m still rebellious, and Dan is forbidden fruit.”

  “It is more. Trust your heart,” her inner voice whispered.

  Lexa replayed the wee hours of this morning in her mind. The hot and fast tryst in the laundry room offered an element of daring. Their later foray, though slow and tender, likewise satiated both. Dan exhibited an equal measure of saint and sinner. A unique combination of incorrigible boy and capable lover.

  Grinning, she realized she left him with a few bite marks. Fortunately, the guys all believed Dan dated many women, so marking him would be attributed to another woman. Distracted by a surge of jealousy, Lexa yanked on her pants, buttoned up, and sat with a thump. Combatting unwanted feelings, she focused on recalling the sweet kiss Dan planted on her cheek a block from HQ.

  She drove him today because he didn’t fill his gas tank yesterday, thinking he had time on their days off, but now with covering Echo Team’s shift and waking too late he didn’t have time to stop. Lexa stood as she touched the spot where he kissed her. Her uniform pants pooled at her ankles, and her mouth gaped open as she overheard Dan’s yell. Crud! I’m wearing Dan’s pants.

  TRF HQ – Men’s Locker Room

  Panic subsided as Dan remembered the best defense was a strong offense. He stood and yelled, “Very funny guys. Haha. Now where the hell are MY pants? These are so small they could belong to Lexa.”

  The team stared, wondering who pranked Dan until all eyes turned to Loki. Dante Baldovino earned his nickname by being the TRF’s prank master. No one was safe when a crazy idea popped into Loki’s mind. Though, until now, he had been unsuccessful in most of his pranks on Dan.

  Shaking his head, his eyes widening, Loki held his hands up in surrender just as Lexa burst through the door without asking if they were decent. Lexa assumed her you’re in so much trouble stance and in an acerbic tone demanded, “Which one of you is the wise-ass who switched out my uniform?”

  Dan gaped at Lexa in awe, she caught on to his tactic. Relief flooded through him. We might get away with our mess up. In our rush this morning we must have grabbed each other’s uniform pants.

  Lexa glared at Dan who stood, slack-jawed, holding her pants. She yanked them from him and tossed his at him none too nicely.

  Not expecting her move, Dan didn’t react fast enough, and his pants whacked him in the face before falling at his feet.

  Storming from the room, Lexa grumbled loudly, “When I find out who did this they are gonna pay.”

  Dan stared wide-eyed at the guys, managed to shudder, and allowed humor to imbue his words, “Wouldn’t want to be any of you. She’s damned scary when pissed off.”

  Nick, Jon, Bram, and Ray all laughed, turning eyes on Loki.

  Ray said, “You are so dead. I haven’t seen Lexa ticked off in a long time.”

  “Don’t blame me. I didn’t do it. I know better than to mess with Lexa, particularly after the turtle dove thing,” Loki declared in an octave a little higher than usual.

  Jon turned back to his locker and closed it. “Sure, Loki. Been nice knowing you.” To Nick, he said, “So I guess we need to start trials for a new techie.”

  With a huge smile, Nick chuckled. “Briefing in ten minutes. Dan.”

  “Yeah, Boss?”

  His grin growing, Nick remarked, “Welcome to the team. I think Loki finally succeeded in hazing you.”

  “Why won’t anyone believe I’m telling the truth?” Loki whined.

  Bram patted his back. “One word, buddy. Reputation.”

  Turning to Ray, Loki said, “You believe me, don’t you?”

  Ray held back a smile and tried to sound serious. “Sure, I do, but you keep saying that until Lexa believes you. I promise to put flowers on your grave.”

  Dan bent to retrieve his pants and smiled as he finished dressing. Lexa sold that so well. It will be fun today watching Loki squirm and wonder when and how Lexa will prank him back.

  TRF HQ – Briefing Room – 12:10 p.m.

  As Dan sat in his regular chair in the conference room, Lexa sidled up to him. She whispered so only he could hear. “No more doing laundry together.”

  Dan nodded and said emphatically, “Copy,” before laughing.

  Loki entered the room in time to catch Lexa whispering to Dan and his response and laughter. He wondered what they plotted to retaliate against him. This isn’t fair. No one believes this is not my prank. I will find out who caused me to be blamed. Might be Bravo Team. They’re here, and they did the sniper in a pear tree last month. Perhaps this is their way to return the favor for the dunking in the pool at the Christmas party.

  Lost in thought as the team gathered and assumed their usual seats, Nick shuffled a few papers. With the new year came the time for the annual team evaluation. He needed to schedule time with each of them in the next few weeks to complete his task and file his report.

  Glancing up, Nick smiled when Loki strode in. How in the world did Loki pull off that prank? He didn’t leave workout. Wait, Loki left once saying he was going for water. Sneaky.

  Nick’s gaze roved over the rest of the team as they settled in and prepared for the start of shift briefing. They were a solid team now and worked well together. Well, except for when Jon and Dan got into heated discussions during debrief. Their arguments, or as Jon called them, constructive confrontations, either stemmed from Jon deeming Dan took an unacceptable risk, or Dan questioning Jon’s strategy after the fact. However, the tactical disagreements appeared to happen less frequently.

  While Dan followed Jon’s direct orders to the letter during calls and never challenged them at the time, it was clear Dan circumvented implied, unvoiced edicts when he believed people were at risk. Like yesterday, when Dan stopped a vehicle by standing in front of it and aiming his MP5 at the Blooddrop Crew gang member. Luckily, those two smoothed things over when they all went for drinks at the Pond last night.

  On the positive side, Jon actively encouraged Dan to voice his opinion in planning and challenge his tactics afterwards. Their confrontations, although nerve-racking when each alpha male fervently defended his side of an issue, ultimately benefited the entire team when their strategies melded creating unique solutions. Observing their blow-ups cemented in Nick’s mind that Dan and Jon were more alike than either would ever admit.

  Nick also realized their unique dynamic stemmed from the same desire to protect the members of this team. He hoped as they learned each other’s styles and adapted their behaviors the acrimonious debriefs would lessen. With Jon’s continued mentoring, Nick believed Dan would one day move into a TL position, but for now he remained too green and was still considered a rookie by TRF standards.

  Although Dan joined TRF eighteen months ago, with his months away to recover from the bullet to the chest and give testimony for the impending court-martials of several soldiers, Dan’s service time amounted to about a year. The rookie required time to finish transitioning from elite soldier to urban constable. Dan also still needed to recognize some actions which were accepted and even expected in the field as a soldier weren’t acceptable here. Mostly things having to do with Dan’s health and well-being.

  His gaze shifted to Lexa. She was coming along so well in profiling and negotiations. Nick’s heart filled with pride … like a father. Now with Dan fulfilling the sniper position, Lexa spent more time as his protégé. He enjoyed being able to mentor her more often. Lexa’s natural abilities grew in strength, and recently he noted a change in her demeanor.

  The walls
she built to shield herself appeared to be lessening. Though he had not shared his thoughts with anyone else, he believed her nurturing nature which she tried so hard to hide, likely thinking it would hamper her ability to operate in a male-dominated occupation, began to show. Once she accepted that part of her only enhanced her leadership skills, she would be unstoppable. In the far distant future, when he retired, Nick would like to hand a team over to her. Lexa would make a stellar sergeant.

  Nick’s thoughts turned to Ray and Bram. Both men brought a calming effect to this unique team of high caliber individuals. In many ways, Bram became Dan’s surrogate father. Bram reached out first to understand Dan then assisted the rest of them in recognizing the wounded soul in their midst. Nick was glad the connection existed because Dan had needed someone to help him when he woke up confused and upset in the hotel room after the gang war.

  After Dan returned, Nick sometimes overheard snippets of quiet conversations between them where Dan asked Bram for advice on how to deal with the general as Dan tried to reconnect with his father. From the sounds of things, Dan and General Broderick faced a long path, but both appeared committed to righting their history and moving forward.

  And Ray, well Ray was Loki’s go-to person similar to Bram’s role with Dan. Ray’s quiet and calm worked like nothing else when Loki was troubled. Loki’s exuberance for life also did the same for Ray. Those two are ying and yang … quite a pair. Though, he worried about both men lately. Something appeared to be off with them.

  Over Christmas break, Loki had been distracted and not quite himself. It was possible Loki merely missed Ray while he was gone on vacation in Puerto Rico, but a niggling sense told Nick something more bothered him. And Ray experienced another interaction with the Blooddrop Crew which must have caused memories of events he desired to forget to surface.

  He hoped to discover the root of the issues during his annual interview with each. If he could discern their troubles, he could assist them before they potentially impacted the team. Nick would hate to lose any of his team. A unique and rare group such as this did not come along often. Teammates, yes, but also friends, and family.