Accused Read online

  Accused

  by

  Sharon C. Cooper

  Copyright © 2018 Sharon C. Cooper

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For permission, contact the author at sharoncooper.net

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  Disclaimer

  This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Acknowledgements

  Special thanks to my amazingly supportive husband, Al! You’re the best! I love you more than I could ever express!

  Yolanda and Claire, you ladies ROCK! You’re always there to push (or threaten) me when I feel like giving up. I can’t imagine my writing journey without you!

  And to my BBR, Brenda S – BLESS YOU for your bravery of being willing to read this story in its roughest state! Love you!

  Blurb

  He wants to forget his past… She’s hiding from hers…

  Former FBI agent Kenton Bailey traded in his badge when an assignment went horribly wrong. Now he provides personal security to high-end clients. But falling for Egypt Durand, the Queen of Supreme Security, wasn’t part of the plan. She’s smart, classy, and ignites a fire in him that only she can extinguish. Except she retreats from his advances…and she’s shrouded in a veil of secrecy.

  Egypt has never met a man as sexy as Kenton. Funny and smart, he’s hard to resist. But her past leaves no room for a happily ever after. Still, with him, she dreams of a future.

  Finally, Egypt’s startling truths are revealed, throwing Kenton off balance and forcing him to confront the past he left behind. And when threats from a dangerous crime family send Egypt bolting, Kenton convinces her to stay. Together they will fight to bring closure to their pasts, but will they live long enough to explore the passion brewing between them?

  Chapter One

  Kenton Bailey’s gaze darted around at their surroundings as he circled the cemetery one more time. “I don’t like this.”

  “I agree,” Agent Quaid Morrow said from the passenger seat. He was on his cell phone, on hold, waiting to talk to someone out of the FBI D.C. field office. Their supervisor had given the okay for the quick detour. “Where is the other team? They should’ve already been in position.”

  Kenton wondered the same thing.

  “We’ll be too exposed,” he mumbled more to himself as he drove slowly. The early morning sun had just made its appearance, and no one was milling about. That didn’t mean there weren’t threats nearby.

  The towering office buildings in the distance and oversize oak trees scattered throughout the cemetery provided too many shadowy spots where people could easily hide. The tall headstones weren’t much help either.

  There was too much Kenton couldn’t see despite the open area near the gravesite.

  Too exposed.

  Kenton continued along the winding cemetery drive but stayed near the area they needed to be in. He didn’t want to park until he knew what was happening with their back up. “We might need to reconsider—”

  “You promised, Kenton,” Santana grumbled.

  He glanced in the rear-view mirror at his long-time confidential informant and met her glare. Her long braids hung loosely around her shoulders, while a few covered her golden-brown face. Santana had helped him on numerous cases. Now she was vital in helping the FBI put away one of the leaders of the DeLevese gang who had orchestrated a hit on a judge.

  Santana had been an eyewitness to the killing. Kenton hated that she was in this position, knowing that her life was in serious danger, but getting Snake-eyes off the streets would cripple the gang. Which was something his team tried to achieve for years. The Delves crew had already started spreading into other territories, but taking one of their leaders down would be a big win for the FBI.

  “I know I agreed to this visit, Santana, but my number one goal is to get you to that courthouse and keep you safe. I can’t—”

  “I have been threatened, shot at, and now you’re telling me that I can’t get this one thing? I should’ve just disappeared like I had planned.”

  Kenton huffed out a breath. She was his best CI. She was also good at disappearing. Their case would fall apart without her. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

  “If I have to testify and give up my whole life for you and the frickin’ FBI, this is the least you can do for me before forcing me into WITSEC!” she snapped, before turning her attention to stare out the window.

  Considering she would have to leave her life in D.C, all she had asked for was to stop at her father’s grave before she was scheduled to testify. Part of Kenton felt that was the least they could give her. The moment her testimony was given, she’d be whisked away by the U.S. Marshals and placed in the federal witness protection program.

  All things considered, she was handling the situation well and had only broken down a couple of times during her few months of being in protective custody. Kenton’s biggest concern from day one was the target on her back. Testifying against one of the most dangerous gangs on the east coast was a death sentence.

  He knew it, and she knew it, too.

  “We have a problem,” Quaid said the moment he disconnected his call.

  “What’s that?”

  “The agents who were supposed to shadow us on this little detour got delayed. We’re going to have to forfeit this idea or do this solo.”

  Kenton shook his head before Quaid finished his sentence. “No way. This case is too big. We can’t take the chance.”

  “Please, Kenton.” Santana gripped the front seats, pulling on them. “All I need is five minutes. I don’t know where I’m moving to, but the marshals told me I can’t return to D.C. as long as I’m in the witness protection program.”

  “Come on, man. We got this,” Quaid encouraged. “You’ve circled the area a hundred times. There’s no one out here this early in the morning, and I won’t let anything happen to your girl. Besides, you did promise her.”

  “Yeah, listen to Agent Morrow. We can do this,” Santana pleaded, sounding hopeful.

  Kenton glanced at her again. Santana had become more than just a confidential informant to him over the years. She was like a sister to him. He helped her get off drugs, and she’d finally landed a full-time job. Trouble used to follow her, but she’d stayed clean and out of trouble for almost three years. Kenton didn’t want to see anything happen to her. He’d never be able to forgive himself.

  “Five minutes,” he finally caved. “And if trouble breaks out, you have to do everything we taught you before leaving the safe house. Your life might depend on it.”

  “I know. I know. I’ll stay close. I promise. I only need a few minutes with my father. We’re actually near his grave site. The closest we can get is near that huge oak tree on the left-hand side.” Santana pointed to a tree nearly fifty yards in front of them.

  Kenton parked as anxiousness curled inside of him. He still didn’t feel good about the idea. They were all outfitted in bulletproof vests, and he and Quaid were strapped, but it wasn’t enough protection as far as he was concerned. Granted, he knew someone at the agency wo
uld come looking if they were delayed, but his gut was still uneasy.

  He removed his dark shades and faced Santana. “Okay, let’s go over the procedure again.”

  She sighed loudly and dropped back against the seat. “Come on, man. We’ve gone through the drill a hundred times. I know it already. I’m supposed to stay alert at all times. Do whatever you and Agent Morrow tell me, stay close to you two, etc, etc. Oh, and I’m supposed to make this quick. I got it.”

  Quaid smirked and shook his head. “I don’t know how you’ve put up with her all of these years.”

  “He loves me,” Santana said good-naturedly.

  She was right. She was like family, and Kenton didn’t like putting her life at risk any more than he already had.

  “Sweetheart, I want you in one piece so that you can live your life to the fullest. I can’t help worrying about you.”

  Santana didn’t say anything, just stared out the window at the headstones. She had reservations about joining WITSEC, but the guy she was testifying against was bad news and had a long reach. It had taken some doing, but she had finally been accepted into the program. All he had to do was make sure he got her to the courthouse in time.

  “Sit tight. I’ll open the door for you,” he told her. “And remember, stay close to us at all times.”

  She rolled her eyes but did as she was told as they made their way to the middle of the graveyard to her father’s tombstone.

  While they waited, giving Santana some privacy without being too far from her, Kenton stayed vigilant, glancing around at their surroundings. He didn’t like the idea of being in the open like this, but he was glad they seemed to be the only ones out there. Except for chirping birds, and the sound of traffic in the distance, it was very quiet.

  That didn’t mean that they were alone, though.

  Kenton’s attention went back to Santana as she swiped at her eyes, then turned to them. “Thank you. I’m ready,” she said swallowing. Kenton’s chest tightened, and it took all of his restraint not to pull her into his arms and hug her tight. She had no family that he knew of and very few friends. He was the only person she had in this life, and soon she would be back to having no one. Even he wouldn’t know her location.

  Instead of offering her a shoulder to cry on, he and Quaid fell in step, one on each side of her as they hustled toward the SUV.

  “You okay?” Kenton asked, a hand at the small of Santana’s back as he kept her moving forward.

  “I guess so. I’m just ready to get this over with.”

  “I know…soon.”

  Unease crept through Kenton. He slowed, unsure of the weird feeling that suddenly overcame him.

  Something’s not right.

  That thought rattled around in his mind while the stirring in his gut increased. Quaid glanced around as well. Was he picking up the same vibe? His friend walked a step ahead of them, and they both stayed alert and kept moving. There was still no one in sight.

  “What?” Santana asked, easing even closer to Kenton. “What is it?”

  “Just keep moving and remember everything we taught you.”

  With his free hand, Kenton pulled his gun from its holster and kept it at his side. Without a word, Quaid pushed a button on his cell phone. No doubt sending the distress signal to their supervisor. He held his weapon in his opposite hand as they scanned the area while hurrying toward the vehicle.

  Quaid glanced at him. “Maybe we should—"

  Quaid’s body jerked and fell back, hitting the grassy ground with a thump. A bullet hole in the center of his forehead.

  Kenton’s heart slammed against his chest as his gaze darted around.

  Shit! Sniper.

  Santana screamed and ran toward the vehicle. Kenton jerked her to the ground, covering her shivering body with his. His pulse raced. Anxiety raged through him. He looked from a huge oak tree, twenty yards out, and back to the SUV that was just a little further away, trying to gauge their best option.

  A bullet pinged off a small tree less than two feet away.

  “We gotta get to the truck!” Kenton ground out, his pulse pounding loudly in his ear. He grabbed Santana’s hand and jerked her up, her sobs growing louder. Panting, they ran in a zigzag. Outrunning a sniper was nearly impossible, but if they wanted to stay alive, they needed to take cover. They needed to move faster.

  “Keep running!”

  Twenty feet. Just twenty more feet.

  Tires squealing and a revved engine snagged Kenton’s attention. A dark sedan came zooming down the narrow road and…gun.

  “Get down!”

  Pushing Santana to the ground, Kenton lifted his 9mm and fired off two shots. Glass shattered. The driver swerved. But the muzzle of a gun appeared through the back window.

  “Ooomph,” Kenton gasped, a bullet slamming into his shoulder. “Shit.” He stumbled back but stayed on his feet and got off two more rounds despite the pain radiating down his arm.

  “Kenton!”

  He could barely hear the sirens in the distance over the ringing in his ears and Santana’s screams. She ran toward him.

  “Get down!” he yelled and fired off another round toward their attackers. “Stay down!”

  Her body jerked. Her eyes grew large, and she grabbed the top of her bulletproof vest.

  Blood.

  No. No. No.

  Kenton lunged, hoping to catch her, but she staggered then dropped hard to the grass. “Hang on, baby! Hang on!” Before he could get closer, he felt a pinch near his ear. Unbearable heat coursed through his neck, his shoulder, and his knees went weak sending him crashing to the ground. Pain gripped his body, clawing through him like a scalpel scraping across his bones.

  Hang on. He couldn’t lose her. He had to hang on.

  Santana stretched out her arm, reaching for him as tears flowed down her face, and her chest heaved. Kenton crawled toward her, his vision blurring as he fought to keep moving. He had to keep moving.

  “K-Ken…” Santana’s body shook. Once. Twice. And then…nothing.

  No! No! No!

  “Santana!” he yelled, barely recognizing his gravelly voice as heavy darkness descended over him.

  Hang on. I have to hang on. I have to save her.

  Santana! Santana! Santana!

  Chapter Two

  Five years later…

  Kenton jolted awake and bolted upright. His hands fisted the sheets as his heart pounded wildly against his ribcage like a caged animal trying to break free. His gaze darted around, slowly adjusting to the dimly lit room. Pale blue walls. Bathroom a few feet away. Semi-closed blinds revealing that it was almost dark outside.

  He huffed out an exhausted breath and rubbed his sweat, slicked forehead with the back of his hand. It was just a dream. The fog in his mind slowly started to clear.

  Atlanta.

  Supreme Security.

  Crash room.

  He was safe.

  Blinking several times to clear his vision, Kenton squinted at the digital clock sitting on the bedside table. Four hours. He’d slept for four hours. Not nearly long enough to feel rejuvenated after the assignment he’d been on for the last two days.

  Dropping back onto the pillow, he draped his forearm over his eyes and sighed as his heart rate slowly went back to normal. It had been months since he’d dreamed about Santana, Quaid, the shooting, and the day that changed his life forever.

  Why now? Why had the dream invaded his sleep again?

  Slowly sitting up, Kenton rubbed the side of his neck, making contact with one of the puffy wounds from where he’d been shot all those years ago. If only he had listened to his gut. Guilt still plagued him that he had put all of their lives at risk.

  His ringing cell phone jarred him out of his musing, and he snatched it up from the small table next to the bed.

  A slow smile broke through when he saw who was calling. “Hello, Dee.”

  “Kenton, where are you?” she asked by way of greeting.

  He blew out a breath
and chuckled, placing his feet on the floor. “You do realize you’re not my wife, right? There’s only one man you get to ask that question to, and it ain’t me.”

  Dakota had married Kenton’s boss, Hamilton Crosby, almost a year ago. With that union, she became like a sister to him, and he loved her to death even if she was bossy as hell.

  “I know who I married. Quit being a wise-ass and listen. I’m trying to help you here. So answer the question.”

  “All right. All right. I’m at Supreme. What’s up?”

  He stood and slid into the dress pants that he had discarded earlier. Since the drive to his house often took an hour due to traffic, occasionally, after an assignment, it wasn’t unusual for him to sleep at work instead of driving home. The converted warehouse that Supreme Security, an agency that provided personal protection to a high-end clientele, had all the comforts of home. Including crash rooms for security specialists.

  “I just talked to Egypt, and she’s getting ready to leave the office.”

  “Yeah, and?” Kenton usually made it a point to stop by and see her whenever he was in the building, but he’d had to work a double shift. All he had wanted to do when he returned to Supreme was get a little sleep, and then he had planned to go and see her.

  “Your woman is about to go on another blind date with someone she met online. You have to stop her.”

  Damn.

  He didn’t like Egypt dating anyone other than him, but really hated the idea of her dating guys she met online. If she stopped shooting him down every time he asked her out, she wouldn’t have to settle for the chumps she met on the internet.

  “Oh, so now you don’t have nothin’ to say? Kenton, you need to step up your game with Egypt if you want her. Otherwise, she’s going to end up with someone else, and neither one of us want that.”