Hero Undercover: 25 Breathtaking Bad Boys Page 23

  Mia stood, unsure if she should say anything but, with the tension in the air, decided the less said the better. She gave a single nod of her head at the judge, avoided looking at Monarch or Thomas altogether, and followed the district attorney out of the room.

  “Fuck,” Randall said once they were away from the judge’s chambers.

  “I’m sorry,” Mia said softly.

  “No, no, it’s not your fault,” he said, running his hand through his hair. “You did the right thing. Hell, you’ve done the right thing all along.”

  “What happens now?”

  “Most likely the judge will declare a mistrial.”

  “And Thomas Thorensen goes free?” Mia asked, her heart skipping a beat at the likelihood of the criminal walking out of the courtroom a free man.

  “Not as long as I have breath in my body. It just means I… we start over.” At her soft moan, he reached out and took her arm. “I know it’s asking a lot but, Mia, without your testimony, I’m afraid he will get off, even with a new jury.”

  Mia knew that was something to worry about. The Thorensens were a powerful, extremely wealthy family. Several buildings, including a new cardiovascular wing at the hospital, bore their name. They were huge benefactors to countless charities. Members of the family sat on several boards of important, prosperous businesses, and no party was considered a success without at least one Thorensen in attendance.

  “I promised you that it would be over soon and now… who knows? All we can do is take it one step at a time,” Randall said. “Come on, I’ll buy you a cup of…” His words cut off abruptly at the sight of two people running down the hall. He stepped in front of Mia as the bailiff and a police officer burst into the judge’s chambers. “Wait here,” he said, stepping away and following them.

  Mia had no intention of remaining behind. She stepped into the room as the judge stood, demanding to know what the hell was going on.

  “We’ve got a problem, Your Honor,” the bailiff said, “one of the jurors is missing.”

  “Missing? How in the hell… never mind. Let me guess, it’s Juror Number Eight.”

  “Yes, a Miss Anderson. She went to the restroom and when she didn’t return, I sent Officer Jackson in to check and…”

  “She disappeared,” the female officer provided.

  The judge shook his head. “Everyone back into the courtroom.”

  Once they were all back in their places, the reporters and onlookers shuffling in their seats, the empty jury box letting them know something unusual was occurring, the judge banged his gavel and ordered silence.

  “I’m declaring a mistrial,” he said, the courtroom erupting as several reporters began to head for the double doors at the back of the room, anxious to be the first to break the news.

  Judge Preston turned to the defendant’s table. “This matter is not over. I’m ordering an investigation into the matter of jury selection and, Mr. Monarch, until that matter has been decided, you will recuse yourself as a member of Mr. Thorensen’s defense team.”

  “Understood, Your Honor,” Monarch said, already sliding papers back into his briefcase as if totally unconcerned about any investigation. Mia figured he had no need to worry. It was clear as crystal to her that the man would receive a high fee regardless of any charges brought against him. After all, he’d done his job and, for now at least, Thomas Thorensen, easily having already paid the huge bail that had been required, was once again a free man.

  Chapter 2

  It had been a nightmare leaving the courtroom. Reporters had thrust microphones at her, yelling questions over each other to the point where it was all nothing more than a cacophony of noise. Randall and Damian had done their best to shield her, repeating, “No comment,” over and over. She wasn’t truly surprised at the size or insistence of the crowd. The members of the Thorensen family were celebrities in this city.

  She’d learned that the Thorensen empire hadn’t become so powerful and wealthy without dipping into several illegal activities from generations past. Though the last several years had seen most of the family begin to move towards more respectful endeavors, with one of their own on trial for murder, enough concern had been raised that they might slip back into their earlier ways of making ‘witnesses’ disappear that the state had insisted on protection for several of their key witnesses. Special Agent Damian Cooper was the man assigned to keep Mia safe during the trial. Mia didn’t begin to relax until she slid into the backseat of the sedan waiting at the curb and Damian got behind the wheel.

  Once they pulled away, Randall turned to her. “Why don’t you two come for dinner tonight? We’ll even crack open a bottle of wine.”

  She shot a glance at Damian, meeting his eyes in the rear-view mirror. At his grin, she shook her head. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t be good company. All I really want to do is crawl into bed.” Too late, she realized what she’d just admitted could be misconstrued and added, “I mean, I’m tired… but, thank you.”

  “I understand. Just make sure you order up a good dinner from room service,” Randall said, reaching over to pat her arm. “Shit, I’m so sorry, Mia.”

  “You don’t have to apologize. How could you have known?”

  “To be honest, I’m a little surprised that Thorensen would try such a stunt. I mean, surely he had to be aware that you’d recognize Susan.”

  “Is that her name?”

  “You didn’t know?”

  Mia turned her gaze from the view outside the window back to him. “No, it’s not like we were friends. In fact, if the judge had asked, I’d have felt like a fool,” she confessed and gave a strangled laugh. “You know what’s funny? Thomas was most likely telling the truth when he said he didn’t remember her. He doesn’t give women the respect of even learning their names. He just addresses them as sugar or…” slut. The second moniker she kept to herself even as her face heated.

  Randall didn’t press her for details, just said, “That doesn’t excuse the fact that his defense team tampered with the jury. Of course, perhaps it does, seeing that he had the audacity to actually put himself on that team.”

  “How did you know I needed a break?” Mia asked, remembering the note she’d seen Damian pass to the attorney.

  “I knew something was off,” Damian answered, meeting her eyes again before turning them back to the road. “I hoped Randall could ask for a break.”

  Mia said nothing, not truly surprised, but was thrown when Randall said, “He knows you pretty well.”

  Was he digging for information or simply more observant than he’d let on over the past few weeks? It hadn’t taken long for Mia and Damian to realize there was an attraction between them. Knowing it wasn’t proper or likely to be condoned, they’d both attempted to keep their budding relationship a secret. The masculine chuckle had her looking up to find Randall watching her.

  “It’s all right, I’m not going to rat you out,” he said. “I’m just glad Damian knew what was needed. You looked like a deer caught in the headlights.”

  Mia relaxed. “I felt like one. God, I just wish this was over and now we have to start again.”

  They grew quiet as the car glided through the streets. Suddenly, she wondered what would happen now that the trial had been postponed.

  “Am I going to have to stay at the hotel until the new trial?”

  “No, it will be a few months at least before we start again. But the room’s paid up for today so you can enjoy another night on the city,” Randall said.

  That was all fine and good, but what Mia really wanted to know was what the situation would mean for her and Damian. Since that was a question the district attorney couldn’t answer, she didn’t bother to ask.

  As they reached the hotel she’d been put up in while waiting to testify, Randall asked, “Are you sure you won’t come to dinner?”

  “Thank you, but no,” she said. Damian was out of the car and opening her door as Randall laid his hand over hers.

  “I just want you to
know, I appreciate all you’ve done. I hate that your life has been disrupted and will be again.”

  “It’s fine. And don’t worry about me.”

  “You get some rest and we’ll talk soon. Hang in there, Mia. We’re not done yet.”

  “I’ll be ready.” Mia wished desperately that the day had ended differently. Instead, all the weeks of worry and stress were going to be repeated. She stepped out of the car and smiled when she felt Damian’s palm against her back as he led her into the lobby.

  “I’m going to take Holden to his office and finish some paperwork.”

  Mia felt her heart stutter, wondering if this was her answer… would Damian be reassigned? Taken off her protection detail at least until the new trial began?

  Damian bent to speak quietly. “I’ll be back as quickly as I can. How about you take a little nap and then we’ll have some dinner?”

  Relief flooded through her. “Promise you’ll hurry?”

  He grinned. “Promise you want me to return? You said you were awfully tired.”

  Mia flushed but smiled as well. “Suddenly, I’m not tired at all.”

  Damian chuckled and once they’d reached her room, he checked it and then took her into his arms.

  “Still, you take a nap. It could be a couple of hours.” She nodded and after he gave her a quick kiss, he left.

  Though she tried to nap, she couldn’t. Rising from the bed, she decided she just couldn’t stay. If Damian was going to be reassigned, she wanted their last night together to be on her own turf. She left a note at the front desk, checked out, and within an hour, was pulling into her driveway. Crossing her yard, she wondered what she could throw together for dinner and then decided that she’d let Damian choose what he’d like and they’d order in. Climbing her steps, she rummaged in her purse for her key and inserted it in the lock, giving it a twist. Before she had a foot inside, she heard a cry.

  “Kitty!”

  The call had her turning her head to see a huge Great Dane bounding over her lawn, leash trailing. The impact had Mia giving a loud ‘umph’ and her purse falling, scattering the contents across the porch. Still, she couldn’t deny the joy she felt. “Hey, girl,” she said, not having to bend to give the dog a hug as huge paws landed on her shoulders. “You know it’s naughty to run away from your nana.”

  A long lick of a coarse tongue told of the dog’s indifference in her behavior. Swiping the wetness from her cheek, Mia reached for the leash. “Come on, we’ll go apologize.” Her first step sent a tube of lipstick flying but she just shook her head and walked down the steps, lifting her free hand to wave at her neighbor.

  “I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Kemp said. “She got away from me again.”

  “It’s all right. I hope she didn’t hurt you,” Mia said, knowing her dog’s strength.

  “No, no, she wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  “Well, she’s sorry, aren’t you, girl?” Mia continued towards the elderly woman who had taken on the role of surrogate mother the day Mia had moved into the small house across the street. “I appreciate you watching over her.”

  “Oh, she’s such an angel,” Edna Kemp said, “just misses her mama. How are you, dear? I saw you on the television. Those reporters…” Mrs. Kemp shook her gray head, “how can they be so rude? Goodness, they were shouting, but I couldn’t understand a word they were saying.”

  Mia had certainly managed to hear the questions being thrown at her from every direction. What had happened? Where’d the jury go? Why had she gone into the judge’s chambers? Why a mistrial? Had Thorensen accepted some sort of deal? None of which she’d answered. Though she’d desperately wanted to assure them that the man had not been cleared of the charges against him, Randall had instructed her to simply remain silent. “They are just trying to do their job.”

  “Well, in my day, women were treated with far more respect. A mistrial? What does that mean?”

  “Unfortunately, it means that the case will start all over again,” Mia said with a sigh.

  “Oh my,” Edna said, shaking her head. “You must be exhausted. Come, I’ve made a nice supper. You can tell me all about it over dinner.”

  “That’s awfully sweet but I’m just going to order something in.”

  “Nonsense. There’s no need for that. I’ve made a lovely chocolate cake for dessert.”

  “Um, well, the truth is, Damian… I mean Agent Cooper is coming over for dinner. I um, thought it would be nice to… you know, to, um, thank him for all he’s done.”

  Edna broke into a huge smile. “Wonderful, your young man can join us. We’ll have a nice quiet meal and—”

  Quiet became a foreign concept as noise erupted all around them. Kitty began barking loudly when a shrill shrieking split the evening air.

  “Goodness!” Edna Kemp said, putting her hands over her ears.

  “Kitty, hush!” Mia said, looking towards her house. “It’s my alarm. I didn’t have time to turn it off before Kitty got me. And that’s my phone,” she added when another shrill ringing joined in the chaos. “That’s probably the alarm company calling to check if everything is all right. I’ll shut it off and call Damian about dinner.”

  “All right, dear,” Edna said. “Kitty, hush. Goodness, where are your manners?”

  Mia ran back across the street, cursing as she had to scan the scattered items on the porch for her phone, tripping over Kitty who had moved in front of her. “Kitty, I swear,” Mia said, pushing her aside to grab the phone, answering without looking at the screen. “I’m so sorry. It’s just a false alarm.”

  “Mia! Thank God!”

  “Damian?” Mia asked, covering one ear with her hand. “I can’t hear you. My alarm is going off. Let me shut it off so—”

  “No! Get away from the house! Don’t go inside.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Just do as I say. Get away from the house. I’m almost there!”

  Mia realized the piercing sound of a siren had added to the confusion. Looking at her door and wanting to just scream at all the noise to stop, she took one step forward only to have Kitty push back against her. “Kitty, move!” The dog shoved against her again, moving her towards the steps. The sound of tires squealing drew her attention to the corner.

  Suddenly the hairs on her arms stuck up as fear overtook her, holding her in place for an instant before Kitty growled and pushed her again. Mia turned and leapt down the steps. She was halfway across the yard, running towards the black SUV racing down the street, Kitty was still barking and Edna yelling when suddenly all other sounds disappeared as an explosion blew her off her feet, sending her flying into the street.

  “Shit!” Damian swore as he yanked the wheel hard to the right, dragging the SUV into a ninety degree turn and almost into the path of the car right beside him which pulled past him, swerving to a stop facing the opposite direction. Damian was out of his vehicle and on his knees beside Mia within a second. “Call an ambulance,” he yelled over his shoulder to the other FBI agent as he saw that the rear tire of the SUV was resting no more than four inches from Mia’s prone body, trying not to think about how close he’d come to running over the very woman he was charged with protecting. “Mia, can you hear me?” He swore when something rammed him from behind and he lost his balance, twisting awkwardly in order not to fall on top of Mia. He wound up on his back, his gun in his hand.

  “God damn it!” he swore as one of the largest dogs he’d ever seen loomed over him. Damian lowered his weapon as the dog growled then seemed to dismiss him as he jumped over Mia and began to lap at her face.

  Damian leaned over Mia again. “Mia?” he said, conscious that the dog was watching his every movement, not allowing him to get any closer, plopping down beside Mia, lapping at her cheek again. What a cluster fuck!

  “Fire department and ambulance are on their way. Shit, I can’t fucking believe this!” Agent Jeffrey Saunders said.

  “Damian?”

  Damian’s attention dropped back to Mia to see her
attempting to sit up. “No, don’t move!” he ordered, grateful that she was alive.

  “I’m okay,” she insisted, wincing when she put weight on her wrist. Though she had an obvious knot on her forehead and several abrasions from her slide over concrete, her eyes were clear. An idea bloomed in Damian’s mind. “Jeff, keep everyone back,” he ordered, realizing his order came too late as an elderly woman stepped between the cars.

  “Ma’am, please step back,” Damian said, only to be totally ignored.

  “Child, are you all right? Oh, is this your young man?”

  “Edna? Thank God you’re okay. Yes, this is Damian,” Mia said, moving into a sitting position despite Damian’s order.

  “Quiet!” he said, knowing he had to work fast in order for his idea to stand a chance of working. He began to speak quickly, watching as both women’s eyes widened and Jeff nodded. “I can’t explain it all now, but if we can pull this off, it will give Mia a chance. Do you understand?”

  “I-I’m dead?” Mia said.

  Just hearing her utter those words had his heart clutching but he nodded. “For now.” He was squatting beside her and reached out to tuck a strand of ebony hair behind her ear. “This wasn’t an accident. If they think they succeeded, they won’t come after you again.” He looked up to see the older woman nodding her head, though he also saw that she was trembling. “I know it’s asking a lot and absolute secrecy is a must, no matter who asks questions… for all you know, Mia died in that explosion.”

  “I understand. You just promise to keep my girl safe, you hear!”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Damian said. He could hear sirens in the distance and knew he had to move.

  Jeff said, “I’ll take care of everything here. Call me when you get settled and make sure you watch her in case she’s hurt more than what’s obvious.”

  “I’ll get her checked out.” Without further ado, Damian opened the backdoor of the SUV and while Agent Saunders blocked the view as much as possible, moved Mia inside. “Lie down… shit!” The last was said as the huge dog jumped into the open door of the front then turned and hung over the seat, watching. “Get out!”