Surrender by Angela Ford Page B

out for me. Why the hell didn’t you tell the officers that?” Anger raced through her veins. Her dad always told her she’s as fiery as her red hair.
    “I’m not blowing the investigation. Not now. I’m too close to crack it wide open,” Agent Donovan answered in a sharp tone of voice. Lauren looked deeply into his eyes for some sort of compassion. She heard compassion in his voice earlier, but now he seemed cold. His eyes were the one thing that did catch her attention. They were piercing green. His dark long eyelashes only enhanced the color. His messed hair and five o’clock shadow gave him such a sexy look. The scent of his cologne teased her senses. Lauren shook her head loose of those thoughts and remembered her anger with him. More so, she’d buried her husband just hours before. She sighed heavily. She noticed his eyes drop to her chest as she took a deep breath. He smiled. This angered her more and she spun around and walked to the phone by the bar. He followed her and grabbed the phone from her hand.
    “No phone calls,” he said harshly.
    “You don’t own me. Give me the damn phone. I’m calling my father.”
    “Your father can’t protect you. Neither can the police. But I can.”
    Lauren took another deep breath and rolled her eyes. Who the hell does he think he is? Does he know who my father is? Her eyes widened. She wondered if he read minds.
    “Your father’s money can’t protect you. The people that want you dead don’t care about your money. They just want to finish the job.”
    “Why? I don’t know anything about my husband’s business. I was never a part of it. I’m not even sure I believe you. John was a good man. He wouldn’t get involved with people like that.” She stormed past him and went upstairs.
    “Do I have to chase you around this house all night just to talk to you?” He hollered out to her.
    She stopped and turned. “You can always leave.” She threw the words at him and continued up the stairs.
    He found her seated at the end of her bed. He leaned against the doorway with his arms folded. She looked up at him. Her mind raced about the tall sexy, rugged-man that stood at her doorway. Her thoughts shocked her. Her husband just died and she was supposed to be grieving not desiring another man. She shrugged it off in the belief she was just confused. She’d been grieving and then he showed up and threw this information in her face. Then with someone in the house and the sound of a gunshot; she felt sure confusion, exhaustion and anger took over.
    “I won’t leave. I’m here to protect you. Trust me. I will.”
    Lauren wasn’t sure if his ego just spoke or if he actually cared. The man rattled her.
    “Fine, I’m too tired to argue with you. I’m going to bed. Please close my door.” She got up from the bed, walked into her bathroom and shut the door. Part of her felt relieved he would protect her.

Chapter Two

    Brett found his way to the kitchen. It’s going to be a long night , he thought. He started a pot of coffee and went to his car to grab his briefcase. He decided to work even though there were several bedrooms in the mansion to grab a bed for the night. Exhausted from the drive from Washington which preceded the redeye from Mexico, he could have easily taken one of those beds, but his work ethic took over. There was no time for rest and he wasn’t a guest. He hadn’t even been invited to the funeral, though he had known John in college. He remained on the outskirts where no one noticed him. No invitation told Brett that John hadn’t mentioned his name to his new family. Why would he? Brett thought. The two hadn’t kept in touch. After college, they went their separate ways. They both had goals to achieve.
    Brett camped at the kitchen table with his coffee and files. He’d been investigating the drug cartel for three years since he joined the narcotics department at the FBI, his goal after college. He spent four years in Washington with the Secret