Securing His Destiny (Power Security #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

S teve Power lowered his window, and the late-afternoon, spring air filled the car. The light breeze wafting over his skin was nice after being in an air-conditioned building.

The day had been busy but fulfilling. Business was booming, and he was looking at collaborating more with some counterparts in Los Angeles. Steve had done a favor for Angelo Donatello at Alliez Security a few months ago. Afterward, his boss, Ox, had contacted Steve to see if they were interested in working with them on missions they did with the FBI.

Power Security’s location in Perth, and its proximity to Asia was a draw card, not to mention the fact he and his team already did covert operations for the Australian Government and other individuals.

Steve was more than happy to consider Ox’s proposal.

He turned down a familiar street, and his focus drifted to the owner of the café he frequented. Tabitha Newton was sexy, sassy, and way too good for him and his baggage.

Not to mention all the things he’d done so far in his life. He’d taint her beautiful soul. However, that didn’t stop him from admiring her from afar.

Steve stopped in every morning for a coffee and a muffin, paired with, on occasion, some light flirtation. In moments of weakness, his fantasies of what could be filled his mind until he shut them down with a reality check.

Out of habit, he slowed as he approached Café Tabby, hoping to catch a glimpse of its delightful owner through the car’s window.

Steve slammed on his brakes, his car lurching to a halt. “What the fuck?” he muttered, slapping his hazard lights on. He got out, running over to the prone figure on the ground in front of the café’s entrance. “Tabitha!”

Blood oozed from the back of her head. He pressed his fingers against her neck, releasing a breath when he felt her steady pulse.

Steve scanned the area, clocking the overturned tables and chairs inside, along with the smashed cake display case.

What the fuck had happened here?

Had someone tried to rob her?

However, if the damage was done inside, why was Tabitha lying on the ground outside?

The questions flowed around his mind like a cat chasing his tail.

Tabitha moaned, and Steve forgot about the unanswered questions.

“Don’t move,” he said, when her eyes fluttered open.

“Steve?” Her voice sounded strong, if a little soft.

He took that as a positive sign.

“Yeah, Tabby, it’s me. Keep still. I’m going to call an ambulance.”

“Head hurts.”

“I know, honey.” He brushed his fingers across her forehead, hoping that it would alleviate some of her pain. Not to mention he prayed she wouldn’t pick up on the endearment that’d slipped out.

Steve sat his ass on the pavement beside her. What he’d like to do was lift her so he could cradle her, but he didn’t know what injuries she had, so moving her wasn’t the wisest of ideas. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called emergency services, giving them a quick rundown of where he was and what was happening. Then he called Wilt.

“What’s up, boss?”

“Are you still at the office?”

Wilt had been there when Steve had left, but he’d been making moves to head home himself. Steve hoped that he’d stayed for a few minutes longer.

“I am. What do you need?”

Steve was grateful for the way his team were ready to do anything should anyone of them need help. He was the same. It didn’t matter what he was in the middle of doing, if anyone of his guys called, he’d drop everything and have their six.

“I need you to see if you can hack into any cameras near Café Tabby.”

“On it. What am I looking for?”

“I’m not sure. Attempted robbery.” Steve prayed it wasn’t anything sinister and that maybe someone got angry because Tabby wouldn’t give them what they wanted. “I drove past and found her bleeding on the ground outside. Her cake display case is busted, and a couple of tables and chairs are overturned.”

“Shit, man. Is she okay?”

“She woke up a few minutes ago, but I think she’s unconscious again. Emergency services are on their way.”

“I’m awake. I’ss okay.”

Her slurring of words had his worry meter tripping into overdrive.

“Was that her?” Wilt asked.

“Yeah.” Steve stroked her forehead again. “It’s okay, Tabby. Help’s coming.”

The faint sound of sirens caught his attention, and he relaxed a fraction. It shouldn’t be long before they were there and would tell him how badly she’d been hurt.

“Okay, let me know where they take her. I’ll start seeing what I can find. I’ll call Damon and Andy to head down there to secure the place.”

“Thanks. Let them know the police will be here documenting the crime scene.”

“Roger that. You look after Tabitha, and we’ll take care of everything.”

“Talk to you later.” The sirens grew louder, and Steve expected them to be upon them in seconds. He hadn’t missed the way Tabitha tensed, as if the sound was hurting her head. That was probably the case. Blood still seeped from her wound, matting her blonde hair.

“So loud,” she whimpered.

“I know, honey.” Helplessness wasn’t something Steve was used to feeling. He wished he could take her pain away. He wanted to lean down and kiss her forehead, but he wasn’t about to take liberties that weren’t his.

An ambulance and two police cars mounted the curb.

By now, people were milling about. Tabitha’s café was in a small strip of shops with houses on the other side of the road from it, and a community center on the corner opposite.

The adjacent shops next to the café were closed that day. The other office in the complex was a real estate agency, but he wasn’t sure it was close enough to have heard the commotion.

At least that’s what Steve was hoping was the case. He didn’t want to think that they’d ignored anything they may have heard. No doubt, they would be questioned during the investigation. He’d get one of his guys to follow up with them as well.

Two paramedics approached at the same time as two police officers.

“What happened?” the first paramedic asked.

Steve explained what he’d found, loud enough so the police officers heard it as well. He didn’t want to explain things twice. He wanted Tabitha looked at and taken to where she could get treatment.

“We’ll take it from here, sir,” the same paramedic said as he squatted by Tabitha.

“Help’s here, honey. Let them do what they need to do.”

Honey!

That was the third time the endearment had slipped out. Steve liked the way it sounded, but really, he had no right to say it. No matter how much he wanted it to be true.

“Don’t leave.” Tabitha’s whispered plea cut him to the quick.

“I won’t.” He squeezed her shoulder before stepping back so the paramedics could examine her.

Two police officers approached him, while another two surveyed the damage inside the shop.

“Can you explain what happened, please?” the first officer asked, notepad in his hand.

Steve sighed. So much for hoping he wouldn’t have to explain more than once, but he should’ve known the police would question him regardless of what they’d heard him say.

They needed to make sure he wouldn’t change his story. He wouldn’t be surprised if they hauled him down to the nearest station to question him all over again.

Hoping to counter all of that rigmarole, he went to reach into his back pocket to extract his wallet but paused. “I’m just going to get my wallet. I’m unarmed.” He kept his hands out in front of him, and his gaze narrowed in on the nearest officer.

After a moment where the two officers had a silent conversation, the one facing him nodded.

With slow, precise motions, Steve did as he said and handed over a business card. “That’s me, Steve Power of Power Security. If you want to call it in to verify, please do so. I’ve worked with the police force on numerous occasions.” It wasn’t like him to throw his connections in the face of people, but this circumstance warranted it.

The officer eyed the card and stepped away to make a call. His colleague stayed by Steve’s side.

It wasn’t as if Steve was going anywhere—yet.

The moment the paramedics finished working on Tabitha, he’d be getting in his car and following her to whatever hospital they took her to.

A few minutes later, the officer who’d moved away returned. “You’ve checked out. But still, procedure requires us to question you again.”

“Fine, but when they’re done—” He canted his head to where Tabitha still lay. “I’m out of here.”

The officer nodded. “Right, can you tell me how you came to be here?”

Patiently, he gave them what they needed. He was almost done with his explanation when the paramedics moved Tabitha to a gurney, ready to put her in the back of the ambulance. “Sorry, I’ve gotta go. You have my number.”

“I think what we’ve got is sufficient. But we’ll call you if we need anything else.”

“Fine.” With a nod, he jogged over to the paramedic. “Which hospital are you taking her to?”

“RPH.”

“Right.” Steve glanced at Tabitha. She had a little more color highlighting her cheeks. “I’ll follow the ambulance, yeah?”

It didn’t matter if she said no, he was still going to do it. If that made him an arrogant asshole, he didn’t care. He wasn’t going to let Tabitha face this alone. Through their conversations, she’d told him she didn’t have a partner.

While he may have thought he wasn’t good enough for her, he still asked the questions he wanted to know with the vague hope that one day, maybe things would be different.

Had this day come?

Was this the sign to say it didn’t matter what Steve had done in the past? Or would do in the future.

Was this woman meant to be his?

Where the fuck did that fanciful thought come from?

He wasn’t one to believe in the fates and that there was a special someone out there in the world for each and every person. Yet, from the second he’d met Tabitha, he’d been drawn to her. No matter how many times Steve had told himself to stay away, he couldn’t.

“I’d like that.”

Her words brought him back to the present, and he smiled, receiving a small one in return.

The doors were closed, and he moved toward his car, halting when he spied Damon and Andy standing near it.

“You good?” Damon asked as he approached them.

“Yep. I’m following the ambulance, so I need to go.”

“I heard,” Damon said. We’ll take care of everything here. Make sure the place is cleaned up after the cops leave.”

“Good. Thanks.”

“I’ve spoken to Wilt,” Steve said, lowering his voice so the lurking police didn’t hear him. “He was going to see if he could get footage from any cameras in the area.”

“Got it.” Damon nodded. “I’ll check in with him. We’ll also look around to make sure nothing’s been missed.”

“I’ll keep a close eye on them,” Andy interjected, canting his head toward the officers nosing around Tabitha’s café.

“Never in doubt.” He gave his counterparts another nod before he got in the car. He hoped nothing happened to Tabitha on the way to the hospital. Not that he thought it would, but head wounds were tricky and sometimes unpredictable.

Not to mention the possibility of internal injuries. If she’d been hit by whoever had attacked her.

Steve’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.

Whoever had thought they could hurt Tabitha were going to regret it. He’d make sure of it.