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She brushed back the tears. The story went on to say an eighteen-wheeler had crashed into her car, killing her immediately.
She clicked on another of the local news channels in her old city. The waterworks burst forth—images of her parents at the funeral. Her father held her mother to his chest as she cried.
Her fingers had a mind of their own and clicked on a video link. She blinked through the tears, the video showing her parents leaving the gravesite and walking toward a waiting black limousine.
“A sad day today for business tycoon, Mason Irwin, as he buried his only child today. Such a sad turn events from having his best friend and longtime business partner, Ray Acosta, indicted on charges from stealing from his empire to now having to bury his child…” a news anchor’s voice droned on.
Aspen closed her eyes and let the tears flow. She cried for the pain that was etched on her parents’ faces. Growing up, she’d never seen her father cry. He was always a strong man who had been firm raising her, but had a heart of gold. She knew as a child that she was a daddy’s girl and he was wrapped around her little finger. She’d never taken advantage of it either. She’d always wanted to prove to him that she was just as strong as he was and yearned to make him proud of her.
But to see her father hold her mother with tears streaming down his face broke her.
Everything had been taken from her.
Her body was racked with sobs, and she just sat on her couch and cried.
Her father had always instilled in her that life would never be fair, but this was just going too far.
She wished there was a way she could reach out to them. Angrily, she wiped the tears from her face and vowed that she’d do what she could to stay safe so she could testify against the man who had stolen her life.
Ray Acosta would pay for what he had done to her, her family, and the countless victims who were affected by his embezzling from the corporation.
Her fingers flew across her keyboard as she pulled up another website. There were just a few other things that she had to check on.
Chapter 10
It was a scorching hot day to be running drills, but it was necessary. Declan was dressed in the normal tactical gear that he wore when they went out on real calls. They practiced as if they were really going out for live calls.
His body was weighed down by his ballistics vest, weapons, and tools. On his head was his protective helmet, and the only thing he chose to do different today was his face mask. No need to wear the mask for drills.
He leaned on the fence in front of him and watched Brodie, the team’s entry man, run through his target shooting drill. His body stiffened—a presence came to stand beside him.
“Her record is too clean,” Mac announced, resting his arms on the fence.
“I told you I had already run a check on her,” Declan growled, turning to Mac. “I told you I had already looked into her. She’s fine.”
“Declan—”
“I don’t need you snooping on me and the woman I’m involved with,” he snapped, glaring at his longtime friend.
Mac was a hound when it came to something he set his sights on.
“Look, I’m just trying to watch out for you,” Mac growled, pushing off the fence.
Declan could feel eyes on them as they stood facing each other. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself,” he snarled.
Off in the distance, his name was called, interrupting the tense moment between him and Mac. Without a word, he brushed past Mac and stalked away toward the entrance to the obstacle course.
“Hello, Sergeant Owen. You know the drill,” the obstacle course coordinator said upon approach.
“Thanks, Bill.”
Bill handed him the weapon Declan was to use. He gripped the MP5, feeling somewhat comforted by it. He did a quick check of the weapon to ensure it was ready for use. It was one of his favorites because of the ease of use and extremely reliable when they had to go in hot.
“Are you satisfied with the weapon?” Bill asked, standing by him as he inspected it.
“Sure am,” he grunted, reloading the magazine. He reached for his sunglasses from the pocket of his cargo pants and put them on. “I’m ready.”
Shooting things when he was upset always helped lighten his mood.
