Xavier (Men of Forbidden Temptation Book 5)

Chapter 4

Plenty of timesthe military has caused me problems, and not just because I was an idiot who liked to drink and party.

Being stationed in a foreign country with an American accent sometimes drew in the wrong crowd.

Pair that with excessive drinking and the tight military bond and you got yourself a bar fight.

Sometimes I started the fights, and sometimes I finished them. But each and every fight, my brothers in arms stood by my side just as much as I stood by theirs.

So it’s no surprise that Hudson is standing by my side now.

The police officer stares at my out-of-state license before glancing up at me. “Xavier Brown. Are you new to town or just passing through?”

“I’m new. I moved here a week ago.”

He looks toward Hudson. “Is he a good friend of yours?”

There seems to be more in his question, like he knows what Gunny and I did in the Corps.

“Yes, sir. He’s my best friend. He just retired from the Marine Corps and moved into Old Man Brown’s house. I promise he isn’t normally like this. Must be the storm.”

My thoughts get stuck on one part of his statement. Old Man Brown’s house. What kind of name is that?

I raise my eyebrow at Hudson and wait for an explanation.

“That’s what we called your dad.”

I figured that much, but why?

I’ll have to ask him later. For now, I need to make sure I don’t wind up in jail tonight.

“Interesting.” My tone is flat as I try to assess the police officer.

If he knows anything about Gunny’s past, then either Gunny trusts him or the officer is also prior military.

He’s got the infamous high and tight haircut, so the latter is more probable.

The officer glances my way. “You’re Brown’s son?”

I give him a slight nod. “Yes, sir. He gave me his house after he passed away.”

Is it a good thing that they knew Dad?

Did Dad lie low here, or did he cause problems?

Was he a beloved member of the community, or did he keep to himself?

Did he ever talk about me, or did he pretend I never existed? If he did mention me, how much do the locals know?

The police officer nods his head, oblivious to my inner tirade.

“Your dad was a great man. He was honest, loyal, and reliable. He helped me get on with the department after I retired from the Navy. Did twenty-two years as military police. I’m truly sorry for your loss.”

I shrug. “I never knew that side of him.”

I’ve only known him as a mean, stubborn, hard ass man. He never was loving, caring, or soft. He didn’t pick me up from school or come to parent-teacher conferences.

We didn’t throw a football together or play catch in the backyard. And we sure as shit didn’t live in this small town.

“Stick around town and you might find out a thing or two about your old man.”

I say the first thing I can think of. “That’s the plan.”

Prior to this conversation, I never planned to dig into my dad’s past and how he lived here. Now, that’s all I want to do.

“Just stay out of trouble, and no more bar fights.” He hands me my license before turning toward the man hunched over.

“Still causing problems in my town, huh, David?”

He points his dirty, sausage-like finger my way. “He started it.”

The officer doesn’t even glance my way. “He wasn’t here last weekend when you were involved in a bar fight.”

David glares at me before returning his gaze to the police officer. “That wasn’t my fault, either.”

“Of course not. Nothing is ever your fault.”

I know I shouldn’t interrupt the officer after he let me go with just a warning, but I still do.

“Actually, officer, I did start this fight, and I’m prepared to face the consequences. However, I believe David owes that lady an apology first and foremost.”

The officer looks at the woman cowering in the corner. “Are you alright? Did he hit you?”

David groans as he stands. “Hell no. I didn’t hit the bitch.”

I let out a growl. Is this fucker serious? Did I not get my point across?

Hudson grabs my shoulder and pulls me back. “Relax, X. Let the police deal with him. You don’t need to cause any other problems.”

I turn my angry glare his way. “I don’t tolerate abuse, you know that.”

Hudson holds his hands up in surrender to ease the anger coursing through my veins. “I know, Xavier, but this is above your head. Let it go.”

I give him a curt nod as the police officer lets his gaze roam around the bar before meeting mine. “Go home and prepare for this storm.”

Grabbing my wallet, I leave the bartender several bills to cover the check and the inconvenience of the fight before following Hudson to the front door.

When Hudson and I are standing at our cars, he lets out a loud laugh.

“Man, Haley is going to be so mad she missed this. When’s the last time we were involved in a bar fight?”

It was before the cartel. Before the nightmares. Before my life went FUBAR.

“Probably like seven or eight years ago.”

He paces in front of his car with a grin on his face as the raindrops get bigger. “Where were we? At the tiny bar on the water?”

I let out a light laugh as I remember the good times the two of us had at that bar. “Yeah, that’s the one.”

The tiny bar where she worked.

The smile on Hudson’s face falls as his memories match mine. There were some really great times at that bar, but there were also some terrible times there as well.

We went there to celebrate victorious missions, and we went there to celebrate the lives of friends lost in battle.

It was also the bar where I met the love of my life.

Before she got mixed up with the wrong crowd.

Before she got sick.

Before she-

I shake those memories away. That was a long time ago, and I swore to myself that I would leave the past in the past. That’s where they belong.

Hudson clears his throat. “Well, you better get home. Don’t want the sheriff getting involved. He’s a mean old man.”

Sounds like my dad.

Or the old version of him. The version that I lived with.

“It was good catching up with you. Next time, bring Haley over to the house. It should be safer to drink there.”

I just need to fix the place up before then.

“Or we will invite you over to our house so we can cook for you. We can show you how good civilian life can be. Then Haley can try to persuade you to settle down.”

“That sounds great.” It’s been a while since I’ve had a decent home cooked meal.

We share a hug before going our separate ways.

I sit behind the wheel of my car for several minutes. I don’t want to go home, but I don’t need to poke the bear and cause more trouble.

Remembering several conversations from the bonfire last night, I decide to go fishing on my old dock.

The locals said this was the best time to fish. Maybe I’ll get lucky and score some fresh dinner.

With my mind made up, I head to the locally owned bait and tackle store for bait and bobbers.

The store is crowded with locals chatting about the storm and the best places to get the monster fish at this time of day.

I’m not interested in catching a monster sized fish, so I give them a friendly head nod before heading toward the back wall.

After grabbing several bobbers of different sizes, I walk toward the refrigerators where the owners keep the live bait.

An all too familiar accent has me stopping in my tracks.

I pretend to look at tackle boxes as I eavesdrop on their conversation.

The two men are trying to cover up their foreign accents by making them more southern, but anyone who’s from here would know they are faking it.

Maybe the locals don’t care.

Right now, they only seem to care about fishing and boarding up their houses and businesses.

But I know the dangers that the cartel will bring here, and no one will want that.

First, it will be drugs and gangs. Then it will be sex trafficking, murders, and crime. They will push the police out of the town and take over faster than this storm is approaching.

Concentrating on their voices, I overhear what appears to be a hushed fight about “their partner” stealing the treasure for himself.

Who is their partner? Someone local?

What treasure? Or is that a code word?

One man thinks their partner is shady and keeps things from the two of them, while the other one thinks the sun shines out of their partner’s ass.

If my past experience is anything to go on, unless there is complete trust between everyone, you shouldn’t go into business with one another.

Especially illegal business.

Something falls to the ground as one man says, “He was able to tap into her phone and heard a conversation a few minutes ago that she’s going to the restaurant.”

Whose phone are they tapping? And what restaurant is she going to? Every restaurant in town is closed.

The other man tries to cover up his deep laugh with a cough before saying, “Maybe we can get the treasure for ourselves and the girl. We can use her as bait.”

After what Hudson told me earlier, this is too much of a coincidence.

The men must be talking about Brianna, but why? Where does she fit in with all of this?

I slowly walk toward the clothing section and hide in the store”s corner. Digging out my phone, I type up a quick text to Hudson.

Two men, possibly cartel, talking about a girl and treasure. Wire tap performed by 3rd partner. Stand by.

I put my phone on vibrate to keep attention off of me as I slowly make my way through the clothing section to get a better look at the men.

Since they are facing away from me, I can only see the backs of their heads. Their black hair is longer than most locals, reminding me of the cartel, but unlike the cartel, they are wearing baseball caps.

Probably to fit in better with the locals.

My phone vibrates in my hand as Hudson messages back.

I’m gearing up. 10 minutes out.

His response brings a smile to my face. Even though it’s been years since we’ve worked together, he’s still willing to have my back.

Being new to this town has its disadvantages. For starters, I don’t know my way around. I don’t know which streets lead to certain parts of the island.

Second, I don’t know anyone, so I don’t know who to trust or who to go to with this information.

Hudson is the only one I know and trust, so I’ll have to go with his instincts and connections.

There’s always the mayor.

His family has been on the receiving end of the death threats.

Another text comes through.

Mayor is aware of the situation.

That’s one less thing I need to worry about. I can stay focused on the task at hand: gather intel and follow the suspects.

I send a quick reply.

10-4.

Glancing up, I no longer see the two men. My heart races. Did they leave the store or just move to another aisle?

Or worse, did they see me?

Leaving my bobbers behind, I speed walk along the back wall and glance down every aisle.

Shit. They left.

Gripping my phone tight, I race outside just in time to see the two men get into a beat up white jeep.

I call Hudson as I jump into my car. I need to give the men some time before following them.

As soon as Hudson answers, I say, “We’re on the move.”