Dangerous Witness (O'Connor Brothers Book 7) Read online

  This book is dedicated to my uncle, the late Hugh Westcott. My family lost him suddenly shortly before the release of this book. Uncle Hugh was a kind man, and when I would visit him, he would always say how proud he was that I took the chance and fulfilled my dream of being an author. Thank you, Uncle Hugh, for all your support and heaven certainly has gained another angel.

  Acknowledgments

  There are so many people to thank for making this book possible; I could almost write another book on that alone. A simple thank you never seems enough to convey my gratitude, but I will try to do that the best I can.

  The first thank you goes to the ladies who help with editing and errors. Michelle Eriksen, Abbie Zanders, and Amabel Daniels are amazing women and dear friends. I want to thank them for their constant support and a keen eye. To my dedicated betas and dear friends, Jackie Dawe Ford, Nancy Arnold-Holloway, and Karie Deegan thank you so much for the support and encouragement. Also, a special thanks to the many authors who have become both friends and mentors. Last but certainly not least, to my readers. You are the reason that I can continue to do this.

  A very special thank you to my husband, Danny who gives me the inspiration for the romantic heroes I write and encourages me every day. To my two children Laura and Colin, both of you show me every day how proud you are and how much you love me. To my beautiful granddaughter, Emma. You may not be old enough to read yet, but your smile inspires me to keep going. To my dad, James, I thank you for loving and supporting me every day.

  I love all of you.

  This book is fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be taken as real. Any resemblance to people living or dead, events, location or companies are purely coincidental.

  This is the original work of Rhonda Brewer.

  All rights reserved. No part of this work can be reproduced in any way without written permission from the author.

  DANGEROUS WITNESS©2018 Rhonda Brewer

  All Rights Reserved

  Prologue

  September thirteen years ago….

  Aaron O’Connor slumped against the lockers and listened to one of his best friends give a play by play of his date with one of the girls in grade twelve. Cory Fleming didn’t have a player reputation but certainly wasn’t a virgin. The fact he’d gone out with Raquel wasn’t a huge leap. Raquel Evans was popular but not for her perky personality.

  Holy Cross had gone from an all-boys school to a co-ed three years earlier. It was strange in the beginning, but the boys adjusted to it pretty quickly. Especially with girls like Raquel offering things that the boys only dreamed about. She was anything but the virginal Catholic girl.

  “We drove up to Greeley’s Peak around midnight,” Cory whispered in a hushed tone. “Her idea. When I turned off the car, she was all over me. I swear at one point I thought she had ten hands.”

  Greeley’s Peak was where teenagers hung out to do things that their parents would otherwise frown upon. It stood between Hopedale and the highway, and over the years a path had worn down that brought everyone to the top where it overlooked the harbor.

  Sean and Kathleen O’Connor knew what went on up there and made it known to Aaron and his brothers they didn’t fool them.

  “Did she, you know, give you head?” Joey Mayo, the other friend in their trio, almost seemed as if he’d been the one getting his dick sucked.

  He was the youngest of their group even though he was in the same grade. Joey, as they called him, was a little on the immature side but it didn’t matter to Aaron or Cory. He was their friend.

  “Not only did she mouth fuck me, but she swallowed.” Cory wiggled his eyebrows.

  “You two are the biggest perverts I’ve ever met.” Aaron chuckled as he shoved his hands into his grey school pants pockets.

  His friends might be perverts, but Aaron got hard hearing Cory’s story. Not that he was interested in Raquel putting her mouth anywhere near his junk, but he was an eighteen-year-old red-blooded guy. Aaron was the only one of his group who hadn’t gotten past first base with a girl. Not because he couldn’t, he didn’t want to be that guy.

  The very open about sex talks with his parents made Aaron and his brothers cringe. They were open about everything sometimes to a fault, but they wanted their sons to be sure they were ready before they went that far. Aaron tried to abide by that. As difficult as it was at times.

  Aaron was the youngest of seven brothers and the only one left in high school. The two oldest John and James were fraternal twins and started their second year as police officers in St. John’s. Ian was in the middle of medical school and only came home to Hopedale on weekends or holidays.

  Keith was ready to move to Yellowknife to find out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He’d finished university with a Business Degree in less than three years and seemed to be a little lost. He was considered something of a genius because of his eidetic memory which was why he wanted to find his own way.

  Mike was in his third year of university and headed to law school in Ontario the following fall. Then there was Nick who started his first year of university and was preparing to be a lawyer as well.

  “Jealous, O’Connor?” Cory gave Aaron a playful punch in the shoulder.

  “That you let Raquel fucking Evans suck you off? Not a chance. I wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole.” Aaron snorted.

  Stories circulated in school, Hopedale, and the other small communities about Raquel sleeping with guys all over the place. Rumors were not something Aaron liked to spread, but she didn’t seem the least bit ashamed of her reputation. In fact, she bragged about what she was willing to do.

  “A.J, can I get a ride home with you today?” his cousin, Kristy shouted as she hurried toward him.

  “Why can’t you take the bus home?” Aaron didn’t mind driving her home, but he also didn’t want to get in shit if she was supposed to go home on the school bus.

  “I’ve got choir after school, and since you have basketball, I don’t have to bother Isabelle to come get me.” Kristy was one of four female cousins that were like sisters to him and his brothers.

  “Sure, just make sure you’re done by five because Uncle Kurt will kick my ass if I’m not at Karate by six.” Kurt was his father’s younger brother and Kristy’s father.

  Kurt O’Connor was a police officer, and he’d heard it said more than once that his uncle would be Chief of Police someday. Aaron didn’t doubt it. Kurt was highly decorated and spent a lot of his free time volunteering with kids from all over the province. He was a Shihan in Karate which meant a senior instructor with a fourth dan black belt and taught Aaron, his brothers and cousins Karate.

  “I will. Thanks, cuz.” Kristy continued down the corridor, giggling with a couple of her friends.

  “Your cousin gets hotter every day.” Joey leered at Kristy as she disappeared into one of the classrooms.

  “Hands off, Mayo. One, Uncle Kurt will kick your ass if you even think about touching her and two, she would kick your ass.” Aaron shoved Joey.

  “Hi, A.J.” Aaron’s head turned to the right as Raquel stepped behind Cory.

  She winked the way she always did, and as usual, her school blouse was unbuttoned down to where her ample cleavage was visible to anyone who wanted a peek. She’d been warned numerous times about keeping her uniform buttoned, but she’d make a point of popping a button or two when she was around the guys.

  “No hi for me?” Cory wrapped his arm around the girl he’d been bragging about not ten minutes earlier.

  “Of course.” She leaned in and practically shoved her tongue down Cory’s t
hroat.

  Aaron rolled his eyes. He knew what she was doing. Raquel tried everything to get him to go out with her since grade ten, but he wasn’t interested. Not in a girl like her.

  Nick was eleven months older than Aaron and graduated the year before. The month Nick graduated she cornered him on Greeley’s Peak and told him she could rock his world. Knowing her reputation, Nick declined, and now Raquel had her sights set on Aaron. It was no secret she wanted to bag an O’Connor.

  “Excuse me.” A quiet female voice interrupted his thoughts.

  Aaron turned his head, and his breath caught as his eyes met the prettiest green eyes he’d ever seen. The glasses she wore brightened her eyes, and faint freckles appeared across her tiny nose. Her light-brown hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, and small tendrils framed her pretty face.

  “I need to get into my locker.” She motioned toward the locker behind Aaron.

  “God, Beatrice. Can’t you wait until our conversation is finished?” Raquel snapped at the pretty girl.

  “My name’s Bethany, and I’ve got to get my chemistry book for class.” Bethany’s voice trembled as she responded to Raquel.

  “Nobody cares what your name is, Butterball.” Raquel snarled.

  “You weren’t actually talking to anyone, Raquel. I’m pretty sure your tongue was down Cory’s throat,” Aaron snapped.

  “Jealous, A.J?” she purred.

  Aaron bit his tongue as he stepped out of Bethany’s way. He disliked Raquel, but he was quickly on the way to hating the bitch. Since she wasn’t in his circle of friends, Aaron didn’t have to put up with her very often. Except when she hit on him, but he’d witnessed her bully other girls and guys frequently.

  The one time he saw her get what she deserved was when she set her eyes on Kristy. During lunch the previous year, she told Kristy she needed to stuff her bra a little because the boys were going to think she wasn’t a girl. Kristy smiled sweetly as she stood over Raquel.

  “I’m going to tell you this once, Raquel. I’m not easily intimidated by you or anyone. I may not have your overinflated balloons, but it’s because I work out every day with my dad, you know, the police officer who teaches me how to defend myself, taught me to have respect for myself. The next time you try to make me feel bad, I may show you how much I can hurt someone with one hand.” Kristy stood up, smiled, and sauntered away, leaving Raquel wide-eyed.

  She never picked on his cousin again or any of Kristy’s friends. Raquel knew better than to push his cousin. Kristy really could hurt someone with one hand.

  Aaron glanced back behind at Bethany fumbling in her locker as if she wanted to get away quickly. Aaron sometimes wished that someone else would stand up to Raquel and stop her reign of terror on other students. It was pointless for him to do it because she always twisted it around as him fighting his attraction to her.

  Bethany retrieved her book, closed her locker, and started down the hall as if she couldn’t get away fast enough. As she tried to make her way around them, Raquel stuck out her foot so it wouldn’t be noticeable but still sufficient to trip Bethany. Aaron winced as the poor girl fell onto her hands and knees.

  “Oops,” Raquel pressed her fingers against her lips as Bethany struggled to get up and gather her things.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Aaron snarled at Raquel as he crouched to help Bethany retrieve her things.

  “Seriously, you’re going to defend her? She should be more careful where she’s walking. I’m not surprised. It’s probably hard to hold up all that fat.” Raquel laughed as well as a couple of other girls that everyone referred to as her shadows.

  “Are you okay?” Aaron ignored Raquel as he moved his attention back to Bethany.

  “I’m fine.” Bethany’s voice cracked as she scrambled to pick up her things.

  Aaron grabbed a calculator and book that slid across the corridor when she fell. When he glanced in her direction, she was ready to burst into tears. It broke his heart.

  “Come on.” Aaron held out his hand to her. “We’re in the same class.”

  He nodded to the name of the teacher on the cover of her book. Aaron had the same class himself and was suddenly happy to be heading to chemistry class. She stared at him without moving, and he glanced up at his friends behind her. He didn’t want to scare her or make her think he was friends with Raquel. Thank God, his friends picked up on his silent plea to help him.

  “You don’t want to be late for Mr. Grant’s class.” Aaron smiled.

  “A.J.’s right, Grant is a hard ass.” Joey stepped behind Aaron and gave the girl a friendly smile.

  Bethany tentatively put her hand in Aaron’s, and he helped her to her feet. When she stood, she snatched her hand back as Aaron returned her things.

  “I’m Aaron O’Connor, but everyone calls me A.J. This is Joseph Mayo, but we call him Joey, and that guy there is Cory Fleming, and we call him lots of things but none I would say in front of a lady. We’re all in Mr. Grant’s chem class.” Aaron shoved his hands into his pockets.

  “It’s my second day at this school.” She smiled, but it didn’t meet her eyes as she glanced at Raquel and her shadows.

  “The first week in a new school is the worst, but you only missed a few days of classes. It’ll be easy to catch up. Welcome to Holy Cross Senior High.” Aaron bowed with a flourish and finally got a giggle out of her.

  “Beatrice, don’t get used to them being nice to you. He only wants to get in your pants. Well, maybe not yours. I mean look at you.” Raquel’s eyes traveled up and down Bethany with disgust in her expression.

  Anger bubbled inside him, and he opened his mouth to defend the pretty girl next to him. Before he had a chance to say a word, Cory yanked his arm away from Raquel and stepped next to Bethany.

  “I’m pretty sure she said her name was Bethany,” Cory growled. “And there is nothing wrong with how she looks. You’re such a bitch.”

  “And I’ve seen bigger dicks on a guinea pig,” Raquel spat at Cory.

  “You don’t have to worry about that anymore because you won’t see this one again.” Cory pointed to his crotch.

  Raquel spun on their heels and stomped down the corridor in the opposite direction with her shadows right behind her. When Aaron turned back to Bethany, she was already halfway down the hall toward the classroom.

  “Hey, don’t mind her. She’s probably the biggest bitch in the school,” Aaron said when he’d caught up with Bethany.

  “It’s fine. I’m used to her. She’s lived next door to me for over a year.” Bethany sighed as she hurried down the hall.

  Aaron didn’t like the sound of that and was about to say as much, but Mr. Grant called out from the entrance to his class. The one thing you didn’t do at Holy Cross High school was, be late for Oliver Grant’s classes.

  “Sorry, Mr. Grant, we were just getting to know our new student.” Cory walked by the teacher with a grin.

  “Ms. Donnelly, are these boys bothering you?” the teacher asked Bethany.

  “No, sir.” She shook her head as she made her way to the desk closest to the door.

  “That’s not nice, Mr. Grant. Why would you assume the worst of us?” Joey stood next to the teacher as more students hurried into the classroom.

  “Because I’ve known you boys since grade ten, Mr. Mayo.” Mr. Grant pointed his finger into the classroom.

  Aaron was a little confused as to why Mr. Grant knew Bethany since she’d said it was her second day. It wasn’t his business, but it was apparent they knew each other.

  Bethany took the first seat in the first row as soon as she entered the classroom. Aaron usually headed right to the back of the room but decided he wanted to get to know this girl. For the first time in his life, he sat in the desk at the front of the classroom right next to her.

  “Planning on actually doing some work this year, Mr. O’Connor?” Mr. Grant closed the door to the classroom and locked it.

  The teacher would always lock the classr
oom door at the start of class. If anyone was not on time for the class, they couldn’t sneak in without a lecture.

  “Just because I sit in the back usually doesn’t mean I don’t work hard, sir.” Aaron grinned.

  Mr. Grant rolled his eyes, but Aaron didn’t miss the twitch of his lips. He’d had the teacher for the last two years for chemistry, and although he was a hard ass, Mr. Grant was one of his favorite teachers.

  Aaron glanced toward Bethany and winked. A slight blush turned her pale skin a beautiful shade of pink. She was cute and a girl he wanted to get to know.

  Chapter 1

  Bethany waved to her sister and nephew as they disappeared through the door. Allyson and Cameron were going back to Newfoundland and leaving her alone in Ontario. It was her choice of course, but Bethany would miss the only family she had in Toronto.

  Thirteen years ago, Bethany left her hometown in Hopedale, Newfoundland, because her high school sweetheart shattered her heart. He’d asked her out a month after arriving at the high school, and for the rest of the year, they were together almost every day.

  They’d even gone to the senior prom together, and it was that night they both lost their virginity. At first, it was awkward, but he’d been so sweet and gentle. The night was magical, but the next day when they returned to school to retrieve their report cards, her heart broke.

  June, thirteen years ago….

  Bethany stared at herself in the mirror of the girl’s bathroom. She didn’t look any different, but she was. Aaron had been so gentle with her and made sure she was completely ready before he pushed inside her.

  She closed her eyes as she thought about the way her heart raced and how strange it felt at first. It was obvious neither of them had experience, but somehow, he made her body tremble as he brought her to orgasm just before he did himself.

  She hadn’t seen him since the prom the previous night. His grandfather fell ill and ended up in the hospital. Aaron called her that morning and said he’d be in school by lunchtime to get his report card and he’d tell her all about his Grandda.