Bent double, hands clamped over my knees, I try to catch my breath, my heart pounding against my ribcage.
“You all right, boss?” Vik asks.
“Just a head rush,” I manage through gritted teeth, straightening up and making my way to the corner, using the ropes for support as I fight to steady my breathing. “Go ahead, Jim. Spit it out.”
“We’re confident it’s that east coast carjacking ring, run by this guy.” He shows me a photo. “Yours was likely the highestprofile mark yet. They use ‘bait bunnies’ to lure guys in, get access to the cars.”
“And Sullivan?” I ask tightly, gripping the ropes. “She’s one of these bunnies?”
Jim nods grimly. “We think so. Still piecing it together, but there’s gang members near where she lives.”
I exhale harshly, swiping sweat off my brow.
“Sometimes they work marks for months,” Jim says. “Very persistent.”
My jaw clenches. She worked me over in thirty minutes. Some wariness around pretty hustlers I’ve got.
“She’s run this scam before then?”
He hesitates. “They use the same girls multiple times.”
A cold fury settles in my gut. She’s as deceitful as they come. How many others guys has she done this to?
“She targeted me on purpose that night?”
“We think so, sir.”
I grip the ropes, knuckles white. Played for a goddamn fool.
“We’ll get the proof to locate your car,” Jim assures me.
The car. Fucking laughable now. I’d forgotten all about it. This is personal.
She’s found my big red rage button and she’s not just tapping it, she’s slam dancing on the damn thing trying to smash it apart.
She’s got a talent for getting under my skin like no one else.
And I fucking despise her for it.
SIXTEEN
Lexi
Vicky and Brooke zero in on me like assassins.
“He wants you.” Vicky shakes her head. “I don’t like this one bit.”
My pulse goes wild. I thought I had the all-clear. I thought my involvement could stay behind the scenes now. The guy kicked me out of his office for god’s sake, and now he wants me back?
“He asked for me specifically?” I wheeze, wondering if this is what a panic stroke feels like.
“Yes,” Brooke hisses, her usual cool facade gone. “What’s the deal with you two? And don’t feed me that cousin crap.”
Vicky’s eyes bore into me as she aggressively crunches on a carrot stick like it’s a dick that’s wronged her. Cocaine, champagne, carrots—the holy trinity of the Vicky Diet.
“Maybe he’s into Lexi?” Kayla pipes up from her desk.
Vicky and Brooke burst out laughing so loud, it fills the office. Seriously?
