I jerk, sucking in a breath.
In the second it takes me to gasp, the gun is pointed once again at Connor.
Connor holds out a hand, but not at Trick. He’s looking behind him. “Anvil, no.”
My eyes turn to see Anvil Stroviak holding a gun that’s pointed at Trick’s back.
“I’ll shoot him in the leg to put him down. Or he could drop that gun. Hear me, Trick? Drop that weapon.”
I rise at the same time I see movement from the doorway.
A steely female voice says, “Sasha, don’t you dare.”
“Stop walking. Raven, I mean it,” Anvil barks.
She ignores him, and we reach Trick at the same time.
“Hey, friend.” Rachel Palermo speaks softly and gently. “We just patched up all the holes in our boat. Don’t make more, okay?”
Trick doesn’t speak to us. His gaze is on Connor McCann. “I saw the look on her face, C. Who the fuck do you think you are, threatening my wife?”
“She’s not your wife yet. She’s not even wearing the ring you got her. And I’ve got cause to question her.As you know.”
Trick’s breathing hard, and his raised left arm’s shaking. “Step away, Rachel. Take Laurelyn with you to another room. ‘Vil, if I turn my head and your gun is pointed this way with them standing near me, I will put you on the ground, man.”
“Anvil’s gun is down. Give me that one,” C says, holding out a hand.
“Let’s talk first. Rachel made a mistake. Anvil took care of settling up with her. When Zoe gets in trouble, you decide what happens to her. My wife is my business. She will never hurt this crue. I will see to that. That’s on me.Not you.”
“That’s what I’m worried about. You’re in this blind, and you can’t take what an FBI informant says—”
“I’m not in it blind! I have access to her devices, her house, and her car. I do a data dump on her phone every day. I see every keystroke on her computer. There’s a bug in the apartment, and we’ve got a bodyguard watching her every move. I read everything she types, hear everything she says, know everywhere she goes and everyone she sees.”
Connor’s eyes widen, and I stiffen.
Trick’s been spying on me? In every way possible? My God. I agonized over whether to reach out because I wasn’t sure whether he wanted some space. Meanwhile, there was no space between us.Zero.
“Yeah, C. Who the fuck do you think you’re dealing with? I’m the analyst of this operation. I’m on the dark web. I hire our hackers.”
“You didn’t say—all you said was you knew she could be trusted.”
“You asked if I was sure. I said one hundred percent. When do I say a hundred percent on anything I haven’t seen with my own eyes? Fucking never and you know it. Or you should.” Trick shakes his head and drops his left arm. His voice is lower and frustrated when he speaks again. “You should fucking know me. When have I ever not had your back?” Trick blows out a breath through pursed lips. He flips something on the gun and lets it swing on his finger so it’s pointing at the floor. Then he extends his arm for Connor to take the weapon, which he does.
“Laurel made a mistake. She gets a pass on one mistake, just like Rachel did,” Trick says, his voice grave. “And do not ever talk to her like that again.” Trick sounds winded and sways slightly.
Connor tosses the gun away and grabs Trick in a half hug to keep him from falling. Guiding him to the ottoman, Connor shakes his head. “All right, I heard you.”
Trick’s next words are slurred. “I love you like a fucking brother. Do not make me kill you, C. How could I live with that?”
“No one’s killing anyone. Your girl’s safe. Everyone’s all right. ‘Vil, get over here. Let’s get him to a bed.”
“No, don’t move me. I’ll be sick.” Trick puts a hand against Connor’s chest. “I gotta lie down here. Don’t get me sick and embarrass me in front of my wife. I promised…” His breathing is ragged as the two men get him on the couch.
“Get off, C. Leave me alone.” Trick’s right arm falls across his face, covering his eyes. “Laurelyn, where are you?”
Moving silently, I brush away tears and bend down next to him. I kiss him gently and squeeze his forearm, deciding that maybe being spied on isn’t a terrible thing since it seems to have reassured Connor McCann. Trick obviously understands what needs to happen to keep everyone protected.
My voice is a whisper. “I’m here.”
