Trent smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “As I said, well played.” He got up from the seat, grabbing the phone from the table. “You’re very loyal, Kenzie, I admire that.” He walked toward the door and turned around. “Now, let’s see how deep Taylor’s loyalty runs.”
“What do you mean?’
“I mean, let’s see if she’s willing to give up herself for you. You didn’t think that we’d let you go without getting her, did you?”
“What?”
“Do you play chess?”
What the fuck kinda question was that?Her face must have shown her confusion.
“See, in a game of chess the winner has to outsmart their opponent but the only way to do that is to anticipate theirnext move. You may have moved your king but” he smiled then laughed, “check mate, darlin’.”
He walked through the door and all the men filed out after him. Bogs was the last to leave and he turned around. He gripped the door handle, shaking his head and staring back at her. “Self-preservation, pretty girl.” He smirked. “Gotta work on that.” He closed the door behind him.
I’m screwed.
****
Bogs was the last to enter Stone’s office where the rest of the guys had gathered. That was not how everyone hoped it would play out. He, himself, had underestimated Kenzie and her loyalty to her friend. Little did she know, by not working with them, Kenzie and Taylor were putting themselves in grave danger.
Trent, who usually appeared calmer than any man in the room, was pacing around the small open space. His frustration was evident from the lines deeply imbedded in his forehead. This was a new side of Trent Bogs hadn’t seen. He actually looked frustrated, and there was no denying, pissed off.
Bogs took a seat in an empty chair across from Stone’s desk. He watched as no one uttered a word. The tension was so thick he knew someone was about to lose their shit. Usually that would be T, who lacked control of his temper. Bogs glanced over at Trent. He would bet this time it would be Trent.
Stone leaned against the door and crossed his arms. “What the hell happened? Thought you guys had her?”
Trent glared but remained silent. Declan did not.
“We did. Had her arm in my grip and she pulled away, threw some poor fucking guy into me. You saw that place, Stone. It was packed with bodies. Caught a glimpse of her by the exit, thought for sure the bouncer would grab her but shesnuck past him, too.” Most men would have their ego tarnished by being evaded by a woman. Not Declan. He almost seemed impressed that she got away.
Bogs leaned back in his chair and gripped the ends of the armrests. “So, what now? Got any idea where she’d go?”
“Not one. I was banking on Kenzie giving her up.” He raised his eyebrows. “You saw how that worked out.”
Bogs chuckled. “Yeah, we definitely underestimated these two.”
Trent scoffed. “I wasn’t aware they were sharing a brain.”
Yeah, Trent was furious. Declan may not have been angered by Taylor evading him, but Trent was a different story.
Bogs shrugged. “It takes a hell of a brain for them both to outsmart us all.”
Trent glanced over. Bogs’ statement obviously struck a nerve. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Really? ‘Cause from where I’m sitting, we got one on the run with no clue where she is, and another whose lips are sealed. I’d say that’s damn smart. Hot girls one, us zero.”
Trent scowled. “Kenzie will talk, she just needs incentive.” He glanced up at T. “You wanna take care of that, or send in Declan?”
Bogs smirked. “I’ll go, Dec’s gotten a little soft since he got hitched.”
“Nothing soft about me, brother.”
“What if she doesn’t talk, then what?” Trent asked.
“Then we hold her until she does. She can’t go home anyway. Not until we figure what Dante knows about her. I got a friend in the underground circuit. I’ll reach out and see what we’re up against. With their security, they gotta know who she is. Wouldn’t be surprised if her place was being flipped as we speak. She’s gotta stay unseen.”
T snorted. “Let me take one fucking guess who’s gonna keep her hidden.”
