The plan crystallizedin Riley's mind with the terrible clarity of a mathematical equation. Clean in its simplicity, elegant in its scope, and dangerous enough to get Talon and his men killed if any single element went wrong.
She found herself thinking of chess, where every move had to be calculated three steps ahead because there would be no second chances.
"Do you think my father—" she began, then stopped, the words catching in her throat like broken glass. She loved him, but her gut told her he knew, and he was involved. Deeply involved. Otherwise, why the call? Why the change in the information online? Did he know about the accident?
The question had been haunting her since that conversation in his office. Harlan Shoemaker wasn't just her father. He was the CEO of the company, the man whose signature appeared on every major decision, whose approval was required for any overseas shipping contract above a certain dollar threshold.
If he were involved, if he were the oneorchestrating the theft of rare earth minerals for sale on the black market, then everything she'd believed about her dad would crumble as quickly as sandcastles in a hurricane.
Talon's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts with the steady warmth he always provided. "Your father's involved. We both know that. But we're going to prove the extent of his knowledge and the extent of the crimes in the right way.”
“The right way?”
“Yes. With evidence that will stand up in court, with documentation that can't be dismissed or buried."
His gaze softened, and a soft kiss reminded her that she wasn't facing this alone. "This isn't about just your dad, Riley. It's about justice. And justice requires patience."
Her throat tightened with emotion. Grief for the father she'd always wanted but had never had. Anger at the betrayal of a company and stockholders who tried to operate above board. Fear of what she might discover when they finally pulled back the curtain on the full scope of the conspiracy.
But beneath it all was something else. She was determined to see this through. She would do exactly what Talon asked her to do and more. Shewould shred the mirage her father and his cohorts had built and expose everything.
"Then I'll play my part," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos of all the information she was hearing and seeing.
Talon kissedRiley one more time before she took the paperwork and walked away. She was going to review everything, list questions that came to her, and text them to him so he could have Ethan dig deeper. What they had was good. With her knowledge of the company, what they could get would be iron-clad. Coupled with the convoy and finding smuggled rare earth minerals in shielded drums, their course was set, and they were almost ready.
“She's tougher than she looks,” he said after he turned his comms back on.
“Did she agree to it?” Dude asked.
“Not only did she agree, but she’s also going to see if the information we received has any holes in it.”
“But she’s calling in sick, right?” Stryker asked.
“Yes.”
“Thank God. She escaped one attempt todissuade her. Who knows what they’d be willing to do when they find out about the audit request?” Wolf mused aloud.
Talon agreed, but there was still the matter that she would be alone at the mining site while they were taking care of the convoy. “Hammer, did you reach out to the security at the mining site?”
“I did. I informed them that there had been increased chatter about the targeting of residential areas by foreign contractors. They’re posting people and enhancing security for the next seventy-two hours.”
Riley had the personal stake of someone whose world had been shattered and who was determined to understand why. Her sperm donor was silently and consistently hurting her in ways only those closest to you could. She was bleeding because of him, and Talon was damn sure going to make sure that bloodletting stopped.
As she disappeared around the corner of the equipment shed, Talon returned to his vehicle while mentally reviewing the preparations that would need to be in place when she triggered the audit. Especially contingency plans for a dozen different ways the operation could go wrong.
But beneath the professional planning was adeeper current of concern that had nothing to do with mission parameters and everything to do with the woman who’d just volunteered to dig deeper to ensure the mission was airtight on all levels. His woman, the person he’d loved from a distance for so long, was so much more than he’d dare to hope. She was his, and he’d kill for her.
When this trap snaps shut,I'm going to make damn sure the fallout doesn't touch her.Come hell or high water.
The desert morning continued its slow progression toward the brutal heat of midday, but Talon barely noticed. As he and his team determined the best positions, his mind was already three moves ahead, calculating angles and preparing for a confrontation that would determine whether justice was served. He hadn’t shown the emails about the accident to Riley. They’d go directly to the Feds along with all other evidence. But that wouldn’t happen until Riley had her moment in the spotlight.
Either way, he intended to be there when the final cards were played. And he intended to ensure Riley won.
Riley sat in her office,staring at the audit request form that would expose a criminal conspiracy and destroy what remained of her relationship with her father. The document looked innocuous enough. It was just another piece of corporate bureaucracy in a world built on forms and procedures. Yet, her hand trembled slightly as she reached for her pen, the simple act of signing her name carrying more weight than any form she'd ever executed. Once she submitted this request, there would be no taking it back, no pretending she hadn't seen what she'd seen or suspected what she suspected.
For justice,she reminded herself, echoing Talon's words.Justice.The man she loved was consumed with justice, for her and for the rest of the world. If he could, he’d save every person who was in danger. He was amazing, wonderful, sexy, and all hers. She trusted him. The plan was solid, and she knew after reading all the material he’d given her that her father was involved. She swallowed hard and blinked away tears. They were tears of regret. Regret that he couldn’t be the man she’d always wanted him to be. Well, whatever. She could be the woman she’d strived to become. She would make sure justice was served. She would stand tall next to the man she loved, and she would do what was right.
She signed her name with careful precision, each letter a small act of rebellion against the man she’d tried for a lifetime to make proud of her.
