“Maybe we can bring the van out and drive her around the block so she can think about how she’s going to take you down,” I snicker.
“Fuck off, Nick.” She throws her fist my way, but I catch her wrist and kick her feet out from under her. She hits the ground with a thud.
I lean over while straddling her, “I’m sorry, I can’t hear you from way down there.” She tries, unsuccessfully, to take my feet out from under me. She does, however, manage to land a hard kick to my knee.
Pretty sure that’s not what she was aiming for. Good thing my reflexes are faster than hers. I knew she would fight back harder if I got involved.
“Very good. Why don’t you fight like that against me?” She doesn’t possess near the same rage with him.
She’s basically avoided all contact with me since I told her she could see who she wanted to. I told her she was free tomake her own decisions—not that she had to go out with someone else. I also let Marcus know. Neither one of them have messaged each other—I’ve been checking her phone history, relieved each time I don’t find any correspondence.
“Nick pisses me off.” She stands up off the ground and turns her back to me.
I want to blow her a kiss but refrain. Pissing people off is part of my charm. I want her to pick me, but that’s selfish. I can’t let her pick me. I’m no good for her. It’s better for everyone for me to yearn for her in silence, which has been even harder to do since she let me taste her…
“Pretend I’m Nick then.” Lucas shrugs, his comment bringing me back to reality.
“I’d rather jump off a cliff than deal with two Nicks.” She glares at me over her shoulder.
God she’s adorable.
Her therapist still reports things are going good and she’s still making improvements, but keeps their discussions confidential—as she should.
“Then get off your ass. It’s you and me. Let’s go.” He runs for her.
This time when he comes at her, she’s ready. She takes him down on her second attempt to get away.
“That’s progress. Thanks, boss.” He calls from the floor.
“So glad I could be of help.”
She snatches the knife strapped to Lucas’ leg, I take a bow and see myself out as she throws it at me, thankful her knife-throwing skills are subpar. We will have to work on that.
Upstairs, I glance down at my phone, there are two missed calls from Vade. Making sure I’m out of earshot of anyone, I call him back. “What’s wrong?”
“Six young women have been reported missing from Gulf View and surrounding areas just from the car event last week. The feds are poking around but they don’t have any leads yet. We have to act now. How long until your girl is ready?” The irritation in his voice is very obvious.
Ethan hasn’t been able to turn up any leads with his surveillance efforts. The tens of thousands of people who flock to this area for the car event complicated everything.
Every hotel, business, and street was jam-packed with people. Even a shithole like The Lucky Rabbit didn’t have any vacancies.
“She’s been working with Lucas most of the day, every day. Sasha is coming tomorrow to take her shopping and start her part of the training with her. Give me a few more days. I’ll put Sasha on paid leave and Maya on expedited sunup to sundown training.”
“Don’t you have any feds in your pocket who would be interested in collaborating?”
“I know a few, but now isn’t the time to call in favors when we don’t know who is pulling the strings. They’re more crooked than we are. For all we know, they slipped up and got greedy last week and are trying to cover their tracks.” Besides, I refuse to involve anyone else where Maya is concerned.
“Fine. We need someone in there now. What about that Kaleb Cherry? We know he’s involved, it’s time he talks.”
“He starts work tomorrow. I’ll follow up, but if you think it’s time to bring her in, it’s time we take Kaleb out. We can’t risk him recognizing her.” I won’t risk it. “Arrange for more men to cover security detail inside Cottontails. If they don’t have any employee openings, kill someone and make an opening. This has gone on too long. I don’t care if they’re bartenders, bouncers, or regular customers. She doesn’t step a toe in there without a team behind her.” Her safety is my number one priority.
“Agreed. I’m on it,” Vade replies before he hangs up the phone.
When I walk into Ethan’s room he’s sitting cross-legged on his bed, typing away on his computer. I wish I could be more help to him, but I am not the best with technology. My hands and mind are my best weapons.
He peers up from over his screen. “I know that look, and you better get me some fucking help if you’re going to ask me for something else.” He sighs and takes a sip of water.
“There’s nobody else who is as good with hacking as you. I just need a small favor, and I’ll see if Vade has someone that can help with the rest.” I cross my arms and lean against the door.
