Derek's heart gave a strong thud which he ignored. “Charlie can be a girl's name.”
“As a nickname, maybe,” Mac scoffed. “But a car you claim is a metal goddess should have a sexier name, don't you think?”
Thankful for the cover of the night sky and trees, Derek swallowed hard and looked back down at his tablet. It probably was a stupid move, naming his car after his childhood friend. After all, he’d spent most of his adult life pretending she didn’t even exist.
Eleven years and who knows how many other women later, and most days he didn’t even give her a second thought.Liar.
Mumbling, he told the tiny blonde, “Trust me, Mac. Charlie can be sexy.”
“No, it—”
“Different strokes for different folks, Mac,” Coop interrupted.
Though he couldn't see the other man's face, Derek knew Coop had picked up on his tone and had cut Mac off for his benefit.
Jake's voice hit their ears again. “Grab your popcorn, lady and gents. It's showtime.”
Picking up his binos again, Derek watched as his car came to a stop in front of the abandoned warehouse.
Looking every bit the rich, handsome businessman he was pretending to be, Trevor stepped out of the vehicle and straightened his ridiculously expensive jacket.
Playing the role of bodyguard, Grant got out of the passenger side. They began walking toward the two men standing guard by the door.
“I still don't like them going in unarmed,” Mac conveyed her concern for their teammates.
“You and me both,” Coop agreed.
“These guys are slick,” Jake reminded them. “Can't take any chances on this one. There's too much at stake.”
Derek's chest tightened thinking of the women and girls inside that building.
“Once the money's transferred and Trev and Grant are a safe distance away, I'll contact Ryker and tell him to move in.”
“Roger that, Boss.”
Derek put the small, corded earpiece attached to his tablet into his ear. The glasses he'd designed for Trevor to wear had a two-way mic embedded in the frames. Derek had also replaced the lenses with transmittable ones, meaning whatever Trevor saw was instantly recorded into the program on Derek's tablet.
They'd tested the glasses when Derek first gave them to their GQ-looking medic, but he still wanted to reassure his teammate.
“Visual is clear, Trev. Need to double-check the coms.”
Derek and the others watched and listened as Trevor spoke to the two men.
“Afternoon, gentlemen.” Trevor's voice came through clear as a bell.
“You're late.” The older guard gave the two operatives a cocky grin.
“Your directions were shit,” Trevor casually informed the other man. “The highway you told me to take was re-routed due to construction. Has been for over a week.”
The one guard looked to the other, appearing a bit unnerved. “My apologies.”
“My wife is the one you'll need to apologize to if I arrive home later than expected. She's an amazing cook, and I never miss a meal, if I can help it.”
The other man chuckled. “Does your wife know what sort of business you're in?”
Trevor took a step closer to the man. An intimidation tactic they'd used on countless occasions.
“She doesn't give a shit where the money comes from, as long as I keep her wallet full.”
