Chapter 15
“What’s with you, man? You’re a million miles away. If you aren’t cut out for this, say that.” Donovan makes zero effort to hide his frustration.
My mind has been fucked up since I upset Jade a couple of days ago. I didn’t expect her to have such a visceral reaction to what I meant as a joke. I sent the flowers to Heather because I put her in a shitty spot with her boss. If Jade treats her employees anything like she treats me, I can’t imagine she’s a breeze to work for. However, I didn’t mean what I said to be taken to heart.
“I told you I’ve got it.” I’m aggravated that he doubts me. I may not have the sketchy background he has, but that doesn’t mean I’m a pussy.
“Yeah, so you say. If you plan for me to believe it, you damn well better start looking and acting like it. You’ll get us both fucking killed with that sad expression and those puppy dog eyes.” His words pack a punch to the gut.
What we do is serious, and I’m well aware of it. He doesn’t need to remind me constantly.
“Okay, if you’re so ready... I’ll be Frankie, and you be who I told you to be.” He takes a wide stance and crosses his arms; his expression is taunting. “What’s your name, kid?”
“Jax,” I say confidently. The bastard didn’t think I’d remember the name I’m using. Oh, ye of little faith.
“Jax, what?” he asks, deadpan.
I furrow my brow; he never gave me a last name to use.
“Uh,” I hesitate.
“BANG! We’re both fucking dead. You can’t hesitate.” He throws his arms up in the air and starts to pace.
“We didn’t discuss a last name!” I yell back at him. “What the fuck, man? Don’t set me up for failure and then get pissed when I fail.”
He stops and turns to face me, his hands on his hips. “Colin! You have to think on your feet, man! Jax Smith, Jax Jones, Jax fucking Dildo. I don’t fucking care what it is, just say something! If you hesitate… If they get any inkling you aren’t who you say you are… That’s it. Game fucking over.”
Me doing undercover obviously causes Donovan more stress than I realized. He’s the calm, cool, and collected one out of us, and he’s anything but that right now.
I scrub my hands over my face. “Just Jax; no last name. I’m just Jax.”
He sighs. “They won’t question why you’re there because you’ll be with me. You’ll say we grew up together before you moved away, got in some trouble, and came back here. Keep the story simple; what they assume is up to them.”
“Were you a fucking asshole then, too?” I ask with a smirk.
“Yes, and I kicked your ass regularly.” He gives my shoulder a shove.
I know I can do this. I just need to get Jade out of my head and focus on the task at hand.
Something about walking into an abandoned dimly lit warehouse doesn’t sit right with me, but it’s my only chance of getting in with these guys. It’s my chance to catch Moore and be done with this case. I feel a pang of disappointment when I realize that might also mean being done with Jade. I push that feeling away from my mind. I need to focus so I don’t get Donovan and me killed.
The metal door slams behind us as we cross the threshold, reminding me there’s no turning back now. Three guys are propped against the bed of an older pickup truck. Unfortunately, none of them are Moore.
“Donovan, you made it.”
The shorter of the three guys pushes away from the truck and makes his way toward us. His baritone voice doesn’t match his short stocky build. His shirt is a button-up, but the sleeves are gone.
“Yeah, had to pick this guy up.” Donovan points at me as he speaks.
“Ah, you must be Jax. Donovan told me a little about you. I’m Frankie.” He extends his hand to shake mine.
I tip my head and give him a firm handshake. I don’t know if “nice to meet you” is appropriate to say to someone like Frankie. He seems nice enough, but Donovan insists these aren’t people to fuck around with.
“Donovan tells me you’re into cars,” Frankie says as he turns to walk back toward the other two guys.
“Yeah, mostly American muscle, but I’ve dabbled in imports.” I give myself a mental pat on the back for not fucking up the lingo.
“Donovan, Jax, this Carlo and Dirty Dino.” He offers the guy he calls Dirty Dino a smirk as he says his name.
Carlo leans across and extends his hand, which I shake. As I did with Frankie, I don’t offer more.
Carlo is medium built with dark hair and eyes like Donovan. He’s dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt with scuffed work boots. His jewelry, however, gives away that he isn’t a working blue-collar guy. When our eyes meet, his expression tells me he doesn’t trust me or even Donovan.
Thankfully, Dino approaches to shake our hands, and Carlo drops his stare.
“Dino, just Dino.” He gives Frankie a look that implies he can eat shit for the addition to his name.
Dino is taller and much larger than Carlo and Frankie. He towers over the four of us with ease. He isn’t someone I’d want to piss off, which makes me assume he’s the muscle.
“I’ve told you about calling me that,” he grumbles to Frankie.
“Whatcha gonna do, DD? Cry to Vin?” Frankie mocks Dino’s annoyance. Clearly, he knows Dino well enough to poke fun and not get his face smashed in.
“Vinny’s got his hands full with that dumbass agent he brought on. I don’t know what he sees in him. So far, he’s brought a whole lot of nothing to the table.”
Carlo’s statement piques my interest.
“He’s got Steph on him hot and heavy, but she’s coming up with nothing,” Dino adds.
Moore must be the dumbass agent, and Steph must be the mystery woman.
“He’s not banking on Elliott, you dumbasses. Vinny’s got a plan,” Frankie explains.
I think I have an idea of who Vinny is banking on, and I don’t fucking like it.
“You did good, kid,” Donovan says as he pours a hefty shot of bourbon into a glass. He raises the bottle and tilts it towards me, silently asking if I want some.
I nod. After that, I need something to take the edge off. It isn’t even from my anxiety caused by what we did tonight. After the initial introduction, the guys seemed to want to get down to the nitty gritty of why I was there. Cars.
I did enough research to save my ass in front of them, but I need to do more. The deeper this goes, the more I’ll need to know my shit.
That’s the least of my worries, though. It was hard as hell to focus after Frankie mentioned Vinny had a plan beyond Elliott. I’m pretty sure I know what they were talking about, and the plan isn’t a what. It’s a who.
Just thinking about it causes a sharp tightness in my chest that spreads. I fought all night to push the feeling at bay so I could concentrate on the assignment. It was a battle I barely won, and I hope it wasn’t obvious.
“I was a little worried when they alluded to Moore being used. Thought your head might pop off right there in the middle of the warehouse, and I’d have to figure out how to get us both out of there alive.” Donovan sighs, then takes another swig of his drink.
I spin the glass he just placed in front of me before scrubbing a hand down my face. “I’m sorry, man. I should’ve been prepared for them to pop off something like that, but it surprised me.”
We’re standing in Donovan’s apartment next to the kitchen island. His place isn’t far from mine, so we came here after finishing up at the warehouse. We figure if any of them plan to watch us, it’s safer to come here.
All the guys try to stay close to the home office. Well, everyone except SJ, who moved back home to Sutter Creek with his fiancé, Nora.
The move for SJ seems to be working for him, and I’m glad he’s happy. We were all a little skeptical that it could work, but SJ was willing to do whatever it took to make it successful. Nora is an amazing woman and an exceptional dancer. They met when Nora’s parents snuck around and hired SJ behind their daughter’s back to be her bodyguard because she had a deranged stalker.
One thing led to another, and the two of them fell head over heels for each other. It’s a sweet story of how they met, but falling for your client is a big no-no. It worked out for them. He took the stalker down and got the girl.
I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have someone to come home to every night. I even want it sometimes, but I haven’t found the person I crave.
Jade pops into my head out of nowhere, and I’m taken aback by the image that plays in my mind. Us lying in my bed, our arms wrapped around each other while watching a movie. It’s so wholesome I almost laugh out loud at the thought.
Never in a million years would Jade Foster be content staying in to watch a stupid movie with me instead of having a night out on the town. She’s a wine and dine kind of woman, not someone who would be happy with a quiet life.
We had a hot and heavy moment the other day in the hallway of her apartment building that confused the shit out of me. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to devour her whole right then or protect her at all costs, even from me. The feelings warring in my body were so strong I lost all common sense while standing in front of her doorway.
I shake my head, freeing myself of thinking about what I wanted to do to her. Like strip her bare in more ways than one. That thought alone was enough to make me take a step back that night.
What happened the other night was just built up sexual tension, and I’m pretty sure she hates my guts now. Not that I blame her. My explanation for the flowers came out all wrong, but there wasn’t much I could say to save myself from my word vomit.
Do I think she’s a raging lunatic at work? A slave driver who underappreciates her employees? No. However, I do think the woman could stand to be a little nicer and a little more understanding. She needs a hug, dammit.
“Dude, did you hear me?” Donovan asks.
He’s standing in front of the kitchen bar, waiting impatiently. I was too lost in my thoughts of Jade Foster that I have no idea what he just asked me.
“Sorry, I was thinking about tonight. What’s up?”
“Pull your head out of your ass, Colin. This is important,” Donovan says on a sigh.
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. I’m listening.”
“I asked if you think you’ll be ready for Vinny’s birthday party coming up in a couple of weeks? We don’t have time for you to lose it about your client. If we don’t produce what they’re looking for, all this shit will be for nothing.” Donovan punctuates his ass chewing when he slams his drink down on the counter.
“I already have some ideas on how to find the car they want. I pulled some old contacts I have from the Shaw case. I’m waiting to hear from them.”
The relief on Donovan’s face makes me feel guilty. This obviously stresses him out, but I’m unsure why. Cases like this rarely get to him, so I don’t know why this one is different.
“Are you okay?” I ask, curious to see if he’ll actually tell me. Donovan is a great dude, but he keeps to himself. He isn’t one to tell his business or complain.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
I shrug and take my first sip of the bourbon he gave me. It’s good shit and goes down like honey with just the right amount of burn. “Seems like something is bothering you.”
He rounds his shoulders and shakes his head. “No, man, I’m good. I just want this case to be over and done.”
“What’s the hurry? Liam have something lined up for you?”
I know why I want the case to be done, and it has something to do with a certain leggy blonde, but I’m curious to know why Donovan feels the same.
“No, just some personal shit. It’ll be alright. Let’s just keep our head on straight and get this one closed.” He raises his drink, waiting for me. I reach up and clink our glasses together.
We may have different motives, but I couldn’t agree more. I’m ready to put Jade Foster in my rearview mirror.
At least… that’s what I keep telling myself.