Chapter Nine
Remmy’s Apartment
Afternoon
Before Jagger’s Call
Y eah, it was a good day in his world. They’d painted two canvases, showered twice, rolled around in his bed after to just spend time together, and now, thankfully, they were having a late lunch.
Remington was finding that this was truly the best way to spend his days.
With Calyx.
Honestly, there was nothing better.
He was finding that with each moment he spent with this woman, after the hell they went through to survive, that he didn’t want to be apart from her.
Not.
At.
All.
She was a bright star, and he was damn lucky that she was shining on their relationship.
Who would have thought he was going to be excited about opening up his apartment and life, and sharing it with someone?
Certainly not him.
They were going hard, and he wanted nothing less than that.
Where he thought he’d be freaked out, thinking about getting her to marry him, he wasn’t.
Maybe it had something to do with her saving his life in that cabin in the bayou.
That had been lifechanging.
Without Calyx, his tough, steel flower, he would have never made it out alive. She stitched up his wounds, got them sanitized, and kept fluids in him until help could reach them in the middle of the swamp.
She was his hero.
No.
Freaking.
Doubt.
Now, he wanted her as his.
AND ONLY HIS.
Before she went back and reopened The Underground, he wanted to make sure that his stake was claimed, and the world knew that she was taken.
There was going to be nothing left to the imagination when it came to what they were going to have. He was pretty sure that he was going to make a big step.
“When you go back to work, I’m coming with you,” he admitted.
She stared at him.
“What’s that mean?”
He was pretty sure she’d argue.
“I will be with you whenever you’re in the bar, and we’re going to work there to help The Hunters. I’m going to be your partner.”
She didn’t speak.
Why?
She didn’t get a chance. He was off to the races, rationalizing the situation.
“You can’t do this alone. You’re in danger, and now, we’ve started something.”
Now, she had questions.
“What about The Hunters?”
He shrugged.
“If they call, I’ll help them. They don’t need me twenty-four-seven. I have a different skill set, and they utilize it when they need it.”
Calyx was watching him.
“Are you going to fight me? Or can you just let me be your partner?”
She didn’t hesitate.
“Okay.”
He blinked.
Yeah, that caught him off guard.
“Are you serious?”
She nodded.
“Yep. I need the help, and I like looking at your face. It’ll be nice to see more of you. Then again, I saw the best parts of you today.”
That made him laugh.
Oh, she was a dirty girl, but he loved it. There was no doubt what part of him she was talking about.
“That you did. Really, you’re not upset that I want to be all over you all of the time?”
She shook her head.
That was one hell of a crazy question. Calyx loved having him around.
“If one of us didn’t bend, we’d never see each other. When you have to help The Hunters, I can get back up in to work for me. I’ll go with you. I don’t like being alone without you.”
Holy shit.
This had been way too easy.
The mere idea of her being his partner meant he could keep an eye on her, unlike with his first wife.
If he was lucky, Remington might get his way just as easily when he proposed.
Because she was going to be his.
BET.
ON.
IT.
Now, he had to find the time to get a ring and do the deed—and he couldn’t wait.
This was turning into a pretty good week for him, despite the way it started.
As Calyx was washing the last of the lunch dishes, his phone rang, and from the number, he knew who it would be.
Well, it appeared talking about them summoned them.
“Yo. Jagger. What’s shaking?” he asked, as he answered the call.
The Marine busted his ass.
“Your building. Having fun?”
The man actually laughed.
“As a matter of fact, I am. Isn’t that what you chucklefucks told me to do? If I remember correctly, I am just taking your advice.”
He had them there.
They told him to get the girl, and he had.
“Yeah, we did, but now we need you. We have a job for someone whose face isn’t well known. It’s vital we access a location, and you’re our way in.”
Calyx was watching him, and she looked worried. It wasn’t like he blamed her. He felt the same about her too.
Only, he knew they’d work through this.
They had to.
“What do you need me to do?” Remington inquired.
Jagger explained.
“We need an inside person in a barber shop, so we can get eyes on the Chinese mafia, to take them out. We can’t access it unless we see the inside, and all of us are too well known.”
That he understood.
This was definitely up his alley, and something he would have in his repertoire of skills.
“I can do it.”
That was good to know.
“We believe there’s a gambling ring in a back room, and we’re trying to find all of the Chinese mafia that might be willing to help Alexsandr. So we can count you in to help us out?” he asked.
Remington hesitated.
“Absolutely, but…”
Jagger waited. He wasn’t sure what had the man twitchy.
“Uh, I don’t want to leave Calyx alone. Is there any way that you can make sure she’s safe for me while I’m working?”
That was the least they could do.
Jagger knew that.
“We can pick her up. Do you have a motorcycle helmet?”
Honestly, that caught him off guard. That wasn’t what he was expecting.
“A what?”
Jagger was amused.
“You know, a motorcycle helmet. She’s being picked up by a Snake.”
Well, that answered that question.
“Uh, no.”
They’d adjust.
“Never mind. We’ll get her one. Just be outside waiting for us in ten minutes, okay?” Jagger stated, as he was already en route to the location to set up the stakeout until it was time.
Remmy was confused.
“Uh, you don’t know where I live. How are you going to be here in ten? I didn’t give you my address, and you can’t track this phone.”
Over the phone, Remmy heard everyone laugh.
Jagger explained.
“You live two blocks from her. To fit your MO, it’s going to have to look like an abandoned building. You’d want to fool anyone looking at it. I’m also betting its within binocular distance, you perv.”
Okay, well, that jig was up.
At least they knew him.
Right?
Jagger continued.
“Maura and Dimitri will be there for pickup of Calyx, with the snakes. I’m on my way to the shop with another team and Greyson Croft. Just be careful and we’ll meet you there.”
That worked for him.
“We’ll rendezvous with the rest of the team at the new location we’ve acquired.”
He was confused.
This was news to him.
“We have a new location?” he asked. “Since when was this?”
Oh, well, he was about to see some spectacular shit. While Maura was out, he’d wandered, and he’d found that this building…it was the shit.
No one was getting in there without them allowing it to happen. MATE was all over the place, and Area Fifty-Two was a super secure bunker.
“Yeah, because your Northern bestie came through with the goods, so we have a safe place now.”
That was all he had to hear.
Hot damn.
That meant one thing to him.
Calyx would be safe.
That was his one and only requirement to keep doing what he did. If she began being in danger, more than she could handle, he was taking her and leaving. Remington would go under, and this time, take his woman with him. He had plenty of money squirreled away, that they could live a good, peaceful life off of the radar.
Plus, Elizabeth offered to help him if he chose to make that happen.
“Okay. And again, I’m to just go in and watch?”
Jagger clarified.
“Get a haircut. Wear a camera so we can see what you see. No one wants to walk into a shitshow and be surprised. Rogue is our resident backroom gambling expert. He’s going to be digging. Your job is a haircut and to just be careful.”
Well, that worked for him.
He could use a little manscaping. He now had a lady to keep interested.
“I’ll be ready to hand over Calyx in ten. See you at pickup outside.”
Jagger knew he could count on Remmy. The man was good at what he did, and loyal.
That mattered in NOLA.
“See you then.”
As he hung up, she was right by him, and the worry on her face said it all.
“Are you going out?” she asked, concerned about his safety.
He reassured her.
“Yeah, Baby, I have to help the Hunters. It’s my job. You don’t have to worry.”
Well, she wouldn’t but trouble found him. That was always a concern.
“Let me go with you,” she begged, not wanting to be left behind. If anything happened to him, she’d be crushed. There was no way she could do it.
This was her other half.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t do that, but at least she wouldn’t be alone.
“You’re too recognizable as the owner of The Underground. We don’t know what Alexsandr knows. I need you to go back with the Snakes, and wait for me.”
God.
She was worried about his side. The man had nearly died a few days ago from infection. He was still popping antibiotics.
“And your injury?”
Yeah, he loved her.
He kissed her on the nose, and cuddled her into his body. She was sweet, but he was better now.
“It was only a gunshot wound. I’m good. If I wasn’t would we have had three really hot rounds of amazing sex this morning?”
Okay, he had a point.
Remmy had been insatiable, and the wound on his side certainly didn’t hold him back. That was for damn sure.
“Will you be safe and come back to me?” she asked, still holding his hand.
He could see the worry in her eyes.
“Absolutely. There is nothing on this earth that is going to keep me away from you, Calyx. I promise.”
Since he couldn’t get enough of her, he found her mouth, and devoured her in a kiss.
It was steamy, and it said everything.
Yeah, he was marrying her.
When he finally broke it, she was breathing heavily, and so was he.
“Now, grab your bag you brought here this morning. We’re having our date later in a new location. Then, we’ll talk about our relationship more.”
Like marriage.
Well, she liked the less hesitant version of Remington, so that worked for her.
He slapped her on the ass, and lifted a brow.
“And put on panties, woman. You know how to make a man insane. I don’t need to be thinking about that the whole time I’m working.”
Oh, she was aware.
Call it skills, but he was right. She needed him focused at work. Later, she’d blow his mind.
Amongst other things.
As for her getting ready to leave, it only took her five minutes, and then, they were walking down to the street, hand-in-hand.
Once they were outside, they had sunglasses on, and they tried to blend in the best they could as they waited for pickup.
It didn’t take long for two motorcycles to pull up with Maura right behind them.
The most surprising part was Jagger wasn’t with her. He was curious how she got him to stay away. That wasn’t like the captain.
As one of the snakes handed Calyx a helmet, she flipped it up to reveal it was Jinx.
“I’ll take care of your lady,” she said.
Oh, Remmy hoped so, but truthfully, he trusted Jinx. They were close, and she knew how much Calyx meant to him.
“Make sure. That’s precious cargo to me.”
To calm him down, she gave him a fist bump. Then, Jinx focused on the woman, so she knew what her role was in all of this.
Jinx was accustomed to driving fast and wildly, but with cargo, a passenger, it came down to them too.
Balance was everything.
“Calyx, stay pressed to the back of me, and when I lean, you lean,” Jinx explained. “We’re gonna break some speeding laws. You know the motto. Live fast, die…”
Only, she didn’t get to finish.
“JINX!” her vest suddenly warned, and she knew the voice immediately.
Apparently, she had a stalker.
A sexy one.
“Aren’t you supposed to be heading to a new location to start working?” she asked.
He wasn’t having it.
Rogue was not playing.
“Your husband is going to be the one who dies when you say shit like that. You’re carrying our child! STOP !”
She snorted.
“Live fast, drive the speed limit it is,” she said, correcting herself and then winking at the woman who was getting ready to join her.
Remmy helped her into her helmet, and onto the back of the bike.
As she got into place, he had to admit that he was a little jealous. What did a guy have to do to get his girl to hold on like that to his back?
“I love you,” he said.
She winked at him.
“Love you too, sexy,” Calyx replied, and then snapped down the visor to the helmet to get ready for a good time.
Motorcycles were fun and with Jinx…
There was no doubt she’d show her a damn good time when it came to speed.
From her spot in the vehicle, Maura gave the Snakes the go-ahead.
“Head in.”
That was all they had to hear.
They revved the motorcycles, burning rubber out of there, side-by-side, terrorizing the city.
Remmy shook his head.
“She better not get hurt or I’m having a stern talk to the Snakes.”
It made Maura laugh.
Why?
Well, maybe because the Snakes were killers, and you really just let them do what they needed to do. Oh, and hope they left the city standing.
“Adder and Mamba gotta do what they were born to do,” she joked.
Maura got out and went to the trunk. She handed him some gear.
“Now, here’s your equipment. You can’t go in with a vest. You can go in with a tracker though,” she said, handing him one.
He placed the dot over the one lens of his camera on his phone, so no one would realize it was there.
Then, she gave him a camera that was so small, it would fit over his collar button.
Perfect.
“Jagger and his team will be backing you up. You’re just the first one in the doors to get a haircut so we can see what the inside looks like. The city didn’t have updated specs, that we’ve found yet, and Rogue wants to be sure this doesn’t burn them.”
That he understood.
“Got it. We don’t want Fang making money so this keeps going on and on.”
Exactly.
She gave him the heads-up.
“Greyson Croft is on the ground here,” she said, as she noticed Remmy staring at Dimitri.
“Oh, well, I had a feeling. He doesn’t go anywhere without this majordomo.”
Dimitri lifted a brow.
“Can someone translate that? I’ve been called a lot in my life, but never that,” he admitted, not wanting to make a scene, but he’d never heard that word before.
Maura explained.
“Basically, he called you his right-hand man, helper, trusted confidant.”
That made him smile.
That was his role.
“Look at Dimitri learning words,” Heath said, busting his ass. “Apparently, there’s only pictures in the magazines he’s reading,” he joked. “And we know what the pictures are of,” he added.
Dimitri flipped him off.
“I’ve seen your wife’s tits. Is it wise for you to bust my ass? I can talk about it nonstop, and that’s going to give you a stroke.”
Heath sputtered.
Only, before they could continue, they heard the warning.
“Children of mine, behave,” Greyson said over the vest to them. “No more talking about anyone’s tits, unless they are your own.”
Heath opened his mouth, and Dimitri pointed at him.
“Don’t.”
The big man grinned.
The Major just shook her head and focused on Remmy now that he was ready.
“Get eyes on the place. There’s a gambling establishment in the back, and we need to get in. Fang is making too much money.”
Remmy was curious. He’d been off duty the last couple of days.
“Have we found Fang? Is he in town?”
Dimitri answered.
“No. He’s dead in Boston , but his right-hand man is here. We have to find him. The Chinese mafia betrayed us, and so have the Russians. The only people holding Boston together are Emma and her Irish mob.”
Yeah, the port cities were being inundated, and if either fell…
Bad things were happening.
Since they wanted Remmy to be ready, Maura showed him a pic from their surveillance in Boston .
“This is Shing Reung. If you see him, alert us immediately. He’s Fang’s backup asshole. Point the camera at him, and give us the heads-up. Well, give Jagger the heads-up.”
Oh, he could do that.
“Good luck, Remmy, and don’t get hurt. You’re covered, but still...”
As he stood there, across the street, was a shop, and now, he was looking at a store.
That’s when he made the plan.
“Hey, Major, I need ten minutes before I head into that barber shop,” he admitted, suddenly having a good idea.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
He knew they were all connected through her vest and MATE.
“If I tell you, are you guys going to bust my balls? Take bets, or be assholes?”
She snorted.
“You know us, Remmy. Absolutely. We spend half of the day being dicks.”
He found that amusing because it wasn’t wrong. You had to have a thick skin when around a pack of Marines. They made you work for it.
“I need a ring, and I want to go in there and get one.”
Oh, she suspected why too.
“For Calyx?” she asked, grinning at him a little to big for his liking.
Here it began.
“No, it’s for you. I suddenly feel like making Jagger angsty. I love the little guy all stirred up,” he said, sarcastically.
Maura’s com on her vest clicked on.
“I can hear you, dick. Who’s the one being an asshole now, hitting on my pregnant wife?”
He laughed.
“I’m shocked you’re not holding onto the axel under the vehicle to keep close. Look at her out here with all this freedom for the first time in…ever.”
Yeah, she was shocked too.
“Oh, she’s coming in, and staying in.”
Maura rolled her eyes.
“Seriously, can I have a few to get a ring? Since my girl isn’t with me?” he asked.
Who was she to stand between two people who were in love? Besides, they all wanted Remmy to make his move and be happy.
He.
Was.
Family.
“Absolutely, but then, get there, and be careful. Jagger and his team will be outside if you get into trouble. We’re heading back to the new hideout with the things we’ve confiscated from the Chinese laundry.”
“See you there,” he said.
Maura got back into the vehicle, and they pulled away from the curb.
When they were heading down the street, Remmy had the location on his phone, and a mission at hand.
Only, he couldn’t wait to get the job done, and then get back to his girl.
His family was going to bust his balls.
Big-time.
Apparently, when you found the girl that freed your heart, you didn’t care how fast it moved. You buckled in for the journey.
It was going to be a wild ride.