Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
BECCA
“Hey, there.” The woman on the screen smiles at me, a deep dimple pinching into her rounded cheek. “You must be Becca.” She leans toward the computer, waggling her brows. “You’re kinda famous.”
I’m not sure how to respond to that. Or to this woman in general. She’s everything I’m not. Outgoing. Chatty. Open and friendly. I don’t get her, and she probably won’t get me.
I also don’t like how much she seems to know about me considering I don’t know anything about her. “Who are you?”
“I’m Heidi.” She takes a long drink from a giant cup. “I’m one of the women Pierce pays a lot of money to annoy the shit out of him.” She grins. “I heard you’re one of us now.”
“Pierce is paying me to annoy him?” I try to follow what she’s saying, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense. “I thought he was paying me to work for him.”
Heidi waves one hand dismissively. “Same thing.” The screen in front of me splits, offering both a view of Heidi’s face and what I have to assume is her own computer screen.
“But we can talk more about that later. Right now, we need to figure out where in the hell these fuckers have your sister and the rest of the girls they’ve abducted. ”
I scoot a little closer to the computer in front of me. “What am I looking at?”
“Everything we’ve collected on our end, which includes all the data we pulled off Audrey’s hard drive.
” Heidi’s tone has gone from light and easy to laser focused in the blink of an eye.
“If you’re ready and willing, you can plug the flash drive with all you’ve found into the laptop in front of you, and we can go through everything together.
See what lines up and what doesn’t.” Her glossy lips curve into a sinister smile.
“And then you can start playing whack a prick with your hammer.”
“I don’t have a hammer anymore.” I wrinkle my nose as I push the end of my flash drive into the side of the laptop. “It was gross.”
“Yeah. I heard about that.” Heidi types on her keyboard, opening my folders on her computer.
“I’m sure Zeke will train you in gun safety and teach you how to shoot if you want.
” She continues working as she talks. “He taught Pierce’s wife and most of us.
And now he’s stationed in Nashville, which is where you and Butch will be. ”
“Nashville?” I hadn’t really thought about how working for Alaskan Security might affect my life. I’ve been mostly focused on how they’ll help me find Amanda. “Not Memphis?’
“I mean, I guess you could stay in Memphis, but that commute’s gonna suck.” Her fingers fly across her keyboard as she flips through the contents of my drive. “The houses on our Nashville compound are pretty nice, though. You might want to check them out before you make any decisions.”
Houses? Compound?
I have a million questions for Heidi, but before I can even begin to organize them in my head, she gasps.
“What?” I lean closer to the computer, trying to see what she’s found.
“This.” She brings up three separate tabs, highlighting the same name on all three. “This guy is in what you collected, what we found, and in what Audrey gave us.”
I rub my lips together, excitement building in my gut at the connection she’s already made. “He’s running for the Senate.”
“I know.” Heidi opens yet another tab, this one sporting a search bar.
She types in the name J.T. Davies, and a second later, a list of results pops up.
“Looks like he’s hosting a black tie fundraising event tomorrow night.
” There’s an evil glint in her eyes as she meets my gaze through the screen. “Guess who’s got a ticket?”
I try not to frown, but I’m lost again and that frustrates me. I don’t like not easily figuring out what’s in front of me, and I really don’t like not being able to keep up with someone. “Who?”
Heidi leans back in her seat, looking smug. “You.”
I’m barely two steps into our shared room before Butch gets to his feet, looking me over. “What’s wrong?”
So many things, I don’t even know where to start.
Actually, that’s not true. “You mean besides finding out a guy running for U.S. Senate is tied up in all this, having to wear high heels tomorrow, and discovering that until Zeke teaches me how to shoot a gun, I’m going to be carrying nothing but a smile to murder people with? ”
Butch stands silently for a second, his dark brows pinched. “Why are you going to be wearing high heels tomorrow?”
That’s what he’s focused on? “I just told you one of the pricks trying to run our country is responsible for my sister’s disappearance, and your first question is why I’m going to be wearing heels tomorrow?”
I’m taking my frustration out on him. I know this. But come on. Yes, I wanted to complain about the heels, but it’s a minor inconvenience at best. And, the more I think about it, they are pretty likely to serve as a decent weapon if the need arises.
“It’s a black-tie event we’re going to. I can’t exactly walk in wearing Converse.
” Unfortunately. I would be way more comfortable if I could, but I’m already not going to blend in very well.
Chuck’s would be the icing on the cake, and I wouldn’t make it five steps into the place before everyone started questioning who I was and where I came from.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Butch seems genuinely confused.
Which makes me genuinely confused. Did they not tell him the exact same shit they told me?
He was supposed to be having some sort of an orientation thing with Pierce and the rest of the Alaskan Security guys while I talked to Heidi and the team they call Intel.
“I’m talking about the fundraiser we have to go to tomorrow so we can try to get more information. ”
Heidi, Harlow, and the rest of the team seem pretty confident this fundraiser is going to be packed with people we’re looking for. I would be inclined to agree with them after all the connections we found today.
I was already working on the assumption that many of the men involved in this were in places of power, so I wasn’t shocked to see how high up this goes. Disgusted, yes. Surprised, no. With great power comes great entitlement.
Also, apparently great audacity, considering Intel thinks this guy is parading all his child trafficking friends around in tuxedos and evening gowns.
The thought that there could be women helping makes me sick to my stomach. Makes me concerned I won’t be on my best behavior tomorrow. And I need to be on my best behavior. I’m going to have enough problems trying to blend in as it is.
Butch’s mouth flattens into a thin line. “What fucking fundraiser?”
Maybe I misunderstood. I swear Heidi said it was tomorrow. That’s why they’re overnighting me one of Pierce’s wife’s evening gowns. I guess she and I are about the same size, and they figured it would be easier to do that than for me to try to find something to fit my tiny frame.
“Becca.” Butch steps toward me when I don’t answer right away. “What. Fucking. Fundraiser?”
“You and I are supposed to go to a black tie event tomorrow.” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I notice part of the sentence hasn’t been explicitly stated.
“Well, I assumed you were coming with me.” They’re not sending me in alone, right?
I can’t just walk into the lions' den by myself and be expected not to accidentally exterminate a few.
And what do I do when that happens? Roll them into a corner and throw a tablecloth over their dead bodies?
I feel like someone would notice.
“I’ll be right back.” Butch strides past me, flinging open the door to our room before stalking out into the hall.
I’m so tired and was looking forward to finally getting a little rest after a long and depressing day of seeing just how many fucked-up people there are in this world, but I’ve seen that look on his face before.
And I’m pretty sure it means he’s about to start a fight.
I hurry after him, rushing down the hall of the gigantic house Alaskan Security has rented to house all of us. The place is gorgeous. It’s a mid-century modern mansion with an atrium running up the center. There’s plenty of space, a hot tub, a gym, and—best of all—running water.
But right now I wish it was just a little smaller, because Butch’s long legs are making it really difficult to catch up with him as he heads for whoever he’s about to rip a new asshole.
I have a sneaking suspicion I know who it is.
“Pierce.” We haven’t even reached the center atrium before he starts bellowing. “Where the fuck are you?”
I’m not worried he’s going to hurt Pierce.
Butch can talk as much shit as he wants, but I can already tell he doesn’t hate our new boss nearly as much as he wants everyone to think.
As soon as he figured out Pierce was serious about determining who’s behind this trafficking ring—with or without our help—his stance started to soften.
But that doesn’t mean he won’t still throw a punch.
I reach the open stairs right as Pierce steps out of the office he’s taken over, looking about as unworried as someone can be.
Which makes me think he might be crazy, considering the way Butch is advancing on him.
“What the fuck is this about Becca going to an event tomorrow?”
I pick my pace up to a jog, socked feet sliding a little on the stone surface beneath me as I rush to his side, knowing I’m the only one who can keep him in check.
Pierce stands tall and relaxed, a cup of coffee in one hand as Butch crowds his space. “I assume you’re referring to the fundraiser for J.T. Davies.” He takes a sip of his coffee, making Butch wait for an explanation.
Yeah. Definitely might be crazy.
After swallowing down a few sips of his beverage, he continues.
“Unfortunately, Becca is our only real option to send in. Getting one of our other team members here and fully debriefed would technically be possible, but she knows what’s going on better than anyone.
” He turns to me, a smile on his lips. “And I’m confident in her ability to stay cool, calm, and collected.
” His head tips. “Unless the situation requires otherwise.”
“I won’t kill anybody if I don’t have to.
” I don’t have any intention of going around murdering men all willy-nilly.
I’ll be careful about it. Make sure I have a plan for what to do with them when I’m finished.
“But I do want to confirm I still have the option of murdering everyone responsible for my sister’s abduction. ”
“I think now is an appropriate time to discuss terminology with you, Ms. Hoffman.” Pierce is now giving me his full attention, practically ignoring Butch.
“In our business, it’s odd how often people simply disappear.
The number of homicides and murders is zero.
We don’t condone either, and we certainly don’t commit them.
” He shrugs, holding one hand out to amplify the motion.
“But since many of the people we become involved with are living highly dangerous lives, it’s not really surprising when they're never seen or heard from again.”
“Understood. No more murdering.” At least no more talking about it.
“What time is this event?” Butch rakes a hand through his hair. “Where the fuck am I supposed to find a tux?”
“Well, that’s the difficult part of this operation.” Pierce turns back to Butch, looking genuinely remorseful. “You won’t be on the front line. Your face has likely been put in every email for the past six months, identifying you as a problem to watch out for.”
Butch scoffs. “Her face is literally in their fucking files. I found it. She’s going to be just as easy to identify as I am.”
“If we were to send her in looking like this, yes, she would be.” Pierce shakes his head.
“But you would be shocked how easy stupid men are to fool with a blonde wig and false eyelashes.” Pierce looks Butch up and down.
“Unfortunately, I don’t believe the same approach would be as effective with you. ”
“You can’t fucking send her in there alone.” Butch’s face is starting to get red, and I’m not sure if it’s fear or anger causing the shift. Probably both. “What happens if someone recognizes her? There’s no way she can handle herself in a room full of fucking predators.”
“I disagree.” Pierce turns as a group of men stride out of the office.
“However, we aren’t sending her in alone.
” He gestures at where Luca, Owen, and Quinn—one of the newly arrived guys—stand.
“She will have an entire team attending along with her. You and Quinn will be outside, handling surveillance from one of our vans. Luca will be inside, appearing as a single man.” He turns back to Butch, likely because he wants to be prepared for whatever his response is when he says, “Owen will also be inside. Acting as her date.”
“Like fucking hell he will.” Butch grabs me, pulling my body into his side. “No one puts their fucking hands on her but me.”
“Believe it or not, I understand where you’re coming from, Mr. Morelli.
” Pierce’s jaw hardens almost imperceptibly.
“At one point, I struggled to come to terms with my wife requiring another man’s assistance.
” He steps toward Butch, chin lifting. “But at the end of the day, her time with that other man is what saved her life, so I’m infinitely grateful I found it within myself to pop my head out of my ass and get over it. ”
Butch and Pierce stare each other down as the seconds tick past, neither one appearing interested in being the first to back off. So it seems like we’re going to stand here all night.
I’m shocked when Butch seems to relax the tiniest bit. The arm that’s not around me lifts and he points directly at Owen. “If she gets hurt, I’m fucking killing you.”
Owen tips his head in a nod. “Understood.”
But Butch isn’t done, his pointing finger moves closer to Owen, eyes narrowing. “If you so much as act like you’re enjoying touching her, I’ll cut your dick off.”
I expect Owen to get pissed, but again, he just nods. “Got it.”
I guess it’s all well and good they got that out of the way, but I’m a little more concerned about something Pierce said earlier.
“I don’t know how to put on fake eyelashes.” Or a wig. Or anything else that might hide my identity, for that matter. The most I wear when it comes to makeup is lipgloss and mascara. Anything beyond that is way outside my wheelhouse.
“Not to worry.” Pierce seems pleased everything is working out. “We’ve got someone coming to take care of that for you.”