Chapter 21 – BEAU
BEAU
Van and Tripp's room is a mess. Laptops cover every flat surface, and maps and surveillance photos are pinned above the bed because we don't have enough tables to spread everything out on.
Van has been hunched over his keyboard since we arrived, pulling data and cross-referencing intel with the focus of a man who loves the hunt. Tripp is on the floor between the beds, doing push-ups, restless after hours in the car, adrenaline already coursing through his veins.
"Chase is calling." Van shifts in his chair, wincing as his bad leg protests. He's been in pain all day but won't say a word about it. He never does but still refuses to take any strong medication when we're in the field like this because he swears it makes his brain fuzzy.
Tripp stops mid push-up and jumps to his feet as Van angles the laptop so we can all see the screen.
Chase looks like he hasn't slept in days, but his voice is sharp when he speaks. "Mr. Black is on the move. Heading in your direction."
My bear, who's been unsettled all evening, snaps to attention. Mr. Black is Kozlov's boss. If Dimitri's desperate for help, and a way out of the country, this is who he'd turn to.
"You're sure it's him?" Van asks, never completely trusting information he hasn't gathered himself.
Chase nods and leans in close. "As sure as we can be. He's been quiet for months, but our sources have him travelling for the fights tomorrow night."
The entire organisation has been keeping a low profile since Kozlov's operation was torn apart, literally, and his businesses raided. That's what's made them so difficult to track.
"Even after the raid?" Van asks, fingers already moving across his keyboard. "Surely he knows going to an illegal bare-knuckle fight is giving the police a chance to lock him up, even if it's just temporarily."
With a shrug, Chase accepts a piece of paper from someone beside him. "Turns out boxing is the only thing he'll leave his house for. I guess everyone has their vices."
Tripp drops onto the edge of the bed, angling himself so he's in the camera frame. "And Dimitri?"
"If he wants to reach Mr. Black, this is how he does it. He's not going to be allowed onto any of Mr. Black's properties in case he brings the police."
I've been chewing on this for weeks, and it always comes back to the same answer.
"Dimitri's stuck with a girl he can't sell without using Mr. Black's network. The fights are the only place he can hand her over and still demand some money so he can disappear."
We're banking on him keeping Amber alive as the only valuable asset he has left, either to sell or use as a hostage while he flees.
"So, we wait for him to show and hope he leads us to Amber," Van says.
"That's the plan." Chase looks at me. "Which means these two have to go in alone. He'll know you're a Lennox, and after what went down at the cabin with Bodhi, well, he'll bolt the moment he sees you."
It's not what I want to hear, but he's right. If he sees me, he'll know we're after him, and he might do something even more reckless. Getting this close to Amber and then losing her would be devastating.
"Extraction only, got it," I say. "I'll be ready when the boys have a location."
Maybe he'll bring her, and we'll be able to get this all squared away. A man can dream.
"Get some rest. Beau, you stay indoors. Not even a fucking coffee run just in case." He points down the camera at me. "Tomorrow morning, Tripp, you scout the venue, plant some cameras, and work out your entry and exit points. The fight starts at ten p.m."
The call ends, and Tripp stretches, his neck cracking loud enough to make even Van flinch. "You heard the man. Time to hit the hay."
Moving to the window, I stare outside, already feeling claustrophobic at the idea of not being able to venture out for a full 24 hours. Now that Chase has mentioned being recognized, it's all I can think about.
"You alright?" Van is watching me, one eyebrow raised.
"Fine," I lie, feeling twitchy but knowing, as usual, Chase is right.
It would be unlucky to run into anyone who recognises me here, who spots that I'm a Lennox, but after all this work, it's a risk we can't take.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I push off the wall. "I'm going to try and get some sleep."
Van frowns, knowing there isn't a hope in hell.
"Good luck with that." Tripp is already flat on his back on the bed, kicking off his boots with his arms folded behind his head.
Leaving them to it, I step out into the parking lot, cap on my head pulled low. The night air is cool, and the neon palm tree sign buzzes overhead, bathing everything in a sickly pink glow.
Shaking off the urge to go exploring, to move and burn off some pent-up frustration, I head for my room, kicking the door shut behind me with a sigh.
Stripping off, I take a leaf from Tripp's book and do some exercises to distract myself from what's to come tomorrow, and how important it is to get this right. After wolfing down a bread roll and attempting to watch some shitty TV, I switch off the lights and climb under the covers.
Tossing from one side to the other, the sheets already twisted, sleep isn't happening. My brain won't switch off, and my bear won't stop pulling, the ache in my chest growing from a nudge to a constant demand.
I shouldn't have let Lisa leave like that. But without including her in this operation and telling her what I am, there's no way in hell she was going to listen to me.
There's a firm knock at the door, and I'm on my feet before the second one lands, crossing the room expecting Tripp, as antsy as I am, to have been kicked out of Van's space for distracting him.
Instead, Lisa is standing there, backpack slung over one shoulder, red hair loose around her face, and looking like wildfire and temptation all wrapped up in one fiery little package.
"There are no vacancies left." She casts a glance behind me at the tiny bedroom. "Any chance I can sleep with you?"