Chapter 9
Rory
As I filed that tidbit of info about her grandfather in my mind, I made a mental note to mention it to Declan. I found myself staring at her in a different light as she shared that piece of her past. I had to reevaluate my initial impression of her. Maybe there was more to this girl than just trying to weasel her way in to take over. One that Declan wouldn’t approve of, and with any luck, he would send her packing.
As we pulled onto the main road, I couldn’t help but test the power of the 427 big block engine. The 4x4 responded eagerly, and I felt a rush of excitement as we cruised down the highway towards the beach.
The tension that had hung between us seemed to dissolve with the wind blowing through the open windows. As she leaned back in her seat, I glanced over at her and saw a flicker of something in her eyes – a spark of defiance mixed with vulnerability. I wondered what secrets she held behind those guarded walls.
After a few surprising moments of comfortable silence, she spoke up softly, “Why did you agree to work for Declan and his family?”
I shifted in my seat, pondering her question before replying, “It’s complicated. Let’s just say I owe Declan a debt that goes way back. And besides, working for him has its perks.”
“Such as?” she pushed, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied my face.
I could sense the curiosity in her tone, the hunger for answers that matched my own thirst for knowledge about her. She intrigued me in ways I couldn’t quite comprehend yet.
“Protection,” I answered simply, deciding to keep my explanation vague. It wasn’t the full story, but it was enough for now.
She nodded slowly, seeming to accept my response without further probing. The rest of the drive was filled with a comfortable silence, broken only by the sound of the engine and the rush of wind.
As we neared the beach, I could see her eyes light up with excitement while we looked for a parking spot. Once I cut the engine off, I pocketed the keys and together we unloaded the picnic basket and umbrella.
Setting up our little spot on the sand, I couldn’t help but notice Kat’s attitude shift as we did so. She kept looking out towards the water as if longing to race towards it but almost afraid to. Her guard was back up. It was as if a switch had been flipped, transforming her from the carefree girl in the car to sharp and alert.
I watched her closely, not surprised at all by the change in her. She seemed distant, “What exactly are we looking for?” she asked, looking towards the warehouse. The way she surveyed the area with a frown creasing her brow made me wonder what thoughts were running through her mind.
“You see that warehouse?” I jerked my head towards it without looking at it. “There are shipments that have been coming in that aren’t accounted for. Declan wants us to record everything that comes into its dock.”
She nodded. “Are we supposed to act like it’s a day at the beach or are we supposed to act like we are spying?”
“A day at the beach. I would say go swimming if you want to, but you didn’t bring a swimsuit. ”
Kat
“Like I need a swimsuit,” I muttered.
I was so used to fighting in the ring in what some people would consider underwear, that I reached for the button on my jeans and undid them. As I slid them down over my hips, I shot a sideways glance at Rory. His eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing his handsome features. A small thrill of satisfaction coursed through my veins when I saw the look of lust spark in his gaze before he quickly looked away. Maybe he wasn’t as unshakeable as he seemed.
With deliberate calmness, I stepped out of my jeans and reached for the hem of my shirt before pulling it off in one fluid motion. The warm sun kissed my skin as I stood there in my black sports bra and shorts, making me feel liberated and empowered by the daring act. I could sense Rory’s gaze on me again, but I refused to meet his eyes.
I grabbed a pair of sunglasses from my bag and put them on, shielding my eyes as I scanned the warehouse area. The beachgoers nearby were oblivious to our intentions, their laughter and chatter providing the perfect cover for me to scrutinize the warehouse .
Rory cleared his throat, his voice low as he spoke. “Don’t draw too much attention to yourself, Kat. We need to blend in to gather information without raising any suspicions.”
I smirked, enjoying the challenge of balancing between staying inconspicuous and pushing the boundaries with him. “Relax, Rory. I’ve got this under control,” I replied confidently, though doubt crept into my mind. Could I really do this without slipping up?
As I continued to be on the lookout, I noticed a group of men unloading crates from a boat near the warehouse dock. They moved with speed and determination, like this was an everyday job for them, but something about them raised a red flag in my mind.
Rory nudged me subtly, drawing my attention to a figure approaching. A tall handsome muscular man wearing a speedo was walking right up to us.
“Hey, what are you guys up to?” the man asked, eyeing me up and down. I could feel Rory tensing beside me, his hand slightly moving towards his waist where I didn’t doubt for a second that a gun was strapped to his hip.
I shot a friendly smile to the man as I replied, “Just enjoying a day at the beach. What about you?”
The man shrugged, his gaze lingering on me longer than necessary, and I resisted the urge to shudder in revulsion. “Just thought it was strange to see people fully dressed on a beach. Most folks come here to swim or sunbathe,” he commented casually, looking pointedly at Rory who was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt.
Rory’s jaw tightened slightly, his hand now resting on the concealed weapon as he maintained his composure. “We’re here for a different kind of relaxation,” he replied smoothly.
The man in the speedo raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion flickering in his eyes. “Is that so? You two don’t exactly look like the typical beach crowd,” he remarked, crossing his arms over his chest. “As a matter of fact, I don’t think she’s with you.”
I leaned towards Rory and ran my hand down his chest, my confidence unwavering as I met his gaze head-on. “What makes you say that? We like to keep things interesting is all,” I quipped with a playful smile. Hoping to redirect the conversation, I looked up at speedo man and said, “Maybe later we can play a game of beach volleyball?”
The man chuckled, seemingly amused by my response. “Fair enough. Just thought I’d check in since you caught my eye,” he said before nodding then left, walking off towards the direction he came from .
As soon as he was out of earshot, Rory let out a low whistle. “That was too close for comfort,” he muttered under his breath, glancing at me with an odd look on his face.
I shrugged nonchalantly, though inwardly I couldn’t deny the rush of adrenaline that coursed through me at the encounter. Or maybe it was from the fact that I had ran my hand over his muscled chest like it was something I did every day. “Do you think he’s a lookout for them?” I asked as I looked back towards the workers on the dock.
“Possibly,” he shrugged.
A sudden commotion near the warehouse entrance caught my attention as a black SUV pulled up, its tinted windows hid any view of the people inside. The driver remained in the vehicle while two brawny men stepped out and approached the group of workers.
“Something is going on over there,” I said in a near whisper.
“I’m not going to look, just tell me what you see,” he said, looking out towards the water.
I kept my eyes trained on the scene, relating everything that I saw. The two burly men were engaged in a heated conversation with the workers, their body language tense and aggressive. I strained to hear their words over the distant chatter of beachgoers, but their voices were muffled by the sound of crashing waves.
One of the workers seemed to be arguing heatedly with the men, his gestures animated and defiant. Suddenly, a scuffle broke out as punches were thrown and chaos erupted. Crates were overturned, and more than one gun was produced as individuals joined the fray.
“They’re fighting over something, and two men have guns,” I said, as my heart began to race. The situation was rising quickly, and I could sense a storm brewing on the horizon.
He looked towards the warehouse just as the men moved inside. “We need to move in closer. C’mon, hurry up,” he said abruptly, his eyes never leaving the scene before us.