27. Cooper
27
COOPER
“ Y OU HAVE GOT to be kidding me,” I protested, staring at the blindfold in Lachlan’s hand. “I thought we were done with those.”
“You thought wrong.”
“But you gave me a tour. I already saw everything.”
Lachlan smirked. “Did you?”
God, this man had secrets upon secrets. Every time I thought I was getting somewhere with him, he threw up a hand and said, “Hold my beer.”
So why did all that mystery intrigue me to no end and somehow make me want to get even closer?
He motioned for me to turn around, and I sighed and relented.
“I already met King,” I reminded him. “He’s the one who told me I had to be at this meeting.”
“I’m aware.”
The world went dark as he tied the blindfold on, securing it tight.
“Don’t forget that anything or anyone you see is confidential, per the terms of your NDA.”
Any one ? Now that piqued my interest.“Understood,” I said. “I’m not looking to fork out a billion dollars for betraying your secrets.”
Instead of holding me by the arm the way he had when I was blindfolded before, Lachlan reached for my hand and placed it around his bicep. It was a closer, more intimate move, and I took full advantage, squeezing those powerful muscles that were always hidden beneath suits.
“Careful,” he murmured. “Keep touching me like that, and we won’t be leaving.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“It is if you want to be on the other side of King’s wrath.”
That had me stilling my hand. I didn’t know much about the guy I’d met yesterday, but in those few moments with him, I’d known beyond a shadow of a doubt he wasn’t someone you messed with. And Lachlan seemed to agree.
“Better get a move on,” I said, tugging on Lachlan’s arm, and he let out a low chuckle before moving.
The elevator I recognized. But once we got off, I was led through what felt like a maze. It might’ve been just a way to keep me disoriented, so I couldn’t retrace my steps.
The first thing I noticed was that the air turned cooler, though I felt flickering warmth on my face every few feet. I inched closer to Lachlan, keeping a tight hold on him. I could say all day it was because I needed his guidance, but I had a feeling he knew exactly why I wanted him close.
I also had a feeling he wanted me there too.
We stopped suddenly, and I heard something large and loud yawn open, and then we were walking again. The sound of male voices grew louder with every step we took, and I knew when we’d finally arrived because someone cursed and then the room went silent.
Dead silent.
“Lachlan.” Whoever spoke made Lachlan’s name sound like a warning.
“This is King’s doing,” Lachlan said. “If you don’t like it, take it up with him.”
“This should’ve gone to a vote. He’s an outsider?—”
“Who’s been crucial to nailing Mick. Get the fuck over it.”
Electricity hummed in my veins. I couldn’t even see who the players were, but I could already notice an interesting dynamic between them.
Wait, was the blindfold coming off at all? Or would I be in the dark for this meeting? I’d forgotten to ask.
“Enough.” This deep voice I recognized immediately. King had arrived.
“King, you can’t seriously think this is a good idea,” the man objecting to my presence said.
“It’s done.”
“I strongly urge you to reconsider.”
“Noted. And denied.”
A long, tense silence fell, and I held my breath. I wanted to see what was happening, but I tamped down my curiosity, or tried to. We were here for something bigger than whatever problems the man had with me.
Suddenly, the blindfold was removed, and I blinked as my eyes adjusted.
One by one six faces came into view. Some people were instantly recognizable— holy shit, is that the son of the former U.S. president? The Prince of Monaco? —and some I’d never seen in my life, but they were clearly of the utmost importance to be standing in the same room as fucking royalty .
And by some crazy-ass coincidence, so now was I.
“This is insane,” Shepard O’Neil Winchester III said, and I couldn’t disagree. The fact I was standing in a room with one of the most—if not the most—recognizable faces in America was one hundred percent insanity.
But here I was, and from what I could see, there wasn’t one security guy in?—
My eyes shifted to Lachlan. He was the security in here, and likely out there in the real world. All their connections were in house.
“I told you,” King snapped without taking his eyes off me. “Your grievances are noted. But this is my decision.”
“Are you sure it’s the right one, mon cher ?” one of the men I didn’t recognize asked. “This is a risky move.”
“Then let’s make sure it’s one that pays off.” King looked to the long-haired guy seated at the end of the table they stood around. His legs were kicked up on top of it like he didn’t have a care in the world. “Cooper is joining us today because Alessio was finally able to work out what the key card is for.”
My interest in the men watching me like hawks was suddenly put on the back burner as what King had said registered. They’d worked out what the key card was for? Where it went? What it opened? This was what I’d been waiting for, the next step toward getting justice for Alex, and the fact they’d brought me in…
I looked to Lachlan, whose eyes were locked on me.
This was all him. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but I did. He’d somehow convinced King to let me be here for this reveal, to let me be involved in this moment, and had we not been standing in a room full of men who looked like they wanted to toss me out on my ass, I might have thrown myself into his arms and never let him go.
“So are you waiting for a drum roll?” Lucien—the only familiar person to me—joked, clapping the Alessio guy on the shoulder. “Or you going to tell us?”
“Actually…” Alessio drew his feet off the table and stood, aiming a remote at the massive TV hanging on the wall. “I’m going to show you instead.”
Lachlan placed a hand on my shoulder and said by my ear, “You okay?”
Unable to contain my excitement, I turned and flashed him a wide smile. “Better than okay. This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for.”
“I know.” Lachlan squeezed me gently and gestured back to the screen. “So take a look.”
Up flashed several different images.
“It’s a shipping warehouse,” Alessio said as he moved toward the TV. “At the Riverside Dock. The company ownership is forged and security around the place is tight, but that key card right there—” He pointed to the card sitting on the table. The one I’d accidentally scooped up in the alley. “That’s our way in.”
King walked closer to the screen, his hands clasped behind his back. “These the best angles you’ve got?”
“With what’s out there, yes. But this is one of the old warehouses. This dock isn’t super active, so security isn’t a top priority down there these days. It’s used by smaller, private boats, and I’m guessing Mick’s are the type to roll in late at night.”
“And how do you propose we get inside if we can’t see the front door—or any door, for that matter?”
My eyes shifted to the last person I expected to hear talking about breaking and entering a drug dealer’s warehouse—the Prince of Monaco.
Alessio shrugged. “We need to get a closer look. Look for blind spots. Check out what kind of security Mick has watching this place. If he’s having drugs moved through here, you can bet he’s got some sort of muscle patrolling.”
The way these guys were talking told me that (a) they’d done this before and (b) they had no doubt they could pull off whatever plan they came up with. But there was something I couldn’t seem to work out.
“Who are you people?”
Every single person stopped talking and turned in my direction.
Shit. Did I say that out loud?
“We aren’t anyone, remember?” King said. “Your NDA states you have seen and met nobody inside these walls.”
“Right. Of course. Sorry.”
I couldn’t be sure, but I thought King’s lips twitched.
Lachlan stepped forward. “I could go down and?—”
“No,” King said. “You are to stay here with Cooper. If we need to send anyone, it’ll be Alessio.”
Lachlan’s jaw bunched, the idea of being held on a leash not sitting well with him. Or maybe it was the idea of babysitting me.
“I could get more cameras down there,” he said.
“I said no. We can’t risk Mick’s men getting jumpy. If they spot someone sniffing around, they might change the date or time?—”
“I wouldn’t get caught.”
“How about we send up a couple of drones?” Alessio interjected, clearly trying to defuse the situation. “They can check out the surrounding buildings, and they’d be less likely to be detected.”
“ Or ,” Lachlan said, “I could slip in and out the way I said. A drone can get caught.”
Alessio scoffed. “I’m taking offense to that, just so you know.”
“Lachlan?” Everyone’s attention turned to King. “You stay put.”
“I don’t think he’s learned his commands yet.” The freakin’ Prince of Monaco winked at Lachlan, and I couldn’t stop gaping at him. Was I supposed to bow? What did you do in front of royalty?
But King had made it clear whoever these men were outside these walls, they were something altogether different inside, and I was dying to know what part Theodore Rinaldi played in all of this.
Stop staring before they kick you out.
“Right,” King said, “Alessio, get your drones in the sky and get us the up-to-date visuals we need so we can formulate a plan.”
“On it,” Alessio said, shooting King a salute.
“Since you’ve all determined you want to be involved in the takedown, stick close to the city.” He was looking at Theo specifically. “Estimated time is end of the week, and once we get the call, there will be no waiting around for you.”
Everyone nodded their agreement, and the interest and excitement was palpable, like they all couldn’t wait to get in on some action.
I was living in the fucking Twilight Zone.
“Cooper,” King said, and gave a curt nod. “Good work.”
Why was it a compliment from a practical stranger had me feeling like a badass? Sheer luck had put the key card in my possession, but being in the right place at the right time was smart on my part.
Damn, who would’ve thought a week ago I’d say that night in the alley was actually the right place and right time? Not me.
Something like hope filled my chest as Lachlan tied the blindfold back around my eyes. These guys were going to get justice for Alex, I could feel it. Finally the people responsible would pay for what they’d done, and it would prevent so many more unnecessary deaths.
It wasn’t until we were heading back to the penthouse that the question entered my mind of just how this eclectic group of men planned to make them pay.