Chapter 35 Nick
Nick
There’s a little cupcake under my skin in the sweetest, most infuriating way.
No matter what I do, I can’t get her off my mind.
Her stubbornness, her resilience, and even the way she falls apart.
She’s become the main focus in my daily life.
And tonight, I’m sending her to a human meat market—a fucking slaughterhouse—to work. The thought sickens me.
“Sasha! Bring me the fucking depositions I asked for five minutes ago,” I scream through the door. As soon as this operation is over, I’m kicking her ass to the curb and finding a new secretary. I already know who I want to fill the position and hopefully she will take it.
I pull up the cameras from my phone; my cupcake is still knocked out in our bed. Last night, I pleasured her body until she was begging me to stop. She was so exhausted, I had to carry her out of Sapphire. I smile thinking about her messy hair, and the makeup smeared all over her face.
How I’m going to get through her shift tonight—and every other night is weighing heavy on my mind.
The idea of sending her to that shithole makes me want to call off this whole operation.
Realistically, I know she will be fine. She’s not going in there unprotected.
Liam is a fucking beast, but it should be me with her.
Never in my life did I think a woman would have this much control over me but here we are.
“I’m sorry, I had to search for them. Is everything ok?” She comes and sits on the edge of my desk, her face full of concern. “I can make you feel better.”
“By leaving. I have work to get done.” I look away from her and scoot forward, pushing my legs under my desk before she gets any ideas. I’ll cut her fucking fingers off one by one if she touches me.
“Emily isn’t really your niece, is she?” The tension coming from her is palpable.
I’m not going to hide the way I feel about Maya; Sasha just better know to keep her mouth shut about the rest of it.
“No, she’s not.” Not really sure why she cares so much. She will bang anything if she thinks it will get her somewhere.
“Are you seeing her?” Her voice is soft.
Normally, I’d be wondering how people like her develop feelings, but it does seem to happen when and where you least expect it.
“Not that it’s any of your concern, but, yes, I am.” I cross my arms in annoyance. This isn’t her business.
“Do you really like her or is she just a fling? I know you, Nick. Your likes and dislikes. I could make you really happy.” She gives me a pouty look.
“It’s not just a fling, I’m fucking obsessed with her. Get back to work and mind the business that pays you.” I give her a deadpan stare. Sasha has been relentless lately. This major confession on my part might be the only way for her to take a fucking hint.
“Wow.” She drops her gaze to the floor. “She must be really special.” I’m relieved when she quickly exits my office.
I have to be in court all day. Kaleb is meeting me with Tito at the warehouse at four.
I’ll be cutting it close. It shouldn’t take long to lock those two idiots in the cellar.
I’ll have Lucas there for backup. He’s insisted on helping.
We will deal with those idiots when my girl is safely home from work.
The Lucky Rabbit has three exit areas and a service dock. Liam will cover the one inside Cottontails, Lucas and Vade have agreed to stake out the other two, and Ethan and I will be parked behind the service exit. Maya says it’s overkill. I think she just doesn’t know how much she means to me.
Emma was right, there’s only one way a woman can get under a man’s skin to the point it drives him literally insane.
I love her.
From the moment I met her, I’ve been drawn to her like a magnet—like a moth to a flame. It might’ve been love at first sight, even though I didn’t recognize it. I’ve been falling harder and harder for her ever since that day. She deserves to know, but I have no idea how to tell her.
What if she doesn’t feel the same and it scares her away? I’ve told her how much she means to me, but she doesn’t talk about how she feels. I’ve been ok with that. She’s been severely mistreated by men; this is one thing I’m not going to push her on.
“Nick, the cameras and internet are offline, I’ve got to open the surveillance room for the repair man.” Sasha doesn’t even bother to step in the room. She looks like she’s been crying.
“Fine. I’m heading to the courthouse.” Like a lovesick puppy, I make sure the cameras at home are working and not just because I can’t get enough of my girl. Keep telling yourself that.
8:30 a.m. - Good morning, beautiful. I’ll be in court all day, but I’ll check in when I can. Ethan’s working from home. You two try to stay out of trouble.
The two of them together are like children, constantly laughing at the most asinine shit.
Court ran late and now I’m rushing to get to the warehouse. I call Maya on the way in, but she doesn’t answer. Probably getting ready for her first night at work. My phone buzzes with a text from Kaleb.
3:56 p.m. - Hey man, I was running a little late picking Tito up. We ain’t going to make it there til 5 or a little after but we’re on the way.
Maya has to be at work at five. Son of a fucking bitch. I turn around and head to the beach house, calling Ethan on the way. He can go with Lucas to lock them up and I can take her to work.
“What’s up?” he answers on the first ring.
“Are you still at the house?”
“No, we’re headed to meet Vade. He’s got the tracking bracelet ready to go. We’re going to pick it up. I have to make sure the software works properly with my computer.”
“Hey Nick!” I hear my cupcake in the background and my heart constricts. She should be with me.
“Where are you? I need you to help Lucas lock Tito and Kaleb in the warehouse cellar. They won’t be there until five or after.” They promised me they would be there at four. Not surprising that punctuality means nothing to pieces of shit like that.
“Just pulling up to Diamond Aces. Vade left the tracker in his office. I need to be there when she goes in unless you’re going to run the surveillance details.”
“Fine, let me call Vade.” I hang the phone up and click Vade’s contact. This day is going to shit fast. I can’t do that, that’s not my specialty.
“Hello?”
“I need you to meet Lucas at the warehouse so I can be with Maya when she goes in.”
“I’m running the last of The Lucky Rabbit employment checks, I can finish them from my phone while I’m watching the exit, but I can’t focus on them and be at the warehouse too. She will be fine if you’re a few minutes late.”
I tense and grip the steering wheel hard. We had everything worked and now it’s going to shit. When things slow down, somebody is going to fucking teach me about technology.
When I don’t say anything, Vade speaks up again. “Have any of us ever let you down? We’ve got this, Nick. Nothing is going to happen to her. I can see the exit Lucas was going to cover and my own as well.”
“If a single hair on her head is damaged, I swear to all things holy and unholy this planet will burn with a fire so hot, it’ll make hell look like a vacation destination.” My blood pressure starts to rise to dangerous levels. I’m going to pound these bastards’ faces extra hard for this shit.
“Wiping out all life on Earth is not an effective way to end this mission,” Vade chuckles. “I never thought I’d see the day you fell in love.”
That makes two of us. “Don’t take your eyes off of her.”
I head to the warehouse, hoping they’re earlier than expected. Lucas is already waiting outside. Once inside, I reorient him to the layout and give him a rundown of the plan, which is pretty simple. Each take one down, jab a needle in their neck, and lock them up for later.
I’ve got my .45 on my side in case shit gets sideways. Lucas is always packing too. Since we’ve paused shipments for the moment, it’s just the two of us with no back up, but I don’t foresee needing any.
4:30 p.m. It’s almost time for Maya to head in, and with everything going on, I forgot to tell her I would be late. I shoot her a quick message:
I’m running a little behind. I’ll be there as soon as I can.
Five-forty-fucking-five. My annoyance flares. Fifteen more minutes and I’m leaving. My phone rings, it’s Vade.
“Yeah.” I don’t have a good feeling about this. They better fucking show up.
“Have they pulled up yet?” he asks.
“Not yet. Is Maya ok?” Everything better be ok with my cupcake or they’re all going to learn what the seventh circle of hell feels like.
“She’s fine. There’s no record of employment anywhere within The Lucky Rabbit for Kaleb Cherry. I doublechecked to be sure. I also called the justice court, there’s no charges pending there either.”
“Is that so?” I grit my teeth. Kaleb has been playing a game. Son of a motherfucking bitch.
I crack my neck. That motherfucker is going to wish he was never born. Lawyers don’t typically need to call and verify the validity of charges. Everything in Kaleb’s casefile, right down to the police report, appeared legitimate.
Just as I pick up the phone to call judge Vernon, a blacked-out Escalade pulls in.
I guess Tito has found a way to either clean up his act or he’s moving bricks, because that sure as hell isn’t Kaleb’s ride.
The setting sun creates a glare on the windshield, preventing me from getting a look inside.
As the car parks, I glance over at Lucas, and he gives me a slight nod letting me know he’s ready for more. A movement behind me catches my eye. There’s a boat trolling in front of the dock, which normally isn’t unusual, but this one appears to be stalled.
Kaleb steps out of the passenger seat, more cleaned up than I have ever seen him. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle. The driver’s door opens, and none other than Logan Bradley steps out.
Fuck. This is a setup.
“Don’t kill them if you can help it. I need these motherfuckers alive for interrogation,” I order. Lucas knows Logan and probably figured out what’s going on, but my rage is taking over.
POW, POW, POW!
Gun shots ring out from boat behind us; we’re being ambushed. On instinct, Lucas and I both hit the ground with Kaleb and Logan ducking behind the doors of the SUV. It must be bulletproof.
Fuck this.
I make a run for it, dodging bullets and grabbing Logan before he can shut the door. With a sharp crack, I land my fist straight into his nose. His head snaps back and blood spatter sprays out.
Lucas makes a run for Kaleb but is dropped by a rogue bullet. He’s clutching his leg and is still alive. I reach for my .45 but Logan grabs my wrist. Lucas is able to get to his and effectively shoots Kaleb in the hip, bringing him to the ground.
Logan yanks at my wrist, trying to pull the gun free. I push my weight into him, and knee him in the groin as hard as I can. It works because he lets go. When he’s doubled over, I kick him as hard as I can in the face.
His body slumps forward and hits the ground face first, knocked out cold. I jam the needle in his neck, ensuring he stays asleep. Lucas has the other shot.
After securing his wrists with zip ties, I glance over at Lucas; he’s sitting up messing with his pant leg. I run around the back side of the Escalade where Kaleb is trying to hide. I kick him in the face. The satisfying crack of his nose breaking and blood flying is music to my ears.
He’s on his back, holding his hands over his nose, blood dripping down his face.
I stomp down as hard as I can, knocking all his rotten teeth out.
He coughs hard, choking on the fragments.
I deliver a couple firm kicks to his ribs, making sure to break as many as possible. He’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
I run over and check on Lucas who is using his belt and flashlight to cinch down a torniquet on his leg.
BOOM! A blast rings out, sending me flying through the air and smashing onto the pavement several feet away.
My ears ring, my chest hurts, and I’m dazed. My eyes struggle to focus on the blazing fireball rolling a hundred feet in the air where my warehouse was, the boat that fired at us also now gone. I try to get up, but I stumble. I’ve got to get out of here right now.
It’s a miracle I’m not dead. The SUV took the majority of the shock wave from the blast. I look over at Lucas and he’s lying motionless on the ground, as are Logan and Kaleb.
The cops will be here soon and I’ve got to get to my cupcake. She’s in trouble. This was planned out and I played right into their hands. I crawl to my Mustang, pulling the door open and doing my best to clear the shattered glass from the seat. Fuck it. I’ve got to go now.
Everything hurts, I can barely breathe, but I manage to pull myself inside. I can’t reach for my phone, but it will connect to the car automatically so I can call Vade.
“There’s been a setup, get her out now!” I scream.
“I know, we’re trying to get to her!” he breathlessly yells.
The air leaves my lungs.
“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN TRYING? GET HER OUT NOW!”