Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
PAXTON
Ihave always been in awe of Naomi, but getting a front-row seat to watching her work is something else. I press my palm firmly down against my cock, trying to get it to go down, but it’s pointless. I fucked my hand twice last night with Naomi’s taste in my mouth, and it hadn’t taken off the edge.
Naomi was quick to eat and get on the move after I’d informed her of what happened. She wanted to be in Charleston sooner rather than later. My girl is not only protective of me but now also of our territory.
She’s moved from beside me over to Mac, who has been clicking away on her computer since we got in the air. All of them wanted to come along to see what was going on for themselves. It’s not surprising. Mac, Eros and Naomi have always stuck close to each other.
Naomi wanted to send Bonte home, but she didn’t win that battle. I will never understand how fucking stupid you’d have to be to think Naomi doesn’t feel. In the face of the people she cares for, she often relents. She enjoys them being happy; I wonder if she knows that.
What was far more interesting was seeing where a person landed on that scale for her. Not to be a cocky bastard—actually, yes, I will be one. I was fucking smug that Naomi was going to pick me over Eros.
She might not like that, but that’s what she’d do. That was very telling with how deeply I have sunk into her already.
“Can the kittens be in the wedding?” Bonte asks.
I didn’t much care for the girl when she first entered Naomi’s life, but I now see what she brings to the group. For a serial killer’s daughter, she has a way of lightening the Marinos’ moods.
“Yes,” I answer. Naomi flicks a glance toward me. I’ve caught her doing it many times. I openly stare at her, not giving a shit.
“I think I’m going to like you.” Bonte kisses her kittens.
“For my safety, I’d rather you not.” I glance over at Naomi again.
“Ahh!” Bonte laughs. “I don’t know which is even the threat.” Naomi’s mouth presses into a firm line. I have to resist the urge to get up and go over and kiss her. I know she’s working with Mac.
That’s the thing about my girl; it’s the moments I have to pick when to step in and when to let her lead. We all have our strengths and skill sets. Naomi needs room to be who she’s used to being but also space to blossom into the woman I know she is.
“It’s Naomi, always Naomi,” I tell her. “She’s busy planning our wedding.” I wink over at her. The firm line of her lips slides away, and I see her relax again.
Well, as relaxed as she lets herself be; her posture is always perfect. Except when I pull her into me. Then she melts, allowing me to assume control. To keep a watch so that she can relax, something she needs to do more of.
“That will be later. Right now, we need to see about adding more cameras to this dock and possibly others. Your tech can cut down the manpower you require to guard them.”
“And you’re down a few more men now,” Eros adds. When he thinks I’m not paying attention, he’s eyeing me, trying to get a full read.
I pretend to not notice, but I pretend many things. People often underestimate you when they find you charming and overly relaxed. All the while you’re the one assessing every detail. That’s the way I’ve lived my life and come to be in the position I currently am.
I wasn’t shocked about the call I’d gotten. It was only a matter of time before someone struck. They’re testing the waters. It’s a grave mistake on their end.
“It’s nice when someone else takes the trash out for you.” I stretch my legs and check the time.
“Paxton.” Naomi calls my name. I enjoyed the fuck out of it when she moaned “Pax” last night.
I can still taste her on me, and I have plans to do it all again tonight.
I have more than once caught her thinking about it too.
It was how she licked her bottom lip or shifted her hips.
The same way she’s done for me when my hands and mouth were all over her.
“What can I do for you, Sunshine?”
“Funny every single time,” Bonte whispers to one of the kittens.
“You knew that dock was going to get hit?”
“Yes.” If I went with the odds.
“But you didn’t prevent it?” I fight a smirk, having won her attention back from Mac and the laptop. Though I’m not sure it ever fully left me. Naomi has her claws in me, and the only way she’d release them is if I were dead.
“Stockton Pier handles a significant amount of metal and bulk cargo, but it is too close to the cruise lines and busy to hit there. The risk isn’t worth the get.”
“The goal is to spook you,” Naomi says.
“I’m aware.” I give her a smile, a real one.
“You didn’t think whoever this is wouldn’t hit Wando Street?” she asks, her head slightly tilting.
“No, the goal is to spook me. That port brings in some of the biggest shipments from China, and it’s growing. No point in shaking it up and risking them pulling out and finding another port.” It would cost them highly to do so, but they would.
“Not sure that they’d have much of an option,” Mac says, her brows furrowing together as she stares off. I notice she does that when she’s thinking.
“There are other docks they could use, and I’m sure in time they could be lured back, but why risk it? You want those imports. They are flush with cash. No need to rattle them in any way. Besides, that could get political. No one on the East Coast wants that.”
Naomi nods in agreement to what I’m saying. “Grant Term is too state of the art. It would take too much planning,” she adds.
“That only leaves the Folten River Docks.” Which I made sure was faulty and empty but not too empty to spook them. I lost four men, and the damage, I’m guessing, is around a few million, but I need eyes on it.
“Why not stop it?” Naomi leans forward.
“It’s best to let others think they’re winning. They’re hoping that I rushed off from California back to Charleston to see who could have done this to my docks.”
“Ahh, isn’t that what we have done?” Bonte asks.
“Yes, it’s what I’ve made sure to do any time even the smallest of things happen. I’m rather predictable.”
“It’s a trap,” Naomi says, a little aha in her voice. “They think they’ve set a trap.”
“Oh, it’s a trap.” Her eyes light up with excitement.
“Pull the blueprints back up,” Naomi tells Mac.
“What’s happening?” Bonte asks.
“This just became an operation.” Eros pulls out his phone. “You could have told us this information an hour ago.”
I don’t bother responding to him. We all have our reasons for what we do.
“Shit, I need to check in now,” Mac tells Naomi, pulling out her open phone.
“Hey, Dad, I need a drop,” she says into it.
“Really? So it worked.” Mac pauses. “Dad, that’s the whole point!
If I can elude Mom, then I can elude anyone.
” Another pause. “Okay, it might not have been the best time to try it, but I was bored last night,” she says defensively.
Mac’s mother is a very accomplished hacker. At one time, she was wanted by the FBI for crashing the stock market when she was younger. They didn’t arrest her in the end; instead, they worked out a deal. That’s how it appeared to me.
“Okay, I got it.” A small huff leaves her, but she quickly perks back up at whatever her father says to her. “Thanks, Dad,” she tells him. “Now, a drop.” Mac gets back to the task at hand. “I’d like two, but how long would it take Mom to get it there?”
“I might be able to help with that,” I tell them. Everyone’s attention is pulling back to me as I stand. “I have items you might need.”
“I’ll call you back,” I hear Mac say.
“If you don’t mind.” I nod to the long couch Bonte is laid out on with the kittens. She hops up so that I can lift and reveal the hidden compartment with almost everything they would need.
“Oh shit, is there one for me?” Mac asks.
“Some of it.” I knew Mac had a thing for drones, and they are rather handy.
Naomi peers into the box. “Are you flirting with my cousin?” she asks me. “Getting her drones is like getting her flowers.”
Bonte snorts a laugh.
“You enjoy when Mac is happy, and I enjoy when you’re happy.” I wrap my arm around her waist and turn her into me. “They’ll be used to protect you. That’s what matters.”
“Okay.” She gives a slight nod. “You can kiss me.” I have to fight a chuckle every time she says that, but I’m more than happy to oblige.
“There are items in there for you too.” I give her ass a light pat before letting her go.
“You really do know the way to a girl’s heart.” Naomi pulls out one of the boxes and tosses a bag over to Eros. Not any girl’s—hers. I have been watching her for years. “It’s time to play.” A whisper of a smile plays on her lips.
“Consider it an engagement present, Sunshine,” I tell her, knowing that by the time she finishes, there will be no place for anyone to hide inside.
Like I said, my sunshine incinerates anything in her path… and I’m going to watch it burn.