Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
NATHAN
Hearing those three little words from Thea filled a piece of my heart that I hadn’t realized was missing.
It’s like I felt the physical ramifications of her confessing her love to me down to my blood.
The electrical pathways of my heart ignited, scorching me like lightning as they rewired something fundamental inside of me.
I know I had already said it, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it again because I was lost in her purgatory as time seemed to slow and all I could focus on was her eyes, the shy smile that graced her face when she said it.
I loved you then, and I love you now.
I’ve never believed too much in fate or destiny, but if there is one thing I’m sure of, it’s that this woman is my twin flame, and I won’t let anyone put that fire out.
She’s given me her love, completely raw and vulnerable, and I want to burn in it.
But beneath that heat, I can’t help but feel the ticking clock.
We only have a few days before we send her in with the wolves, with the man who is responsible for ruining so many lives, including our own.
My desire to keep Thea out of it grows with every minute, but I refuse to control her in the way Lucas has in the past, so I push the building urge deep.
I have to remind myself that while she may be inside by herself, she won’t be alone.
We’re going to have eyes on her location and she will be wearing an audio device again.
Ideally, I’d like to have a visual, but Dyer and I have to work out the details of that still so that they don’t pick up on it.
Maybe a small eye cam that doubles as a button on a shirt.
Pulling out my own cell phone, I pull up Dyer’s contact and hit dial. It rings a few times before he finally picks up. “Nathan, what can I do for you?”
“Thea got the location for the meet-up and is still good to go. I’d like for us to figure out a way to have a visual this go round, and not just from the outside. Is there any way we can get a cam that is inconspicuous? Even if it’s separate from the audio device?”
He hums on the other end of the line and I hear some shuffling of materials in the background.
“I’ll see what we can do. It might not be a bad idea to have a third avenue of contact, especially one where we’re able to get more definitive proof with our own eyes.
Not that I don’t trust Thea to do it, of course. ”
“But being able to have it recorded would only solidify our case against him. Place a face with the name. I get it,” I finish the rest of his thought.
“However, I’m going to be upfront with you right now, Dyer…
she is my number one priority on this operation.
If things even remotely seem like they’re going to turn negatively, I’m getting her out with or without your help.
Lest we forget about what happened to Dylan.
” There was no way I was allowing my girl to go through the same kind of treatment.
He saw the aftermath up close and personal with Dylan, more so than other victims, because of Fletcher’s relationship with her.
It would be prudent for him not to make the same mistake of brushing this off given that Fletcher was close to tearing his head off when Dyer portrayed the level of neutrality he did when Dylan finally decided to go to them about what she experienced.
It took months, but she did get there eventually.
I’m not sure if it was because it’s easier to stay dissociated, considering we deal with these types of things all of the time, but I don’t really give a fuck because Thea is the one helping us.
She’s doing us a favor. So he damn well better understand or we will be out before we even begin.
“I wouldn’t expect anything different. I do have my own opinions on what should or should not be sacrificed and the reasons behind that…
but I would never expect anyone to share those values in such a…
trying situation. Largely one where she does it at her own expense. ”
“Glad we’re on the same page. With that being said, while we’re on the topic of recording devices, what do you think of a button cam? And when should I expect you to show up?”
Some more shuffling on the other end. “Give me a few hours to get organized and I’ll text you when I leave.
I have to see if I can find any recording devices that will be up to par as well as pick up her burner phone.
In the meantime, help her pick out proper attire.
They’re going to expect her to be more refined.
Maybe consider a pantsuit if you want a button cam to work. ”
Rolling my eyes, I give myself a few seconds before I respond so he can’t hear the disbelief in my voice.
“Yeah, I’ll see what we can do,” I finally say before I hang up, not saying goodbye.
A pantsuit isn’t going to help her feel any less like bait.
He’s talking about refined when these people are anything but.
Yet, this is the game we’re playing into.
Unfortunately, appearance matters to men like Harrison Clark. It’s one of the things that ultimately caused Thea to receive the invitation she did.
Walking down the hall, I knock on Thea’s door before opening it. “He’s going to…” My voice trails off as my eyes trail up her legs. Her very bare legs that are met by the hem of one of my T-shirts.
She raises an eyebrow at me as she puts down her book. “He’s going to…?”
“It’s the middle of the day. Why aren’t you still dressed?” I change the subject.
“And? I wanted to be comfortable while I read.”
I lean against the doorframe and cross my arms. “Well, I hate to break it to you but I’m going to need you to put your clothes back on. Not because I want you to, but because we need to go shopping.”
“Shopping…” she repeats, as though the word is foreign to her.
“Dyer is working on getting a visual cam that’s small enough it’ll look like a normal button, but that means we need to get you something for the cam to blend in with. He recommended a pantsuit.” I shrug.
“A button cam?” She raises her eyebrow at me as she pulls on her pants. “I thought there wasn’t going to be any visual aid because it was too risky?”
I pull her into me as she approaches me. “I can be very persuasive.”
“Is that so?”
“Oh, I know so, sugar.” Before she has a chance to respond I run my lips over her jaw and down her neck. Her breath hitches and her pulse quickens before I pull away. “Now, let’s go get you that pantsuit.”
“And the clothes I already have with front buttons won’t work, because?”
“Because he requested you look…refined. His words, not mine.” I quickly throw my hands up in front of me in defense.
She scoffs before sitting up and swinging her legs off the side of the bed. “Right, because these people are so refined.”
Despite Thea’s initial protest at getting a new outfit, she’s become invested in this mission.
We’ve been at it for about two hours now and apparently shopping for one outfit has turned into replacing her entire closet.
Typically, I would’ve spoken up by now, but this is probably the last sense of normalcy she will get until she works again tomorrow, and then it’ll be time to try and take these bastards down.
I’m sitting outside of the dressing room of a more upscale clothing department, my elbows resting on my knees while she tries on her twenty-fourth outfit.
At this point, I’ve stopped counting. I scrub a hand down my face to try and wake myself up as she walks out in a jaw-dropping lilac sundress that hugs her figure in all the right places and lands about mid-thigh.
She gives me a twirl revealing an open back and suddenly I’m scrubbing my face for an entirely new reason.
“What do you think?” She grins at me and the breath completely leaves my body as I witness her in this moment. Completely…free. Unburdened despite all that she’s been through and all she still has to face.
Standing, I reach out and take her hands. “I think…you’re the most striking and imploring woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. And when this is all over, I’d like to see you in this dress again—preferably when we’re by ourselves and have nothing but the midnight sky to keep us company.”
Her cheeks flush as her smile softens and she steps closer to me until we’re chest to chest. “Just the dress, huh?”
“Sweetheart, you could wear a brown paper bag and still be the most gorgeous woman in the room. I only meant that I wish to see you like this. Like you just remembered that the world can’t hold you down.”
Her pupils dilate as her mouth parts on a silent gasp and I know I’ve backed her into a space that’s made her uncomfortable. My suspicions are confirmed when she responds, “And when it changes its mind? When it decides not to let me have control anymore?”
“Then I’ll be here to help you fight back. Now…go change before we get kicked out,” I whisper in her ear.
“Kicked out? Why would we get kicked out?” She looks at me, puzzled.
My hand skims down her side before toying with the hem of her dress. “Because as much as I like this dress on you, it only makes me want to see it on the floor more.”
Her eyes widen as she chokes on air and starts coughing and shaking her head. “You’re deplorable.”
“Only for you, baby.”