CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
JAKE
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It’s been a long week of reconnaissance. Liam is doing a one-day bodyguard job with a client who specifically requested him. Some hotshot Hollywood director. I’m hoping to never work in that area of the BHS business.
I have zero patience for the rich and famous.
Although I met Ryder’s wife, Savannah Sinclair, at the wedding recently, and she’s very down to earth.
I might be cynical. Working in this town in law enforcement, I’ve seen a few things that would shock a lot of people.
Right now, I’m where I need to be and want to be. Outside and slightly down the road from Caylee’s workplace.
Today I have Aidan with me.
“There’s Cole.” He bites down on his sandwich, which his wife Briar made him.
I had to hear all about the organic tomatoes and how much tastier they are than the sprayed variety, and how she slices the cheese perfectly.
“You know what I mean, man. Too thick, and it’s all cheese. Too thin and you feel ripped off,” he’d said.
“Yup,” I’d responded, not knowing.
Cheese slicing is not something I’ve ever paid close attention to.
“But, and I never thought I’d say this, it’s the lettuce that makes it. Not sure how she does it, but the chicken, the mayo, all of it combined. It’s my favorite thing right now,” Aidan had continued.
If you were only listening and couldn’t see the muscle threatening to rip his shirt sleeves apart, you’d never know this guy was a Marine.
I admit I was expecting a bit more alpha insanity when I joined the team. Apart from Cole trying to knock my teeth out, a lot of these big guys are happily married and seem more interested in home renovations and sourdough bread.
Which I also heard about.
Who hasn’t...thank you, Taylor Swift.
“When they leave, I’ll give her the go ahead.” I refocus as Cole walks through the front door.
Caylee is soon going to get suspicious.
We’ve lined up a bunch of lunches with her brother and friends to scope out the office and keep tabs on Brad.
“Can’t believe Josh went alone with this, but it’s certainly a good reminder that we need to bring some female operators into the organization.” Aidan takes another bite.
One of his beloved cheese slices falls on his shirt, and he curses.
I almost laugh.
“It’s a risk, but we have the place well covered,” I remind him.
Aidan snorts. “Yeah, I guess you weren’t there when he met Cassy. He’s extremely protective of her.”
Josh agreed to send Cassy in undercover to plant some recording devices in Brad’s office. While she hasn’t been briefed on who he might be, she asked if it was dangerous.
“Yes,” Josh nodded.
“No,” I replied. “Caylee works there every day, and we will have people surrounding the office.”
“I’ll be across the road.” Josh glared at her.
“And you think this guy is up to something?”
“Maybe,” Josh replied.
“Yes.”
“We don’t know, but by putting these devices in it will allow us to find out.” Liam had told her.
“Is it legal?”
We all stared at her.
“Should I do this?” Cassy asked Josh.
He uncrossed his arms and took her hips in his hands. “Probably not, but it could help some very vulnerable people.”
“Caylee?”
“She’s not in danger.” Josh took a risk sharing that.
The two of them stared at each other as the air in the room grew heavy.
“I’m in,” Cassy said a moment later. “This is important. I can see it in your eyes.”
Wow.
I’d been impressed by their connection. And by her making that brave decision.
As we watch, Cole and Caylee step out of the building. She looks stupidly happy that her brother turned up to take her for lunch. She stops and takes a selfie, and I’m pretty sure I just saw Cole roll his eyes.
Aidan snorts again, drops some of his lettuce, curses and then shoves it in his mouth.
So much for the perfect sandwich.
As they round the corner and disappear, my chest tightens.
Spending the weekend with Caylee was amazing. I loved having her at my place. Seeing how impressed she was by it pleased me way too much.
Cassy exits the bookstore.
Gone are her usual high heels, tight black pants and stylish tops. Today she’s in a shift dress, flat shoes and blazer, her hair tied up in some twisted style.
She tucks a handbag under her arm and enters the Thornton Dental building.
“Nobody takes their fucking eyes off this building,” Josh says in our earpieces. “That includes the roof.”
Aidan and I share a look.
“Got a drone in position, boss,” Thomas says through the device.
Shit, I didn’t know about that.
“Now we know why he agreed to let Cassy do this.” Aidan lets out a dry laugh. “He’s got this place surrounded like we’re doing a fucking terrorist extraction.”
I laugh.
But it’s halfhearted because Brad might not be a terrorist, but he’s terrorizing innocent children, and the number of kids harmed well exceeds any terrorist attack in history.
That’s a fucking fact.
People just don’t want to look at the truth of this horrendous and thriving industry, and that’s how it continues to succeed.
I might not know Cassy well, but it’s admirable of her to pose as a mom seeking information about braces for her teenage daughter. While there, she’s going to plant a couple of cameras.
It’s no mean feat.
She might fail.
She booked the appointment earlier in the week, stating she only had a small opening in her calendar and then had modeling lessons for her daughter after school.
A nice touch, I thought.
If Brad is a pedophile or a pimp, that would be like candy to him.
It worked, and she got the noon appointment.
Now we wait.
And listen.
Cassy has a hidden recording device on her. We wait for Thomas to connect us. There’s a small crackle, and then we hear voices and footsteps.
“Mrs. Hemsworth, welcome,” Brad greets her.
“Stupid name,” Josh mumbles as Aidan silently chuckles next to me.
I lean forward, draping my arms over the steering wheel.
“Thank you. I appreciate you fitting me in,” Cassy replies.
“Of course. We try to be very accommodating at Thornton Dental. Let’s head down to my office.”
There are more footsteps and doors closing. Chairs shift on the floor and creak.
“Normally the patient accompanies the parents during the first meeting. Is...Sabrina not joining us?” Brad asks.
“She woke up with a throat infection, and I didn’t want to be a nuisance and reschedule,” Cassy says pleasantly, sticking with the agreed dialogue. “Is it okay if I ask a bunch of questions? I never had braces as a child.”
“I can see that. You have a beautiful smile.”
Josh growls.
I feel my lip curl, wondering if this jerk flirts with Caylee during the day like this. God, I hope it’s him so we can lock him up, anyway.
“I was lucky, Sabrina not so much. Can you talk me through how it works, how we make payments and anything else we should know?”
“Let’s grab these brochures and I’ll—”
Cassy starts coughing.
“Are you oka—”
More coughing.
“Can I have...water...sorry...”
We hear a chair moving, him ripping the door open. “Yes, wait there. Amy!”
It goes quiet.
Cassy coughs some more.
More rustle and some banging about.
We wait; my breath stuck in my throat.
If Brad is involved with the selling of children to sex traffickers, then any hint of someone setting him up could create a dangerous reaction from him.
Fight or flight.
He could run.
Or he could harm her.
“Got it,” Cassy says quietly and then coughs as Brad comes back in the room.
“Thanks, cough...I might be getting Sabrina’s bug. Cough.”
I sit back and let the rest of the team do their jobs and wonder how lunch is going. Is Cole asking Caylee about our relationship? Is she happy being my girl?
My girl.
I liked waking up and seeing her hair spilling out over my pillows while I climbed down her body and settled in between her legs on Sunday morning.
I liked seeing her pad around the kitchen in just one of my US Marshal T-shirts and no panties while she made us a pizza.
The best part was not eating it but watching her bend over and pull it out of the oven. Puts a totally new spin on a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.
I text Cole and tell him Cassy is clear of the building, and he replies K.
Dick.
I feel like some chick he doesn’t want to hear from.
Cassy’s party is tomorrow night, so Cole and I need to make sure our shit is sorted out. I thought we’d crossed a bridge when we briefed him about Brad.
After the meeting that day, Cole put his hand on my shoulder as we stood. “Hey, thanks. I appreciate you looping me in.”
“Wasn’t my idea,” I slid my hands into my black tactical pant pockets.
“Yes it was.” He grinned and walked off.
Now, apparently, we’re back to single syllable grunts.
Maybe that’s just his style.