Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
B rynn sat in the passenger seat of the rugged Mercedes SUV as Vander drove them back into the city.
She was sorry to leave the cabin behind, but she made a vow that they’d be back. She could do with a little more downtime, and there was no doubt Vander could.
He’d never fully relax at a crowded resort, but quiet weekends away by the pond… Yes, she could handle that.
She glanced his way and let out a little sigh.
She could watch the man drive all day. Although—she stared at his strong hands on the wheel—now that she knew what he could do with those hands, and what his body looked like naked, and just how good his stamina was, she could think of other things to do.
She was totally going to make this man fall so hard for her that he’d want each and every tangle and complication they could make together.
“Brynn, quit looking at me like that, or I’ll have to pull over.”
He was staring straight ahead, not even looking at her.
“Sorry,” she said. “If we had more time, I’d totally take you up on the offer though.”
His lips quirked. “There’s not much room in here.”
“No, but I’m bendy.”
She saw his fingers flex on the wheel. He looked her way. He was wearing a pair of reflective sunglasses, which just made him look hotter.
“Unfortunately, I’ll have to prove my bendiness later,” she said. “When we don’t have a drug shipment to intercept.”
“Yes.” That deep voice held that lethal edge she loved.
As they drove into the city, she felt a fine tension fill her body. There was a bounty on their heads. Every criminal asshole in the city would be looking for them, dreaming of a big payday.
Finally, they reached South Beach. Vander pulled up at an office building just down the block from the Norcross Security office. He touched something on the dash and the parking garage door slid open. He drove down into the underground parking.
Brynn looked at him and raised a brow.
“I rent an office in the building.” He pulled into a reserved parking spot and cut the engine. “Come on.” He shouldered a small backpack and climbed out.
She got out and followed him across the space. There were several parked cars and their footsteps echoed on the concrete floor. He strode straight past the elevators, and led her to a nondescript door marked with “Maintenance” on it. He tapped a code into the pin pad lock and it beeped.
After he opened the door, he waved her inside.
It was just a bare, empty corridor, with some pipes running overhead. He led her to another door and unlocked this one with a thick, sturdy key.
Inside, was just dark, impenetrable shadow.
“I hope you haven’t decided to cash me in for the bounty, Norcross.”
“I can think of better things to do with you, Detective.” He pulled something out of his backpack, then clicked on a large, tough-looking flashlight. The powerful beam of light cut into the darkness.
Brynn saw a bare tunnel with a curved ceiling. Vander set off.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“Old sewer tunnel. San Francisco has lots of old tunnels from sewers to old World War II bunkers.” The tunnel turned slightly. “Don’t worry. This one is cut off from the active sewer system now.”
They kept walking. The tunnel made a few more turns before he stopped at a sturdy metal door. He unlocked a padlock and pushed the door open with a rusty screech of metal.
They stepped out into another parking garage. This one filled with a row of sexy, black SUVs.
She spun to look at him. “You have a secret, underground tunnel into your office.”
Vander turned the flashlight off. “Yes.”
“You are one paranoid, secretive man.”
“I’m a cautious, well-prepared man.”
“Sure, you keep on believing that, Norcross.”
They headed upstairs and found the Norcross team waiting for them, along with Hunt.
“Brynn.” Her cousin hugged her, then shot a look at Vander that should kill instantly.
Vander just raised a brow.
Hunt gently touched the bruising on her face.
“It doesn’t hurt.” She’d topped up on painkillers before they’d left. “I’ll have to use some heavy-duty makeup to hide it.”
“Any problems getting into the city?” Saxon asked.
“No,” Vander replied. “Let’s plan this mission.”
“I pulled up the schematics of the club,” Ace said.
They all filed into his office.
“The Cathedral has four floors. Each one has a different vibe.”
Brynn studied the slick publicity photos of the club. There were colored lights everywhere.
“Jesus,” Vander said.
“Who wants to drink while being blinded?” Saxon asked.
“Young people,” Brynn said dryly.
Vander’s brow creased as he studied the images. “Deliveries come in on the lower level.”
“Yes. I’ve already hacked the CCTV and I’m monitoring the dock.” Ace leaned back. “A lot of food and booze came in.”
Brynn nodded. “So, we focus our attention on the lower floor.”
“It’s too dangerous for you to go in,” Hunt said.
She put a hand on one hip. “I’ve been undercover for several years, Hunt. No one will know it’s me.” She flicked a glance at Vander. “And Vander can do the same, no doubt.”
Hunt didn’t look happy.
“Who are you bringing from the team?” she asked.
“Wilson and Patel.”
“Good choices.” She’d worked with them before.
“And Saxon, Rhys, and I will be in the crowd too,” Vander said. “Ace will provide comms from here.”
“It’ll be too noisy for our earpieces,” the tech man said. “So put your phones on vibrate.”
Hunt looked at his feet and dragged in a deep breath.
“She’ll be covered,” Vander said.
Brynn sucked in an outraged breath. “ She is a highly trained and experienced cop. She can cover herself.” She poked Vander in the chest. “Remember our conversation? Beside, not in front.”
His gaze locked on her lips. “I remember.”
“Good.” She felt a flush of pleasure but didn’t show it.
Then he did something very un-Vander-like. He grabbed her and kissed her in front of everyone. It wasn’t long, but it was firm.
Hunt growled.
Fighting off a very inappropriate wave of lust—not good, when surrounded by your hot guy’s friends and employees, and your cousin who was almost a brother—she faced Hunt.
He was glaring at Vander.
“You and I need to talk,” Hunt said.
She poked her cousin this time. “About the club job?”
“No.”
“You are not talking about my sex life.”
Hunt winced.
“If I want to have sex with every man in this room, it is none of your business.”
Saxon’s low laugh was very appealing. Ace and Rhys were grinning. Vander scowled and didn’t look that thrilled.
“It’s okay, Vander,” she said. “I only want to do you.”
Saxon lost it again and Rhys joined him. A vein was bulging in Hunt’s temple.
“Now, shall we talk work?” she asked sweetly.
Hunt flicked a glance at Vander. “She’s always been trouble.”
“I’ve already worked that out.” Vander gave a slow smile. “I like trouble.”
Oh, God, she was turned on in front of her cousin.
She cleared her throat. “Did you bring my bag?”
Hunt nodded to the large duffel bag sitting by the wall.
“You packed everything I asked for?”
“Yes,” his cousin said.
“Thanks. I’m going to get ready for the club.”
“We’ll finalize a few details here,” Vander said. “Go on up.”
Brynn hefted her bag and headed upstairs to Vander’s loft. She needed to get her head in the game. She’d never had this problem before, but Vander sure was hard to stop thinking about.
She dumped her bag in the guest bathroom and unzipped it.
There was an internal pocket and she quickly opened it, and pulled out a picture of her and her dad. She was in the middle of her awkward teen years. She smiled, and felt an edge of bittersweet pain. God, she missed him.
“I hope you’re proud of me, Dad.” The last few years had been all work for her. Making detective had been her goal, and now it was proving she was a damn good one. She rarely took time to be still, or just breathe.
She thought about swimming in the pond with Vander. Making love by the water. She’d relaxed then.
“You’d like him, Dad. Oh, you’d be pissed he was touching your baby girl, but I’m touching him back. I’m all grown up now.”
She hoped wherever he was, he was watching. Well, not the sex bits. Ew .
Brynn slipped the picture away. Okay, time to transform.
She’d learned plenty of tricks while working undercover. Keep it simple. It was more about body language and posture, than what you actually wore. People tended to see what they wanted to see.
She shimmied into a very short, very sparkly dress in a color that wasn’t sure if it wanted to be blue or gray or pewter silver. She fidgeted until the girls were settled in the very low, plunging neckline.
“Please don’t fall out,” she whispered as she used a bit of tape.
She pulled her wig out and settled it into place.
Then, she did her makeup. She used a lot of gunk to cover her bruising, then went heavy-handed with the eyeshadow and liner.
Bright-red lips finished the look. She slid some long, dangly, silver earrings into her ears—they almost brushed her shoulders.
Then she sat on the toilet seat and fastened the straps of her sexy high heels.
They were black, with shiny silver around her ankles.
She wished she could avoid the heels, but at a fancy club opening, that wasn’t happening. She straightened and pulled a face in the mirror.
Her mother would walk past her without knowing her. Right . Time to get this show on the road.
She opened the door.
Vander stood in the living room, fastening the cuff of his navy-blue shirt that had a bit of shimmer through it. It was tucked into fitted gray pants. Very trendy, and very not Vander. Oh, he dressed well, but he was usually much more classic than this.
He turned, spotted her and he went still.
God . He’d styled his hair, and…put something in it to lighten it. The strands were tipped with gold.
And he was wearing dark-framed glasses, a leather necklace that looked great against his bronze skin, and a heavy black ring on one hand.
Her insides spasmed. Mini orgasm.