Page 52 of Dangerous Secret

“Sultry, huh?”

“Oh, yeah.” He gave her a quick kiss before standing. “Take care, kitten.”

“Bye.” She waved her fingers at him.

He forced a smile he didn’t feel as he walked away from her. In the back of his mind lived a fear that once this was over and her son returned to her, she wouldn’t want him back in her life. But from this point on, he had to stay focused on the mission, so he slammed a door on that fear.

Outside her apartment, he blended into the shadows. He’d texted Liam when getting dressed, telling him to come and scout the parking lot to make sure Pressley or one of his minions wasn’t hanging around. That he had to be so secretive at seeing her chafed. She was a single woman, entitled to have him spend the night with her if that was what she wanted.

Liam texted back as Grayson stepped outside.All clear.

He typed another message.Meet me at that diner outside of town. Mel’s?

Yep. See ya there.

Next, he texted Cooper to meet them at the diner. Liam was already seated at a booth in the back when Grayson arrived. “Cooper will be here in a few.”

“I guess we’re getting close to go time?”

“Hopefully this week. It all depends on Pressley’s driver and if he’s bribable.”

“Since he works for a man like Pressley, I’d say it’s a good chance he is.”

“Let’s hope.” Plan B was to break into Pressley’s house, but he wasn’t keen on doing that. It was too risky.

The server, a woman who looked to be in her sixties, came to their table. “Morning, boys. I’m Ria. What can I get y’all?”

“There’s one more joining us in a few,” Grayson said. “We’ll start with coffee and order when our friend arrives.”

“You got it, sugar.” She left them with menus and returned a minute later with a coffeepot.

Cooper arrived as Ria was filling the cups, and he slid into the booth next to Liam. He flashed her a smile. “Morning…” His gaze landed on her name tag. “Ria. How are you this fine day?”

Ria seemed startled for a moment, then an ear-to-ear smile appeared. “Much better now that you handsome boys showed up.”

She probably didn’t get asked often how she was, and not for the first time, Grayson was amused by how Cooper could draw out a smile from anyone…man, woman or child.

“Y’all ready to order?” she said once their coffee cups were filled.

After they ordered and were alone, Grayson said, “Considering what Pressley pulled yesterday and what he would have done if you—” he glanced at Cooper “—hadn’t arrived in time to stop him, it’s go time. You need to get his driver onboard.”

“I did a deep dive into him, and he’s got a sick wife and some big medical bills. Not that I wish anyone to be sick, but that should work in our favor,” Cooper said. “How much are we going to offer him to disappear for a week or so?”

“Whatever it takes.” And he meant that literally. He’dpay however much it took to make sure Harlow was safe. “Let’s start with a hundred thou, see if he bites.”

Cooper’s eyes widened as he sat back in the booth. “I doubt it will take that much. I was thinking ten or twenty thousand.”

“I don’t want to get in a drawn-out negotiation over his price. If he accepts the offer, he’ll feel more indebted than he would the lesser amount. Less likely to betray us. Besides, he’s going to be out of a job when we take down Pressley, and with a sick wife, I’d feel better if he had some money in the bank.” He’d barely notice the trifling dent in his bank account.

“And if the hundred’s not enough?”

“Everyone has a price. Find out what his is and agree to it.”

Ria returned with plates stacked up her arms, and as she sorted them out, Cooper chatted with her. By the time they each had the right breakfast, he’d learned that Ria’s husband was a long-haul truck driver, and that they had seven grown children and fifteen grandchildren.

Liam laughed as he bumped Cooper’s shoulder after Ria left. “Man, you can charm the birds out of the trees. I need to take lessons. That skill could come in handy with the ladies.”

“Like you have a problem charming ladies,” Grayson said. “You do that Irish accent, and a woman goes all soft and buttery.” It was true. Liam didn’t normally speak with an accent, but he had a perfect one that Grayson had witnessed him do on more than one occasion. Women loved it.

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