Page 144 of Wicked and Claimed

But quitting wasn’t an option.

Haisley emerged with clean teeth and curled onto her usual spot on the window seat, propping a book on her knees.

He passed her a cup of coffee, and she thanked him with a smile. Sunlight caught her fiery hair, and his chest tightened.

To his knowledge, she hadn’t had her period since arriving on the island. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. After what happened last time… Images flashed through his mind—her alone in that hospital room, holding their dying son. Grief wrenched his chest. His hands curled into fists. If she was pregnant again, he’d burn this whole fucking island down before he’d let anyone hurt her or their child.

He forced the thought away. More immediate concerns first.

His sat phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket and answered, keeping his voice carefully neutral. “Jasper King here.”

“It’s Hunter. You good there?”

Something in the boss’s tone had Nash’s pulse quickening. “Define good.”

Hunter snorted. “Kane mentioned setbacks with your intel sources. But that footage he took during that storm last week. We’ve combed through it. And we shared it with the FBI.”

“Anything new on that front?”

“They’re taking point but can’t move until the next auction.”

Damn it. Nash would love to get Haisley off the island, but he couldn’t unless this ring got busted up…or Haisley turned up pregnant. “No idea when that will be.”

“Looking like Friday.” Hunter’s voice crackled through the encryption. “The feds are prepping a team to come in. We’ll pass on as they advise.”

Finally. Light at the end of the tunnel. “Thanks for the info.”

“There’s more. The FBI’s theory about Benedict seems solid. He was a mid-level player at best. Expendable, so when he botched the mall operation, he put the whole ring at risk. Black Velvet or someone close had him eliminated, staged to look like a murder-suicide. By the way, the dental records came back. The mistress was the other body. She was collateral damage—wrong place, wrong time.”

Nash absorbed that information. “Makes sense.”

“About Mila… They think she stumbled onto her husband’s affair. Maybe she suspected or even caught them at the house. That’s probably why she was at the office that night you and Haisley broke in. Either way, she was probably taken because she knew too much.”

“Maybe. But where to?” Nash asked carefully.

“She’s got to be on the island. They took Haisley directly there, right? You’ll find her during the raid. Keep your eyes open. I’m communicating with Karliah, too, in case Mila comes through the spa before Friday night. Speaking of the auction, you and Kane need to create a distraction. Ethan arrives tomorrow to bid in person. We’re giving you and Kane a budget to do the same since only buyers with confirmed bank accounts can attend.”

Nash’s gaze strayed to Haisley. She’d set aside her book, watching him intently. His chest ached. “Good plan.”

“One more thing…” Hunter’s voice hardened. “Don’t tell anyone else about the raid. The fewer people who know, the better.”

The implication hit Nash like a blade between his ribs. Hunter was forbidding him from telling Haisley? “That’s not going to work.”

“Not my call. The feds insist. If this op goes south and Haisley is questioned…”

“Ignorance won’t save—”her.But he couldn’t voice the rest of his thought, not with surveillance everywhere. “This is bullshit.”

“These are the feds’ rules. You understand? Blow this off, and never mind me firing you. They’ll assume you’re an accomplice and arrest your ass.”

Nash gritted his teeth. He fucking hated it, but Hunter was right. “Yeah, yeah.”

“I’ll pretend that wasn’t completely insubordinate. Keep your head down. Stay alert. I’ll be in touch.”

The call ended. Nash shoved the phone into his pocket with a growl, his thoughts racing. By the weekend, this nightmare might be over. But until then, he had to lie to the woman he loved. After promising no more secrets between them.

Fucking feds.

Haisley rose and crossed to him on silent feet. “Everything okay?”

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