Page 64 of Wicked and Claimed

Ethan scowled at the monitor. “I found an advertisement of sorts. There’s a picture of a pretty typical area rug stretched across a hardwood floor. The ad copy reads:Exclusive, one-of-a-kind decor. Lay them right the first time, and they’ll be yours forever. They’re based out of Cuba.”

Nash lifted a brow. “Want to bet their ‘headquarters’ is on a small island between the mainland and the Caymans?”

“Oh, god.” Haisley slapped her hand across her mouth. “They don’t mean rugs. They’re talking about…”

“Women,” Nash confirmed.

She was going to be sick. “Is this how they’re finding…buyers for these girls? Through a fake rug business?”

“That’s my guess. Let me see if I can find a website.” A few clicks later, Ethan swore. “It’s prompting me for a password.”

“So anyone with the right credentials can just…shop for a sex slave?” Haisley pressed a hand to her chest. “That’s…”

“Disgusting? Repulsive? Terrible?”

Even imagining the horror these women must be enduring was hard. “All of it. And nothing on the computer might help us get into that site and rescue those girls?”

“I need more time. Nothing is jumping out at me right now, but I’m going to head home and keep looking.” He raised a brow at Nash. “You staying?”

Nash looked between her and Ethan. Half of her hoped Nash remained. She missed him when he wasn’t around. And this investigation was taking a dark, creepy turn. On the other hand, despite their spontaneous New Year’s Eve kiss and her blossoming feelings, she and Nash were no longer an item. Being this close to him for too long would only land her in trouble.

“Nah, I’ll go with you. We’ll look through this together.” Nash gathered his things as Ethan did and stood. “I’ll catch up with you when I have something, Rowe. Text me if you stumble across any clues or talk to Benedict, okay?”

Everything on his face said he could take or leave her, that he didn’t need or want her anymore. It hurt like hell, but what had she expected, especially after she’d told him to back off? When tequila wasn’t doing his talking and he wasn’t flirting for the hell of it, she was just another of his former flings. She didn’t mean anything to him.

“Sure. See you next week.” She hustled out of the conference room and into the women’s bathroom before hot, unwanted tears fell.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The French bistro was buzzing with the Friday-night crowd when Haisley arrived the following evening. She scanned the upscale space full of dark wood, mirrors, white subway tile, and Louis XIV touches that gave the restaurant a Parisian feel until her gaze landed on Gracelyn, who practically glowed as she read a menu at the corner table.

“Hey, you.” Haisley sat and pulled her friend into a hug. “Sorry I’m late. I got held up at the office.”

Waiting to hear from Nash again about the case, hoping he’d wander in before quitting time. But he’d been a no-call, no-show.

What was he doing tonight? Haisley wasn’t sure she wanted to know. Instead, she pasted on a smile and did her best to be present with her friend, who looked like she had big news to spill.

“No worries.” Gracelyn smiled. “I just got here myself. Busy day.”

The petite brunette looked rosy, sated, and sublimely happy. Haisley had a suspicion Gracelyn’s job wasn’t the only thing keeping her occupied. “And what about your nights? Looks like you met someone special.”

Gracelyn’s blush deepened. “Those are busy, too…if you know what I mean. I’ve been seeing Kane Preston since New Year’s Eve.”

Haisley’s jaw almost dropped. He was the last person she would have thought her friend would go for. “Wait. Kane Preston, the loner with the beard who works with Nash and Ethan and?—”

“Yes. We got together on New Year’s Eve, after almost everyone else left. We’ve been inseparable since. He’s…everything I never thought I’d want in a guy, but he’s amazing.”

Haisley’s chest squeezed with longing as memories of those first giddy, lust-fueled days with Nash resurfaced. She couldn’t help but remember all the ways they’d indulged their hunger for each other while they’d laughed and talked…and she’d fallen ridiculously hard. Then one day, everything had become complicated, and her life had turned upside down.

Gracelyn waved a hand in front of her face. “Hey, you okay? Where’d you go just now?”

“Sorry.” Haisley forced a tight smile. “Wow, I’m…shocked. I don’t know Kane well, but he seems like a decent guy.”

“He really is. You know I’ve always been attracted to cerebral men, right?”

“You mean nerds.”

“Smart individuals,” Gracelyn corrected with a grin. “But Kane is not only brilliant, he also happens to be hot, muscled, tatted, amazing in bed… He’s, like, the perfect package.”

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