Page 36 of The Reluctant Siren
Harlow glanced to the side and saw nothing before joiningthem. “He’s an old partner of mine. He’s been trying to bring this organizationdown for a long time. We need to get to the parking lot. We’re getting a pickupthere.”
“I need to get my suitcase,” Miranda said. “I can’t believeI dropped it, but I saw Master J and freaked out. Even though of all the guysat the club, he’s the one who scares me the least.”
“I need to work on that,” Jensen admitted with a grin. Likea gorgeous Doberman who knew he’d done a good job and wanted a freaking treat.
“We’ll get you new stuff. Or I’ll send someone to get it. Weneed to move now.” She took the lead. “Why would they send someone here?”
“We’ll talk about that when we get her to safety,” Jensenreplied. “I didn’t come because I’m a reckless asshole. I came because Ithought this might happen. I stayed behind because I overheard a conversationbetween Phil and one of the security guys. They have the bathroom bugged. I didnot know that, Harlow. I swear I’ve swept for bugs before. I think it has to dowith Hamilton coming into town.”
A flush went through her system. “Damn it. That was a rookiemistake. So they know I’m not who I say I am. Do they have them in youroffice?”
She couldn’t believe she’d done that. She’d been in a club,and any kind of recording device was forbidden. Force of habit. She should haveremembered it wasn’t truly a club.
“If there was, they would have already taken me out,” hereplied, his voice barely a whisper. “Is your boyfriend meeting us? If not, weshould make our way back to my truck.”
“Like I said, in the parking lot.” She had to think this guyhad taken his shot and was running since someone would call the cops. “You saidthis was the bartender?”
She moved them along the edges, but soon they would have tomake a run for it. She could see a big vehicle pull into the lot. Niall. Hepulled the Jeep around, and though she couldn’t see him, she knew he would belooking for her.
“Miranda said she thought she saw the bartender.” Jensentook up the place behind Miranda, though it was clear from the look on his facehe wasn’t happy with it. “That wasn’t who Phil sent after her. After theyreviewed those tapes, I overheard Phil talk to Dave. He runs security for theupstairs.”
“He’s scary. He sometimes plays in the club, and he’s rough.Phil won’t let him play with the clients, so the staff has to…meet his needs,”Miranda explained. “I haven’t had to do it. You’re not allowed to play untilyou’ve been there for six months. Training, I guess.”
Harlow sent the girl a what-the-hell look. “They needblackmail material on you. That’s the errand you were going to run. Then youwould have been Dave’s new chew toy. What do we know about this bartender?”
“He’s new. There wasn’t a bunch of staff working tonight,”Jensen explained. “I suspect Phil is using this as a way to get the kid onboard a lot faster than he normally would. Jack is… Well, Jack is charming.He’s pretty much perfect for Phil’s purposes.”
He sounded like an asshole to her, but she was going withit.
Niall turned his headlights off, letting her see the Jeep.
Damn but he was good. She was going to take back everythingshe said earlier and beg him to not hold it against her. He might have been abit jumpy at the club, but he was solid out here in the field. “That’s our cue.Jensen, watch our six.”
“Jensen?” a deep voice asked. “I thought your name was Jay.Jensen’s a dumb name, but then it fits since apparently you think you canbetray us and get away with it.”
She turned and then tried to step in front of Miranda. Theman behind them had a gun in his hand, aimed right at Jensen’s head.
“Well, Dave, you should talk to my momma about it,” Jensenreplied in a crisp tone. “You have to know you’re outnumbered. I don’t see yourfriend.”
“He’s here. In fact, he’s right behind you. Hey, lady. Don’tyou turn around. Lay the gun on the ground or I will start shooting,” Daveordered.
“Is there someone behind me?” Harlow asked in a whisper.
Miranda nodded and sniffled, tears rolling down her cheeks.“It’s Jack. He’s got a gun, and it’s pointed right at your head.”
They didn’t know about Niall yet. Or didn’t realize howclose he was. He would watch and call Ruby. Ruby would know what to do.
Call Taggart, who would call her dad, who would call the USNavy to come and save his ridiculous baby girl.
Shit. Maybe it was okay to die here. It looked like a niceplace. It was peaceful. There was a beautiful rose bush her dead body couldfertilize, and she would never have to listen to the lecture Chase Dawson wouldgive her. She could spend eternity listening to the pool.
“Hey, I’m serious, bitch,” Dave said.
“Sorry. She’s considering whether she wants to die or listento her dad yell at her.” Jensen proved he knew her. “Which way we going, babe?”
Asshole. Unfortunately it would traumatize the hell out ofMiranda, and then she would leave her and Ruby a terrible Yelp review.Mymom hired this company and I got the co-owners brains on my favorite sweater.Zero stars. Do not recommend.
She lowered the weapon to the ground and held her hands up.“Okay, let’s talk about this. You haven’t actually done anything yet, Dave. Youcan let us go and I’ll get my client back to her mom. You’ll never see heragain.”
