Page 22 of To Claim A King
“Until you offer your evidence and your warrant, my client can go wherever she damn well pleases.” Weston rose from the table, and I followed his lead. “Unless you have anything further, you’ll escort us out of here.”
We weren’t making any friends here today, but I preferred honest enemies to fake friendships. Without another word, the two agents stood and opened the door, bracketing the pair of us between them as they led us back to the front entrance.
“Stay close, Ms. Lane.” Agent Smith’s mouth curled into the semblance of a smirk before she turned on her practical black heel and stomped back toward the bullpen of desks. Agent Arnold followed close behind her, his attitude far less snarky, but no less imposing.
Weston turned to me, eyes full of concern. “I need you to go home, search through your calendar, and send me your whereabouts for the three dates they mentioned. I’ll alsoneed anything you can tell me about their suspicions without incriminating yourself. We need to be aggressive and offensive on this one. Asset seizure is messy, and they’ll take their time to fuck up your life as much as possible just because they can. We’ll need to play ball, but we’ll do it on our terms, okay?”
Nodding slowly, I blew out a long, staggered breath, cleansing my insides from the unexpected attack. Joey still waited in the rental vehicle at the curb, and I was eager to cocoon myself in the safety and familiarity of her presence.
“Let’s meet tomorrow,” I suggested, already walking toward the mobile sanctuary. “I’ll send you those details later on today.”
Before he could respond, I was descending the steps, my Louboutins clacking noisily across the stone. Joey stepped out of my waiting chariot and silently opened the rear door for me. I cast her an appreciative, tired smile before ducking my head inside.
A plan brewed in my mind as we looped back several streets and side streets on our way to the warehouse, in case we were being followed. It would require one of Lucky’s many skill sets, and I’d take a substantial financial loss, but what was one building in the grand scheme of things?
HL:I need your help tonight.
Lucky:Blondie needs me! Been waiting for this moment. Pleasure or pain, love?
HL:Both. Joey’s going to pick up what we need. Make a list.
I explained my plan both to Lucky via text and to Joey via conversation. It was risky, messy, and an act of desperation. I no longer had the upper hand in any area of my life, and it was time to take a little of my power back.
One raging fire at a time.
“Where are you going,Rojo?”
An abrupt noise woke me from a fitful sleep and I peered through the weight of heavy eyes. When I’d finally fallen asleep,Mi Reina’ssoft body had been nestled between Lauchlan and I. Kellan slept on the sofa in the great room, the wrestling thoughts of his mind disallowing him the luxury of rest once again. I now lay in the king bed alone, Hillary nowhere in view, with the Irishman’s shadow dressed in all black in the doorway.
He brought his ghostly finger to his lips in a shushing motion. “Go back to sleep, Daddy. I’m on a missiontonight.”
I shot out of bed at the quiet declaration. The quick movement tore at my stitches, forcing hot sparks through my stomach. I glared at him through the pain, my body now on full alert.
“What is this mission and why are you going alone?”
A brief smile twitched across the lips I had kissed just two days ago. I had not expected it, yet, it had felt as natural as kissing the lips of my queen; supple and sweet. I did not know where the kiss would lead, but I did not want this man risking himself unnecessarily. ForMi Reina’ssake, if not for my own.
“From Blondie’s own lips, I swear.” His slight smile morphed into a devious grin. “Don’t worry, I’m taking Conan with me.”
Frowning, I slowly twisted my body on the bed. He was in front of me before I could get a foot on the floor. Gently placing a palm against my shoulder blades, he took my weight and lifted me to my feet, his hand lingering on my bare skin before stepping back.
“Ask for help, Roboto,” he chided. Green eyes leisurely roamed over me, ogling my flesh as if it were one of the fine paintings he thieved. “You’re looking damn good for a patient, though.”
My tanned skin flushed as his gaze roamed all over my naked skin. I was covered only by new bandages and a small pair of silk boxers. The stitches were healing well, and my muscles no longer felt the heat of a thousand suns each morning. I was still slow to move, and my strength quickly waned. My impatience was winning in the battle of wills, while I begged my body to keep up to the task.
The conman nipped the crux of his bottom lip and winked long lashes at me, sending delicate shivers up my spine, before slowly turning toward the door again.
“Come on,” he called as he walked out into the hallway. “Might as well see us off.”
Confused, I trailed behind him, silently wondering why I was the last to know about this late-night endeavor. The four of us were now a cohort, and with Lauchlan’s plan, we would be tied together for the rest of our lives, should we be fortunate enough to live so long. My impulsive actions had caused me to become a liability, though I’d mostly hidden in the shadows as a docile pup these past few months. I was considered a dull paring knife in our stack of tools until my body healed, but I did not like being the last to know information.
Kellan too was dressed in all black, a cotton ski mask rolled up above his eyes. His stance was wide and guarded, arms folded across his chest in irritation asMi Reinaspoke softly to him, unaware of my presence.
“Where are you going?” The command escaped me before I could soften the words, my weariness fading as I took in their appearance. Determined. Disciplined. Ready to report for whatever dutiesMi Reinahad ordered.
Lauchlan’s forehead rose at my order, but he relented. “We need to destroy some evidence, Roboto!” There was no fear or hesitation in his tone, just cheerful joy to be useful. I too needed to be useful.
Hillary stepped up to me and wrapped cool arms around my hot skin. “The computer systems in my condo need to be destroyed before the FBI issues a search warrant. Lucky’s going to rig up a fire. That’s all.” Her warm smile melted the ice forming around my heart from being excluded. “Why don’t you wait here with me?”
