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I don’t know if it’s the spark inside me, growing into a flame each second our eyes lock, but it surprises me when I answer so quickly, “If you’re lucky.”
His eyes brighten when he laughs out loud, lifting his leg over his bike and revving it up. My entire body tingles from the vibration, watching him straddle his bike, his muscular arms flexing with each rev. “Ellie,” he rasps. “I’m the luckiest man alive.” My heart quickens and I'm pretty sure I'm in over my head. There's no turning back now.
I’m the sheep.
Chapter Fourteen
Kase
I stare at the number flashing on my cell phone. Same number as the last three calls. You need to get a hold of me, leave a message, it’s not a hard concept. I toss it back into the console and pick up the binoculars. To focus my eyes, I twist the center, adjust the magnification until I have what I’m searching for in my sight. “Bingo,” I mutter to myself.
“The subject is at home,” I say. Hudson and Stone acknowledge me in my earpiece. My job… warn the guys if he leaves. It seems Dr. Lawson might have a dangerous habit of prescribing narcotics to young women who don’t need it. We have to prove he’s working with a man we think is the leader of a sex ring here in Boston. A high-profile judge hired us because his seventeen-year-old daughter’s been missing for a week. We’re almost certain that’s what happened to her. Although, finding her might be trickier the way these organizations work. Dr. Lawson was her psychologist. This isn’t the first time his name has come up in missing cases. My finger itches to put a hole through his head reading the allegations. He’s been smart hiding his indiscretions. But he’s not that good. We’ll find something.
The bad thing with stakeouts, having too much time to pick apart my date with Ellie. I wish I wasn’t so perceptive sometimes. I could detect the war in her eyes. The way they would flash green one second and turn ice blue the next. The way I scared her by opening my big fat mouth. I can’t believe I slipped, but I made up for it when I told her I was backing away. She wants me, although she needs to learn to trust me, so I’ll sit back and wait. A skill I’ve perfected — waiting until I have the perfect shot.
She’ll land right in my arms.
“Wrapping up,” Cody’s voice rings in my ear. “Meet you back at station nine.”
Station nine is code for Max’s house. Each of the guys check in before we log off. My phone rings and I roll my eyes when it’s the same number. I touch the answer button and bring the phone to my ear. “What?”
“Oh… Um… Is Kase Nixon there?” a weasel voice stutters on the other end.
“You keep calling my phone, who the hell else would answer?”
“Oh, Hi Mr. Nixon, my name is Joey Davidson with Kelson and Davidson. I’m the attorney of record on your trust account. I’m calling regarding your mineral rights. We’ve been contacted by an oil company and they are interested in leasing a part of those rights.”
“What does that involve?” I own all the mineral rights in Barrow, but I don't understand how they work. It was part of the trust that became available this year. They contacted me on my twenty-eighth birthday and requested an account number. Money shows up each month, I don’t ask questions. I detest that town and all the memories tied to it. I’d be content to sell the whole damn town. But it’s not all mine. At least, not yet. And it might be awhile until that part of my trust is released.
The conversation is short. He lost me when he talked about maps and mineral acres. I make a mental note to hire a land broker. The less I think about Barrow, the better. Instead, I fantasize about Ellie and her lips, specifically on me.
I’m the last to arrive. When I step inside, I hear the guys in the kitchen, cabinets slamming and glass bottles hitting the counters. I stand by waiting to see if anyone acknowledges that I’m here. My adrenaline spikes when no one comes out. My hands grow warm from rubbing them together as I form a plan. I slip out to my bike, grabbing what I need and then search for a way to climb on top of the separate garage. I send two preemptive texts so I won't get killed. Then, I lie low and wait.
“Where the hell is Kase? The SUV he took out to Boston is here,” Cody says, striding down the steps. Stone, Hudson, and Oscar follow him outside, stepping onto the grass. I lay my head down, draw in the excitement running rampant in my body. I can’t miss. They’d never let me forget that. They form around my bike, glancing around the property.
I peer through the scope, finding my target. Squeeze the trigger five times.
The guys duck. “What the hell!” Stone screams, his ass lands on the ground and he stares down at his shirt. Blue paint covers his white shirt.
“Your reflexes aren’t that fast.” I pop up, throwing my arms out. Hudson and Cody burst out in laughter over Stone’s red face.
“Son, you have a death wish,” Oscar says, shaking his head while he wanders back inside the house. Oscar’s the dad of the group and he’s quick to lecture.
“You assholes knew about this?” Stone grumbles, standing up and dusting the dirt off his jeans. They both shake their head and shrug. “Fucking liars. You’re going down, Nixon,” he mutters, stomping up the steps.
“I need to get a paint gun,” Hudson declares. “That was legit.”
* * *
“What the hell do I pay you people for?” I glance up and Max is standing by Cody, slapping him on the back.
“Boss man, it’s good to see you’re still alive,” Cody jokes. Max swings a chair from the neighboring table to ours, straddling it. He looks at me and smiles.
“Figured I’d find you all here.” I lean back and listen to the guys bullshit, realizing how lucky I am to be a part of this team. “Hear you’ve been messing with Stone,” he says, looking at me with an approving smile. I smirk, raising my beer in mock cheers and take a drink. “It’s about time someone has the balls to do it.”
“Hey! I have a steel set of balls,” Cody chimes in, grabbing his dick. “But I’m afraid he’ll make me a woman in every computer in this universe.”
“Just remember that, asshole, when you think of trying something,” Stone points at him. His finger motions in my direction. “I’m thinking of how to get this asshole back.” I laugh, winking at him. What’s more fun than a little brotherly rivalry? I miss my SEAL team and the shit we used to do to entertain ourselves.
