Salvation (Surrender 3)

“We’re taking over. Shake’s coming up to help, and the agencies are stepping back. Only a select few know we’re involved. They think this guy has contacts on the inside, so we’re going to help find a way to infiltrate.”

“Once again, no offense, but this isn’t insurance fraud. Why is Thad involved?”

“I’m going to question Natalie,” he tells me.

“What for?”

“I asked him to. The plan is simple. We find this guy, monitor him, locate his hang out, and go in with some local guys I can trust. If we can bring a few of his guys into custody, the Feds will come in and try to turn one. Should be a simple job. Natalie’s knowledge of Trey could lead us in the right direction.”

“Got it. When do we start?”

“Today. We’ll meet in an hour. And this stays absolutely confidential, Robbie. Ember can’t know anything. Our team is secure.”

I nod in understanding. It’s going to suck keeping it from her, but it’s necessary.

“When are you going to see Natalie?” I look at Thad, whose face is blank.

“Within the week. She’s still in bad shape.”

It’s hard as hell to keep a straight face, especially when my eyes meet Finn’s. The day after Ember went to Alabama, Natalie got her ass kicked. She ended up in the hospital with a punctured lung from a broken rib.

Thad called Ember to tell her, and she decided not to tell him about her visit. She wanted the timing to be right. I waited for her to feel anything, but it was clear she didn’t give a damn.

“All right, then, let’s find this guy.”

This is the first time Dad has asked Finn and me to work on a project of this magnitude, and I can’t wait to bring this motherfucker down.

Chapter 41

Boy’s Night

Robbie

For the first time in forever, all the guys, including Max, are together. We planned a poker night when we found out he was taking leave. You’d have thought we were having the party of the year with the way Ember screeched with excitement.

She went into planning mode, and before I could object, this turned into the most sissified boy’s night ever. Tradition holds that we have a few snacks and a shitload of beer. Raven put her own signature touch on it last year when she started ordering in dinner, but Ember took it to a whole new level. The food was one thing, but when she came home with poker inspired party plates and matching napkins, I lost control. She was having too much fun for me to stop her. I tried to tell her we were okay lugging a cooler into the living room, but she insisted on setting up bins loaded down with beer and placed several around the room.

When the guys started arriving, I gave them the look that meant ‘keep your mouth shut’. They smirked but complimented Ember on the appetizers. I didn’t have a chance to warn Cruz when he and Alex arrived. It was too late to stop him.

“What the hell is this? I thought we were doing poker night, not a fucking food network showcase. I was fully expecting bags of chips with onion dip in a can.” He throws his hands in the air.

The room is silent as Ember starts turning a deep shade of pink. Splotches grow on her chest and neck, and she looks at every man in the room. No one will look her in the eye.

“Little Star, really, this is a travesty!”

I’ve never wanted to slap a guy so hard when Ember’s face turns so red it matches her hair.

“Is it too much?” she asks, directing her question to me.

“Fuck no! This is great, probably the best we’ve ever had.”

Every head nods in agreement.

“I thought this was what every girl did when it was poker night at their house. With Max here, I guess I may have gone a little overboard.”

My heart fills with pride. I go to her, but before I can get there, Max already has her in his embrace.

“It’s about time a woman looks out for me.” He kisses her cheek loudly and spins her around.