Trixsters Anonymous

“You’ve got a deal.”

“Are you ready for tonight?” There’s a rustling on the line I recognize as her crawling into bed.

“Yeah, we’re ready for what I hope is a night that will produce some damn results.”

“I’ll hope for that, too.”

“My mom’s going to call you. She’s coming into town this weekend and wants to get together. I’ve asked her to set up a day at the spa. Invite Maren, too, if you want.”

“You spoil me.”

“I need to do more than spoil you because, be prepared, she knows about the engagement and she’s going to pummel you with questions.”

“That’s okay. Maren and I can handle it.”

The door to the warehouse opens, and Kelly sticks his head out, looking for me. I wave a finger at him to give me a minute.

“I’d better go, babe. Time to get to work.”

“I love you.”

“You too. Talk to you tomorrow.”

She hangs up first, and the heavy feeling in my stomach returns. I drop my phone in my jacket and head inside.

“Nice of you to join us,” Kelly starts to harass me. “How is your fiancée tonight?”

“She’s great,” I reply. He’s taken every chance to badger me since Emi left, and I let it slip I proposed.

“I still don’t understand how you, of all people, could convince a woman to marry you without having a ring on her finger.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re fiercely protective and archaically possessive when it comes to her. I’d think you would have slipped a diamond on her finger and branded her before letting her out of your sight.”

Getting her a ring is the first thing I’ll do when I get home. I think of every way I branded Emi that night in the most intimate ways, and my cock stirs.

“She’s been branded,” I assure him with a warning tone.

He howls in laughter, clapping his hands together. “Like I said, archaic caveman.”

“You got a point?”

“Not really, but getting under your skin has become a highlight.”

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“Get a new hobby.”

“Touchy, touchy.”

I roll my eyes and go to the large table on the far side of the room to see what may or may not be happening.

For hours, we watch and listen for anything that could tip us off. Kelly and I break apart from the group and go to review some files.

“I’ve got something.” I wave Kelly to my makeshift desk. “Look at this. In the last twenty-four hours, there have been twelve boat charters for tomorrow. This isn’t highly unusual, but they’ve all requested all-day charters. It’s all different boats, anything from fishing boats to large luxury sails.”

“That’s our waterways. I’m calling Collins and Ross.” He gets them on the phone and relays what we’ve found. After a few minutes, they confirm the same in Charleston and Myrtle Beach for the following days. He puts the phone on speaker and drops it on my desk. “These guys can go far enough out not to be detected and exchange the cargo under the guise of leisurely day trips on the water. But where are the drugs originating from?”