“I wasn’t actually aware that Jefferson worked for Larkin until just recently,” Sadie says, as if she’s reading my mind. “Neither was Colton. It’s as much a surprise to us, but we do need another person, Quinn. Just in case.”
Just in case Larkin decides to pull something while in The Firm, to make sure he has a man of his own here to carry out instructions. Check. Keep the status quo.
Soon as this is done, and I have one moment of peace, I’m launching a full-scale investigation into every last one of them. I’m going to map out this law firm and uncover every dirty secret and deed.
As they get Jefferson set up before a monitor, I feel the press of a hand in mine. The sudden caress startles me, and I look over at Avery. “Maybe one day, when this is over…” she says. She places a tender kiss to my knuckles. They’re still scratched and bruised from pounding my fist
into one of the perps. “Then you’ll look at me the way you did before.”
She’s gone before I can reply, taking the air in my lungs with her. But her message is clear: maybe one day this will be behind us and we’ll have another chance. I swallow down the burning ache, pushing it into the pit of my gut.
Putting my head in the game, I watch everything closely. Sadie places a tiny earbud in Avery’s ear. Alexis fastens a collar around Avery’s neck that houses a camera. Colton and Larkin take these same measures with Carson, making sure his virtually invisible surveillance pieces are in place and operational.
This is our eyes and ears into The Firm.
This is my only connection to Avery.
Once they’re ready, I move to the hallway and watch Avery meet Carson, Larkin, and Alexis at the elevator. Avery steps inside the elevator car and turns, her eyes seeking mine. She doesn’t look away. She stays with me until the silver doors close, then she’s gone.
15
The Firm
Avery
The limo pulls to a stop before the Skylark Hotel. It’s beautiful and graceful with a slim, soaring tower, and not at all what I expected.
I duck my head to stare out of the tinted window, my gaze following the many reflective floors shimmering with city lights to the top.
“I felt the same way when I first saw it,” Alexis says.
I glance at her. “Surprised?”
She smiles. “Completely. Not what you expected, is it?”
I shake my head to confirm that this is nothing like what I pictured while I was being prepped to enter as a member into a secret sex society. A hiss of static erupts in my ear, then Quinn’s voice announces he’s testing the connection.
Larkin places a finger to his ear. “We hear you, detective. Now, please don’t monopolize the feed. It will be difficult enough without a cop in all our ears.”
“It’s not too late to call this off and take a different route,” Quinn says. I can hear the urgency in his voice, and I admit, staring at the hotel, uncertain about what’s within…what comes next…I almost agree to do just that.
“Do you want to catch the minnow or the big fish?” Larkin asks, directing his question to the man on the other end of the feed. “You yourself said if the FBI enters the picture, they’ll storm in all halfcocked.”
A moment of tense silence. Then: “You better be sure, Larkin.” A beat. “I want nothing less than to collar the head of this criminal network. Tonight,” Quinn adds.
Larkin looks around the cab of the limo, capturing each of our gazes. “Collar? As much as I enjoy cop jargon, let’s be clear.” He snaps his fingers, and the driver opens Larkin’s door. He steps out and straightens his tie. “Collaring means something entirely different in this world, detective.”
With that, Larkin extends his hand and helps Alexis from the limo. Carson settles his hand over mine on my knee, and I look up. “It’s all right to be nervous,” he says.
“Are you?”
His hollow laugh fills the car. “I’m taking you into The Firm, with Quinn watching my every move. Nervous is a strong understatement.”
My face flushes. Carson’s a detective, so of course he’s detected the tension between Quinn and I. We’re more than obvious to anyone who looks close enough.
“Hey,” he says, gripping my hand reassuringly. “Remember, if it becomes too much, if there’re any triggers, just say the word.”
“Lemon,” I say, and he smiles. Like a safe word, it’s the signal for us to pull out of the op. If I so much as utter it, Quinn will get me out.