Benton shrugged. “Fine. Sounds good to me. In the meantime, this little princess needs a nap. You can let yourself out. And next time don’t park in front of my house. I don’t want anyone seeing you here.”
Crawford scowled and lumbered out. What a dumb fuck. What a relief it’ll be to lose that dead weight.
Benton put Mila in her crib with a loving pat on her head. “You’re going to make me a lot of money, sweet girl. A lot. Of. Money. Did you know that the bidding has already started at one hundred thousand dollars? Yep. But I think we can go higher.” Mila smiled sweetly and Benton smiled back “Glad we’re on the same page. Now get your beauty rest. You’re going to see your mama one last time tonight.”
Benton left the bedroom with a smile on his face and a whistle in his heart. Everything was going to plan. Hell, if this were any easier it would almost be criminal.
Oh wait —he was a criminal. And a damn good one.
He laughed and went to go make himself a sandwich.
***
“I don’t think you need to be there,” Jax said in a low tone to Zoe but he knew there was no dissuading her. The woman was impossible when she had a lead on a story. Particularly a story about kids being exploited. It’s one of those things he absolutely loved about her but also put them at odds. “Let us handle this and then you can write the story afterwards.”
Zoe looked at him as if he’d grown another head. “I have to be there. A good journalist doesn’t sit passively and wait for the story to land in their lap. This is the story of the century. Dirty cops running a human trafficking ring? This has Pulitzer written all over it. You’re absolutely nuts if you think I’m walking away from it so I can sit like a pampered little bird in relative safety. Come on, you know that.”
Jax sighed. “Yeah, I know. But one can hope.”
Zoe smiled and looped her arms around his neck. “I will be safe, I swear. Besides, we have the advantage. They don’t know that we’re on to them and so far everything is going by the numbers. I think it’s going to be a walk in the park.”
In his experience, nothing ever went by the numbers. “Don’t be cocky. That’s when shit goes bad,” he warned. “And if anything happens to you…” She shushed him with a kiss. “Nothing is going to happen to me. Stop worrying.”
“Need I remind you that the last time you started poking your nose where it didn’t belong it almost got you killed? I hate to bring up bad times but you were shoved to the ground from a high enough distance that would’ve killed you if you had landed on a bunch of boxes. As it was you nearly died. I don’t want to go through that again.”
“And you won’t. I’m a long ways away from that dumb girl.” Zoe opened her jacket and revealed the snub-nosed revolver. “I’m a better shot than you remember?”
Thank God he and Hunter had insisted that she learn how to handle a gun. “You’re good at the range. But that’s not the same as when your adrenaline is pumping and danger is staring you in the face. I just don’t want to lose you. You’re everything to me and Hunter.”
Her expression softened. “And you and Hunter are everything to me. I promise I will take every precaution. But I have to be close enough to record the conversation or else everything is for nothing. Even though it won’t be admissible in court, it’ll be enough to get a search warrant and to open an IA investigation.”
He hated this — but Zoe was right. The fact that she would be embedded at the heart of the danger zone, made him want to punch something. But he had to admit he was proud of his girl for being so brave. He framed her face and pressed a soft kiss to her upturned lips. “You’re fucking amazing. Have I told you that lately?’
“Yes, but it’s always nice to hear,” she said, grinning.
Hunter entered the room, the same expression of concern but unlike Jax, he knew not to waste his breath. “Everything is set. We should get going.”
Jax nodded. “Let’s hope luck is on our side.”
“Amen to that.”
Jax knew that Hunter wasn’t the wordy one so when Hunter pulled Zoe into a hot embrace before they left, he knew it was because Hunter was afraid of the very same things that Jax was— losing the one woman who’d changed their life so dramatically.
Jax shared a look with Hunter, communicating wordlessly that they would both do whatever it took to save their woman if it came down to it.”Feels like old times doesn’t it?” Jax asked with a wry grin.
Hunter nodded, looking grim. “Funny thing is, I don’t miss those old times.”
“Amen brother. Amen.”
“Let’s get this over with.”
Hopefully, by the end of the night—they were all coming home.
-14-
Angel couldn’t stop chattering. Her teeth were clacking so hard she was afraid she might crack a tooth. This place was locked in her nightmares. The night those kids had dragged her down here ranked side by side with the night her sister died. Pyro noticed her shaking and sent her a reassuring look even though he didn’t touch her. Everything about him was on high alert. All of that lean muscle and hard-ass attitude bolstered her courage even though she was vibrating toward collapse. She turned to Pyro, “Whatever you do, stay safe.” It was all she could say without revealing what danced on her tongue and practically spilled with desperation. Pyro nodded but otherwise remained silent. The factory groaned and creaked with odd noises and caused shivers to riot up and down her arms. “Of course Benton would pick this fucking place. He’s such a bastard,” she muttered, casting nervous glances toward the shadows. “If anyone needs a karmic ass-kicking, it’s him.”
Pyro nodded, agreeing but instructed in a low tone, “Stay sharp. He’s coming.”
Angel looked up, her heart jumping to her throat. Mila? She strained her vision trying to make out if Benton walked alone. Where is she? She stuffed down a ragged cry when she realized he’d come without her child. That rotten, lying bastard! She clenched her fist and tried not to scream. She trembled with rage and liquid panic as every fear jumped to mind. She stepped away from Pyro and walked straight to Benton, wishing she had a gun. “Where is my baby?” she screamed, not daring to gauge Pyro’s reaction. All she cared about was Mila. “Where is she, you fucker? You promised me you would bring her!”
“Shut up, woman before I shut you up permanently. I have your baby but if you don’t pipe down and let the men conduct a little business, I’ll just keep the little princess for good. Now be a good little girl and shut the fuck up.”
Angel swallowed and looked fearfully at Pyro, unsure of what to do and terrified of what Pyro must be thinking but he gave away nothing. Whatever Pyro was feeling, he had it locked down for the moment.
Benton cast an apprising look at Pyro, seeming to judge him as an opponent. “So you are the one my friends have been looking for for quite a while. You’re hard to pin down. All those resources at their disposal and yet, you, a street thug with a bad attitude…remained off their radar. Impressive.”
Pyro wasn’t in the mood to chat and cut straight to the point. “I’ll give you a chance to leave with your life right now if you give Angel h
er kid and bug out.”
Benton laughed at Pyro’s offer. “I like your chutzpah. You got balls. But unfortunately I’m the one who’s making deals tonight. You are, in case you haven’t noticed, outnumbered.” He snapped his fingers and three cops appeared from the shadows, their guns trained on Pyro. Benton affected an apologetic expression. “Sorry, but I never come to a business meeting unprepared.”
“You promised if I delivered Pyro you would bring Mila,” Angel said, her voice shaking. “You fucking lie to me.”
Benton smiled but his gaze never left Pyro’s. It was a stand-off of sorts. The air between them snapped with danger. “So passionate, isn’t she?” He looked dismissively at Angel. “That’s what I liked most about you, Angel. You were never boring. And as promised, I did bring your baby.” He paused a moment and then returned to Pyro, clearing up any details. “That’s right, your girl, the one you’re so willing to die for? She fucked you over. That’d always been the plan. She was to deliver you at a specific time and place in exchange for her kid. Bitches…they can’t be trusted, am I right?”
Angel turned to Pyro, tears blinding her but she didn’t have words. “I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you but…” How could she explain? Pryo didn’t forgive betrayal. She’d known that from the beginning but what choice had there been? “I’m sorry…”
“Enough talking, sweet cheeks,” Benton cut in. “It’s time for Pyro to go make peace with his new friends who have been waiting a very long time to make his acquaintance.”
“Don’t go. It’s a trap, they’re going to kill you,” she told Pyro fearfully. Everything was going from bad to worse. She’d betrayed Pyro for nothing. Benton hadn’t held up his end of the bargain. She didn’t even know if her daughter was alive or worse, sold off to some pervert, no matter what he promised. She took a step toward Pyro but Benton shocked her by snatching her close, a knife digging into her side.
“Here’s the thing, I have a soft spot for our sweet Angel even though she’s a pain in the ass. I think I want to fuck her at least one more time before I’m done with her. Did you sample this hot piece of ass?” he asked conversationally as if he weren’t cutting into her skin with the tip of his blade. He grinned when Pyro growled, his fists clenching. “Ohhh, look at that boys…our friend doesn’t like it when I touch the pretty lady. How ‘bout this?” Benton’s wet tongue made a slimy trail down her cheek and she almost puked. “Oh yeah, I definitely remember how much fun Angel was…but you know what I think is even more fun — when they struggle. The fear in their eyes, the way they put up such a fight, the way their flesh resists when you shove into them. Exquisite. If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend it.”