A chunk of granola bounced off Mona’s forehead.
“No apologizing.” Harlow tossed the next chunk into her mouth. “But I am right. Men fall in love in like two seconds, and Brock Star is definitely in love with you.”
“He’s not. I promise you.”
“Ugh. Fine.” Harlow dropped her head back. “He’s falling in love with you.”
Eva didn’t have it in her to argue. “You never answered my question.”
“The guys don’t know yet.” Harlow looked from Eva to Mona. “We could go crash their party. Show them what we did that they couldn’t.”
Eva shook her head. “Let’s just wait. We can tell Dutch when the meeting’s over.”
Harlow was already unplugging her laptop. “That sounds way less fun then my idea.” She stood up, tucking her computer under one arm. “Mona’s thinks so too.” She pointed at Mona. “Right?”
Mona nodded her head, smiling wide. “Hell yes.”
Of all the times for Mona to find her backbone. No way was Eva going to rip it right away from her now. “Fine.”
She was going to have to deal with it sooner or later. Why not do it in front of an entire room full of men she barely knew.
And one she knew well.
“Come on, girls. Time to go prove our superiority once again.” Harlow pushed out both her elbows. Mona immediately linked her arm through one, still wearing a bigger smile than Eva had ever seen.
Obviously her kid glove method was not the most effective way to help Mona find her inner hellion.
Harlow lifted her brows, wiggling her other arm like a chicken wing. “You know you want to.”
She did want to.
Eva laced her arm with Harlow’s, being careful not to knock the laptop also tucked there loose. “Let’s go tell them this is all my fault.”
Harlow leaned toward Mona as she craned her neck to look at Eva. “The fuck we will.” She shook her head. “I thought we covered this shit. There is one person at fault here and it’s Creepy Clause.”
Mona leaned forward. “Because he looks like a creepy serial killer version of Santa Clause.”
“I got it.” Eva wrinkled her nose. “But that’s just proving my point. I’m the one who hired him. I’m the one who trained him. And I’m the one who had a protection order against him. I should have known.”
“Jesus Christ.” Harlow swung around so she and Eva were face to face, dragging Mona along as she went. “If you’re going to consider coming to work here, then you need to understand that bad people are bad and if you are a good person, you will not automatically see them coming.” Her eyes went wide. “They are stealthy as shit.”
“Who said I was considering coming to work here?”
“That’s all you got out of that?” Harlow’s head fell back. “Just come on. We are wasting time we could be using to steal Chandler’s free sub points.” She took off, pulling Mona and Eva along with her.
Mona was practically skipping as they power-walked to the front of the building and down another hall.
Eva was not as excited. Harlow might not think this was her fault, but it was almost guaranteed there would be plenty of people who did blame her.
“That one.” Harlow nodded to a large set of steel double doors.
Without missing a beat, Mona yanked one open, eyes widening on Eva when she didn’t do the same.
“Sorry.” She grabbed the handle on the other door and pulled, stepping back at the number of eyes locked onto them.
Harlow smiled wide. “Morning, boys.”
A few muffled curses followed them to the front of the huge room where Pierce was seated at a wide desk. Shawn and two other men joined him.
All their gazes were fixed on Harlow.
“Is there something I can help you with, Ms. Mowry?”
Harlow pulled her arms free and stepped up to the desk, pulling the cord from the computer sitting there before pushing it into the side of hers. “We found out who breached the system at Investigative Resources.” She looked up to the giant screen behind Pierce’s head as the side by side of Howard Richards and Mike Nestor filled the space.
Pierce slowly spun toward the screen, but not before Eva caught the hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Who is this?”
“This is Howard Richards. Ten years ago he was arrested for breaking and entering, theft, and stalking.”
“How were you able to connect him to the breach?”
“I was the one he was arrested for stalking.” Eva stepped in beside Harlow. “A year ago I hired him to work at my company.”
Pierce turned her way. “You hired the man who stalked you?”
“He used an alias.” Mona stepped in front of her, lifting one hand to point at the screen. “Look at him. Would you know it was the same guy?”
Pierce nodded. “Fair enough.” He leaned back in his seat, fingers steepled together. “Would you ladies care to pull up a chair and join us?”
Harlow glared at Pierce. “I should have already been in here.”
Pierce’s gaze barely shifted to the front row where Dutch was seated beside Brock, before settling back on Harlow. “Forgive my omission.”
“Are you asking or telling?”
Pierce barely smiled. “Both.”
Harlow stared him down for a minute.
“Fine.”
Pierce stood from his chair, glancing at Shawn and the other two men at his sides. “I believe the floor belongs to them.”
CHAPTER 19
“YOU NEED TO get her to stay.” Shawn’s eyes didn’t move from the spot where the three women were presenting all the information they had on Howard Richards and his alter ego Mike Nestor.
Brock shook his head. “No.”
If Eva stayed in Alaska it would be her choice. No matter what.
“Fine.” Shawn straightened in his seat. “I’ll get her to stay.”
“Like hell.” Brock checked the volume of his voice as a few sets of eyes turned their way. “Leave her alone.”
“You act like offering her a shitload of money is being a dick.” Shawn eyed Brock. “I would think you’d be happy to have her here with you.” His gaze suddenly sharpened. “Don’t fucking tell me you’ll leave if she leaves.”
Brock didn’t respond.
“Fuck.” Shawn huffed out a breath. “I swear to God if every one of you threatens to leave every time you fall into a woman I’m quitting.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of antacids, popping one between his lips and crunching into it before continuing on. “And don’t for a second think I will be the only one trying to keep her here.”
Brock followed Shawn’s gaze to where Pierce was watching the three women as they clearly and concisely laid out all the information they’d obtained. The head of Alaskan Security was completely focused on them.
But he wasn’t just listening to what they were saying. He was watching them work together.
Pierce would immediately recognize the potential the three women held as a team. Add in Bess and they would be a force to be reckoned with.
One Alaskan Security desperately needed right now.
Because while this new information added up most of the recent events surrounding Eva, it didn’t connect all the events.
Dutch gave Brock a sideways glance as Harlow looked out at the men seated in front of her. “Any questions?”
Brock barely shook his head at Dutch.
Reminding Eva there were parts of the puzzle still unaccounted for wasn’t something he wanted to do with an audience.
“I need you three to find where Howard Richards is.”
“Are you asking or telling?” This time it was Eva who stepped up to question the head of Alaskan Security.
Pierce didn’t miss a beat. “Still both.” He stood from his seat, smoothing down the front of his expensive suit. “And I need you to do it now.”
“Kay.” Mona smiled at him.
Eva and Harlow’s heads both snapped Mona’s way.
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Pierce smiled. “At least one of you likes me.” He turned to Shawn. “Move them to a bigger office. One where they can have all the room they need.”
Shawn nodded silently.
Pierce turned his attention to Brock. “Walk with me, Cassidy.”
Brock glanced to Eva, intending to be sure she was okay.
He shouldn’t have worried. She, Harlow, and Mona were tucked shoulder to shoulder around the single laptop they brought with them, voices low.
“She’s fine.” Shawn stood at his side. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“You might regret the offer.” Brock smiled as Eva’s head tipped back and her laugh filled the large conference room.
“She’s the least of my worries in that group.” Shawn squared his shoulders and walked toward the three women.
“I’ve got places to be, Cassidy.” Pierce’s voice was clipped enough to get Brock’s feet moving. He followed his boss out of the room and down the hall. Pierce didn’t speak until they were well out of earshot. “Ms. Tatum is smart.”
“She is.”
“And not scared of me.” His voice held a tinge of admiration.
“Definitely not.”
“Is she scared of anything?”
Eva did crazy things. Things no one in their right mind would do. She ate porch brownies and airport sushi. Did donuts in snow-covered parking lots. Stood up to men that terrified most people. “Unfortunately, no.”
“Shawn asked me to hire her.” Pierce glanced his way. “Would you have any objection to that?”
“I doubt she’ll do it.” The chances of Eva walking away from the company she helped grow from the ground up were slim to none.
“I didn’t ask if you thought she would take my offer.” Pierce stopped walking and turned to face him. “I asked if you would have a problem with Ms. Tatum being a part of Alaskan Security. You know better than anyone the dangers this profession can carry.”
His family’s history wasn’t something Brock made public knowledge. It was too painful to carry in his everyday life. The background check required to work at Alaskan Security was extensive, and would have definitely included the deaths of his brother and sister-in-law.
But the fact that Pierce was familiar enough with his particular life to remember that information was almost as surprising as the fact he was taking it into consideration.
“I won’t ever hold Eva back. Not from anything.”
Not that she would let him anyway. The woman was unbendable.
“I’m sure she’ll appreciate that.” Pierce glanced up as the coordinators of Alpha, Beta, and Shadow rounded the corner. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another meeting.”
Brock watched as the four men filed into one of the smaller meeting rooms, the door clicking shut behind them.
He turned to walk back down the silent hall toward Dutch’s office. Luckily Dutch was there, already parked behind his desk, surrounded by screens displaying the various cameras set up around the properties.
“The car dropping Richards off at the florist was the same car I saw at the grocery store.”
“Yup.” Dutch didn’t look up. “But they’re not driving it anymore.”
“Yeah. I thought of that.” Brock sat in the chair across from Dutch and leaned back. “I’m sure Reed took it out of commission.”
“He did.” Dutch pointed to one of the many screens and clicked a key on his board, sending a video reel playing. A black sedan flew across the monitor. “That’s the car that followed you.” He clicked a few more keys, speeding the action up before slowing it down. “And there is the car from the store.” A tow truck moved past, pulling the Charger behind it. Dutch stopped the video. “It’s at impound. Reed and Tyson went to check it out.”
“I doubt we’ll find anything useful.” Brock rubbed his eyes.
Thinking the primary danger was directed at him and the rest of Alaskan Security was easier to deal with than what the actual truth was turning out to be. “Do we know how Richards got tangled up with them yet?”
“No fucking clue.” Dutch leaned back in his seat. “If I had to guess our friends noticed they weren’t the only ones keeping an eye on shit they shouldn’t be and decided to use him to their advantage.”
It was a good guess. Probably real damn close to the truth.
“What’s our next move?”
“Finding Richards.” Shawn stepped into Dutch’s office. “I’ve got Harlow, Eva, and Mona set up. They’re working on it right now.”
“I’m sure their third-wheel is going to appreciate being out of that loop.” Dutch scooted one of his computers over to clear the path between them. “Where is the dick anyway?”
“Apparently he got sick on the way here and is still in bed.” Shawn checked his phone as it buzzed. “Probably better since he’s about to be cut completely out of his company.”
Brock shook his head. “It’s Eva they’re trying to cut out. Her portion of the company basically dissolved itself right after she left. Chandler and Mona offered to buy her out.”
“I heard.” Shawn stood up. “I’m just saying I wouldn’t put any of my money on that being what actually happens.” He slid his phone into one pocket. “I believe they are about to have another offer to debate.”
Pierce.
“I don’t want that fucking Chandler guy up here. He’s an ass.”
“Chandler isn’t part of the deal.” Shawn stepped toward the door. “He would be bought cleanly out.”
It was a best-case scenario. Eva would still get to keep her stake in the company. She would keep everything she worked so hard for.
And she would be here. With him.
As long as she decided that’s what she wanted.
“I gotta go. Pierce just met with the other team heads to fill them in on his plans and he wants me to help him work up the offer.”
“Why did he need to tell the other teams?” Brock stood, ready to follow Shawn out.
“They wouldn’t just be working for us.” Shawn paused. “They would be company wide.”
Brock froze. “Including Shadow?”
Team Rogue was known as the most dangerous branch of Alaskan Security.
The most dangerous known branch.
He’d worked here almost ten years and all he knew about Shadow was that it was better he didn’t know shit about Shadow.
Shawn nodded. “Including Shadow.”
The thought of Eva dealing with that unknown sat heavy and cold in his gut.
Her job was moderately dangerous as it was. Bringing it to Alaskan Security took that to another level.
Adding in Shadow made it unimaginable.
“You said you wouldn’t hold her back, Brock.” Shawn’s tone carried an edge of warning. One that grated more than it should.
“She’s too fucking brave, Shawn. She’ll get herself killed.”
“She won’t get herself killed.” Shawn thumbed over his shoulder. “If that was how it worked Mowry would have died her first day here.”
“I can’t fucking let her do that. You know I can’t.” Panic climbed his throat, hot and bitter.
“Brock?”
He ground his teeth together at the sound of her voice at his back.
“I’ll see you later.” Shawn pointed at Eva. “Don’t forget. Meeting at three.”
She nodded. “Meeting at three.” Her eyes followed Shawn until he disappeared. Once he was out of sight her ringed gaze moved to rest on Brock. “What is it you won’t let me do?”
The sweetness of her tone would fool anyone who didn’t know her the way he did. “I didn’t say won’t. I said can’t.”
“Same thing.”
Brock shook his head. “Very different.”
“That’s bullshit.” All sweetness was gone from her voice now, replaced by something he couldn’t stand.
Disappointment.
“I’m not doing this here.” Brock grabbed her by the arm and dragged Eva down the hall, darting into the
first open door and pulling her in behind him. Once the door was closed he turned to face her. “Pierce wants to buy Investigative Resources.”
Her eyes barely widened.
She didn’t know yet.
“What for?”
“He’s been looking for a specific sort of addition to Alaskan Security.” He reached for her. The last few minutes had him feeling agitated.
Out of control.
“Specific, how?” Eva didn’t back away as he moved in closer.
“We needed to add another team. One that was behind the lines.”
“Like Dutch and Harlow.” She easily followed the path he took her.
“Mostly like Harlow.”
Her dark brows came together. “He wanted women?”
Brock nodded. “Pierce knows women see things in a way men can’t. That they offer a different sort of viewpoint and a different kind of intuition.”
“No shit.” Eva leaned back against the table behind her, resting her hands on the edge. “Harlow said she’s the only woman here.”
“Technically we have one more, but she’s currently in Florida.” It certainly didn’t make up for the severe lack of women in the company.
“How in the hell do you not have any women?” Eva shook her head in disbelief. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“It’s not for lack of trying. Pierce has been attempting to recruit women, but Alaska isn’t a big draw.” Brock eased in a little closer. “Between the weather and the job description we didn’t have many women interested.”
“He wants to buy my company and bring it here because he thinks I will come with it.” Eva’s eyes lifted to his. “Because of you.”
“I would say he’s hoping that will help his case.” Brock dropped her eyes, hating the next words that had to come out of his mouth. “He asked if I had a problem with you coming here.”
Her eyes narrowed. “He asked your permission?”
“No.” Brock reached up to smooth the line of her brows. “He wanted me to know the full extent of what your job description would be if you chose to come here.”
Her head barely shook. “I don’t understand.”
“You would work for all the teams. Not just Rogue.”
“Okay. I don’t see why that—”
Counterfeit Relations (Alaskan Security: Team Rogue Book 2) Page 18