Mona squinted a little. “Lawyers. A couple that came in to go over the possible fall-out of the data breach.” Her head tipped. “I think there might have been another guy who came. I’m not sure who it was. Chandler didn’t schedule a meeting so I assumed it was someone he knew coming in to visit him.”
“Do you think he would have had the company appraised?”
Mona’s head dropped to her hands. “I don’t even know at this point. He’s been acting off for a few months, so who knows what he’s even thinking.”
Eva pulled her knees up and hugged her legs. “Off how?”
“Just way more high-strung than normal.” Mona looked up, resting her chin on her hands. “What in the hell are we going to do?”
The door to the room bumped open, bouncing off the wall.
“Holy crap, Chandler. You look like shit.” Eva stood up. “You should probably go back to bed.”
He lifted one hand. “I’m fine. Just a little tired.” His steps were slow and uneven as he walked to fall into Harlow’s vacated chair. “I came to apologize.”
“Oh.” Eva resisted the urge to look Mona’s way. “What for?”
“I shouldn’t have assumed you wouldn’t want to rebuild your team.” Chandler slouched until his head could rest against the chair’s back. “I just thought you might like the option to do something different.” His eyes were cloudy with a fever when they met hers. “If you are okay with rebuilding your team, then I think that’s what you should do.”
This was an interesting development.
One she didn’t see coming.
And it put her in an awkward position.
Chandler’s drooping gaze landed on the envelope in her hands. “What’s that?”
Eva held it up between them. “This is a...”
A lie sat on the tip of her tongue, teasing her with the ease it could fall free.
A lie would be easier than the truth. It would buy her more time to discuss what Pierce offered with Mona and Brock.
Brock.
He was the reason she couldn’t lie. That was a slippery slope she wouldn’t risk. Not now. Not ever.
Because being like her mother wasn’t an option.
Whatever it took, she would make sure never to take one step down the same path that destroyed her father. Wouldn’t even go near it.
“This is from—”
“Not that.” Chandler pointed lower. To the hand not holding the envelope from Pierce. “That.”
“Oh.” Eva lifted her left hand, the fake ring Brock slid on her finger forever ago catching in the light.
But it hadn’t happened forever ago. It was a few days.
Not even a week.
So much had changed so damn fast.
It was crazy.
Insane.
And nothing had ever quite made so much sense.
Which was also insane.
“I gave it to her.”
Eva looked to where Brock stood in the doorway, tall and gorgeous.
Her Broccoli.
“You ready for dinner, Sunshine?” He held out one hand.
Eva glanced to where Mona sat.
They had so much to talk about and while Chandler had apologized, he was still sitting near the top of her shit list.
But cutting him out of the business felt dirty.
So did leaving Mona alone with him. Her friend might be working hard to be stronger, but Chandler could challenge the steeliest person.
And that was on his best day. Which today was not.
“Clear out boys. I’ve got work to do.” Harlow bumped past Brock. Her face lit up when her eyes landed on Mona. “Would you be able to stay and help me?” She held her hand to one side of her mouth like she was passing on a secret to Chandler. “I’m trying to chart my cycles. They’ve been sort of erratic and—”
Chandler stood up. “I should go back to bed.”
Harlow nodded. “Can’t blame ya there.” She gave Eva a wink as Chandler left. “I’ll see you tomorrow, lady.”
“Yup.” She blew Mona a kiss. “Don’t have too much fun without me.”
Mona smiled. “Oh, we totally will.”
CHAPTER 21
“HE APOLOGIZED.” EVA poked at the lentil loaf he spent most of the afternoon assembling. “It was weird.”
“Is that not something he normally does?” Brock took a tentative bite of the vegetables masquerading as comfort food.
It wasn’t terrible.
Eva snorted. “Uh. No. Chandler has never apologized for anything in the ten years I’ve known him.”
“Why in the hell did you go into business with this guy?”
“We were still in college. None of us thought it would go anywhere and he was the only person we knew who could handle the finances.” Eva finally ate a little of her dinner. “Holy shit, Brock. This is fantastic.”
“Don’t act so surprised. I told you I could cook.” He smiled as she shoved in a big bite.
Eva pointed her fork at him. “You said you could cook breakfast.” She grinned. “If I remember correctly it’s because that’s where most of your experience is.”
Brock sat down on the stool beside hers at the short breakfast bar in their suite. “You are the only woman not related to me that I have ever made dinner for.”
“I feel special then.” She smiled as her eyes went back to the plate piled with lentil loaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans.
“You are special.” Brock reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear before it could end up dipped into the gravy he’d worked up from a carton of vegetable broth. “Did you talk to Pierce?”
“I did.” She glanced his way, smile lingering on her lips. “Mona thinks his name is Mr. Pierce.”
“I’m sure he loves that.” Brock had known Pierce since their days in the military. He’d always been serious. Focused.
Unshakable.
Eva lifted a shoulder. “He seemed to think it was funny.”
“I don’t doubt that for a minute.” Pierce was intimidating as hell to most people, and only surrounded himself with the select few who stood their ground when facing him down.
People like Harlow and Eva.
“He said he would send a written offer over tonight.” Eva was back to poking at her food.
“He doesn’t waste time.”
“Are you going to ask me what I’m going to do?” She didn’t look at him, but the hand stabbing her dinner was perfectly still.
“No.” Brock leaned in. “It doesn’t matter to me what you do.”
Eva’s head barely dipped in a nod.
Brock went back to his own plate of food. Thank God it was edible. Cooking two meals every night would be a pain in the ass.
Not that he wouldn’t do it if he had to.
Cooking for women had always been an act of apology. A way to make him avoid the feelings of guilt that tried to push into the corners of his brain.
None of the women he bedded ever made him feel it. They all seemed perfectly content with what he offered, limited as it was.
He was the one who struggled.
Cooking for Eva was completely different. It was an act of service. A way to show his appreciation to her for being all she was.
“Thank you for dinner.” Eva peeked at him from under her lashes. “You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“I wanted to.” He reached out, letting his palm rest on her back.
They were at a crossroads right now and pushing her wouldn’t do him any good.
Not now, not ever.
“Would you really come to Ohio?”
“I want to go where you go.” It was a truth he never imagined would be his. “I can’t imagine being somewhere you’re not.”
In such a short time Eva had permanently altered his reality. Shifted the world as he knew it.
“Okay.”
Her response surprised him. “Okay?”
She nodded a little. “Okay.”
A heavy knoc
k on the door saved him from the temptation to ask where they would be this time next week.
Brock opened the door to Shawn’s face. The team coordinator’s gaze moved to the inside of the suite where Eva sat. “Did you forget our meeting?”
He didn’t. There was no meeting.
Brock checked his watch. “Time got away from me I guess.”
“Stop lying.” Eva bumped him with her hip as she crowded her way in between him and Shawn. “What’s going on?”
Shawn pursed his lips and rocked back on his heels.
“Might as well tell me. If you don’t I’ll just go ask Harlow and she’ll tell me.” Eva leaned against the door frame, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared Shawn down.
“I need a fucking assistant.” Shawn raked one hand through his hair. “We think we found where Richards is.”
Eva didn’t move.
Didn’t say a word.
Which was a pretty good indication she was freaking out.
Brock wrapped one arm around her, pulling her body against his. “I’ll be down in a minute.”
“We move in ten so don’t drag your ass.”
He closed the door, pulling Eva fully into his arms. “I’m going to go.”
“I know.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, squeezing tight. “Is this how it will be if we stay here?”
“Yes.” He leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head.
All he’d ever focused on was what would happen to him if he fell in love.
And what would happen if he lost it.
Never once did he realize there would be another side to the coin. That a woman might feel the same about him.
“Good to know.” She pushed out of his arms, giving him a smile that was nowhere near real. “You better get ready or you’ll miss out on all the fun.”
“Are you going to be okay?” He’d never hesitated like this. He was always the first one out the door, chomping at the bit to go do what needed to be done.
“Are you going to be okay?”
She was scared. He knew that.
And it made him happier than it should, especially considering the fear he’d let rule his own life. “I’m going to be just fine.”
“Good.” Eva’s chin tilted up. “Me too then.” She opened the door. “Go.”
Brock grabbed her, pulling her close, one hand tangled in her hair as he took one last taste of her. He forced his mouth from hers and locked eyes. “If you need me go to Dutch. He will find me.”
She nodded, pushing up on her toes to press another kiss to his lips. “Now go. I want this over.” Eva gave him a push out the door as his cell started to ring in his pocket.
Brock jogged down the hall as he answered Shawn’s call. “I’m coming.”
He glanced back as he reached the top of the stairs. Eva’s head was poked out the door, watching him go. She smiled and gave him a single-finger wave. “Be careful, Broccoli.” Then she disappeared and the door clicked into place.
“Five minutes.” Shawn disconnected the call.
Brock rushed to gear up and was running out the back door six minutes later. The door to the black van they used for night ambushes was idling, the back doors open. He jumped in, taking the only empty seat, settling into place between Tyson and Reed. “Thanks for waiting.”
Tyson grinned. “Figured you’d want to be there when we find your lady’s creeper.”
“I do.” Brock adjusted the holster across his shoulders then turned his attention to his boots. “Are we confident he’s here?”
“Yup.” Dutch’s voice was hollow in his ear.
Brock pushed the piece in, shifting it around until it was in place. “Good.”
“Where is he at?”
“Downtown Fairbanks.” Dutch’s answer was clipped.
“Where, downtown Fairbanks?” Brock looked around the faces of the men crammed into the back of the van with him. “Where the fuck is he?”
“Across the street from the place Eva rented.”
“How the fuck did you not find this out before now?” The urge to hit something was strong as he thought back to the morning Eva spent God only knew how long in front of the window in her underwear. “How long has he been there?”
“Long enough.” Dutch barely paused. “Pierce would like for him to be brought back in one piece, so check yourself.”
“Pierce can kiss my ass.” Brock yanked the laces of his boots as he tied them. “It’s bullshit that you didn’t find Richards before now.”
“We didn’t know his alias, Brock.” Dutch’s voice muffled for a second.
“Who are you talking to? Is it Shawn?” Brock pushed his ear piece deeper trying to hear the smothered-out conversation.
“You probably need to calm down, Brock Star. You’re getting Eva all worked up.”
“Harlow?” He sat straight. “Is Eva there with you?”
“Of course she’s with me. You didn’t think she was going to sit in your room all by herself while you went and had all the fun, did you?”
He rubbed his eyes. Knowing Eva was there, listening to everything added a whole level of stress he didn’t need right now. “Can you just take her somewhere else?”
“I’m trying to make an educated decision, Brock. I can’t do that if I don’t know what this would be like.”
Her voice was strong. Clear. Confident.
No trace of the fear he saw in her eyes when he left her.
“Alaska is cold, Sunshine.”
The rest of the team lined in the van seats avoided his gaze as they messed with their gear and checked their phones. Probably not enjoying being a part of this conversation.
Too fucking bad.
“If we stay is this what you’re going to do every time I go out?”
“Probably. It makes me feel better.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “I’ll let Dutch take over now. He looks super irritated.”
“Eva?”
“Yeah.”
There was so much he wanted to say to her. Wanted to thank her for.
“I’ll see you soon.”
“You better.”
“It looks like Richards just had some food delivered.” Dutch was back. “He should be good and distracted. Make it easy for you to move in.”
The van turned onto the road that ran parallel to the one where Richards’ rental was located. They pulled into the parking lot of a row of commercial buildings, taking the drive down the side of the end building before parking at the rear of the dark lot.
“I’m going in first.” Brock pushed open the back door and jumped out, pulling the knit mask down over his face as he ducked against the privacy fence lining the back of the property. He waited for the other five men to unload and find their positions. Nate and Abe held back, sticking close to the idling van while Brock, Tyson, Reed, and Jamison made their way toward the house.
The place was lit up, with light spilling from every window. It made it easy to peek inside, but the added illumination increased the risk they would be seen.
Not that it would matter as long as they moved fast enough. The Alaskan Troopers couldn’t keep up with their workload and frequently made off-the-record calls to Alaskan Security.
It was a useful relationship for both of them. One neither would be quick to compromise.
“He’s an ugly mother-fucker, isn’t he?” Tyson was at the corner of the house, tucked tight against the brick wall as he peered through the window.
“Where is he?” Brock crept toward the back door.
“Northwest corner. Back to you. Shoving wings into his face.” Tyson ducked down as the headlights of a car swept down the street.
“Blue Civic.” Reed was stationed at the front corner, watching the street.
Brock slowly twisted the knob of the back door.
“It’s unlocked.”
The balls on this guy.
“I’m going in.”
“Copy.” Dutch went quiet in his ear.
Brock silently pushed the door open, letting Jamison hold the screen door as he stepped inside with Tyson coming in right behind him. The two men walked in tandem, moving through the kitchen at the back of the house.
The only noise came from the television in the front room and it was loud enough to provide all the cover they needed. Within seconds Brock was stepping in behind the chair where Richards was parked. He leaned down just as the show on the TV cut to a commercial, the black screen reflecting his form behind Howard.
Richards yelped as he tried to spin in his seat. Brock caught him with an arm around his neck, pulling him up and out of the chair as he pressed the smaller of the two guns he carried to Howard’s temple. “Shut up.”
Howard’s eyes bulged as they moved around the room. “Who the fuck are you?”
Brock pressed the gun harder against the man’s skull. “I said shut the fuck up.” He started dragging him toward the back door. Howard was short and wide and weak, making it easy to maneuver him out the door and into the cold, silent night.
Unfortunately it wasn’t silent for long.
“Help!” Howard sucked in a breath, ready to let out another howl.
Jamison stepped in close, shoving a gag into his open mouth. “You want to be quiet buddy. There’s not much keeping you alive right now.”
Brock tightened his hold on Howard’s neck, cutting off most of his airway. “I can move you dead just as easily as I can move you alive, Howard.” He paused. “Or do you prefer Mike?”
The man went still.
“Smart choice.” Brock started dragging him again, moving toward the van as quickly as he could make the smaller man’s stumpy legs go. “You play nice and this will go much better for you.” He stopped as Nate and Abe moved in, each one wrapping a set of zip ties around Howard’s wrists and ankles.
Abe stepped back. “Get him in.”
Brock hefted Howard up and onto the floor of the van before climbing in after him. “We’ve got him.”
“Load up and get out of there.” Dutch’s voice held an unusual amount of edge. Probably because he had an audience for the first time.
The rest of the team was in the van within seconds, pulling the doors closed as Rico took off.
Brock leaned toward where Rico sat. “Are we in a hurry?”
Counterfeit Relations (Alaskan Security: Team Rogue Book 2) Page 20