Brock skimmed his lips along her neck as Eva moved his hand where she wanted it. “Don’t I remember you saying something about not being satisfied by—”
Eva’s arm wrapped around his neck as her hips lifted into his touch. “Shut up, Broccoli. I know what I said.”
He barely brushed against her. “Do you?”
She nodded, eyes falling closed as he probed deeper. “Prove me wrong.”
****
“HOW IS HARLOW?” Mona chewed her lip as she watched Eva come into the room Shawn set up for them to use.
“Brock says she’s resting.” Eva flopped into her chair. “We need to find out who the fuck these guys are before they do something else.”
Mona stared at her computer screen. “I’m not sure I even know where to start.”
That was the understatement of the year. Eva was used to starting at a target and moving out. This was the complete opposite.
And unfortunately it wasn’t their only pressing problem.
“What are we going to do about Investigative Resources?” Eva rubbed her eyes as she waited for her computer to power up.
Now that Chandler was MIA, she and Mona had to make some tough decisions.
“The first thing we need to do is make sure Chandler can’t get into the system.”
“I handled that last night.” Dutch stood in the doorway.
“You did?” Eva stared at him as Dutch came in to sit on Harlow’s desk.
“I know how to hack.” He tipped back a drink of the coffee in his hand. “I’m not as good as Harlow, but in fairness, no one is as good as Harlow.”
“So the system is safe.” Eva took a breath. “That’s good.”
“The system is safe for now.” Dutch shrugged. “I would imagine it won’t be long before our friends are trying to get into it.”
“Why?” Mona looked from Eva to Dutch. “There’s nothing in there that could be useful to them.”
“Not true.” Dutch stood. “They were trying to lock down Investigative Resources.” His expression was serious. “They are looking for people capable of digging. Chandler was supposed to give them that.”
“But he can’t.” Eva stared at Mona. “They are going to try to hire your team.”
Mona’s eyes widened. “But...” Her head barely shook. “No.”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Dutch crossed to stand between them. He tipped his coffee toward Eva. “They will go after your team too.”
The thought of the people she worked side by side with for years being lured in by the same men who tried to take her and Mona and Harlow last night had her stomach rolling.
Because for many people, money talked.
“So what do we do?” Eva stared at Dutch, needing some sort of direction in a situation she could never have imagined being caught in.
“Call them.” Pierce stepped into the office.
“What do we tell them?” Eva stood. “We can’t just say someone bad is trying to hire you so please don’t take their pile of money.”
Pierce dropped a paper on Mona’s desk, his gaze lingering on her as she picked it up and stared at it. “You offer them a pile of money from me.” His eyes pulled from Mona and he handed Eva the second paper in his hand. “I will hire anyone you believe will be a good fit for your team.”
“Our team?” Eva stared at the sizable figure on the paper.
“My offer stands, and unfortunately I’m not sure you have a choice in taking it at this point.”
“We could walk away.” Mona’s voice was soft, but solid. “From all of it.”
Pierce shook his head. “What happened last night will happen again.” He moved in close to Mona. “Now just to prove they can.” One hand tucked into the pocket of his pants. “I won’t have you put in danger.” He cleared his throat, stepping back, head nodding Eva’s direction. “Either of you.”
Mona’s eyes held Pierce’s long enough to make Eva proud. Finally she looked Eva’s way. “We will discuss it and get back to you, Mr. Pierce.”
Pierce’s lips twitched. “I would appreciate it if you could do that soon, Miss Ayers.”
Mona gave him a single nod, staying silent as Pierce and Dutch left together. She stood and quietly closed the door, turning to face Eva. “We have to try to get as many of them to come here as we can, don’t we?”
“We do.” Eva pulled out her phone. At least she could have that again. It was no secret to anyone where she was now. “Start calling.”
****
HARLOW PULLED AWAY from the feel of something rolling against the skin of her forehead.
“Good morning.”
She barely lifted her lids, squinting up into Eli’s smiling face. “It’s not. Not even a little bit.”
The resident physician at Alaskan Security kept smiling. “Well you’re not dead so I would call it good all things considered.”
“Stop being dramatic.” She batted at his hands as they felt just beneath her jawline. “I’m fine.”
“Your temperature was 94.8 when Dutch brought you in last night.” Eli lifted the edge of the blanket covering her. “May I?”
“I guess that depends what you’re asking permission for.” Harlow snorted a little.
“I need to check your toes. Make sure none of them are frostbitten.” Eli pulled the covers back and tugged off the thick sock covering her foot before checking each of her toes, taking extra time on her baby toe. “I was worried about this one last night, but it seems to be doing okay.”
“Good. That’s my favorite toe.”
Eli glanced up at her. “You have a favorite toe?”
“Of course I have a favorite toe.” She scratched at her head. “You don’t?”
The doctor shook his head. “Can’t say that I do.”
“I think you’ve been feeling her toes long enough, Hart.”
Harlow’s stomach clenched at the sound of Dutch’s voice. “Eli can fondle my toes as long as he wants.” She wiggled them as she glared up at the man standing in the doorway to her room.
Nope.
Not her room.
Harlow looked from side to side. “Where am I?”
Dutch took a sip from one of the cups in his hand, his eyes never leaving hers. “You’re in my bed, Mowry.”
****
I know.
I’m sorry.
I left a lot hanging in this book.
There was just no way around it.
Book 3, Enemy Territory, will pick up literally right at the end of Counterfeit Relations and will answer all of the questions you currently have.
I promise.
You can preorder your copy here.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t come out until July.
I have two books to write under my main author name (you can check her out here if you’re curious) before I come back to Alaskan Security.
BUT
I plan to release both book 3 and book 4 in the series before the year is out.
Who do you think book 4 should be about? Come join my readers group on Facebook and tell me. I’d love to know who you are excited to hear more about.
Hopefully I’ll see you soon!
xoxo,
Jemma/Janice
Counterfeit Relations (Alaskan Security: Team Rogue Book 2) Page 23