by Sheila Kell
Kelly smiled. “Hi, Trent. Megan, let me guess. Marcus?”
Megan didn’t find a card. Weird.
“I’m going to wander around and talk with security. Here,” Trent murmured.
He handed her a small fob the size of a car remote. She was to keep the device with her at all times. It would send an alert to his phone should she be in trouble. He’d be there as quickly as possible to rescue her like Superman. His lips lit into an amused smile.
“I’ll be at the security desk if you need me.” He nodded to Kelly and walked away.
What was their relationship? Was he the true Mr. Right Kelly waited for?
Megan placed the alarm on her desk and turned back to her friends. They all smiled.
“So you did it? You hired a bodyguard.” Janet’s face glowed. “He’s handsome and he likes you.”
“Yes. You won and you were right. And he doesn’t like me.” He acted like it but she didn’t wish to get into that conversation.
Kelly leaned in close. “Well, you know, Trent dropped me near your house to visit my friend Christine. I saw a hot guy leave your place when he arrived. Maybe the flowers are from that guy.”
Hot guy? Who the heck? Oh. AJ. Hot? Definitely. Best, hot sex she’d ever experienced.
“A guy, Megan?” Janet raised an eyebrow. “Finally someone new?”
She hated to burst their hopeful looks. “I’m afraid you won’t like this.”
Megan relayed the story minus the heated, off the charts volcanic, stuff. Throughout the story she heard gasps and, “Oh my God,” once or twice.
As soon as she finished, Kelly jumped up from her chair. “Megan, it’s getting serious! They came to your home.” She looked around the newsroom. “Where’s Victoria? Did she get a visit too?”
Megan shrugged. She hadn’t thought to call to warn her. No. Their message had been for her alone.
“She’d already left town when Kristen called us in. She gave her a free pass for today,” Janet volunteered.
“First, you need to drop this story. Second, you need more than a bodyguard. You need police protection, Southern belle,” Kyle stated.
She almost didn’t tell them about the meeting because she knew they’d react exactly like this. Police protection my ass. Trent was enough. He’d hire more men if he felt it warranted.
“Now, Kyle, you know we get threats all of the time. Why should this one be any different? Besides, it wasn’t a death threat, and Trent will be better protection than the police.”
She inwardly cringed. She hadn’t told them about the death threat. There was still the puzzle of who was behind it which worried her somewhat. Maybe it had been just another prank threat. The timing did coincide with the printing of her article about the councilman and Magic Shop dealers. Trent vowed to get to the bottom of it, and she would let him deal with it. She had too much on her plate already.
Before she’d hired him, she’d been on the streets without personal protection many times and nothing had happened to her. She winced. Determined to find justice for Kevin, she’d neglected her own safety. No more. Her brother would want her protected.
“Well, because we know they follow through with their threats, it may as well have been a death threat.” Kyle yanked the knot on his horse-covered tie to loosen it.
The day had barely begun and she’d already stressed him out.
She hadn’t considered that her next visit from them would be her death. A part of her realized it, but didn’t want to believe it. AJ hadn’t been specific on what punishment would follow should she continue. Since she refused to back down, she guessed she’d find out what he meant.
Thank God she’d hired Trent. That eased her worry somewhat. It didn’t stop her shuddering when she did think about it. Death. I was foolish to believe they wouldn’t kill her.
“Aren’t you at least a little bit worried?” Janet hugged her belly in a protective hold. “Oh, Selena is active today. I think she will be a professional soccer player.” The visible kicks from the baby sent a round of laughter through them and lightened the mood.
“Megan? You aren’t getting off that easy. I asked you a question.”
Of course she wouldn’t forget. Janet didn’t leave unanswered questions. Come to think of it, none of them did. Kristen had instilled that in them. Never let someone lead you astray.
“Truthfully, I am a little worried.” Her paranoia this morning had been significantly higher than a little worry.
“Janet, there are so many what ifs that my head spins.”
“Megan, you have to tell the police. This has gone too far.” Janet’s concern filled her voice.
Merissa smirked, no longer attempting to hold in her dislike for Megan. What had become of the friend she once knew?
“What do you think the police will do? Remember, I took down some of theirs a couple of years ago. They don’t care for me. Do you think they’d want to protect me?” Telling her friends had been a mistake, they would worry and nag her about going to the police. After hearing her history with the police, even Trent didn’t recommend it.
“It doesn’t matter if they want to or not. It’s their job,” Janet insisted.
“Look, it was just a verbal threat.” The thought of AJ in jail sent a cold shiver rushing through her body. Why could she not forget him?
Before Merissa departed, her comment to Megan was, “They’ll get you too and then the story will be mine.”
Megan fisted her hands and her pulse raced as she gaped at the evil woman’s back as she sauntered to her desk. Did this come from Marcus attempting to reunite with her and not Merissa? He wasn’t worth such vile wishes. She could have him for all Megan cared.
“If he comes back, promise me you’ll go to the police,” Janet pleaded. “Even if Trent takes care of it.”
Megan let out a heavy sigh. Only one answer would halt this conversation, even if it was a lie. “I promise.”
* * * * *
“Megan, your phone’s been ringing off the hook while you were in the break room.” Kyle accepted the cup of coffee she handed him.
Someone needed to invent a way to infuse caffeine right into one’s veins. At this moment, she could use it.
Just her luck. She left her cell phone at her desk and it rang.
Please don’t let it be Marcus. The flowers were more than enough for the day.
She scrolled through and saw the numerous missed calls from a blocked number.
She willed her phone to ring just one more time. If the phone rang as many times as Kyle said, this had to be important. It could be the big break in her investigation.
“Do you think it’s a source on your drug investigation?” Janet asked from her desk next to Megan’s.
“I sure hope so.”
Come on, ring.
Kristen had ordered them to stay put while she attended a meeting. No way would Megan follow that directive if this turned out to be a goldmine.
Kyle chuckled and muttered something about her trying to use The Force to get her phone to ring.
Startled when it rang, she jumped and pressed the accept button before it had time to ring again.
She greeted her caller and listened. Her lips curved into a wide smile.
Jackpot!
* * * * *
“Did Damian say why he wanted to see us all the way out there?” AJ asked the man before him. He took a sip of coffee and waited for the man’s answer.
Hank had arrived at AJ’s apartment with the message from their boss. Why had Damian not contacted him directly as he usually did? The beginning of a chill trickled down his spine. Something wasn’t right.
“No. He just told me to pass word along to you. Since I was out, I stopped by to tell you.” Hank scanned the room. “When are you gonna move out of this shithole?”
AJ would
n’t explain himself to this degenerate. Living in this rent-by-the-week, fleabag, one-room apartment provided him mobility for when he felt threatened. Being an enforcer sometimes meant attempted retaliation from relations of those he had made disappear. He needed to be able to move at a moment’s notice, so week to week worked well for him. He could live anywhere, so he overlooked the shabby furniture and carpet.
“Have you heard when the next mission is, and if they’ll use us?” AJ asked.
He wanted on that team. There were several different positions, but none were available. Now that he knew who held a position on the team, it was time to make a vacancy so he could slide into it.
Unfortunately not all escapes were as easy as the last one. Convincing someone to have plastic surgery to be a twin to a convict and changing places wouldn’t work again.
His visitor shrugged. “Next couple of weeks. Why’d you wanna do that again? It was fucking boring.”
AJ leaned against the wall so he could watch the door. “I was curious. It was easy money.” They’d been paid a hefty bonus for their participation. It was a tiny piece of the millions of dollars Denzel had paid to be broken out of prison.
“Did you put fear in that reporter chick?” his unwelcome visitor asked, raising his eyebrows.
AJ didn’t know her well but doubted anything could put fear into Megan. She was a strong-willed, stubborn woman and a dedicated journalist out for vengeance for her brother and one hell of a fuck. He couldn’t believe he’d lost control like he had. He’d meant to keep his hands off her, but once they’d touched, his body craved more.
Disgust with his behavior settled in his heart. Self-destruction was his middle name. He’d taken someone he shouldn’t have. The experience stirred something deep in him. Even now he could feel her heat around his cock. That part of his anatomy came to life.
Trent had been a good and bad choice. He believed the man would keep her safe. But, he was a flirt. His old friend was more of ladies’ man that he’d ever been. He didn’t want him in Megan’s bed. The thought of them together fired his blood.
Hell! She’d driven him to madness. He had a problem to deal with right now. She’d have to wait.
Nonchalantly he shrugged. “I did my best. She’s a feisty little hellcat. I don’t think she’ll listen.” He failed to mention she now had a bodyguard. They’d have to kill Trent before he’d let anyone near her.
“Is she a hot little piece under that jacket? Did you fuck her?” The other enforcer’s sick grin proved that AJ had been the right choice to send. Or had it?
He fought the urge to punch Hank in the face. “No, asshole, I didn’t fuck her.” Necessary lie. “I was there to send her a message and that’s all.” The sex had been a bonus. He wanted to be inside her again. He had to stop this line of thinking.
“I’d have taken the time to fuck her is all I’m sayin’, no matter how she looked uncovered.” He rose. “I’m outta here. See ya later.”
AJ followed him to the door, shut and locked it. There was no reason for a meeting at the warehouse. Something was up and it had trouble written all over it.
For once he wished he would break down and ask his brothers for help. The hole he’d dug himself into was his to manage.
He rubbed his hand over the two-day stubble on his face, fighting the exhaustion attempting to overtake his body. Pouring himself another cup of coffee, his mind spun. Why did they need this meeting?
He walked in the living room, settled back on the worn, green sofa and turned the TV on the news station.
His thoughts returned to Megan. He couldn’t let Hank near her. The man wouldn’t hesitate to hurt Trent and then beat or rape her. AJ would not allow that to happen.
But how could he protect her? When he heard of danger headed her way he could warn Trent. AJ had to stay in the know because she would cause more trouble.
The news alert captured his attention. Denzel Wilkins had been captured. AJ jerked forward on the couch, spilling his coffee on the already stained rug. His heart pounded.
Fuck!
CHAPTER EIGHT
Anticipation curled through Megan. This was the major break she had been hunting. If Raven’s information was accurate, she’d have the opportunity to see one of the big bosses. He didn’t know, or wouldn’t tell her, which boss it would be or what the meeting would be about. His information had always been solid so she trusted him.
Butterflies were active in her stomach, bouncing from wall to wall. She wished Victoria had been here to go with her. Then they could see if this boss crossed over to her part of the story.
Megan chewed her bottom lip. Would Trent argue with her about going? There was no doubt in her mind that he would. She might have to remind him that he worked for her. This was her lead and her chance. She’d publish the boss’s photo and be one step closer to destroying the man who had ruined her family’s lives.
Her stomach clenched, fighting to stop her pumped up adrenaline. Trent wouldn’t want her to go. She’d wait to tell Trent until she was leaving.
Detectives Cooper and Phillips would expect her to call them with this information. Of course, exposing a boss in a drug ring before informing the police would piss them off even more than they already were. They’d probably work to get a new law passed so they could throw her in jail.
Where are you, Kristen? She had to leave soon.
“I have watched you constantly looking to Kristen’s office. Something’s up, isn’t it?” Janet asked.
That brought Kyle and Kelly to her desk.
“Megan. What’s going on?” Kelly asked. “And don’t say nothing. You’ve got something going on. You’re packed up and ready to leave.”
“Shh. I don’t want Merissa to come over.” Megan worried she’d run to a manager to keep her from leaving. She couldn’t have that.
She wanted to tell Kristen first but couldn’t hold back. “I have a lead on a meeting where a Magic Shop boss will be present. I can’t wait to hear what will be said.” Megan’s smile grew.
“This could be a big break in your story,” Janet said.
Giddiness bounced through Megan’s veins. “I know. Isn’t it great? I might expose one of their bosses. I hope it’s the one I’ve been looking for. I need his name and what he does for the organization.”
“Tell us more about this meeting,” Kelly urged. “Is it safe for you to watch?”
She relayed what she knew except for the location. She skirted around it in case one of them decided to send the police. There were suggestions from her friends plus a reminder that her bodyguard went with her.
Finding a place to hide where she and Trent could remain hidden, but hear the meeting would be the key. That might be difficult.
Thankfully, it wasn’t snowing. She wasn’t sure if they’d have to hide outside, or if they could find a spot inside the scrap metal warehouse. It was so cliché for them to meet at a warehouse. Maybe there would be boxes or barrels to hide behind like in movies.
There would be somewhere for them to safely hide. She had to think positive.
* * * * *
She hadn’t had to argue with Trent. He’d been behind closed doors with the building security manager. Waiting for him hadn’t been an option.
Trent would be upset, especially once he heard what she intended to do. She’d deal with it when she returned. She knew how to keep herself hidden. She’d done it many times before for a story.
She left without seeing Kristen. Her boss would overcome her anger when Megan presented the story, she hoped. She’d pushed boundaries, but never disobeyed her before.
Checking her directions again, she spotted the exit off the highway. The roads had been salted, but her muscles tensed. Black ice terrified her.
She found a used car dealership within walking distance that happened to be closed today. It would be the perfect place to hi
de the car. The walk would be about a quarter of a mile through four inches of snow.
After parking, she noticed a potentially major problem. Snow covered the cars in the lot. She couldn’t stop to do anything about it or she wouldn’t arrive in time to hide. Megan hoped no one would notice.
As she’d expected, the road to the warehouse had not been recently plowed. Like most businesses, they were closed.
She arrived an hour early, knowing she’d need to take the longer route so her footprints wouldn’t be visible. Her expected trek took her behind both warehouses, but appeared the safest way to arrive without announcing her presence.
Dressed in thick wool slacks, a pink angora sweater, a white, down coat, white beanie hat and brown gloves, she wrapped her brown scarf tighter around her neck and stepped out into the cold. Her winter boots sank in the snow.
Shoving her hands in her jacket pockets, she dropped her head and walked swiftly across the lot then turned behind the lumber warehouse and followed the old railroad tracks. Then she found herself in front of the scrap metal warehouse. It was surprisingly well maintained. Decay and graffiti didn’t adorn the white stone building.
She tried the front door. Locked. She walked to the first bay, but couldn’t budge the blue garage looking door. She stood with her hands on her hips and figured she’d have the same problem with the other five. The Employee Entrance door was also locked.
The meeting had to occur outside unless they had a key to the building, or broke in. She hoped it would be outside as she looked back and saw her footprints.
That awarded her with numerous places to hide. Piles of metal beams and scrap metals stood in three large stacks.
She craved hiding behind the pile nearest to the middle of the warehouse but knew her tracks would lead them to her. That, she didn’t want.
Instead, she settled on the pile closest to where she’d approached the building. Less imprints in the snow. Unless they checked behind the piles, she’d be safe. Cold, but safe.
When she heard the first vehicle approaching, she settled into a comfortable crouched position. It always sucked to be the first to arrive at a party.