No Feign No Gain
Page 7
Lucas closed the gap between them and gazed down at her, his dark chestnut hair grazing his eyes. “You’re right. We both know that’s not true.”
Did he do this?
His voice turned soft as their eyes remained locked. “Of course I came as soon as everything started coming out. Did get a little delayed, though.” He looked away, now quieter. “I’m sorry about that.”
“So you just heard?” Sloan was trying hard to read him. “Or did you already know all this was coming?”
“It wasn’t supposed to come out like this.” Lucas shook his head, grimacing. “We were supposed to have some warning first. Enough to keep you out of it.” He glanced at me. “Both of you.”
“That’s what Hudson said,” Sloan spat, disgusted. “So apparently you, my business partner . . . seems like everybody knew what was going on but us. What happened to being a team?”
Lucas ignored her ire and stayed cool and collected. “Look, I’m here. I’ll always back you up. But that doesn’t mean I can always tell you everything, too. You know that.”
Sounds familiar. Sloan seemed to have a similar outlook on our partnership.
Sloan sighed with frustration. “So . . . why do you know more than me? What do you have to do with it, anyway?”
“That’s a . . . long story. Very long.”
“You’re in luck.” She stomped across the room and plopped in the middle of the couch, propping both feet on an overturned ottoman in a dramatic sweep. She gazed up at Lucas, arms crossed and defiant. “Got nothing but time, these days.”
Lucas hung his head before giving me a little wave, inviting me to the unavoidable chat. I took a seat next to Sloan. We both gazed at him expectantly as he settled on the opposite sofa.
“Look,” he began. “I can’t get into all the details—”
“But what are—” Sloan interrupted.
“—But,” Lucas emphasized, taking over again. “You both now know the investigation you got caught up in had been going on for a long time. You came in at the end—”
“—helping get the ball rolling,” Sloan interjected again, rolling her eyes. “We ‘lit the match that started the fuse,’ yada, yada. We’ve heard all that.”
“Sure,” he continued calmly. “But what you don’t know is that I’ve been a part of that investigation from the very beginning. And as soon as I realized who and what we were dealing with—while you two were teasing out your confession like it was a little game—I started setting everything up. To turn it into the find of the century.”
Sloan’s eyes blazed. “So you’re behind all this? You’re saying you’re responsible for turning our lives upside down?”
“Of course not.” There was an edge creeping into his voice. “I’m saying you poked at a pretty big bear with your stunt. It had direct ties to the local mob. You would’ve had a pretty major problem on your hands no matter what.”
Sloan and I exchanged a glance. She looked as sheepish as I felt.
Lucas sat back and crossed his arms, indignant. “But the second they had your people in handcuffs, I was helping make sure the fallout would be sent up the food chain, not back towards you. As quickly as possible. And making sure they would keep your names out of it.” He sighed and shook his head. “But I guess something went wrong on that part.”
I lowered my gaze, deeply uncomfortable with the new information. He’s been working behind the scenes . . . for us? We had been careless. Acting like renegades, charging into things we knew nothing about. Like silly children getting in over our heads.
“Now don’t get me wrong,” Lucas continued, suddenly more chipper. “It was the best thing that could’ve happened. We really had been waiting for just the right thing to put an end to all this.”
“But it’s not the end,” Sloan said. “For us, it’s just the beginning. Our lives are torn apart. Our homes are torn apart. I can’t go to my office.” She motioned to me. “And she’s even lost her job.”
“It’s just a leave,” I argued.
Lucas really focused on me for the first time. “I’m sorry to hear about your internship. I know how long you’ve worked to get here.”
You do?
What exactly did he know about me? I knew almost nothing about him. Except those dreamy, now agonizingly sympathetic emerald eyes. I stared back but said nothing.
His gaze turned inquisitive. “So you were fired, errr . . . put on a leave, because of the news? Just for having been involved? Not sure why it’s any of their business.”
“All the news didn’t help,” I replied slowly, trying to find the best way to explain. “And it was affecting the office, with all the media harassing people at work. But I think the final straw was my coworker.”
Sloan jumped in to help. “There’s a bit of a situation. Well, another one. It’s sort of popped up.”
Lucas's face contorted with surprise and annoyance immediately. He directed it at Sloan. “You’re already caught up in something new? I won’t be able to sweep up behind you forever, you know.” He thrust his hand in my direction. “And now there’s two of you.”
I gulped.
Sloan was undeterred. “We didn’t start this new one. If anything, you did. The mob was apparently your deal. We just stumbled into it, like you said.”
He sucked in a deep breath and focused into the distance a moment, letting it out slowly. I had a feeling he was well-practiced at tamping down his frustration with his unruly sort-of sister-in-law. He turned to me, his voice unnaturally patient. “What is she talking about? And what does your coworker have to do with the mob, exactly?”
How to explain? “We . . . think my fellow intern could’ve been hired by some mobsters, to spy on us. Or me, anyway. We found a camera Grant planted in my living room. And I caught him taking pictures.”
“Don’t forget the dismembered finger,” Sloan added. “I’d say that points to the mafia being involved.”
“Finger?” Lucas's face was suddenly ready to explode. “What finger?”
“We’ll get to that later.” Sloan waved off his interest. “What is much more pressing is that Grant is now missing. And it appears the mob may be holding him for ransom.”
Lucas sat bolt upright. He watched us closely, looking for signs of amusement. He didn’t find any.
Sloan shrugged. “Not that I’m sure we should even get involved.” She motioned at me. “He’s never done anything for Quinn here, that’s for sure. He’s a lying, cheating scoundrel, far as I’m concerned.”
“But we’re the reason he’s kidnapped,” I said.
“So you say.” Sloan sighed. “I’m not convinced.”
“Well, my boss thinks we are,” I retorted, “so we have to get him back. It’s my best shot at being able to graduate. And I only have a couple weeks before it's too late.”
“Now that’s a reason I can get on board with,” she conceded. “Fine. We’ll find your frenemy, so you can get your job back and keep from wrecking your whole career. If you still insist you need another one.”
“Good.” My gut was beginning to question my own argument, though. Should I have learned a lesson? We’d caused enough trouble already. Our involvement could only dig ourselves in deeper. But I didn’t see any other way.
Lucas cleared his voice dramatically, getting our attention. “Now that we have that settled, would one of you care to tell me what exactly is going on?”
We started at the beginning, taking turns. Lucas listened closely, trying hard to show no reaction to our story. But I did catch a few microscopic twitches of his jaw, particularly when we described finding my place also trashed a little while ago. He was concerned.
Lucas was quiet for a moment when we finished. “Quite a web you two have woven,” he finally mused.
Sloan and I looked at each other and shrugged, resigned. We had no more fight left.
“Exactly,” Lucas snapped. “You’d be shocked what you don’t know a lot of the time.” His eyes softened as he turned to me. “I am sorry about your job, though. I’m sure we can get that sorted out later. But it’ll make things a lot easier for now.”
I stiffened. “What’s easier? Me losing my career?”
“You not needing to show up at the office everyday,” Lucas replied. “And your apartment. You actually got lucky with that lease. Now I don’t have to pull strings to get you out of there. You’re free.”
To do what?
I truly didn’t know the answer. I hadn’t had time to process the fact that I was now jobless and soon-to-be homeless.
“You can keep yourself safe,” Lucas continued, answering my silent question. “And stay out of all this while the authorities sort it out.”
Sloan let out a chuckle. Lucas's head snapped toward her, eyebrows raised.
“Don’t worry.” Sloan raised her hands in the air in surrender. “I know I can’t stay here now. It’s compromised. Haven’t found my new place yet, but I can certainly step up the search.”
Lucas turned to me, now amused. “And just where does she think she’s going?”
I shrugged. “Said she’s going wherever the wind blows.”
He forced a smile to Sloan. “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. You’re both coming with me.”
I tried to not sound alarmed. “Where?”
“Can’t say just yet. We don’t know who could be listening. Like she said, this place is compromised. So’s yours, obviously. I’m gonna have to stash you two somewhere for a while.”
I checked Sloan’s reaction to help figure out my own. I couldn’t read her.
Meanwhile my own panic was rising. “Are we going into witness protection or something?”
“Nah, nothing so formal for now,” He shrugged. “You’re just going off the radar for a bit. But don’t worry, it’ll be an upgrade. I crash there sometimes. It’s nice.”
How would he know what’s an upgrade for me?
“I’m not sure . . .” I trailed off, my mind whirling. Everything was moving so fast. A week ago I had a normal job and boring little apartment. I had no idea who to trust anymore.
Once again Lucas read my mind. “Just trust me.” He finished his argument with a breathtaking smile. “And really, what else are you gonna do?”
He had a point.
I tried another glance next to me. “Sloan?”
She kept her eyes locked on Lucas, staring. Calculating. “Fine,” she finally said, chin raised. “Like I said, I was planning on getting out of here soon anyway. I’m over this place. We’ll try it your way.” She turned to me, mood visibly lightened. “We can be roomies.”
“Great.” Lucas clapped his hands and sat forward. “We leave immediately. And don’t bother packing. My guys’ll handle everything.”
“I’m guessing you mean my guys,” Sloan retorted.
Lucas shrugged. “Like you said, we’re a team.”
“Fine.” Sloan raised her eyebrows inquisitively. “But you took something of mine. Where is it?”
He gazed back blankly. She leaned forward, bringing her deadpan face close to his. “Where’s my heat?”
Heat?
“Oh, right.” He stood and reached to the waistband at his back, his hand emerging with a small pistol. “Almost forgot.” He laid it on the coffee table between us.
Sloan grabbed up the weapon, checked the chamber and dropped out the magazine in one swift movement. Satisfied, she shoved it closed again and laid it gently back on the table. As if it were the most normal thing in the world to have sitting across from us.
We would have to discuss the loaded gun situation later.
“Why’d you take it?” Sloan asked. Her eyes narrowed. “And how’d you get into my safe, anyway?”
Lucas smirked. “I couldn’t very well surprise you when you have that within reach, now could I? That doesn’t sound very smart.”
He turned and moved quickly across the room, turning back at the front door. “And I’ve always known how to get into your safe. Duh.” He grinned and swung open the door. “Sit tight, and say nothing. Get some sleep. I’ll keep a guy outside just in case. Someone’ll be by to collect you first thing in the morning. No argument. No tears.”
Just who does he think he is?
Sloan called out to him as he entered the hallway. “So how do we know it wasn’t you who trashed this place, anyway? Seems like a nice way to scare me into submission.”
Lucas turned back once more and surveyed the upturned room. Then he gazed at both of us and shrugged, a smug half-smile creeping onto his face. “Guess you never will.”
Yep, would-be marriage or not, these two are definitely related.
TWELVE
These people move fast.
Trying to follow orders, we had done our best to not discuss the situation any further that night. Our worried eyes did most of the talking. We would have plenty of time to deliberate once we got where we were going. Wherever that was.
I woke from my dreamless, tumultuous sleep with my limbs contorted uncomfortably on the sofa. Sloan didn’t look much more peaceful on the opposite couch. The gun lay untouched on the table between us. I averted my eyes at the reminder. We’re okay. For now.
A loud rapping rang through the apartment, for what I realized wasn’t the first time. The familiar pound had awoken me. It quickly began to get more insistent.
After confirming through the peephole, I opened the front door, still groggy. A dark mass of power and energy blew past me into the room. He marched straight to the den and stood over Sloan.
“You can sleep when you’re dead,” Hudson roared. He looked up at me as she stirred. “Time to get rolling.”
Within minutes we were ushered into a large black Yukon XL out front, one of several identical vehicles idling in a row. The crew of black-clad young men finished stuffing the other SUVs with the contents of Sloan’s loft. We watched through the darkly-tinted windows as they hustled.
Apparently finished in what seemed like record time, the men slammed the rear doors closed and hopped into the vehicles. A moment later Hudson flung himself in our driver’s seat and slammed it into gear. We took off in a burst of power, hot on the heels of the SUV ahead.
A block later I saw the first vehicle veer off, away from the rest. Then another. In less than a minute we were alone.
I finally found my voice for the first time that day. “Where’d everybody go?”
“They’re gonna take the scenic route,” Hudson said.
He glanced at me in the rearview mirror, noting my confusion. “Can’t very well make a stealthy escape with a whole train of vehicles. We’ll all take a different path and arrive at different times. Much easier for one vehicle to lose a tail.”
I glanced at Sloan, for whom this was clearly not noteworthy, then back up front. “You think we’ll have a tail?”
Hudson shrugged. “No reason to take chances.”
Fair enough. “So then I guess we’ll have to go do the same thing at my place?”
“All that’s already on its way. Just sit back.”
On its way. They had been in my place. With my things. Everything I owned.
Having already had my apartment raided, I was beginning to get used to the invasion of privacy.
But I didn’t have to like it.
Sloan’s voice interrupted my pensive sulk. “Before we get there, you’re gonna need to put this on.” She handed me one of the two brown shopping bags she had carried with her. “Your new uniform.”
I peered inside, hesitant. What now? Thick navy fabric filled the top. I reached in and pulled out
a hooded sweatshirt.
“That’s just to get you started,” Sloan said. “Don’t forget the accessories.”
In the bottom of the bag lay a pair of black-framed glasses and a single tiny silver loop earring.
I put on the glasses, curious. Fake lenses.
“No time to get your prescription,” she added. “You can just wear your contacts.”
“So by uniform, you mean disguise.” I inspected the bottom of the bag, looking for the other earring. “You have a secret planning meeting with Hudson or something?”
“Nope. Just basic protocol. We need to lay low for a bit.” She leaned toward me and lowered her voice a bit. “And then as other people, we can do whatever we want.”
“We’ll need to talk about that,” Hudson called back, watching us sternly in the mirror.
“Sure. We’ll see.” Sloan reached into her own bag and pulled out a stringy mess of black and yellow. Wigs. She threw the dark one my way. “Can’t forget the most important piece.”
I inspected the mass. An above-shoulder raven bob with bangs. I smoothed the choppy layers flipping erratically at the bottom. “Hmm. So who am I supposed to be, anyway?”
“Personal assistant.” Sloan slid the blonde wig onto her head and fluffed the long strands. “To a spoiled self-proclaimed overlooked actress. Ready to break out as a star any minute. In her own mind, anyway.”
“Sounds like a blast.” My sarcasm was biting this morning. I tucked my hair up under the wig, trying it on for size. “So why do I have to be the assistant?”
She raised an eyebrow at me and pointed at her wig. “You wanna play the drama queen? I just thought the quiet, mistreated employee would suit you better. Being your first long-term role and all. But you’re welcome to it if you’d like.”
I studied Sloan’s immediate melding into the look like a chameleon. No way I could pull that off. “No, you’re right.” I pushed an errant strand out of her face. “This suits you.”
“You can have fun with it, though.” She gave me a sly grin. “Maybe you’re secretly writing a tell-all book about her as well. Give yourself ulterior motives. And secrets.”