Page 67 of Crimson Love

Lennon smiles. “That’s okay.”

Dean keeps talking. “Had a hiker with no sense of direction. He slipped, turned into a bobsled, and wrapped himself around a tree. We had to send the four-wheelers out to rescue him. Catch me up on the plan. I’m a quick learner.”

I stretch my arm out to rest it on the back of Lennon’s chair. “Lennon made arrangements for us to meet Petrov in The Greenhouse at eight. Brax and King will have hidden mics set up on the table in the centerpiece to record the conversation. Bella and Cole will be in the kitchen triangulating the area to collect numbers other than the one we already know. We need you and your men stationed outside in case shit goes south and he decides to escape. Petrov assumes Lennon is bringing the goods to dinner, but she’s not. The goal is to get him to talk.”

Lennon interjects. “Whether I’ll be able to make that happen, I don’t know. Petrov is smart, and we’ll be in a public place. He hardly got off his boat. He doesn’t trust anyone and hates being in the public. I’ll do my best. No one wants him behind bars more than me.”

Dean turns to Bella and Cole. “You have a warrant to triangulate that area?”

Cole shrugs. “I’m CIA. We don’t care about warrants.”

Dean frowns. “But you’re in the country.”

Bella waves off Dean with a smile. “I work in the private sector. I don’t need a warrant.”

King crosses his arms and motions to Cole and Bella. “Just go with it. Working with these two makes shit a hell of a lot easier.”

Dean turns to King and Brax. “Don’t get me wrong, it’ll be good to catch up, but why are you two here?”

Brax pulls out a rolling chair at the table and takes a seat. “I’ve been investigating Petrov for years. He’s a slimy fuck who’s been skating on the edge of drug boats traveling in and out of the Caribbean. So far, the evidence on him is inconsequential. If we tried to bring him in now, he’d know we were onto him. His dealings haven’t touched American soil—until now. We know he’s funding these boats and profits from a big cut. We’re just trying to prove it the way a court of law likes. And we want his clients. We’re after the trail.”

“With evidence,” King adds. “Judges like that—the legal shit that’s obtained by warrants and such.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Cole demands before he turns his attention to Lennon. “Let’s talk about the meeting. I’ve heard everything I need to hear about you. You’re a survivor. Do not worry. The meeting is in public, and we’ll all be there. Jett will be at your side, and even though he’s coming off a surgery, I know he’s got your back. Devon said the jewels are locked away in his safe, so he’s not getting those back. Brax and King are after his clients. Do you know anything about his recordkeeping?”

We moved the jewels yesterday. Lennon had them locked in her desk drawer. They’re safer now than they’ve ever been.

Lennon shrugs. “I wish I did. All I know is Andrei was always in his office on the boat. There were laptops and files that he always kept locked.”

Bella turns to her husband. “Should I send someone to have a little look?”

A little look. I’m not shocked. I got a taste of Devon’s family after Harlow went through her drama.

Lennon, on the other hand, looks like she just saw a ghost. “You mean, they’re going to break into his boat?”

“Where else would we look?” Bella sits back and looks between her husband and brother. “I’ll call Crew and have a chat.”

“Who’s Crew?” Lennon asks.

“Crew Vega,” Brax answers. “He’s the reason they can do everything without warrants and affidavits and judges. He’s a scary motherfucker if you’re not on his side.”

Bella stands and tucks her purse under her arm. “You men are more dramatic than a henhouse. Crew may be intense, but he’s lovely. He has a beauty of a wife, two lovely daughters, and a brood of cows that they keep as pets. There’s nothing scary about that. I’ll be right back.”

We all watch Bella leave the room. She’s tall, blonde, and trim. She struts out the door like she’s on a catwalk, and Cole watches her the whole way before he turns back to Lennon. “If there are documents, Crew and his people will find them. Let’s get back to the meeting tonight. What are you two going to wear?”

I frown. “Why does it matter?”

Cole looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Does he know who you are?”

“No.”

“Then we don’t want him to. You’re basically a billionaire now. Dress the part and intimidate him.”

“I don’t need to intimidate him with my outfit, Cole. I’ll be carrying.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to look the part,” Brax adds. “We know who Petrov’s clients are. He’s used to working with oligarchs and cartels. Intelligence shows he dabbles in the mafia. He doesn’t need to know who you are, or that you’re a Madison.”

I frown. “I’m not a Madison.”