Page 19 of Ruthless Enforcer

Hendricks has his mobile out and is doing his thing. The man could find a fugitive in witness protection with nothing but a Starbucks receipt. “What do we know?”

“Not enough,” I reply.

He looks up at me. “Can you fix that?”

I nod. “I’m on it.”

“Cole has to have contacts, money stashed somewhere, and people we don't know about,” Jake says. “Start with every Turner property, account, shell, girlfriend, employee, campaign donor, and asshole he’s ever bought a drink for.”

Hendricks gives a single nod. “Already pulling them.”

“You need another hand?” Luke asks.

“I only need Mandy,” Hendricks replies.

Mandy smiles. “You can have me any way you like, big boy.”

If the situation weren’t so dire, I’d pretend to gag. “I have another problem I could use help with.”

“And after we call my uncle,” Clara says with unnerving calm.

I stare at her. Does this woman even have a panic setting, or did the Whitlocks have it bred out generations ago? “No, we are not calling your uncle.”

Her eyes flare. “I wasn’t asking permission.”

“I know.”

She lifts her chin like the duchess she is. “Gabriel.”

“Fuck no,” I reply just as firmly.

Luke coughs, suddenly fascinated by his beer bottle.

Smart man.

Clara turns her body to face me, her spine straight and her legs fucking tempting. “James raised me. If I tell him what happened, he’ll listen. I’ll make sure he won’t touch your family.”

That might work in a normal circumstance, but all bets were off the second I put Clara in my car. When Uncle James finds out the biggest, baddest Reyes has touched his precious niece, all hell is going to break loose. Besides, there are bigger issues here. “Your own security sold you.”

That makes her go quiet.

I hate that, but I need to drive it home—for her own safety. “How long was that guy tonight on your detail?”

Her lips press together like she doesn’t want to say it. But I can see her connecting the dots. “Six years.”

I nod. “Six years, Clara. You trusted that man for six years and tonight he helped someone put a target on your back. Until we know how deep the compromise goes, I’m not sending you back into that house.”

“He was one man,” she protests.

“You know that for sure?”

Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out.

I nod again. “Neither do I, and I’m not taking a chance.”

“I hate saying this, but he’s right.” Mandy shrugs. “We know Turner wanted you. Now Turner is loose. Until Hendricks finds him and we know who else he bought, you have to stay somewhere secure.”

Clara exhales. “You mean here.”