Page 26 of Ruthless Enforcer

Dawson frowns. “You know that?”

“I know Gabriel.” Better than I ever wanted to. Forty days in a cellar creates an intimacy between men. “He'll call every decision protection. Clara may even agree with him, but Whitlock won't.”

I rise and walk toward the window. Sunday morning lies quiet over the ranch. Snow still clings to the shadowed edges of the foothills. The road beyond the gate is empty. Somewhere behind the barn, a camera is diligently recording five minutes of nothing.

I smile.

Sometimes patience is indistinguishable from doing absolutely nothing.

That doesn't make it less effective.

“What do you want me to do?” Dawson asks from behind me.

“For the moment?” I turn. “Nothing.”

“Nothing,” he repeats, looking confused. “He'll be looking for you.”

I nod. “Yes.”

“And you just want to sit here?” Dawson waves his hand.

“For today.” I straighten my cuff. “It's Sunday.”

He stares at me. “So?”

“Even villains deserve a day of rest.”

His expression doesn't change.

Pity. That one was good. I walk back to the desk. “Tomorrow, I want to know where Gabriel took her.”

“And when we find her?”

“You do nothing. No one touches Clara.” I meet his gaze so I’m sure he knows I won’t tolerate a misunderstanding here. “She's more useful exactly where she is.”

Dawson studies me. “And Reyes?”

There it is—the considerably more interesting question.

My smile fades. I escaped Gabriel Reyes, but that doesn't mean I'm free of him. Running only changes how long it takes him to find me.

Which leaves exactly one course of action.

But not today.

Today, Gabriel thinks he won. I want him to enjoy that. I want him comfortable. Distracted. Maybe even happy.

Men make mistakes when they have something to lose.

A floorboard creaks upstairs.

Dawson looks toward the ceiling.

“My tailor is waiting.” I check my watch. “Doing nothing badly is laziness. Doing nothing in a properly fitted suit is strategy.”

“Uh, okay, boss.”

What did I say about good help? I walk him to the door. “Find Gabriel Reyes. Quietly. Report to me and no one else.”