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I hang up the phone with Cameron and slip it back into my pocket. “Now call Sloan.” I look to Julius.
He just stares at me with a blank expression.
“Did I fucking stutter? Go. Call. Sloan.” He grins as he exits the office.
“Man, I don’t know who this new badass bitch is, but I think I love her,” Lucas laughs from his seat.
I groan internally. Not the right words to use, dumbass.
I give Teddy a warning look. “Don’t you dare, you hear me?” I tap the gun in my hand on my thigh lightly.
He bites his lip and smiles wickedly. “Whatever you say, Charlotte.”
I let out a heavy loud breath. “Lucas, go sleep off the rest of the booze. I’ll get you when we need you.”
He opens his mouth to argue, but Carl talks before he or I have the chance. “Just do what she says, Luke. I don’t want to have to call Dr. Kelly tonight because of your stupid mouth. I have no doubts she’ll shoot you in your foot or something.”
Lucas looks to me like he’s expecting me to correct Carl, tell him I won’t shoot him, but the truth is, I probably would. Nothing life-threatening, but definitely something to shut him up. I’m so sick of all of the fighting.
When all I do is raise an eyebrow at him, he laughs and stands. “Whatever you say, old man.” Then he leaves the office too.
Suddenly, with almost everyone gone, I feel awkward. Teddy’s eyes are on me like he’s watching his prey, waiting for me to make the next move. I know he’s pissed with how I’ve handled shit tonight, but what is he going to do? What was I supposed to do? If no one else wants to figure out something solid, then I’ll be the one to do it. This is what he trained me for.
“He’ll be here in less than five minutes,” Julius announces when he walks back in, and I’m thankful all of the attention is off me.
“Great.” I stuff my gun in the back of my jeans and pull my shirt over it before walking to the door. When I look back and see the guys just standing there, I rub my eyes. “Well, are you all coming or not? There is more to this plan than calling Cameron.”
As soon as we make it to the bottom of the stairs, Sloan knocks on the door. I walk to the door and open it. “Come on in, Chief. We need to talk.” I close the door as he steps inside.
“What’s going on?” Uneasiness shines bright in his eyes as I turn to him.
“Everything is fine right now, but in a couple of weeks things will change.”
He glances to Teddy, Carl, and Julius, then back to me. “What are you planning, Charlie?”
I give him a weak smile. I’m not sure if I just don’t want to say because once I say it everything will become real, or if I really want to protect him in a way. Maybe both. “I can’t tell you everything, Chief. I just need you to be on standby, and I need a little help.”
The hurt that splashes onto his face is the one of a hurt father, and it doesn’t surprise me. The chief has always been around, always watching, protecting, helping guide me onto the right path. But I can’t risk him not agreeing. What I’m doing isn’t like me, but it needs to be done.
“What kind of help?” He hooks his thumbs into his belt, then looks down.
“I need to find any information I can on the ATF agent.”
He nods. “Lucky for you I’ve been keeping an eye on him. He’s been too caught up watching you all that he hasn’t thought to watch his back.” He pulls a small notepad from his breast pocket and jots a few lines down. “As far as I can tell, this is where he’s staying. I don’t know much more than that other than his name. I can try and dig for more if you need it.”
I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it right now. This will do.”
I go to take the small slip of paper from him, but he doesn’t let go right away. “You need to be careful, kid.”
“I will.” I smile.
He lets go and pulls me into a hug. “If you need anything, call me. I love you like you’re my own, Charlie. Don’t think I won’t help you.”
I close my eyes and suck in a breath. His aftershave reminds me of my dad. A spicy wintergreen smell with a sweet hint, and I revel in it. I’ve been so caught up with all of the shit with Teddy, I almost lost sight of what I want. I didn’t come here for any other reason than to figure out my father’s murder, and I’m doing just that now. I can’t let him down when I’ve come this close so far.
He lets me go and gives me one last look before walking out the door. When he’s gone, all of the guys’ eyes are back on me, and Teddy is the first to speak. “Tell me the plan.”
I clear the thoughts of my dad and try to tell myself I’m doing this for him. I mean, I am, but sometimes I question how much of it is for him and how much of it is for me. For the men I love.
