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“Nothing on location since I talked to the lass. But we just found another batch of files with communication tapes while we were digging. I personally think Alfreita’s network may still have forces at play and someone else on the inside within the authorities. Any operative knows that deleting a file brings it under scrutiny, but if you don’t want something to come to light, or your name on a deletion, then stashing it in the archives will do the job. We found some buried communications and ran a voice match. I’m not sure what will pop up yet, but we sent it out over the waves. We’ll get anything we hear over to you and Marenah’s team as quickly as we find out. And by the way, if she didn’t mention it to you, Brian and Chase gave the go ahead to bring on as many people as we need to keep the ladies safe. That means yours truly has been given free rein to help where needed, so consider me at your service in catching these bloody wankers.”
“Excellent news. I hadn’t heard that yet, Scottie.”
“Aye. It’s the Alfreita family that keeps raising their ugly heads. I fear when we take one leader out another one bubbles up. We’re going to have to put this lot down. Find the center of their network and flush the bloody buggers out for good.” Allie’s door quietly opens as he talks. She walks down the hall toward the bathroom in a silky robe that leaves her long, gazelle-like legs exposed, causing my cock to push hard against the constraints of my zipper.
“You’re probably right on all counts, Scottie. Anyway, thanks for the update. I’m glad to hear you’ll be on assignment since you have a ton of experience with this asshole.”
I disconnect with Scottie and gaze at the now-closed bathroom door. Damn, that woman and my reaction to her. The toilet flushes and water runs, and then Allie walks out, pads right back down the hall, and turns into her room without even glancing in my direction.
I’m still thinking about her in a hot little state of attire when Scottie rings me back moments later. “That didn’t take near as long as it could have. We just located the arsehole we’re looking for. It seems like he and a couple of other blokes are making plans to head to New York City. I’ll have the documents and images we got from surveillance sent over to you, along with dossiers.”
“Thanks, Scottie.” I hang up and connect with Sheldon who answers right away.
“I was just going to call you,” he states.
“You first then.”
“Just wanted to see where you were with bringing Allie up to speed on the Darwin situation. I’m pretty sure Lexie’s itching to talk to Allie about it but didn’t want to interfere with the security conversation you intended to have with her.”
“I talked to her already, and she’s well aware of the danger. She worked straight through the night taking care of the accident victims. We didn’t get home until a short while ago, and she just went to bed. My guess is it’ll be quite some time before she wakes up.”
“Glad to hear she’s good with the security. I’ll let Lex know she’s asleep. She texted her last night to let her know we got engaged, but will be happy to talk with her when she wakes up. What did you call about?”
“I just got off the phone with Scottie. It sounds like the man linked to Darwin on the communication files and connected to Alfreita Jr.’s network has a couple of friends, and they’re all on their way to New York. Scottie’s sending over the files with more information shortly.”
“Fuck,” Sheldon growls. “If they’re on their way, the girls aren’t safe by a long shot. They’re going to hate it, but we’re going to need to put them on lockdown for a while. Lex wants to get together with Allie since she didn’t get to see her much last night. Why don’t we take the ladies out to Donavan’s and tell them together? It’s one of Allie’s and Lexie’s hangouts.”
“Not a bad idea. It may be the last time they go out for a while. How are the roads up that way?”
“Nothing terrible. A little slippery, but the plows have been out.”
“I’m sure Allie will want to hear all about last night, and we might as well have them hear the same thing at the same time. Let’s plan to meet there a little after seven. That’ll give her a chance to get up and shower before we go.”
“Text me if plans change. Otherwise, I’ll see you there,” Sheldon responds.
I pull up the documents, going through file after file, trying to keep my mind on business and not Allie’s delectably half-dressed body that’s just beyond that bedroom door, which is proving a much more challenging task than it should.
After only a few hours the door down the hall clicks. Allie emerges dressed in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt that hugs her body like a glove, outlining the shape of a sports bra underneath. I notice her mismatched socks have disappeared as she pads into the living room and opens the front closet, retrieving a pair of boots and jacket. “Heading over to the gym. I’ll run on the treadmill until you learn my routes.”
I close the laptop, half-amused at her attempt to concede while still skirting around my rules. “You haven’t been to the gym for over two weeks, and you’ve been running outside. You also told me you understood the security measures. We need time to make sure security is in place before you decide to go somewhere.”
She turns, contemplative, and nods. “I thought you would prefer this to me running outside if security is going to be tight. I did tell you I was going for a run this afternoon earlier. Well, in a round about sort of way. I’ll do better next time. I promise.”
Allie’s not wrong, but the security I have in mind for her, especially with three men on their way to New York, is far more stringent now. “I’ll have one of the guys head out and make sure it’s secure before we get there.” I leave out just how significantly tightened her security will be or that watching her workout in that sports bra will likely be the death of me.
Chapter Seven
Allie
Nick navigatesthe slush-covered roads with ease. “Sheldon called while you were sleeping. We talked about the four of us getting together at Donavan’s around seven. I’m sure you and Lexie are anxious to talk since you haven’t seen each other in a while, and we have some things to share with you about security. There’s still plenty of time to get ready after the gym since you didn’t sleep as long as I thought you would.”
My heart races a little faster. Nick’s not asking me on a date. There’s information he wants to share with me about the men who are associated with Darwin. Plain and simple. He said they were trying to learn more, and this is Nick just being friendly, knowing that I didn’t get a chance to talk with Lexie yet, and giving us time together with more security. No big deal; it's not a date. My mind knows that, but my heart isn’t sure what to think because it feels like it’s going to beat right out of my chest at any moment. It may not be a date, but it feels like a date, and I don’t do dates.
The SUV plows through the sludgy mess of the main streets. Nick navigates as close to the gym entrance as he can amid the inner-city traffic. “Liam and Trent are already here and will have their eyes on you. Why don’t you hop out? I’ll park and walk back.”
“We don’t have to stay much over an hour. Just a quick run today,” I inform him, grabbing my bag before closing the door and heading for the entrance. I try not to make eye contact with him or Liam or show any signs of recognition walking into the gym. I hang my coat up in the locker room, lace up my shoes and am just filling my water bottle up, bent at the bubbler when Nick walks in. His eyes heat my skin, causing my nipples to pebble and small little goosebumps to prickle my skin as they rake over me on his way to the locker room. Damn that man and the way my traitorous body responds to him.
I start up the treadmill and increase the pace after a brief warm-up. Nick walks out of the dressing room and heads to the free weight area. Those powerful thighs and muscular ass beneath those thin pants make it extremely hard to focus on anything else. He selects a couple of heavy-looking weights, straddles a bench facing a mirror, and begins his workout, leaving me to ogle his flexing arms as if I’ve never seen a fit male before in my life. Damn that man!
