The Bodyguard (Norcross #4) - Anna Hackett Page 0,51
pair kept a low profile. “They didn’t want to be seen together.”
“She’s part of the Black Fox gang.” Sofie’s voice vibrated with anger and disbelief.
“We can’t prove that, but I think we need to do some surveillance on her,” Vander said. “This is incriminating, but not solid enough evidence.”
“I’m in,” Sofie said.
Rome stiffened. “Sofie—”
“No. I won’t stay hidden, and locked up, and doing nothing.” Her chin lifted.
Vander raised a brow. “I think if you stay with Rome, and go undercover, some surveillance work will be fine.”
Rome grunted. “You just don’t want the surveillance job.”
Vander shrugged.
“What?” Sofie asked.
“Surveillance is boring,” Rome said.
“Surely not. This could prove that Chantal is involved or not. It could help us bring down the thieves.”
Rome shook his head. “Let’s go, Sherlock.”
Excitement whipped along Sofie’s veins.
She and Rome walked down the street. She was wearing khaki cargo pants and a sweater. She looked a little dowdy, because the sweater was way too big. She also wore a black wig in a bob style. Her hair was tucked underneath and hidden away.
No one would recognize her. In fact, her parents could walk past and not recognize her.
Rome had changed into jeans. When she’d first seen him, her mouth had watered. He looked so fine. The denim cupped his muscular ass. He also wore a black polo shirt, with a battered leather jacket on top.
Yum.
“Here.” He stopped beside a nondescript, white sedan and unlocked it.
Their surveillance vehicle.
“You bring a book?” he asked as he settled into the driver’s seat.
“No. I’m planning to use those big binoculars you brought.”
He grinned at her.
She rolled her eyes. “That did sound a bit naughty, but I really do want to use those binoculars.”
He handed them to her.
He started the engine and pulled out. “Lockwood’s staying at the St. Regis Hotel.”
They reached the hotel and circled the block a few times. Finally, he got a parking spot a few doors down from the front entrance.
Sofie rubbed her hands together. This was so cool. She lifted the binoculars and zoomed in on the front doors. It was busy, with crowds of people coming and going.
“If Chantal is involved…” Sofie shook her head. “I just don’t understand being part of something illegal, something that destroys lives.”
“Not everyone is good, Sofie. And sometimes good people do bad things.” His gaze turned inward.
“Rome?” His dark mood throbbed off him.
“Sorry. When I was in the military, the last two years I was part of a covert special operations team.”
“It was hard?”
“We had some rough missions. I saw some desperate people forced to do bad things, bad people who were rotten to the core, and some good people, too. Those good people gave me hope.”
Sofie nodded. “You’re right. I can’t just focus on the bad.”
Rome ran a finger down her nose. “Chantal just exited the hotel.”
“What?” Sofie looked out the window and lifted the binoculars. Sure enough, Chantal—stylishly dressed in black slacks and a blue blouse—was talking to a uniformed concierge.
“How did you see her? You were looking at me.”
“I’m good at my job,” he said.
He sure was.
A big, silver SUV pulled up and Chantal slid into the backseat.
Rome waited for the SUV to pass them, then pulled out.
They trailed behind it. For a while, Sofie was sure they’d lose them, as Rome didn’t get too close. But he doggedly stayed on their tail. He made it look easy.
They headed north.
She glanced out at the greenery of the Presidio. The waters of the Bay lay to their right.
The Golden Gate Bridge stretched ahead. Soon they were driving onto the bridge and Sofie took a second to absorb the stunning view.
“Looks like she’s going to Sausalito,” Rome said.
The SUV drove into the pocket of houses set on the hill looking over to the Bay toward San Francisco. It stopped in front of a modern, white house with a curved roof. The place would have wonderful views back toward the city.
Rome parked several houses away.
Sofie watched Chantal climb out and the SUV drove off. The woman jogged to the front of the house and knocked. Like she didn’t have a care in the world.
A part of Sofie really hoped Chantal was innocent.
The door opened, and Chantal smiled and walked inside. Sofie couldn’t see who’d opened the door.
“Now what?” she asked.
“We wait.”
She stared at the house. Rome started texting and she raised a brow.
“I’m getting Ace to check whose house this is,” Rome said.
“Good idea.”
They waited.
And waited.
After two hours, Sofie was dying of boredom. “Surveillance is boring.”
“I warned you.”
She sighed.
His phone pinged and