get real ugly real fast." Zeke shook his head. “I wouldn’t leave her out there if she was mine.
“Then what?” Pierce wiped his hands down his face. “I can’t just keep her here indefinitely.”
“Then we figure out how to get rid of Anthony and everyone’s lives can go back to normal.” Dutch looked to Harlow. “Right?”
Harlow gave him a half nod.“If all that’s been happening ties back to him then it’s possible that would be the end of it.”
“You really think all of this goes back to him?” Brock was one of a handful of the men having a hard time wrapping their brains around everything.
If she hadn’t seen the lengths people were willing to go to in order to have what they want she might be right there with him.
Mona pulled up a snapshot of the wall in Intel’s office and set it to display on the screen at the front of the room. “We’ve been working to connect all the players we’ve identified and so far every single one of them can be tracked in some way.”
Brock squinted at the screen. “That looks like a clusterfuck.”
“It is a cluster fuck. That’s why we couldn’t figure it out.” Heidi didn’t look up from where she was working on her own laptop. “I mean maybe if Pierce spilled his guts a little earlier we might have been able to narrow some shit down.” Heidi’s eyes finally lifted to land on Pierce. “It’s cool though. Not like it hurt our feelings or anything.”
“This wasn’t personal.” Pierce was more agitated than normal. “I–”
Heidi lifted a hand, cutting him off. “It’s too late now.” She tilted her head at the screen of her laptop. “I think we should probably go get her sooner rather than later.”
Pierce’s spine went straight. “Why?”
“I’m not sure that information will help you right now.” She turned to Shawn. “How fast can you be ready to go get her?”
“An hour?” Shawn glanced at Zeke. “Maybe less.”
Zeke stood. “Less.” He nodded at the men of his team. “At the doors in twenty.”
Shawn and the rest of Rogue were out of their seats too, the entire atmosphere in the room shifting as they quickly made their way to the door.
Pierce started to follow them out.
Mona caught his arm. “Where are you going?”
His eyes were dark. “I’m going to get changed.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You can’t go out with them.”
“I most certainly can.” He pulled at the tie around his neck, the sight of the pattern on it immediately catching her attention.
Pierce pulled her close. “I will be back, Love. If for no other reason than to watch your skin flush as I return last night’s favor.” He tugged the tie loose from his collar, her eyes following the fabric as it fell loose.
“The chair’s broken.”
His lips curved into a slow smile. “I would never tie you in such an uncomfortable position, Love.” Pierce’s lips brushed her ear. “I intend to stretch you across my bed.”
“Pierce.”
Shawn’s voice made her jump.
“If you’re coming then you better get moving.”
Pierce brushed a kiss along her cheek. “I will see you soon.”
He turned and walked toward where Shawn stood waiting.
“No.” Mona looked around the room for back up. “There’s twenty other guys going.”
Pierce turned toward her. “I need to go with them. I created this mess. I need to at least help fix it.”
“But he wants to kill you.” She pointed at Shawn and Brock as she chased Pierce down. “He doesn’t want to kill them.”
“He wants to kill anyone who gets in his way.” Pierce’s tone was measured and calm. “I won’t ask them to do something I won’t do myself.” He stepped in, resting his lips to her forehead. “I will come back. I promise.”
And then he walked out. Left her staring after him, feeling like her old self.
Terrified and sick. Torn between chasing him down or throwing up.
“You can’t argue with them.” Bess came to her side, wrapping one arm around Mona’s shoulders. Her lips twisted in a sly grin. “You can force them to make it up to you though.”
Heidi walked across the room, chewing on the end of a gummy worm. “That what got you all knocked up again?”
Mona’s eyes immediately dropped to Bessie’s stomach before lifting to her unusually pale face.
Bess shrugged a little. “Can you blame me?”
“At least he’ll be here to take care of you this time.” Harlow walked past. “We should go get set up so we can be ready.” She gave Bess a small smile.