this, Davis? Were you just going to let Lazinski sell someone in my place?” I know I’m shouting, but I’m angry.
There’s a hesitation. I’ve shocked him.
He sighs loudly. “Britney, don’t do this. Let us handle it.”
“You sound like a parrot this morning. All of you. I’m not an actual child, Davis. I’m a grown woman. I can’t believe you kept me in the dark on what was happening.”
“You heard me on the phone this morning, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” I owe him nothing else. He can be mad at me for eavesdropping later. If I live through this and feel like I’m not too angry to face him again, he can spank my ass all night long, but I’m not going to sit back and watch cartoons while someone else is sold in my place.
“Britney…” His voice is calmer. He’s trying to reason with me. “Let Gordon take you somewhere safe. Several people are working on this. We’re going to do everything in our power to catch Lazinski in the act and arrest everyone involved, but we can’t do our jobs if we have to worry about you too.”
“You’re going to have to find a way, Davis. Because I’m in this too. Gordon is taking me to Lazinski. He’ll tell him he found me. Your men can follow us or whatever you had planned.”
“No. Britney. Absolutely not. You’re not going within a mile of that fucking piece of shit.”
“Davis, I’m not asking for permission. You need me. Gordon needs me. This is important. If Lazinski gets away with selling this poor woman, he’ll just do it again and again. It has to stop. Now. Today.”
“It could work,” Gordon adds. “I know it’s not ideal, but I’ll be able to call in backup and have Lazinski followed. I can put a tracking device on Britney so we don’t lose her.”
“Jesus,” Davis shouts. “This is fucking crazy.”
“It is what it is, Davis. I’m doing it. So, get over yourself, call your boss, and fucking find me.”
“Fuck.” There’s a moment of silence before Davis speaks again. “Shepherd, take me off speaker. Give the phone to Britney.”
Gordon flinches, but does it anyway, handing me the phone.
I bring it to my ear. “I’m here, Davis.” I try to soothe him with my voice.
“Sweetie, please, for the love of God, don’t do this. You’re giving me a heart attack.”
“There are no other options, and you know it. Ask yourself this, Davis. If you didn’t know me like you do, would you feel as adamant about not letting me do this?”
He sighs. “Doesn’t matter. I do know you. You’re my life, Britney. I’m in love with you.”
My heart clenches at the desperation in his voice. I want to return the words, but I can’t. Not in front of Gordon. Not now. If I live through this day, then I’ll tell him what he wants to hear. I lower my voice. “I know, and you have to trust that I’ll be fine. Pretend you’ve never met me and do your job like you would if I were a stranger.”
“Sweet girl…”
“I know.” I don’t want to lose my resolve. “I’ve got to go. Find me.” I end the call and hand the phone back to Gordon.
We’re at a light and he’s staring at me. “I honestly didn’t even know you were hiding at his place.”
I smile. “Yeah.”
“You’re in love with him.”
“Yeah.” I smile again. Might as well have said those words directly to Davis. Gordon is astute.
He sighs. “Fuck. Okay. You need to listen to me. We don’t have much time. I’m afraid Lazinski is going to leave his house for the rendezvous point at any moment.”
“Tell me what you want me to do.”
Chapter 31
Britney
I palm the fob Gordon hands me and stick it in the pocket of my jeans. He’s leery and pissed that it’s the only tracking device he has on him. It’s small enough to fit in my pocket, but he says he would rather it be a watch or necklace or something less likely to be detected.
“We’re almost there,” he tells me, glancing at me with his brow furrowed for the hundredth time. “The place is surrounded and a dozen cops are on this plus several people from Black Blade Protection.”
“I know.” I assume that’s the name of Davis’s agency. He’s never told me the actual name.
“We need him to take you to the rendezvous point. It’s the only way to catch the buyer.”
“I know.” I turn to face him. “I’ll be fine, Gordon. I promise.”