Targeted Risk (R.I.S.C. #7) - Anna Blakely Page 0,22

had a rap sheet a mile long,” Derek began. “Started off small when he was younger, misdemeanor drug charges, burglaries...that sort of thing. Older he got, the bigger his balls grew. Did federal time awhile back for a murder charge. Robbery gone bad. Fucker got out on early release two years ago. Played the game, and when his parole was up, he left the state. LKA was an apartment in Vegas.”

Fuck. The fact that the guy’s last known address was the same city where Juliet’s father had run one of the most successful arms and sex trafficking rings in the country couldn’t be a coincidence.

Knowing the second that bathroom door opened he’d have to end his call with Derek, Mike asked the vital question, “Any association with Alexandar Volkov.”

“As a matter of fact, he was a bouncer at one of Volkov’s strip clubs.”

Mike closed his eyes and exhaled. “Damn it.”

“You’re surprised?” Derek snorted. “You really didn’t think an attempt on Volkov’s daughter was pure happenstance, did you?”

The bathroom door started to open. “I gotta go.”

“Watch your back, Mike. I gotta bad feeling this shit with your girl is just gettin’ started.”

So do I. “Thanks, D. I’ll keep you posted.”

Ending the call, he went back into the room and offered Juliet a smile. “Three showers in less than twenty-four hours. That some kind of record?”

The question was lame as fuck, but at the moment he wasn’t sure what else to say.

She grinned. “Actually, no. Four is the current record. You’d be amazed at how dirty you can get when you’re redecorating.” With a tip of her chin, the gorgeous woman gestured toward the phone still in his hand. “Who were you talking to?”

Schooling his expression, Mike bypassed the question by giving her a different truth. “Detective Morales called. They’re declaring it a good shoot.”

Thank God...and Jake McQueen.

Just thinking about McQueen made him want to shake his head in awe. Growing up, Mike had no idea his best friend would end up being one of the country’s most influential men among law enforcement. Or that Jake would be his brother-in-law and his boss.

But Mike was damn glad he was all those things. Especially now.

Juliet bit her bottom lip, the simple act sending his libido into overdrive. “So, that’s it? You aren’t in any sort of trouble?”

“Nope.”

“Thank God,” she parroted his thought. Her relief was palpable, but then she bit that damn lip again. Sounding a bit too casual for his liking, she asked, “Did he say anything about who the guy was or why he came after me?”

Mike watched her closely, “The name Aaron Schreiber ring any bells?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Should it?”

Aaand...there it was. The tiny twitch.

We really need to work on that trust thing, baby.

The irony of that thought wasn’t lost on him. But damn it, this was her life they were talking about.

Mike ran a hand over his jaw. “I just want to find out what’s going on, here, Jules.”

Juliet’s brows turned inward with an angry scowl. Sounding more defensive than she needed to be, she popped off with, “You think I don’t? I was the one with that freaking gun to my head, remember?”

For as long as I live, I’ll never forget it.

“I’m just trying to help.”

The skin on her forehead smoothed almost instantly and she sighed, regret filling her beautiful features. “I know you are. I’m sorry. I just want to go home, see my cat, and try to forget this whole thing even happened.”

Good luck with that, sweetheart.

“So let’s go.”

She blinked. “I thought my place was sealed off.”

“Not anymore. That was another thing Detective Morales told me. We’ve both been cleared of any wrongdoing, so we’re free and clear to go wherever we want.”

“Wow.” Her brows rose high. “That was fast.”

That’s what happens when you work for a man like McQueen.

“Guess Morales runs a pretty tight ship.” He turned and went for their bags. “Come on. I figured we could check out and then go grab some breakfast. After that, I’ll take you home.”

“That’s nice of you to offer, but you don’t have to—”

“I know I don’t have to, Jules.” He faced her again. “I want to.”

Biting that damn lip again, she nodded and said, “Okay.”

After an hour filled with bacon, eggs, and small talk, they were in his truck and headed back to her house. The ride from the restaurant had been fairly quiet, each one sporadically filling the awkward silence with more random conversation.

“Sorry if I woke you up last night.”

Mike kept his