Page 12 of Locked In Ice

“But it’s been a really long day,” Ophelia continued.“What with tracking down a serial killer and us about to stop a would-be predator in the next five minutes so…how about we bench the attraction discussion until later, yes?Good plan?”

He didn’t— “What?”What predator?And within five minutes?What was she talking about?

“Why do you think I chose this booth when I came in the club?”

His brain just wasn’t following the conversational turn.His dick had taken charge again, dammit.She wants me.Her confession had derailed him.

“I’ll help you out.I picked this booth because of its location.We’re sitting at the back of the club.From this vantage point, I can see every single individual who enters the place.We have the optimum position.”

“It sounds like you’re hunting.”

“I am.Correction,weare.Now that we’re a team,weare hunting together.”She inclined her head toward him.“Why don’t you look at the crowd and see if you can spot our prey?”

He hauled his gaze off her and glanced toward the crowd.When they’d first arrived, he’d wondered why in the hell they’d gone to this place.Too many people.Too much booze.People were dancing and drinking, and he’d blocked out most of the noise as he focused on Ophelia.Luckily, she’d picked the far booth, so they’d had a bit of privacy.

Luck had nothing to do with it.She’s hunting.And his admiration for her notched up more.

“I’m not just working one case while I’m in town.Thought I’d take on two.I’m a big multitasker.Something you should know about me.Always working more than one job.”

He grunted.

She slid closer.The scent of roses teased him even more.“See, a young woman came to my Savannah office not too long ago,” Ophelia confided to him in her husky, make-a-man-beg voice.“She was quite shaken.She’d been out clubbing with some friends, and the next thing she knew, she was in an alley, the world was spinning, and some bastard was trying to jerk off her shirt.”

His gaze roved slowly over the dance floor, then moved to the bar even as angry tension knifed through him.

“A bouncer had been getting off his shift.He came out the back and saw what was happening.He shoved her attacker away, and the guy fled into the night.”A pause.“The woman didn’t go to the hospital.She ran back to her hotel as fast as she could.Since she didn’t get checked out, I have no proof that she was given a spiked drink, though, based on her description of losing time and having the world spin around her, I think that’s a pretty safe guess.”

Sonofabitch.“You suspect he’s hunting here.”

“Thisisthe club in question for her.She wants answers, you see.Closure.Wanted to know if it was real or if…well, let’s just say that our minds can trick us.She wants to make sure her mind isn’t doing that.A few days after the incident, she discovered that some pics of her had been uploaded to social media.The group she was with?Some of the girls were taking pictures at this bar.One of those pics was a shot of my client dancing with a dark-haired male, looked like he was in his early twenties.Piercings glinted in his left ear, and a closer study of the photo showed that he had a black rose tattoo on the side of his neck.”

Lane zeroed in on their prey.Hard to miss with that tattoo.The guy casually leaned over the bar counter.

“In the picture,” her voice hardened, “it seemed to me like the guy was holding her up as they danced.Her body had already started to go slack.Not that any of her friends noticed.They were all too busy partying.”

He didn’t take his eyes off the target.The man’s fingers were tapping against the bar in tune to the beat.“What’s the plan?”

“Well, my client certainly doesn’t want some predator roaming around out there looking for other victims.If he’s drugging women and attacking them, he belongs in jail, don’t you agree?”

His hands had fisted.

“The plan is simple.We catch him in the act.We get proof to nail his ass to the wall.”

His stare swung toward her in surprise.“We’re gonna let him drug some woman while we just watch?”

“Oh, that is freaking adorable.You think I’m going to risk someone else’s life?”A roll of her eyes.“No, fast learner, that is not the plan.”

“Then whatisthe plan?”Lane bit out from between clenched teeth.Because he thought a great plan might be to just walk across the bar and start kicking the guy’s ass.

She leaned conspiratorially close.“We’re going to let him drug me.”

“Like hell.”

“I knew you’d be on board.Now, let’s move.”

He wasn’t moving any place—

“Do you want him to drug another woman or do you want to stop him?”

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