Page 159 of Exposed

Other project.

The human trafficking one happening across town. The Carter army is divided today, and division creates weakness. Our plans have been in the works all week, which makes this the best time to take them down on all fronts.

Rand is pissed but proves to be an obedient little puppy and does as his owner orders.

“Run along like a good boy,” I call after him.

Meanwhile, I follow Dex into the depths of The Pink. I can’t fucking wait.

Diversifying doesn’t always work in your favor.

The bit with Rand was not a part of the plan, but I needed the asshole to know that I know what he did to Goldie.

The line between fake and reality is blurring into a stormy sea of gray. This isn’t business anymore.

It’s fucking personal.

Goldie

I look over at Micah.“Was he supposed to say that? I thought you all agreed to keep it about the money. Get in, get Dex alone to distract him, and get out.”

Micah drags a hand down his face and sighs. “You’re right. He was not supposed to say that.”

“We needed to distract Dex with the money pick up, not piss him off,” Brax says.

“Going to a second location was not a part of the plan either,” Micah adds.

“So, the second location … is that sort of like the when-you-get-kidnapped rule, don’t let them take you to a second location because that’s where all the bad things happen?”

Brax and Micah look at me like I grew horns as I sit here in my second-hand wedding dress. I feel almost that ridiculous stuffed into the corner of their surveillance van.

“Let’s get this straight,” Micah deadpans. “First location—second, third, tenth—getting kidnapped is bad. All of it. Stop watching so muchDateline, Goldie,”

“I never watchDateline. It’s depressing.”

“The problem isn’t the second location. The problem is King is going off script,” Brax says. “And I have a feeling it has to do with you.”

Micah’s cell rings where it sits on the narrow table built into the side of the van. It goes straight to the speaker. “Yeah?”

“Here’s the thing.” It’s Ozzy Graves. “The delivery of bodies is running late. Another ship was late leaving, and they’re waiting for a space to dock. We have eyes on it. It’s coming in on a shipping container to the Port of Miami.”

I gasp. “A shipping container? Dex is so evil.”

“A shipping container,” Brax echoes. “It’s summer in Florida. How the fuck does anyone survive that?”

“We think they picked up this container in the Dominican Republic. They’ve been island hopping trying to make their way to the U.S. Cole has eyes on it and is managing it from his end. And since we have to take down both locations at the same time so onedoesn’t tip off the other, that means King needs to buy us some time.”

My stomach drops.

I whisper. “How will he know to do that?”

Brax turns back to the surveillance controls. “He won’t.”

“Oh my—” I start to panic but shut my mouth when a door slams through the feed that’s coming straight from King’s high-tech cell.

“Let us know when the ship is close,” Micah demands.

“Will do,” Ozzy says. “I’m monitoring both. Once the boat docks and customs gets in there, it’s go time.”

---