Page 14 of My Temptation

“My gut’s telling me the same,” I agreed.

Brody ran his hand around the back of his neck. “Why the hell didn’t you get sick?”

“Didn’t eat the same pizza,” Striker explained. “I ordered a Hawaiian just for her.”

“Has she had it before?” Brody inquired.

“She said it was her favorite, and when I asked her where she wanted to get it, she said Ramino’s.”

“Her pattern,” I muttered.

“What?” Jax asked.

I looked at the line of men in front of me. “Her pattern. Beth is a creature of habit. She likes certain foods, certain movies, and she loves a schedule. I’ve noticed she does the same few things every night in the same order before she goes to bed. Same thing in the morning. I’ll bet if you ask Leah, she’s already developed a new set of habits at work.” I met Striker’s stare. “She never changes her routine. Even when we were in DC, she kept the same routine. She only adjusted it to where she was. Anyone who lived in the same house as her and her brother would’ve noticed her routines and habits. They are that consistent.”

“Dammit.” Jax tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. “That makes our job more difficult.”

“Not necessarily.” I tilted my head to the side. “We just need to find a way to change some of the more obvious habits, the ones he would’ve already guessed, and to let him know.”

Striker crossed his arms over his chest. “How?”

“She needs to be out in public more,” Jax answered.

“No.” Striker refused. “No fucking way.”

“Brother,” Brody started, but Striker cut him off.

“We’re not making her a walking target.”

“If we want him, we’re gonna have to draw him out.” Jax glanced at Brody before he continued speaking. “He’ll make more mistakes if he’s frustrated.”

When Striker dropped his eyes to the floor, Brody asked what we were all wondering. “You in?”

He eventually nodded, but he didn’t look sure of his decision. “I’m in.”

“I have a little bit of a crazy idea.” I had a thought while they were talking, but I wasn’t sure how it would go over. “The delivery kid knows you answered the door, Striker.” I focused on him. “If he’s reporting back, he’ll report you were there with her. She and I have never opened the door to any delivery people. As far as anyone watching would know, I only give her a ride to work, and we live in the same building.”

He shrugged. “So?”

Kyle smirked. “The hospital records will list you as her fiancé.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “No.”

“He obviously knows she’s not in prison, and I have a feeling he’s gonna remember you from the day Sullivan was shot because you were on the ground. He had every chance to see you. It’ll piss him off that Beth is not only walking free but engaged to one of the men who took him down,” Jax said.

“As far as he knows, you’re already living with her,” I pointed out, considering Striker lived across the hall from her. “I’ll just move into your apartment, and you can move in with Beth.”

“I’ll do it from my own apartment.” He was attempting to negotiate, and if I didn’t know better, I’d almost think he seemed panicked at the idea of living with her.

Jax settled his stare on me. “If he has eyes in the building, they’ll be watching to see where you are.”

“If he found his way into the surveillance, then he already knows I live across the hall,” Striker pointed out.

“Yeah, but something like this would force a man like you to move in closer, to want to be with her all the time,” I stated. “Plus, she trusts you, Striker, and we need her to feel comfortable with the person protecting her while we start putting her out in public more.”

“I think it’s our best option right now,” Brody said. “If we don’t see any movement on his part, then we can back off.”

“I don’t think playing her fiancé or living with her is gonna make a damn bit of difference.”

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