Page 66 of My Temptation

“Not right now.”

“Alright, then we have a plan. If anything doesn’t feel right tonight, get the hell out.” Brody continued. “Tonight might give us something, and it might not, but it’s a lead worth following.”

“Understood,” I answered.

“Just get him,” Striker spoke up. “If you need someone to stay in the shadows and watch your back while you do it, I’m available.”

“No, you aren’t.”

I lifted my eyebrows when I heard Brody’s voice, but Striker continued talking. “Can’t keep me on this leash forever, brother.”

“He wants Beth,” Brody pointed out. “If the only way to get to her is through you, he’ll do it. I’m not sacrificing anyone to get this guy. We’ll get him, but only if we’re smart.”

When silence was all we heard, I spoke, “We won’t let you down.”

“We know that,” Jax said. “We’ll wait to hear from you.”

Silence loomed, and I knew Jax had disconnected, probably so he could move on with the meeting and end what I’m sure was a stare off between Brody and Striker.

“He’s getting impatient.”

I threw my phone on the bed and met Ethan’s gaze. “That’s not good. He’s unpredictable when he’s impatient. We saw that with Beth.”

Ethan studied me. “I think those circumstances may have forced him to be more unpredictable than usual.”

“I pulled my legs up and sat with them crisscrossed. “Do you think you would’ve reacted the same way he did? I mean, if you loved someone the way he loves Beth?”

“I’d do whatever it takes to protect the people I love,” he admitted, and I believed him. I watched how he was with his sister and niece.

I smiled sadly. “Well, let’s hope we never have to test that.”

21

MILA

“He’s on the move.”

My head snapped up, and I faced him, but he was staring down at his phone. “Where?”

“Just left the house.” He grabbed his seat belt and hooked it before throwing the SUV into drive and pulling out of the parking lot.

I hooked my seat belt and couldn’t deny the buzz of electricity I felt, knowing we might finally see what he’s been up to.

Ethan glanced at his phone before making a right at the next stop sign. Feeling impatient, I grabbed my phone and pulled up a map of the area. “According to this map, very few buildings are out here. He’s heading toward a fairly isolated area.”

“Think it’s a trap?”

“No.” My eyes widened when I saw his car going in the same direction as the pin I already had on the map. “But it does seem like he’s heading to the bar.”

Ethan turned his head swiftly in my direction. “Smokin’ Joe’s? The same place we’re already going to?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “Could the Kevin they mentioned actually be Kevin Samson? I mean, I wanted it to be true, but it seems really unlikely.”

“And too coincidental.” Ethan turned onto a side street and veered toward the side of the road. We needed to stay back to see what Samson did, but I wasn’t surprised when he parked his car in the lot and headed inside.

“No sign outside,” Ethan announced. “No one would know what this place is if they just drove up to it. Wonder why.”

“They don’t want strangers,” I replied. “This is an invitation-only kind of place, which tells me Kyle is right. The bar and strip club are only a front for what’s really going on.” Grabbing my phone, I started tracing the deed. “Wonder who the owner is. Kyle said it wasn’t Samson, but I didn’t think to ask him who it was.”

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