Page 46 of No Bones About It

Then he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a long hug. “How you doing?”

She returned the hug and sighed into his chest. “I’m okay. Haven’t had time to digest it yet. I figure I’ll freak out once I know more.”

He laughed and squeezed her while rocking back and forth. “You’re a pretty amazing woman, Kimi.”

She squeezed him back. “No, just one with a conscience. You’re going to figure out how to help me handle this, right? You’re going to lend me some of that bravery of yours?”

“You can take anything of mine that you like.”

When she choked out a laugh, he realized how that sounded and laughed along with her. “That too.”

She reached up to kiss him lightly. “Thanks. I needed that. Now, let’s get these goats some food so they don’t eat our boot laces.”

Kimi patted Onigis and straightened. “I think you can head into the field with the other horses in another day or two. You’ve done a good job staying off that leg to let it heal. I hope it won’t take you long to trust it again. You’ve got a lot of years left, and I want them to be happy ones.”

That made her tear up, and she sucked the emotion back. All she’d done was worry about the dogs at the compound. She’d never forgive herself if she messed up her role in the upcoming charade.

As if she’d conjured them up, Marcus turned into her driveway in his cruiser, followed by one of the typical all-black SUVs people associated with the FBI. She hoped they had something less obvious for the charade.

Garrett hopped over his fence and strode across her yard with Olaf at his heels. The man’s sexy confidence and determination bolstered her courage. She’d agreed to talk about this, but she could still change her mind if the plan wasn’t acceptable. If there was any chance she would endanger the dogs by being there, she’d opt out.

Garrett reached her side and pressed a light kiss to her lips. “You’ve got this. They’re the ones who want something from you, so you hold the power here.”

Marcus and one agent got out of his car, three more from the SUV. When he got closer, Marcus grinned at them, then schooled his face into a more serious demeanor for their guests. “Kimi Twinishe, Garrett Briscoe, I’d like you to meet Shirisha Abalos, lead agent of the FBI’s organized crime division in Boston. Also, Art Kane, Terese Fleury, and Brandon Laraway.”

The agents smiled, and everyone shook hands. None of them appeared as tense as she felt, which annoyed her. She needed to toughen up here. Garrett was right. She had some power. “Why don’t we head inside the barn? I’ve got a table big enough to accommodate all of us.”

She led the way into the barn and into her office. The agents all smiled at the Gotcha Wall Of Fame, making her trust them a little more.

Canuck spread his wings and bobbed his head. “Barenaked Ladies. Barenaked Ladies.”

That made her laugh. “This is Canuck. He speaks in Canadian celebrities. Apparently, he thinks we’d make a good band.”

The man named Brandon moved in. “Hello, Canuck. Nice to meet you.”

Canuck bobbed up and down, then squawked, but didn’t add any more names.

Terese grinned and gestured at the Gotcha Wall. “This is great. I’m aforensic veterinarian, so I don’t get to have these kinds of joy moments like you do. I love this.”

This reminded Kimi that these people were all about taking down people hurting animals. They were on the same side, and she had no reason to panic. They wanted to help those dogs as much as she did.

She offered coffee and tea, but everyone waved it off, so they sat around her table and settled in. Olaf moved in to sit between her and Garrett, leaning in to watch the proceedings.

Shirisha took the lead. “Thanks for meeting with us and giving us a chance to pitch the idea to you. If you don’t want to do it, then Brandon will go in on his own. There’s no pressure on you, and you can change your mind at the last minute with no repercussions. We thought of asking you because you bear a resemblance to our injured agent. Also, because you’re already involved and knowledgeable. We don’t need to get you up to speed on these bastards.”

Kimi grinned at that. She liked the agent’s straight-forward tone.

“John Mead moves his operation every few years. He has close ties with the Quincy Family, who run all kinds of horrific stuff in and around the Boston area. We’ve been trying to get into his inner circle for years. Brandon’s undercover persona is Jason Gammon, and he’s built up an online presence as a gambler who is always looking for a new thrill and a new venue.”

Brandon grinned. “Jason Gammon has a reputation as a player. If you decide you’re not up to this, I’ll just roll my eyes and tell everyone I’ve moved on from you.”

Having an out helped her relax. “So, what would be involved?”

Brandon shrugged. “I haven’t been to a fighting event before. The only way in was as a newbie, some rich asshole looking for a new thrill. The community of people who’ve done this for years is tight. They know each other, and new faces are suspect. I have a contact I’ve made through other gambling sites. Chuck. No one uses last names on these sites, and I’m sure Chuck isn’t his real name. But Chuck is the one who’s going to get us into the compound.”

Beside her, she felt Garrett stiffen. She knew he was worried about this whole idea but he wouldn’t try to talk her out of it if she thought she needed to do it.

Brandon continued. “Once we’re inside, Chuck will give us the tour and show us the bloodlines and stats for the dogs. We’ll also meet the money guy who takes the bets. I’ll be wearing a wire and a camera. Once we have enough proof of actual illegal activity, the team will get the warrants and come in from all sides. We’ll have thirty agents and law enforcement personnel ready to move in on the location.”

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