Page 57 of Seized by the Lawman

Chapter 19

“HELL NO. THAT ain’t going to happen,” Nix snapped and looked from each of the Hawks before settling his gaze on Carson who sat at the head of the table, his fingers steepled. “You’re not going to agree to this are you, sir?” Nix worked hard to keep his voice level down when all he wanted to do was slam his fist into the table. How dare the men suggest that Melly meet Andy while wearing a wire

“Look, Cade, I get that this is shitty, but we don’t have a lot on the asshole except that he showed up at Shy Brooke,” Jamison said. “If we had more time, but he’s made the call and if we stall, he could disappear or make a move. Neither one of those options are good.”

“Bullshit! He threatened Melly and extorted money from her,” Nix shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I promised her this wouldn’t happen.”

“He hasn’t extorted anything from her…yet,” Jamison added.

“And she didn’t call the police to make a report,” Riddle said. “Hell, Cade. You know the law as good as anyone. What do you think the chances are that this scumbag will get by with this and be out by sundown tomorrow?”

“I’m betting my life that it’s Lionel Scarborough. He goes by Spider and I put him away. Even as I was placing the cuffs on his wrists he was threatening me. Claire is involved. I spoke to Spider’s cell-mate and he said he was seeing a woman, someone he was using to seek revenge. It falls into place.”

“We know it’s him. Sure. But having him admit to this will nail his coffin,” Reese said.

“Come on, Carson. She’s you’re daughter. You can’t tell me you’re going to let this happen.” Nix clenched his hands into fists as he felt his control unravel.

“I know she’s my daughter.” Carson narrowed his gaze on Nix. “What did I say about emotions, Nix? These men are trained. Hell man, you’re trained too. What would you suggest if this was another case?”

“When are you men going to stop talking about me as if I’m not in the room? I think I should have a say in what I do here.” Melly tapped her fingers on the table, drawing every man’s eye. “I’m partly at fault here because I didn’t go straight to the police and file a report, or come to you men, and I also realize he could get by with this and be back out on the street and how long will it take him to come after us again? A month, a year, or even ten years from now? I can’t imagine watching over my shoulder. If wearing a wire and getting his confession will put him away, I need to do this.” She brought her gaze directly upon Nix when she said, “I’ll be safe because your team will make sure that I am.”

He shifted again. the chair seemed to have shrunk. “There has to be another way. Use me as bait. If Melly doesn’t give him the money, he’ll come after me. It’s a guarantee.”

“No. That’s ridiculous. Who knows when he’ll decide to find you.” Melly shook her head.

“A rat bastard like this is amping to fuck up,” Crow said. “Yet, Melly’s right. We don’t have a set timeline for freaks to act. He’s far more dangerous out on the street than with us surrounding him.”

Nix sighed thinking he had at least one of them on his side, and he looked at Cowboy, but then the other man shrugged. “I must agree, Cade. It’s definite that he wants this money and he’s willing to meet Melly. All it takes is his confession and we have him. He’ll be back on the block and planning an attack before the day is up otherwise.”

Nix dropped back into the chair. The only argument he had left was his feelings for Melly and he couldn’t use those here at the table. If th tables were turned, he’d be saying the same thing, that this was a sure deal to nab the son-of-a-bitch. The best-case scenario was that Melly could get the confession within minutes and Nix and the team would move in fast. There was always the chance though that he could hurt her.

No matter what they decided, Nix wanted to strangle the asshole with his bare hands. He’d threatened Melly and their baby and it would take all that Nix had not to follow through with killing the man.

Looking across the table at her, he could still see the telltale signs of what they’d shared that morning in the hay loft. The straw was gone from her hair, but the wild curls blossomed about her rosy cheeks and her plump lips were still swollen from his kisses. Melly had gotten the call from Andy, or rather Spider, minutes after Nix had zipped his jeans. Melly had handled the call like a pro and then the Hawks grouped to figure out the best solution. They were all concerned for her safety.

~~~**~~~

Melly looked up. Nix stood so close she could touch him, but she didn’t. He hadn’t said more than two words to her since she’d agreed to wear the wire and meet Andy “Are you upset?”

His dark brows drew together. “Not upset. Terrified. Are you sure you want to do this?”

There was an edge to him that she’d never seen before, but she guessed this was a side to him that most people didn’t see. “I have to do this. Not just for you and me, but our child, Nix. You know this is the easiest way to catch him.”

Their gazes connected. Three seconds passed. “Take your shirt off.”

“What?” They were alone in a tiny room in the Hawk’s building, but this wasn’t what she expected.

“For the wire. It must go under your shirt. That’s why I volunteered for the job. I couldn’t let any of the other guys do it.”

“Oh…okay.” She reached for the hem of her blouse and tugged it over her shoulders and dropped it at her feet. She automatically crossed her arms over her chest.

He scratched his jaw, the scraping sound of his fingernails against beard made her nipples tingle. “Sunshine, you’re going to have to drop your arms so I can work.” There was a gruffness to his tone.

Slowly moving her arms, she surveyed his expression. How a muscle in his jaw jerked and his lips twitched. He bent to his knees and she expected to feel his fingers move across her skin, but instead he pressed his large palm against her stomach. Melly threaded her fingers in his hair as she watched him touching her lovingly. How could such a tough man have such gentleness? His entire hand covered her belly. Although she only had a slight rounded stomach, she was definitely showing.

“I can’t believe my baby is in there.” There was a hitch to his voice. “I feel like a bastard letting you do this. If anything happens…how will I forgive myself?”

“It’s okay. If I knew there was a chance of getting hurt, something happening to the baby, I wouldn’t take the risk. But everything will be fine. I believe in you.”

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