Page 13 of Hacker Auction

Matt’s jaw ticked for a second before he glanced back at me. “Don’t hurt her.”

“Not sure why you have an issue with me going on a date with Rachelle. Brock and Alex barely know her, so I know she’s not part of this circle. Believe me, someone needs to create a flow chart for this fucking group, but I know she is not part of it, and Brock never mentioned she had a membership to the club. Furthermore, I’m not sure you have a leg to stand on for the fact I’ve seen you with a different sub every time you played. Hell, you even told me your rule is the same as mine. One time, no repeats. You can’t have the rule for yourself and then get pissed when other people have the same one.”

His nostrils flared, and he let out an aggravated sigh. “Rachelle is different. She’s never stepped foot in this building. I think she went to school with one of the Ross kids, but she isn’t part of the group. I’ve seen her at the youth center my cousin runs. She spends hours down there with the kids, and if you looked at her when she volunteered, you would never guess she came from money. My rule applies to the women at the club. Most aren’t coming looking for a knight in shining armor. They are coming because they need what the club gives them. I don’t date or hook up outside the club.”

I got serious. “I said one date, hell it was one date she paid two million dollars for. This is for charity, man. Not once did I say I planned to sleep with her.” I had to tell myself the same thing, but she was so damn sexy. All I could think about was her curves. “We already had lunch together, and I laid it out on the table. Next Friday, we will go on a date and fulfill the requirement of the auction. Now, do you have an issue with me going on one date?”

“Sorry, man. My cousin talks about how she has influenced so many of the kids at the center to change. She spends hours tutoring them. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

“She’s a beautiful woman. Why hasn’t your cousin asked her out.”

Matt shook his head. “Terrance is gay and is happy with his partner. He’s tried to get me to ask her out, but she doesn’t fit into my plan.”

“Back to my original statement, you can’t judge when you have the same rules as me. I already told them to her.”

Brock snorted from the doorway, “Yeah, I had the same rules then Jessica came into my life. I’m going to enjoy watching you both fall. It will be so much fun. Like it has been for everyone else around me. Not one of the men in our group was looking, but when the right woman comes along, she will knock you on your ass.”

“I won’t ever attach myself to a woman,” Matt grunted. “Just because you guys found the right person doesn’t mean everyone around you will.”

“I have to agree with you there,” I replied.

Brock set a bag of food on the conference room table and pushed it toward me. He opened a second bag and pulled out a pack of licorice and a Mt. Dew. “Hold on a second.” Brock set his phone on the table. “How about we wager a bet? Wes is going to fall for someone and stay here like a lovesick puppy.”

“I’ll take the bet. What are we wagering?” I knew this was easy. There was a chance I stayed in the states longer, but it wasn’t because I planned to fall for a woman.

“You will have to let said Mistress paddle your ass, and if I lose, I’ll have to let my wife do the same in front of the club on a Saturday night.”

I narrowed my eyes, “Your wife will be too kind. Nope, you have to let Mistress Sylvia do the same to you.”

Brock grabbed his phone and typed across the screen. He barely hit send before a reply came back. “I’m game. Mistress Sylvia is going to owe me after I give her this treat.”

I ripped the bag of food open and pulled out the burger I had ordered. “Well, I’m putting a one-year time limit on this bet.” I sunk my teeth into the juicy burger. “Or when the case is over.”

“I’m not sure who I’m rooting for,” Matt laughed and pulled out his chicken sandwich.

Brock pointed his piece of licorice at me. “Doesn’t matter when the case is over. Your ass is staying here. The ink is already dry on the contract you signed this morning.” Brock glanced over to Matt. “I haven’t told the rest of the team Wes joined us officially. I plan to do it in the staff meeting tomorrow. He’s not the only person joining the team though, Donavan Edward and Cayden Chandler both plan to come sign contracts today, and I’ll introduce them to the team tomorrow.”

“Hell yeah!” Matt said. “It will be nice to have a big team again. It seems we keep losing people.”

Brock nodded, “I’m working on building the team. Jessica has some ideas as well. She’s putting in her notice at Ross Enterprise today and is going to work here full time.”

Matt’s eyes widened. “Alex is going to kill you for stealing his CFO.”

“She’s my wife,” Brock frowned. “I’m sure Alex will understand. For the last few years she’s tried to quit a few times and each time he pulled her back into the company. This is for good this time.”

I hadn’t even known Alex very long, and I knew he wasn’t going to like Jessica leaving. He seemed like a man who didn’t like change unless it was him who made the change. Brock’s phone started to buzz, and my new boss frowned at the screen. “This is all your guy’s fault. I’m going to go take this call from Alex. Mia should be here soon with Detective Higgins.”

The second Brock slid his finger across the phone, Alex’s voice erupted from the phone before Brock even slid it to his ear.

While I waited for the Detective to show up, I glanced at the report Sam sent me this morning. Gabriel hadn’t gotten any information yet, he was still on the outside, and the Zarus’s church hadn’t let him into the inner circle yet.

The woman in the hospital was our only lead, but she died when a blood clot traveled to her brain. Now we were all back at square one. My Patty texted each morning for a status update because the little girl, Patty, saved from the market, cried for her mother each night.

Mia walked into the conference room, followed by a tall man in polo and black slacks. A silver badge hung around his neck. He had a Glock strapped to the holster on his hip.

“Wes.” Detective Higgin’s nodded in my direction. We’d talked a few times but hadn’t met in person. “Thanks for having me. I’m hoping we can put some of the legally optioned data together and crack this case.”

Mia grunted, “I bet you wear tightie-whities from the way you are wound-tight.”

---