Page 53 of Taking Care of the Target

“The clubispublic,” Vince said.

“And according to Bobby, owned by them.”

Bobby waved from his seat in the back of the Jeep when they both glanced at him. They spent the day driving around New York to kill time, and Vince even insisted on stopping at the Culinary Institute of America. The people there told her about their program, as well as their admissions information session in December, when prospective students could spend a week learning about the college.

All super cool, but their impending meeting stayed in the back of their minds, putting a damper on the fun. Even the New York pizza hadn’t helped. While the guys scarfed several slices, she could hardly touch hers.

Then Vince went into his bank and came out forty-five minutes later, mumbling about how he’d had more pleasant interrogations at the police station, and Cassie wasn’t one hundred percent sure he was joking. Her curiosity wheels spun, but she didn’t ask how much money he’d withdrawn, not only because it was a personal question, but also because she was scared to know.

Vince wrapped his hand around her thigh; he must know she had trouble thinking when it was there. “When Bobby suggested somewhere besides the club, they got pissed and started up with the threats, and I’d rather at leaststartthe meeting calm. But I don’t even know what I’m walking into.”

“You’re walking into a meeting with drug dealers,” she helpfully supplied with every ounce of sarcasm she had at her disposal.

Vince sighed.

“Is that a you-regret-bringing-me-along sigh? Because I can’t justnotbe worried about you.”

“It’s more of a sigh that means I love that you care, but I need you to be more cooperative. As for bringing you along, it was stupid, because it put you in danger. I didn’t look beyond wanting you with me, which I do.” His eyes locked onto hers, the steely determination in them clear. “But I won’t take you into a situation I know will be rough. It’s bad enough you’ll be in the club at all.”

Can’t we just send Bobby in there with the money?Guilt immediately flooded her. He wasn’t a bad person. Just a person with a serious problem. Maybe more like problems. Regardless, she could tell there was a good personality under the addiction. Unfortunately, it didn’t make her less worried about Vince.

“Why don’t we just call the cops?” she asked. “Send them in there to, like, discover the stash of drugs in the back and arrest them all?”

Both Vince and Bobby laughed at that. She shot Vince a look, and he clamped his lips. “If we’re not out in thirty minutes, leave the club. Then take the Jeep and drive until I call you and tell you where to meet us.” He put the keys in her hand, and when she simply stared at them, he curled her fingers around them. As if she’d simply forgotten how to hold keys.

“If you’re really hurt, then calling me is going to be extra tricky.” Cassie couldn’t even go to the place where he was more than hurt.

“Fine. If after thirty minutes,afteryou’re also out of the club, you can call the cops. Seriously, what is it about you and pi—cops?”

“I guess it’s their mustaches. Or maybe it’s the fact that they have guns and training.”

“I have the last two things, and I’ll grow a mustache if you’re so set on one.” His expression turned deadly serious again. “Now, back to the point. Promise me you won’t try to get into the back offices.”

It was so unfair that he could pull out the deep, delicious voice to try to sway her.

“I won’t,” she said.

“Won’t promise, or won’t go in there?”

Damn, he’d caught that play on words. She raised an eyebrow, refusing to expand, and he swore under his breath and rubbed his fingers across his forehead.

“I should’ve left you somewhere in the city. If I didn’t think…” He didn’t finish, but she had a feeling he was thinking they may need to make a quick getaway, which wasn’t exactly reassuring.

Bobby cleared his throat. “As much as I’ve enjoyed witnessing your relationship drama, I’m going to have to point out that if we don’t get in there soon, we’ll be late. Then they’ll be even more likely to beat the shit out of us for fun.”

Vince shot him a glare, and then they all bailed out of the Jeep. Cassie grabbed Vince’s arm, just above the elbow. “Please be careful.”

He nodded and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. As he started to pull away, she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and gave him a proper kiss, putting every ounce of concern and affection churning through her into it.

Bobby whistled and heat rose to her cheeks.

Vince rested his forehead against hers. “Ignore him.”

“Actually, I want to talk to him before you go in. And you need to…not listen.”

His glower might’ve scared her a few weeks ago, but now it just made her want to hold him tighter. She did her best to put on a stern front, though.

“Would you rather resume our fight about me attending the meeting with you?”

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