Page 124 of Shadowed Vows: Ghost
Kade cuts me off, his tone sharp. "Absolutely not. We're not risking exposure for the sake of documentation."
And there's the controlling asshole again.
My blood pressure spikes.
"So you can stalk me for weeks, but heaven forbid I suggest doing actual intelligence gathering?" The words slip out before I can stop them.
The room falls silent. Asher and Cole exchange glances. Jax suddenly finds his coffee fascinating.
I feel my frustration rising. "But if we don't gather concrete evidence, how can we hope to bring these people to justice?"
"Our priority is dismantling the operation, not building a court case," Kade counters, a muscle pulsing in his jaw.
I want to scream at him and kiss him at the same time.
Asher clears his throat, breaking the tension.
"What if we try something different?" His calm, measured voice cuts through the charged atmosphere.
"We could watch from a distance for a couple days, see what patterns emerge. Then we hit Fisherman's Wharf—blend in with the tourists, get a closer look without raising suspicion."
His suggestion makes sense. It gives us time to gather information safely while setting up our next move. I nod, already planning how we'll approach this new angle.
"That could work. I have contacts at some of the restaurants there who might notice unusual activity."
I can see Kade considering this, his jaw tightening as he weighs the options. His protective instincts war with tactical necessity. The air feels heavy with expectation as we wait for him to make up his mind.
"Damian could pose as a supplier," Cole suggests, typing rapidly. "Get closer to their operation."
Jax stretches his long legs under the table. "I could do a drive-by, map the entry points, security cameras." He grins, a flash of white teeth against his tan skin. "Been wanting to test the new mods on the Corvette anyway."
After a tense moment, Kade nods reluctantly. "Fine. We'll set up remote surveillance. But no one—" his eyes lock onto mine, "and I mean no one, goes near that warehouse without my explicit approval. Understood?"
I bite back a retort, knowing I've won a small victory.Part of me hates how his commanding tone sends heat pooling low in my belly.
"Crystal clear,sir," I respond, the honorific dripping with sarcasm.
Jax coughs to hide a laugh. Asher's lips twitch in an almost-smile.
The meeting wraps up quickly after that, with assignments handed out to each team member. As we file out of the room, Kade's hand catches my elbow, his touch sending an inconvenient jolt of desire through me.
"A word?" His voice is low, meant only for me.
Yes, please. No, absolutely not. God, I'm a mess.
"I'm busy," I say, pulling free from his grasp. "Detective Wilson's statement needs reviewing, and I've got two years of Jenny's notes to cross-reference."
Something flashes in his eyes—hurt, frustration, desire—before his professional mask slips back into place.
"This isn't over, Alina," he murmurs, the promise in his voice making my traitorous heart skip.
"It never is with you," I whisper back, walking away with my dignity intact but my resolve crumbling.
Two days later, I'm crouched behind a dumpster in an alley off Fisherman's Wharf, my eyes trained on the bustling street beyond. The smell of rotting fish and salt air fills my nostrils, but I force myself to focus on the task at hand.
Kade's voice in my earpiece cuts through my thoughts. "What do you see, little hellcat?"
I take a deep breath, channeling all my training into this moment. "Two men at the corner of Jefferson and Taylor. One's on his phone, the other's scanning the crowd. Body language suggests they're waiting for someone."
