Page 189 of Eight Years Gone

She kissed him, wanting back the blissful normal they’d all enjoyed yesterday. “I’ll help.”

Forty-Nine

Jagger sat in his rental car, tightening his focus on the long-range lens as he snapped several pictures in the dark. He watched in semi-fascination as Greg quickly boosted a Luxury Edition Escalade.

There was no doubt that the guy was bad news, but he was also one hell of a car thief. He’d disarmed the vehicle and hopped in the driver’s seat in less than thirty seconds.

Greg wasted no time backing out of his latest victim’s driveway, keeping the headlights off as he followed his lookout crew through the upscale Philly neighborhood.

Jagger waited several seconds before he turned over his engine, then drove to the opposite entrance, pulling onto the main road behind the unsuspecting group.

For nearly a week, he’d spent the majority of his days and nights doing much of the same. His new routine consisted of regularly meeting with Jason’s Philly-based PI or switching out his rental cars and parking in various locations to learn how Millsdale Automotive ran their end of the car theft ring while also operating a legitimate and thriving business.

He’d followed Ray’s guys to Philly, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey, observing and documenting them picking up totaled vehicles at auction, then bringing them back to Millsdale before boosting vehicles of the same make and model a day or two later.

The re-vinned vehicles were dropped off at a rendezvous point in a shithole neighborhood in downtown Philly, where they were loaded into shipping containers, then brought to the massive New Jersey port to be sent overseas.

Jagger followed the group onto the interstate, continuing northbound toward Preston Valley when they eventually took the Millsdale exit.

He knew the process they would follow from that point forward: drop the Escalade off at the shop where Jimmy would disable the vehicle’s GPS, swap out any expensive custom accessories that Ray would fence for himself, then re-vin the vehicle before the flatbed showed up while the cops were occupied with the morning shift change in the small town.

It had been risky when Jagger set out on foot to get close enough to the garage to snap the pictures he’d needed the night before, but the goldmine of proof he’d gathered had been worth it.

For the most part, he had what he needed. The Millsdale crew had officially been caught red-handed, even if they didn’t know it. But he wanted more—something undeniably huge—so Colton could be finished with these assholes for good.

He yawned, pressing harder on the gas pedal, watching the miles tick by until he eventually pulled into Grace’s driveway ninety minutes later.

Getting out with his borrowed camera equipment, he signaled to one of Jason’s guys in the car across the street that he was good to leave as he walked up the path to the front door.

Letting himself inside, he was careful to be quiet as he set down his stuff, then moved through the house, stopping by the bed as he stripped down to his boxers and slipped under the covers.

Grace stirred. “You’re home.”

He pulled her against him, wrapping her up, savoring the warmth and softness of her skin. “Go back to sleep.”

She rolled over instead, staring into his eyes. “I’m not missing my chance to see you. To talk to you.”

For the last six days, he’d been gone more than not, sleeping for short snaps in hotels. Nothing about their current situation had been like his typical business trips. There had been no FaceTime dinners or casual conversations. Communication with Grace had been spotty at best while he gathered information and she readied Simplicity for the Christmas season rush.

To keep things simple and explanations to a minimum, he, Grace, and Colton had agreed to tell family and friends that he’d been called away for an extended work trip.

He kissed her as he slid his hand up and down the side of her waist. “I’m right here. I’m home for the next couple of days.”

“Thank goodness,” she said, sending him a small smile. “I’ve missed you.”

He smiled back. “I’ve missed you, too.”

She stroked her fingers along his cheek. “You look tired.”

He shrugged because he’d been tired before. But getting Colton out of this mess was more important than resting for a full eight hours. Keeping Ray’s goons off Colton’s ass wouldn’t last forever—at least not yet. “I’m okay.”

“How are things going?”

He captured her hand, kissing her fingers. “I’m getting a lot of the information we need. It shouldn’t be much longer.”

She sent him another smile. “Good.”

He tucked her hair behind her ear. “How are things here?”

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