Page 24 of F*ck Steal Kill

“That was epic, Lacey. Oh my god, I almost lost it when I exited and saw what you were wearing.”

“You should’ve seen his face. He was distraught and confused. Say what you will, Hols, but that guy seems like a good one.”

Lacey climbed into the back of the van as Boss Man appeared. I watched him through the binoculars, wondering if there was any validity to Lacey’s words.

He glanced around the parking lot, a crease between his eyes as he scanned it. When he found nothing, his shoulders dropped, and he looked worried. He pulled out a cell phone and made a quick call before walking to a rental car and pulling out of the lot.

I waited another ten minutes before crawling out of my spot and heading to the van. I opened the side door and climbed in, freezing when I spotted Joy and Lacey. A laugh bubbled out of me before I could stop it. They looked ridiculous.

Joy had on a red flowery dress, her fake baby bump on display. She wore a bright red wig with a straw hat. Lacey had placed a cap on her head to conceal her hair. But what made it funny was the mullet that seemed to be attached to the back of it and the fake teeth she wore.

“You look like America’s Next Top Hillbilly, and you a Teen Mom reject.” I laughed, setting them off until the three of us rolled around the back as we cried from laughing too hard.

“Okay, okay,” I said, wiping my face. “We know he’s definitely looking for me, so I need to lie low for the next few days until we know more.”

“Then it’s a good thing I put a bug on him, isn’t it?” Lacey said, a smug look on her face.

Jumping across the van, I tackled her to the ground in a hug as I kissed her face.

“You’re brilliant.”

“It’s one of the disposable ones that Joy made, so it will only last for twelve hours, but it might give us a little more intel. Especially if he talks more freely without other ears around.”

“I love you, guys. Thanks for helping me clean up a mess once again.”

“Always. You’re stuck with us forever,” Joy said, squeezing my hand.

Feeling rejuvenated, I climbed into the front seat and turned the key, singing with my two best friends as we drove home.

CHAPTER 10

GRADY

The door to the gas station slammed behind me as I stalked toward the rental with a scowl on my face. I’d spent the better part of the day out looking for a ghost. Or at least that was what she was turning out to be. The second she’d emerged from that bathroom, her hair disheveled and eyes wide, I knew I was fucked.

Those green eyes pierced right through me, grabbing hold of my dead heart and squeezing it back to life. That close to her, I’d been able to see all the various shades of green that swirled in her eyes. Her dark lipstick covered her plump lips, my cock standing up as it took notice. I’d barely had a second to take in her body, my eyes scanning her curves before she turned and escaped out the door.

The second it closed, it felt like the sun had been taken from the room.

Reality crashed back into me, leaving me panting in front of my two team members as I realized my mistakes. I’d barged in talking about sensitive topics without checking it was clear, effectively blowing our cover as strangers. But what might have been worse was the knowledge that the only woman to interest me in years had also caught their eyes, enough for them to break the rules and bring her back to their room.

The paranoid part of my brain instantly assumed it was a setup, and she’d been sent to mess with the three of us, potentially by the very men we were hunting. It was much easier to believe she was a spy than entertain the notion that if she had to pick between the three of us, it wouldn’t be me.

Dragging my hand over my face, I tilted my head back as I stared at the sky. Pinks and purples filled the space as the sun set across the horizon. I’d been all over this city, and no one claimed to know her outside her name. I couldn’t decide if that meant the town was loyal to their own, or if she really was a plant to tempt us.

Quentin and Max disagreed with me, stating they’d met her separately under various circumstances, but I couldn’t put the thought out of my mind. I needed to find her to know for sure.

My pocket vibrated, and a groan left me, knowing who it would be. I didn’t want to deal with him today. Not when my head wasn’t in the right place. But he’d keep calling until I answered, so I might as well get it over with.

Tugging it out of my pocket, I held it up to my ear as I twisted around to take in my surroundings. I didn’t say hello, wanting to fuck with him a bit.

“Grady? You there?” his deep voice bellowed across the phone.

“Yep. What’s up, Captain?”

“You missed the security call-in last night. Care to explain why, since you sound fine to me and not taken hostage?”

Rubbing my temples, I silently cursed, kicking the ground with the toe of my boot. “Sorry, Jackson. I lost track of the days.”

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