Page 71 of Elusive Surrender

Sheldon nods. “Agree.” Lexie and Allie stop talking and glance between the two of us, curious for more information.

“You were working on the case with Darwin long before me. Why don’t you start. I’ll add things as we go.”

He clears his throat. “I think we’ve both shared with you that one of our operatives managed to find a communication trail between Darwin and a known associate of a huge trafficking network. One of the divisions on our team started working to gather more information and learned Darwin has a few close friends in an underground network, and those men have now purchased tickets to New York.”

Lexie’s lips part, and her violet-blue eyes go wide. Allie remains quiet, but the tightness of her jaw and the flickering of gold that passes over her deep green depths belies the emotion she’s trying to hide. She takes another long pull on her drink, although by the looks of her eyes, the alcohol has already started settling in. “It’s because we’re loose ends, and they don’t leave loose ends.”

Sheldon takes the cell sitting in front of Lexie, messes around with a few settings, and hands it to her. “You turned the tracker back on, didn’t you?” Lexie asks.

He nods, caressing the side of her cheek. “I need to know where you are at all times; at least, until we find these men.” Lexie contemplates what he’s said and sighs, turning to Allie. “I used to hate the thought of this, but not anymore. You should let Nick put one on your phone too.”

“They could have killed you because of my carelessness last time. I won’t make that mistake again,” she states, finishing the remains of her fourth beer and placing the glass on the table with a thud. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Lexie, even if it means putting up with an egotistical asshole like Nick.”

Sheldon’s face lights into a full-on grin.

“Well, I’m glad to hear we’ve squared that little issue away because I was planning to convince you later that you were in dire need of an asshole such as myself.” This earns me a set of wide eyes from Lexie and a half-smirk from Allie.

“You’ve barely eaten anything.” I gesture toward Allie’s half-eaten chicken breast and the rest of her full plate.

“And this concerns you why?” she asks as Stella brings the ladies another drink.

Lexie gives her friend a glare and sends me an apologetic look. “She’s not always this rude. Seriously.”

Allie’s face heats. “Whatever my feelings, that was more than rude.”

My eyes narrow, watching her shift uncomfortably in her seat. Whatever’s on Allie’s mind, we’re going to get to the bottom of it tonight. “Incredibly rude.” I turn, catching the waitress, and order a glass of water with lime.

When I turn back to the table, Allie averts her eyes, but Lexie’s smiling at me. “Good job,” she mouths across the table before taking another large drink.

Sheldon pushes a wispy blonde curl away from Lexie’s face. “You better slow down unless you want to fall asleep in your dinner.”

“It’s been a long time since we got to go out together to blow off a little steam. Allie and I aren’t driving, and we’re in good hands, right?” she asks, batting eyelashes that surround wide violet-blue eyes at Sheldon, which are now floating with intoxication.

I hold back a smirk. Sheldon definitely has his hands full with that one too.

“Oh, you’re in good hands, alright, and the guys we’re looking for have barely boarded a plane. So you might as well enjoy yourselves since you may be on lockdown for a while after tonight,” Sheldon remarks.

Allie and Lexie’s heads both snap to Sheldon and then to me. “That’s why the big dinner. Our last night out before lockdown,” Allie stammers.

The Irish band on stage in the back is just starting to play. Allie catches Stella’s attention as she walks by the table. “Can you ask Sean to play Drunken Lullabies?” Allie asks, half shouting to be heard over the suddenly very loud music.

Stella wipes her hands on the apron of her uniform and rolls her eyes. “It’s going to be a night like that, huh?”

“Pretty sure it is,” Allie retorts as Lexie’s smile deepens. “In fact, you may as well bring a pitcher,” she instructs, winking.

“Coming right up. I’ll let Sean know he has a couple dancers in the house then,” Stella replies, winking at Allie before heading over to the corner where the Irish band is winding down from their first tune.

The lead singer listens to whatever Stella is telling him, and his smile grows. “It looks like the bar is in for a treat tonight. Servers,” he states, “we’re going to need the first two rows of these empty tables moved to the side while we get things kicked off with a little Flogging Molly.”

Chapter Nine

Nick

Allie and Lexiegrin at each other, while I look to Allie for an explanation. “Something you need to fill me in on?”

Sheldon smirks and answers for them. “Pretty sure this is something you need to see for yourself. I’ve only seen a video of what these ladies get up to when they come here to blow off a little steam, but I’m looking forward to seeing it in person.”

“I heard that,” Lexie sing-songs. “Another drink, Stella,” she demands, laughing, raising her glass to the pitcher that Stella’s brought to the table.

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