Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 122896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 614(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122896 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 614(@200wpm)___ 492(@250wpm)___ 410(@300wpm)
The more proof the task force got, the easier it would be for the feds to indict and convict. In turn, shutting down that whole criminal organization. Maybe even the Russos, too.
In a perfect world, anyway…
“Plus, helping you is no hardship,” she wiggled her eyebrows, “since it comes with perks.”
“Like?” Would she admit that having sex with him was a perk?
She waved her hand through the truck cab. “Like my own personal chauffer.”
He grinned. “That it?”
“Well, you have bought me dinner a few times. Who doesn’t like to eat for free?”
He laughed. “Damn.”
As she reached for the door handle, he stopped her. “Wait.” He quickly got out and went to her side of the truck. After opening the door for her, he offered his hand.
She placed her warm fingers in his. “I didn’t think cops were this chivalrous.”
He snorted. “We have our moments. And believe it or not, a controlling boyfriend would open the door for you on any vehicle or building. It’s a subconscious way of controlling your movement.”
She climbed out and stared up at him. “Really?”
Fuck. He wasn’t sure if that was true, but it sure as shit sounded good. “Yep.”
“Then I guess I’ll have to get used to you doing it as long as you’re acting as my boyfriend.”
He followed her to the employee entrance.
“How about if I set you up in the office to go through some videos while I do my workout?”
He’d rather watch her. But there would be plenty of mornings for that since he was sure this assignment would last a while. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll keep my phone next to me while you’re out on stage. Keep your phone with you and text me if any of the Demons come in through the front. I’ll keep an ear out for anyone coming in the rear.”
She plugged in the security code and as soon as the lock released, he held the door open for her.
“I’ll stick around until the girls start arriving and once I know you’re not alone, I’ll head out and come back later, okay?”
She stopped in front of the door on the right, pulled out a set of keys from her small bag and unlocked it. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Mel, you’re my girlfriend. It’s my job to worry about you.”
“Fake girlfriend,” she reminded him.
“Partner in this assignment.”
After stepping into the dark office, she flipped a switch, lighting up the interior, and he followed her over to the desk. It was covered in open beer cans, dirty glasses and just plain… filth.
“He’s such a damn pig,” Mel muttered, pushing trash out of her way. “He can’t even keep his dirty boots off the desk.” She sat in the office chair, wiggled the mouse to wake up the computer screen and began typing. “I’ll pull up the site where the security footage is stored and put in my password to give you access.”
He came around the desk to stand behind her as she got into the club’s cloud account and pointed to the screen. “There are all the folders you need, one for each camera. There will be thirty days’ worth. If we want to keep them longer than that, we have to download them to our own hard drive.”
“Unneeded. The past thirty days will be more than enough to sort through. Once we go through these, it’ll be easier to monitor future footage. We’ll just have to keep up with them.”
As soon as she stood, he went to take her place in the chair but she stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Hey, boyfriend…”
Glancing down at her, he searched her face.
“I…”
His stomach did a somersault when she took a deep inhale.
“I just wanted to thank you for giving me some hope after I had lost it all.”
He tipped the brim of an invisible hat. “I’m here to protect and service, ma’am.”
“Don’t you mean serve?”
With a wink and a cocky grin, he answered, “That, too.”
She rolled her lips under, but failed at hiding her amusement.
“I’ll check on you before I leave.” She nodded and before she could exit the office, he stopped her with, “Hey, girlfriend…”
When she paused, he tipped his head, indicating she should come back over to him. She closed the gap between them, keeping her curious eyes on his face.
Stepping into her, he curled his fingers around the back of her neck and pulled her even closer. “Kiss.”
Their lips brushed once, then a second time before he took it deeper. Tasting a perfect mix of Mel and coffee.
He wished like hell they had time to do a repeat of yesterday morning.
You have a job to do, jackass. And that job isn’t named Mel.
But he did want to do her.
Again.
He broke off the kiss before he said fuck it and they both got their daily cardio done in one of the VIP rooms.