And thought about kissing him again.
For the sake of the case.
“Is it?” Devin’s voice lowered and his brow arched.
“It’s what needs to be. I like this job and I’d like to keep it.” I moved forward and he stepped aside, but his hand accidentally grazed mine and a shiver ran through me.
Ignoring my reaction, I made my way to conference room F. I prided myself on being a walled-off being, so why did my emotions suddenly decide to spring to life? I held in a silent sigh and felt him coming up behind me.
My heart was pounding in my chest by the time I got inside the room and turned on the lights. Devin strode in behind me and I felt the air change.
Merely having him in the room made it difficult to focus so I spun around and glowered at him.
I had a job to do and I wasn’t going to be manipulated.
Devin smiled. “It’s pretty easy, really. This is the only room that doesn’t have a hookup already connected to the wireless.”
“Why’s that?” I asked forcefully.
“Because much of what is discussed in this room is private. We don’t need competitors knowing what buildings we’re eyeing before we make an offer.” He unbuttoned his jacket and took it off, and I forced down a dry swallow as he pulled out his cufflinks and rolled up his sleeves. “And yes, it has happened more times than we’d like to admit, so we’ve stopped discussing most things over coffee and dinner out.”
He walked over to the far corner and opened the door on the credenza and removed a small projector. “In all the other rooms, the projector comes down from the ceiling with the flick of a button by the light switch. This projector, you just plug in.”
“Easy enough,” I said, watching him carefully.
Devin held the device in his left hand and placed it on the table, pointing it in the direction of the screen. He snaked a cord through the cutout in the table, and I now understood why he took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves as he crawled under the table.
I stifled a laugh as I heard him rustling around, only seeing the bottoms of his expensive shoes poking out before he crawled back out in my direction.
“Easy as that. We’ll bring in our laptop and plug it in.” He stood smiling.
“That I can handle.”
“Good.” He dusted his hands off, rolled down his sleeves, inserted his cufflinks, and pulled his jacket back on.
“So, what is it you wanted to talk with me about?” I asked, placing my hand on my hip.
“What?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.
“You told Greta you wanted to speak with me,” I reminded him.
“I actually just wanted to spend a little time with you and see if what I felt last night was in my head.”
“And?” I narrowed my eyes, fighting the conflicting emotions coursing through my veins.
“It wasn’t in my head.”
“Well, that’s where it needs to stay. I told you it was a mistake.” I pressed my lips together and drew in a deep breath. “We were both talking about personal things and emotion overtook common sense. Nothing more.” I glanced toward the door. “Greta is probably wondering what happened to me.”
“I doubt it.”
“Why’s that? You usually pounce on all of your new hires?” My brow quirked.
“Nope.” He folded his arms over his chest, the material pulling to reveal his biceps.
He caught my gaze and held it as my cheeks flushed from the heat running through me. I’d never been in a situation where my body reacted to someone in such a raw and visceral way even though my mind knew wanting him was wrong.
Of course, I could claim it was for the success of the case, but last I checked, that wasn’t part of the department’s job description, and I had to live with myself for the next several decades.
His voice broke the silence and I pushed down a swallow as he moved closer. His hooded eyes swept over me, but I continued to glare at him. If I made this look too easy, I’d give myself away. He liked the fight in me, and that was what I would give him.
“So how do you want to move forward? Pretend the kiss never happened? Or do you just want to give me the cold shoulder until you see fit?”
“I can be an adult about it. I just want you to fully understand that it won’t happen again.”
He took another step forward and I felt the same pull that got me in trouble last time.
“I’ve never kissed a coworker—”
“How about a boss?” he interrupted.
“Certainly not.” My nails were digging into my palms as my pulse ran wild. “It won’t happen again. I don’t know what came over me.”
His gaze was hard, scrutinizing everything about me as I stood only inches away, willing myself not to fidget, not to tear my gaze away, not to give him power.
“It was called emotion.” His expression softened and a smile nudged his lips. “I’ve learned a lot in my therapy sessions. If you need anything, always feel free to ask my brothers or me and we’ll do what we can. The ball’s in your court, Avery, and I’ll do my best to respect your wishes.”
He turned around and left the room as a wave of uncertainty crashed into me. My body was on fire from being so close to him, and having his gaze move up and down my body as if he wanted more, and all I could do was sound angry when that was the least of my emotions.
By the time I left the office for the day, I was so worked up that I nearly ran into a man on the sidewalk handing out fliers to a new club opening. I nearly bit his head off when he kept pushing the piece of paper into my hands.
I was so wound up from avoiding Devin for the rest of the day that I didn’t see what was happening right in front of me.
Until the man finally blocked me from moving around him.
“Miss, you really need to read all about this new club. You’ll be sorry if you miss out.”
The guy was dressed in jeans and a tight-fitting shirt. With his spiky blond hair, he looked like he really could be pushing one of the many bars smattering the city. Once my eyes connected with his solemn gaze, I realized this was one of Ellis’ men.
The man pushed the flyer into my hands before taking off to assail others and complete his cover. I glanced down at the flyer and was shocked at what I saw.
Ellis had been right.
Chapter Ten
Devin
It was impossible to shake what I saw flash through Avery’s gaze. Fiery disappointment rested behind her expression when she stood in front of me. I felt her desire pulling her to me, but the conflict running through her kept her stationary, and it was for the better.
I didn’t need things to get messy and complicated, especially now that I was so close to unveiling the project I’d been working on.
The work I’d been keeping quiet was a definite risk and one that made it impossible to predict what Jaxson’s reaction would be. It could go either way. He could be furious that I’d done so much behind his back, or he could be relieved that I thought about this advancement before anyone else.
As I sat across from my brothers in the conference room, all I could do was think about Avery only a few rooms away. I gripped my pen tighter and listened to Drake explain the numbers on our last acquisition. He paced in front of the window and ran his fingers through his hair before finally coming to an end and pulling out a seat.
“Hey, man.” Blake smiled. “Have you gotten any sleep lately?”
“It’s been a few nights.” Drake sank into a chair across from me. “Every time Mia or I hear something on the baby monitor, we jump out of the bed, nearly tripping over ourselves. By the time we get there, she’s back asleep.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” Jax asked, raising his brow.
“Yes, but it’s tiring. You’ll know what I’m talking about someday.”
“Nope.” Jax smiled and shook his head. “Never.”
Drake pushed folders to each of us. “This is the latest company I’ve been eyeing. They’re out of
Boise.”
“What’s their story?” Jax asked as we all flipped open to the first page.
“It’s been a privately held company for two decades. The man who ran it died while on a fishing trip in Alaska. The widow asked his brother to step in, but since that move, the company has taken a huge hit.”
“Why’s that?” I looked over at Drake.
“He thought the company was established well enough that he could forgo half the marketing budget.”
I cringed.
“After last quarter’s results, the wife has been putting her feelers out,” Drake continued. “She wants to sell.”
“What makes you think purchasing a manufacturing company that is in this state is a good idea?”
I stared at the sheets Drake prepared and wondered the same thing.
“They make a glass that I think is revolutionary. Their R&D department has a new formula that is in the last stages of testing. I see it changing the course of cellular devices, weaponry, and surveillance.”
My eyes darted to Jax, who was shaking his head. “The brother is going to be a pain in the ass, but what sets their product apart?”
“Even in thin sheets, the glass doesn’t shatter. The protection our wall of bulletproof glass out there provides?” He pointed toward our lobby. “Their product would be half as thick, weigh less, and offer even more protection than what’s currently available.”
“I don’t want the headache of getting involved with family conflict, and it sounds like that might be what’s going on.”
“Let me take care of that.” Drake tapped his finger on the folder in front of him. “We want this product in our portfolio.”
Jax leaned back.
“I think it’s a good idea.” I pressed my lips together. It would also give me an excuse to visit Avery’s home state, and maybe I’d need an assistant. “If the wife is desperate to get out of the business, I’m sure we can make a fair offer and move forward with manufacturing and distribution within the next twelve months.”
Jax nodded slowly and folded his hands. “Okay. Let’s move on it. I want it done swiftly and without media attention. Anything else?” He looked around the table, and I fought the urge to tell him what I’d been working on. Jax seemed almost pleasant, but I’d been fooled before and I wasn’t quite to that point. If I showed off my plans too early, everything would get shut down before it had a chance to take off.
Two weeks. That was all the time I needed and I could share my vision with my brothers.
“I’ve got contacts lined up on the next two shipments into the port. We should be able to get what we need on and off the boats without anyone the wiser,” I informed Jax.
“Good.” He gave a slight nod.
Jax stood and grabbed the folder. “We’re done?”
We all nodded, and he walked out of the conference room, but my other brothers remained. It was after six o’clock and I was ready to get out of here. I had several runs to check on and a standing appointment to make.
“Devin?” Drake looked at me before glancing at Blake.
“Yeah?”
“Is there anything you want to tell us?” He tilted his head.
“Like what?” I asked.
“What are Bettys?”
My chest tightened and I shut my eyes.
“Don’t bother telling us you have no idea what we’re talking about,” Blake added.
I blinked my eyes open and let out a sigh.
“You’re not in too deep, are you?” Drake asked.
“With what?” I asked.
“There’s so much for us to choose from,” Drake said sarcastically. “Is it the gambling?”
“I’ve gotten my shit together.”
“Really?” Drake questioned, leaning forward. “Because if memory serves me right, it was only two weeks ago when you called me to cover for you.”
I sank into the chair and held my head.
“And it hasn’t happened since then.” My eyes flashed to Drake’s.
“Should we praise you?” Drake laughed. “Congratulate you on keeping yourself together for two whole weeks?”
“Knock it off,” Blake warned, shaking his head.
“Yeah. Actually, I don’t think that’s asking too much,” I shot back.
Drake rolled his eyes. “Please. It’s a cycle. You do well for a week or two, then something in your life goes to shit, you go off the rails, we keep it from Jax, and then you stay on the straight and narrow to throw us all off until it starts all over again.”
“It’s a brutal cycle,” Blake added before turning to look at Drake. “But that’s not what we planned on discussing with him.”
“There was a plan?” I asked my brothers. “How long have you been waiting to talk to me?”
Drake pulled himself together. “Listen, I had to pull a couple of guys off you who said you stole their Bettys. Remember that? Or were you too drunk to commit that incident to memory?”
“I remember enough of it.” A tinge of anger spread through me. My brothers always acted as if I was the screw-up of the bunch, but they weren’t perfect either.
Far from it.
We all had our demons.
So what if I had to call off a few runs or have my brothers take over for me now and again? I’d covered for them as well.
“And that incident down in Florida?” Blake asked. “The guy mentioned Bettys and you dismissed it.”
“That guy was nuts.”
“Didn’t change that he knew more than I did. Possibly still does.” Blake stood, walked over to the door, and gently closed it. “We haven’t gone to Jax, but it’s only a matter of time before he finds out. Neither of us wants that to happen, but when he asks us if we knew about it, I don’t want to be put in a position to lie.”
“And if mom finds out”—Drake shook his head—“that trust will be hard to get back.”
“Listen, I only need a couple more weeks before I can hand over a complete picture to Jax.”
“I don’t think you have that long.” Drake shook his head. “In fact, I can guarantee it.”
The tightness in my chest intensified.
“How?”
“I have sources.”
I laughed coldly.
“There’s no such thing as Bettys,” I informed them.
It was the truth. I’d used that term to throw people off, and apparently, it had worked.
A little too well.
Drake flicked a pen across the table. “Seriously? You’re going to pull that shit with me when I had a group of guys coming at you over them?”
“Why haven’t you asked until now?” My brow arched.
The anger at my brothers turned to nothing. The familiar numbness began flowing through my body as I watched them trade frustrated glances.
“Well?” I pressed.
“I intercepted a message from the Lieutenant to Jax mentioning Bettys by name,” Blake said, taking in a deep breath. “Tell us what it is or what they are.”
“Bettys are nothing. It was a ruse of sorts.”
“Is it drugs?” Drake’s gaze hardened.
I shook my head. “And that’s precisely why I didn’t bother to inform either of you. My own brothers automatically think that if I’m into a side pursuit, it’s going to be something that’s not upstanding.” I stood and took a deep breath as Avery threaded through my thoughts.
“That’s not true,” Drake said. His voice changed and he traded a glance with Blake. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have jumped to that conclusion.”
“Thanks.” I drew in a breath. “You know how sometimes you feel caged in, like there has to be something more out there beyond making dirty money clean and roughing people up?”
“Don’t I,” Blake muttered.
“Well, I decided that rather than feeling like a caged animal, running the same crews, following Jax’s orders, running the streets at night, and looking like a shining example during the day, I’d follow my instincts and create so
mething bigger.”
“What do you mean?” Drake looked intrigued.
“I’ve been working with Joel on something that would let us handle our night activities from a distance. No more scrambling. No more being tied to our runners. We’d monitor most—if not all—pursuits behind a veil.”
“We can’t trust our guys. Viktor showed us that.” Blake shook his head. “Maybe we do need another layer between us.”
“Exactly.” I stood in silence for a few seconds. “Maybe I should run it by mom first. Get her on my side in case Jax goes ballistic.”
“Who’s to say mom won’t go equally as nuts?” Blake laughed.
“He’s got a point.” Drake nodded. “Listen, I’m intrigued, but—”
“I’ve got a few runs to check on. If you all remember, none of us are perfect, and when the lights in this city turn off, we’re the family who keeps it running smoothly. I don’t want any lectures.”
I sighed.
“We can all prance around in our fancy suits during the day, but at least I don’t forget what got our family to where it is today, and I’d like to avoid getting put away for that. My only goal is to streamline our nightly activities. That’s it.”
“You don’t have much time,” Drake said. “I’m telling you, if you don’t come clean to Jax soon, your life is going to implode.”
“Why won’t you tell us the details?” Blake asked, standing up.
“Because if something goes wrong, I want to keep you safe. Jax doesn’t need to hate all of us,” I said dryly and left my brothers behind in the conference room.
If it was true about the Lieutenant, then my life could definitely get complicated. I glanced toward the reception area, hoping to see Avery, but considering it was nearly seven o’clock, there was no sight of her. The office had been locked up for the night, but I caught a light on in Jax’s office and made a sharp turn to see if he was still in. As I made my way toward the open door, I heard him on the phone.
“I don’t believe it. He wouldn’t keep something like this from us.”
A few seconds of silence passed.
Devin: A Romantic Suspense (V Mafia Series Book 2) Page 9
