Sweet Vengeance: Ladies (Iron Orchids Book 14)

by Danielle Norman

  The passion in his voice for the nasty little operation didn't help Sunday's urge to throttle him. "Give me a name," Sunday demanded. "One lead for me to go on."

  "I told you, we use numbers," he said, not sounding the least bit disappointed that he couldn't help her. "No one knows anything that could be detrimental if someone decided to rat."

  "So, you're saying you aren't useful to me," Sunday replied.

  He shrugged, but his smile reached his eyes and they twinkled with delight.

  "Fine," Sunday said, and turned on her heel as she headed for the door. She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Enjoy the hole they throw you in for the rest of your life."

  "Camden." Sunday paused for a second and listened. "He's a financial guy, him and his son, they are involved."

  With that, she exited.

  When she got back into the car, she didn't speak, she couldn't.

  "What did he say?” The girls practically pounced on her.

  Son? His son was involved? There was no way, he had to be wrong. Sunday shook her head.

  "Sunday, what happened?" Melanie asked.

  "Pull over!” Sunday shouted. Adeline did just in time for Sunday to open the door, and toss up the snacks that she'd had on the plane.

  Sunday

  "Oh hell no, there is no way in hell you are going alone," Adeline demanded. She grabbed hold of Sunday's hand and practically pulled her from the office. The Federal building was close so there was reason to battle Orlando traffic and parking to go less than two blocks. So the four ladies headed to see FBI Special Agent Eli Grey.

  A red hand lit up the no walk sign, but Adeline ignored it and powered through, dragging Sunday with her. "Hey, lighten up, will you? You may be invincible, but I'm not. Crosswalk, we check for oncoming traffic."

  "Fuck traffic, fuck the cars, I want answers, like now. We are not going to twiddle our fucking thumbs," Adeline shouted. They headed to the back of the Federal building and entered through the FBI entrance.

  Sunday combed her fingers through her hair. "We'd like to see Eli Grey if he's available."

  "He'd like to see us," Adeline interrupted.

  "Tell him that Sunday and the girls are here, he knows us." Melanie was always the calm one.

  "Poor Traci is a wreck. She's terrified of her husband and now her son, what is she going to do?" Olivia asked.

  "Innocent until proven guilty," Melanie reminded her.

  Sunday let out a long sigh.

  "A snake as soon as he is pronounced a boy until proven otherwise," Adeline added.

  "Bitter much?" Melanie said.

  "Prove me wrong much?" Adeline snapped back.

  "Stop. Just stop. I can't. I can't believe he's involved in this, it just doesn't fit." Sunday rubbed her temples.

  "Just keep your eyes open, okay?" Adeline asked.

  "Ladies, what can I do for you?" Eli stepped out into the lobby where the girls stood. "We need to talk with you privately," Sunday whispered.

  "Of course, come on back." Eli stepped back and held the door open for the girls to pass through.

  In a few short moments, Sunday would have enough information to take down Kai Camden. But would she also bring Bo down? Sweat beads bubbled up along her forehead. She wiped them off, only to have them replaced by a cool chill.

  Bo had called her to confirm their date for tonight but she couldn't answer, how could she? She was trying to figure out her future, hell--his future, not to mention honor her commitment to his mother.

  Eli led them to a conference room. "Have a seat, can I get any of you water?"

  "We're good," Olivia said for them.

  "What's up?" Eli asked, gesturing to Sunday.

  "We need help with a case."

  "And you think I can help?" Eli leaned back in his seat.

  "Our new case involves Kai Camden," Sunday's voice lowered.

  "Oh," was all Eli said.

  "And maybe his son."

  "What does Bo have to do with it?"

  "David Cross, does that ring any bells?" Sunday asked.

  "Of course, he's locked up."

  "Are you aware of his connection to Justin Camfield?" Eli nodded.

  "I know you went through some . . . things . . . in that case. It's just, we really need to know those things and maybe for the same reasons," Adeline said and then reached over and grabbed hold of Sunday's hand.

  "I'm not following you." Eli looked to Adeline then Sunday then back to Adeline.

  "We're close.” This time it was Melanie who spoke. "We know that Kai is involved with the same people Bridget had a run-in with."

  Eli nodded his head. "Send over what you've got, I'll look at it and add in what I can to try and fill in your blanks. But remember that my hands are tied. I can't jeopardize the case."

  All four ladies leaned forward. They knew very well that Eli would jeopardize any fucking case if it had been Bridget on the other end, hell he had.

  "This is for more than just me, it's for Kai Camden's wife, Traci, she needs out of the marriage, stat." Sunday glanced over at Melanie and then Adeline, somehow she drew strength from Adeline. "I just need enough to help get her out of the marriage, shit is going to come down on Kai Camden, I want Traci protected. She is a good person and doesn't need her name or her company dragged through the mud because of Kai being a butthole. And believe me he is."

  "You need to help her without dealing in criminal shit," Eli said, and then gave an apologetic smile. "There's a system to these things, and it usually works, it just takes time."

  "We don't have that," Melanie said. "Traci doesn't. She needs protection, but until we can prove exactly what Kai is up to--which we can't, yet--law enforcement can't really help her, not in the long run."

  "You are good women, you helped Bridget," Eli said, and there was only sincerity in his voice. "I appreciate what you do, but my hands are tied."

  "We understand that, can you tell us anything about the son's involvement?" Adeline asked, and Sunday let out a whoosh of air.

  "Let that thread go, I'm handling everything to do with Bo Camden."

  Eli's words might as well have been a confirmation for Melanie, Olivia, and Adeline, but something in Sunday told her everyone was still wrong, Bo was being painted to look like something that he wasn't.

  "Unfortunately we can't, the son plays a big part in another case we are handling," Olivia whispered then darted her eyes toward Sunday. "We will just have to continue doing our own research."

  Bo

  As much as Bo hated it, he went into work. It was the easiest way to make the day rush by so he could see Sunday. He was preparing a contract for a new client when his cell phone rang.

  "Hello?"

  "Bo?"

  "Yes."

  "This is Special Agent Eli Grey with the FBI."

  "Oh, hey, Agent Grey, what can I do for you?"

  "Do you know David Cross?"

  He thought about it for a second and tried to run through their list of clients. "Hold on, I have my computer up let me see if he is in our client base, the name isn't ringing a bell."

  "No need, you answered my question."

  "Oh, okay, that was easy then."

  "Not exactly. David does, however, know your father and has ties to a sex club in the Caymans. He spoke to some private investigators, and they are looking into you and your connection to the ring. I've tried to point them in another direction, but you don't know these women . . ."

  "Agent Grey, are you referring to Sunday and her crew of ladies?"

  "Oh, you know them?"

  "Yeah, I know them." Or I thought I did. "Thanks for the info." They disconnected and his desire to keep working had quickly faded. Bo grabbed his briefcase, slid his phone into his pocket, and then headed for the elevator.

  When Bo's phone rang again, he ignored it.

  Within fifteen minutes, he was home. His phone rang again, and again, he ignored it. He knew who was calling just from the ringtone, at some point while they were
in the Caymans, Sunday changed his ringtone to Keith Urban's Raining on Sunday.

  When his phone dinged, he looked down.

  Sunday: Looking forward to tonight

  "Yeah so was I until I found out you were investigating me. I was just part of your fucking job the whole time."

  He quickly changed out of his work clothes and into shorts and a T-shirt.

  There weren't many women like Sunday. None, really. At least, not that he had ever met. He had his pick of women, without a doubt, but they had been all variations of the same rich, usually nice, but not particularly interesting cut outs.

  Sunday, however, was smart and fiery. She hit all kinds of buttons on him--ones he hadn't even been fully aware of having, and he wanted nothing more than to explore that, to explore her.

  So much for that. He hadn't been able to bring himself to send her a message, let alone take her out. His life and emotions were already a jumbled mess, so the last thing he wanted was to be shot down by the one woman who had somehow, in a very short time, become the sole focus of his thoughts.

  He laid back on his bed and stared up at the ceiling, he needed to get his head screwed on straight. Instead of worrying about what was up with Sunday, he tried to avert his attention to the other pressing problem at hand--his father.

  Unfortunately, Bo wasn't entirely ready to confront his father. As much as he would have liked to, there just wasn't enough proof of his wrongdoing. Sure, he and Sunday had caught him outside Sabers and they had pictures of him with women in the Caymans, but there was no evidence he had done anything that would free his mother of her marriage to him without losing everything. Sunday had never been able to quite get a shot of him in a compromising position, not enough of one that couldn't be explained away.

  Without that, his mother was bound to her marriage, and by proxy, Bo was bound to continue to look for a way out, or at least a heads-up as to what his father was up to.

  It was probably for the best. At least while Bo continued to search and plan, he could pretend not to think or care about Sunday, or wonder if she would ever forgive him for standing her up.

  Sunday

  When the girls got home, Adeline was furious that Sunday was still determined to go on her date. Melanie was worried. And Olivia? She was filling a purse with ammunition, surveillance equipment, and small recording devices for Sunday to take.

  Sunday had to laugh at the differences between them.

  Three hours before he was due to pick her up, she sent him a text message:

  Sunday: Looking forward to tonight.

  She waited, but no reply came. Finally, she put down her phone and busied herself on her computer, scanning for information that would prove Bo's innocence. The whole time she worked, she listened for her phone to alert her of a text or a call.

  Nothing.

  Two hours before it was time for Bo to pick her up, she showered, did her makeup, and changed into jeans and a flowy blouse. Then she remembered he had mentioned five-stars, so she changed into a pantsuit. Then she remembered it was a romantic date and she was supposed to at least look the part.

  Finally, she dug deep into her closet and retrieved a nearly forgotten, off-the-shoulders burgundy dress that hugged her hips and went straight to the floor. It was modest but still sexy, and she had never worn it before.

  She blushed as she put it on, but even as she stood in front of the mirror, she had to admit that it suited her and it fit the occasion.

  Averting her gaze from the mirror before she started picking at her flaws, she returned to her closet for shoes and a purse. Only after she had them did she allow herself to check her phone, pretending she was interested in the clock.

  Her heart dropped when there were no messages.

  It didn't matter. He was due to pick her up in fewer than twenty minutes. She could fix everything then, face to face.

  She sat on the edge of her bed and waited.

  When seven p.m. rolled around, she checked her phone again even though it had been on her lap the whole time. No messages, and no calls.

  He was late.

  Perhaps he was stuck in traffic or got caught up in a meeting for work.

  Fifteen minutes came and went. Then another fifteen.

  Perhaps he was in the hospital.

  By eight thirty, she couldn't play the game anymore. She swallowed against her tight throat and pushed to her feet. On her way to the bathroom to wash off the makeup, she caught a glimpse in the mirror.

  The sexy, perfect dress now seemed silly and stupid.

  Everything about her always had. How had she believed a rich handsome man like Bo would actually take her out on a date? Their time in the Caymans had not meant anything to him, not like it had to her.

  Despite her efforts not to cry, a few tears escaped anyway. She sniffled as she scrubbed off the makeup and changed into pajamas, and then she set another round of scans on her computer. It wasn't until she had crawled into bed that she couldn't hold it back anymore. She buried her face in her pillows and cried. Her chance with Bo had been blown, but perhaps even worse, it seemed as if nothing had really changed over the years, after all. She was still the same girl whose feelings didn't matter.

  Someone knocked on her bedroom door. She didn't bother to answer. Hopefully whoever was there would think she was asleep and would leave her alone.

  No such luck.

  The door inched open, and someone slipped into the room. Sunday peered out from her blanket with one eye.

  Olivia took a seat on the edge of the mattress and placed her hand on Sunday's leg.

  "Hey, you okay?" she asked.

  Sunday swallowed hard, trying to stop the tears, but shook her head a little. Melanie peered into the room and then strolled in, followed by Adeline.

  "There's no guy worth crying over," Adeline said, standing a few feet away, arms crossed. "Especially that one."

  Olivia patted Sunday's leg. "It's fine to have feelings."

  "I would rather have revenge," Adeline said, and everyone burst into laughter.

  Even Sunday chuckled, and then lifted up to grab a tissue out of the box on the nightstand and wiped her nose.

  "Thanks, guys," she said, propped up on one elbow. "I know I never really stood a chance with him, anyway."

  Adeline made a disgusted sound and swished her hand through the air. "Nonsense, woman. That guy never stood a chance with you, you're gorgeous, and he is scum. I have no clue why you're acting like this, he's reprehensible."

  Sunday shook her head and dabbed her eyes. "I don't believe he's guilty."

  "I mean, imagine what else he might not see," Adeline continued with a grin. "Like the edge of a cliff, for an example. We could get creative here." She motioned with her fingers someone walking and then falling.

  Sunday giggled, and the ache in her heart eased a little. "You're horrid but I love you."

  "Love you too," Adeline placed one finger against her lips and then pressed her finger against Sunday's arm. A gentle, passing of a kiss.

  "Look, it's nothing some vodka can't fix," Melanie said before turning and leaving the room, coming back a second later with glasses and a bottle.

  Everyone sat around in Sunday's room, drinking and talking until long after Sunday's date with Bo would have been over. Finally, buzzed and silly, they all went to bed.

  For tonight, Sunday would sleep.

  In the morning, she would return to taking down Kai Camden

  Sunday sat at the kitchen table, absently poking at her plate of scrambled eggs as she stared at her laptop screen in front of her. She had run scans all night, scraping and collecting data about Kai from both public facing sites and through hidden back doors on secure networks.

  Kai had his hands in a lot of businesses and projects, but so far, she hadn't found anything that gave them the leverage they needed to save Traci. To make matters worse, every time she thought about Traci, she remembered Traci's son, and she had to beat back the urge to be sad and disappointed all ove
r again. The pep talk last night had helped, but she still found herself checking the phone, waiting for the opportunity to make up with Bo. She just wanted the opportunity to apologize for doubting him even though it was only for a short time.

  With a sigh, she shifted her focus back to the screen. Around the table, Melanie, Olivia, and Adeline sorted through stacks of papers, listened in earbuds to audio recordings that had been taken of Kai on the sly, flipped through pictures from stakeouts, and puzzled over what they knew, which turned out to be a lot.

  But it still wasn't enough.

  How could Kai be so deep into something shady and not leave any footprints that they could use? Sure, there was plenty of data to turn over to the FBI--or at least, point them in the right direction since Sunday couldn't exactly own up to how she had gathered some of this information--but they needed something that would work now.

  She forked a bite of eggs into her mouth and then tapped her touchscreen to flip to the next tab.

  Adeline's phone buzzed, she was scowling at, and then she lifted her eyebrows.

  "It's Traci," she said. She swiped her phone screen to take the call and then pressed the speakerphone icon. "Hey, how's it going?" she said toward the phone.

  "Um, well . . ." Traci spoke in a hushed voice. "I only have a few minutes. Kai came home last night. He's . . . something isn't right."

  Adeline scoffed. "No lie there."

  "I mean . . ." Traci hesitated, and Sunday kind of wanted to tell her to spit it out. "It's hard to explain, but he's being arrogant--more than usual. Cocky. Smug. Sneering at me. Looking at me like I am trash under his feet. I just . . . he didn't used to be like this, you know? But even as bad as he has been lately, this . . . this is worse." She took a sharp, shuddering breath. "And now we're hosting a dinner party tomorrow night, and I can't imagine how I'm going to get through that, pretending like everything is normal, when it's so very not."