Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
“Okay,” Cash said, frustrated with only hearing these details now. He was tired of the secrecy. Every day turned out to be a new basic level discovery he should have known about before ever getting started.
Cash let the coffee brew and went back for his runners, a pair of socks, and a heavier jacket. He needed an intense workout and time to think. This ridiculous weather made it hard to even know what to wear.
He’d gotten it wrong in the beginning. This case wasn’t moving pieces to a puzzle. This was forcing a circle into a square hole. Nothing fit together in any way.
He sat on the edge of the bed, putting his socks on. “If we’re a team, why are you just now telling me about the revolving door of agents?”
“Because I don’t know who to trust,” Joe explained on an exasperated sigh. The insecurity of his confession had him tucking his fingers into his pants pockets. “You’re the first person to be able to attach themselves to someone in the Disciples inner circle. I don’t know what you did last night, and I’m not sure I need to know, but you’ve got a lead that makes sense.”
Joe’s reply held sincerity.
“What other agencies are working on the inside of the club?”
“Don’t know everyone,” Joe said. “All the ones you said, for sure. There are conflicting undercover agents. Especially since the Disciples opened recruitment again. The brother who just died added a lot of prospects.”
“Then having Dev in the number two position might work? But we keep this conversation on the downlow, right?”
“Right.” Joe let out another sigh. “I think the person who decided we follow Devilman is probably involved in whatever deception has been cooked up because that guy,” Joe said, and pointed toward Dev’s apartment, “is hanging on by a thread and has very little to do with the club anymore. His father seems fine with that. He likes Diesel better.” Joe crossed his arms over his chest, his leg bouncing again. The guy was sharp as a tack but full of anxiety. “Dev’s got a record a mile long. By their charter, the only way Dev doesn’t take over the club is if he’s in prison. I honestly don’t put it past Fox to set up his own son. He’s a motherfucker.”
“So, expunging Dev’s record might be enough to get him to turn to our side?” Cash asked, pushing his feet into his shoes.
“It’s gonna take more than that. He’s into those children. He’s really attached. He’s moved them away from here. I suspect that means he knows something’s up,” Joe said. “He’s known for getting these feelings and acts on pure emotion.”
Cash nodded, the angry sounds from the hallway drew both their attention. He rose, going to the peephole at the front door.
“I have the cameras pointed in the foyer. Come see,” Joe whispered, passing Cash, heading toward the spare room. Joe took the seat behind the desk, his fingers flying over the keyboard, entering his credentials. The screens lit up. He saw Dev trotting down the stairs after Tena who took purposeful strides out the front door, toward a waiting car. He struggled to hear what was being said.
The car was nice and expensive. The back door opened on Tena’s approach.
“Can you see who’s inside?”
“Maybe on the replay.”
They didn’t need the audio to hear Dev yelling after her. Cash stared at the beast taking over Devilman. He was fierce in a way Cash hadn’t seen before. He wouldn’t want to come up against this Dev. The force of Dev’s fist hitting the back of the car made it unsteady as it drove away at full speed. Dev ran after it and maybe could have caught them if he’d kept going.
His gentle lover, the man who had kissed him on the lips this morning, had a beast dwelling inside him. Cash tucked that bit of information away. What did it say about him that a small measure of excitement tingled across his body, sending a tickle straight to his balls?
The slam of the building’s front door brought Cash back into the moment. His gaze lifted to the ceiling then to the front of the apartment, wondering how the building held together under such a powerful assault.
What happened since Cash had left Dev’s apartment?
Cash stood straight and rolled his shoulders. “Call a meeting ASAP between Shanna and me. We’ll meet at the hospital. Video conference you in. I won’t put you in a position to lie,” Cash said. “But I will ask you to keep everything else between us. I believe Shanna can be trusted too. We’ve got to figure out why we’re really here. What does anyone hope to gain by sending me here?”
Joe nodded at the same moment Dev’s apartment door slammed shut too but with much less force.