Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Which meant something had gone wrong, something big enough to drag Foster into the open and make him reveal himself.
Kai glanced back down at his phone, scrolling with his thumb. “One more thing— the tracker we slipped into Topper’s wallet. He’s visited some random house on the outskirts of town, not once but twice in the last week.”
That got Judd’s attention fast. “What kind of house?”
Kai shrugged. “Nothing flagged in our databases. It looks like some fixer-upper in the middle of nowhere. There is no listed owner and no activity tied to it.”
“And his secretary?” I asked.
Kai nodded. “Talked to her this morning, off the record. She said she’s been steering clear of Topper because the guy’s been in a foul mood all week like he’s trying not to snap.”
Judd let out a low breath, thoughtful. “Something’s gone sideways.”
“You think he’s connected to Ailee’s death?” Kai asked, frowning.
“I think,” Judd said, “they bugged her house.”
“Shit,” I muttered, the gravity of the possibility of that hitting hard.
“She only ever used codenames,” Judd continued, “never our real names. And we always used burners, so they’d have to do some real digging to connect the dots. But if they overheard her talking about the pickups, cash, and movements, they’d start watching. And if they knew she was working with someone inside—”
“Topper’s the only one who’d even have a clue who was close enough to help her,” I pointed out. “And with us, the chain of command’s tight. Most of our team keep their lives clean and quiet. A few one-night stands, maybe a date, but nothing you could leverage.”
Judd nodded grimly. “Except you.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t have to.
Kai looked between us, face tightening with confusion. “Okay, hang on, back up. What are you two talking about? Leverage how?”
I exhaled, dragging a hand down my face before I met his eyes. “He called me into his office this morning, asked how the kids were doing at daycare, and named it. No one knows what one they go to besides a select few people, and none of them would have told him because none of them have spoken to him.”
Kai’s expression changed instantly—shock, followed by something darker. “Jesus.”
“We didn’t go wide with the photo Roque received,” Judd said. “But if they were watching, they’d expect us to panic.”
Kai was shaking his head now. “So, he’s outright threatening your kids now and trying to scare you off?”
“Or trying to flush out who Ailee was working with,” I said. “I’m the only one with a visible soft spot.”
“And Topper…” Kai trailed off.
“...knew about the kids. Knew about my situation,” I finished for him. “And if he’s dirty—and Judd’s intel says he probably is—then he’s got every reason to protect himself by throwing me under the bus.”
Kai looked like he was starting to see the full picture now. “So he’s spiraling.”
“Hard,” Judd confirmed. “And if he’s going out to that house twice a week, he’s either meeting someone or hiding something.”
“Either way,” I said, “it’s time we found out who the hell lives there.”
None of us said it, but the air had shifted. This wasn’t just about Ailee anymore, this was personal. And if Topper thought I would let him even think about coming after my kids again, he was about to learn how deep that line ran.
Kai’s eyes flicked toward me, his voice dropping just enough that I knew what was coming was meant only for me.
“Make sure your security’s always up,” he ordered. “Cameras, sensors, all of it. And keep those generators fueled—if they cut the power, you don’t want to be scrambling in the dark.”
I gave a tight nod. “Already on it.”
He hesitated, then added, “You need to talk to Sayla. Word’s getting around.”
I tensed. “What kind of word?”
He scratched the back of his neck. “Someone heard she was at your place during the snowstorm, and then a neighbor saw you both on the porch and started talking. Now people are wondering if you two are together.”
“Shit,” I muttered.
“Yeah,” Kai said. “I like her, Roque. I’m not saying this to be an ass—I’m saying it because you’ve got a target on you, and if people think she matters to you, that puts her in the blast zone.”
I rubbed the bridge of my nose, heart rate ticking up a notch. “Her house is almost done,” I told him. “The contractors cut through a pipe again and flooded half the kitchen. She’s been staying at her sister’s place until it’s fixed, but I can monitor her easier once she’s back there. I’ll tell Bond to keep an eye out in the meantime,” I added. “Just in case.”
“Do that,” Kai said. “Last thing we need is her getting caught up in this mess.”
The thought slammed into me so fast it made my stomach lurch. Something I’d shoved to the back of my mind, buried under everything else we’d been dealing with. But now it came roaring back with brutal clarity.