Jacked (Trent Brothers #1)(166)

“Surveillance video from Novak Ford. One guy breached the door, and then watch as five more come out of the shadows.”

Marcus leaned closer. “They were aware of the cameras. None of them looked up. Didn’t even bother to take ’em out.”

“Yeah. Can’t see any of their faces. Looks like all were wearing ski masks.”

Marcus sighed. “Five new cars in, five drivers and one muscle to get them out.”

“Yep.” I pushed all the background checks on the dealership employees over to him. “Just like the other thefts. I checked the delivery schedules. Only five new cars were delivered to Novak, so somebody knew what inventory was coming in.”

Marcus glanced over the printout. “They could easily put a crew together in an hour.”

“And figure out when they’d go through pre-inspection service. Haven’t ID’d anyone, but one guy has a bit of a limp.” I played the recording again. “See, this one here. He’s dragging his left leg. We got any suspects that fit?”

Marcus sighed. “Could be a recent injury or could just be a brother with a strut.”

This case was starting to pile up mounds of details. I had papers spread out all over the desk, in boxes on the floor, until something from the Johnson Ford heist caught my eye. I tore through the other file boxes, looking for one thing. “You’re not going to believe this.”

Marcus spun in his chair.

I held the two papers up to him. “Notice anything?”

His eyes widened. “No shit. Same carrier company.”

“Same f*cking carrier company.” I pinned the crucial detail to the wall where I had all the known players, dealerships, and possible drivers laid out in one huge visual map. The noose was tightening.





“SEEING ANYTHING GOOD on there?” Erin leaned up on my shoulders while I sat at the kitchen island with my laptop. She was cooking dinner for us, which I had to say smelled f*cking fantastic.

“Not yet.” I held her arm to keep her in place, needing her closeness to wash away my lingering frustration until I realized the recording was still playing.

She rested her chin on me. “What footage is that?”

I paused the video. “Uh, sweetheart, no offense, but I can’t really discuss that with you.”

Erin tried to pull away; I felt like a huge *.

“Doc, it’s part of an ongoing investigation. I can’t…” She slipped out of my hand and walked away, shutting me out.

“It’s okay. I shouldn’t be discussing any of my patient cases with you either.” She set a dirty pan in the sink. “No matter what we do… I guess we have no choice but to live in secrets anyway.”

FUCK. I was able to hurt without even trying. Her shoulders fell—instant defeat.

“I don’t want that.”

“Neither do I,” she said to our dirty dishes.

“Erin… please come here.”

She ignored me for a few beats, pretending to be busy washing a plate.

“Baby. Please.”

I tucked her between my legs, rested her on my thigh, and clicked the arrow to play. “This is the surveillance video from outside Benando Auto Salvage in Newark. Their ATTF has two cameras on this place. They asked me to give it a scan.”

“Auto salvage? Guess it’s a good place to hide car parts.”

I rewound the last thirty seconds. “Yep. They seem to do a hell of a business, especially after hours.”

She leaned against me. “Was that your stomach?”

“Yeah. I’m starving. When’s the pasta ready?”

“I just put the garlic bread in the oven. Few minutes.”

“Garlic? You gonna kiss me later?”

She put her arm over my shoulder, doing that soft scratching thing in my hair that I loved. I gazed back at her. God, she made me happy. “I’m sorry. No secrets, babe. Agreed?”

Erin nodded. “Yes.”

I brushed her hair back from her face. “We’re partners.”

“Partners.” Her smile was breathtaking. “I like that.” Her fingers drifted over my cheek. “I just want to be there for you. No matter what you need. Every part of me is yours.”

I twisted the tips of her long hair around my fingers, needing her mouth on mine. “I love you.” I adored that twinkle in her eyes.

“I love you, too. And I promise,” she uttered on my lips, “our conversations will stay completely confidential. I know you can tell when I’m lying, so you know I’m being truthful.”

“I know.” I was just about to turn the oven off and take her upstairs when I lost her lips and her attention to my computer. Guess I’d take a rain check, though scanning hours of video had completely lost its appeal.

She leaned, brushing a bit of unintentional attention against my partial erection. “Isn’t Pantera that heavy metal band that wears those freaky masks?”

“What?” How did she go from my tongue in her mouth to death metal? “Where did that come from?”

“On your screen. Go back. No, stop. Too far.”

I let it play, since I was quite distracted a moment ago and missed a bunch.

“See? There next to the dude with the gimp.” She pointed. “Pause it.”