The Men with the Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries #2)(61)

“Shit,” Jake muttered under his breath.

“I really kind of wish I hadn’t written that particular scene now. Next time I’ll make it a fluffy bunny. It seemed so exciting when writing it, but it was actually quite terrifying.” She looked at Adam, who had come so close to that snake. He’d pushed her backwards and taken her place. If he hadn’t been there, she would have surely climbed in and been bitten, possibly multiple times. “Did I thank you?”

His hands squeezed hers. “No, but it’s all right. You can make it up to me later.” Adam yelped a little as Ian’s hand came out and swatted him on the head.

“Forgive my employees, officers,” Ian said. “They’re the best in the business, but they can be a little unprofessional at times.”

Adam frowned back at Ian. “Hey, I very professionally shot that snake.”

“He did. He didn’t girly scream or anything.” Jake shot him a smug grin.

Adam’s middle finger came up, pointing directly at Jake. “As if.”

Jake shrugged. “I can still hear the screaming you did on that op in South America.”

“I got caught by a twenty-nine-foot anaconda. Fucker broke two ribs and I still managed to finish the mission.”

“And you still screamed like a girl.”

“Shut up, both of you,” Ian said.

Jake stood up. “I don’t see why, boss. It’s obvious they aren’t going to help. They’ve made up their minds.”

Chitwood stood as well. “That’s not at all true, but we do have to look at all the angles. This isn’t cut and dried. Usually in stalker cases, the stalker lets the victim know who he is. He wants the victim to fear him in particular. This is different. This person seems to have a point to make. He seems to want Ms. Brooks to understand that what she’s doing is wrong. His words, of course. Now, I understand you’re looking at the CCTV footage? Do you have anything on it yet? We couldn’t find any matches.”

“I’m playing around with the software, trying to refine it,” Adam explained. “I should know if it works in the morning.”

“If you get anything, we expect you to share it with us,” Hernadez stood and stretched. “I know you guys are professionals, but it’s obvious that you’re personally involved. I don’t want any vigilante justice.”

“It might be the only justice we get,” Adam said, earning him another slap on the head. “Damn it, Ian. Stop it.”

“I will when you stop saying dumb shit in front of the cops.” Ian walked to the door and opened it. “Officers, I thank you for your time. I assure you, the press has been dealt with. The news vans are gone. The only story that will run tonight will feature one of my employees and her encounter with a snake. It will be explained away as she and her boyfriend must have picked it up when they went fishing. If the station runs the story at all, it will be nothing but a minor, humorous story.”

“You’re very good at manipulating people, aren’t you, Mr. Taggart?” Chitwood frowned at him.

“Remember that.” Ian closed the door behind them. He turned back. “Those two are useless. They think she’s working the system, and nothing is going to change their minds. Adam, how close are you to being comfortable with the CCTV shit?”

Serena took a deep breath. “You still believe me?”

Ian shrugged. “Serena, you’re the client. I’m asking you right now. Are you playing some sort of game that’s gone wrong? Did you start this and someone else is finishing it? Tell me right f*cking now because it’s the only way I can protect you.”

It was the first time anyone had just asked her flat out. She really appreciated it. “I didn’t have anything to do with it. I don’t know what’s happening. I’m really scared.”

Ian Taggart’s face softened slightly. “All right, then. Don’t worry about the cops. This is our op. We’ll take care of you.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at the men in the room. “Besides, I get the feeling you’re part of the family now. You f*ck her, Jacob?”

Jake sat back in his chair, a little smile on his face. “Yep.”

Adam frowned. “I haven’t yet.”

“Dear god, Serena, f*ck Adam. He’ll sulk until you do.” Ian opened the door. “And keep me up to date. Liam’s on his way with a new car. You two take her back to your place. Whoever this asswipe is, he knows where she lives, and he’s getting more dangerous by the second. I’m having cameras installed around the parking lot. I’m sure the guests will love that, but it looks like someone cut the power to our lights. I don’t like any of this.”

“I can’t go home?” Serena asked. Her laptop was at home. Her notes were at home. Her dog was at home.

“Give Alex your keys and the code to your alarm. He’ll go and pick up a few things for you. You have a dog, right? Is it dangerous?” Ian asked.

“Not unless Alex is worried about having his leg humped,” Jake shot back. “Tell him not to forget her laptop.”

“Or her notebooks. Or her schedule. I haven’t switched her over to a PDA yet. She’s still writing shit down. And she needs her IPod with the purple ear buds. The white ones don’t fit right, and she gets frustrated with them,” Adam said.