Close Cover (Masters and Mercenaries #16)(32)

“I was actually thinking she needs a job,” Remy explained. “And I might know a place where the employees would watch out for her. Where the employees are mostly ex-military.”

Taggart’s eyes narrowed. “And what would she be doing at this place that I own a large piece of?”

“She’s a hell of a bartender.” Remy had thought it out last night in between sessions. It was the best way to protect her and give her something to do while they waited to see what would happen with the trial. “You know Linc could use some help.”

“So let me get this straight. My company is paying for an apartment you are no longer really going to live in because you’ll be in her bed every night, and now you want me to hire the client and pay her a wage so we can protect her. You are taking the bulk of the money the actual client is paying. Do you see the business problems with this?”

Sure he did, but he wasn’t about to admit that to Taggart. “I’m nothing but an old country boy, boss. I don’t know a lot about the financial stuff. I leave that to way smarter minds than me.”

“Sure you do, asshole.” But Taggart was already pulling out his phone. “Tell her to be ready to interview with Deena this afternoon, but of course she’s got the job. We actually can use the help. Ally’s pregnant and Macon’s being seriously overprotective with her, so Lisa will have to bounce between the bar and service, but I suspect she can handle it. And I’ll head over there and brief everyone on what’s happening.”

“I’ll drive her to and from work, and when she’s safe, I’ll work with Hutch or whoever to try to figure a way out of this for her. You’re right. Even if they don’t prosecute now, she’s still a threat.” Their best bet might be finding something else to nail Vallon for, something that didn’t involve Lisa.

Tag nodded. “We’ll be on the lookout for Biondo. I’ll have someone monitoring the CCTV cams around the restaurant and this building. Luckily you have security cams here. I’m talking to Adam about bringing in…god, what’s it up to now? Miles-Dean, Weston, and Murdoch Investigation. Couldn’t they find a better name? They sound like a bunch of lawyers. I suggested Wolverine Investigations. Or The Angry Badger. See, both of those say ‘I’m going to find your missing person or someone will get torn apart by claws.’ The other says ‘we’re a bunch of brogrammers in suits.’”

“Brogrammers?” Sometimes he didn’t understand Tag’s language.

“It’s what Adam is. It’s worse than a nerd because he talks about computers a lot and yet also reminds me of a fraternity asswipe. Still, he knows what he’s doing and his facial recognition software is brilliant. If that man shows up on camera, we’ll catch him,” Tag promised.

An assassin was in town. Dallas was a big place, but still, his instincts told him something bad was coming. “I want work-ups on all the power players involved in this case. It’s federal, but Maia Brighton probably knows something.”

Maia Brighton was Dallas’s duly elected district attorney. She was also a pain in Big Tag’s ass. A devoted sex addict, she was one of the smartest, most ruthless women Remy had ever met. If anyone could get them information, it was her. The problem was her intelligence wasn’t free.

Tag groaned. “I just got rid of her. You can’t buy her info for money, man. She’ll want something sexual, and all my brothers are whiny losers who can’t give it up because they’re married and said vows and shit. And this new generation? You would think they’re a bunch of shrinking violet virgins. Ask them to fuck for information and you get a lecture on something about how their bodies make choices.”

“Boss, aren’t you the one who walked in here all self-righteous about the possibility of me hopping in Lisa’s bed to protect her?”

Tag stood up. “Did I? You must be mistaken because that totally doesn’t sound like me. I’ll get back to you about those reports. Have her at Top this afternoon. I’m sure Lincoln will be more than thrilled to have some help. Especially from Lisa.” He walked to the door. “And Remy, try to remember that plans can change. What you think you want and need, those things can change, and very quickly.”

“I don’t understand. Are you talking about the job?”

“I’m talking about life, brother. Take care of her. And get some damn food in her fridge. That’s sad. Send me the contract when you’re done and I’ll file it. That way Will can’t question your rights at Sanctum. Because he’s going to. You need to think about how you’re going to handle that whole family. Good luck. I wouldn’t want to deal with Bridget.” He closed the door.

He hadn’t thought about her family the night before. He’d been too busy thinking about how damn good it felt to finally sink into Lisa. It didn’t matter. They would have to accept the relationship or they could tell her the truth, and no one wanted Lisa freaking out and running headlong into danger. Will would simply have to see that his youngest sister was fully capable of making decisions for herself. And she’d decided on him.

He heard the shower running in the bathroom and suddenly food didn’t seem all that appealing. There was something he wanted way more.

God, this desire in his gut was like nothing he’d ever felt before. He’d thought it would be banked this morning after how well they’d fed it the night before. Instead, it was as though now he knew how good it was between them and his dick couldn’t wait. His dick had a taste and didn’t want anything else.