Boiling Point (Crossing the Line #3)(68)

Austin slapped a hand over his heart. “This woman.”

Polly was silent a moment, cogs turning in her gorgeous head as she formed conclusions and filled in answers. She would have gotten there sooner, but she’d likely been too stunned in the squad meeting over Reitman to notice Derek’s behavior. “You gave Austin the case for a reason. You need us to get Reitman.”

Derek lifted a dark eyebrow. “And you both needed me to stay out of prison. Cutting me out to settle some f*cking vendetta isn’t an option.”

“What would you like to know, Captain?” Austin asked slowly. “If you’re not putting the kibosh on our operation, am I correct in assuming you want in?”

The captain nodded in Polly’s direction, smirking when Austin tightened his hold around her. “You’re not going along with this for Austin’s sake. You’ve got skin in the game, too.” A beat passed. “Reitman appears to be the one thing you two have in common. It took some digging since you erased your fathers’ financial records going back twenty years, Polly, but Reitman’s name was listed in the physical police report. Not everything is stored in a database.”

“I don’t like the way you’re speaking to her,” Austin said, his voice cracking like a whip. He was showing a weakness—his feelings for Polly—when they needed a solid front, but protecting her came first. Apparently his protectiveness extended to her feelings. The idea of her aching on the inside was intolerable.

Derek split a look between them, his cop mind working overtime. “Well played, Polly. Using Austin’s little crush on you to help settle a score.”

“That is bullshit. You insult us both by suggesting it,” Polly responded, hitting Austin with a meaningful look. He knew what she was asking, so he gave a simple, stiff nod, trying not to acknowledge the tidal wave of insecurity spurred on by the captain’s claim. “This is for Austin as much as it is for me. Reitman is using his proximity to Austin’s daughter to bring Austin out of the woodwork.”

Derek’s surprise was brief, but there nonetheless. Everything clicked into place on the captain’s face, like a blurry pond going perfectly still. “Gemma Klausky is your daughter,” he muttered, his attention on Austin. “I’m assuming you’re not close.”

That statement hit his mark, not that Austin let it show. “No. But Reitman has already stolen a small fortune from her family. The least I can do is not let it happen again.”

“Especially since you helped steal it the first time around. Am I right?” Derek tacked on, nodding when Polly stiffened against Austin’s side. “Right.”

Derek checked his watch and returned his arm to his side, the movement stiff. “What was the desired outcome tonight?”

It was obvious what Derek wanted to know. Were he and Polly planning on retaliating against Reitman by ending his life?

Good question. Justified, too, considering they were a pair of ex-cons. Unfortunately, it was a question Austin didn’t have an answer for. Yet. Because Austin knew Charles Reitman better than anyone in the world. And there wasn’t a chance in hell of the man being taken alive.

It would all come down to who pulled the trigger.

“We get what we came for,” Austin answered, steel in his tone. “And you get your man. Beyond that, we’re not willing to share. I’m more than happy to take Polly home right now and call tonight a wash. It would be a dreadful waste of my genius, but I will endeavor to recover.”

A tense silence passed, Chicago wind funneling down the sidewalk.

“My officers will stand down, but they’ll be ready to move at a moment’s notice.” Derek grated, already unclipping the two-way radio from his belt. Relief lifted its head inside Austin—after all, additional protection for Polly tonight was why he’d intentionally allowed Derek to remain on their trail—but panic ensued at the captain’s next words. “But I’m sending over an officer to put a wire on Polly.”

“Absolutely not,” Austin snapped. “You have no idea who we’re dealing with. If he sees or even suspects she’s not legit, he’ll…he could…”

Polly pressed her lips to Austin’s cheek when he couldn’t continue. “He won’t. You have to trust me.”

His instincts screamed for him to shoulder Polly and make for the closest train station. But he couldn’t. They were in it. Too late to turn back now. And part of him was glad he would be able to hear what took place, so he would know if Polly needed him. If she did, he would be removing her from the situation in seconds. “Make damn sure it’s a female officer putting the wire on her.”

“Start talking,” Derek prompted after barking a terse command into his radio.

“We don’t have much time,” Austin said briskly. “Driscol and his missus are waiting for us. Oh, and the disgraced cop you thrust into our midst.”

“Jesus,” Derek muttered. “I’m going to regret this.”

It was quite possible they all would.

…

Polly felt an invisible caress between her shoulder blades and knew it was Austin, watching her. Until now, she hadn’t been nervous. She trusted Austin, trusted the plan. But right before they’d parted ways, he’d kissed her. Not just kissed. He’d separated them from the group, tugged her into a doorway, and feasted on her mouth. He’d been so thorough, making savoring noises in the back of his throat, branding her with his tongue. She couldn’t stop replaying it in her head, remembering his expression as he’d pulled away. There wasn’t a name for how he’d looked at her. Or if there was, she hadn’t come up with it yet.