Say the Word(120)

Lux: I’ll be down in a second.





***


I tripped more than once on the too-large sweatpants I’d borrowed from Bash’s closet, but eventually I made it downstairs to the parking garage. Stepping out of the elevator, I spotted the limo immediately — as well as my best friend, who was leaning against it with an amused smile on her face, totally unbothered by the fact that it was three in the morning. She was dressed in all black again — her designer version of “stealth attire” — and exuding a poised, confident air. Or, at least, she was until she caught sight of me in Bash’s clothes.

“Ohmigod!” Her smile was so wide and bright I feared it might blind me. “You totally got some.”

“Shut up,” I grumbled coming to a stop next to her.

“I need details. Like, very explicit, graphic, step-by-step details of everything that happened since I last saw you.” She grinned. “Simon is gonna flip! He owes me twenty bucks.”

“You two bet on whether or not I’d have sex with Bash tonight?”

She nodded. “Simon thought you’d hold out till after Centennial, but my money was on tonight!”

“That is beyond disturbing. You do realize that, right?”

“Yeah, I know.” She shrugged, still grinning. “But I’m pretty sure you should be eternally indebted to me, since I was the one who found that bustier and garter set on sale.” She arched an eyebrow at me as a scarlet blush stole across my cheeks. “Oh yeah, you totally owe me, you little slut.”

“Was this the reason you dragged me out of bed and away from the best sex of my life at three in the morning?” I asked.

“No, it’s not the reason,” Fae said, sighing.

“Then what is it?”

The sound of the back window rolling down in the limo had both of us swiveling our heads in the direction of the automated glass pane. A male voice called out from the back seat. “That would be me. I’m the reason.”

Fae rolled her eyes. “No need to be so dramatic, Gallagher.”

“No need to waste my time, Montgomery,” the man fired back.

My brows went up.

“Just get in the car. He’ll explain everything better than I can,” Fae said, pulling open the back passenger door and climbing inside the dark limo. After a brief moment of deliberation, I sighed and followed her in. As I settled onto the seat on the right side of the car, I was surprised to see an attractive man with stunning blue eyes, a day’s worth of stubble, and well-mussed, overgrown black hair falling over his eyes, sitting in the seat directly across from me. He was probably in his late twenties or early thirties, wearing a rumpled black suit that needed some serious attention from an iron.

“Ms. Kincaid?” he asked.

I nodded.

“I’m Agent Gallagher.” The man leaned forward and extended his hand, and I shook it hesitantly after a quick glance at Fae. She nodded reassuringly. “I’m with the FBI. I believe Fae told you about me?”

“Oh, wow,” I stammered, casting a scathing glance at Fae. “Yes, sir, I’m sorry — Fae didn’t warn me you’d be coming. I would’ve dressed…” I trailed off, mortified by the fact that I wasn’t even wearing a bra in front of this super-hot, deadly-serious federal agent. Really, couldn’t she have given me even a five-minute head’s up?

“Not a problem, Ms. Kincaid. I’m sorry to wake you at this hour, but I needed this meeting to be as private as possible.” His eyes were beautiful but held no humor or comfort. “I work with the New York field office, in the Organized Crime unit.” He flashed a shiny gold badge at me from across the limo.

“You’re the one who got the dossier on Labyrinth,” I said, putting the pieces together. I turned to Fae. “This is your guy.”

She nodded, and a small smile twitched her lips up at the corners.

Agent Gallagher cast a brief glance at her from his peripherals, before turning his attention back to me. “Ms. Kincaid, I’ve been aware of your investigation for a while now.”

“You have?” I was dumbfounded.

“Believe me, you’re not the only one who’s been keeping close watch on that brewery. I’ve been working this case for nearly two years now, and before my partner died, he worked it for five.” Sadness flickered in the depths of his eyes. “I nearly pulled you out of there twice, afraid you were going to jeopardize my entire investigation.”

“Oh, jeeze.” I gulped. “I’m sorry, Agent Gallagher, I had no idea…”

“I know.” He nodded in acknowledgement. “But these are dangerous people, Ms. Kincaid. You can’t get too close without disappearing. My partner was a good man, but he stepped on too many toes. Made a lot of enemies.”

“So that’s why you’re here? You want me to back off?” I asked, beginning to deflate at the prospect.

Agent Gallagher leveled me with a serious look. “Not exactly,” he said, leaning forward. His eyes were suddenly intense. “I’ve been trying to get eyes inside Labyrinth for months, with no success. I don’t have enough cause for a search warrant, and breaking in would be impossible — it’s a fortress. Every perimeter is closely monitored by armed guards and more cameras than you can count. You can’t get in unless you’re a member.”