Briella
“I fucking knew it!”
“I can see why… look at that ass.”
“Ass? Look at those tits.”
Shit! I jump out of bed on high alert running after Colby without a second thought to covering up.
“For fucks sake, shut the door Colby!” I scream while trying to scramble for a blanket.
“I’ll kill them.” Colby growls… but shuts the door thank god.
“When you two are done playing house, we have some matters to discuss.” Marcus laughs.
I quickly wrap myself in a crumpled-up sheet on the floor. They could pop back in any second. I turn my head towards Colby and see him scowling at the door.
“Oh stop. They’re nice tits.”
“That’s not funny. Those bastards shouldn’t have seen what’s mine.”
“Yours?” I roll my eyes, I remember his comment from a few moments ago. While we’re here.
“And don’t forget it baby.” He lays a kiss on me before grabbing some gym shorts off the ground. “And put some clothes on, I can see your nipples straight through that bad boy.”
“Can’t have that now, can we?” I laugh but follow suit figuring I should get my ass covered as well.
Once Colby’s satisfied that I’m covered enough in my yoga pants and tank, of course he yelled at me when I put it on without a bra, so now my puppies are caged and we’re ready for this little pow wow that has come to our doorstep far sooner than it was supposed to.
Sky, Syd and Chantel are the first to barrel through the door straight for me. We all hug as they drop lines like god he’s hung, no wonder you’ve always had a crush on him, I bet he fucks like a stallion.
“Guys, we’ll talk later, preferably when we’re alone.” I let my eyes point in the direction of the guys so they know we have an audience.
“Gotcha. Alright gather round!” Chantel calls everyone over. “We ran into a bit of a situation that’s going to affect our living situation while we’re here.”
“What are you talking about? I booked the other huts.” I say in confusion.
“You did, but the people staying in the second one up the beach wanted to stay another week so I’m afraid to say we’re going to be seven bad ass super sleuths in two fucking huts.”
“We know this is definitely a fucking hut. DIBS!” Marcus laughs then groans after Colby punches him in the arm.
I know what’s coming and I can’t say I’m too thrilled. Living with Colby these past few days has been… easy. Like we’ve been doing it forever. But to expect Sky, Chantel and Syd to room with Marcus and Cross just isn’t logical. Poor Syd and Chantel would be cursing me out when Sky tried something on the sly with Marcus. If they’re even still a thing. I look over towards Marcus and see him eyeing my friend. Yup, he’s still into her. His eyes catch mine and I wink at him. Sucker. She’s a man eater. But I can tell by the side eye she’s giving him that she’s playing hard to get. I’ll have to remind her that’s something you do before the sex starts.
I laugh to myself and everyone looks my way. I clear my throat and give Colby my best I’m sorry face for what I’m about to say.
“The girls and I will take a hut and you guys can take another.” I shrug my shoulders trying to show indifference instead of the heart wrenching in my chest. While we’re here.
“No fucking way!”
“Colby, it’s the only way. And it’s probably best for this case.”
“What if they come after you ladies? You need to be protected.”
That angers me. As if we haven’t been trained. As if I can’t kick Colby’s ass if I needed to.
“Oh, I’m sorry. How silly of me. Ladies, how are we ever going to fend for ourselves without a big strong man around?” I use my fake sugary sweet southern accent. “Come on, help me pack.” The girls spring into action helping me get all my stuff.
I feel a hand around my wrist and stop. When I look up I give Colby my best fuck off eyes and when he starts to laugh I get even angrier. He knows how mad I get when people underestimate me or don’t take me seriously.
“Listen, you know I’m protective of you.”
I pull my arm from his grasp. “No worries Colby. We were just having fun. You should be happy to be rooming with your boys for the rest of the time.” I throw the last article of clothing in my bag and walk for the front door without a backwards glance. The girls are already waiting with some of my other bags. We don’t need the surveillance equipment because we’ll set up stuff in our own hut.
“After we get our stuff up and running, we’ll meet for breakfast in the morning. Does that work for you all?” Syd asks and is met with a bunch of hell yeah’s. “Good, see ya later boys.”
Once we step outside the door I take a deep breath.
“Bri, I don’t think he meant it that way.”
“I know, but this will make it easier.” I fight the tears back that are threatening to spill over.
“Make what easier?”
“When we’re back home and go back to being friends. If it hurts this much leaving him now, it’s better I distance myself for the rest of the trip and focus on what needs to get done for this case. We can’t afford any fuck ups.”
Syd throws her arm around my shoulder’s as we walk to our little hut just a short distance away. We arrive in two minutes and we’re set up an hour later. I’m dead to the world after that. It’s been a freaking day and I just want to sleep this off.
My eyes crack open as my phone rings on the table next to me. I turn to grab it and a twinge in my back makes me wince. I’m not sure if it’s from sleeping on the couch or Colby last night.
“Hello.”
“Be at the clearing on the south side of the beach in 15 minutes.” Calvin. That’s all he says before hanging up a second later.
“Shit!” I run around to find my shoes and tell the girls what’s going on. They’re all half groggy but jump out of bed in an attempt to help me.
“I think one of us should go with you.” Chantel states. “It’s not safe and we don’t know if we can trust him yet.”
“He doesn’t know you guys. I don’t want to give him a reason to run. Plus, you all could come in handy down the line if the opportunity arises.”
“I’m calling Colby then. Someone needs your back. What if it’s an ambush?”
“I’ll be fine mom. I have my baby with me.” I pat my Glock snuggly sitting in the waistband of my shorts and head out the door knowing full well they’ll call Colby and he’ll be right behind me. I can only pray he’s sleeping like the dead.
As I’m approaching where I think Calvin will be, I spot him between some palm trees. I slowly walk towards him to give myself a chance to scan the area for threats and try to get a lock on anything about to go down. Nothing looks suspicious, so I approach my uncle under the cover of the trees.
“What’s going on?”
“Not here, walk with me.”
But I don’t move. “Where?” I squint my eyes at the rising sun.
“I’m not going to double cross you Bri. I have some information and we’re in plain sight.”
“Fine, lead the way.”
We walk for several minutes until we’re in the middle of all the beach goers on the public beach on the other side of the island. It would be the perfect cover if Calvin were wearing something that blended in a little. No, he’s wearing a three-piece suit in this gorgeous 85-degree weather. I honestly can’t believe this many people are out and about all ready. Aren’t these people on vacation?
“I don’t have much time. My brother thinks I’m checking in on Nadia.”
“What’s up?”
“He has no idea who you are. But you have intrigued him. He hasn’t stopped talking about you…”
“Just say it.”
“He has a weird fascination with you and I’m worried it has to do with his business.”
“He thinks I’m pregnant. Who would pimp out a pregnant woman?” Not to mention I’m his daughter but I’m thankful he hasn’t figured that out yet.
“That’s like telling a guy like him to start his engines. He loves a good challenge. And you’d be surprised, some guys aren’t at all picky.”
“Fuck, that’s gross on so many levels. Did you hear anything else?”
“He knows the Mayor is watching him, last night was him sending a message that he’s onto him. He’s planning on getting the camera’s out today.”
“Let him, we’ll put in more.”
“Bri, you need to be careful. He’s a dangerous man and he has no sense of family, whether he recognizes you or not.”
“It wouldn’t matter. Something tells me I’d be in just as much danger if he knew.”
“Sadly, that’s true. I found out that he’s having a party tonight and he’s trying to hunt you and Colby down to give you an invite. The party’s a cover. They’re expecting a huge shipment to come in on the north side of the island at the docks and want to be inconspicuous. He’s already paid off a shit ton of people to ensure it goes unseen.”
“Well him showing up where we’re staying is less than ideal. We’ll figure something out. And ... well that’s all.” I almost tell him we have the team here already, but think better of it. A few tricks up our sleeves might be necessary at some point.
I go to get up and he does the same. We face off against each other and he smiles. “I hope this is the act of good faith you’ve been looking for.”
I study him for a moment. “I hope so too.”
Then I walk away and back towards my crew to discuss what we’re going to do. Because like it or not, we’re all a team for the time being and I need to stop acting like a brat.
I know I’m fucked when I get back to the clearing and see Colby. Staring right at me. Completely pissed off.
Ugh, I better get this over with.