Cole

Molly’s been at this gig for two months now. There’s been little time for anything else since then.

Three nights a week, I’ve parked my ass on the same bar stool with a glass of whiskey and watched her every move. Dallas told her all the strippers start as waitresses, but I’m not sure that’s any fucking better. The sleazeballs in that place can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves. Friendzone or not, the men at that place have a hard time understanding personal space.

Showing Cody exactly what’s been going down at the club only fuels my anger.

“You still think this is a good idea, Cody?” I look over at my younger brother as he reviews the camera footage I was able to get last night when I took Jade with me for Ladies Night. Thank fuck Molly wasn’t working because Jade’s behavior was odd enough the whole time. If I had to keep Molly safe too. I would have never survived the night.

“It was a great idea, right up until you forgot to turn off the camera while you fucked Jade in the backroom. How the hell did you get back there though?”

I squeeze my eyes closed and blow out a breath before I turn off the video. “First, I wasn’t actually fucking her. Second, we snuck back there.”

“Pretty convincing performance. That aside...you have to admit that the tiny pieces of information Molly’s been feeding us are gold. And this video gives a solid layout of the place.”

“Yeah well, help me figure this shit out before they put her up on that stage. Otherwise, our cover may be blown when I explode on those shit bags.”

“We can switch off, I can go a few nights.” Cody smiles smugly at me.

I reward his smartass attitude with a smack on the back of his head. “Not a chance in hell I’m letting you watch her take her clothes off.”

“Hey, Cole. I do have one question,” Cody askes, just before I step out of the conference room.

“What?”

“You didn’t want Molly to step foot in that place, much less get involved. Why is Jade different?” He smirks.

“Cody. I’m tired and really don’t want to kick your ass again today. Drop it.”

Jade is different. Cody doesn’t need to know why. What she witnessed at The Landing Strip, is nothing compared to the world Jade is used to.

“You’re an asshole.” My little brother so pleasantly reminds me.

Flipping him the finger over my shoulder, I keep moving down the hallway. I’ve got other projects I need to check in on, and I need to pay a visit to Smitty and his little family today too.

“I’m out for the rest of the day Molly. Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency. Cody can handle anything that comes up. I’ll see you tonight.” I tell her as I run my hand along the receptionist desk, pausing only for a brief moment to make sure she’s heard me.

She responds with an eye roll and goes back to typing away on the keyboard in front of her. I’m lucky if she’s said more than a sentence to me since I hung out at her apartment last. Apparently, she also doesn’t appreciate my constant asking if she’s ready to quit, among other things.

Too bad. I don’t appreciate the fact that she’s letting other men touch her either.

Stepping outside, I let the warm sun soak into my skin while I walk to my truck.

I’m turning out of the parking lot when Smitty answers my call, and his voice fills the Bluetooth speakers inside the cab. “You up for a ride?”

His laughter echoes around me. “I’m always up for a ride.”

“My place in twenty?”

“Hell yeah.”

I can always count on Smitty to be ready to saddle up and put some miles on our hogs.

The line disconnects and almost immediately another call rings through. Molly’s name lights up my in-dash screen.

Fucking woman. It hasn’t been ten minutes. I know damn well it’s not an emergency and no matter how bad I want to ignore it, I won’t. Instead, I hit the talk button on the steering wheel.

“This better be worth it Molly.”

“I’m heading to The Landing Strip,” she hesitates. “Dallas called us all in for a meeting.”

Slamming my first on the steering wheel, I let out a curse. At the corner, I make a sharp U-turn, heading for the hell hole. “I’m on my way. Play it cool. Tell me Cody’s with you.”

“I’m here, her car wouldn’t start so we’re in my truck,” he speaks up. “She’s going to tell him I’m the boyfriend and we were together when he called. I’ll try to get inside, but if not, I’ve got eyes and ears on her.”

Thank fuck the kid has some common sense. “I’ve got my laptop in the back seat. I’ll hang back. Cody, you get as close as you can.”

“Cole,” Molly’s voice shakes.

“We’re playing ball, Molly. Too late now.” I hate forcing her into this. I can tell that she’s second guessing everything now.

“I can’t...”

“Molly, you signed up for this. There is no backing down. If your gut is telling you that something is up, that’s because it probably is. You have to go in there now and see what he wants.”

What Molly doesn’t know, is that there is movement happening today. Shipments are coming in. Dallas called this meeting so he would have an alibi. No doubt about it.

“Cody, help her keep it together. Molly, if shit goes down, get out. Fuck everything else, just get out.”

If I stay on the line a minute longer, I’m going to say something stupid. Ending the call with Molly and Cole, I quickly call Smitty back.

“Change of plans. Go back home.”

“Fuck that. I’ll ride solo,” Smitty answers me.

No. Goddamnit, can’t people listen to me?

“Smitty, take your ass back inside the fucking house and stay close to your wife and kids. Got it.”

“Son of a bitch,” he mutters.

“Yeah, that son of a bitch.” Thankfully he understands and trusts me. “Call the backup line for me and tell them to roll out. Something’s off. I’m not trusting what’s going down. I’ve got to go.”

As soon as I’m tucked away in a hideout nearby that I scouted out as a safe place, I reach behind me and pull out my laptop. It takes mere minutes before I’m up and running. The first thing I notice is that Cody’s not inside. The message that instantly pops up on my screen confirms it.

Fuck.