CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tuesday, September 17TH
Lucky twisted her hands as she walked toward Hank’s office and prayed he was going to grant her request. Knocking on the frame of the door, she stuck her head in. “Do you have a couple of minutes?”
Looking up from his desk, he gave her a smile. “Sure, I’m just going through an after-action report from the assignment Brandon and Ed just completed.”
Sliding into a chair that faced the desk, she sat up and cleared her throat. “Hank, I need a couple of weeks off, starting tomorrow.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yes, it’s just that…”
“You’re making me nervous and that’s not an emotion I’m familiar with, so tell me what’s going on, so we can work it out.”
“You know that I’ve not been able to let go of this Vazov thing since I discovered what kind of scum sucking human being he is and there’s a chance that I can unlock the puzzle if I go to Brussels.”
“Start from the beginning, Lucky, so I know what we’re dealing with.”
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. “I’ve been digging into Vazov’s activities on and off since Belikov was taken down back in June by the FBI. The human trafficking he controls is abhorrent and knowing about it and not doing anything to stop him is not acceptable.”
“Understood, Lucky, but we’re not the FBI, CIA, or NSA, and our ability to take down a Russian pakhan is limited at best.”
“I know, Hank, but I figured if I uncovered some intel that could be used by one of those agencies, then it might speed up his downfall.”
“Okay, that makes sense, but you can stay in Chicago and do all the digging you need. You’ve always told me that what we have set up could rival what the NSA has, and if that’s true, there’s no need to go to Brussels.”
“There has been a development that will allow me greater access to one of the shell companies Vazov controls in Brussels and I want to take advantage of it.”
“And how did this opportunity for greater access occur?”
“Griffin happens to be there and the client he’s working for is a private bank that holds the accounts for one of the shell companies. He called me this morning with the discovery because he knows how important this thing is to me.”
“And what happens when someone discovers what you two are up to?”
Leaning back, she slapped her hand against her chest. “Do you think I’m some novice hack who would allow that to happen?” Narrowing her eyes, she shook her head. “Grif and I are masters at writing invasive software and if I wanted to invade a foreign country via the Dark Net, then I could. I’ve done it before, and finding the command-and-control structure isn’t that hard.”
“You scare me a little when you talk like that, Lucky.”
“Don’t worry. I would never do it because I figure it would be against company policy.”
“There is that,” he replied as he drummed his fingers on his desk. “I don’t have a problem with the time off, but I’m real uncomfortable if you go unescorted.”
“Having one of the guys go would be too obvious. My best cover is not having one.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“Grif and I have been friends since we were teenagers and were in a relationship for over a year, so us working together isn’t going to raise any flags. Before I came to work for you, he and I collaborated all the time. If anyone got suspicious of my arrival, they could do their due diligence and discover we’ve been partners on and off since we were in college.”
“What about your affiliation with SAI?”
“I’ve buried anything that ties me with the company and someone could do a deep dive into my background and find only what I want them to. I know how this shit works and I’ve done what’s necessary to obfuscate what I do.”
She watched Hank move the papers around on his desk and knew he was going to agree to her request, but she didn’t know if he would let her go alone. And she needed to because the last thing she was going to do was put someone in danger because of her obsession. “I’ll check in daily with my team and run things remotely, and if anything big comes along, then Phoebe can handle it.”
“That’s the woman who worked here for a couple of weeks before Ivy stole her from us, right?”
“Yes, and I’m still mad about it.”
“You can have time off, Lucky, but I don’t feel comfortable letting you go without backup.”
“I know, but the team is fully committed through the end of the year and it doesn’t make sense to have someone tag along ‘just in case,’ so it’s not an option.”
Hank crossed his arms and grinned. “I bet Sam is going to flip his lid and either go himself or make sure someone from the Brussel’s legal attaché keeps an eye on you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“The FBI has offices around the globe and the legats are located in U.S. embassies, so when you tell him about your plan, I’m sure he’s going to make arrangements for security.”
“Any advice on how to tell him the news?” The sound of a booming guffaw filled the room and she knew it wasn’t because she’d said something funny. “Come on, Hank, that’s not going to help me.”
“Nothing is going to help you because he’s going to lose his mind. The way he was looking at you at lunch yesterday broadcasted that he’s enamored with you and that means he considers you his responsibility.”
“That’s bananas. I’m a strong capable woman and I’m responsible for myself.”
“True, but your boyfriend is a former Tier One operator and that means he’s wired to protect and there’s nothing he’s going to protect more than the woman he’s fallen for.” Lifting his finger, he pointed it at her. “And that’s you.”
“Yeah, I kind of already figured that out by the way he’s behaving.” Standing, she gave him a smile. “I’ll make sure to get my staff ready before I leave tomorrow.”
“Leave all the details of your trip with Kaye and unlock your phone and watch so we can track you.”
“All right, I’ll sync everything up in the morning.” She walked out of the office and felt relief that she’d cleared one hurdle and then she remembered that a bigger one was right in front of her. Sighing, she strolled back to her office and decided to call her mom first because she wanted to put off the conversation with Sam until they both had a drink in their hands.
***
“Say something, Sam.” The tapping of his perfectly polished wingtip was starting to get on her nerves and she hated the feeling of waiting for his approval. The truth was, he had no say in what she did or didn’t do, and his pique had better end soon.
Looking around her favorite bar, The Violet Hour, she noticed many familiar faces. It had been a regular spot for her and Stazi to meet for an after-work drink and they hadn’t been in a while.
“Why don’t you trust me to do my job?”
“What are you talking about?”
Putting his hand on her leg, he leaned forward. “My team and I are going to succeed, and for you to go to Brussels on some half-baked lead doesn’t make any sense.”
“If there is even a small chance to have access to Vazov’s business empire, then I think it’s worth it.” Before she could say more, the waitress came by and Sam ordered them another round along with some food. “I’m on no one’s radar and so there’s no reason to believe this trip would constitute any kind of risk.”
“We haven’t talked about what happened this weekend and what it means, and I think we should.”
Looking from side to side, she shook her head. “I’m not discussing that in public.”
“I’m not talking about the physical connection but the emotional one. What I said to you on Saturday night and then again on Sunday stands. You are mine, and it’s my job to protect you and make sure you’re as safe and happy as possible.”
“Did I agree to that?” Seeing him move closer and take her hand let her know that flippancy wasn’t going to be tolerated.
“I know you remember what you said along with the connection we created together, so please don’t insult us by pretending it doesn’t mean anything.” He lifted her chin and pressed a kiss to her mouth. “This isn’t some bullshit casual dating thing that’s happening.”
“Sam…”
“No, Lucky, I’m not going to back off and pretend like this is no big deal.” He moved closer and put his mouth next to her ear. “Our bodies were as close as two could be both figuratively and literally, and when I left my mark on you and made you forget to breathe it was about melding us together so that nothing could separate us. There’s passion, sex, love and then there’s the thing we created.”
The heat of his breath warmed her skin, and no matter how much she wanted to deny the connection, she couldn’t. This thing that was happening was the real deal and she couldn’t disrespect it by not taking his concerns into consideration. “How can I make this situation okay?”
He looped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her closer. “By working together. You’re not a lone wolf and I’m sure we can come up with a solution that makes us both happyish.”
“Compromise.”
“Yes, ever heard of it?”
Pushing her hand into his chest, she let out a laugh. “I have, and sarcasm isn’t an ingredient.” He kissed the side of her head and gave her a smile that made her stomach flip over. He’d been giving them to her since the day they met, and it wasn’t any less potent today than it had been a year ago.
“Lucky, you’re worth the chaos and I pray to God I survive.”
She patted his leg and said, “If you don’t feel a little bit of fear, then is it really living?”
“No, and I knew when you both turned me on and made me wonder if I’d survive that you were the one for me.”
Their drinks and food were delivered, and Lucky picked up her glass and held it up. “Here’s to unlikely alliances and surviving them.”
They tapped glasses and then Sam set his down. “Start with the phone call from Grif and don’t leave anything out.”
Pursing her lips, she wagged her finger. “I’ll let you command me when we’re naked but don’t think it’s going to happen when it comes to this.”
“That’s funny, Lucky.”
“It wasn’t meant to be.”
“I know and please understand that when it comes to keeping you safe, I’m always in command, so start talking, woman, and let’s figure out how to do this.”
Smoothing out her hair, she looked around the room and tried to come up with an argument and couldn’t. “I’ll let it go this one time.”
“Whatever you need to tell yourself,” he responded quietly.
“I just gave you the win, the least you can do is accept it graciously and not crow about it.”
“You’re right, honey…always.”
That was the best she could hope for, so she began filling him in on what she knew and hoped they could both survive the collaboration.