Chapter 13

It'd been over a week since I'd returned from Los Angeles, and almost as long since I'd been with Shelby. We talked briefly, mostly through text message, and it was only when I'd threatened to visit her the night before that she told me she had a family member from out of town visiting her. Wanting to respect her time and privacy, I'd let it go and tried not to bother her much.

Once upon a time, I'd been very causal even with those submissives at Syn. I rarely ever scened with the same female more than just a couple of times, and I certainly didn't message them when away from the club. I had no idea why this woman was so different, but she was. I really liked her which was an oddity for me.

When back in Los Angeles, the other agents had tried convincing me to go with them to some of the strip clubs when not on duty, but I'd declined their invitations and spent the nights in my hotel room talking to Shelby. It had been much different back in Texas when I'd not accompanied those men to those types of clubs, but even went to a hotel with one of the dancers afterward.

"I'm turning into the others," I said aloud as I thought about Caine, Lucien, and Hawke.

The last thing I wanted was to turn in my bachelor card for a life of domestication, even if it was with a woman I couldn't keep my hands off. The very thoughts I had of Shelby kept me hard, and I'd spent way too much time in recent days getting myself off with my hand when I could've very well invited her to Syn to help me with those needs.

Only I couldn't because she had an out of town guest. It didn't mean I had to stay home just because she did, though. Upon realizing that, I got dressed and headed to Syn. After I parked in the nearby garage, I sat in my car for several minutes. Finally, I shook my head, then got my key fob out with my membership card.

Caine was off this evening so Bruce and a new guy were manning the doors. I almost wondered if the mammoth had been placed there intentionally. Hawke had rightfully been very concerned about the death outside of his club. Ayden had managed to keep it on the low at the moment because I'd heard nothing about it on the news, and I'd been watching the local shows religiously to see what was revealed.

All work had made me irritated, and tonight it would be time to play. I entered the club and decided to check in on Hawke. I didn't see him in the main area of the club, but I did see Ryder. I walked over to the blond. "Where's your bossman?"

"Hawke's in his office."

"You think he would mind if I bothered him for a minute. I want to check in on the case."

"No, I don't think so. He's made me beef up security around here, and I can tell it is all worrying him," he offered up to me.

"Yeah, it's worrying me as well. I'll go check in on him."

I turned and headed down another hallway, this time away from the private rooms I wished I was headed back to instead. Maybe it was the scent or sounds of sex in the air, but this club always made me hard, and kept me that way, too. I ignored all of that and focused on what I needed to do before finding a pussy to sink balls deep into. I made it to Hawke's door, then knocked loudly.

"Who is it?" I heard from behind the heavy wood.

"It's Easton," I replied.

I didn't hear anything at first, but the door swung open. The man stepped aside so I could enter, then closed the door. He pointed to a chair, then made his way back to his own behind his desk.

"Tell me that you've heard something," he said.

"I was hoping you would have something to share with me. I–" Before I could finish what I was about to say, my cell phone started to vibrate. I glanced down and could see who it was. "I need to take this. Do you mind?"

I needed to take it there in his office because I didn't want my boss to hear the sounds of the club which could be heard in the hallways. It was only behind these soundproof doors that the rest of the world ceased to exist.

Hawke motioned for me to take it, and I answered quickly. "What do you have for me tonight, Warden?"

Bob grunted across the line. "Watch it, Bradford."

I smiled at that. "Have you got the preliminaries back yet on the pills from California? "

"I have, but not only those. I was able to get the pill in evidence there in Denver tested."

"What did you find?" I asked, and I could tell that Hawke was about to say something but I held up one finger to silence him momentarily.

"They are one and the same. We believe this is another variant of rainbow fentanyl."

"Fuck," I said knowing how hard the DEA had been working to try to get those particular pills off of the streets. Most came from Mexico, but some had come from other areas such as South America and Europe. "It would describe why the coloring is different."

"It's not the only thing. Those pills were also laced with Xylazine–"

"Tranq," I said referencing its name on the street.

The drug was authorized exclusively for veterinary use, but recreational use had become more common. As a muscle relaxant, it was non-opioid but when mixed with substances like heroin, cocaine, or fentanyl, it could have very deadly consequences. As witnessed by the known cases in California and here in Denver, there was no telling how far its reach truly was which was terrifying. When combined with synthetic opioids like fentanyl, it could decrease respiratory function even more causing the user to stop breathing.

"Yes, and it's spreading rapidly. We've also uncovered this drug in the Midwest and along the entire Eastern seaboard. It's much deadlier than fentanyl alone which we already know is quite lethal."

"Have you gotten any other leads on the woman in Los Angeles or the one here in Denver?"

"We have, and I actually have a name to go with it."

"Then spit it out," I said.

"I will, especially since she's there in Denver right now."

"Who is she?"

"I'm sending everything to your email so be sure to check it, but the suspected trafficker is Shelby Prescott, or Gemini as she is known in other parts."

"What? You can't be serious."

"I am. I'll send you her demographics, but just know that we have surveillance on her currently, and we'll share that with you to help the investigation. We need to bring her in soon, but I don't want us to get caught with our pants down again."

The analogy was very fitting because the last time I'd seen the woman, it was exactly where my pants had been. I couldn't let Bob know that we were intimately acquainted. I knew what my boss was referencing because we'd compromised an entire case by bringing in a lower level associate hoping for a flip. We had nothing to charge the kid with, and after letting him go, he proceeded to tip off others, then killed himself to avoid prosecution. It'd taken us almost nine additional months to find those he worked for, and to arrest them.

I wanted to tell him that wouldn't be necessary with this one, but I couldn't. It would just bring up questions I had no desire to answer. My membership at Syn was strictly of a professional nature, and not something I openly shared with anyone I worked with, even the agents I constantly did missions with.

"I'll be discreet and let you know what I find out. Send her information to me."

"Alright. It's on its way now. I'll talk to you again soon."

"Goodbye," I said as the line disconnected. I then stared down at my cell phone. "It can't fucking be. There has to be a mistake."

"A mistake? What is wrong? Who was that? What did they say?" Hawke asked in a barrage of questions. When I didn't answer a single one, he stood up. "Easton!"

I looked up at the man I considered a friend, and not wanting to out Shelby especially before I could investigate her for myself, I had to think quickly. "That was my boss. He's going to send some information to me on a particular suspect."

"Who is she?"

"I don't think it's anyone you need to worry about. I'll look into her, and if I detect a link between her and Syn, I'll let you know. For now, I came to enjoy the night but I wanted to check in on you."

"You also mentioned the drugs. What about them?"

"It looks like the mission I'm working on in California is connected to Denver which is good."

"How so?" Hawke asked me.

"If it's the same drug and possibly the same woman, I don't have to split my time between two cases and can work on them both at the same time."

"That sounds like a win/win. Do keep me informed of whatever you find out."

"I will," I assured him. "Will you do me a favor, though?"

"Anything. Just name it," he told me.

"Are there any empty rooms tonight?"

"I think most are filled up, but let me check." Hawke walked back to his desk and after scrolling down a list on his computer, he raised his head. "Room Three is open. You want me to put you down for it?"

"Yes," I told him. "And will you have my standard list of items brought in?"

"Will do."

"Thanks," I told him before walking to the door.

"Easton," Hawke called out to me.

"Yes," I said without turning around.

"I appreciate everything you've done to help me with this matter. As you know, I haven't always believed in your side of the law, but I'm glad to have put my trust in you. You're a good agent, and someone I'm glad to call a friend."

"I feel the same about you, Hawke. I'll get to the bottom of everything and help weed the riff raff from inside and outside the club. Thanks for the room. I'll put it to good use tonight."

He chuckled. "I'm sure you will."

I chuckled back, then exited his room. I immediately pulled up Shelby's number and decided to call her versus texting her this time. The phone rang a few times, but she eventually answered.

"Easton. How are-"

"I need you now," I told her. "I'll be in Room 3. Be here within the next half hour."

"I have com-"

"It's important. I can't go another night without seeing you... or touching you... or fucking you... Don't stand me up or else I'll come for you." I then disconnected the call.