Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Gunner

M y target, Lennox, walks into the coffeehouse. Ten minutes pass before another ten. I watch the exit, scanning for her. She's been all over the fucking place today, and I've followed dutifully.

Which is a major pain in the ass in the middle of New York City.

I wish I had my bike.

It would make following her a fuck of a lot easier, but I'm currently in Maverick's truck.

He and I are working in shifts to keep our sanity. Also to keep the dogs from destroying the rental house. They do not enjoy being cooped up all the time.

And they shouldn't have to be.

This job fucking sucks.

I bang my head on the steering wheel and turn to eye the clock. Five minutes until the other team takes over.

This job isn't close contact.

The client is never supposed to lay eyes on me.

Something niggles at my instincts, to the point my leg starts shaking as my foot bounces against the floorboard.

How long does it take to get a coffee?

Especially at seven in the evening.

I'm guessing she's trying to caffeinate before work.

I followed her from a friend's house to her apartment, where I waited outside for the better part of three hours this afternoon.

Nothing set off my radar then.

Sighing, I shut off the truck and toss my door open.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I rip it out to see a message letting me know the other team is in position.

Fucking perfect.

Now, I just need to make sure Lennox didn't sneak out a different exit than the door she went in. Only, when I'm about ten feet from the door, she comes out with a massive iced coffee and a bag of what I would guess are pastries in the other hand.

I keep my head down, staring at my boots. It would be conspicuous as fuck to turn around and head back to the truck without going inside.

My hand catches in the handle, tugging the door to the coffee shop open.

Best of luck to the night team.

They can figure out how to keep track of Lennox without GPS assistance.

It's a pain in the ass.

The tech team at Assurance Security backs up nearly all our jobs. Merrick runs tech for the company, and even if we happen to lose eyes on a target, he's always able to follow them remotely.

I'm a cranky fucker under the best of circumstances, but this crowded-ass city isn't doing anything to help my surly disposition.

The coffee scent hits my nose as I realize I could have lost track of Lennox if she had left through the sidewalk exit, instead of the parking lot entrance she went in through.

I hate New York.

There's a small line at the counter, and I move to the back of it.

I guess I'll bring Maverick a frozen coffee. He drinks that shit day and night, and it never fucks with his sleep schedule like it would mine.

There are still several patrons in front of me as I rock on my boots. To my left, there's an opening that leads down three or four steps. My eyes widen when I spot the stacks of leather-bound books.

My mother loves classics.

She collects first editions and other specialty books. Really, anything with a story behind it.

She also has a special fascination with books chronicling the beginnings of pack formation across the world.

Packs didn't used to be the norm and…

I stumble down the bottom step as Brooklyn's hazel eyes meet mine. She leans against the glass counter next to the register.

The way the bookstore is set up, when you walk down the stairs, the checkout counter is on the right, with a small office behind it. On the left are the few tables, and straight ahead is a wall of books with more aisles off to the right.

I manage to catch myself without face-planting…but it's close.

This must be the universe telling me to take note.

It's not fucking around.

I've run into her twice after searching for her for six months.

Her mouth falls open as her eyes widen.

I shove my hands into the pockets of my coat to help hide the guns under each shoulder. It didn't even register that I'm still wearing them.

She takes a step back from the glass, and my heart races. Her long, dark waves fall around her shoulders as she moves.

Goddamn, she's even more radiant than I remember.

I stare at her for an awkward length of time before I get my shit together. The way her gaze slides from my head to my chest has me pulling my shoulders back.

I knew she was attracted to us that night.

She was shy, but the energy was on point.

Rarely do I find myself interested in anyone. It's why I took notice and also probably why my brain hasn't let go of finding her.

And here she is.

"C-Can I help you with something?" she asks, swallowing thickly.

My eyes narrow.

Is she really going to play it off like she doesn't remember me?

Her eyes dart past me, and something inside me screams to check.

My blood runs cold when I spot Avan motherfucking Barrett standing on the top step, like he's preparing to come down into the bookstore.

I paste on a plastic smile and focus back on Brooklyn. "Just looking for a gift for my mom. Do you happen to have any first editions or signed copies?"

"A couple," she says, swallowing thickly. "They're right back here, if you want to follow me."

Avan Barrett is here.

Brooklyn seems terrified to see him.

Lennox's sister is Avan's ex.

Reality slams into me like a ton of bricks.

How fucking jacked up is fate?

Apparently, the universe is fond of fucked-up coincidences.

Brooklyn grabs a chunky sweater off the back of the chair near the register and pulls it on as she walks around to exit the counter.

I glance over my shoulder, and Barrett is typing away on his phone.

Everything in me wants to end the threat right now, so Brooklyn never has to be afraid again.

However, here and now isn't the time or the place.

Not unless I want to go to jail for murder.

I focus on Brooklyn and follow her toward the opposite end of the store, but my mind races.

This entire situation just got majorly complicated.

Brooklyn shows me to a special case of books in the back. She fidgets, wrapping her sweater around her middle.

It's far from cold in the bookstore.

"These are the rarest books we've got." She gives a tight smile. "I'm so sorry. I forgot to bring the key to unlock it. Would you mind browsing for a second while I grab it?"

"I've got time," I say, glancing past her to see the mafia boss standing at the edge of the glass checkout counter. He's glaring down at his phone, but she's clearly concerned about his presence. "If you need to take care of that other customer, it's no problem."

"T-Thanks," she stutters, her gaze falling to the floor. "I'll be back."

Everything in me aches to follow her. Even knowing he's in her general vicinity has my instincts on the verge of acting like a feral alpha.

I blow out a heavy breath and focus on the books in the locked cabinet.

No matter how far I tilt my head, I can't seem to pick up what they're saying.

Customers browse, right?

Yeah, they sure fucking do.

There's no reason I should have to stay in one spot. I spin around, slowly perusing the shelf behind me before sliding my way closer to the checkout counter.

I don't push my luck, stopping a good ten feet away from where they stand.

"Why would you come here just to give me this?" Brooklyn asks, her tone shrill. "Seriously, a call or text would do."

"Brook…" His slimy voice makes me ache to stomp over and rip his head from his shoulders. "I hate to remind you, but you're the one who broke up with me."

"I did," she agrees. "And for good reason. You know what? I'm happy for you. Congratulations. Liberty and I will have to pass on attending."

I glance over my shoulder.

She shoves a card at his chest, but Avan refuses to take it.

"Bianca wants Libby to be our flower girl," he says, shoving her hand away. "She's my daughter too."

"A daughter you have seen exactly one time since getting a new girlfriend." Brooklyn's head shakes. "She's three. All this will do is confuse her."

"Bianca is my fiancée." He chuckles a cold sound that nearly has me unzipping my jacket for easier access to my Glocks. "You should be grateful that she's not pushing me to cut the two of you off completely."

Brooklyn makes a pained sound, and my fists clench at my sides. "If you're getting married, maybe it's time I take Libby and move back to North Carolina for good?—"

Avan lets out a growl that has my toes clenching in my boots to keep from pivoting and taking his head off.

I tilt my head to appraise the situation, but he's not looking at me at all.

I could end him right now without so much as putting Brooklyn at risk.

One shot and he'd be down.

Hell, the dagger in either boot would get the job done too.

"Don't fuck with me right now, Brooklyn," he growls, leaning over her. He has to be five or six inches taller than she is, which makes him short for an alpha.

He's also the lowest form of shit there is.

Any man who would use his size to intimidate a woman is a coward the world wouldn't miss.

And that's without everything else I know about him.

"You can't possibly understand the pressure I'm under. I'm doing what I have to do to keep all of us safe," he growls, slapping the invitation out of her hand.

I grab the first book I can snatch, with how bad my hands are shaking, and stomp toward the counter.

"I have a meeting, and Dustin is MIA again," Avan hisses. "I'll send you the information. Bring Libby to the dress shop to be fitted." He spots me and rolls his shoulders back in his expensive-as-fuck suit. "I think your customer is ready to check out." He chuckles, spins around, and jogs up the stairs.

I watch him make the right to exit toward the sidewalk, but I don't trust that he's gone. I slide around the omega and take the steps, sticking close to the right wall. Once I'm up the stairs, I peek around the corner.

Avan strides out the front door, and I head back to check on Brooklyn. Her eyes are glassy as she pastes on a smile that isn't the least bit convincing.

"Sorry about that. Are you all set, or did you want to check out something in the locked case?"

I frown, shaking my head as I approach.

"Are you really going to pretend like you don't know me?" I gently clutch her elbow, giving her a soft tug back toward the locked case.

She follows without a fight.

I drop the book I've been carrying on one of the shelves, tilting my head as I study her face. "Are you okay?"

Her head shakes, but she catches herself and nods. "I'm fine. I'm sorry I left that night without saying goodbye."

I sigh but try to keep my tone light. "I'm not going to lie and say it didn't hurt, but that was because Maverick and I felt a real connection to you. We did try to find you…" I frown. "In a non-creepy way."

Her nose wrinkles as she studies my face. "I didn't think you'd give me a second thought after you realized I was gone."

I scoff. "You obviously don't understand how rare it is that Maverick and I are attracted to the same woman."

"I am sorry," she whispers. "I felt guilty. I liked you both as well, but I panicked." She gestures back toward where she was talking to Avan only a few minutes ago. "I was trying to save you from getting tangled up in all of that."

"I'm more tangled up in that than you know," I mutter, swiping a hand over my face.

"W-What?" she whispers, taking a step back.

Ahh, fuck.