His to Take (Wicked Lovers #9)(69)
Author: Shayla Black

“That’s really fucking creative,” Stone drawled.

The assassin’s assumed name was the least of Joaquin’s worries, especially when Sean set a picture on the desk—an eerie match for the police sketch. “Callie had this in her files. I think he’s a dead ringer.”

Agreed. “You think he has any idea Bailey is here at Dominion? Or do you suspect he’s planning some nefarious shit at your wedding?”

“Could be either.” And Sean looked absolutely livid about that.

“I eluded these people for years. I think it’s far more likely he’s got vengeance on his mind and wants to hurt me,” Callie said. “How could he possibly know Bailey’s whereabouts?”

“We’ve been very careful about that,” Sean added.

“Except the night the girls went to the front of the club while the members were playing. Do we have a list of who was there that night?”

“Yeah. I’ll have Axel pull that. In the meantime, show this sketch to Bailey. Maybe she saw this guy prowling around her house or her dance company before you intervened. And it’s a long shot, but maybe, if he was involved in her family’s death in any way, his face will trigger her memories.”

Joaquin took the sketch from Sean, wishing like hell he could spare Bailey all this danger and drama and upheaval. Right now, he’d rather not show her the face of a dangerous killer, then ask her questions about her distant past. She’d been so fragile tonight. It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford to break her; the investigator in him should have sensed her weakness and pounced for blood. But the man in his skin now couldn’t bear to hurt her anymore.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have any other option if he wanted to keep her safe.

“I’m on it. I’ll let you know what she says. Anything else?”

Sean shook his head.

“Not from me.” Stone stood. “I’m heading down the street. I know a stripper who will give me a decent blow job for fifty bucks. She doesn’t usually work on Tuesdays. See you around.”

As he disappeared, Sean made his way to the door with Callie in tow, holding back a laugh, then looked at Hunter. “Great coworker you’ve got.”

“Tell me about it.” Hunter scoffed. “Jack hires really brilliant former operatives, but some have the personality of a bleeding hemorrhoid.”

“The way your brother tells it, yours isn’t much better,” Sean teased.

“Yeah? Logan can kiss my ass, too.”

The two men laughed before Sean stuck out his hand to Hunter. “Thanks for coming to help make Thorpe’s day special. I think Callie and I are going to round up the old man so he and I can tuck our lovely into bed.”

She smiled as if nothing would make her happier.

Hunter shook his hand. “Thanks for the invite. I’m going to take my wife and find a hotel. It’s too late to drive back tonight.”

“Here.” Sean fished into his pocket and tugged out a set of keys. “Crash at the house. There are six bedrooms. Thorpe, Callie, and I won’t be far behind you. If you see your brother, tell him that he and Tara are welcome there, too. Xander, London, and Javier are going to stay.”

“You sure?”

“What are friends for?”

Hunter pocketed the keys. “Thanks.”

“We’ll be back in the morning,” Sean said to Joaquin. “If you need anything—”

“I have your number.”

“Good. See you tomorrow.”

Sean and Callie left then, presumably to find Thorpe so they could cuddle up for the night. Joaquin felt a bit of envy. What would it be like to have a house to share with loved ones? To invite friends to crash there for a night? To spread out and call some place home?

“Do me a favor?” Hunter said now that the two of them were alone.

“What?”

“I know you have to see Bailey tonight and run that sketch by her. Go easy.”

“You’re just full of ‘helpful’ advice tonight.” His brother-in-law’s attitude crawled up his back. “Obviously, you think I’m an unfeeling bastard. Why don’t you do me a favor? Give it a rest until you know who you’re dealing with.”

Hunter looked equally annoyed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m pretty sure I already know, and I wouldn’t have gone with unfeeling bastard. But since you did, it’ll work. It pretty much describes how you’ve behaved.”

“You don’t understand the situ—”

“I do. Look, you lost a parent. It hurt. I get it. I lost my mom, too, and it—”