Nurturing Britney (Surrender Book 7) by Becca Jameson (best books to read fiction .TXT) 📗

“You know the cops don’t operate like that.”

“Of course, I do,” Blade tosses back. “Why do you think we didn’t even call this in?”

Gordon sighs. “I get it. I do. But at the precinct, we have to work within the law and with limited resources.”

“How many women have been abducted and sold so far?” Blade asks.

“Not sure. At least three.”

“I’m up to six,” Blade tells him, posturing.

“Fuck.”

“Yep. One a year. Could go back farther. That’s as far as I’ve gotten.”

I turn to Gordon. “Do you know who the buyer is?”

“Not yet, but it’s someone from the Middle East. Lazinski is supposed to bring Britney to a rendezvous point this Saturday. The buyer comes personally that day. He likes to approve of his purchase before he hands over the money.”

“Fuck. This Saturday?” I stiffen. That’s not much time. “He was vague with me. Didn’t give me a specific date.”

Gordon nods. “I had to do some digging to figure that out myself. Eavesdropping mostly.”

“And what about Lazinski?” I ask. “I assume he’s a middleman too. He’s laundering a lot of money, but not as much as he’s receiving.”

Gordon nods. “You’re right. Don’t know the answer to that yet either.”

“Is the buyer always the same?” Blade asks.

“Can’t tell you that either, but it seems like a specific arrangement. Yearly, as you noticed. The women are all…similar.”

“Yeah, we got that.”

Gordon shakes his head slowly. “I’m guessing Lazinski isn’t interested in more than one transaction a year. He doesn’t want to arouse suspicion among his employees—the other women, I mean—nor does he want to get caught. He’s making just enough money to look legit.”

“We gathered that too,” Blade says. “His club is underwater otherwise.”

“Exactly.”

“Shit.” I turn and shove through the front door, remembering Cindy is across the street freaking the fuck out. I glance both ways and then run across the road. Hudson is there. Not surprising. Glad she called him.

Hudson lifts his gaze to me. “What the hell?”

“It’s all good now. Well, sort of. The man who tricked Cindy into letting him into the back room pretending he was working for me is an undercover cop.”

Hudson pulls Cindy tighter into his side. “Scared the fuck out of me.”

“I know. I lost several lives myself.”

“You can come back inside now. We’re done sharing information.” I motion for them to follow. “I am going to upgrade your security though, and for the love of God, keep the front door locked when you’re not open and always have another employee with you. You shouldn’t be here alone.”

Hudson nods. “The only reason I agreed to her coming in early today was because she was meeting with you.” He turns to look down at her and tips her chin so that she’s forced to meet his gaze. He says nothing else, but I know that look and the one she returns. She’s going to have a very sore bottom tomorrow.

Cindy is one of the most private people I know. Few people are aware of her lifestyle preferences. The only reason I’m aware is because of a terrible mistake I made years ago, one that hurt her. Now, I would never breathe a word to a living soul, nor would I point out the obvious out loud. It’s their business.

It will be beyond ironic, however, if in the end, Britney stays with me as my little and continues working for Cindy. I wonder if there’s any chance in the future they might share their secret with each other. Plus, there’s the added problem that Cindy, Hudson, and I all belong to Surrender. If Britney stays with me, I’ll want to take her to the club.

I’m going to have to consider all this after the crisis is averted and talk to Hudson before I make a move. The truth is that if Hudson says he doesn’t want Britney to know about Cindy, I’ll have to honor that and drop my membership.

I shake these thoughts that are for another day and jog back across the street while the two of them head to move their cars. I find Blade and Gordon in the back discussing the alarm system.

Gordon glances at me. “Your boss tells me you were here this morning to increase security.”

“Yes. And I’m going to do so now if we’re done.”

Blade holds up a card. “I’ve got his number. He’ll ignore you at the club. You’ll ignore him. He also knows about Spike.”

Gordon holds out a hand and we shake. “Sorry about your face.” I smirk.

He rubs his cheek. “I’ve had worse. What are you going to tell Lazinski?”

“That Britney had no contact information and no one here has seen her either. Hopefully, he’ll take my word and consider this place a dead end.”

“Lazinski has no idea I’m here, of course. At least I can stop looking for Britney and focus my energy on finding the buyer and the seller.”

“You’ll contact us immediately if you get more information,” Blade demands.

“Yes.” He waves as he heads out the back door.

Blade blows out a breath after it slams closed and lets his shoulders drop. “Jesus.”

“Yeah. This situation could have gone very badly.”

“I’m outta here. And you,” he points at the alarm box, “finish up here and get back home. I don’t want her unprotected. You either need to stay home or I’ll put one of the other guys on her when you need to leave the house. Got it?”

I nod. “Agreed.”

“Lazinski isn’t going to give up. He’s got too much on the line. Possibly even his life if he shows up empty-handed.”

He’s right. This situation has the potential to explode. Every day that Lazinski doesn’t have Britney, he’s going to get more and more nervous.

Chapter 19

Master Davis

When I open the door and step into the kitchen at lunchtime, Britney is sitting at the kitchen table coloring. She jumps up, her face lighting up, and runs toward me.

There is no greater feeling in the world than the moment she throws herself into my arms.

I lift her off the