Page 16 of Black Bay Enforcer (Beasts of Black Bay #3)

He was being watched. He hadn’t seen anyone or found any sign that he was being surveilled, but his gut told a different story.

Maybe he was paranoid, he’d been accused of it enough times.

But he’d rather be paranoid than dead. If Black Bay was watching him as he suspected, he wouldn’t find a trace of their presence. They were the best.

It was a stupid, careless fuck up that might cost him everything.

The wrong crates had been sent out. The weapons he was supplying were supposed to go out in unmarked boxes with nothing to tie him to the shipments.

He’d fired the people responsible but the damage was done.

Black Bay had raided the Venezuela outpost. They would have seen his label on those crates.

He’d scrambled to make it look like a shipment had been hijacked but he knew better than to think Black Bay would call off the dogs. They’d watch until they were one hundred percent sure. Maybe even longer.

He’d have to lie low for a while. It meant a delay in his plans, but that was better than the alternative.

Maybe it was time he headed to his place in Outer Banks.

No one could find him there because no one knew about it – there was no paper trail or electronic transactions that led back to him – it was his secret nest. This late in the season, the caretaker would have already closed it up for winter, but that could be changed.

He was tired of skulking around here jumping at shadows.

He needed alone time to think and plan without unseen eyes watching his every move and ears potentially listening in on every conversation.

Most of his schedule could be rearranged or done remotely.

The only thing he couldn’t miss was Katherine’s upcoming birthday party.

Her mother, Harper, invited him every year with the expectation that he wouldn’t come.

Normally he didn’t. This year, Harper would just have to deal with her disappointment.

He needed to appear to be a father in the throes of regret for his past mistakes, wanting to reconnect with his daughter.

For his plan to work, everyone needed to believe it – including Katherine.

Convincing Katherine shouldn’t be hard. She’d always been one of those people-pleaser types, so desperate for love and approval.

Like a needy little puppy waiting for a pat on the head and a “good girl.”

All the puzzle pieces needed to be in place so he could get access to Black Bay through his daughter.

His snack made, he patted his pockets like he’d forgotten something and headed into his office.

The curtains were closed, but he still made sure to palm the burner phone so no one saw it while he rummaged through the desk drawer.

Standing up, he frowned and looked around like he couldn’t find whatever he’d been looking for.

Heading for the door, he discreetly tucked the phone into the deep pocket of his robe.

For anyone who might be watching, he’d finish the movie, eat his snack, then he’d head to the bathroom and turn the shower on to muffle any sound. Only then would he risk calling Godwin back.

Something was wrong with Kong. Katherine wasn’t sure what, but since leaving the pool, he seemed distant.

Most notably, his smiles were missing. He’d driven them to the mess hall and he’d gotten an ice cream sundae while she’d gotten a hot chocolate like they’d planned but there was tension between them that she could feel – like he’d put up a wall. What had happened?

Maybe she was reading too much into it. He could just be deep in thought. She did that sometimes. She’d start thinking about something so hard that the rest of the world just kind of slipped away.

Cocking her head, she grinned playfully at him and nudged him with her foot under the table. “A dollar for your thoughts.”

Kong blinked, jerking his head up from his ice cream to look at her. Aha! She’d been right. He’d been chewing on something in his head and spaced out. Nothing to worry about.

“Isn’t it only supposed to cost a penny?”

Taking a sip of her hot chocolate, she eyed him over the rim. “Inflation.”

Her joke landed flat. He didn’t crack a smile. His lips didn’t even twitch. Instead, he leaned toward her, all serious. “I shouldn’t have brought you down below. It was a massive breach of security.”

Katherine’s stomach clenched. “Are you going to get in trouble?” Would General Davies punish him?

“You can’t say anything to anyone, Katherine. Do you understand? Not a word.”

Her eyes widened. His expression was so fierce she almost shivered. She swallowed hard. “I won’t.”

“Give me your word, Katherine. Promise me.”

Good Lord, how much trouble would he get in? “I promise, Kong.” Reaching out, she took his hand and squeezed his fingers. “I won’t tell anyone.”

With a sharp nod, he returned his attention to his dessert and that’s where it stayed.

That wall she’d felt was still there. As they finished up, there was no playful flirting, no joking around, no smiles, and when they were done at the mess hall and he dropped her off at her place, there were no kisses goodnight, or promises that he’d see her again.

Katherine was so disappointed that she didn’t even stop to admire the new TV that Kong had arranged to be installed while she was at work. She went straight to bed.

The general stomped around his desk, red-faced and pissed off. “What were you thinking? She’s August Cleary’s daughter! August Cleary! The man we – you! – currently suspect is trying to start a war. Maybe we should give her a tour of our defense systems too!”

Kong stood at parade rest in General Davies’ office and silently took the reprimand.

The question had been rhetorical. The general didn’t care what he’d been thinking.

This was about chewing Kong out for breaking the rules.

He deserved it. He hadn’t been thinking tactically, just romantically, and now his stupidity might come back to bite them all in the ass.

“Well? What do you have to say for yourself?”

Kong looked at the man who he loved like a father. “I’m sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.”

“You’re damn right it won’t happen again!” Having blown off the initial head of steam, the general expelled a hard breath and scrubbed a hand over his face. Returning to his seat behind his desk, he motioned for Kong to sit.

“Lark told me that she interrogated Katherine Knox, and I believe her when she says the woman isn’t here to spy, but that doesn’t mean she gets a free pass on my base. Allowing her into the residential area was one thing, but bringing her down below crossed the line.”

“Yes, sir.”

“In regards to Cleary. Do I need to keep you out of the loop? If you can’t stay impartial…”

Kong sat up straighter. “No, sir. I can do this.”

“He’s her father.”

Kong hesitated. If they found proof, how would Katherine react to discovering her father was attempting to start a war? Would she hate Kong for what he’d have to do?

The general sighed. “Look, son. Why don’t you take some time and think about it.”

He shook his head. He needed to do this. He liked Katherine, but whatever August Cleary was up to trumped any feelings he might have. If her father was guilty, she’d have to come to terms with it. That was all there was to it.

“I don’t need time, sir. This is important.”

“Agreed.”

“Have you learned anything more?”

“Cleary’s claiming that the shipment you found was stolen. I’m not buying it. He didn’t report it until your team was already en route to Venezuela. The timing is too convenient. That tells me that he was tipped off we were coming and scrambled to cover his tracks.”

With a thoughtful frown, Kong nodded. Tipped off by whom though? “Any hits on the new doctors brought in for Resurrection?”

“We’re watching them, digging into financials, but so far, nothing.”

“What about our team watching Cleary? Have they found anything?”

“He knows or at least suspects he’s being watched.

He’s made a few calls on a burner phone in his bathroom with the water running to try to muffle things” – Kong almost chuckled at that – “But so far, he’s been careful to keep it short and vague.

No names, no dates, no addresses – nothing to implicate him in anything. ”

“He’ll get desperate and fuck up.”

“That would sure as hell make our job easier.”

“Did they find anything on the tech we brought back from Venezuela?”

The general shook his head. “Nothing yet. They used an alpha-numeric system for their records that we’re still trying to decipher.”

“Lark’s on it?” She was the best. If anyone could figure it out, it was her.

“You know she wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Kong grinned. His best friend loved a puzzle.

There was a quick, sharp rap on the general’s door before it was opened. Lark, as if he’d summoned her with his thoughts, poked her head inside and looked right at him. “We got a hit on Godwin’s DNA.”

Kong stood, nearly knocking over his chair in his haste. “Where?”

“Miami.”

He was back in the States. The smile that spread over Kong’s face was probably downright sinister. He looked to General Davies. “Permission to gather a team to go after him, sir?”

“Permission granted.”

With eager anticipation singing through his blood, Kong headed to the door but the general stopped him. “Kong.”

He looked over his shoulder.

“This is a capture, not a kill. We need to question him.”

Kong clenched his jaw hard but nodded. “Yes, sir.”