Page 63 of Tell Me Your Desires
Max scoffed, a small smile playing on his lips. “You’re definitely perfect for Jaime. If anyone can keep that woman in line, it’s you.” He eyed Anya for a moment. “You didn’t tell Jaime the plan, did you?”
“Are you insane? We want Jaime’s wounds to heal, not be ripped open just because she needs to play the hero. I was honest with her about why I wasn’t telling her any details, and after a bit of pouting, she understood.”
Max laughed. “Yep. You and I will get along just fine. Just tell me this isn’t as dumb as Jaime’s plan.”
Anya made a face and shrugged a shoulder.
“It’s our best option. Kate and her team are sitting on the club now.
As predicted, Sapphyre and Sonny are there as though nothing happened, so I’ll go to work on the pretense of quitting.
Hopefully, no one will believe I’m heartless enough to stick around after what happened to Jaime.
While I’m there to clear out my stuff, I’ll try to draw Teddy out while Ruby is occupied.
He’s the weak link. If I can convince him to talk, he’ll turn on his sister. ”
“When you say draw him out…”
“I’ll convince him to come to my chambers.”
“You’re going to be in a room alone with a man who slices women up, and you want me to be okay with that?”
“He won’t hurt me, Max.” Anya held back her frustration.
She imagined it would be challenging for people who didn’t study behavior to understand the nuances of individuals.
Unfortunately for Max, she didn’t have time to explain it to him.
“This is just one of those things you’re going to have to trust me on. ”
Max nodded, though Anya could see the stress and disapproval in his eyes. “How can you be sure Ruby will be occupied?”
“The FBI is establishing a client for Sapphyre, and one of Kate’s team will be inside the club keeping Frank busy.”
“Do we think Frank is involved?”
“In the murders? No. But I do think he’s helping Ruby traffic girls. Whether he’s doing it willingly or not isn’t something I’m interested in. Kate can get that out of him if and when they arrest him. For now, you and I are focused on Ruby and Teddy.”
“For Jaime?”
“For all of the women those two have ever hurt or killed,” Anya amended, then checked her watch. “We have to get going soon. I need you to leave your phone here.” She opened a drawer and pulled a nondescript phone out, passing it to Max. “I’ve programmed this with my cell number just in case.”
“What’s this?” Max took the phone and examined it closely, as though he’d never seen one before.
“A burner.” Anya chuckled lightly at the look of complete confusion on Max’s face.
“Jaime is a great detective. Obviously, with her covert operation, she thinks the suspects are from the club. But that doesn’t mean that’s where all of this is going down.
However, if she tracks your phone using Find My Friends and it shows you there, her suspicions will be confirmed, and she’ll try to show up there, gaping wounds and all. If your phone shows you here…”
“She’ll either be confused as hell or show up here and be out of harm’s way,” Max finished for Anya and laughed. “Damn, you have that woman’s number. I almost feel sorry for her.”
“She’ll be fine,” Anya winked. “Now, a quick rundown of what’s going to happen when you drop me off.
Teddy will be watching. You’ll drive away and rendezvous with Agent Anderson at this address.
” Anya handed Max a piece of paper with an address a few blocks from the club.
“He’ll drive you back to the surveillance van with Kate and her team.
You won’t be away any longer than ten minutes, and Kate will have eyes on me the entire time. ”
Max stood and slipped the burner phone in his pocket. “If you know he’s watching, why have me drop you off?”
“Because he’s watching. It would be far more suspicious for me not to have an escort after seeing my lover shot right in front of me.” Anya’s composure cracked slightly as the memory of seeing Jaime crumple to the ground, her blood seeping through her shirt.
“Don’t go back there, Anya,” Max said softly. “Jaime needs you to focus on what you’re doing now, not what happened before.”
Anya brought her eyes up to Max’s and smiled.
“I’m completely focused on what I have to do, Max.
” Derek bumped Anya, rubbing himself in a figure eight around her legs.
She bent down and scooped him up, not caring one bit about the cat hairs that would soon be all over her blouse.
“Would you mind pulling the car out and waiting for me? I’m just going to make sure this guy’s feeder and water fountain are full, then I’ll be right out. ”
“Yeah, sure.” Max frowned. “Not that anything is going to happen to you, but where does he go if, you know…”
Anya looked at Derek. “Well, I would hope that Jaime would take him. But if she’s not ready, then…” She grinned at Max. “I hope your wife isn’t allergic.”
“Shit. Be extra careful, yeah? I like the cat, but she’d love him more than me, and I’m already on the verge of sleeping on the couch most nights.” He scratched Derek’s ear with a smirk. “I’ll see you out there.”
Anya waited until Max closed the door behind him, then kissed Derek’s head. “You have plenty of food and water, but he doesn’t need to see me be all mushy with you.”
“Meow.”
“I’m going to be fine. I’m just nervous because it’s been a while since I’ve done anything like this.”
“Mew. Meow.”
“Yeah, I don’t believe me, either.” Anya closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “What happened to our nice, quiet life, Derek?”
“Meow.”
“Hmm. You’re right. It wasn’t nice and quiet; I just didn’t know. But I’m going to get justice for those women and for Jaime. No matter what it takes.”
“Mew, meow. Meow.”
Anya smiled against Derek’s silky, black fur. “I love you, too.” After one more squeeze and kiss, she set Derek down on the counter. “Be good.”
She walked away before she could change her mind about everything and took a short detour to a small office located off the living room.
Anya rarely came into this room and often thought about turning it into something she might get more use out of.
But as she used the biometrics to get into the safe that was hidden in the wall, Anya wondered if she subconsciously knew that one day this office and its contents would be needed.
“Meow?”
Anya clipped the holster onto her waistband and secured the 9mm in it before covering it with her shirt. “Yes, I know what I’m doing. Your job is to hold the fort down until I get home. Got it, buck-o?”
“Meow.”