Page 50 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

WILLOW

“She knows me and Shayla from the salon,” Rowan frets.

“I turned away her business.” Ember strums her nails on the table. “Jewls, Harley, all of us were on social media at Declan and Finn’s birthday party.”

“If that is the criteria, all of us are out. Raven and I posted a ton of pictures on Sayge’s pages.” Harley pops a handful of gummy bears in her mouth.

We’re planning a Sting Operation… Jewls’ words.

Usually, I’d find her amusing until she lured me into the plan.

My eyes go back to the computer screen and the Gucci Disco bag my mom gifted me for my college graduation. A bag currently being offered on a resale marketplace from username ‘JRich’.

I glance around Clyde’s, ensuring we are still alone, even though the door hasn’t sounded with any new customers.

When Rowan asked me to meet her here, I assumed we were doing dress fittings or other wedding stuff. As soon as I walked in and saw the group of women huddled together, alarm bells rang.

No one was in their dress.

Champagne wasn’t flowing.

Accessories weren’t laid out.

This was a meeting of something else altogether, and Clyde’s was a safe place none of the guys would question.

“How’d you find this again?” I read through the inquiries on the designer bag.

“I dropped in to surprise Robbie, and his receptionist, Taylor, was gushing over her new handbag. She told me her old high school friend, Rylee Richards, was selling her personal belongings. She pulled up the site and showed me everything.” Ember clicks through the pages of items for sale, some of them crossed out as sold. “Are all these yours?”

“Yep.”

“We’ve got her. Now we just have to figure out who will be our buyer.”

Buyer meaning the one who gets to bust her for selling stolen goods. Apparently, Ember has been communicating under a fake identity and Rylee agreed to a meet.

“I’m impressed with your quick work on this. Your husband has trained you well,” Rowan praises.

Ember perks up proudly. “It could go either way. He likes to think he’s the only one who gets all the fun.”

Shit, I don’t want Ember to get in trouble. I don’t want to cause problems for any of these women.

“It should be me.”

All eyes swing my way, all of them flaming ‘ are you fucking kidding?’

“This is my problem. I can’t ask any of you to stick your neck out and deal with Rylee’s brand of crazy.”

“We may not be able to scale buildings…” Jewls starts.

“Or take down Columbian cartels and kidnappers…” Harley cuts in.

“Or stop the spread of illegal drugs, guns, and sex-trafficking in the city…” Rowan ticks her fingers.

“Not to mention, running some of the highest security operations in this country…” Ember adds her plug.

“But we are skilled in taking down petty, jealous, spoiled bitches who need to learn their lesson. I’ve earned my degree in Rylee’s brand of crazy.” Shayla squares her shoulders. “I’ll put on a wig and dress like country club royalty.”

“That may actually work!” Harley claps.

“Guys—” I’m shut down by Jewls’ hand to my face.

“These guys don’t get all the glory. I came prepared.” She indicates a bag behind the counter.

“What is that?”

“Our outfits.”

“We need outfits?”

“This isn’t our first rodeo.”

I tip my chin, not sure I understand. “You’ve run a successful sting before?”

“Depends on what you mean by successful. We’ve had our share of luck. It’s how Shayla met Collin.”

“Really?” I glance at Shayla.

“Technically, yes, but the story is much more fun with alcohol. Since I need to get into character, it will have to wait.”

“And I kinda did take down a drug dealer one time.” Ember brightens.

Before I can ask anything further, Jewls yanks me with her, grabbing the bag and shutting us in a dressing room.

She throws clothes over the door, instructing everyone to get dressed. “Good thing you’re already in black leggings.” She hands me a black turtleneck.

“It’s warm outside.”

“Suck it up. We’re incognito.”

I change without further question, taking the black beanie she offers.

We walk out and see the others are dressed identically.

“We look like sprockets.”

Harley and Jewls cackle, Harley’s very pregnant stomach shaking until she doubles over.

“Talon said the same thing the first time,” Jewls informs me.

“First time? What exactly are we doing dressed like a Saturday Night Live skit?”

“You’ll see. Don’t want to ruin all the excitement.” She casts her gaze out the front window, her eyes glittering. “Perfect timing. Our ride has arrived.”

I trail behind her and Rowan to the office. A minute later, Bex comes in also dressed in black.

“Sorry I’m late, Chase was being,” she hesitates, eyeing me. “Let’s just say finagling my way out the door took some convincing.”

Ick “Don’t say another word.”

“It sucks I can’t discuss my sex life with my best friend.”

“That’s because you’re having sex with my brother!”

“One of these days, you’ll get over that.”

“I’m already scarred for life and will never be able to be in his kitchen again without flashbacks.”

Her face morphs into bliss in a way I know well. Every time Talon touches me, I feel the same. “I’m thrilled for you, Bex, but there are boundaries.”

“He’s not my brother. You can tell me every detail.” Rowan winks.

Luckily, I’m saved by Shayla and Ember returning. Shayla’s transformation is remarkable.

The sleek black wig hangs straight to the middle of her back with curtain bangs framing her face. Her cream dress, pearl accessories, and bone-colored pumps scream ‘conservative country club’-slash-‘lady who lunches’.

Her normal smokey-shadowed, flare-lined eyes are subtle and her lips a sheer gloss.

One-hundred-percent opposite of the Shalya I know.

But still stunning.

“Wow, you look amazing.”

She preens, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “The prim and proper socialite expecting to buy a thousand-dollar handbag.”

Harley comes in rubbing her stomach. “This baby is doing summersaults with eagerness.”

“Go now!” Ember shouts.

The next few seconds are a blur. I barely have time to grab my purse before I’m being yanked out the back door, shoved into a vehicle, and we’re on the move.

“What the hell is happening?” I screech when we come to a sudden stop on a side street.

“Robbie has Clyde’s monitored with a high-tech security system. Ember glitched the back door with ten seconds for us to get away without being seen.”

My ears ring as I scan around the vehicle, noting Shayla and Ember are missing. I also recognize the interior of the SUV, along with Wyatt’s booster seat.

“Is this Chase’s truck?”

“Yes, which is why I had to get creative. We needed a car that isn’t traced,” Bex explains excitedly.

“I need this.” Rowan plucks my phone out of my purse and powers it off. “No location service.”

“Here they are.” Harley points to Shayla’s passing car with Ember in the passenger seat.

Bex pulls behind them and chats animatedly with everyone like it’s a perfectly normal Wednesday night out with friends.

The lead in my stomach churns with the reality swirling in my brain. Getaway cars that aren’t traced, locations turned off, matching outfits. Finally, I snap to focus. “This is insane. What will we do when she actually sells the purse to Shayla? It’s not like we can arrest her.”

“Just wait.”

Rowan’s answer does nothing to help my anxiety.

“Wills, I get you’re nervous. It’s time Rylee Richards faces the music.

” Bex swings slowly into a parking spot, then turns to me.

“Let me remind you, she poisoned you and your dog with homemade laxatives, she broke in and stole from you, and she slept with that limp-dick ex while you were still dating.”

I don’t remind Bex she technically had a key to our grandparents’ house.

“Not to mention, when she made the scene in Rendezvous, she eyed Talon like she wanted to literally gobble him up.”

The recap from Rowan has the scene flashing in my head and all my nerves turn to anger. Jealousy spikes and blisters through me.

I straighten and glimpse out the window to the restaurant Shayla is strolling into.

“What do we do now?”

Harley shrieks with glee and pulls a black packet out of her purse. “Cover me.”

She hops out and crouches as much as she can.

“I’d better go with her.” Jewls follows and Ember climbs in, taking her seat and holding out her phone.

“Contact made.”

We listen on speaker to Shayla introducing herself as Carrie, the interested buyer who has been searching for this specific bag ‘ forever’.

Her saccharine-sweet exhilaration is all too believable. She initiates small talk, getting Rylee to open up about her upcoming wedding as the reason for selling her handbag collection.

My ears perk when Shayla mentions a beautiful diamond pendant around Rylee’s neck. I’d bet my ass it’s my necklace from Joseph.

Jewls raps on my window, motioning for me hurriedly.

“Our turn.” Rowan, Bex, and Ember file out behind me.

We all stoop and wind through the darkened parking lot to where Harley is waiting by Rylee’s car. She points inside the open trunk. “These yours?”

I peek in and nod my confirmation that these are my stolen bags.

Rowan takes pictures right as the area illuminates with blinding headlights.

“Shit, hit the ground!” Jewls whisper-shouts.

“Easy for you to say,” Harley mutters.

“Princess, get your ass away from that car and over here.” I spin to find Talon with a glare so ominous a shiver travels to my toes.

Ace steps up to Harley, taking the black case from her hand. Ford does the same to Rowan, taking her phone.

“How’d you know?” Jewls throws her hands in the air, shouting at her husband.

“Babe, just watched you and your partner in crime pick the lock and pop the trunk of a car. And you want to know how I knew?”

“Yes, we were meticulous in our planning.”

I want to hear how this plays out, but the heat of Talon’s glower is singing my skin. If the situation wasn’t so tense, I’d take the opportunity to salivate over the visual. His MNPD tee stretched across his chest, his duty belt tight on his hips.

Who knew carrying a gun and badge was so erotic?