“He may have wanted her,” Finn said and Parker pulled her into his arms.
“We need to identify these men.”
“They were here tonight,” Missy Ann said to Finn.
“You can identify them?” he asked her and she nodded her head.
“Come with us, we’ll look at the surveillance video. She can point them out and we’ll get last names.”
“He owned the yacht the shoot was at Monday. He was there. It’s at the marina,” Eliza Grace said to them.
Parker’s hand on her hip was firm. He whispered next to her as Lynch and Tazer gave orders and Lynch spoke into his cell phone.
“You could have been taken. These guys could have their eyes on you and set you up tonight to be taken. They know we’re on to them. Jesus, Eliza Grace. Why didn’t you tell us about this? About the guys bothering you here? About performing here and about meeting Si and him being on the yacht?” Parker asked her.
“You didn’t think it was suspicious that he showed up at your other shoots this week? You couldn’t tell the man was interested in you?” Burker asked, sounding so angry with his arms crossed and looking at her like she was stupid.
“I really didn’t think much of it. I was so busy with work and wanting to get home to you guys. I just thought he flirted with me and if I kept blowing off his advances that he would get the hint.”
Burker stepped into her space and cupped her cheeks. “Did he touch you, try to kiss you? Don’t fucking lie to me,” he demanded to know.
The tears rolled down her cheeks. “No, he never kissed me. He did try touching me, taking my hand or covering my knee if he sat next to me. He kissed my cheek hello and goodbye. I kept my distance. I didn’t know he was dangerous. I didn’t know this was a setup. I tried asking you guys to come here but you were busy with the case and said you had to work.”
She was starting to freak out when Burker pulled her into a hug against his chest.
“Fuck,” he said and then just held her until Lynch and Tazer told them to bring Missy Ann and Eliza Grace home and to be careful that no one followed them.
* * * *
“What now? We’re fucked,” Vic said as they sat in Si’s office.
“We’re not fucked. Let me think. We can handle this situation and get the fuck out of town after Saturday,” he said to them.
“Saturday? Why not now while we can?” Daville asked him.
“Saturday is the runway show.”
“Fuck, Si, she’s involved with those Special Ops guys. The ones responsible for fucking up the businesses and taking down Rodney’s. They found that commander’s daughter this morning and we can’t get in touch with Stolley,” Vic said to him.
Si was getting angrier. “I wanted Eliza Grace. Knowing that she’s fucking four men makes the decision to share her as we discussed when we first met her a little easier, don’t you think?” he asked them.
Vic looked at Daville.
“We want her too, but you know they won’t stop at trying to find her once we take her,” Vic said to him.
“I have a plan I think will work. Get the jet ready for tomorrow night. Call Darius so he’s on board with the plan. We’ll need a secure location.”
“I hope she’s worth it,” Daville said as he stood up.
“She’s worth it, and she’ll cooperate knowing she was the reason her men died and that her cooperation will determine whether her best friend lives or dies too.”
* * * *
Eliza Grace was asleep in bed all alone. Parker and Burker were on guard downstairs and waiting for Lynch and Tazer to come home. She drifted off here and there out of exhaustion and worry about what could have happened. She placed Missy Ann in danger too by bringing her to Luther’s. She could have been hurt, or even taken by Luther or one of the other men involved in the prostitution ring.
The tears hit her eyes and she sniffled. This was a complete mess and she had been clueless. What kind of men do these types of things? she wondered as she thought about Si, Vic, and Daville. Yes, her initial instincts warned her that they were trouble, but she thought more along the lines of players than criminals. How could she have been so stupid? Now this gave the Hayes brothers another reason to think she was too young, too immature and not knowledgeable enough. They were going to break up with her. They weren’t going to trust her.
She cried a little harder. She knew nothing about men and just because she had four lovers and had let them fuck her in every hole did not make her any smarter when it came to men. She led with her heart. She was emotional and shy and that self-confidence she thought was growing stronger just took a right jab to her gut, sending her a few steps back.