Page 43 of Hawkeye

“Webber house is secure, and the collection never left Black Castle.” I slid one hand around the back of her neck and kept her close. “Got the guys, and Mrs. Webber’s collection is untouched.”

Relief softened her mouth. “Then it worked.”

“Because your decoys sent them exactly where we needed them.” I brushed my thumb beneath her ear, then gave her the part she needed before someone else softened it badly. “We found a burner in the van. The crew leader knows you helped decode the ledger, and he wants it. He’s also after your cross-reference, and Wynnock’s notes.”

Josie’s eyes sharpened as she stared into mine. “There’s something else.”

“He suggested using your mother to force you to cooperate.” My hold tightened when her breath stopped. “She’s still inside the protection apartment. Halo and Specter are at the door, another team has the building, and the boutique remains covered. Nobody’s gonna get near her.”

Josie absorbed the information with her fingers gripping my shirt. Anger replaced the first flash of fear, and I watched the same quiet steel appear that had brought her through our gate holding a stolen veteran’s memorial. She reached toward the burner phone in my hand, and I placed it in her palm.

“We use it,” she urged. “I’ll tell him you left the original paperwork with me because I was matching it to Wynnock’s files. I can offer it and my complete cross-reference in exchange for leaving Mom alone.”

“He’ll want proof.”

“I know enough to make it believable.” Her words gathered speed as the plan took shape. “We meet at the auction house. He already knows the loading area and service corridors, so he’ll think he understands the building better than we do.”

I studied her face and the certainty beneath every word. Josie understood the risk, saw the same opening I did, and had already accepted that the crew leader would want more than the bag she offered.

“He’ll try to leave with you, not just the records,” I warned.

“Then we make him think he can.”

My hand closed around the back of her neck, and I drew her closer until her mouth was a breath from mine. “He can believe whatever gets him through the door. He won’t take you.”

“Because you won’t let him.”

I took the burner from her hand and turned toward Stryker and Cipher, who had entered the lounge while she laid out the plan. “Cipher, clone the phone and make sure we can answer without tipping him off. Stryker, we need Smythe on the line and Wynnock empty tomorrow.”

My arm stayed locked around Josie’s waist as the club began moving around her idea, because the crew leader had finally offered us a door, and I intended to be the last thing he saw when he stepped through it.

19

JOSIE

The plan Calder and I came up with last night was solid, but I was only an apprentice at Wynnock Auctioneers so I couldn’t make decisions like this. We needed to get Mr. Smythe to agree, and I didn’t think that would be easy, judging by the look on his face after we laid it all out for him.

Sitting across from us, he flattened his palms against the top of his desk. “You want to invite the man who tried to have Josie kidnapped back into this building?”

“That’s exactly why this needs to be handled immediately. They’re growing bold,” Calder argued. “Allowing the threat to continue would endanger your staff and clients, as well as the families connected to the stolen property.”

“And the families who’ve been targeted for future robberies,” I added, thinking about how awful it had been for Mrs. Webber to worry about her husband’s prized possession being targeted while she was grieving him.

Mr. Smythe looked at me. “And you’re willing to put yourself at risk again?”

“Yes.” There wasn’t a shred of doubt in my voice. “Calder won’t let anything happen to me.”

“I’m sure that’s true.” His lips twitched, and my cheeks filled with heat upon realizing the director was aware of my relationship. “The auction house will cooperate with Black Castle on this.”

Calder jerked his chin up in acknowledgment. “Best way you can do that is to clear the building when we need it to be empty.”

“That can be arranged.” Mr. Smythe came around the desk. “I assume the call does not need an audience.”

“Correct, fewer people in the room, less chance the crew leader will realize we’re playing him,” Calder confirmed.

“Examination three is clear.” Mr. Smythe opened the door. “I will keep the staff out of that corridor. Come find me when you know what time you’re executing the plan.”

Calder guided me out of the office and down the hall with a hand on my lower back, shutting the door and checking the lock before he set the captured burner on the workbench.