Bare It All

chapter TWENTY-SIX

ROWDY GAVE REESE a thanks a lot glare. “The boys in blue are just being dramatic.”

“Actually,” Reese said, “Rowdy is being pigheaded.”

Pepper looked ready to assault him for the insult, but Logan saved him by pulling her to his side.

“Reese is right.” He kept her close as he explained the plans for the night, and the risk involved. “DeeDee—if that’s her real name—is just a lure to get Rowdy to the designated spot.”

“He can’t do it,” Pepper agreed, her voice firm. And then, directly to Rowdy, “You can’t do it.”

“You don’t have to worry, kiddo.” Rowdy moved Cash aside and pushed to his feet. “I’ll be fine. You know I can take care of myself.”

Pepper back-stepped away before Rowdy could touch her. “No.”

“And,” Rowdy added with emphasis, “it might be our best bet for finding the bastards who are tattooing girls, and maybe even murdering them.”

“No.”

He frowned. “I’m doing it.” And then to Logan, “Take care of her, will you?”

Logan held up both hands. “If you’re asking me to reassure her that you won’t be hurt, then sorry, no can do.”

Biting her bottom lip, Alice stepped into the fray before brother and sister started in on real bickering. “I’m sorry. This is my fault.”

“Not even close,” Rowdy said.

But Alice wasn’t listening. “If I hadn’t gotten involved—”

“Then no one would yet realize that those women need help.” Reese held out a hand, and Alice took it. And even that, such a simple connection, meant so much. He pulled her closer and addressed Rowdy. “Logan and I will go with you. No argument. Even if he’s not one-hundred percent yet, Logan is one hell of an asset.”

“Thanks,” Logan said, deadpan.

“And he knows how to blend in.”

Pepper scowled. “Yeah, he does.”

Reese continued, thinking out loud. “I can probably find a corner of the bar dark enough to hide me.”

“Right,” Rowdy scoffed. “Paint you green and you could be the freakin’ Hulk. Hiding a guy your size isn’t possible.”

“Okay, fine. So maybe there’s a back room, or someplace in the kitchen where I could keep watch.”

In tacit agreement, Rowdy mulled over the particulars. “The kitchen is out,” he said. “That’d leave you exposed, and the bar is overrun with corruption, so it’s anyone’s guess who’s involved.”

“And who might turn you out,” Logan added.

“But Avery can stash you in the pantry. Hid there once myself, and it works fine.”

Pepper tucked in her chin. “Avery?”

“She’s a waitress at a bar I bought.” Rowdy shook that off as insignificant—but no one was buying it, least of all his sister.

Jaw now loose, Pepper took a menacing step toward Rowdy. “You bought a bar?”

That soft, accusing voice made his brows come down. “I was going to tell you,” Rowdy said defensively. “But today got a little busy, you know.”

What an understatement. Reese cleared his throat and tried to get things back on track. “So, you trust this Avery?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Logan lifted a brow. “If you just bought the bar, how well do you know her? Is she a woman you’re dating?”

Pepper snorted. “Rowdy doesn’t date. He just has sex.” Her narrowed gaze held plenty of accusation for Rowdy. “And he had a really annoying double standard about it, too. It was fine for him, but I wasn’t even supposed to look.”

Tipping his head toward Logan, Rowdy indicated his hold on Pepper. “You did more than look, kiddo, so stop complaining.”

“And when it comes to you,” Logan said, “I’m glad he was so vigilant.”

Rowdy lifted one shoulder. “But when it comes to Avery, I’m not doing either.”

Dash grinned. “Is the ‘no dating’ part hampering the sex part?”

“Maybe. Hard to tell. But she’s going to be my bartender, so it’s probably best I don’t go there with her, anyway.”

“Spoken like a rejected man.” Dash lifted his Coke in a salute. “If you can’t get it, deny wanting it.”

Rowdy smirked.

Because their personalities were so dissimilar, it surprised Reese that Dash and Rowdy appeared to get along so well.

“What’s wrong with her?” Pepper asked.

And the men all laughed.

“Seriously, kiddo, take me off that pedestal, will you?” Full of fondness, Rowdy smiled at her. “I do get struck down every now and then, you know.”

Confused by the denial, Pepper crossed her arms. “No, you don’t.”

“Yeah...” Rowdy slanted a look around the room, then grinned. “She’s right. I usually don’t.”

“Then that makes Avery either really smart,” Dash said, “or really special.”

Maybe tonight, Rowdy would figure out which it was. “I’m willing to trust her if you are,” Reese said. “I know some other good cops—officers I trust—who can blend in, as well.”

“Jesus, Reese, you may as well turn on the red-and-blue lights.”

Speaking over Rowdy’s protests, Reese added, “Dash, do you think you can stay here with Alice and Pepper?”

“Sure, no problem.” He commandeered Rowdy’s place next to Cash. “We’ll defend the home front, won’t we, buddy?” Given how Cash’s tail got started, he agreed.

Logan took over, saying to Rowdy, “You’re not supposed to meet at the bar until midnight, which means it’ll be a late night. I’m going to run home with Pepper so she can get some things together.”

“I’m spending the night?” Pepper asked.

“I don’t want you home alone.” Logan cupped her jaw. “Do you mind?”

“With Alice and Dash as company? Nope, don’t mind at all.”

“I’ll be back for you as soon as I can, but it might be dawn before we wrap up. You just never know. I want you comfortable while you’re here.”

“So, I’m grabbing my pj’s and a pillow, huh?”

Reese would bet his last dollar that Pepper didn’t own pajamas, but he understood that they wanted some time alone. Hell, he’d love a little time alone with Alice, too. Unfortunately, he didn’t see that happening, not until tomorrow at the earliest.

“I’m sorry I turned my spare bedroom into an office,” Alice said. “They’d probably suggest I stay with you, since your home is so much bigger, but Cash is most comfortable here.” To prove that point, she smiled at Cash, stretched out on his back over half of the couch so Dash could rub his chest. He had one soft black ear hanging off the side of the cushion.

Yeah, God knew Alice wouldn’t want to inconvenience the dog. She loved him.

And without planning it, without even thinking it through, Reese said, “I’ll be looking at my own house soon. Cash needs a yard where he can run around.”

Startled, Alice said, “You want to buy a house?”

“The idea appeals to me, yes.” Damn it. He shouldn’t have just thrown that out there. It was absolutely the wrong time to go into it. “We’ll talk about it later.”

She held silent, but he saw the questions—and the uncertainty—in her eyes. Did she think he planned to move away from her?

“Time for us to go,” Pepper said. But as she passed Reese, she said sotto voce, “I vote for a house near us, just so you know.”

Reese smiled at her. “You think you could tolerate my proximity?”

“To be closer to Alice, sure.”

So, she assumed Alice would be part of the deal? What did Alice think? Reese tried to see her face, but she kept her head down.

Logan and Pepper left with the promise that they’d be back before eleven.

Rowdy and Dash hung around.

“So,” Alice began. “I have an idea how we could draw out the bastards without putting Rowdy at risk.”

“No,” Reese and Rowdy both said at the same time.

Dash wisely stayed out of it.

“Instead of DeeDee luring Rowdy, I could lure Hickson.”

“No,” Reese emphasized more firmly.

“And ‘bastards’ sounds funny when you say it, Alice. It doesn’t suit you.”

She glared at Rowdy for that bit of censure. “Cheryl will be calling me. We all know she’s been pulled into the scheme, that she’s being used. I won’t leave her to deal with that alone, and they’re probably going to insist on seeing me personally. So why not—”

At her dogged persistence, Reese thought his head might explode off his body. “No, and no.” Dear God, even hearing her speculate on such a thing made his guts twist in dread. “You’re not going anywhere without me.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “I need to know that Cheryl is safe!”

Reese leaned into her temper. “Trust me to take care of it!”

She jabbed a finger toward Rowdy. “Why doesn’t he have to trust you to handle things?”

Dash snickered but cut the sound short when the front door opened, and a large man walked in. In a single glance, Reese took his measure, making note of everything.

A black T-shirt, bulky from a Kevlar vest underneath, was tucked into casual tan slacks. He hadn’t even tried to conceal the black leather holster that held a Beretta, or the utility belt loaded with extra magazines, a stun gun, a baton and a knife.

From the corner of his eye, Reese saw Rowdy pull Alice behind him. Dash joined him, and together they protected her with a solid wall of male muscle.

Cash, unaccountably, sat up but made no move to attack.

His gun already in hand, Reese stepped in front of them all.

The big man looked from Reese’s face to the gun, and back to his face with chilling indifference. “You’re protecting her?” And then, looking past Reese: “Alice, he’s protecting you?”

Son of a bitch. Reese kept his aim steady. He had a good idea who had just come calling. But he wasn’t at all sure how he felt about the impromptu visit.

* * *

OOPS, ALICE THOUGHT as she recognized that whiskey-smooth voice.

New levels of testosterone throbbed in the air, along with razor sharp tension.

Rowdy tried to shrug off her hands when she gripped his shoulders and peered between him and Dash. She saw the fair, straight hair, still a little too long, and those incredible golden eyes.

Gratitude welled up anew, and a smile threatened, but Alice didn’t dare. Not just yet. Not while Reese stood there, armed and dangerous.

Licking her dry lips, Alice nodded. “I believe he is, yes.”

He accepted that without question, saying casually to Reese, “Put the gun away.”

“I don’t think so.” A muscle ticked in Reese’s clenched jaw. “Who the hell are you, and what do you want?”

Alice skirted around Rowdy so she could whisper to Reese, “Put it away before he puts it away for you.”

If anything, Reese became more aggressive in stance and attitude. He stepped in front of Alice again.

“Sorry, Alice, but insulting a man’s ability definitely won’t help.” Unconcerned, as if Reese, Rowdy and Dash were no threat at all, he came farther into the room, walking to the couch to sit down.

Okay, so she could see him discounting Dash. Not that Dash wasn’t big and rock solid, but he didn’t have the same level of...menace, maybe, that Reese and Rowdy exuded.

Still, Dash was an imposing male. Not as imposing as Reese, of course, but—

Cash, who’d watched the proceedings with interest, didn’t appear to mind sharing the couch. Those piercing golden-brown eyes took in the dog, scratched under his chin without a word, made a friend.

Cash thumped his tail in open welcome.

That should have put Reese at ease, but apparently he didn’t trust Cash’s judgment any more than he did Alice’s.

“You’ve got two seconds to explain,” Reese told him.

Those compelling golden eyes came back to Alice’s face.

He smiled.

And she felt more flustered.

“First a cop, and now these two.” He nodded toward Rowdy and Dash. “You’ve been getting around, Alice.” Pleasure took the threat from his compelling stare. “I like it.”

A blush crawled up Alice’s neck and spread out over her face. “Oh, um...” Again she tried to squeeze out from between the men, but Rowdy held her back. She gave up. “They’re just friends.”

“But the big one is more?”

Lord, they were all big, but she knew who he meant.

“Damn right I am,” Reese said.

Feeling very self-conscious, Alice gave a small nod of agreement.

His smile widened into a grin. “You’re allowed, you know. And you more than deserve a little fun.”

The easy demeanor didn’t reassure Reese at all. “Who the f*ck are you?”

Sitting back, arms stretched out over the back of the sofa, muscled thighs relaxed, he took Reese’s measure. “I’m Trace.”

Finally, Alice thought, she could rid herself of the last big barrier between herself and Reese. As dangerous as the night would be, as surprised as she was by the unexpected visit, she was thrilled that Trace was here.

Now he could tell Reese anything he needed to know, and there would never again be secrets between them.

* * *

ALICE’S SAVIOR. Her knight in shining armor.

No way in hell would Reese relax his stance. “So you’re the wraith.”

“I’ve been called that, yes.” He looked past Reese and frowned. “I’d appreciate it if they’d stop manhandling her.”

Reese narrowed his eyes. “Turn her loose, Rowdy.” But he added, “I don’t want you near him, Alice.”

She made a sound of exasperation. “He’s not going to hurt me.”

“You’ll stay away from him all the same.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

Trace grinned. “She was more timid when last I saw her.”

Alice took immediate exception to that. “I was never timid.” Moving forward a step, her thumb to her chest, she said, “I’m the one who—”

Reese said, “Alice, no.”

She glanced back at Rowdy and Dash, both brimming with curiosity, and pinched her lips together.

“When was the last time you saw her?”

Trace’s brows went up. “She hasn’t told you?”

Worried, Alice shook her head. “Only as much as I had to.”

Trace took that in, then made a decision. “Let’s get through this, and then we can talk. I’ll tell you anything you need to know.”

“Yeah.” Reese nodded. “You will. But for now, tell me why you’re here. What do you think we have to get through?”

At the same time, Trace sat forward. “You have a problem.”

“Several, in fact.” Reese lowered the gun, but even when he reached out to Alice, he didn’t take his gaze off the intruder.

Full of trust, maybe even relief, Alice put her hand in his and moved to his side.

“So, seriously,” Dash said, without Rowdy’s suspicion. “Who are you? Some type of Rambo?”

Scrutinizing first Dash and then, more thoroughly, Rowdy, Trace held silent.

Understanding his dilemma, Reese assured him, “They’re trustworthy.”

“You sure about that?”

As thorough as Trace appeared to be, he’d surely already done his own background checks. If he was worried about Rowdy, he needn’t be. “One thousand percent.”

Rowdy couldn’t quite hide his discomfort with that much faith.

Mouth tipping in a barely there smile, Trace said, “Your more colorful friend seems to have doubts.”

Reese didn’t have to look to know who Trace meant. “He’s still coming to grips with it himself. But I’d trust him with my life.” He pulled Alice closer. “Or hers.”

“All right then.” He slid his enigmatic gaze to Reese. “Tell him whatever you like.”

Alice’s hand squeezed his—a silent request that he not expose Trace more than necessary.

Shit. Returning the gun to his holster, Reese flagged Rowdy and Dash forward. “We might as well sit down.”

Dash wasted no time in grabbing a seat. “So, what is it? Hired mercenary? Military elite?”

Keeping the explanation short, sweet and to the point, Reese said, “He helped Alice escape after she was taken by a human trafficker.”

Dash went still and silent. “No shit?”

Trace smiled. “More like Alice helped me when I made moves to shut down the whole sick enterprise. She’s incredibly resilient, and she has more courage than most, along with a phenomenal amount of initiative.”

As if the praise flustered her, Alice went bright red. “You know that’s not true.”

“I don’t lie,” Trace said. “And I don’t exaggerate.”

“Oh, well...thank you.”

Warm with pride, feeling incredibly possessive, Reese kissed her temple.

“Supposedly, no one ever gets to see you.” Rowdy crossed his arms over his chest. “So, what are you doing here now?”

Reese answered before Trace could. “We were followed today.”

Lifting a brow, Trace showed his surprise. “You knew?”

“I’m not incompetent.”

Brows now furrowed, Trace said, “Obviously not.”

“Who followed us?” Rowdy shifted his gaze from Trace to Reese. “From where?”

“A woman. She was at the scene.” Reese sat on the arm of the chair and patted his thigh. Cash immediately came to him. Alice stood behind him, her hands on his shoulders, silently supportive. “She followed us to the station, and though I didn’t see her after we left, I’m assuming she might’ve followed us here, too?”

“Who is she?”

“Your date for the night.” Trace sat forward, forearms on his thighs, hands loosely laced together. “It’s more than probable that someone plans to come in and grab Alice while you’re distracted at the bar.”

That drew Rowdy back. “So, I’m not the mark?”

“Hard to tell. I wouldn’t discount any danger toward you. But I think it’s more likely they’re after her.”

“Because she saw Hickson. She’s a witness.” Accepting the reach of Trace’s influence, Reese went cold inside.

Trace gave an affirmative nod.

Because he hadn’t been privy to all the details Alice had shared, Rowdy grew more suspicious. “You know all this, how?”

Trace looked at Reese, and Reese sighed in annoyance. “I was snooping into Trace’s background—something he shut down real quick using impressive contacts—but I assume that made him curious about me.”

“Given your connection to Alice, I was already curious. But, yes, I did a little more digging at that point.”

“You’ve kept up with her?” Reese asked.

“She knows I’ve been watchful.” Tipping his head, Trace studied Alice. “She had the means to reach me if it ever became necessary. But I haven’t intruded. Alice wanted it that way.”

“It wasn’t necessary,” Alice said, waving off his words. “You’d done enough.”

“Enough being...?” All sorts of scenarios went through Reese’s head.

“I cleared her of any involvement with the trafficker.”

“She wasn’t involved.”

“I’m glad you understand that. But cops do like to dig around and draw their own conclusions.”

Reese sawed his teeth together over that—because it was true. Without Trace’s help, Alice might have undergone extensive interrogation and endless interviews.

“I got her the weapons of her choice, and the CCPs to go with them.”

Dash whispered to Rowdy, and Rowdy replied not quite as softly, “Conceal and carry permits.”

“Ahh.”

Hands holding tight to his shoulders, Alice said, “He helped me get back to living my life.”

“That was all you, Alice. Like I said, you’re resilient.”

It struck Reese then: he owed Trace, probably more than he could ever repay. The man had kept Alice safe, but at the same time, he’d honored her wishes, giving her the room she needed so she could stay her beautiful, wonderful self. That couldn’t have been easy.

All this time, he’d resented him—the secrecy, the amount of power...Alice’s gratitude toward him and her loyalty to him.

But it was exactly those things that had enabled Trace to protect her. If it hadn’t been for him...

Reese swallowed hard, unable to let his mind go there. He loved her, damn it. More than he’d even known was possible.

Hell of a time for epiphanies.

He met Trace’s gaze. “It’s inadequate, but thank you.”

Trace nodded. “My pleasure.”

“I’m on it now.” Reese was here, in Alice’s life, and he’d never let anything happen to her. “Just so you know.”

“That’s how I figured it.”

Astute, as well as badass. That didn’t surprise Reese.

“What are you talking about?” Confused, uncertain, Alice chewed her bottom lip, looking from one man to the other. “I don’t understand. You’re on what?”

“You.” Rowdy smiled at her. “They’re talking about you.”

She shook her head, still not getting it.

Reese didn’t want anyone to make a declaration for him, so he said, “We’re figuring out how to keep you out of this mess.”

Skeptical, Alice toyed with the ends of her hair, twisting and curling it around her fingers. “The thing is, you can’t keep me out of it. Cheryl called me. She’ll want to meet with me.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Reese said.

Showing a hint of her courage, Alice cut him off. “You know Cheryl is in trouble, that Hickson or some other cretin is forcing her to contact me. Why would they go to all that trouble if they know where I live?”

Trace indicated the apartment. “It’s not as easy as you might think to break into an occupied building and drag out a screaming woman. And, Alice, you would scream. Right?”

She nodded. “I wouldn’t go without a fight.”

Oh, God. Reese wanted to rebel against that idea. A fight meant she could die in the process of being taken. But knowing Alice as he did now, she’d likely prefer that to being held captive again.

“Once I was gone,” Reese said, “you’d get a desperate call from Cheryl.” His muscles clenched, his heart punched hard. “If you’d taken one step out of the apartment—”

“I wouldn’t let her do that,” Dash said.

And Alice swatted at him. “I’m not stupid!”

Dash barely managed to dodge her.

Settling back against Reese, she muttered, “You wouldn’t need to stop me, because I wouldn’t do anything foolish.”

Reese gave her the full force of his attention. “Define foolish.” He felt irate all over again at how she’d followed Cheryl in the first place.

As if she knew his every thought, Alice said softly, “That was before I promised you that I wouldn’t keep any more secrets.”

Okay, so maybe that had changed things between them. But could she really resist running to the aid of a woman she thought was being threatened?

Giving up his relaxed posture, Trace leveled a look at Reese. “You can be ruthless.”

A statement, not a question. Reese said only, “Yes.”

Alice started. “You can?”

“Hell, yeah.” Dash laughed. “Logan hasn’t told you?”

“Told me what?”

Not in the mood for nonsense, Reese shook his head. “Knock it off, Dash.”

Alice said, “No, I want to hear this.”

“Reese is a regular champion of the underdog.” Dash did little to hide his smile. “According to Logan, if Reese thinks someone’s being treated unfairly, he jumps in with both feet and to hell with the consequences. Not saying he does stuff illegally, just that he doesn’t slow down to weigh the danger.”

“Jesus,” Reese growled. “I’m a cop, it’s what we do.”

“You saved Cash.” Alice leaned against him. “That had nothing to do with being a cop.”

“That had to do with being a human being.” And not once had Reese regretted that decision, not even when Cash had eaten a shoe or marked the entire apartment as his territory.

In fact, given how Alice had bonded with the dog, he was more grateful than ever that he’d been the one to find Cash that day.

Unable to keep his hands off her, and feeling more possessive than any contemporary man should, Reese brought Alice around to his lap.

Wearing a comical look of surprise, stiff instead of relaxed, she perched on his thigh.

Trace took in the two of them with understanding. “Unfortunately, the situation is that the station still has a few bad cops running loose. Your lieutenant is doing a great job, but she’s one person, and she can’t do it alone.”

“Meaning what?” Reese asked.

“I’m going to lend her a hand with that. I have better resources for exposing the frauds. Soon, I’ll present her with a file of names and evidence.” Trace didn’t wait for any objections. “In the meantime, I’d like to help out with Alice, too.”

Well, Reese thought, he had wanted the National Guard. But maybe one ultra-elite, super secretive wraith would do. “What do you suggest?”

As soon as he gave the implied agreement, Alice turned to him with joy. She smiled as if they weren’t in the middle of a complete and total cluster f*ck. “You trust him?” she asked.

Reese cupped her cheek, and gave her a solid truth. “I trust you.”

“And you,” Trace said to Alice, “trust me.” He nodded at Rowdy and Dash. “Apparently them, as well.”

“Oh, and Logan,” she said quickly, while still gifting Reese with that pretty smile. “They’re all wonderful.”

Trace did his own smiling. “I’m glad.”

And damn it, now Reese even felt like smiling.

“It’s more complicated than just dealing drugs, and, like it or not, Alice is in it up to her neck.” All business now, Trace pushed to his feet. “Protest it all you want, but facts are facts. I can handle it—”

His arms going tight around Alice, Reese stood, too. “Hell, no.”

Without missing a beat, Trace said, “Or you can handle it.” His gaze never wavered. “That is, if you think you’re up to it.”

“I’m up.”

Amused by that, Trace glanced at Alice before fixing his golden gaze back on Reese. “Of course, you did get yourself handcuffed to a bed.”

Grinding his molars together, Reese eased Alice to the side and took a more aggressive stance. Trace would not push him aside, not in this.

Not with Alice.

Then Trace added, “Something similar once happened to me. Except my pants were down and a depraved bitch planned to molest me.”

Dash whispered, “No shit?”

Rowdy sat forward. “So, what did you do?”

Lifting a brow in question, Trace said, “Do?”

“About having your pants around your ankles.”

As if that were a fond memory, he smiled. “A woman saved me. Thanks to her, I was able to regain the upper hand.” He looked at Reese. “She’s now my wife.”

Reese had a disturbing idea of where this little dance down memory lane might be going. “Is there a point to this story?”

“You need to let Alice help.”

Doing his best to hide all emotion, Reese said simply but unequivocally, “No.”

Trace ignored the denial. “This needs to be wrapped up. All of it.”

“You think I needed you to tell me that?”

“No, but apparently you need me to tell you that Alice has to be there.”

“Not happening.”

“I can ensure her safety.”

“No.”

Undaunted, Trace said more firmly, “Alice has to be available to meet Cheryl. That’s the only way you’ll get everyone.” His voice gentled. “And you already know it.”

Alice cupped Reese’s face, her smile reassuring, her gaze imploring. “I can do this, Reese. I promise.”

Reese knew he had little choice, but that didn’t mean he liked it. He pulled her into his chest, crushed her close and muttered, “F*ck.”

“Believe me,” Trace said, “I understand and I sympathize. If there was any other way...”

“I know.” Reese slowly blew out a breath and reached for distant control. “Okay.”

They were still finalizing plans when Cheryl called and requested to meet Alice...at the same time that Rowdy would be meeting DeeDee.

Distract, divide and overwhelm. But Reese knew how he felt, and he knew Alice’s determination. He saw the resolve on Rowdy’s face, and the confidence in Trace’s stance.

They would do this, but they’d do it Reese’s way. And once it was over, he’d bind Alice to him for good.