“Okay, I like it. It could work. But I’m still confused. How do we get this bogus Intel fed to Justin?”
Gio cleared his voice. “Well . . . We do have an idea for that too.” The man’s ice blue eyes met Joseph’s and he saw steel in them. The hair on the back of Joseph’s neck began to prickle. He said nothing waiting for the man to continue. He did. “Your girlfriend.”
Joseph took a step back like he had been shot. “Hell no!”
Nikko stood up running his hands through his black hair. “You can say no,” Nikko put in, “but please, again, hear us out first.”
Joseph was shaking his head still. “No. No danger comes to her. It’s out of the question.”
“Please listen. Absolutely not. We wouldn’t be putting her into any kind of danger. She’ll be protected at all times.” Nikko waited and watched as the man’s eyes searched his.
It was Jonathan who spoke. “Go on. Tell us the plan first. We need to hear more before any of us will even consider it.”
Joseph didn’t want to hear it, but his brother’s look said listen first. He would do that and then tell these guys were to go with their idea. If Jewel was in any danger he wouldn’t go along with it.
“It’s simple really. She just needs to drop the bait. She is picking the boys up from the youth center every day. Justin hangs out there, she mentions she has to work tonight because of some high class society type that is having a dinner party at nine. She warns them to stay home, in front of Justin. But she’s got to let it drop that said lady is rich, dripping in jewels, or some such line. Something like that. You can even be there when she delivers the news, and we will be watching and listening. Maybe she is canceling plans,” he used air quotes when he said the word plan, “that she has with you and the boys for the evening.”
Joseph let his breath out slowly. It was pretty simple. Justin wouldn’t do anything at the center. And he would easily buy the story. If that was the extent of Jewel’s involvement, he could use her. But he wanted to be upfront and tell her everything. It had to be her choice. He let out his breath slowly and began to pace. He needed to think it through. He didn’t see how that would put her in harm’s way. Everything would go down on the fourteenth floor and they would be able to keep it contained. He gave his assent with a quick nod. “But she gets protection until it’s over. And she gets to know why.”
Both brothers nodded their agreement. The tension in the room relaxed as the two men went over the other details of the plan and then put in the call to get their brothers there. Everything would be set for nine o’clock that evening.
Chapter 24
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Jewel was very surprised by her early morning visitor. She hadn’t expected to see Joseph until later that afternoon. She was busy unpacking and cleaning the small two bedroom house. But the moment the door opened he swept her into his arms and planted a passionate kiss on her. Even in a pair of cut off shorts and t-shirt with and bandana covering her hair, she looked good to him. Especially now that she had given him this second chance. One he didn’t hope he blew by asking her for her help with taking down the criminals that had been plaguing the casino for months.
“My domestic goddess,” he teased her, not wanting to ruin the moment too soon by blurting out what was really on his mind and what had prompted this visit.
“Well, if you would have told me you were coming, I’d have cleaned up a bit,” she laughed pushing his hand away that was cupping her bottom suggestively. “I’m gross, and sweaty.”
“Never gross, but maybe a little sweaty,” he continued to tease her as he tried to reach for her again, but she swatted him once more for that comment and pulled out of his reach.
“Listen, buddy, you’re not getting anywhere with me with those types of comments. Deny. Deny. Deny.”
“Okay, you win. You are beautiful, gorgeous, and look amazing in those shorts. Now come over here so I can kiss you properly and show you just how attractive I think you are in that get up.”
She gave him a sideways glance, still wondering why he was there, but the look he gave her with those coppery eyes made her smolder. She succumbed to him and went back into his arms. And he showed her how he felt in a nanosecond. Cupping her ass while he kissed her, he pushed his erection into her core. It sent spirals of electricity coursing through her and made her forget all else. The effect he had on her was instantaneous.
When her arms began to roam and her hands began to claw at his back, he regretfully ended the kiss. It was not why he was here though he was sorely tempted to have her first before breaking the news to her. But he knew that wouldn’t be fair to her.
When he pulled back from the kiss, he continued to hold her until her breathing returned to normal.