Page 33 of Stolen Salvation

The screen behind Bás showed Andrea, looking way more grown up than the last time he’d seen her, beside Carter Cavendish, the man Duchess was investigating and trying to take down with his brothers’ help. The man was a piece of work, known for drugs, trafficking of guns, people, extortion, and God knew what else.

The last images of Andrea kissing Carter, as he held the back of her hair in a painful grip, turned his stomach. He saw Charlie swallow and leaned closer to offer his support. Her eyes moved to his and she smiled, a small grateful movement of her lips that didn’t reach her eyes.

“I’m gonna kill him,” her words were quiet but not a single person in the room could deny the ferocity behind them.

“Well, get in line, because Duchess here has been hunting him for over a year and he’s a slippery bastard.”

Charlie glared at Bás and then turned her attention to Duchess, some of the fire dimming from the friendship they’d formed over Charlie’s confession that she still didn’t know he’d heard. “I want to be there when you take this bastard down.”

Duchess nodded once, her enigmatic gaze never leaving Charlie.

“So, we know Charlie and Bishop spoke with Dr Joseph, and his background suggests he’s in the clear, but I’d like to get eyes on him for a few days and see for sure. Bein, Lotus, what did you find?”

Lotus rolled her shoulders. “A whole lot of nothing, except for an excessive amount of cameras. We know the clinic runs late, so it might be worth setting round-the-clock surveillance, but my guess is this is a front. They won’t keep the girls there if they’re doing what you think, and we currently have no evidence of that.”

“I agree. I think round the clock on all three would be the best idea.” Bishop rolled his finger around the empty space on his ring finger as he spoke, an unknown tell until he saw Charlie watching him. Moving his hands he looked to Bás, not wanting to show his exposed heart in a room full of people, even if they were his friends.

“Agreed. Bein and Lotus, head back to Birmingham. Val and I will head to London and Hurricane and Duchess will go with you two. Duchess, put in a call to your contact and find out everything you can about this club and any gossip around the girl.”

She crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side in thought. “I should probably do this in person.”

“Fine. You head to London with us then and Titan and Reaper can go with Bishop, and Charlie with Hurricane. I think given the girl—”

“Andrea, her name is Andrea and I get this isn’t personal for you, but to me, it’s very personal. So please use her name.” Bishop wasn’t sure where his outburst came from, but it was out there now and all the eyes in the room were on him.

Bás folded his arms over his chest, adjusting his stance as he watched him with a closed expression. “I’m aware just how personal this is, but you know how we operate, so cool the fuck down. Andrea is a priority to us too. Don’t go getting your dick in a dangle over the slightest thing or I’ll pull you from this case.”

Bishop went rigid at the threat. “I’d like to see you try.”

A smirk crossed his boss’s face and he wasn’t sure why he was goading him this way, only that his body felt itchy in his skin.

“Noah, stop it.”

Pulling his gaze away from Bás he saw Charlie looking at him like he’d gone mad. Was this how she felt when she was out of her mind with grief? Like she couldn’t control her words or actions even though she knew they were destructive.

“What’s going on?” Her hand on his arm made him look down at the touch that had always soothed his soul.

“Nothing is the matter. I just don’t want them referring to her as ‘the girl’.”

Her forehead crinkled like she was trying to read him and all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and turn back time.

“Duly noted.” Bás’ sharp words broke the spell that had clouded around them. “Bishop, I suggest you head to the club where Andrea worked and see if you can find out more about her and Carter.”

“Sure, good plan.”

Bás nodded but Bishop knew they were going to be having a conversation soon about his attitude. “Reaper and Titan, I want you to sort surveillance on the clinic and Dr Joseph.”

“I’ll coordinate with Watchdog on that,” Reaper offered, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Let’s get to it.”

Bishop went to walk away but stopped at Bás’ words. “Bishop, a word.”

No please or thank you which meant he was pissed.

Charlie hesitated, never one to leave a man behind until she had. Shaking that thought away he gritted his jaw in anger at himself. Charlie had explained why she’d done it and while he didn’t fully understand it, he could accept it hadn’t been for the reasons he’d thought.

“Go pack and I’ll meet you in the kitchen in half an hour.”