Page 18 of Ruthless Enforcer

This time I narrow my gaze at him. “Hey.”

“See?” Clara gestures between us. “Still doing it.”

Chuckling, Luke holds out his hand. “Luke Bennett, ma’am.”

“Clara Whitlock,” she says, taking his hand. She must feel me stiffen next to her because she drops it right away, shooting me a glance.

I step in closer to her, my hand fisting in the loose material at her back.

Luke smirks knowingly at me.

The fucker. And here I used to like him. “Can we do this inside? She’s cold.”

“Come in.” Luke steps aside immediately and leads us through the house to the kitchen.

Hendricks, Mandy, and Jake are gathered around the island. All three look up.

Mandy sees Clara and immediately pushes away from the island. Relief flashes across her face. “Thank God.”

Then she sees the blood and stops, turning to me. “What happened?”

“Her security was compromised.” I bump fists with Hendricks and Jake Callahan.

Mandy’s expression hardens. “How bad?”

I shrug. “Bad enough that one of them tried to take her.”

Clara folds her arms. “But Gabriel managed to kidnap me first.”

“Rescue,” I correct, taking the beer Luke hands me. I drop onto a chair and take a long swig.

“Security footage?” Hendricks asks.

I sigh. “I need to send Alessandro a text about that.”

Jake steps forward, nodding to Clara. “Jake Callahan. Luke Bennett you’ve met. Mason Rivera isn’t here, but the three of us own Blackthorn.”

Hendricks slides in next to Mandy, hand around her waist, and gives Clara a nod too. “Hendricks.”

“I’m Mandy.” She raises her hand. “I’m the one who sent Gabriel to kidnap you.”

Clara blinks.

Mandy shrugs. “It sounded more reasonable in my head.”

A laugh escapes Luke.

“We have a problem.” I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it has to be done. “Turner broke out.”

Everyone goes still.

“Fuck,” Jake says.

Hendricks already has his game face on. “When?”

“Tonight.”

Luke comes to the table. “And nobody thought to lead with that?”