“As soon as you hooked up with the Hellraisers for bike week.”
No. That couldn’t be. She would have noticed. She always noticed. Her father had security personnel tailing her all the time. She’d become an expert at dodging security detail when she wanted to be alone with a date, or go out with her friends. Security personnel were always so obvious. And if there’d been a federal officer . . .
Undercover.
Undercover in the Hellraisers? Who? And why?
Her curiosity turned to anger. “You had me watched? I want to know why.”
Her father took a seat on the sofa across from hers. She noted the crisp, perfectly starched line in his trousers, thought of her mother. Everything so perfect . . . nothing out of place.
“As you can imagine, there was some concern about my daughter being involved with a gang suspected of heavy involvement in drug distribution. You know I head the committee drafting major antidrug legislation. I told you that when you made contact with Lacey after she joined that gang.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t joining the gang, Dad. I was trying to reach Lacey.”
“Nevertheless, imagine how it would look if you somehow got tangled up with this gang, with drugs, and me heading this committee. It could seriously undermine this important legislation.”
Yes, God forbid the legislation be harmed.
“And you were so worried about the harm I’d do that you put someone undercover to keep an eye on me.”
“To protect you from harm.”
Bullshit. More likely to preserve his reputation.
“And it turns out my fears weren’t unwarranted. Look at the mess you got yourself into. It’s a good thing we had a federal agent on hand to save the day.”
Instantly it clicked. Rick. Oh, God, it was Rick. He was the federal agent.
That’s why he’d “dumped” her. That’s why he’d nearly run out of her apartment that night. He couldn’t tell her who he really was. Then again, maybe she was just his assignment and nothing more. Maybe he didn’t care about her.
Or maybe he did, and he wasn’t supposed to.
God, she had to know, had to talk to him and find out.
“I want to talk to this federal agent.”
Her father shook his head. “Not possible.”
“It’s possible and you know it. I want to see Rick and now.”
Her father raised his brows. “You do not speak to me that way, Ava.”
Ava stood, so angry she could barely breathe. “Look. You’re the one who set me up. Do you think I’m such a child that you couldn’t have just come to me and talked to me rationally about your concerns? I’m an adult, Father. I understand legalities and your job and your reputation and PR. But no, you continue to worry more about the shit I might step in and how it might affect you, and worry less about how I feel. So now I don’t care how you feel. I need to talk to Rick.”
Her father looked stunned. Good. It felt damn good to finally unload her frustrations on him.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. You have always been treated well.”
“Yes, like a caged pet.”
Her father stood. “I don’t need to listen to this.”
“Find Rick for me.”
He shook his head. “Getting involved with an undercover federal agent is unacceptable.”
She rolled her eyes, frustration knotting her stomach. “Oh please. He’s a federal agent. How much more aboveboard can it get?”
“No. I won’t have it.”
Then she realized her father’s refusal had nothing to do with Rick, or even her. It was about him, his political career. He didn’t care how she felt, never cared about what was important to her or what she wanted. Somewhere down the road he’d probably find some lawyer or politician that he thought would be a good match for her. Love didn’t matter with him. It never had. There was no love between her parents, so that shouldn’t surprise her. He’d expect her to be dutiful and find a man who would cement his political career.
Hell could freeze over before she allowed that to happen.
She marched to the front door and opened it. “Good-bye, Father.”
“We’ll speak again soon.”
Not likely.
She closed the door behind him, blinking back the tears that pricked her eyes.
Now she had no idea how to find Rick, no clue which branch of the government he even worked for.
And without her father’s connections, she was afraid Rick was lost to her.
FOURTEEN
“He’s moping.”
“It’s pathetic, really.”
“He might need an antidepressant.”
“Or, I could beat the shit out of him.”
“I’m in the f**king room, ass**les.” Rick refused to turn around and acknowledge the other Wild Riders, who’d decided to give a verbal report to their superior officer, General Grange Lee, on the state of Rick’s emotional health.
General Lee rounded the corner of the main living area, where Rick was trying to lose himself in a video game.
“Is that true? You moping?”
“No, sir. I’m playing video games.”
“Yeah, he’s playing video games,” Diaz said, coming around to stand next to Grange. Diaz crossed his arms and stared down at Rick. “And he’s sucking at all of them.”
Grange arched a brow. “Rick, sucking at video games? You’re the house champ.”
“I’m a little off my game.”
AJ leaped over the sofa and grabbed one of the controllers. “Seriously off his game. Even Jessie can beat him.”
“Hey, dickhead, I heard that.” Jessie sauntered into the room, stuck out her tongue at AJ, and linked her arm with Diaz’s. “But seriously, Rick, you do look kind of sad.”
“I’m not sad. I’m not depressed. I’m not moping. Why don’t you all leave me the hell alone?”
“Now what fun would that be?” Mac asked as he came in, an apple in his hand. “You know none of us get to have secrets.”
“I don’t have any secrets.”
“He’s hung up on his last assignment,” Spence said, leaning his beefy frame against the doorway.
Rick had just about enough. He tossed the controller on the table and stood. “My last assignment is over.”