RafexKiara Tangled Up in All Your Pieces // Riara

Chapter 23

Rafe's POV:

"I believe I was ID'd on that hit. Have you been tagged on a hit?" I ask Noah, plunging my fork into the eggs and sipping my orange juice.

As the older guy winks at the passing waitress, I look across at Noah, anticipating his answer.

"Not that I'm aware of." Noah says, raising his glass to the air, signaling that he needs a refill.

"Right. I'm in a pickle." I split my bacon in half, allowing the oil to pour into my hashbrowns.

"Did you get a glimpse at him?" Noah asks, shifting his chair to face me.

I shift my head to the side, my eyes narrowing.

"Little thing. Buck ten, buck fifteen tops." I try to recall the guard's physical appearance.

"Perhaps he's new." Noah suggests, sarcastically.

I cast a glance forward to the waitress.

Our gazes meet, and she looks down, a grin spreads across her face.

"I'm not even certain it was him." Returning to my eggs, I'll be honest.

Noah puts down his fork and sits up, a grin emerging on his wrinkled face.

"Are you saying you got your ass handed to you by a girl?"

I put my fork down,

"So, I believe. A pro too." I was nodding along since the security guy who stepped in my way was no taller than 5'4, making me feel humiliated that a rookie had gotten in the way.

"It shouldn't be that tough. I mean, how many chicks are batters out there?" Noah asks, giving me the impression that this was a pointless discussion.

Noah was like a second father to me; he made sure I was adequately taken care of whenever we were on a mission.

"Would you want some dessert?" the attractive waiter asks, her gaze fixed on me.

"What do you have, sweetheart?" I reply, my voice soft, as my eyes wander down to her cleavage, bringing my gaze back to her eyes.

"Ice cream," she says innocently.

"What flavors?"

She was stretching it out, playing hard to get.

"Chocolate and vanilla."

She was taking her time.

"Nah. But together, it may be great, you know what I mean? I prefer the full sundae, not just the little pink spoon." I wink at her, and her smile reaches her eyes.

"That could be arranged."

She smirks and turns to walk towards the kitchen.

"It can be arranged. Did you hear what I said? I'd want to have her kick my ass, you know what I mean?" As she walks away, I make a subtle comment.

Noah sighs.

"Aside from her weight class, do you have any further information?" He scrapes his plate, clearing the remaining food and setting the plate aside.

I cringed at the sound,

"Ring." I was attempting to speak up, but my voice was low.

"Sorry? You're in a whole other zone right now..."

"Ring," I say loudly.

"Okay, a ring! That sounds about right."

Noah clears his throat and leaves a tip for the waitress on the counter.

I had the ring in my pocket, and Noah and I would go over to the office to scan it in the hopes of tracing the jewelry back to its rightful owner.

The thought made me happy since it meant we were getting closer to catching this fucker.

I eat my breakfast quickly, as I am running late for a meeting with Mr. Hull in 15 minutes.

I scoot my chair in and set my plate on the side, leaving my number on the napkin.

"Well, I've got to go; school is still in session." I turn to face Noah, softly touching him on the back.

I put on my coat and finish the rest of my orange juice before placing the cup down and stepping out the door.

Mr. Hull was on my ass, and I didn't want to be late for school.

He contacted me this morning to remind me that I was living in a house with the bitch.

I bite my cheeks, recalling Kiara's presence in the home.

Mr. Hull must not have been clear to her, because Jude was residing in a separate apartment.

But, what can I say, a Pogue always finds a way to get themselves into more trouble.

I got into my car and turn the key as the engine starts up.

I drive away, gripping the steering wheel in the hopes of getting to school in time to utilize the school's fitness facility and pound the bag before second period.

The idea encouraged me since it allowed me to vent my frustration onto the bag.

Kiara's POV:

"I want to know who that bitch is. Get that tape for me." I turned up the volume on the speaker and placed my phone in the passenger seat.

Barry and Nora were on the other end of the line, as was the agency's boss, but his voice was modified in such a way that whenever he talked, his voice was at a different tone.

It seemed like a conference call, with Barry and Noras acting as my parents and the boss, whose name I don't even recall, acting as the principal on the other end.

I was about to walk through those doors in a few minutes, but I was summoned to a meeting with Mr. Hull.

"Jane." Barry responds.

"Barry, don't even," I was irritated by his little game, despite the fact that he was attempting to lighten the situation.

I clench my fists on the driving wheel and stare out the window towards the school.

As the first period bell rang, the parking lot of the school began to fill up.

"Kiara, don't be too uptight; this was an unexpected call. The civilian made it out of the building in time, but the video is too blurry to be clear."

"Get that tape for me." I'll say it again: I don't want to wait any longer.

"Kiara."

"What?"

"Let the boss speak for himself." Nora speaks in hushed tones.

I raise my head, eager to hear what the boss has to say.

"The FBI was able to secure the package. The window is closed, sir." I decide to speak first, rather than allowing him to do so.

"I warned you, we couldn't afford any errors."

I clench my teeth.

Did he not hear Barry?

"There was another player." I state quietly, thinking he'll get the hint.

"Kiara, you left the scene too soon for the player to acquire a full ID on the guard who got in the way. I warned you about the possibility of witnesses, and now we've been targeted among the guests." The boss chastises me.

"I don't want you to let me down again; the agency has already dealt with a lot. Clean the scene."

"I'm looking forward to it, sir."

He then hangs up, satisfied with my response.

Silence envelops us, bringing me to my last conclusion.

"OK, we have a new target. Let's find out who he is." I hang up, and toss the phone in the back.

I don't wait for Nora or Barry to react since I'm in a bad mood right now; the Civilian was out there, and they were now on our tails.

Rudy could barely make out any description, only with the guess of him being 6'0 feet tall.

Which was inconvenient because Rudy was based in Atlanta, so having a new face made me question Nora and her selections.

My phone rings, causing me to groan and reach over to the backseat to answer it.

"Are you okay?" Barry asks, his typical worried tone.

"No, I have a meeting with Rafe and the headmaster in 2 minutes."

"COUNTRY CLUUUUB, tell that bitch I said hello!" Barry shouts, his rural accent permeating his words.

I groan, making it apparent that I was not in the mood to fight Rafe Cameron.

"Hey, I'm pleased I wanted to lighten the tone on this call. I realize you have a lot on your plate. Just looking out for a friend, ya know?"

"Thank you man, I appreciate it," I react sarcastically and retrieve my luggage from the backseat.

I open the car door, and Rafe drives past, no warning, parking in front of me.

I walk away, flipping him off.

~

"So, if this mother f.. Mr. Hull, if Rafe wasn't here, maybe we wouldn't be wasting your precious morning." I address Mr. Hull in a caustic and dismissive tone.

Rafe's presence shifts in his seat next to me.

I couldn't look him in the eyes, nor Mr. Hull, since his bored face would throw me off, making me the one talking, making it more difficult to get my point across as he gets what he wants with his quiet demeanor.

"Ms. Carrera, I understand your dissatisfaction with Mr. Cameron, but you must face it. Rafe and you must be the most cordial of the group. Your hatred is affecting your characters."

I stare at him.

"Excuse me? Is Rafe Cameron having an effect on my character? That is bullshit. Bull to the shit.