The Sit - N - Spill Chronicles: Brewing

Chapter 16

Annie stood in front of the mirror in Kane's bedroom, adjusting her blouse and smoothing her hair. The early morning light filtered through the curtains, painting the room in shades of gold. Her reflection caught the tension in Kane's movements behind her as he worked the strap of his watch, his brows furrowed. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice low and deliberate.

"Derek and I worked a case together a few years back," he said, meeting her gaze in the mirror. "It wasn't just a property dispute. It turned into something much darker."

Annie turned to face him, concern knitting her brow. "What happened?" she asked, stepping closer and placing a gentle hand on his arm.

Kane sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "We uncovered a human trafficking ring. It was running through the properties we were investigating. Derek and I went undercover for months. It was... ugly. We saw things no one should ever have to see."

Annie lowered herself onto the bed beside him, her hand finding his. "That sounds horrific," she said softly. "But you stopped it, didn't you?"

"We did," Kane said, his voice tight, "but not before we lost people—good people—who trusted us to protect them. Those failures, they stay with you." His hand curled into a fist; the strain evident in his knuckles.

Annie's heart ached at the weight he carried. She reached up, cupping his face in her hands. "I'm so sorry you went through that. But what you did mattered. You made a difference. And you are still fighting for justice. That means something."

Kane's tense features softened under her touch. "Derek kept me going," he admitted. "He is relentless, razor-sharp, and he has this uncanny ability to read people. He can walk into a room and make someone trust him in minutes. He is the best at what he does."

Annie smiled gently. "He sounds like more than just a good agent. He sounds like a good man. And he was lucky to have you helping work on that case with him."

Kane looked at her, his gratitude clear. "I am the lucky one," he said quietly. "And now I have you. So, I am twice as lucky." He flirted with her, lightening the moment. 

Annie chuckled lightly and kissed his cheek in response.

Downstairs, the living room hummed with quiet activity. Derek stood at the coffee table, his tall, broad frame commanding attention as he pointed to a map spread out before him. Notes, photos, and highlighted areas dotted the surface, each detail meticulously marked.

"Davis and Benji are the linchpins," Derek explained, his voice calm but firm. "They are the ones making the deals and issuing the threats. They think they are untouchable, which makes them predictable. The sting will focus on catching them in the act of bribery and coercion. That is where they are most vulnerable."

Derek stood over the coffee table, his sharp gaze scanning the notes and maps. Annie, Kane, and Liam sat nearby, their tension palpable as they prepared for what was ahead. The silence was broken by the shrill ring of Annie's phone. Everyone froze as she glanced at the screen. "It is him," she said quietly, holding up the phone to show Davis's name.

"Answer it," Derek said, his voice steady. "On speaker. Let's see what he has to say."

Annie nodded, her hand trembling slightly as she accepted the call. "Hello?"

"Carter," Davis's voice oozed through the speaker, menacing and cold. "I told you to back off. You don't know who you're dealing with."

Derek motioned for her to keep him talking. "I am not backing off," Annie replied, her voice unwavering. "You cannot intimidate me into giving up what's right."