Connor nodded, as if Erin’s reasoning made perfect sense.
Bowen scratched the back of his neck, looking restless until Sera settled a hand on his shoulder, stilling him. “Five more minutes. If the captain is a no-show, I’m taking Sera home.” He eyeballed the newcomer. “I’m not exactly aflutter with anticipation to make your acquaintance, man.”
“Yeah?” The guy’s jaw hardened. “I wasn’t exactly thrilled to find out a group of criminals and cons have been running free in my city.”
Austin gave a slow clap, unable to contain the laughter that escaped him. “You are aware this is Chicago, are you not? Home of the Chicago White Sox—or Black Sox as history will remember them for fixing your precious World Series?” He looked around the room for support, which didn’t come. “The phrase ‘vote early and vote often’ originated in your city, good man. Rest assured that Chicago’s reputation is already too black for a handful of criminals to tarnish it further.”
Polly sniffed. “I hate when we agree.”
Austin swept her tempting body with a look. “I know one thing we’d agree on if you’d only let me play.”
He had the satisfaction of watching her cheeks redden—just a touch. “And wake up fleeced of my possessions? No, thank you.”
His stomach knotted, but he grinned through the discomfort. “I’d leave you the essentials.”
“Drop dead, Shaw.”
Captain Derek Tyler chose that moment to enter the meeting space, shoving a box of doughnuts in Erin’s general direction. “Never again, O’Dea,” he growled. “You want doughnuts at these meetings, pick them up yourself.”
“Captain,” Erin responded, her voice muffled inside the pink box. “Do you have a nut allergy? If you die, I’d rather it were of natural causes.”
Derek threw an exhale at the ceiling, then looked at Sera—the only cop in the undercover squad and probably the one with the largest reserve of patience—who responded with, “New guy smells like peanut butter. The men are all a little touchy and it didn’t help when Austin dissed the almighty Series. We all knew he was a cop on sight, because, hello. Probably best to lead with introductions. I’ll pick up the doughnuts next time. You never pick anything with frosting.”
Bowen rolled his shoulders. “That’s my wife.” He looked at the new guy. “Who I’d like to point out is neither criminal nor con, as you put it.”
“Then what’s she doing here?” New guy rubbed his chin and leaned forward, considering an already-bristling Bowen. “I’ve earned a guess since you’ve all taken turns pegging me for a lowlife.” He swept Bowen with a discerning look. “Dragged her down with you, huh?”
Connor just managed to intercept Bowen in time on his charge toward the newcomer. Big as Connor was, Bowen knew every trick in the book and was more than capable of getting the drop on Connor, so Austin heaved a dramatic sigh and went to step in. “Now, Driscol. You’re upsetting your missus.” A fair amount of struggle went out of Bowen, even though murder still existed in his eyes. Thankfully, Austin knew exactly how to defuse the bomb, having started as a chiller when joining up with his partner. The one who calms the mark when he realizes he’s been had. “All right. If you insist on fighting…” Austin said for Bowen’s ears alone. “He’s got a limp on his right side, the pathetic fuck. I’d go right for his knee if I were you. Exploit his weakness.”
As expected, Bowen’s irritation was handily transferred to Austin. “I don’t need to fight dirty to win.”
“It was merely a suggestion.” When Bowen shrugged off Connor’s restraining grip and returned to Sera, Austin lifted an eyebrow at the new guy. “Congratulations, you’re the new heat merchant in the group. Up until five minutes ago, it was me they hated most.”
“Don’t worry,” Polly said, perching at the edge of a chair and crossing her legs. “That hasn’t changed for me.”
“If you’re all finished ruining my morning, I’d like to get this meeting started.” Derek’s voice demanded everyone’s attention, even though he sounded flat-out bored as he studied the contents of a manila folder. “I don’t have a case to assign just yet, but I’ve got something brewing. So stay close and keep your phones on.”
“Don’t tell me you brought us down here for a meet-and-greet,” Austin muttered. “I could have made plans.”
Derek didn’t look up from his file. “Oh yeah? To do what?”
“Criminal type things. Clandestine meetings, hatching nefarious plots—”
“As I was saying.” Derek finally tossed down the file. “We’ve made it a policy to be honest with one another. Since day one, we’ve been open about our strengths, and it will be no different with our new addition, Henrik.”
Bowen snorted. “Henrik?”