“You’re going to have me on my ass,” Scarlett whispers, playfully scolding.
“If only I could.” I squeeze her ass and smile. “Just sip it. It’s the best they offer at these things, and we drink the best, Mrs. Myers.”
I glance over Scarlett's shoulder and I see Carl with several other men also drinking scotch. I lean into her ear. “There he is. Balding with a big cigar and belly.”
She knows to wait a beat before she turns around and looks at him. And she is so cute about doing it. She smiles and places her head on my shoulder, acting as if she is being coquettish, but with the angle she uses to dip her head she can see him perfectly.
“He’s ugly,” she whispers against my chest as she turns her headback.
“His heart sure is.” I kiss her forehead.
“Is this the blushing bride you've been hiding from us?” Griffin approaches, drink in hand, grouchy and overbearing as always.
Behind him are Cade and Marcel: the Quattro. Scarlett instinctively moves closer, and I put my arm around her to give her assurance. She will be on her own to do a little investigating but within my eyesight, as we planned.
“Scarlett, this is Griffin. He’s insufferable, so don’t take his bad temper personally. Cade is a cad and a hockey player; he’s dangerous.” I smile. “And he’s a young’un." He is older than Scarlett, which pangs my heart a little.
She is young, vibrant, and alive. I match her energy because she brings me back to life.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she says politely.
“Can we say how jealous we are of you now, or do we wait?” Cade offers a roguish grin—always the player, always the flirt.
“You? Jealous of marriage? You can’t stay with the same woman for more than a week. I don’t see where your jealousy comes from.” I laugh, and then it hits me. I used to be the man who couldn’t stay with the same woman for more than a week, and now the thought of a lifetime together doesn’t seem like enough. I look down at her deep blue, beautiful eyes and realize how lucky I am.
“If Scarlett were my wife,” Cade takes her hand and kisses it, “monogamy would not be a problem."
Scarlett giggles, but she is only being polite.
“Moving on, this is Marcel—”
Lights flicker, and the movie is about to start. I cut off introductions. It is time to put our plan into motion. We head to our assigned seats in the theater. Afterward, I need Scarlett to walk around the venue with her cocktail and casually stroll by conversations to see if any of them mention Carl.
The other point of us being there at the movie premiere is for Carl to see Scarlett is healthy and fully liberated from captivity. I want to take the moment to gloat in front of him and show that we are stronger than he is. I suspect that Carl is working with a dictator of another government and he is literally the middleman just trying to secure weapons for a price. I need to know what that price is.
The movie is mildly entertaining, but my wifedoesget up to go to the bathroom. She points out that Carl is not in his assigned seat. He is standing with some men outside of the screening room having a hushed conversation where they mention "Concadia" several times.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Scarlett
“Tell me again what you heard?” Beckett asks me as soon as we get in the limo and I am able to take off my way-too-high and painful heels.
“They were standing outside of the theater drinking with Carl. The men were dressed in very formal attire with diamond cufflinks, jeweled lapel pins, and stuff like that. I went to the bar and asked for water. Carl was watching my every move but he couldn't stop them from talking. They mentioned the word Concadia three times.”
I am hoping that I can provide Beckett with useful information so that when we go to the masquerade party he has something to stop Carl from forcing him to create the bioweapon.
“Concadia is an AI software that CSS developed. When saved on a computer or a phone, it collects all the data on the device and from the cloud associated with it. Not only does the person who uses the AI have their information hacked, but if the picture is sent to someone else—even a large company—it will collect data from their computer and devices as well. If Carl is involved with something having to do with data collection, perhaps he’s trying to figure out who to kill off with the drug. This is dangerous.”
Suddenly I feel an overwhelming sense of terror and helplessness. “Do you think you can stop him?”
“I don’t know. CSS is full of the most powerful men in the world. One doctor against a ring of corruption is a perilous fight. I need to find out if he’s working with CSS or against them. If against, I have a better chance.”
He is really just motivated by his own morality. It is something to admire about Beckett. He is dangerous in his own right; he draws the line at a drug that could kill the world, yet he has no qualms about healing mafia bosses and their accomplices. He doesn't discriminateagainst murderers and thieves. The fact that he could just as well save a tyrant as he would a teacher gives me pause.
I need to know exactly what we are up against. “What are the risks for you?”
“You and Rayne, first and foremost, my reputation and career, my life.” He lets out a heavy sigh. “We’re impeding on someone’s very ambitious plan to take over the world, it sounds. Very Saturday morning cartoon of him, but not entirely out of left field. Carl has a God complex but hasn’t the skills or intellect to be considered a god in anyone’s estimation. He’s a little man with a big ego. All I’m going to ask you to do is to listen. You’ve gathered invaluable information already.” He leans forward and kisses me on the forehead as my anxiety spikes.
