Chapter 24
Jace glanced at his phone as he led Amy to the door. A text from Logan popped up on the screen:
Maddoxand the guys are in Mr. P’s office now. He’s drawing up papers. All is according to plan so far. Head on in.
The garage entranceled to a foyer where a woman sat at a desk, a redhead in her late twenties, most likely. “Welcome,” she cheered. “Glad you could make it.” He recognized her voice as the gal who’d buzzed them into the garage.
She motioned to a metal-detecting corridor set up at one side of the hall. “Please remove all metal, place your items in the lockers provided, and step through the metal detectors,” the woman said. “We’re proud to say that—due to the resort up the street— we have a lot of celebrities visit here. We pride ourselves on maintaining a safe, weapon-free environment for all of our guests.”
Jace tipped his head.Sneaky—keeping their “world-famous guests” safe. He half expected to see an armed man with a wand ready to guide them through. He assumed the absence of such a man was purposeful; they wouldn’t want to set Jace on edge. Still, a camera propped just above the secretary said they were monitoring the area. No doubt they had someone ready to step in if necessary.
“Once you’re done, you can grab a chair in our seating area. The owner’s here today, and he’s asked to speak with you before you get pampered.”
Jace rested his hand on Amy’s back, hating the idea of that guy getting anywhere near her. He tugged his guns from their holsters and rested them in one of the lockers. Amy shoved her entire purse in the same locker and stepped through the detector first. Jace followed, glad the thing didn’t beep.
Amy walked over to the seating against the wall, but she seemed to have her gaze stuck on the woman behind the desk.Tia,he noticed, on her nametag.
After lowering herself into one of the chairs, Amy looped her hand into the nook of Jace’s arm and tilted her head until he looked at her. She shot a pointed look toward the receptionist. “I’ve seen her,” she mouthed.
Jace cleared his throat and glanced down the empty hallway. The sound of Maddox’s loud chuckle came from the other side of the closed, unmarked door. Must be Mr. P’s office.
The adrenaline pulsing through him multiplied in spades, cold and prickly in his veins.
Jace lifted a brow in question.
She gave him a subtle nod. “Can’t remember where.”
Hmm. He wasn’t sure what to make of that. He eyed the foyer a bit more. This wasn’t the front desk customers saw when they came in for an appointment; that entrance faced Main. So what was it, an entry for special guests only? And did Tia work here full time or was she merely a temp, filling in for a position that wasn’t exactly a thing most days?
Amy crossed her leg and began bouncing it furiously. She cupped a palm over her knee and tapped her fingers as well.
“Would you guys like a Mimosa while you wait?” Tia offered as footsteps sounded down the opposite hallway, one that curved behind the rounded wall. She disappeared around the corner as a rhythmic sound of small wheels rolling echoed off the tile. When she reappeared seconds later, she was pushing a cart stacked with pastries, drinks, and fruit. Two champagne flutes held what he assumed were the Mimosas she’d offered.
“No thanks,” Jace said. He gave Amy pointed look, hoping she’d decline as well; the drinks were likely spiked.
“Not right now, thanks,” Amy said. “Maybe in a little while.”
Jace studied the redhead’s reaction to that as she slid the cart against the wall. She picked out a doughnut and set it on a napkin before heading back to her seat. If she was miffed, she didn’t let on. Either she wasn’t in on what was happening, or she didn’t think their mission hinged on getting them to drink spiked Mimosas.
Amy’s leg bouncing caught Jace’s eye once more. He leaned over and gave her cheek a kiss. “You’re fidgeting,” he whispered. “It’s making you look nervous.”
Her leg stilled suddenly. Her fingers did too. Amy rubbed her palms over her pants and sighed before looking at him.Reallylooking at him. Searching his face in question. Would they be okay? Would they really make it out of this alive?
He gave her a nod of assurance, and the adrenaline in him doubled once more.
“Thanks,” she said, and kissed his cheek in return.
“Well, well,” a familiar voice boomed from behind the wall. Mr. P’s voice. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you and your men. We’ll put pen to paper once the merchandise comes in.”
Jace fought back an eye-roll.Merchandise. Mr. P insisted the buyer approve all merchandise before the contract was signed by either party. A contract they needed to make the initial arrest. Had that not been the case, Jace might have gotten his way after all—a staged sting operation that didn’t involve bringing Amy along.
Creed, Baron, and Blaine stepped through the doorway. Due to the curved shape of the wall, Jace couldn’t see inside the office. Two more men exited; one with braided long hair, another with a dragon tattoo on his neck. Jace didn’t recognize either of them.
His team members walked by without so much as a glance in their direction. The cronies working for Mr. P were a different story. Each moved an appreciative gaze over Amy before shooting a glare at Jace, then followed Jace’s comrades down the hallway.
Maddox’s voice preceded him as he chuckled in response to something Mr. P said. And there he was, looking very much like Jace figured he might in a three-piece suit and the hat they’d all joked about.
What Jace hadn’t expected to see was the cigar pinned between his lips. Must’ve been a gift from Mr. P. The tip smoldered as Maddox took a drag and puffed it out the side of his lip. “Thank you for this, fine sir,” he said, accent in check. “I’ll hang around to…” his eyes flashed over to Amy. “Inspect the merchandise.”
