“I am now,” he says.
We ride through the city to Julian’s penthouse, and when we arrive, I instantly feel anxious. Inside, it’s just Julian and Keaton…and some man I don’t recognize.
“Hey, guys,” Julian says, welcoming us in. He holds a hand out, leading us to the dining room. We take a seat around the table. “Want anything to eat or drink?” he asks. I shake my head.
“No, thank you,” I say. He nods, then we all take our seats.
“Wren, this is Xavier,” he says. “He’s an old friend of mine. We contract our security out from his company. He’s the best in the world at what he does, and that’s keeping people safe. He has signed an NDA, but more than that, I trust him with my life. Our situation is safe with him. But more importantly, he’s going to keepyousafe during this.”
I nod my head, and Brooks’s hand tightens around mine under the table. X is a big, broad, black man with sparkling brown eyes and muscles that ripple out of his shirt.
Yeah, knowing he’s on our side makes me feel a little safer.
“Hi, Xavier,” I say.
Xavier nods his head.
“Nice to meet you, Wren,” he says. “You can call me X.”
I nod back.
“Julian here has given me a run-through of everything that’s going on. I don’t get paid to give my opinions, but in this situation, I don’t really give a damn. I think what you’re doing is reckless, but I also see that it has to be done. It’s extremely selfless, and while it’s dangerous, I want you to know that we are going to make sure you don’t get hurt. Okay?”
I instantly feel at ease. He is swift and to the point.
“So what’s the plan?” Brooks asks impatiently.
We sit and listen to X go through everything step by step. He rolls out a blueprint of the hotel that he acquired through some top-secret source of his. He shows us where the suite is that Cato mentioned the meeting was in.
“Being that it’s the largest suite on that floor, and he said that your rooms would all be near each other, I think the suite where you are having the meeting is actually the suite where Cato is staying.”
I swallow.
“So, he’s rented out multiple rooms on the floor, but there is still a room adjacent to this one that we have already reserved. We will set up there,” X says.
“Set up?” Keaton asks.
“Yes. The four of us will set up. Being that I have prominent celebrity clients, I am able to do a pre-stay clearing of all unused rooms on any given floor prior to my client’s stay. I have reserved the suite under my company’s name, and before Cato checks in, I will sweep his suite and leave some undetectable equipment. We will be able to see and hear everything and anything that’s going on.”
I instantly feel a little bit lighter.
Knowing that they will all have eyes on us makes me feel like I can relax a little bit.
A very little bit.
“Okay, what then?” I say. “What are we looking for?”
“Anything that indicates Cato or Larry are trying to force something—or someone—on you,” X says. I swallow.
“According to our legal team,” Julian speaks up, “we have to catch them in the act of coercing someone to participate in a sexual encounter in exchange for business. In New York, there is a one-party consent for recording, so as long as you are the one to record the conversation and you are a participant, Wren, we can use anything you get in court.”
I swallow and nod.
“Now, in terms of extraction…” X says, but he pauses when he sees my face. Jesus. This feels insane.Extraction?Am I a fucking spy?
Then it hits me: I kind of am.
Fuck me, man.
