No matter how many identities she wore…
Bobby Jenkins was standing just downstairs, breathing the same air, taking up the same space, causing the same flutters in her stomach that he always caused.
And Delaney Rhodes had just realized that the past wasn’t done with her yet.
CHAPTER FIVE
ELVIS COULD ONLY WATCH her leave as Hawk crossed the room to join him.
“That didn’t look like it went the way you wanted,” the other man said just as Julia—Delaney—stepped out of the room, her partner right behind her. “Is that who you called Blaze about?”
Elvis gave a curt nod, still feeling dumbfounded. “She denies it’s her, though. I don’t get it. Why the hell would she lie to me?”
“Are you sure it’s not just a doppelgänger type thing going on here? I mean, what makes you think this girl is your high school sweetie?”
Elvis ran a hand through his hair. “Because you don’t forget the love of your life, the woman you were ready to spend eternity with.” He dropped his arm to his side. “There was no way I would ever forget Julia Moretti. Her disappearing changed the course of my life.”
Levi walked into the room, waving at them as he headed toward Colin, who sat in front of a bank of monitors.
“Showtime,” Hawk slapped Elvis on the back. “Your mystery gal’s going to have to wait.”
Elvis sighed as he followed Hawk over to join the others. He tried to shove Julia out of his mind, but it had taken him years and the SEALs to get her out the first time.
“All right, everyone,” Levi said as he slipped his hands to his hips. “Remember, we’re just backup. Taylor and Barret, you two stay close on the north side of the room. Bobby and Gideon, you two take the south side. I’m going to hang in the back and, of course, Colin will remain here monitoring the whole shebang. Just keep your heads on a swivel, and we’ll be at the bar shooting tequila before you know it.”
Elvis simply nodded as he turned and headed to the main conference room, which was already filling up. Casino security was all over the place, checking name badges at the door, lining the walls, standing on each side of the dais. They stood with their backs ramrod straight and their hands clasped in front of them.
Elvis followed Hawk to the south wall, the noise level in the room picking up as people filed in. “You know this makes no sense,” he said as he nodded to one of the casino guards. “Look how much security they have here. Why do they need us?”
“You were fine with it when Levi called for help,” Hawk said as he turned, standing beside Elvis. “You’re only grumbling now because you got turned down. Now, I admit that never happens to you like it does to the rest of us, but hey, shake it off. Focus. I’m sure you’ll have another girl before the first shot of tequila.”
Elvis folded his arms over his chest, shaking his head. “Those were all distractions. Something to make me forget Julia.”
“The woman who refuses to be forgotten.” Hawk nodded. “But she seems to want just that, so what are you going to do?”
He wished he had an answer for that.
“Everyone take your seats, please,” a man said from the podium at the front of the crowd, hands in the air as he ushered them all to sit down. “We’ve got a fantastic opening night arranged for you.”
“I really hate this type of thing,” Elvis groused as he ran his gaze over the crowd. “Wouldn’t a hacker be at a computer console? He wouldn’t be sitting here waiting to hear a keynote.”
Hawk shrugged. “Who knows? Blaze is always whipping his laptop out and doing some computer wizardry with it, no matter where he is. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone could cause all kinds of hell just using their phone.”
Elvis glanced around the room, but he wasn’t looking for hackers or drunks who couldn’t keep their mouths shut. He was looking for her, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“You might as well stop looking,” Hawk said. “I heard Colin say something about her and her team using the time to go through more of the casino’s security files. It’s just us and Ray’s team for now.”
“Who we talking about?” Colin asked into the earpiece. “Maybe I can find her for you?”
“What?” Barret cut in with a chuckle. “And let it be known that the great Bobby Jenkins needed help to find a girl. Imagine what Sage would do with that bit of info? I mean, Gideon, has it ever happened before?”
“All right, people,” Levi said in their ears. “Let’s focus. We can all help Bobby get a girl at the bar tonight when this is over.”
Elvis growled as he shook his head, his chest puffing out slightly. “Why did I agree to this?”
“Because you had nothing better to do this weekend,” Levi reminded him. “At least, that’s what you said.”
“I need to get a real life,” Elvis grumbled.
