Page 7 of Wounded Hearts

Chapter 4

As they droveup to Blaisdon House, Drew took in the sweeping drive, the tree-lined borders, and the lights illuminating outside inch of the magnificent house. It was truly spectacular to look at. As Smithy drove around the side where they were to meet Craig Linos, Drew knew he was scoping out the exits and weaknesses on the house.

Working with these men—all ex-special forces—had allowed him to see how they thought. To some degree he did it too, it wasn’t possible to work with them and not pick up on their habits. That, as much as the training he’d had from them, made him almost as good as them. He knew he’d never be quite the operatives they were. How could he without going through what they had? Now, instead of seeing himself as a failure or not being enough, he knew it was just a fact. There were things he could do that they couldn’t and that was okay too.

The car slid to a stop and both men exited. Rounding the front, he stood beside Smithy. The man looked deadly and yet suave with his shaved head and stubble. Drew knew Smithy wouldn’t notice if every woman in the room fell at his feet. He only had eyes for one woman yet wouldn’t go after her.

His mind came back to the job when a tall, slim man with SAS written all over him walked out to meet them.

He gave a flash of recognition when he saw Smithy and smiled in greeting, holding his hand out as he approached. “Smithy, good to see you man.”

Smithy shook the man’s hand with a nod. “Craig, looking well.”

He turned to him then. “You must be Drew. I’ve heard a lot about you from Zack.”

Drew shook the proffered hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Let me introduce you to the men and show you what we need and where we need you. I appreciate you helping out on such short notice.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Drew and Smithy followed Craig inside a side door that led to a boot room with an assortment of people bustling about from the attached kitchen, which was already busy as the caterers readied canapés.

“We need two more men inside the main hall where the gems will be on display. Brayden Wells is paranoid about them being stolen so that’ll be your focus. All the guests will be checked on the way in, but it’s ‘invite-only’, so that makes it easier. We’re not expecting trouble.”

Drew looked around at the display cases filled with fine gems in the main hall. He noted four exits from the room, one to the hallway that led to the main stairs, one to the garden terrace, another into a back service hall, and the last lead to a bar area where tables were lined up for food.

He and Smithy met the other men who would be working with them and familiarised themselves with the layout before taking their positions. He’d be on the door to the garden terrace and Smithy took up position beside the service entrance.

His earpiece was relatively quiet, and he appreciated the other men’s professionalism. He watched the room while men and women in fine evening wear began to seep in from the hallway. The room held around one-hundred and fifty people and they were expecting that amount to come tonight. Thankfully his height gave him the advantage of being able to see over the top of most people.

He watched the room and heard a slight commotion by the main entrance as Brayden Wells walked in as if he was some kind of superstar. He had a woman on his arm, but Drew could only see her back as Brayden pulled her close to his body.

Something about the possessive way he did it rankled Drew and he felt his lip curl into a sneer. This job seemed off somehow and he couldn’t put his finger on it. He continued to watch the room, keeping his eyes on the gems rather than tracking Brayden Wells. He had his own personal security for that. His eyes locked with Smithy and he seemed to feel it too. A vibe that didn’t quite gel. An undercurrent of energy he’d felt before but couldn’t pinpoint. Again, he swept the room and found nothing that warranted his reaction. The other members of Craig’s team weren’t picking up on anything sinister and he wondered if he was being over-zealous.

A waiter in a black suit and white gloves, moved towards him and handed him a note. Drew took it with a frown and noted the thick expensive paper, the sweeping slant of the handwriting. Something about it felt familiar and he racked his brain for a moment, trying to remember where he’d seen it. Unfolding the paper, he read:

Please join us at the Alexandrite exhibit.

Brayden Wells

Drew lookedup and towards the stand in question. Brayden Wells was standing facing him, watching. He kept his date caged in his grip; her back was to Drew, but he admired the sleek dark hair that hid most of her face. Brayden raised his brow and it felt like a challenge. Even though Drew didn’t know this man, he knew he couldn’t back down or ignore the demand and it was definitely a demand.

Drew clicked his mic and asked that someone cover the door for him. When a man immediately appeared, he nodded and walked towards the stand. Brayden assessed him as he approached. His date had moved away, and his eyes followed her long, overly slim frame as she moved towards the champagne table.

Dragging his focus back to the man in front of him he locked eyes with him and what he saw made him agree with his earlier assessment. The man was cold, egotistical, and cruel. There wasn’t a single genuine emotion in his eyes, the pompous way he lorded over the room and its occupants made Drew want to laugh in his face.

Instead he remembered he was here as a favour and wouldn’t embarrass Zack in any way. That man had saved him time and again and he wouldn’t pay him back by embarrassing him in front of his friend. “Mr Wells, a pleasure to meet you.”

“Brayden, please,” he said extending his hand.

Drew shook it noticing the way the man squeezed. He almost laughed out loud then. If he chose to reciprocate, this man would end up with a broken hand. He chose to go with it and ignore Brayden’s obvious attempt made to make himself the bigger man.

“This is a beautiful collection.” Small talk until he could figure out the real reason he was here would have to do.

“Do you know true Russian Alexandrite from the Ural Mountains in Russia is the rarest around. This one here,” he turned to the large green gem in a glass display case beside them, “is over one-hundred and twenty thousand carats. Emerald by day, Ruby by night. The colour change is fascinating. You never truly know what you have with a beauty such as this.”

Drew looked at the gem. “I admit I know little of gemstones, but I do appreciate its beauty.”