“Sean, you’re wiping away the proof of my entry from the video feeds, right?” Not that Declan would have any reason to check the security footage, but just in case . . .
“I’m looping the feeds now . . . shit!” There was a muffled sound in my earpiece.
“Sean? What?” Panicked, I pressed my hand to my ear. “Sean?”
“Get out of there, Liv. Declan is on his way,” Sean shouted.
Adrenaline zipped through my body, and I started for the door. “What about the computer?”
“Just get out of there,” Sean cried out.
“But if he catches me . . .” I rushed out of the office, pulled the door shut behind me, and spun away toward my office.
“Olivia?” The hairs on my arms stood at Declan’s soft voice. “What are you doing here?”
I slowly turned to face him. “Hey. I thought you didn’t get back from Vegas until tomorrow.” I closed the gap between us until we both stood outside his office door.
His long fingers tapped at the keypad, and his office door opened. “Come in.”
Declan allowed me entrance first. My heart was ready to burst through my chest as I glanced over at the modem.
“I had an important business meeting arise, and so I needed to get back early. Why are you here?”
Oh yeah, I still hadn’t answered that. I made my way toward one of the cages in the room and feigned interest in it, hoping to divert his attention. I pressed my hands on the metal, tracing the frame of the cage with my fingers. “Thought I’d get some work done without any distractions.”
His hand on my back turned me toward him until our chests were just inches apart. He stared down at me, and his hand went to my chin. He tilted my face up to meet his eyes. “You finally ready to ask me about those?” His eyes darkened; I could feel the bulge in his pants press against my stomach.
Disgust slammed my system, but I had to maintain my composure. “Maybe sometime I’ll ask you about them,” I answered in a whisper.
His hand slipped up to my cheek before he took a step back, making no attempt to hide his desire. “I have people coming soon.”
I nodded. “While I’m here, do you need anything?” I moved around to the front of his desk as he took a seat. “Damn laces,” I muttered as I bent forward.
With my heart in my throat, I reached for the adhesive disc, but it was stuck.
“You okay down there?” Declan chuckled, and I worried he’d duck his head under the desk to see.
“Yeah,” I answered as I tried once again for the device.
I popped upright with the device pressed against my palm. Pushing my hands into my pockets, I forced a smile to my face. “I’m not really dressed for a meeting, though.” I kept my hands in my pockets, not wanting to raise any questions, and glanced down at my white T-shirt.
“No. I guess you’re not. Besides, I don’t think you’re ready for this meeting.”
“What do you mean?” Although I was only there to bring him and his associates down, part of me rankled at the thought that I might be unprepared for anything Declan might throw at me.
“Olivia, what are you willing to do for this job?”
Here it was—finally. Would he offer me the chance to learn more? Oh God, please . . .
He rolled his dress sleeves to his elbows, exposing his tattoos, and laced his fingers together before him. “If I were to tell you that you could be richer than you ever imagined—what would you do?” His eyes creased as they focused on me, his lips a tight straight line. The muscle in his jaw clenched.
For the first time, I found myself intimidated. Was it because we were alone? No, Blake and Sean could help me if things turned for the worst.
“So?” He angled his head and his mouth parted.
Removing my hands from my pockets, I pressed my palms to his desk. “I would do anything,” I answered, keeping my eyes on his.
“Then get Connor on board,” he said slowly. “Because otherwise, you’re out of a job.” He leaned back in his chair and his hands slipped to his lap.
I shuddered at his words and straightened. “Consider it done.”
“Good.” Declan cleared his throat. “And Olivia—”
“Yes?”
I wanted to knock the smug bastard in the face.
“The next time I find you in the building alone, I’ll forget about my decision to keep things professional between us . . . and I’ll provide you a full tutorial on the cages.”
12
Connor
“I wanted to offer my condolences.”
I switched the call to speakerphone. “Thanks.” I drummed my fingers on the desk, uneasiness crawling up my spine. “I wasn’t aware he did any business with your bank.”
“He only recently opened an account and a safe deposit box with us,” the banker responded.
My fingers stilled; I straightened in my chair. “Okay. What’s your location? I’ll swing by and close out his account. No offense, but I see no need in using your bank when all of the other funds are tied up elsewhere.”
“I understand, sir. You’ll want to be sure to bring the key and the passcode.”
“I’m sorry?”
The banker made a gurgling sound before speaking. “He opened a premier box—even in the event of death, the box may not be opened without the key and passcode. And he only gave authority to himself, you, and your brother, to open it.”
“So if he didn’t leave me the key, what happens to the box?” This was ridiculous.
“You could request a court order, sir. Beyond that, the box will remain available to you or your brother for ten years—then it will be disposed of by the bank. So if you find the key and code among your father’s things . . .”
Elsa came to the door as I was shaking my head. I motioned for her to enter the room. “If I can’t find the information, I’ll go the legal route.”
“Of course.”
“How long has my father been a client?”
“Recently. He opened the box just about a month ago.”
A month ago? “Can you tell me the exact day?”
“Just one second,” he answered, and I could hear him tapping at a few keys. “May sixteenth.”
My mouth dropped open in surprise. “You must be mistaken. That’s the day he died.”
Silence greeted me.
“Hello?”
“Sorry, sir. I’m surprised to hear that. But it’s correct. The sixteenth.”
Could it be a coincidence? I doubted it. “I’ll be in touch.” I looked up at Elsa as I hung up the phone. “Do you know anything about my father opening a safe deposit box at Capital James Bank?” I asked as I walked around in front of my desk.
She placed a file on the desk next to me and shook her head. “No. Sorry. But here’s the passcode for the research area, as you requested.”
I took the scrap of paper from her and plugged the number into my phone.
“Connor?” She removed her glasses and shut her eyes for a brief moment before opening them. “Tyson’s sister called.”
“Oh good.” She hopefully knew the whereabouts of my father’s driver. “What’d she say?” I folded my arms and leaned against the desk.
“She doesn’t know where he is. In fact, she said she’s been trying to reach him for a while. She’s worried.”
“Oh. What did you say to her?”
“The truth. And she had no idea Edward passed. She hasn’t talked to Tyson since before . . .”
“Something isn’t right. I’m going to make a few calls and see what I can come up with. Don’t worry.” I rubbed the back of my neck as tension knotted at the base of my skull.
“Lauren will be back tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah.” What a waste that trip had been. I needed to blow off some steam. “Elsa, I think I need to cut out of here early. Call me on my cell if you need anything.” I grabbed my keys and started for the door, but paused.
I had planned on finding a local pistol range but reali
zed we probably had one in the building. “Elsa?” I called out.
“Yeah?”
“Do we have a gun range here?”
“Yes,” she answered before her lips curved into a smile. “In the basement. The key code to the lab will give you entrance.”
“Thanks.” I slipped my keys and phone into my pocket and made my way to the elevator. Once inside, I pressed my palms to the mirrored wall and stared at my reflection.
Without a moment of warning, my mind flashed to the kiss in the elevator with Olivia. It felt like a punch to my gut.
I groaned and opened my eyes as the elevator chimed.
I entered the restricted area, passed the wall of weapons, and stepped inside the lab. “I’d like to shoot something,” I announced to Wes once I spotted him.
He grinned. “Follow me.” We made our way down a hall and stopped just outside a dark blue door. “There are earmuffs and a wide selection of weapons inside. Have fun.” He slapped my back with his big arms, and I thanked him before pushing open the door and stepping inside.
There were three zones set up for individual target practice. I moved through the empty room to the wall of weapons and grabbed a 9mm, some ammo, and the earmuffs.
Before I could load my weapon, my head snapped up. I didn’t even need to see her to know she was there. It was her scent—vanilla.
“Elsa, why’d you bring her down here? This is a secure area.” I set the gun down and faced them.
“I’m sorry, sir. She said she’s a family friend. She insisted it was an emergency, and your phone was going straight to voicemail. I—I . . .”
Family? Hell, no. I held up my hand, not bothering to fight the anger splayed in the lines of my face. “It’s fine, Elsa. You can leave us alone.” I waited for my assistant to slip away. “What’s going on, Olivia?”
She moved toward me with slow steps, wearing jeans and a T-shirt that strained in just the right way over her breasts. “I know I shouldn’t be here, but you wouldn’t return my messages, and I really need to talk to you.” She pressed a hand to her chest and released a breath.
I reached for the gun and began to load the ammo in the clip. Her eyes lingered over my weapon, and I wondered if it frightened her.
“I need you to meet with Declan tomorrow,” she said in a low voice.
“I told you no.”
“He’s going to fire me if you don’t show.” Her voice was laced with desperation.
“He can’t fire you because of that.” Earmuffs on and safety off, I raised my gun and aimed at the target of bin Laden. I should’ve offered her earmuffs, but I was too angry to give a damn.
The bullet pierced the target in the chest, and I lowered the gun and glanced over my shoulder at her.
She stepped up to me with her hands on her hips.
“What?” I let the earmuffs drop to my neck as I trained my eyes on hers.
“Tell me what to shoot. If I get it, then you’ll come tomorrow.”
Was she out of her mind?
“Come on. I know you love to gamble.”
All the times we’d been to Atlantic City . . . I tried not to smile. “Sorry. No deal.” I turned back, but her hand on my shoulder held me fast.
“I can’t lose this job, Connor. Please.” She leaned closer, her perfume suffocating me.
“Just make something up.” She’d always been good at lying. Why stop?
I raised my arm to shoot.
The slug tore at the paper, off to the side of the target’s head.
Shit. I never missed.
“I’ll escort you out. You shouldn’t be here.”
“Connor.”
“What?” I shouted, immediately regretting the vile tone of my voice. But damn, I hated her—well, I was trying to. But my restraint was weakening . . . and I couldn’t stand feeling weak.
“Just show up tomorrow. You don’t have to do the deal, but he thinks I’m the reason you left Vegas. If he blames me, I’m done.”
“You are the reason I left.” I set the gun down and pressed my palms against the table, leaning forward a little, trying to maintain self-control.
“Could you stop being so stubborn?”
“Could you stop being so beautiful?” I snapped back without checking the filter on my mouth first.
Her eyes widened, but I rubbed a hand over my face in one quick movement and shook off the irritation that was at its peak. “Fine. Shoot the target between the eyes, and I’ll go tomorrow. Miss, and I never have to see you again.”
It was the easiest solution to my problem—she’d never make it.
She grabbed the 9mm and studied me over her right shoulder. “A little space, please.”
I held up my hands and took a few steps back. Now all I could focus on was her trim waist, which led to her hips and her perfect, heart-shaped ass.
When the bullet whistled free from the gun, my gaze drifted to the target and my mouth dropped open. Not just a little open—jaw to the floor.
It couldn’t just be luck. No one picks up a 9mm one day and makes such a flawless shot. Hell, she hadn’t even flinched. “What in the hell is going on?”
She set the gun down and shrugged. “I told you I took self-defense lessons, didn’t I?”
To say I was turned on was an understatement, and I sure as hell hoped she didn’t glance down at my jeans.
“What time is the meeting?” I asked with defeat.
“Just come to the club tomorrow night. The later, the better.”
“Fine.”
“Thank you.” She lifted her fingers to her collarbone. “Have dinner with me? You can call it a business dinner if you want.”
My gaze dipped to her long fingers. For a brief moment, I wished it was my hand so close to her heart.
“Why?”
“I—”
“Is that sushi bar we used to go to on Wall Street still open?” No. What was I thinking?
A long pause, and rasp to her voice, “I don’t know.”
“Well, let’s find out.” I had no idea what had possessed me to agree. I motioned for her to exit and I walked behind her, trying my best not to check her out as she moved.
“Thank you again for tomorrow,” she said before moving through the doors of the elevator. Her cheeks reddened. Perhaps she remembered our elevator kiss, just as I had.
“I can’t make any promises that I’ll do business with him, but I’ll show. A bet is a bet.” We walked to the parking garage, and she stopped in front of a red Audi.
“A company car,” she said after she noticed me eyeing the car. It was a high-priced ride for a personal assistant.
“I’m pretty sure we only offer Fords at our office.”
Olivia smirked. “You think you’ll keep referring to the company as yours? Is it growing on you?” She opened her car door.
“No. I’m much better at dodging bullets,” I said.
Olivia
I had a job to do, but I had to keep reminding myself that my past with Connor couldn’t interfere with the end goal.
But Connor was innocent. He had to be. His father, on the other hand, was a bastard. Would he have been in business with Declan, though? Edward Matthews may have been a world class jerk, but was he a criminal?
Snagging a spot in front of the restaurant was pure luck, especially at this time of day. The place was still open after all these years, and part of me was disappointed. I didn’t want to get close to Connor for the sake of my job. That wasn’t who I wanted to be.
I tapped my fingers on my steering wheel, waiting for Connor to appear. My heart skipped into my throat at the sight of him. Nothing was sexier to me than a man in well-worn jeans, and God did Connor know how to wear them.
He caught sight of me and rubbed a large hand over his face, probably contemplating what in the hell he was doing with me.
I gulped, opened my door, and closed the distance between us. “Hi.”
“Guess it’s still here.” He swung the door open and took a step b
ack, allowing me entrance.
“Thanks.” I tucked my hair behind my ear and walked past him, trying to ignore the heat that radiated from his body.
“Two,” I told the host. “A booth, if you have one.”
“Sure,” the host responded, and we followed him to our table.
It was a small place—nothing fancy at all. But the best food in town, in my opinion, was usually from some cheap hole-in-the-wall place. Connor and I had once made it our mission to eat at every sushi restaurant in New York. But eventually, we gave up, because none was better than this one.
“I can’t believe you never ate sushi before me.”
“I ate sushi.” I slid into the seat across from him.
“California rolls don’t count. I’m talking about the kind that—”
I rushed a hand in front of my face. “Don’t tell me. You know the rule. I’ll try anything as long as I don’t know what’s in it.”
“When was the last time you ate sushi?”
With you. But I didn’t want to tell him that. It would seem—strange, at the least. “I don’t know. Anyway, order for me. Okay?”
Once the waiter appeared and Connor ordered, he leaned back in the booth and propped his elbow up on the top of the seat, stretching his arm out. It shouldn’t feel this normal, this right, to be here with him.
My eyes closed at the familiar lyrics playing in the trendy restaurant. It was a song about being locked away, a harsh reminder that I might have to arrest Connor if he wound up making a deal with Declan.
My stomach tightened at the thought of Connor in handcuffs.
“Olivia? You okay?” His hand was on my shoulder. I opened my eyes, and he pulled back and slipped both hands to his lap.
I pushed a smile to my face. “Sure,” I lied. Lying was part of my playbook now.
The Hidden Truths Series Box Set Page 55