Sheila narrowed her eyes. “It does sound familiar. Does he own that chain of Italian restaurants that is so popular here?”
“Um, no,” Emma said. “He’s a local … entrepreneur.”
“Meaning what?”
“He’s got ties to organized crime, Mom. If you get a few minutes later, Google him. It will make for some interesting evening reading for you.”
“He’s a mobster?” Now Sheila was definitely interested.
“He is.”
“But how does he tie in with the Hardys? They’re all far too … moral … to do business with a mobster.”
“Maybe in the past,” Emma said. “They’ve loosened their code several times in the past few months. They’re even doing security for Marconi now.”
“I thought a man like that had his own guards?”
“They don’t act as guards, although they did all take down a human trafficking ring a few weeks ago,” Emma said. “They did it together, and Marconi is the one who made the job request. They overhauled his entire house with cameras and other motion detectors, too.”
“So, they know how to get into his house,” Sheila mused. “Can you get the plans?”
“Why would we want to break into Marconi’s house?” Emma asked. “He’ll kill us if he catches us. We don’t want to steal from him, we want to do business with him.”
“If what you’re saying is true, why would the Hardys want to work with Marconi?”
“He wanted the trafficking ring shut down because it was competition,” Emma said. “The Hardys did it because they’re good guys.”
“How does that help us … I mean, how does that help you?”
Emma smiled internally. She could practically see Sheila’s mind working from here. “If they crossed the line to help with Marconi, it’s only a matter of time until they do it with other people of his ilk,” she said. “Think about it. They’re getting people from other countries requesting their services when they come into town now. The business is steadily growing.”
“And that’s why you got pregnant,” Sheila mused. “You wanted to cement yourself with them. He’ll have to give you child support.”
“I don’t just want child support,” Emma said. “I want to marry into the family.”
“But he hasn’t asked you yet,” Sheila said. “That’s why you should’ve gone after the older one. He’s clearly open to the idea of marriage. Finn knocked you up, and all he offered was to move in together.”
“It will happen,” Emma said, her stomach twisting.
“I think you should go after James,” Sheila said. “He’s always going to be the one on top in this family.”
“It’s too late,” Emma replied. “He loves Mandy.”
“You’re prettier than Mandy,” Sheila said. “I think you could drive a wedge between them. You’re sure it’s not his baby, right? It would be so much easier if the kid was his.”
Emma fought off a wave of nausea. “James doesn’t cheat on Mandy.”
“All men cheat,” Sheila said. “Look at your father. He cheated on me with every boy he could get his hands on.”
Emma wanted to slap her. “James would never cheat on Mandy,” Emma said, forcing herself to remain calm. “He wouldn’t even give it a thought.”
“I think you’re selling yourself short with Finn,” Sheila said. “Even if the business does get as big as you seem to think it will, there’s no guarantee he’ll ever ask you to marry him.”
“He’ll ask,” Emma said.
“How can you be sure?”
“Because that’s the type of guy he is.”
“I JUST got a text from Emma,” Finn said, striding into James’ office.
“What did it say?”
“She says she’s taking her mother out to a nice dinner,” Finn said. “Just the two of them. They’re leaving at five sharp. She promises to keep her busy until at least seven.”
“Let me guess, Sheila wants a steak?” James said.
“She’s a carnivore,” Finn said, frowning.
“And she thinks we’re her prey,” Grady supplied.
“So far, we’ve been doing a good job of rolling over and showing her our bellies,” James said.
“She just hasn’t attacked yet,” Grady said.
“Can we stop with the creepy animal metaphors?” Jake asked. “What’s our next plan of attack?”
“Someone needs to break into her room while she’s out to dinner with Emma,” James said. “That was the plan from the beginning. We need a two-hour block to go through everything.”
“What are we expecting to find?”
“I think our biggest priority is finding information on this Davenport guy,” James said. “He seems to be the key.”
“I still don’t understand how he could just disappear,” Grady said.
“I don’t understand how a guy who is supposed to be so badass – a guy who knows how to spot a user – got bamboozled by a two-bit wretch like Sheila,” Finn said. “She’s not a very good actress. Even her kids don’t believe her.”
“You seem more relaxed now that you know Emma isn’t under her mother’s spell,” James said.
“I’m glad that she’s not going to be heartbroken when Sheila officially turns on her,” Finn clarified. “I don’t want her upset.”
“But?”
“But I don’t like her spending time alone with Sheila,” Finn said. “The woman is going to wear down Emma’s self-esteem every chance she gets. You wouldn’t think a model would be so insecure, but Emma is always so … unsure.”
“She’s still finding herself,” Grady said. “Emma is stronger than she looks.”
“Emma is stronger than all of us combined,” James said. “Sure, she needs reassurance from time to time, but she’s a soldier. We all need reassurance. I still have to reassure Mandy, and she had a good childhood.”
“Do you need reassurance?” Grady teased.
“I’d like to think I’m above it, but every time my wife tells me she loves me, I feel … relief,” James admitted.
“Oh, please, you two are so in love with each other it’s gross,” Grady said.
“Are you saying you weren’t relieved when Sophie told you that she loved you?”
“No,” Grady faltered. “That was the best moment of my life. I get what you’re saying. I just don’t understand how you and Mandy could possibly need reassurance. You’ve been spouting sonnets and platitudes to each other for more than a year now.”
“When you have something you don’t want to lose, something that you just know you can’t live without now that you’ve had it, then fear takes hold sometimes,” James said. “I know Mandy loves me, and I know we belong together. That doesn’t mean that it’s not nice to hear that reaffirmed.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Finn said.
“What?”
“Emma says she doesn’t believe her mother,” Finn said. “She says she wants vengeance, and I believe her. Still, deep down, she also wants her mother to love her.”
James pursed his lips. “We love her,” he said. “In the end, that’s going to have to be enough.”
“It will be,” Finn said. “I just have to make sure she believes it.”
“I don’t want to be the one to ruin the big bonding moment, but who is going to break into Sheila’s room?” Jake asked.
“Oh, you are,” James said.
Jake furrowed his brow. “Why me?”
“Because you have the best chance of going unnoticed if she does somehow come back early,” James said.
“And how am I going to get into the room? Those things are key-card protected.”
James opened his desk drawer and rummaged around inside for a few moments. When his hand returned to the top of the desk, he had a card resting on his palm.
“What’s that?” Jake asked.
“It’s a master hotel room key,” James replied. “Maverick made it for us.”
“The same Maverick
who wants your wife to trade up?”
James scowled. “That little ferret.”
“Do you need reassurance that Mandy isn’t going to leave you for him?” Grady asked. “Do you need a hug?” He held out his arms and grinned.
“Shut up,” James said.
“Do you think I should do this without a lookout?” Jake asked, taking the card from James.
“Do you want a lookout?” James asked.
“I would feel better if I had one,” Jake said. “The problem is, two guys wandering around a hotel is going to look suspicious. People are going to think we’re dating.”
James mulled the statement over. “Then why don’t you take a woman?”
“What woman?”
James smiled. “Don’t worry. I think you’ll like the one I have in mind.”
Twenty-Four
“How do I look?”
Jake looked Ally up and down, biting his bottom lip to keep from laughing out loud. Ally had gone all out when she heard she was needed for an official security operation. She was dressed in a short, red dress and trench coat. The heels she was wearing were so high they made her legs look like they were a mile long. She was wearing black stockings, and he’d caught sight of some interesting looking garter belts when she adjusted her dress as she got out of his truck. He was dying to see what those looked like up close and personal – but he had a job to do first.
“You look adorable, angel.”
Ally rolled her eyes. “I’m supposed to look hot.”
“You definitely look hot.”
Ally smiled. “Thank you. You look handsome, too. Although … .”
Jake waited.
“You should have a fedora.”
“Why should I have a fedora?”
“Because that’s what gumshoes wear in movies.”
Jake glanced down at his black boots. “What’s a gumshoe?”
“You know, a detective.”
“I’m not a detective,” Jake said.
“You are tonight.”
Jake pressed his lips together. “You know I adore you, right?”
Ally tilted her head to the side. “Of course. I’m adorable.”
“You are,” Jake said. “You’re also dressed like you’re expecting to meet a client at this hotel.” Jake pointed to the front doors of the establishment dubiously.
“Duh,” Ally said.
“As long as you know,” Jake said, turning toward the hotel. “Wait, you want to look like a prostitute?”
“I don’t look like a prostitute,” Ally shot back, affronted.
“You just said that … .”
Ally cocked an eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips expectantly.
“What are you saying?” Jake asked, changing tactics.
“I’m not trying to look like a prostitute,” Ally said, adjusting the slit in her dress and dragging Jake’s attention from her beautiful face down to her shapely thigh.
“What are you trying to look like? And please stop doing that. I’m going to have to take you back to the truck for a quick round of … fun … if you don’t stop doing that.”
Ally beamed. “I love that you always want me.”
“I do always want you,” Jake said. “Tell me why you’re wearing this outfit again.”
“Because I want to look like an escort.”
“How is that different from a prostitute?”
“I’m not standing on a street corner,” Ally said. “The people behind the desk will just assume that someone called me for … comfort. They won’t question why I’m here.”
“And why am I here? Other than to pummel anyone that thinks you’re really an escort, that is?”
“You’re my security.”
“Oh, well, at least you have a plan,” Jake said.
Ally moved toward the hotel. “Just follow my lead.”
“Hey, angel, can you do me one, quick favor?”
Ally stilled. “What?”
“Just … lift your skirt a little bit. I have to see what you have under that thing. I’m not going to be able to concentrate unless you do.”
Ally shot him a haughty look. “You’re not going to be able to concentrate if you do see what I have on under here,” she said. “That will be your reward if we find out what Sheila is up to.”
“Hey, I’m getting a reward regardless,” Jake grumbled, following her into the hotel. “I may get us a room the second we’re done.”
Ally made a face, disgust practically rolling off of her. “I’m not doing it here.”
“Then you’re doing it in the truck.”
Ally considered the statement. “Fine, but we’re still doing it how I want to do it when we get back home.”
Jake was intrigued. “How do you want to do it? Ally? I asked you a question.”
“DO you even know what you’re doing?”
Jake had inserted the card in the door, and he was now running the program through the handheld scanner James had given him right before he left Hardy Brothers Security. “Just give me a second.”
Ally watched him for a few moments, tapping her foot on the floor impatiently as she did. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Do you want to try?” Jake was growing impatient.
“I’m not a Trekkie.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“That looks like one of those communicators they used in the original Star Trek.”
“And yet you’re not a Trekkie,” Jake mumbled. “My whole view of you has completely changed.”
“Mandy used to make me watch it,” Ally argued.
“I’m buying you one of those short uniform dresses, and I’m going to make you role play,” Jake said, punching a few numbers into the keypad of the device.
“Are you going to be Captain Kirk?”
Jake was flummoxed. “I seriously don’t know what to do with this new information. Stop confusing me.”
“Fine,” Ally said, wandering away from the door. “I just want you to know that I’m not a Trekkie.”
“Duly noted.”
“I’m not.”
“Great.”
The sound of the elevator dinging caught both of their attention. They were around the corner, but someone getting off the elevator and heading in their direction would be on them quickly.
“Maybe we should … ?”
Ally squared her shoulders. “I’ve got this.”
“Ally,” he hissed. “What are you doing?”
She didn’t respond, and she was out of his sight before he could stop her.
The card finally cleared and the door’s mechanism flashed green. Jake pushed the door open and stepped inside, unsure of what to do. He couldn’t prop the door open without tipping someone off that something weird was going on – and he didn’t want to go through the process of opening it again. In the end, he realized he had to trust Ally. She was in no real danger here, he reminded himself. If she needed him, she would scream. And, if she screamed, he would kill to protect her. He had no doubt of that.
Jake stepped inside the room and shut the door. He flicked on the light and glanced around. It looked like a standard hotel room. There were two double beds, and a table on the far side of the room. The light was dim, but it looked like there was a laptop on the table. That was his first stop.
He opened the laptop and booted up the computer. When the load was finished, he shoved a rip drive into the port and enabled it. He didn’t have time to search the computer now. Instead, he was copying everything onto the drive. They would have Maverick make sense of it later.
Jake jolted when he heard a noise by the door. He was worried about Ally. There was no sense lying – especially to himself. He would feel better if she was in here with him – even if he was still trying to figure out how he’d managed to fall for a Trekkie.
Jake moved to the door and peered out through the peephole. He recognized Ally right away. His hand was on the knob to let her in when he hea
rd a voice.
“Are you sure this is your friend’s room?”
Jake stilled.
“It’s her mother’s room,” Ally said.
Jake pressed his ear to the door. Ally’s voice was muffled, but she didn’t sound like she was in immediate danger. She didn’t even sound like she was panicking. If he didn’t know better, he would swear she was enjoying herself.
“But you said they’re not here.”
Jake peered through the peephole again. He was having trouble making out the man standing next to Ally, but the uniform was a dead giveaway. He was a bellboy.
“They went out to dinner,” Ally said. “I was supposed to be here in time to meet them, but I got … distracted.”
“By what?”
“Work,” Ally said, laughing coquettishly.
“And what do you do for a living?”
Jake didn’t like the bellboy’s tone.
“I’m a businesswoman,” Ally replied.
“And what business is that?”
“Sales,” Ally said. “What’s your name, by the way?”
“Jim.”
“Well, Jim,” Ally said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Let’s just say that I have quite the thriving business, and leave it at that.”
“Sure,” Jim said, licking his lips. “You look like you’re very good at what you do.”
Jake wanted to reach through the door and strangle him.
“I’ve been told I’m singularly … adorable,” Ally said.
“You’re definitely adorable,” Jim said. “You’re … freaking hot!”
“Thank you,” Ally said. “You’re … sweet.”
“Do you ever, I don’t know, give a discount?”
Jake clenched his hands together so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“I’m afraid not,” Ally said. “My boss wouldn’t like that.”
“You have a boss?”
“Yes, and he’s mean,” Ally said.
“Maybe I could talk to him?” Jim suggested. “Maybe we can work out a trade.”
“What kind of trade?”
“You know, I could set up dates here,” Jim said. “I could get women like yourself in and out of here without anyone noticing.”
“Oh, well, that sounds interesting,” Ally said. “Do you have a card? I could give it to him.”
Deadly Addition (Hardy Brothers Security Book 9) Page 18