“The reason I asked you two over is because I have a dilemma and I need your advice.”
“You mean you didn’t want to hang with us for our sparkling personalities?” Taylor asked straight-faced.
“Oh, yes, of course. I didn’t mean—”
Taylor reached over and squeezed her forearm. “I’m kidding, hon. What can we do?”
Jade leaned forward and deposited her bottle on a coaster, echoing Taylor’s sentiment.
“Senator Mullins has taken everything from me, most importantly my mother.” She cleared her throat. “Because of him, I abandoned my career. The children and I have been on the run for a year. Now that steps are being taken to bring him down, I want,” she shook her head, “no, I need to be part of the take-down. I can’t sit here and do nothing. It’s killing me.”
“I completely understand,” Taylor empathized. “I felt the same way when an escaped convict kidnapped my daughter and came after me. I wanted to be the one to end him.”
Layla’s eyes rounded. “What happened?”
Taylor told the story of Patrick Sweeney kidnapping her adopted daughter Grace, who it turned out was Sweeney’s biological child. She told how Kai risked his life to rescue her and how she and Dante fell in love during the harrowing ordeal. “So I do know how you feel.”
Layla sat back, dumbfounded. “Maggie told me Kai saved his sister, but I had no idea.”
Tears filled Taylor’s eyes. “Nine years old. He’s the bravest little man…” She couldn’t finish. Jade threw an arm over her shoulders and hugged her as she wept. Finally, she gathered herself. “I’m sorry. It just makes me so emotional to talk about.” She dabbed at her eyes with the tissue Layla handed her. “I didn’t mean to hijack your evening, Layla.”
“You didn’t. I’m glad you told me.”
“What can we do to help you?” Jade asked.
“Luke thinks it’s too dangerous for me to be that close to Mullins, but I need to feel like I’m contributing. Even if I just sit in the rental house and cover surveillance, I can help. My biggest issue is Tiffany and Sean. There’s no way I can take them with me, but I can’t leave them here.”
“Of course you can,” Taylor insisted. “They can stay with Dante and me.”
She shook her head. “Oh, I couldn’t impose.”
Taylor waved a hand. “It’s no trouble at all. The kids all get along famously and they keep each other busy, so hey, bonus for me,” she laughed.
“I can help, too,” Jade declared. “Bella would love to have kids to play with, and the other families will pitch in as needed.”
At a loss for words, Layla whispered. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything,” Jade advised. “Go. Help take the bastard down.”
“I have one more issue. Luke hired a tutor for the kids to bring them up to speed on their studies.”
Jade sighed and placed a hand over her heart. “He’s such a sweetheart. If I hadn’t fallen madly in love with Logan, I’d have been all over him like white on rice.”
“He bought you a piano and hired a tutor? After knowing you what, two days?” Taylor squeezed her hand. “Do not let that man get away.”
Layla smiled as intended but her heart lurched painfully. She didn’t want to let him go but it might not be her choice. He’d done so much for her already, not counting the baby grand or Melody. He’d followed her when she fled his office the first time, saving the kids from an armed kidnapper. He’d believed her without reservation and personally taken her case, even though he didn’t work them anymore. He’d made her siblings feel special and went out of his way to see them happy. They adored him. She’d kissed him twice, albeit briefly, but he’d never made a move. Maybe he was just a good guy, one with a white knight complex. Once her dragon was slayed, he’d pluck his shiny sword from its lifeless chest, wipe off the blood, jump on his steed and gallop to the next damsel in distress. The visual depressed her.
She forced the thoughts away and refocused. “The kids will be studying during the day, so that wouldn’t be a problem, but the tutor is staying here and I can’t…I won’t ask her to watch the kids full-time. She didn’t sign on for that.”
“I don’t mind.”
Layla spun around and gasped. Taylor choked on a sip of wine and slapped a hand against her mouth. Jade screamed and then apologized, saying her hormones were still out of whack. They all gaped at Melody as she walked closer with a sheepish smile. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” She pointed towards the stairs. “I forgot my phone in my room.”
“And I didn’t mean to talk behind your back.” Layla scooted over and patted the cushion. “Have a seat.” When Melody eased down beside her, she introduced her to the other women. “Melody, this is Taylor Costa and Jade Bradley.”
“Nice to meet you, both. You look just like Juliet LaRue,” she said to Jade. Then her eyes widened. “Oh goodness, you are Juliet LaRue. That huge spread in People mentioned that you lived here.”
“I do. It’s nice to meet you, too. You’re gorgeous, Melody. I’d kill for your complexion,” Jade gushed.
Melody raised a hand to her flawless cheek, now the color of ripe cherries. “Thank you.”
“I’ve never seen such perfect skin,” Taylor uttered in awe, her eyes narrowed in study. “Not one blemish or visible pore. What makeup do you use?”
“I’m not wearing any.”
“You’re joking,” Taylor insisted. When Melody shook her head, she asked, “What do you use?”
Not even Melody’s ears escaped the blush. “Just a cream I developed.”
“You made it yourself?” Jade gaped.
Melody nodded. “My degree’s in Chemistry. I’ve been perfecting it for a couple of years.”
“Mission accomplished,” Layla praised. “Will you share?”
“Really?” Her astonished gaze traveled around the room. “You’d want to try it?”
“Yes,” the other three women chimed in unison.
Unable to contain her enthusiasm, she bobbed up and down. “If you’re sure, I’ll package samples.”
“How did you go from creating facial products to teaching?” Layla wondered.
“I wasn’t happy with the company I worked for after college. They wouldn’t listen to my ideas and I felt stifled. I thought I might like to teach.”
“If this product takes off like I think it will,” Jade warned, “you might not have time to teach. This could take Hollywood by storm.”
“No,” Melody sighed. “My bosses didn’t think it was worth pursuing.”
“Let us be the judge,” Taylor recommended. “If my skin looks like yours after using it, I want to invest.”
Layla and Jade nodded their agreement.
Melody flopped back against the couch. “Wow. I’m a little overwhelmed.”
“And I’m a lot embarrassed.” Jade turned to Layla. “We hijacked your evening again.”
“No apologies necessary. Melody, you know that Luke left because he’s working on a case for me. The reason I had to go into hiding is because my stepfather repeatedly tried to kill me.”
Melody shot forward. “Oh, my God.”
“I knew he’d keep trying if I didn’t disappear and I was afraid my brother and sister might get caught in the cross-fire. Plus, I couldn’t let him get away with murdering my mother.”
Melody gasped and squeezed her hand. “I’m so sorry.”
“I want to be there when he’s arrested. I want to look in his face and let him know he didn’t win. I want justice for my mom.”
“My mother’s my best friend, so I completely understand.”
“The problem is, Luke doesn’t think it’s safe for me to be there.”
“It’s annoying how men think we can’t take care of ourselves,” Melody griped.
“Alpha males are the worst,” Jade commiserated.
“Amen, sister,” Taylor agreed.
“I signed on for a week, but I can stay l
onger if necessary.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t,” Melody insisted. “I offered.”
“We’ll help, too,” Taylor promised.
Tears sprang to Layla’s eyes. In her former life, friendships were superficial and usually based on what the other person could do for you. These women had embraced her and offered their support and they didn’t even know her.
“How can I ever thank you?”
“Just bring the Senator to justice.” Jade wrapped her in a hug.
“And stay safe,” Taylor added with her embrace.
“Don’t worry about the children. We’ve got this,” Melody assured her.
“Jade, Taylor, there’s one other thing…you can’t tell your husbands what I’m doing until I’m down there. Their loyalties lie with Luke, as they should, and he’d find a way to stop me.” She noted the troubled expression on both women’s faces. “I know I’m asking a lot and I promise I’ll make sure they know I swore you to secrecy.”
Taylor glanced at Jade and they both nodded.
“I don’t suppose you’d all serve as references after Luke fires me?” Melody bit her lip.
Layla grabbed her hand. “Of course. We’re in this together.”
All four women joined in a group hug.
Jade clapped her hands. “Now, let’s make plans.”
Chapter Seventeen
Talia reached for the sky and bent sideways to warm up her muscles as she waited for Senator Mullins to arrive for his first lesson. After yesterday’s abbreviated interview, she didn’t see him the rest of the day. He’d holed up in his office, so she couldn’t sneak inside to plant the bugs. She’d signed a contract and met the rest of the staff. Mullins employed a maid, a cook, a groundskeeper, and a security team of four counting Malone. The housekeeper, Mrs. Anders, lived in the house, in quarters that used to accommodate servants. Malone, she learned, lived in a carriage house out back. She didn’t know about the other three members of the security team. The cook arrived in the afternoon to prepare dinner and the groundskeeper showed up two days a week to care for the exterior landscaping. Mrs. Anders had taken it upon herself to show Talia around and introduce her to the others. She’d been so busy, she hadn’t had any time to snoop. She hoped today would be different.
Just as she thought, Malone had rifled through her purse while she was collecting her suitcases after the interview. He’d dug out her fake driver’s license, snapped a picture and checked all the pockets. It’s what she would’ve done, too, so she wasn’t surprised or upset. It meant he was very good at his job protecting the senator. He could be a problem.
Voices sounded in the hall and then Mullins appeared in a tank top and spandex. She cringed. Some men were not meant for tight Lycra shorts with the shirt tucked inside and Mullins was one of them. He had no discernible muscle tone on either his toothpick arms or lily-white legs. The man was in definite need of a dumbbell and sunshine. Following him into the room were the four members of his security team, all spandex-free, thankfully. Malone was the last one inside and he looked less than pleased. She was none too happy herself when her heart gave a little hiccup.
“I hope you don’t mind that this will be a group class. I want the men here to be in top shape.” Mullins’ eyes raked over her. She fought the urge to cover herself. Her double tank top and yoga pants were form-fitting, but more than she’d wear at the beach. Still, his lecherous gaze made her feel naked. She snuck a peek at Malone. He wore a t-shirt with running shorts and good Lord, the man was built. His muscles were well defined and abundant. She forced her gaze away and almost gasped as Mullins invaded her space. He leaned close to whisper, “We’ll have private lessons later. One on one.” He winked.
It took everything in her not to jab her finger in his eye. Forcing a smile, she walked to the front of the room and placed her palms together in front of her. Closing her eyes, she bowed her head. “Namaste.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ike Morris asked. “Some kind of Muslim greeting or something?”
“No, Mr. Morris, it is a Hindu greeting of deep respect. We will begin and end classes this way. Now place your hands together in front of your heart chakra.”
“Heart what-kra?” Morris blurted.
“Chakra. We each have seven chakras from which energy flows. I will teach you each one as we go along. The heart chakra…oh, never mind. We will discuss it more later.” She didn’t feel like telling this group that it represented the ability to love. She could already tell this would be a trial to teach men who had no intention of learning.
“I didn’t know this was going to be some kind of voodoo shit,” Morris groused.
She ignored his comment. “Okay, grab a mat and we’ll start with some warm-up breathing.”
The men grumbled, except for Mullins, who placed his mat dangerously close to hers…dangerous for him. You never knew when a stray foot might land squarely in his Lycra-covered zone. She surreptitiously moved hers away before she let loose with a roundhouse kick and lost her job. Switching on her iPod, she calmed as mystical music drifted from the speakers around the room. She led the men through a series of breathing exercises and several poses, explaining the chakras as well. The men paid no attention whatsoever, were pretty much inept and about as limber as a piece of rebar, except for Malone. Even when he didn’t grasp the move, he still looked good doing it. Mullins fell over several times. Blessedly, the hour ended and she warmed them down with a series of stretches and then rose to her feet. “Great job. Same time tomorrow. Namaste.”
“That was excellent, Talia,” Mullins praised. “I already feel energized. Oh, I’m hosting a small gathering tonight of a few of my donors. I’ll expect you to attend.”
“Of course.” She smiled at him and gathered her things. Malone was staring at her, his look telegraphing that he was watching her. She gave the look right back, refusing to be cowed. He chuckled, shook his head and left. She headed to her room to shower and change. She needed to get inside the master bedroom and search for Layla’s mother’s journal. Maybe she’d ask Mrs. Anders if she knew the senator’s schedule.
Hours later with nothing to show for her snooping, Talia retreated to her room to change for the soiree. Mullins had departed for a meeting soon after their yoga session and taken Malone and Ike Morris with him. She’d managed to conduct a cursory search of the master bedroom but didn’t find the diary. She was afraid to spend too much time rifling through his belongings with two members of his security staff milling about. She’d needed all four to leave so she could dig deeper.
She had no desire to attend the get-together tonight, but there was no way out of it. Thankfully, she’d packed a little black dress and strappy heels just in case. After a quick shower, she arranged her hair in a fancy chignon and applied makeup. A glance at the clock told her she needed to get going. After a few calming breaths, she left her room. As soon as she descended the stairs, her eyes locked on Malone. His gaze was hot and intense and he looked incredible in a suit and tie. Her feet had a mind of their own, drifting in his direction. Mullins spotted her and his face broke into a smile. Drat. He made a beeline for her and kissed her cheek, dangerously close to her lips. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. In her heels, she topped him by two inches but he didn’t seem to mind. He tucked her hand in his arm. “Come, let me introduce you around.”
He proceeded to parade her about the room like some trophy. Several times during the evening, she felt eyes on her and knew Malone tracked her movements. Mullins stayed glued to her side, his hands growing bolder as the evening progressed. He schmoozed and drank and laughed. And drank. She was afraid she’d have to fend off drunken advances. Though she knew sex was required on some jobs to get close to the target, she’d never crossed that line and she didn’t intend to start with Mullins. The thought made her want to toss the Caviar and Crème Fraîche Tartlet she’d ingested.
When it didn’t seem
like the evening would ever end, she took the initiative. “I’m tired, Senator. I’m going to turn in.”
“I’ll walk you up,” Mullins insisted.
Crap. The way he was pawing her, she knew he’d try to kiss her. Or worse. Poisonous lipstick had never sounded better. “That is not—”
“Senator.” A man waved his hand to grab Mullins’ attention.
Saved. “I will see you in the morning.” She placed her flute of champagne on the tray of a passing server and made her way upstairs. She looked around for Malone but she didn’t see him. Maybe he’d turned in, too. As soon as she was out of sight, she kicked off her heels and padded the rest of the way barefoot. Her feet were killing her. She made sure her door was locked before stripping off her dress and switching on her computer. She’d planted a camera outside Mullins room. As soon as he staggered to bed, she’d do some snooping in his private sanctuary. She needed to get the monitors in place. After all the alcohol he’d imbibed, he’d be out like a light.
#
At two in the morning, Talia tiptoed downstairs and checked to make sure no light filtered beneath the door in Mullins’ office. Seeing none, she stuck her ear to the panel. No sound, either. She tested the handle. Locked. Nothing shouted criminal activity like a biometric lock on a door.
Mullins had stumbled to bed forty-five minutes ago, looking woozy and inebriated. If she were lucky, he’d have the mother of all headaches in the morning and would cancel their session. The less time spent in his presence, the better.
Continuing down the hallway, she followed the route she’d memorized leading to the mud room. She craned her neck to make sure no one was around and then tugged at the set of shelves housing cleaning products and paper goods. It didn’t budge. She ran her hands along the seam and paused when she found what felt like a small latch. The small click sounded like victory. With a shove, the shelves swung inward. She cringed, hoping the creak of unused hinges didn’t bring Mrs. Anders running. When no one appeared with a butcher knife, she flicked on the flashlight, slid inside and closed the portal behind her. It was cold and damp and smelled musty. Thankfully, she’d grabbed a broom to knock down the hundreds of cobwebs that dominated the enclosed space. Clearly, no one had used the secret passageway in years, possibly decades. She doubted Mullins even knew of its existence.
Face the Music (COBRA Securities Book 9) Page 12