Lying again . . . Did anything change with her? I had to steel my nerves as my pulse began to quicken. The memories of our past pushed up into my throat, leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
I didn’t say anything or get a new drink. I just turned away from her and started back for the VIP booth.
“Hey, there.” A red tie had been flung around my neck by one of the dancers. Her glittered face was inches from mine as she pulled me closer. Great, this was all I needed . . .
I glanced at Olivia, who was still standing by the bar. Watching me.
Was she jealous? Did she think she had a right to be, after all these years?
I caught the tie with my hand and pulled myself free of the woman’s hold. “Another time.” I moved from the dance area and stopped next to Declan’s booth.
“I think it’s time for me to go. Lauren, do you need a ride?”
“Leaving already?” Her face went long as her lips curved into an exaggerated pout.
“Is there a problem with Olivia?” Declan asked.
“What? No.” I shook my head. “I was an asshole to her in college. Just apologizing.”
Of course, it was more like she needed to apologize to me. I couldn’t believe I was lying for her.
“Women,” Declan muttered and smirked. “I can give you a ride, Lauren.” His hand rested on her thigh. Yet, her brown eyes lingered on me.
“See you at the office tomorrow.” She sipped her drink, peering up from beneath dark lashes.
“I’ll get the info to you tomorrow.” Declan stood, reaching for my hand. “Thanks again for coming. I look forward to talking with you more in Vegas.”
“For sure.”
I was already dreading the trip, but I had to follow through. I didn’t want to screw this up for my brother.
I made my way through the maze of people and found Olivia near the door, talking to some guy in a leather jacket. He had to be hot in that thing.
Olivia shook her head at the man and pointed at his chest. Maybe an ex?
I walked past the two of them, catching her eye on my way to the exit.
The crisp air slapped me in the face as I stepped through the door. I stuffed my hands in my pockets as the valet left to retrieve my car.
“I’m sorry.”
My shoulders arched back as a thrill ran up my spine. I slowly turned to face her. “Sorry for what?”
She released a sigh. “Asking you to lie for me.”
I shrugged and tried to think of something to say, but it was too hard to concentrate when she was standing so close to me, smelling so damn good. Fortunately, the valet pulled up in my Jeep. “I’ll see you around, I guess.”
“Connor?”
“Yeah?” I didn’t turn around.
“Goodnight,” she whispered.
I hopped into the car and clenched the steering wheel, forcing myself not to look.
6
Olivia
“One more time. Come on. Hit it hard.”
My gloved hand pounded the bag, and I had to reel it back and shake off the pain. “Ughhh . . .”
“That’s what I’m talking about, girl.” Bobby, the bartender from the club, came from behind the punching bag and slapped me lightly on the back. “You ready to spar?” He handed me a bottle of water.
I sucked the bottle dry. “The question is, are you?” A grin teased my lips.
“Always ready.” He reached for the blue gloves he’d set on a folding chair by the boxing ring.
I pulled the white headgear over my ears. “Don’t take it easy on me.”
“Have I ever?” he asked once we were in the boxing ring, squaring off.
The gym was Declan’s, and he’d insisted I take advantage of the place, especially now that I was working later in the day. Bobby, who reminded me of a young Will Smith, never hit me even remotely hard. It drove me nuts—I was used to sparring with guys who were willing to slam me to the floor. I wanted—no, needed—an intense match up. Especially after last night.
Bobby touched his gloved hands to his black hair—he never wore headgear—before raising them in front of his face.
My right hook caught him in the jaw, and I shifted my weight to my left side to come at him with a fast crescent kick.
“Feisty today, huh?” A lopsided grin formed as he threw a soft jab at my mid-section.
My white T-shirt was already clinging with sweat. Earlier, thoughts of Connor had me pounding the punching bag like I was fighting for my life.
I blocked Bobby’s left punch and returned with a second blow to his jaw. Even if he decided not to take it easy on me, I knew I could take sweet Bobby down.
My focus shifted to find Declan entering the large private boxing area. “What’s he doing here?” I lowered my gloves and took a step back.
“He does own the gym,” Bobby said with a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
“No, shit,” I responded and raised my hands back up. “But he should be at the office.”
“I don’t know. Maybe he needed something to hit as much as you do.” He smirked.
I laughed. “What? Need me to go easy on ya?”
“Hardly.” He swung, but I ducked out of reach.
“I told you to use the gym, but really—you box?” Declan climbed into the ring, stepping under one of the red ropes that surrounded the fighting area. “You’re full of surprises.”
“Do you need me for something?”
He folded his arms and directed his attention at Bobby. “You mind if we have a few moments alone?”
So, he’d come here for me.
“Sure.” Bobby winked before climbing out of the ring.
I removed my headgear and started taking off my gloves. “What’s up?” I asked, still a little breathy from the fight.
“Is my doing business with Connor Matthews going to be a problem for you?”
Without realizing it, I took a step back. My eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
He closed the short distance between us and placed his hand on my shoulder.
Take your hand off me, I wanted to yell, but I stayed still and silent under his touch.
“Connor mentioned he screwed you over. Just hoping you can move past whatever it is he did . . .”
My breath caught in my throat for a moment. What in the hell was I supposed to say? My short fingernails pressed into my palms. “I haven’t seen Connor in nearly ten years. It’s ancient history.”
He angled his head and kept his eyes on mine. “You’re sure?”
Hell, no. “Of course.”
“Good. Then I want you to head over to his office for me.”
“What?” This time, I couldn’t help it. I stepped away and out of his reach.
Declan crossed his arms, taking a defensive stance. “I want you to drop off the Vegas info.”
I propped my hands on my hips. “You don’t think my showing up to his office will have the opposite effect?”
“Why would it if the past is behind you?” Giving me a pointed look, he said, “Make sure he’s happy. Make sure he’s at the club this weekend.”
“He’s that important for business?” This can’t be happening.
Declan’s expression softened a little. “Yes, he is.”
“Then he’ll be there.” My chest tightened as I thought about whether or not I’d be able to follow through with my promise.
“And Olivia? Next time you plan on sparring, call me, instead.”
Now that was something I could do. “What about now?” I hadn’t meant to be so obvious, but my excitement at the thought of hitting the bastard echoed in my voice. I’d grown to hate the man in the last nine months working for him.
“I have a meeting. But I’ll definitely take a rain check.”
I watched him duck under the rope and exit the ring. He nodded at Bobby, then strode through the boxing area and back to the main gym. I huffed and tossed my gloves and headgear into my bag.
“You done for the day?” Bobby hovered as I z
ipped up my bag just outside the boxing ring. The room was empty, except for us. Declan only allowed his employees and friends the use of the boxing room, which was tucked away in the back of the gym.
“Unfortunately. I have an errand to run for the boss man.” I picked up the bag and slung the strap over my shoulder. “See ya tonight.” I patted him on the shoulder and started for the locker room.
Thirty minutes later, my fist tapped the door three times. I waited, my stomach a ball of nerves. I couldn’t believe that it had come to this.
The door swung open. “You’re late.”
I stepped past Blake, removing my Mets baseball hat and sunglasses as I walked down the hall.
“What took so long?” he asked.
“Traffic.” I sank into the leather chair and pressed my hands to my jeaned thighs. “Why were you at the club last night? You don’t normally make an appearance on Wednesdays.”
“Trying not to be too predictable.” Blake’s blue eyes studied mine for a moment before he sat across from me on the couch.
The apartment was our home away from home, for now. Last month it had been a penthouse in the Upper Eastside, and the time before a brownstone in Harlem.
“You were in an awfully pissy mood last night—wouldn’t talk to me even when I called your damn phone. That’s a breach of protocol.”
My eyelids snapped shut. I still didn’t want to say a thing.
“Who was it that Declan was talking to last night? And you, too.”
I wanted to tell him it was none of his damn business, but in all fairness, it was. “Connor Matthews. He inherited his father’s company. Matthews Tech.” I slowly opened my eyes and tried to push the image of Connor out of my mind.
Blake rubbed his clean-shaven jaw before smoothing a hand over his short, dark blonde hair. “The same Matthews Tech that designs and manufactures weapons?”
“Yeah,” I whispered the word, still in shock myself. “Before you ask, let me tell you that I don’t know anything. This is the first I’ve heard of any business between Declan and Matthews Tech.” I stood up and crossed my arms. “But he had me sign an NDA, so I have a feeling it’s only a matter of time.”
Blake was nodding. “This is good. This might finally be the lead we’re looking for.”
“Declan invited Connor to Vegas this weekend.” I didn’t want to tell him more, but I knew he’d find out. “There’s a problem.”
“What?” He crossed his arms, and his biceps popped up like a tent.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, afraid to tell him about Connor. I didn’t know what it would mean for the investigation. “Connor and I have a history.”
His shock was immediate as he pressed his hands to the sides of his face, dragging them down as he contemplated a response. “Did he mention to Declan he knew you?”
It was obvious we knew each other . . . “Declan thinks Connor screwed me over. I told Connor that I’d lied on my resume to get the job, and not to say anything about me.”
“And did Connor screw you over?” He cocked his head, and his expression hardened.
Yes. Cut out my heart and sliced it with a machete. “No. Well—just don’t worry about it.”
He blew out a breath. “You trust this Connor guy to keep his lips sealed?”
Despite our history, I said, “Yes.” But I honestly had no idea.
“I want you to get close to Connor.” His eyes lit up like there was a bulb behind them, like he could actually see a bright light before him.
“No. Absolutely not. I just—couldn’t . . .” I turned away from Blake and walked to the window.
“This could be our lucky break.” His fingers splayed against my back and regret poured through me. He whispered in my ear, “When this is over . . .”
Chills licked my spine and moved throughout my body as I spun to face him. “No, Blake.” I pressed my hand to his chest. “You and I—that can’t happen again. We tried it before, and it just didn’t work. Besides, you’re my boss now.”
“We can make it work.” The darkening of his blue eyes was familiar to me—I knew what he was thinking, wanting. Well, that wouldn’t be happening again.
I shook my head. I was in no mood to deal with hurting his ego. And knowing Blake, rejection was more painful than the actual loss of being with me. “What did you have in mind with Connor?” I changed the subject.
He turned away from me. “How well do you know him?”
I chewed on my bottom lip for a moment. I didn’t know how much to divulge. “We dated in college. Things just sort of ended.” With him running away . . .
Insert metaphorical stab wound.
Choke on the pain for a moment.
Breathe.
Move on.
“Do you think you can get him to trust you? Open up to you?”
Connor Matthews—open up to me? It seemed unlikely, especially since I got the distinct feeling that he had toughened up in the last decade. I knew he’d gone into the Marines and even heard he’d been a badass sniper. Now, he was a lone wolf. A bodyguard. He was nothing like his rich father. And I remembered he never wanted to be like the old man.
I was doing it again. Letting Connor hurt me. I couldn’t walk down memory lane every time Connor’s name was mentioned. There was too much hanging on the line to let Connor trip me up.
“Olivia?”
Blake’s deep voice arrested my attention. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I admitted, rubbing my forehead with pained irritation.
He reached for my wrist and tugged my hand free from my face. “You have to do this. You’ve been in deep for nine months—you can’t back out now.”
He was right. This was only my third undercover assignment after completing training at Quantico. And the only reason I was given such a high profile assignment was because I’d forced Blake’s hand, that and he still had a thing for me.
“I’ll see if I can get Connor to open up to me, but he may be innocent. His father, on the other hand, was a world class jerk.”
“Find out, because we’re running out of time. If we don’t produce some results soon, we might have to stop the investigation.”
I swallowed. No. God, no. I was finally where I needed to be. We were too close.
“Do what it takes. Get me evidence.”
As if he needed to encourage me . . .
“We’ll need to push the envelope a little more. We came up empty while you were at the office, but now that you’re at the club, there are few things we can try to get the evidence we need.”
Knowing Blake, those “things” would probably be dangerous. “I’ve been working for Declan since late September. I spent almost eight long months working in his office, biding my time, gaining his trust. The office job was our way in, and the fact that I’m now at the club means it paid off. You have to give it some time.” But would Declan ever really let me in? If he didn’t, Connor might be my only way. But would Connor make a deal with him?
I needed Connor to.
And yet, I hoped to hell he didn’t . . .
7
Connor
Lauren leaned back in her black leather desk chair and brought her thumb to her lip, pulling her bottom lip down just slightly. Was she done talking?
“Thank you for explaining the Saudi deal to me.” I started to get up.
Lauren had her hand in the air, gesturing for me to wait. “This deal is just the start. Our competitors are raking in sales in the tens of billions. This deal only got us on the map.”
I sat back down in my seat and started for the tie at my neck, but realized it wasn’t even there. I’d already tossed it. “Where are you from originally?” The question slipped from my lips before I realized I’d asked it.
She arched her shoulders back. “I’m American.”
“You have an accent, don’t you? I feel like I keep hearing it, and I was just curious.” I don’t know why I was asking this, but I was hoping to distract her from her big ideas.
�
��I’d prefer not to talk about it.”
What? Well, that wasn’t the response I was expecting, but I’d drop it.
“Connor, please think about—”
I held my hand out in front of me. “Lauren, I don’t want to make any major decisions. I don’t think the company should take on too much until Mason’s here.”
Her eyes widened a fraction. “I don’t advise slowing down.” She was now the one standing. Her hot pink heels flashed as she walked to my side.
“I’m not cut out for this.” I was itching to get to the gun range in Vegas on Friday. An old Marine buddy of mine lived in Vegas, and my first order of business upon arrival was to meet up with him and shoot something. I’m not violent. Not crazy—well, not certifiable, at least. But I was tense. Wired.
Yes, firing a few rounds would make a world of difference.
“Connor,” she folded her arms across her chest, her dark eyes steadying on mine, “I’m not sure you realize that our company is on the brink of something revolutionary.”
What in the hell was she talking about? I stood up. I didn’t appreciate a lecture from Mrs. Sales on my father’s company. Shit, it was my company. No . . . Mason’s. It would never really be mine.
I pushed my hands into the pockets of my gray slacks, clearing my throat. “What’s up, Lauren?” I narrowed my eyes at her, my jaw tight. For some reason, I got the feeling there was a hell of a lot more going on.
“Have you talked to Wes yet?”
Wes. Who was he again? “R&D guy?”
“Yeah, the head of the department of research and development.” Her hands fell to her sides, and she took a small step closer to me, wedged between us was the chair in which I’d previously sat.
This woman was a praying mantis. The way her sharp eyes bore through me, how she held her ground as if she owned the damn company. Normally a strong woman would turn me on like Olivia once had, but today, I wasn’t in the mood.
“I’ll meet him. Promise.” I inhaled a breath and tilted my head. “Anything else?” I allowed a bite to my voice, wanting her to know the irritation had begun to spread through my limbs like a disease.
The Hidden Truths Series Box Set Page 51
