“Sure,” he was saying as the doorbell chimed.
“I’ll go. You get the champagne?”
The front door opened before she got to it, and Wendy and Everett entered. She’d always wondered what her sister saw in Everett. He was vain, conceited, and had more clothes than she did, but tonight, all that paid off. Dressed in a black tux, his blond hair wearing more hairspray than hers, he looked like the rich financier he was. Wendy’s red dress floated around her feet like fog. Her blonde hair had also been put into an uptwist, and their grandmother’s tiara shone prominently from her crown. The strapless gown left her shoulders bare.
“Wow. You two clean up pretty good,” Risa joked.
“I know,” Wendy said with a laugh, and then she gasped. “Oh my, Risa. That necklace is mind-blowing.”
Risa ran her fingers over the stone. “I know. Manfrey did more with the design than I ever could’ve imagined.”
Trevor stepped up beside her. “Drinks on the sun porch.”
As they walked back to the glass room, Risa’s heart raced, and her stomach rolled over as she remembered being on her knees here last night. Trevor’s large hand was on her waist and squeezed, making her aware he was thinking of the same thing.
“What’s wrong?” Wendy asked. “You’re all flushed.”
“Nerves,” Risa lied. “I hope tonight goes off without a hitch.”
Trevor poured the champagne into four flutes and passed them out. “I’m sure it’ll go great.” He lifted his glass. “This is to us, Everett. We were smart enough to lock down these two beautiful women as our dates tonight.”
“Here, here,” Everett said with a chuckle and clinked Trevor’s glass.
“To cancer research,” Risa said. “May tonight haul in a ton of money for research and treatment.”
“Amen,” Wendy said, and they all clinked glasses and took a drink.
“Sit, sit,” Risa said as she lowered herself to one of the sofas. “Did you get a chance to look over the silent auction items?”
“We were just talking about that as we were walking over,” Everett said. “Impressive array.”
“Thanks. I’ve twisted so many arms this past year, I’ll owe favors for the rest of my life.”
“Or until you start twisting arms again for next year,” Wendy said.
Risa tilted her head. “Maybe. We’ll see.”
“What’s your favorite item?” Trevor asked.
“Cowboys tickets, and not just the tickets but a sky box on the forty-yard line.”
Trevor groaned. “Oh, brother. My dad would love those.”
“Maybe you should bid on them,” Risa suggested.
“Too rich for my blood, I’m afraid,” Trevor said.
“You never know,” Risa said.
The conversation moved into the Cowboys’ record, and Risa sat back and watched Trevor. Those tickets would go for a few hundred thousand. She’d make a point of getting by and leaving what would have to be the winning bid.
The two couples left the condo at seven in a black stretch limousine. Trevor had arranged for the limo to be sandwiched between two of his company SUVs, and Risa felt quite secure. Due to the publicity, there were hundreds of people lined up outside the hotel to see the gala attendees as they exited cars and made their way up the stairs. As their limo pulled to a stop, Risa pressed her hand against her stomach.
“You okay?” Trevor asked.
“Nerves, I’m sure. My stomach is on a roller coaster ride.”
“This evening will be a success beyond your wildest dreams. I promise.”
Chapter Eight
Risa had prepared herself for the questions from reporters. What she hadn’t prepared for was being blinded by the camera flashes. She pasted on a smile and hoped it looked more natural than it felt.
“This way, Risa,” voices yelled as she turned to show off the incredible stone.
Someone broke through the crowd barrier and rushed toward her. Trevor grabbed her by her waist and lifted her off her feet. She found herself carried toward the hotel’s entrance. A commotion behind her made her turn back as soon as her feet touched the ground again. Cops had a man on the ground, his arms twisted behind his back.
“What happened?” she asked.
Behind her, the guy was calling her name, declaring his love for her.
“You have a fan,” Trevor said dryly, releasing her waist. “You know him?”
Risa stared and shook her head. “I’ve never seen him before.”
Wendy linked her arm with Risa’s. “Too many television appearances?”
“All I know is that next year, you get to be the spokesperson,” Risa said. “You know I hate this stuff.”
“No problem,” Wendy said. “I’d love it.”
“Let’s head in. Dallas police have this under control,” Trevor said.
Walking up the stairs leading to the hotel’s entrance felt like walking back in time. Built during the Texas oil boom in the early 1900s, the Grand Millennium Hotel of Dallas had been abandoned and left to ruin until two years ago. The Wise family of Dallas had purchased the grand lady and spent millions renovating the hotel, giving it a modern interior while maintaining the hotel’s history and charm. Uniformed bellmen opened the doors, and the two couples swept inside the high-domed lobby. Music from unseen speakers played softly in the background. Patrons and guests filled tables or stood at the lobby bar. Tonight’s event was on the top floor ballroom, which was actually the top two levels of the hotel.
The elevator doors opened, and the two couples stepped inside. Trevor took Risa’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Everything will be perfect. You’ll see.”
She exhaled the breath she’d been holding. “I hope so.”
The lower ballroom was packed as they entered. Dinner and dancing would be on this level while the items for the silent auction had been staged on the second level. As Trevor and Risa made their way through the crowd, she was stopped frequently for small talk or hugs from friends. She noticed Trevor’s gaze scanning the room, connecting on occasion with other men dressed in tuxedos and blending in with the crowd.
He never let her out of his sight and rarely removed his hand from the small of her back. She loved the feel of his broad hand as it warmed her flesh. Even more, the heat reminded her of the hot sex she’d had with him.
It took almost an hour to get upstairs to the silent auction. When Trevor stopped to speak with a guy she knew worked with EyeSpy, she took advantage of the separation to find the Dallas Cowboys tickets and skybox. She wrote in her bid, an amount in the six figures that would be hard for most people to top. She was determined to do this for Trevor and his dad. Hadn’t he said how much his dad would love this?
“What are you doing?” he whispered in her ear.
She startled. “Nothing.”
He looked at the bid, and his mouth dropped. “Risa. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking this would make a great Christmas present for you and your dad.”
His jaw tightened. “You know how I feel about you spending money on me.”
She put her hand on her hip. “And you know I love doing it.”
“And once again, we find ourselves at the same crossroads, having the same discussion. I live within my means, not yours.”
“You’re being ridiculous.” She wanted to stomp her foot. “Grow up.”
“Grow up?” He snorted. “Lady, you have some nerve.”
The gong rang to indicate dinner was served. Risa whipped around and walked off. He was so stubborn.
She could barely swallow around the lump in her throat. She smiled, she chatted, but inside, fury burned. It was the past all over again. Her stomach bubbled with acid. Her hands shook with a combination of nerves and anger.
As coffee was being poured, her stomach threatened to make itself known. “I need to use the restroom,” she whispered in Trevor’s ear.
He nodded and stood, holding out his hand for hers. She place
d her hand in his fingers and stood, just as a vicious cramp wracked her gut.
“Oh,” she gasped.
His hand tightened. “Do you need to leave?”
“Just get me to a bathroom. I’m sure this will pass.”
As they made their way across the room, she nodded and smiled at everyone but never slowed her determined march. He spoke into the mic attached to his sleeve, asking Sue to go into the ladies’ room and clear it.
“Sue’s making sure the room is safe for you.”
“I don’t care if it’s empty. I have to go in there…now,” she hissed into his ear. “And I mean, now.”
Sue was exiting the hallway where the men’s and ladies’ rooms were located. With a nod, she stepped aside for Risa to hurry past.
“Please keep everyone out,” Risa said to Sue. “And I mean everyone. God, this is embarrassing.”
Sue stopped Trevor as he started down the hall. “She’s fine. No one’s in there. Give her some space,” she heard Sue say.
Seven minutes later, Risa stood at the sink washing her hands when the door to the ladies’ room slammed open and Trevor charged through.
“What?” she said with a frown.
“You alone?”
She looked at him and then at the empty restroom. “Um, yeah. What’s going on?”
“Is Wendy in here with you?”
“No. Why would she be in here with me? And wouldn’t you have seen her come down the hall?”
He lifted his sleeve to his mouth. “Negative on the ladies’ room.”
Risa’s heart began to speed, and again, her stomach tightened. “Trevor, what the hell is going on?”
“Everett said that Wendy got a note from you saying you were sick and asking her to meet you. When she didn’t return, he went looking for her.”
“Meet me where? I didn’t send her a note.”
“Everett wasn’t sure, but he thought downstairs in the lobby.”
“So why are you in here?” Risa started for the door.
Trevor grabbed her arm. “You need to stay here where we can keep an eye on you.”
“We? You mean EyeSpy? Forget it. If Wendy’s in trouble, I need to be there.”
“It could be a ploy to steal your necklace.”
Risa absentmindedly fingered the large stone. “And maybe it’s someone playing a game, and if it’s not, and this is about the necklace, you don’t think I’d toss this hunk of rock for my sister?”
She pulled her arm free and headed for the door. She’d just stepped into the small hallway that contained the men’s and ladies’ restrooms when she heard her name called.
“Dr. McCool.”
She whirled around. A young man dressed in a waiter’s uniform stood in the doorway to the hall.
“Some guy paid me a hundred bucks to give you this.” He held out an envelope.
She rushed toward him, but Trevor got there first and snatched the paper from the guy’s hand before she could.
“Give me that. It’s for me, not you.” She fumbled for the note, but he held it out of her reach.
Trevor’s features hardened. “Angel, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, but not this time. Let me read it.”
When he tried to open the flap, she jerked the envelope out of his hands. “Just stop it, Trevor. If my sister is in trouble, I need to know.”
She pulled the paper out and shared it with Trevor.
I have your sister. Meet us in the boardroom on the second floor. Come alone.
Releasing her hold on the paper, Risa raced for the elevator, Trevor on her heels, calling orders into the mic in his sleeve.
She stabbed the elevator button but none of the cars were up on the twentieth floor where she was. She couldn’t wait. The hotel was packed tonight, and waiting for an elevator car to arrive would take time she didn’t have. Instead, she hurried to the exit, kicked off her shoes and started down the stairs.
“Goddamn it, Risa,” Trevor muttered as he raced behind her toward the exit. “Have a little faith. I have men on every floor.” Which was the last thing he wanted to yell in the stairwell and alert everyone there was a problem. As if the event’s chairperson running through the ballroom wasn’t enough of a sight, her flinging her shoes off and charging for the stairs was enough to have heads turning and questions asked.
“Risa,” he yelled as he took the stairs two at a time. “Wait a minute.”
“Can’t.”
He flung himself over the railing to the next set of steps and overtook his stubborn date. He grabbed her arm. “Slow down.”
“Someone has my sister. I will not slow down.” She jerked her arm but couldn’t break his hold.
“One of my guys is holding the elevator on level eighteen for us.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” She spun toward the door marked eighteen and flew through it.
He shook his head and followed. She was going to be the death of him.
In the elevator on the way down, he took her hand and forced her to look at him. “Listen, Risa. This is my job. I’m good at my job. Let me do what I do best.”
“It’s my sister.” Tears filled her eyes.
“I know.” He pulled her head against his chest. “She’ll be fine. Just let me work, okay?” When she didn’t say anything, he put his fingers under her chin and lifted her face until their gazes met. “Trust me.”
She nodded.
The doors opened, and they stepped out. Quickly, he glanced around. There was no action or movement. Music floated from the lobby bar. There was no one in the hall except a man wearing a doorman’s uniform. Trevor gave the man a nod. A former SEAL from a different team but a man Trevor trusted. “Grant.”
“Trevor.”
“Anything?”
“Quiet as a church mouse, but I didn’t open the boardroom door.”
“Okay. Keep everyone else off the floor.”
“Got it.”
“You wait here,” Trevor said to Risa.
“Yeah, that ain’t gonna happen.” She grabbed Trevor’s arm. “If this is about the stupid necklace, give it to him and let him leave.” Releasing his arm, she took a couple of steps down the hall toward the room where they’d held the security briefings.
“Damn it.” Two long strides, and he was beside her.
“Wendy,” she called through the door. “You in there?”
“I’m here,” came the strained reply.
“Are you okay?” Risa asked.
“Yeah. He says you’d better be alone.”
“I am.” She shoved Trevor back just as the head of hotel security joined them.
“You know who’s in there with her?” the hotel security guy asked Trevor.
“No clue, but I need to get in there before someone gets hurt.”
“Risa?” Wendy called.
“Yeah?”
“We’re coming out. He says if he sees anyone but you, he’ll shoot me.”
Risa gasped, and her hand went to her mouth. She whirled on Trevor. “Go away,” she whispered. “I’ll never forgive you if you make the guy shoot Wendy.”
“He’s not going to shoot her,” Trevor said. “He wants you, not her. If he shoots her, he’s gained nothing.”
He pulled a rounded piece of plastic from his pocket. “Here. Put this in your ear,” he said to Risa. “I’ll be close enough to hear what’s going on, and I’ll be able to talk to you.” He turned her toward him. “You’re determined to do this, aren’t you?”
She pushed the earpiece in her ear and nodded.
He kissed her and stepped around the corner out of sight. “Okay, teams, listen up. Alpha team, go to the lobby and wait. Take no action. Beta team, take the third floor and be ready to move. Delta team, cover the elevators. No one goes anywhere until I say so. Risa, if you can hear me, wave your hand behind your back.”
He looked around the corner to see Risa flipping him the bird behind her back. He smiled. Damn, she was bullheaded and brave. And he loved her. They wou
ld get through this.
He looked at head of hotel security. “Comments or suggestions?”
The older man shook his head. “Whoever this is, he doesn’t expect to leave here alive, otherwise he wouldn’t have used that boardroom. End of a hall. Only one exit. Nope, he’s chosen the hill he wants to die on.”
“My thoughts exactly. Suicide by cop.”
“Or SEAL,” the other man said.
Trevor nodded.
“Okay, Risa. Just do what I say, and let’s go home. Get him into the hall.”
Risa’s heart pounded painfully inside her chest. Her hands had a visible tremor. She lifted her head and called out again, “I’m here. What do you want?”
“He said he’s changed his mind,” her sister said, her voice thinner than her usual brash tones. “He says you need to come in here.”
“No way,” Trevor said in her ear. “He comes out, or you’re leaving. And don’t argue with me that you aren’t leaving. Convince him.”
Risa drew a deep breath to calm her nerves. “No, sorry, Wendy. I’m not coming in there. I’m in the hall, just as he asked, and I’m alone.”
“He wants to know where your date is.”
Risa drew another breath. “I left him upstairs. I told him I was going to talk to the mayor, and he believed me. Now, I’m here. Either come out and face me, or I’m leaving.”
The door to the boardroom opened slowly, and Risa moved back. Wendy’s face appeared in the crack. Her makeup was smeared, and Risa could see she’d been crying.
“I’m sorry, Risa,” Wendy said. “I—”
“Shut up,” came a male voice behind her. “Take two steps forward.”
Wendy stepped into the hall with a hairy arm wrapped around her neck.
“Wendy. You okay?” Risa asked.
“Yeah. I’m—”
“Shut up,” the man said, tapping the barrel of a gun against Wendy’s head. He pushed Wendy a little further into the hall until Risa could see his face.
Her heart sank, and cold dread settled in her belly. Risa held out her arms. “I’m here, Mr. Compton. Nobody’s been hurt. Let Wendy go, and you and I can talk.”
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