Mark: BWWM Romance (Members From Money Book 11)

by Katie Dowe

  "What's your take on him?" Luke asked.

  Carla looked down at her hands and spoke honestly. It hadn't gone down well with her boss but Luke wouldn't judge her decision.

  "I think he's being used as a scape goat." She said. "Someone in that place is laundering money for them and hiding behind Jason's name. That way when it gets discovered, Jason will take the fall and the real culprit will get away with the money."

  Luke raised an eyebrow.

  "You really think that? You haven't been hit with the magic he's been rumored to carry when it comes to women?"

  "My bullshit meter's better than that." Carla rolled her eyes. "Give me some credit, at least."

  "Sorry. But I did have to ask. I respect your opinion, Carla, but Jason is a slippery bugger."

  Carla knew Luke was looking out for her but it still rankled her.

  "My gut's saying that something's up but Jason's not involved."

  "Have you talked to him about his publishing house?"

  "Quite a bit. Nothing untoward."

  Luke was silent for a moment. Carla could see him mulling it over in his head.

  "Fancy teaming up? I'll deal with our line of inquiry and you question everyone?"

  Carla didn't see anything wrong with that. She nodded.

  "Sure. As long as people don't find it suspicious." She frowned at him. "But you think he's guilty and I think he's innocent. How's that going to work when we're conflicted?"

  Luke grinned. "Care to bet $200?"

  Carla felt her adrenaline spike. She never passed up a chance to have a bet. She always won. "Deal."

  *****

  Jason pulled the car into the parking lot and parked. He turned off the engine and turned to Carla.

  "You okay now?"

  Carla sat up in her seat and adjusted the fleece Jason had given her. She could still feel her cheeks flaming even though the scene had long passed.

  "I'm fine."

  "Seriously?"

  Carla glanced at him, seeing that Jason was giving her a look of concern. She couldn't blame him since she had freaked out when they were out on the highest wire, demanding to get down and screaming her head off.

  She should never have agreed to go to the high wire center. While Carla was determined to have fun in a high-adrenaline activity, her brain was telling her she shouldn't go up high because it was a very long way down to the ground. She had managed to hold out for most of it until they got to the top.

  The staff must have found her reaction comical even if they saw it every day.

  "I'm sorry I was stupid with the high wires." She muttered.

  Jason laid a hand over hers and squeezed.

  "Everyone is allowed to be scared of something. It's not a big deal."

  Jason had been brilliant. Instead of losing his temper and shouting at her for being so stupid, he had gone to her side and helped her down, barely leaving her as they climbed down. When they got to the bottom Carla had collapsed in hysterics and Jason had simply picked her up and carried her to sit under a nearby tree, where he cradled her in his lap until she stopped crying, rubbing her back and rocking her gently.

  They must have looked a sight. But Jason hadn't said a word about it. Once Carla had calmed down they went inside, got their gear off, and Jason had given the staff a hefty tip by way of apology. Then he had taken her away and driven her to a nearby diner, making her eat whatever was put in front of her. Still in a slight state of shock, Carla had allowed Jason to order for her. His choice had been a good one and Carla had wolfed down the burger and fries, followed by a slice of fudge cake.

  Once the food had gone down Carla felt better but still embarrassed at what had happened. But Jason had been really sweet throughout it all, holding her and telling her things were fine.

  This wasn't the man Carla had heard about. The Jason Liu she had been told about was not the same as the man who had looked after her. It was like she knew a completely different man, something he kept hidden from everyone else.

  That side she saw would be easy to fall in love with. And Carla was in danger of falling into that trap.

  She needed to put some space between them.

  Jason climbed out and walked around to Carla's side, helping her out. Carla didn't need the help - she had the strength back in her legs now - but she allowed the help. It was nice to have someone do something for her for once. She leaned against him as they walked over to the elevator, Jason's arm comfortable around her waist. He still held onto her as Carla swiped her key card to open the doors, reluctantly loosening his grip when Carla turned to him.

  "Thanks for everything. And I'm sorry it was ruined."

  "It wasn't ruined." Jason backtracked when he saw Carla's expression. "Much. But I did enjoy myself with you."

  "Seriously?"

  "Seriously." Jason cupped her cheek in his hand, brushing his thumb across her jaw. "Just tell me when you don't want to do something, okay? I don't want you uncomfortable again."

  Carla leaned into his touch, feeling the warmth from his palm.

  "I will do." She whispered.

  Jason was quiet for a moment. Then he bent his head. Carla felt the gentle brush of lips against hers and leaned into the kiss, placing her hands on his chest. Jason applied a little more pressure before he slowly pulled away. He was breathing heavily and pressed his forehead against hers.

  "Goodnight, Carla." He rasped. "I'll call you tomorrow."

  Carla didn't say anything. She simply nodded.

  Jason kissed her again, this one quicker, and pulled away.

  "Sleep well."

  Carla watched him walk away. She felt lightheaded. It had been a while since she had dated anyone, let alone kissed anyone, but that was the sweetest kiss she had ever experienced.

  Her body heated as she thought about what other things Jason could do to her.

  Shaking herself out of her reverie, Carla stepped into the elevator and pressed the button to her floor. She was still thinking about Jason and the kiss when she stepped out and wandered down the hall to her apartment.

  Then she stopped. Her door was open, barely on the latch. It was also splintered around the lock.

  Carla knew better than to go in. Anyone could be hiding inside. But she wasn't going to impose on Jason. There wasn't anything he could do, anyway.

  So she pulled out her cell phone and called the only person she knew who could help.

  *****

  Luke stood in the middle of the lounge and looked around him in amazement. He whistled.

  "This is something. Is anything damaged or destroyed?"

  "Lots of things." Carla kicked at a cushion that had been ripped open and the stuffing taken out. "Most of it can be replaced. But some of my things..."

  She broke off, trying not to cry at the destruction in her home. Luke had arrived within twenty minutes of Carla calling him and had entered the apartment first, gun drawn. He had come out a few minutes later saying there was no one in the apartment but the place was a mess. Carla had no idea how much of a mess until she came in.

  Furniture was turned over, cushions were ripped apart and her coffee table was smashed. The dishes in the kitchen littered the floor and bleach had been poured all over her food in the fridge. Some pictures hanging on the wall had been taken down and stomped on. Her TV was completely destroyed.

  Her bedroom was just as bad. The mattress had been slashed and the bedding was leaking stuffing. Her clothes had been dumped on the floor and bleach poured over everything. And a few of her underwear were covered in a fluid Carla didn't even want to contemplate what it was.

  "Hey." Luke nudged her arm. "Just be thankful you weren't here when they came in."

  Carla was thankful for that. Judging from the way her intruders had jacked off into her panties she could have been attacked and raped and left to die. From what she could see everything would have to be replaced.

  She hoped her insurance covered her.

  "I don't get how they got in." Carl
a picked her way through the wreckage. "This place needs a key card to get in and only residents have those. Everyone else has to be buzzed in."

  "Chances are they sneaked in behind someone who legitimately came into the building." Luke leaned against the wall and folded his arms. "Who do you think did this?"

  "Any amount of husbands I've caught in the act." Carla replied. "Wives ditto. A few fraudsters..." She trailed off when she realized what Luke was implying. She faced him with her hands on her hips. "You think it's something regarding Jason Liu."

  "It could be his people telling you this is what happens when you poke your nose into their business."

  But Carla was already shaking her head.

  "Jason wouldn't send someone after me."

  This was getting her confused. She couldn't link the man who had kissed her and cared for her after a panic attack with this attack on her apartment. Only a psychopath would do something like this and Jason was certainly not psychopath.

  "How do you know?" Luke demanded. "I know you're going on dates with him but please be careful. He could suck you in."

  "I've been warned about that once already." Carla grunted.

  "They could have a point."

  Carla groaned and ran her fingers through her hair. A headache was coming on and driving her mad.

  "It's not Jason." She said again with certainty.

  "Let's hope that's the case." Luke looked like he didn't believe her but he didn't say anything. "Or you're going to get into deeper trouble going out with him." He took out his phone and swiped it open. "When are you talking to his employees?"

  "I've spoken to half of them already. I'm going to start with the other half on Monday. And I'll keep you updated." She added when Luke opened his mouth.

  Luke chuckled and put his phone to his ear, moving into the bedroom. Then Carla heard another phone going off. She dug into her bag and retrieved her cell. She didn't recognize the number but that didn't mean anything.

  God, let it not be a cold caller at this time.

  Nevertheless she answered.

  "Carla Romaine."

  "It's Joanie Oldham." The woman on the other end sounded breathless. "Can you come and bail me out?"

  "Bail you out?" Carla was confused. "Where are you?"

  "I'm in jail. I..." Joanie sounded embarrassed. She spoke in a tiny voice. "I vandalized Richard Stevens' car."

  Carla groaned. The damn woman didn't know when to stay out of things.

  "Joanie."

  "I'm sorry but he called me and started calling me every name under the sun. I got so mad I went around to have it out with him."

  "So you took it out on the car instead?" Carla pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose. "What did I say to you the other day?"

  "Yeah, yeah, just come and get me out of here."

  Then Joanie hung up. Carla stared at her cell phone, wondering what she had really got herself into. The bloody woman was going to jeopardize everything and she didn't seem to care.

  It was beginning to feel like she had more to worry about when it came to her client rather than the target.

  *****

  The cops were very pleasant. Carla knew several of them from previous cases and managed to have a few light-hearted moments with some banter as she signed the paperwork for Joanie's bail. It raised the tone of the evening for just a short while.

  But it went back down again when Joanie was brought out. She was wearing a green jumpsuit that looked far too expensive for her and high heels. Her hair was loose about her shoulders and her eyes were red, her make-up smudged. Exchanging a look with the custody sergeant, who gave Carla a sympathetic look, Carla strode over to the woman and took her arm.

  "Come on."

  She virtually hauled the silent woman out to her car and bundled her in. Her blood was boiling as she went around to the driver's side, watching Joanie buckle herself into her seat and stare out the window. She looked like she was being subjected to unfairness by everyone, believing everyone was at fault except for herself.

  Carla hated those kinds of people.

  It wasn't until they were on the main road driving back to Miami Shores that Carla spoke.

  "Did anything I said to you get into your head?" She demanded.

  "I got a nasty phone call. What was I supposed to do?"

  "Call the police. Say you're being harassed."

  Joanie snorted and stared sulkily out the window.

  "The police won't do anything. He hasn't issued any threats, just disgusting language. And he has money," she sneered. "So he'll be able to buy his way out of there."

  Carla ignored the jab at her cop friends. None of them would take a bribe and they wouldn't be impressed by Richard Stevens' wealth. Those men came down hard on those who tried to buy their way out.

  "Then you should've called me. I would've done something. You don't go over and get your own back by smashing his car up."

  "He deserved it."

  "And that justifies what you did?" Carla gritted her teeth, fighting back her temper. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. "You pull a stunt like that again and I'm dropping the case. You'll have to find someone else to do it."

  She could feel Joanie's surprise from her side of the car. Evidently Joanie hadn't thought Carla would even consider walking away. A lot of people believed if they hired a private eye then that PI would do anything they said and get them out of trouble. Basically, a highly paid babysitter. Carla was not one of those people and she wasn't going to deal with Joanie pissing about.

  "Your boss said you'd do it."

  "There's a limit to what I will do and you're pushing it. Do something stupid again and you'll be looking for someone else to find the proof you need."

  Carla didn't like the thought of walking away when she wanted to help Jason, get him out of the mess he had ended up in unwittingly. But she wasn't going to let Joanie dictate what she did.

  "You're just looking for an easy way out." Joanie sneered at her. "Your boss also said you were looking to get out of any job he assigned to you."

  "That's usually because I've ended up with a client who kept leering at me and expects me to sleep with him." It was amazing Carla hadn't brought several lawsuits of sexual harassment on the man and the clients he forced her to work for. "This one isn't on him. I'm not babysitting an unstable client."

  "I'm unstable?" Joanie shrieked.

  "You must be if you don't heed my warnings. Either that or incredibly stupid." Carla glanced at Joanie, who was staring at her in amazement. Clearly she hadn't expected Carla to argue back. Carla was not the hired help and she always made sure her clients knew that. "I'm dealing with it, Joanie, so keep yourself out of it. I don't want anyone involved to figure out who hired me or you could be in trouble. You might end up seriously injured or dead. Do you understand?"

  Nothing like a little scare to bring the reality home to someone. Joanie lapsed into silence. Carla glanced over and saw that she was slumped in her seat, arms folded like a stroppy teenager with a scowl as she looked out the window. For a grown woman she seemed to have the mentality of a spoiled child. Her parents had probably given her more free rein than she was supposed to have and she took advantage of it.

  Carla didn't lie down and roll over for those sorts of people. Not her style.

  It wasn't long before they pulled up outside Joanie's condo. Carla put the handbrake on, leaned across Joanie, and opened her door.

  "Now get in and stay in there." She ordered. "If something happens you call me. Don't deal with it yourself."

  Joanie didn't answer. She simply climbed out, slamming the door hard. Carla didn't bother with her tantrums. She drove away without waiting to see that Joanie went inside.

  Against her professional attitude but tonight she really didn't care.

  Chapter 6

  The microwave had just pinged when Jason heard a key in the lock and the door to his apartment swung open.

  "Hello? Anyone home?"

  Ja
son smiled. He would recognize that voice anywhere. Saving his work and closing his laptop, he slid off the stool and went into the lounge. A handsome American woman in her fifties with short gray hair was standing in the middle of the room, dropping her bag onto the couch.

  "Mom."

  Brooke Liu looked up, her face free of make-up and very few wrinkles. She smiled and came towards him.

  "Hey, handsome."

  "That's what you say to all the boys."

  Brooke laughed and Jason accepted the hug, returning it warmly. He adored his mother. She was his rock, his confidant. Probably the only woman he could completely trust. After everything, even when he was a complete bastard, his mother was by his side to scold him, hold him and make him carry on again.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "I came to see you." Brooke drew back and slapped his chest. A tall woman, she was at Jason's eye-level. "Isn't a mother allowed to see her son?"

  "You're more than welcome to visit but normally you call to say you're coming over."

  Brooke's smile faded. She bit her lip and looked at Jason's head. Jason knew she was looking at the cut on his head. The bandage was off and the wound was knitting itself together but the purple bruise was still there.

  "I heard you'd been attacked a few days ago and I wanted to check if you were okay." She gave him an admonished look. "And why you didn't bother to tell me."

  "I'm fine." Jason moved her to the couch and sat her down, plonking down onto the cushions beside her. "It's virtually healed. And I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you. I was looked after so don't worry about it."

  That had an image of Carla coming up again in his mind. She was a regular fixture in his head now, popping up whenever she wanted. Jason knew he was in trouble if he was starting to think about Carla all the time.

  "I'm glad." Brooke closed her eyes and sniffed. "What are you cooking? That smells good."

  Jason laughed.

  "It's just a microwave meal, Mom."

  "You must be the only person I know who's worth billions and you don't want a personal chef. Why don't you use the skills I taught you when you were a kid?"

  Jason sighed. He was exhausted and he wouldn't be able to go to bed at all since he had work to do. That was probably going to keep him up all night.