An Eye For Illusion: A Private Investigator Romantic Suspense: (Dunn Security Group Book 2)

Chapter 26

Iglance around the room to take in all the unfamiliar faces. Dunn Security Group attends this charity gala every year. Most of the time, I enjoy it. It’s good food, great drinks, and it’s for an amazing cause.

But this year is different. I’m too distracted by the case and worried about how all of this will end. Apprehension has settled deep in my gut, and I don’t fucking like it. Whatever turmoil I’m feeling seems to be ten times worse for Donovan. I just can’t figure out why.

We dropped the truck and car off at the warehouse yesterday after picking it up. From all accounts it seems to be the exact one Vinny asked for.

Thank fuck.

We pulled it into the warehouse and made sure the security cameras were all in proper working order and that the place was locked up tight. I won’t chance losing the damn thing this close to Vinny’s birthday party, especially with Carlo following us.

“Do you think Carlo is stupid enough to try to steal it?” I asked D, who is standing right next to me at the bar.

He lifts the glass of whiskey the bartender just poured for him and turns around to scan the room, just like I’ve done for the past few minutes. It’s ingrained in us now, to always be on the lookout. To spot the potential threats and map out the exits.

“I wouldn’t put anything past that stupid fuck,” he mumbles. He’s been agitated ever since picking the car up. “He is fucking stupid.”

We both go back to scanning the room. Liam and SJ haven’t gotten here yet, so it’s just the two of us, and I use the opportunity to figure out what the hell is going on with Donovan.

“How do you know the woman in the truck?” I’m worried that whatever is going on here is about his past life.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about. I’ll get it handled.”

“That’s not what I asked, and you know it.” I straighten and turn toward him. If this will affect ending this case and getting Jade off the hook from marrying a complete jackass, I need to know.

“Don’t challenge me, Colin. I wouldn’t want to have to take you out back in front of all these people.” He smirks to soften the threat, but I don’t buy it or react to it. This is what he does when shit starts to get hard. He shuts us out.

“I’m not your enemy here. Let me help you figure this out. Whatever it is.”

The tension in his shoulders drops, and he sighs in defeat. “You can’t help me with this. This is something I need to do on my own to put my past to rest. I appreciate the offer though. I know you’ve got my back.”

That’s as much as I can hope for right now. He’ll come to us if or when it needs it, but not a minute before. It’s one of the most frustrating things about him. We’re a team, and sometimes he doesn’t play fair.

“I’m holding you to that.” I hold my glass up for him to clink. An unspoken deal is made when he taps my glass with his. He’ll tell me if he needs help, and I’ll be there, no questions asked.

Donovan plasters on a wide smile, and I turn to see who caused it. Nora and SJ just entered the large event space that’s decked out in lavish gold and silver decorations. Whoever runs this goes the extra mile to make these things stand out above the rest. Every damn detail thought of.

I move away from the bar to meet them halfway with Donovan right behind me. “Man, it’s been way too damn long since we’ve seen your mean mug!” I say as I reach out to shake his hand and throw my other arm around his broad shoulders.

SJ is a big man. So big that I’m barely able to reach up and around him.

“Nora, you are as stunning as ever,” D says as he goes in for a hug. SJ hit the jackpot with Nora Reyes, and he fucking knows it.

“Hands off, Blake,” SJ warns.

Donovan only smiles harder and brings Nora in for one last squeeze before releasing her. He must have a death wish because SJ looks about ready to tear him apart.

I don’t have a death wish as I lean in for a quick hug, making sure my hands are very visible.

“Pretty as always, Nora. It’s good to see you both,” I say when I pull back.

“Awe, Colin. It’s good to see you both, too. SJ missed you guys,” she says.

“Missed us, huh?” D asks as he playfully nudges SJ on the arm.

“I already regret coming. Nora, let’s go back to the hotel and ditch these two.” SJ comes to stand next to Nora, placing his arm around her torso to bring her in close.

“Nonsense, we haven’t even seen Liam and Willow yet!” Nora swats SJ’s chest before leaning up to kiss him on the lips.

Ugh, the two of them are firmly in the lovebird stage. It’s cute and all until you have to see it up close and personal. A small ache forms in my chest as I watch them together. It’s new to me. Usually, I don’t give a damn, but the ease in which they interact has something twisting in my chest.

It makes me want to text Jade to see what she’s doing right now. I imagine her sitting in her living room, maybe watching a movie and drinking a glass of wine. I’ve learned she’s more of a homebody, and it doesn’t take fancy restaurants to make her happy. I really, really like that about her.

Before I can change my mind, I pull out my phone and shoot off a quick text message. I want to continue our playful banter from just a few nights ago.

Me: What are you wearing?

I quickly shove my phone back in my pocket and listen to the conversation around me.

“Willow is coming?” Donovan asks.

I raised my eyebrow in surprise at that little tidbit, too. Liam never brings a date unless it’s a random socialite that he happened to be dating at the time. He’s never brought Willow.

Nora grins. “She’s supposed to come with him. She let it slip one day when SJ called into the office to check in with Liam.”

“Well, maybe Liam finally pulled his head out of his ass,” D says just as Liam comes up behind him.

“Who’s head and who’s ass?” Liam asks as he slaps Donovan hard on the back in greeting. “I think it’s more likely you should be talking about my foot in your ass.”

I smirk because by the look on his face, Liam knows exactly who Donovan was referring to.

“We were just talking about Colin here having a little crush on Jade,” D blurts to save his own ass from the third degree from Liam.

That son of a bitch.

That fucker isn’t going to throw me under the bus. All’s fair in love and war. “What D meant to say was he has a thing for some mysterious woman who happens to run in Vinny’s crowd.”

My admission makes everyone turn in my direction. Donovan looks like he’s ready to murder me. SJ, Nora, and Willow just look confused, and Liam? Liam looks downright pissed.

“What the fuck are the two of you up to? Huh? Cause to me, it sounds like a whole lot of fucking around and not enough focusing on the damn case!” Liam’s usually calm demeanor just went out the window. He hardly ever loses his temper, so when he loses his shit in a room full of very important people, I realize just how much we’ve fucked up.

“Dude, I’m so going to kill you after this,” D whispers out the side of his mouth.

“I’m sorry, but you’re an asshole,” I mumble my reply.

Liam’s nostrils flare. “You must be two of the dumbest motherfu—”

“Li, we should go take our seats. It’s about to start,” Willow interrupts as she comes to stand right next to him. She places her hand around his right arm and pulls him toward the table reserved for Dunn tonight.

To all our surprises, Liam blinks a few times. His anger clearly shows on his face, but instead of confronting us, he turns and follows after her without another word to the rest of us.

Well, I’ll be damned.Willow may be my new best friend because I’m pretty sure she just saved our asses from a very public ass chewing.

My hope is short lived when Liam turns around, and mouths, “We’ll talk about this later.”

I pull out my phone, hoping Jade has texted me back. I need a distraction from the fact that I’m most likely going to get my ass kicked tonight. I smile when I see one from her waiting to be opened.

Jade: Wouldn’t you like to know?

I chuckle as I slide into my seat at the large, round table done up in classic but expensive taste. It’s exactly what you would expect at one of these functions. There are millionaires in this room, and the quickest way to get them to open their wallets is to pamper the hell out of them.

Me: That’s why I asked. You playing coy with me, Ms. Foster? Have you forgotten I know exactly how you taste?

Three dots appear as I wait for her to type her reply.

Jade: Hmmm, I seem to have forgotten. Will you help me remember?

Her response elicits a groan from my mouth as I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

“Dude, who are you talking to?” Donovan whispers as he leans over, trying to see my phone.

I shove my phone back in my pocket so he can’t see the private conversation. “None of your damn business,” I say.

It’s like I’m in grade school again with my short and not so witty reply, but I can’t help it. I’m still pissed he threw me under the bus earlier.

“Pull the stick out of your ass, Colin. I know it’s Jade. You have that stupid little smirk on your face every time you talk about her.”

“Shut up.” I’m not past petty child just yet.

“You shut up,” D fires back, equally childish.

“Will the two of you stop? You’re too old to be this stupid,” Liam says from across the table. And just like children, that has the two of us shutting up and finishing dinner.

Holy smokes. My eyes blink a few times, trying to clear my vision. It feels like I’m having a hallucination. Actually, maybe a wet dream is a better description because, hot damn, what a sight.

The first thing I feel is shock at seeing her here, and the next is pure and untethered lust. She never answered my question about what she was wearing, but now I have a front row seat.

She’s stunning in a form-fitting gold dress that shimmers every time she moves. Her hair is pulled back off her face and neck in an elegant updo, and there’s a mile high slit that’s showing off her very long, very toned legs.

“What’s she doing here?” Donovan asks as he leans over toward me at the table. So far, the rest of dinner has gone peacefully, but I’m sure we’ll both hear an earful from Liam as soon as he takes his eyes off Willow.

I don’t know if he knows it yet, but he’s fucking head over heels for his secretary, and by the looks of it, she’s pretty damn smitten as well. Liam hasn’t taken his eyes off her all night.

Willow, on the other hand, is trying to play it cool by talking to Nora. However, I’ve noticed that, when she doesn’t think Liam is looking, she sneaks a glance over. Spoiler alert: he was looking at her every time.

They share a small smile and go back to acting like everything is perfectly normal and they aren’t here on a date. It’s kind of cute if you think about it. I just hope it’s enough to distract him from chewing me out for being attracted to a client. After the kiss we shared and seeing her here tonight, there’s no denying my attraction to her.

She’s smoking hot. Every man in here has taken notice of the beautiful and regal Jade Foster. She commands the room as she makes her rounds with her father at her side. Every woman is jealous, and every man has a hard on.

It would be intimidating if I didn’t know firsthand how plump those lips of hers are or how her tiny and demure little moans taste. Now that I do, there’s no more resisting it. I crave to feel her lips against mine again, to pull her body in tight to mine and run my hands over every delicious curve. And after her teasing through our texts, my body is even more ready to remind her.

My tongue runs over my lips as I watch her make her way across the room to take a seat at one of the tables by the stage.

“Damn, brother, you’ve got it worse than I thought.”

I turn my head towards Donovan, thankful that Liam is engrossed in a conversation with SJ.

Not this shit again. “Naw, just having a little fun. That’s all.”

“Fun is good and all until it turns into more. Next thing you know, you’re signing your life way and throwing your career down the drain.”

Damn. What the fuck is up with him? Donovan has always been the more serious one out of the group, and that’s saying something since SJ is so damn professional all the time, but whatever has D’s head all jumbled is really taking a toll.

“That’s not going to happen. Why don’t you worry about yourself, huh?” He’s pissing me off tonight.

Whatever it is, he needs to get it sorted. I won’t let him drag me down with him, and that’s exactly where he’s fucking headed if he doesn’t pull his head out of his ass.

He clearly heard the bite in my tone because he slaps me hard on the back before standing abruptly and pushing his chair back roughly. “I’m getting another drink.” He draws the attention of the entire table but doesn’t wait for anyone to respond before heading to the bar without a backwards glance.

Donovan’s departure catches Liam’s attention. “We’re all getting on a call first thing in the morning because there’s more going on than the two of you have let on,” he says disappointingly.

Fucking D and his big mouth.

I simply nod. I know we won’t get out of this without explaining everything in the morning. The problem is that I don’t know what the hell is going on with D to explain shit.

“If you’ll excuse me. I need to use the restroom,” I say politely as I stand from the table. Screw this. I need a drink and a fucking break because the tension at the table is so damn thick you could cut it with a knife.

Poor SJ and Nora have no idea what to say. Liam looks ready to blow a gasket, and Willow is too busy eye fucking Liam to notice much else.