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

Chapter 28

“Any word on Carlo?” I ask Donovan.

I’ve wondered what happened after we left the night we picked up the car. Carlo was still unconscious on the ground. The woman in the truck definitely knew Donovan and might identify him if questioned.

“Nope, nothing,” he answers. He doesn’t seem to be the least bit concerned. He’s still pissed over the ass chewing we both got from Liam this morning.

“Do you think the woman from the truck would tell the police we were there?” I ask cautiously. When I tried to bring her up before, Donovan had no interest in discussing her at all.

“We don’t know that the police interacted with either of them. They could’ve been headed anywhere.” He avoids the question, and it gets under my skin.

“Whatever you say, man.” He won’t get into it with me. Whether he’s clammed up for his own reasons or it’s because of the ass chewing we got from Liam, he won’t talk about it now.

This morning, Liam called a meeting with us about the case. We initially tried to downplay the situation, but Liam saw the bullet hole in the truck bed from the confrontation with Carlo. It was all downhill from there. I told him everything, including how I’m the reason we’re in this mess. Donovan tried to help and made sure I didn’t end up dead.

“What the hell is going on here, guys? This case is getting away from us and I won’t let that happen so you two better tell me what the hell is going on?!”

Liam is the most pissed that I have ever seen him.

“We’ve got it handled…” Donovan tries to soothe Liam but all it does is infuriate him more.

“Bullshit! There’s a bullet hole in my truck, D! A bullet hole! You two are so damn deep in this case that you can’t see just how close to fucking it all up you are!”

“I won’t let that happen. I almost have everything we need boss. I just need to tie up a few loose threads in the case,” I answer.

Liam stands and paces in front of us. We are sitting in two chairs in front of his desk. His hands are on his hips and his gaze is casted towards the floor. He is deep in thought, the silence in the room is deafening.

I feel like we’ve been called into the principal’s office, and we are here for Liam to divvy out our punishment.

He finally looks up, “Tell me right now why I shouldn’t pull the two of you off of this case?”

My stomach literally revolts at the idea of not finishing this for Jade. I push forward in my seat and stand. I can’t let him do this. I can’t lose this case.

“Liam if for one moment I thought that I couldn’t close this case I would tell you, but you know as much as I do that I’m the best there is on the west coast. Let me finish this,” I plead.

“I’m more worried about your safety than some damn socialite who wants out of a marriage.” He talks about Jade with so much disdain that I lunge towards him and grab the lapels of his expensive ass suit.

“Don’t talk about her like that.” My blood pressure is rising by the second and I know I need to reel my reaction the fuck in because that isn’t going to help me stay on the case.

His eyes go wide in disbelief as he looks down at my hands that are holding his lapels tightly. He reaches up and grabs my fists and pulls to release my grip. I willingly let go and take a step back.

I fucked up and took it too far, but I can’t stand him talking about her like that. Like she’s just some rich princess that wants out of a marriage just because.

“I apologize. I shouldn’t have done that, but Jade is so much more than what you think and this isn’t just some case about some spoiled brat wanting to get out of marrying her daddy’s pick for her. Elliott is into some serious shit and Jade is in danger. If you pull me off the case now we lose the upper hand and risk putting her in harm’s way.”

Liam finally stops seething and really looks at me. He takes a beat to measure my sincerity and the severity of the situation.

I believe down to the marrow of my bones that if I don’t find a way to stop Elliott Moore and Vinny, Jade will be in danger by marrying him.

Liam closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath, “I see. That does change things then. I am going to say this as clearly as I possibly can. YOU will find what you need to end this and get the hell out of there. EVERYTHING will be by the books; we can’t afford for this shit to go sideways.”

The tightness in my chest loosens and I nod my head. “Yes sir.”

“And keep your damn dick in your pants, Colin.”

I look towards the floor not willing to agree to that last command because, well, I can’t and won’t promise something I have no intention of keeping.

“Donovan that goes for you too. We don’t need your past coming to bite us in the ass,” Liam scolds.

Donovan responds with another “Yes, sir,” looking just as chastised as me.

“Now tell me everything from the beginning...”

Liam’s orders still ring in my head. He’s pissed right now, but as soon as the case is closed, he’ll let it go and likely never bring it up again. This case is one I’ll be glad to put to bed, too. I want to see where things lead with Jade. This case is a constant reminder that I can’t have her… yet.

We pull up to Vinny’s birthday party. We’re early intentionally. It’s already dark as we pull into the driveway. This isn’t the house Frankie took me to when I hotwired the car. This is a much larger, much nicer house, and it’s in a nicer, more secluded part of town.

Accent lighting is everywhere, complimenting the home and the landscaping. Donovan and I don’t even look at each other as we exit the truck. Before our doors close, Vinny walks outside.

“Well, I’ll be damned. You found it!” he says loudly. Loud music comes from inside the house. I guess we aren’t as early to the party as I thought.

Frankie and Dino come out the door behind him. The sound of the door closing muffles the loud bass of the music playing inside. Their smiles don’t match Vinny’s; they’re scowls.

I throw my arms out for show. “I can’t believe you doubted me!” I laugh.

“You sure it’s the one, Boss?” Dino asks as he approaches the car, giving it a once over.

“It’s the one,” Donovan says firmly to Dino. Something is off with Frankie and Dino’s demeanor from the last time I saw them, and it seems Donovan picks up on it, too.

“Of course, it’s the one!” Vinny shouts, his excitement impossible to hide.

Vinny opens the driver’s door, flips the visor down, and keys land in his hand. My brows knit together as I wonder how he knew they would be there. Then, he walks to the back of the car and opens the trunk. The trunk light glows bright, and I see rows of black duffle bags inside.

Vinny unzips one of the bags to reveal the contents. Brick after brick of what I assume is cocaine. Vinny uses the car key to break through the plastic wrapped around one of the bricks. He licks his fingers, sticks it in the powder, and then tastes it.

“That’s the good stuff,” he says out loud to no one specific.

“Frankie, get Elliott,” Vinny hollers over the trunk. Great, fucking Moore is here.

Without saying a word Frankie heads inside and comes back out almost immediately with Elliott trailing close behind him. Elliott makes an effort to avoid looking us in the eye. He has fresh bruising around his left eye.

“Dino, help these two carry these bags inside,” he orders, his tone harsh.

“Take the car back with you, Jax. Do whatever you want with it. Good job. You’ve completed your first drug run for Maggio’s Trucking,” he says as he claps me on the back.

I stare in disbelief. “Wait. What? I thought you wanted this car.” I’m trying to make sense of what’s happening.

Elliott, Frankie, and Dino grab the bags by their straps. Each of them carry a bag in each hand. I notice Moore wince as he lifts the bags from the trunk. Someone must have gotten rough with him. I wish I had a chance the pummel his ass.

“Right, that’s what I told you. I wanted that car, and you delivered. It’s not easy getting this shit moved around. An eighteen-wheeler might get stopped by the police. But a clean-cut young man hauling a junk car is no cause for concern. You boys come inside. We’ve got some ladies for your enjoyment—and some blow.” With a chuckle, Vinny turns and walks the short distance back through the front door to the house.

As soon as he’s out of sight, I turn to Donovan and get close enough so only he can hear me. “My guy found the car. What the fuck is going on here?” It isn’t really a question but a statement, one that I still cannot understand.

Donovan shrugs. “I told you, man. This shit isn’t like the real world. What do you know about your car guy?”

“I know he finds fucking cars. That’s it,” I say, rubbing my temples.

Donovan slaps my hands down. “They’re always watching,” he scolds in a low voice.

I force myself to relax. “You think Vinny and I have the same connection?” I ask under my breath.

“It’s possible. Vin set you up; he set this whole thing up. The only silver lining is we know now what he’s up to. He’s running drugs.”

“Did you notice Moore’s black eye?” I ask.

“Mmhmm. He probably pissed one of those guys off,” Donovan says nonchalantly.

“Hey!” Frankie hollers from the front doorway.

Donovan and I both turn our attention to him. He has the door standing open enough for us to see inside. A couple of topless women pass behind him, dancing to the beat of the music. He motions for us to come inside. We exchange a tense look with each other before making our way toward the front door.

As soon as we cross the threshold, the smell of marijuana slaps me in the face. I’ve never smoked, but it’s never bothered me for someone else to. A literal smoke cloud hovers over the room, and a small bar is set up just past the foyer with a topless woman pouring drinks.

“Hiya, fellas. What can I get you two?” She pushes her breasts forward and gives us a wink as she asks.

“Two beers,” I say, doing my best to look her in the eyes. There are several people here I don’t recognize—all friends or associates of Vinny’s, I assume. I haven’t seen a woman with more than a thong on since we walked in. Normally, I enjoy the sight of a beautiful woman’s body as much as the next guy, but now all I can think about is Jade.

I can’t let anyone or anything distract me from getting to the bottom of exactly what Vinny and Elliott are up to. I have to end this for her, for us. After the amazing rendezvous we had last night—sneaking away together at the charity event—I know she wants me as much as I want her.

Donovan’s head has been on a swivel since we walked through the door. Vinny and Dino are in the living room, each of them being entertained by women dancing. Vinny gropes and grabs his dancer with every sway she makes. The way she caresses her own body as she dances to the music, I can only assume she’s okay with it or too high to care.

Dino’s dancer climbs onto his lap, leaning down to take his lip between her teeth. They may fuck right there on the couch. I turn away since I don’t want to see where that trainwreck is heading.

“Here,” Donovan says, tapping me with the neck of the beer bottle. “Try not to look so shocked by it all.” The last part is said in barely a whisper.

I tip up the beer bottle and guzzle the entire thing down at once. I need to calm the fuck down to figure out what’s going on with Vinny. I have so many questions. Does he know my car guy? If so, how? Is my car guy in on this set up? Can I even ask him any of that? I know the answer to that last one, a no.

Where the fuck is Carlo? He’s always with the group. And where are Frankie and Moore? Where did they take those duffle bags? I need to try to snap some pics for evidence. This is the break we need to bust these guys and end all this shit for Jade and her father, even if he doesn’t know he’s in danger.

I turn back to the bartender and ask for another beer. Once it’s in hand, I take a sip, trying to relax and formulate a plan in my mind. There’s enough here alone to get them arrested but not enough to keep them behind bars for any length of time.

“We need to split up and mingle, snap pictures if you can. Be discreet,” I say to Donovan. Splitting up gives us both a better chance to find those duffle bags and maybe more to use against these guys.

He gives me a disbelieving look before walking away. This is his wheelhouse, and here I am giving him directions. We can’t always be stuck together when we’re around these guys because they’ll smell a rat.

I walk into the living room where Vinny and Dino are still hanging out. The women are no longer dancing. Instead, they’re sitting on either side on Vinny and Dino, their bare legs draped over the guys’ laps.

“Jax, can I interest you in a dance from one or both of these beautiful women?” Vinny asks, taking the woman’s breast in his palm and giving it a squeeze. The woman leans her head back, enjoying his touch.

I take another sip from my beer and hold out my hand. “I’m good, Vin. Thanks.”

“Maybe he’s not into girls, Vin.” The brunette giggles at her own joke.

I keep my face serious. I want to talk to Vinny. I want to know why he set me up. Vinny studies me for a few moments before asking the naked woman to grab him a drink. Once she gets off his lap and walks away, he leans forward and puts his elbows on his knees.

“You not enjoying my party, Jax?” Vinny asks, obviously offended.

No, I’m not enjoying it. I’d enjoy seeing all of them hauled out in cuffs, so I could go tell Jade it’s over. Tell her that she and her father are safe, and she doesn’t have to fucking marry Moore.

I want to ask him flat out, but I know that isn’t the safest plan. He could take my boldness as a threat and take me out right here and now. Or he might admire my boldness and let me in on what the deal is with this drug running business. The former is too likely to take the risk. I can’t imagine Vinny much admires anyone.

“When’s my next run?” I ask flatly, “And how much does it pay?” I keep my voice strong but low, so Dino doesn’t hear.

The naked woman is back with Vinny’s drink. “Enjoy the party, Jax. We’ll discuss business next week,” he says but never takes his eyes off the busty woman in front of him.

“Sure thing,” I tell him with a nod. I get up from the couch and walk away without acknowledging anyone else. I need to find Moore and those duffle bags.

I make my way back toward the foyer, taking notice of the faces around me and that I don’t recognize any of them. I don’t know where Donovan has snuck off to. The music still beats loudly, and I turn back to make sure Vinny is occupied. The two women are dancing for the birthday boy and Dino again. Now is my chance to slip away to find anything I can use against Moore.

On the other side of the foyer is a staircase, and beyond that is a long hallway with several doors. I can see light coming from one of the rooms, so I walk that way. I make no effort to be quiet or sneaky since I’m just one of the guys looking for the restroom.

As I move closer to the door, I hear a man is inside, and my eyes widen when I recognize the voice. Donovan. The door is barely cracked enough for me to see the person he’s talking to, which I find just as interesting. It’s the woman who was in the truck with Carlo the other night.

Her face is badly bruised. Donovan moves to touch her face, but she slaps his hand away.

“This is your fault!” she roars, rising to her tiptoes to scream in his face. I doubt anyone other than me will hear them since the music gets louder as the night goes on.

“How is it my fault, Dani?” His tone is firm, but I can hear emotion in his voice.

“Because of you and that jackass at the lot! Why couldn’t you just let Carlo have the job? I thought you were all high and mighty now, keeping your nose clean.” Her arms are crossed, her tone mocking. Apparently, whoever this Dani is, she knows Donovan from his criminal days. She continues. “After you guys left, the cops showed up. Carlo got popped with coke. They had probable cause to search because of the gunshot and finding the spare gun he keeps on him. They locked him up for possession with intent. Vinny is worried he’ll roll over on him because the coke Carlo had he was selling for Vin.”

Donovan lowers his voice. “I didn’t know it was a fucking job; neither of us did. That still doesn’t tell me why your face is bruised.”

“I ran when the cops pulled into the lot. I got away. Vin’s pissed about the whole situation, so he roughed me up because I was in front of him when he found out what happened.”

So, Carlo is in jail, but Vinny hasn’t said a word about it to me or Donovan. What’s the fucking angle here?

I ease the door open and step inside the room. I have some questions of my own. They both jerk their heads in my direction. If looks could kill, I’d be a dead man right now.

“What the fuck, Co…Jax?” Donovan almost fucks us both with that slip.

“Yeah, what the fuck, Co-Jax?” Dani mocks us both now. The slip didn’t get past her. Fuck.

“Why didn’t Vinny say shit to us about Carlo getting arrested?” I don’t know who this Dani chick is, or why Donovan is so easily distracted by her, but he needs to fucking focus.

“Look, guy, I don’t know who the fuck you are, but I’m sure you aren’t some dude named Jax, and you sure as fuck aren’t one of us. I can’t believe Vin fell for your bullshit, considering you’re just another clean-cut white boy. So cut the bullshit, both of you.” She rolls her eyes so hard she had to have peeked at her fucking brain.

Donovan scrubs his hands over his face. “Vinny doesn’t go around divulging information, especially not when one of his guys gets busted with his dope. It puts his other dealers on edge.”

His answer makes so much sense for this scenario and none at all for the real world.

Dani stomps her foot, looking back and forth between Donovan and me. “Are either of you going to tell me what the fuck is going on here?”

“Yeah, what’s going on here?” The door opens more to allow Frankie to walk into the room.

I really fucking hope he wasn’t eavesdropping like I was moments ago.

“Just catching up,” Donovan says, looking at Dani and then back at Frankie.

Surely, Frankie feels the tension in the room. I damn sure feel it. More importantly though, where the fuck is Moore? Why isn’t he with Frankie?

“Well, c’mon. There’s enough for everyone.” He taps his nose when he says enough. I’m not a seasoned criminal, but even I know what that means. There’s enough cocaine for everyone.

“Where’s that guy that follows you around like a lost puppy?” I ask boldly. Elliott does follow him around like he’s Frankie’s bitch.

Frankie draws his eyebrows together, processing what I’ve asked before surprising me by spilling his guts. “Oh, Elliott? He left twenty minutes ago. He’s avoiding Vinny because he didn’t come through on a deal he was supposed to. Vinny had Dino rough him up. A few bruises are going to be a walk in the park if he doesn’t come through by the deadline.”

“When’s the deadline?” He’s offering a lot of information freely, so I want to get as much out of him as I can. I don’t know if he’s drunk or high. Either way, I’m thankful he has loose lips tonight.

“Two weeks. He better make it fucking happen. He’s lucky Vin is even giving him another shot,” he replies.

Yeah, lucky. I’ve got to go tell Jade what’s going on. This is worse than I thought and far more dangerous. She has a right to know the type of people her fiancé is associating with and just how much danger she may be in if she goes through with this sham of a marriage. I won’t let that happen.

“I’m getting back to the party. You guys should do the same,” he says before turning on his heel and exiting the room without waiting for any of us to respond.

Before I can speak, it’s like D reads my mind. “Go, I’ll get a ride home.” I start to ask if he’s sure, but he interrupts me. “Go!” His voice is far more forceful this time. He can handle himself, and all these people as well if need be.

Finally, I give him a nod before exiting the room without looking back. I take long strides down the hallway to the foyer, grabbing the knob of the front door as soon as its within reach.

“Jax!” Vinny’s voice booms over the music.

I turn. “Next week, Vin!” I yell back over the music and step outside, pulling the door closed behind me.