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

Prologue

Ibarely register anything happening around me. The hustle and bustle of our guests, the soft music playing in the ballroom, the lavish display of food and drinks for everyone to enjoy. I blink, trying to bring myself back into the here and now of our engagement party, but all I can hear is the sound of my own heart pounding in my ears.

My mind is still reeling from my father’s offer to Elliott as our wedding gift. I can’t imagine why he offered something so generous, so outrageous. He didn’t even consult me beforehand. I would’ve done something, anything to persuade him to choose a different “gift.”

This marriage was meant to be a business arrangement; two very separate businesses. Now, without even knowing it, my father has thrown a wrench in my plan. What should have benefited both of us is turning into an unbalanced deal.

I push those thoughts to the back of my mind as a staff member sets up a microphone stand at the front of the ballroom. My dad is beside him, giving directions. I can’t help but chuckle, poor guy. I don’t think giving a speech at an engagement party is a tradition, but my dad has always done things his own way.

A buzzing sound from the chair beside me catches my attention. I realize it’s Elliott’s phone; it must have slipped out of his pocket when he sat down. He stepped away to mingle with our guests a few minutes ago. I look around to see if I can spot him, but he’s lost in the crowd.

I pick up his phone from the chair to place it on the table, and the screen comes on when I lay it face up. There are several missed calls and one text from an unsaved number. I can’t see the whole message, but the preview says, “No more fucking around. You better…”

My curiosity is piqued.

“Darling,” Elliott says as he leans down to kiss me gently on the cheek. I stiffen, both to barely contain the jerk from him sneaking up while I inspected the message preview as well as to stop myself from leaning away from his touch.

He takes his seat beside me, scooting his chair closer and draping his arm across the back of mine. His phone buzzes again, and he lifts it to see who’s calling. He presses the side button to stop the vibration.

I cut my eyes over to see if he opens the test message, and he does. I casually look at him, giving a smile while discreetly trying to see his face when he reads that message. He goes pale. His back straightens, and his cheeks pull in.

Dad takes the microphone off the stand, causing a God-awful screech. “Good evening! For those of you who don’t know, I’m Harrison Foster. Jade is my daughter, my world. First, I’d like to take a moment to thank all of you for being here. This evening is a wonderful celebration of the engagement of my Jade to Elliott Moore.”

He pauses for a moment, his emotions getting the best of him. I feel like crying, too…and puking. However, for a reason completely different from my dad’s.

Elliott’s hand rests at the small of my back, and his smile is nearly covering his entire face. I can’t tell if it’s to hide whatever he just read in that text that freaked him out so badly he paled, or if it’s from the gift my dad just gave “us.”

It’s more of a curse for me, but dad doesn’t know that.

Dad continues. “Please excuse my emotions, but I assure you that I couldn’t be happier to have Elliott join our family. By doing so, we’ll cement two families together forever.” He holds up his glass, his eyes finding my fiancé. “Elliott, welcome to the family, son. Jade… Well, honey, always remember that I loved you first.”

The crowd laughs at my father’s joke as Elliott and I raise our glasses. I can’t help the tremble in my hand, and I tense my muscles trying to stop it before anyone else notices.

“To Elliot and Jade,” Dad cheers, and the crowd repeats it as they toast to us.

I force a smile because that is the right thing to do, but inside, my brain is going haywire with panic. I cannot marry Elliott. I have to find a way out of this!

Elliott

Iback up, the gravel of the highway pull-off slipping under my designer dress shoes. He continues to advance toward me. I hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. I swore I’d never be here again, that I’d never get myself in this mess again, but here I fucking am.

“I told you not to fucking burn me.” A dark voice comes from behind the goon he’s sicced on me.

I’ve nearly backed myself into a corner, literally, not figuratively. I don’t know why I didn’t meet him at the bar like usual. At least there are people there. However, that thought flutters away quickly. Like anyone there would fucking care. He owns them all.

“Vin, listen, I didn’t burn you. I just need some time,” I try to explain.

He scowls. “I gave you time. My money now, or Dino here is going to rearrange your face.”

The man in front of me grins, his gold tooth shining in the moonlight. He cracks his knuckles and looks back at his boss. I guess he’s waiting for the okay to kick the shit out of me.

“It isn’t that easy now. I told you she isn’t dumb. She already suspects something is fucked up with me.”

“Where’s your balls? You better find them before this broad locks them away in her fucking purse!” he roars.

A booming laugh comes from the meat head in front of me.

“You said you’d get the money from her; you guaranteed it. And here we are, no fucking money.”

Vinny’s voice is too calm. My stomach churns because my time might be up. He turns, walking away from me and heading back towards his car.

“I’ll get it, Vin. I swear. She has the money. I just need a few more weeks. The date is almost here.”

He stops in his tracks and turns to face me again. “I ain’t waiting for no fucking ‘I dos,’ kid. You better figure it out if you value your fucking life.”

He turns, walking away from me again.

“Okay, I’ll get the money from her. I swear. Just call him off. Please, Vin!”

“Fuck him up, Dino,” he says without turning back to give me a second look.

Gravel crunches under tires as headlights shine in my eyes when Vinny turns towards the highway. The rubber squeals as it makes contact with the pavement.

I see the sick grin on Dino’s face, and I know what’s coming. This isn’t my first rodeo with him. I widen my stance, preparing to take the inevitable beating that’s coming.

The blows come fast and hard, one punch after the next. I know what fighting back gets me in this situation, so I just do my best to block the swings at my face because those are harder to explain to her.