4. Evan
EVAN
Leaning back in my chair, I watched the security cam feed on my computer screen.
Angel had texted me this morning and agreed to meet me at my temporary office. My security had let him in and called up that he was on his way. I’d been tracking him since he’d come through the main doors.
“Who’s that with him?” I asked Vlado, hating the curl of jealousy that snaked through me. “Did you find anything about a boyfriend while you were vetting him?”
“Nothing.” He peered at the screen. “But he looks familiar. I think I’ve seen him before.”
“At the club?”
“No, don’t think so.”
I’d had Vlado research Angel, going a few steps deeper than a mere background check to make sure he was an appropriate choice and wouldn’t be a security risk. The last thing I needed was any threat to my, or my team’s, safety. Any further threat.
I hadn’t read the file on Angel, but perhaps I should have.
I tended to put my trust in numbers and math, data , and trends , over gut feelings.
But there was something about Angel…something that had made me certain he was the right person for this assignment.
That compelled me to tip him the way that I did…
Same as something had compelled him to approach me after he was done on the stage. Which was probably the load of cash.
“Then where?” I asked, reining in my focus. “Who is he?”
“I’m not sure.” Vlado leaned closer. “But I’ve definitely seen him somewhere.”
“We should have anticipated he’d bring a guest. With everything that’s been—”
“I know,” Vlado said.
“Find out everything about his guest while I speak to him.”
Vlado shot me some side-eye, then clicked a few keys on the keyboard to freezeframe a clear shot of Angel’s companion as they stood in the private elevator that would bring them to the penthouse.
The man was devastatingly handsome, probably a few years younger than me, and obviously had a close relationship with Angel considering Angel was currently leaning against him, his cheek pressed into the man’s shoulder.
“Make sure his friend waits outside,” I said as Vlado headed toward the door to the office.
He threw me a look over his shoulder. “Want me to tell him you called dibs too?”
“You’re not nearly as humorous as you think you are.”
“And you’re entirely transparent.” He grinned and pulled the door open. “Try to rein in the claws until we know who we’re dealing with.”
I turned my attention back to the screen as Vlado left the room. Angel and his companion were in the hallway, and the security cams automatically followed them as they made their way toward us.
Tapping a key, I turned the audio feed on as Vlado met them in the small waiting room outside my office door.
“Hey, human handbag. How’s it hanging?” Angel greeted him with a big smile.
Vlado laughed. “Can’t complain.”
“Oh, don’t say that. You can always complain.” Angel looked around. “So, where’s your bossman?”
“He’s in his office.” Vlado turned to the other man. “And you are?”
“Quinn Reynolds.” He stuck out his hand.
Vlado shook it. “Can I ask why you’re here?”
“’Cause I’m not about to show up at a rented office to meet some mysterious and possibly sketchy dude alone.” Angel pressed his hands to his hips. “I’ve seen this movie, the pretty one dies first.”
“I promise no one is dying,” Vlado said.
“Yeah, that’s totally something you’d say before killing someone.” Angel peered around him, his gaze landing on the closed door that separated us.
“Your friend is going to have to wait here.” Vlado ticked his chin at Quinn.
Angel sidled next to Quinn and gripped his wrist.
“I understand your boss wants privacy,” Quinn said, “but you can’t expect us to just take your word for it that he’ll be safe.”
Picking my cell phone off the desk, I called Vlado.
“ Yeah ?”
“Let him watch the feed with no audio.”
“ You got it. ”
Vlado hung up. “Boss said you can watch the video feed in his office, but no audio.”
Angel and Quinn exchanged a look. Angel nodded, and Quinn spoke. “Deal.”
Vlado motioned to the desk near the door. “The monitor’s there.”
Quinn and Vlado strode toward it and Vlado turned it on, connected to the feed in my office, and locked it so Quinn wouldn’t be able to snoop around the system.
“Don’t push any buttons or the system will lock you out and you won’t be able to see anything.”
“And what if I see something concerning? Am I going to get shot if I bust in there?”
Vlado lifted the side of his dress shirt to show his gun holster. “I don’t use this unless I have to. No one is getting shot as long as you don’t try something stupid.”
“Good to know.” Quinn waved to Angel, who scurried over to him. “You still okay to do this? We can turn around and leave right now.”
“I’m fine.” Angel looked between Vlado and the door to the office. “I’m not about to die, am I?”
“No.” Vlado’s voice was soft, his demeanor relaxed. “All the security is for him, not because of you. I promise I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially not you or your friend.”
I held my breath for a beat. Would Angel correct him and say Quinn was his boyfriend?
“Okay.” Angel nodded. “I don’t know why I believe you, but I do. Don’t make me regret this.” He stood akimbo again and glared at Vlado. “I swear I’ll come back as a ghost and haunt your ass until the end of time if you kill me. I’ll make sure you never get laid again.”
Quinn chuckled as Vlado covered a laugh with a cough. “Noted.”
“Can I go in, or do I need to know a secret knock or something?” Angel asked.
“You can go in.”
I shut the audio down but kept the video feed of the waiting room on my screen.
A moment later, Angel pushed the door open and entered.
“Holy shitballs.” He slapped his hand over his mouth, his eyes wide. “I mean, hello. How are you?”
I stood from my chair and welcomed him in. “I’m well, thank you. How are you?”
“Currently impersonating a duck.” He crept toward the desk.
“A duck?”
“You know, all calm and chill over the water but their feet are going like crazy underneath. That’s me. Only the feet are my brain.
“That’s an interesting analogy.”
“This is an interesting office.” He looked around. “Nothing creepy about a giant room with nothing in it but a huge desk and guy in a seven-thousand-dollar suit.”
“How did you know how much my suit cost?”
“It’s Brunello Cucinelli, isn’t it?”
“You have a good eye for designers.”
“It’s my superpower. Too bad I have champagne taste and a mocktail budget.”
Smiling despite myself, I waved to the chair across from me. “Have a seat.”
“Sorry, I don’t have business discussions with people who don’t introduce themselves first.”
“My apologies.” I extended my hand. “Evan Williams.”
He took another step closer and shook it. His skin was warm and soft, but damp, betraying his nerves.
“And you are?” I asked.
“Like you don’t know.” He snort-laughed and flopped down on the chair with a theatrical flounce.
“Actually, no. I don’t know.” I sat as well.
“You expect me to believe you’re going to offer me oodles of money for a job, yet you didn’t look me up? That seems like a dumb move for someone who has armed security and a guy outside the door who’s packing.”
“You think I’m dumb?”
“Not sure yet. Maybe.”
“Would your opinion of me change if I told you I did have Vlado look you up, but he didn’t share the information with me?”
“Vlado is the hottie with the tats and the smile?”
“Yes. He’s also the head of my security and my private bodyguard.”
“Huh.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. “Jury’s still out on whether you’re dumb, but the odds are in your favor.”
“Good to know.” I gave him a pointed look. “And your name?”
“Nick Sorensen.” He chewed his lip. “So what’s this job?”
My phone rang.
“Excuse me.” I answered Vlado’s call. “Yes?”
“ The other guy came back clean, but I figured out where I know him from .”
“Where?”
“ Let’s just say he’s been in some videos I’ve watched late at night when I’m relieving tension. ” I could hear my friend’s smirk.
“Are you saying what I think you are?”
“ If you think I’m saying he’s a pornstar, then yes .”
“Thank you for the information.” I hung up.
“What was that about?”
“Your friend…” I started. “He’s made an interesting career choice.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed. “Really? You’re going to talk shit about Quinn being in porn when you literally picked up a stripper at a private event at a strip club? Hypocrite much?”
“No judgment.” I raised my hands in surrender. “It’s just not every day I have a pornstar in my office.”
“Why am I here?” he asked. “Do you have any idea how confused I’ve been? You show up at my club and toss cash at me like I’m a debt collector. Then you offer me a job with zero info and have me meet you at a deserted building in an office that has nothing in it. This is sketchy as fuck.”
“I realize my methods may have been a bit underhanded. I apologize if I caused you any distress.”
“Distress? I’ve been going crazy for days! Why did you tip me so much?”
“Because you’re incredibly talented.”
“Yeah, I am. But so are the rest of the guys I work with. You weren’t handing them C-notes.”
“I suppose I was trying to get your attention.”
“And what if I hadn’t come up to you afterward? The only reason I did was because I thought you fucked up and you’d come after me to get your money back when you realized how much you gave me.”
“People do that?” I asked incredulously.
“You’d be surprised how entitled people can be when it comes to sex workers.
I’ve literally had people make change from the bills in my briefs while they tip me, and one lady cornered me when I was doing my rounds and demanded I give her back what she’d tipped me the week before.
” Crossing his arms, he gave me a shrewd look.
“You didn’t get a private dance or anything.
Didn’t even stick the bills in my undies. You just handed me the cash. Why?”
“Why didn’t I get a lap dance or grope you?”
“Yeah.”