Chapter 2
TWO
Grant
“This is Grant.”
“Grant, it’s been a while,” Dodger says from the other line.
“Not since Reno.”
“Right, Reno. The Masked… What were we calling that one?”
“The Masked Millionaire.”
“That’s it. All the money in the world, and he still went and stole more from his friends.”
My driver slows to a stop at the flashing four-way stop. The engine roars to life, making me miss whatever small talk Dodger is continuing with.
“What do you say?” he asks.
“Missed it.”
Dodger clears his throat, obviously frustrated that I wasn’t giving him my full attention.
We have an interesting relationship, to say the least. He hates using me for contract work.
There’s never been an incident to my knowledge, but what do I know?
I usually stick to myself in this line of work.
My personal life gives me enough opportunities to experience connection, so I don’t need to become friends with anyone out in the field.
I tuned Dodger out again.
“Sorry, mate. It’s this reception out toward the sea. You understand.”
“I have a contract. I’m going for the Marlin, and it requires a partner. She’ll have a plan already in place,” he answers angrily.
“She?”
“She’s the best in the field. You’ll get along well.”
“What time? Where?”
“Tomorrow. My office. 0800 hours.”
“See you then.”
I hang up and slip my cell phone inside my tuxedo jacket pocket.
“Almost there, boss,” my driver calls out.
“Thanks.”
My driver has been with me for years, which I’m grateful for. He knows what I do and often supports me in my endeavors outside of driving me to events for personal and professional reasons.
“Confirming, pick you up in an hour?”
“Not tonight. I’ll be in touch.”
“Aha.”
“Don’t comment.” I sigh.
“Not me. Never, sir.”
This is his sign that she’ll be there—Cara. My best friend’s daughter, my rival, and sadly, the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s quite the situation I’ve found myself in.
I still remember the first time that we discovered we were both in this line of work. The night that Dodger hedged his bets and hired two contractors for the same case in addition to the slew of agents he had working on it already.
The night we caught the Masked Millionaire.
A woman. A woman beat me to him.
I wouldn’t call myself a sexist man. In fact, I love women. Women can be in any field. I know of some agents and even a few other contractors who are great at this job. My issue is I’ve never had one beat me to a capture before. Honestly, I can’t even remember the last man who beat me to a victory.
Long, pitch-black hair is high in a ponytail, swinging against her thin yet strong frame. She’s wearing all black since its best to blend in with the night.
The way her leather pants are shaping against her ass is mouthwatering. I usually get a twitch in my cock when I capture my conquest, but this is entirely new.
The wanted man is tied to a chair with a gag in his mouth—or so I assume from the muffled sounds coming from the opposite side of the warehouse.
The woman flips a gun with one hand and props the other on her hip. The way her heels elongate her already mile-long legs isn’t helping me stay focused.
There’s only one woman this could be.
She’s kept her identity mostly hidden from me. I’m sure I could have figured it out by now, but I’ve never had a reason to.
I’ve followed her career, and it’s been impressive, including a near-perfect record of contracts she’s taken.
I methodically step forward to see her work in person. She freezes in place, clearly not expecting anyone else to have found the Masked Millionaire’s hideout as quickly as she did.
Part of me wants to taunt her, and I’m not sure where this urge is really coming from.
I start to give a slow clap as I continue my approach.
“Well done.”
Her shoulders straighten, and her back goes rigid.
“Are you with him?” she asks.
The way her voice feels like velvet as her words roll off her tongue only intensifies my need to taunt this woman.
I laugh darkly as I slip my hands in my pockets.
“I don’t think so, darling.”
“I’m not your darling, sweetheart.”
A silent laugh vibrates along the length of her body as the Masked Millionaire’s muffled sounds continues. The rocking of the wooden chair he’s tied to bangs against the cement floor as he struggles in the ropes.
“Nice knot work,” I say.
“It’s perfect.”
A perfectionist. I can appreciate that.
“Looks like our dear friend, the director, hired us both to find him,” I say.
I’m almost flush against her back, needing her to say anything in return. The way her floral scent wafts through the air makes me crave this woman even more.
“What’s your plan here? You’ve got him. What else do you need?” I rasp.
“I need a piece of information.”
“What’s that?”
She laughs warmly, and in this moment, I know I’m utterly fucked.
“I’ll never tell.”
“Come on, darling. Tell me what you need.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Let’s start fresh here. My friends call me Ace, and you must be… my lucky charm.”
Her whimsical laughter fills the warehouse, and it’s the only sound I ever want to hear.
“I’ll never be your anything.”
She spins around and props a hand back on her hip. As I study this woman’s face, a shocked expression crosses it.
Realization dawns on me moments later.
“Car—” I start, and she puts a hand over my mouth immediately.
“Fuck,” she mutters.
I almost blew her cover in front of this criminal she’s torturing.
“You?” I ask, shocked.
“And you.”
“We have to talk.”
“After.”
I pinch my eyebrows together in disbelief.
“What do you need from him?”
“I’ll get it myself. Go. Please.”
“Fuck. You can have this one,” I relent.
This is not good.
“Meet me at Willow Park in two hours.”
“Two hours,” she confirms.
I exit through a side set of dingy doors and leave her to it.
Two hours later, I find myself in Willow Park waiting. An hour passes by, and I realize Cara isn’t coming.
If this is how she wants to play it, then that’s fine by me.
Game on, Cara Collins.
“We’re here, sir.”
“Thank you.”
My driver opens my door, and I step out of the black SUV. This gala is thrown annually by my best friend, Luke, and his wife, Catherine.
We met when he moved to California, and I was assisting with a business deal. As a businessman, I dabble in real estate and other ventures, anything to boost my portfolio. That’s why a friend asked for a favor—to help him make a deal with Collins Enterprises and his corporation.
Luke is tough as nails when it comes to negotiation. After several days, we finally came to an agreement and decided to celebrate.
We went out for a few cocktails and got along better than anyone I had previously met in California. That’s when I knew he was someone I’d be friends with for years to come.
Not only is he a good businessman, but he’s also proud of what he’s accomplished with his family. That day, he told me every decision he made was to better his family’s future and not for his own egotistical gains. After I heard that, I took him under my wing, and the rest is history.
I met Cara only once before the night of the Masked Millionaire.
It all made sense after that discovery. We both were consistently invited to her parents’ galas and parties, but given our mutual profession, our paths rarely crossed.
I thought she was breathtaking that night we met but clearly off-limits given my relationship with her father.
Now tonight is another one that I have to spend looking at the most beautiful woman I know, who is out of reach.
As I walk up the museum steps, I spot my old friends right away. Catherine sees me as they greet guests entering the building and slightly nudges Luke. As I get into the back of the line, Luke waves me forward to skip ahead.
Passing by the guests, I can’t help but scan for any sign of Cara. Of course she wouldn’t be in the actual line, but I’m pathetic when it comes to getting a sighting of this woman. She may be untouchable, but I can still appreciate the effect she has on me.
She’s here. I can feel her presence, but I wouldn’t expect her to be in line with her parents. Instead, I know she’s keeping to the shadows and watching everyone from a distance.
I’ll find her; I always do as she’s come to learn.
“Luke,” I say, greeting him with a hug.
“Grant. I’m glad you were able to make it. All my favorite people are able to be here tonight. It’s wonderful.”
“Happy to support.”
“Grant.” Catherine greets me with a hug as well.
“Another beautiful event,” I answer.
“That’s sweet of you. Why don’t you two go get a drink? I’ve got this covered.”
“If you insist, dear,” Luke answers. He places a chaste kiss on her cheek that she leans into.
“Ready?” Luke asks. I chuckle with a shake of my head.
“I see the bar calling our name.”
“How’s business?” he asks as we walk inside.
“Good. Busy. You know how traveling is these days.”
“It’s exhausting work. That’s why I’m glad that we decided to settle here and keep a home on both coasts. No need for rentals or hotel rooms.”
“You have the life, old friend.”
“That I do,” he says with pride.
Luke flags down the bartender and orders us two bourbons neat. The bartender quickly pours the amber liquid and slides them in front of us. We take the glasses and clink them together.
“To friendship,” he says.
I give him a curt nod, and we both take a sip.
“Anything new on your end?” I ask.
He sighs, and a sense of sadness flickers across his face.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing.”
“I can see that’s not true.”
“Just getting old. I’m not as young as you are,” he says playfully.
“You’re not that much older, old man .”
He laughs and takes another sip of his drink.
“Ten years makes a difference at this age. I was hoping to have a successor to my company by now, but you know how Cara is. She has her own life.”
“You’re inching closer to sixty. You have time to find one.”
“I hope that’s true.”
“And you know any help I can give you, just say the word.”