Chapter 24
AIDEN
J ared and Alex headed for the shower, but I waved them off and stayed behind in bed.
I needed time to myself to figure out what the hell was happening to me.
I’d blown some of my anxiety away with that morning orgasm, but it wouldn’t last for long.
I wasn’t lying when I said these two men were dangerous.
For the first time in over a decade, fear and insecurity threatened to overwhelm me. And it was all because Alex and Jared had me feeling all kinds of things I didn’t want to feel.
I was possessive, protective, and oddly sentimental.
I was aware of every touch, every taste, every conversation between us, taking mental snapshots to keep in my memory. To keep close to my heart.
I swore I’d never let myself feel this way again. It wasn’t worth the inevitable pain that would follow. And the real kicker was that everything I felt and shared with Jared and Alex was so much more intense than anything I’d ever had with Lukas.
There was no comparison.
Even still, it had taken two years for me to feel like me again after that affair. I didn’t trust in myself or any man when it came to softer feelings.
After Lukas, sex was fun, flirty, a welcome release at the end of a stressful day.
What had happened last night and this morning was anything but.
And falling meant giving them the power to hurt me.
Still, my heart reminded me that Jared and Alex were different.
When Jared’s case was over, there would be nothing stopping all three of us from going public with our relationship. If that’s what we wanted.
And if I was willing to take that risk.
The bigger part of me was ready.
The smaller part, the fear, well, he was a strong, cagey arsehole. He could take over at any moment and ruin everything.
Shoving my ruminations aside, I decided to join my lovers in the shower when I heard a notification chime.
I reached across to the nightstand and grabbed my mobile. It was Lairin.
Lairin: Contact me ASAP
Instead of texting, I called her.
“What’s happening?” I asked as I sat up, the sheet falling to my waist.
“I hope I didn’t wake you, but there have been several developments that we need to discuss.”
“Not a problem, I was already up,” I replied.
“Your voice sounds weird, have you caught a cold?”
“Absolutely not,” I said, ignoring the question. “So?—”
“Aiden, get your hot, freckled ass in this shower right now! Or Alex and I are going to drag you in here.”
Jared’s voice was so loud the entire ship probably heard him. Christ, so much for keeping quiet.
“Sorry, Aiden. You can call me back later.”
I heard Lairin’s telltale snort-chuckle on the other end of the line and sighed.
“No. Work comes first. Just hold on a minute,” I replied and tapped mute, then set my mobile on the nightstand.
I stood up and walked over to the bathroom.
Big mistake.
Alex and Jared were making out, sharing wet kisses and eager touches, and the picture they made together was so gorgeous that my cock decided the phone call could wait.
They both turned and smiled at me, beckoning me in.
I shook my head. “I’m on the phone with my assistant, who by the way, heard you.”
“Sorry,” Jared muttered as he turned in Alex’s arms, facing me.
Judging by the look of smug satisfaction on his face, he was not sorry in the least.
“Lairin knows how to keep a secret, but she’s going to razz me for the rest of my working life.”
“Poor baby,” Alex chuckled with an evil grin as I gave them both a choice finger.
Then they turned back to each other, and I stood there like a voyeur watching a live porn show.
So much for washing away the evidence of our sex.
Unless you call licking water off someone’s arse cleaning. Then yes, they were doing a bang-up job of scrubbing up.
Reluctantly, I turned away from temptation and headed back out to resume the call.
Grabbing my shorts off the floor, I stepped into them, then reached for my mobile.
“Sorry for the delay, I’m ready now.”
“I’m sure you are.”
“Lairin—” I warned.
“Relax, Aiden. It’s about time you found someone. Or more than one. Whatever makes you happy.”
“This is not an appropriate conversation,” I grumbled.
“Like that’s stopped me before. Come on, we’re mates, Aiden.
Even if I didn’t work here, I’d be calling you and wanting to trade gossip about our lives.
So, who are these mystery men? Wait, don’t tell me.
One is an intense and very sexy Hollywood director and the other is his equally intense and hot AF bodyguard.
Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. ”
I was stunned into silence.
“How the fuck?”
“I’ve seen the way you’ve been acting these past few months when you talk about them. You get nervous and pull on your tie.”
“Maybe my ties are too tight. Or maybe I’m nervous about Jared’s case.”
“No, that’s not it. I’ve watched you in the boardroom and the courtroom, and you are anything but a fidgeter. It’s very rare that anything or anyone rattles you.”
I sighed and pressed a hand to my now throbbing head. “Are we going to discuss the updates, or have you decided to leave the law firm and join MI5 as a profiler?” I replied tartly.
“Just one more thing,” Lairin’s tone went from teasing to serious in a heartbeat. “I’m happy for you, but I hope you know what you’re doing. He’s a client, and I’ve never known you to cross that line before.”
“He’s special,” I bit out. “They’re special. I wouldn’t do this otherwise. And I can separate my personal and professional focus.”
“That’s all I needed to hear,” Lairin replied with a sigh.
“Back to business. While I was conducting research on the hospital, I found out that Seuter made a generous donation to their foundation a week after the incident. And, the head of the foundation, Steven Drake, is married to Dr. Isabel Haywood, who happens to run the hospital laboratory. Drake left in 2020, but his wife still runs the lab.”
“The one that lost Jared’s tests.”
“One and the same.”
“Public donation wasn’t the only thing they received. Have the PI conduct a background check on them, see what he can dig up.”
“Should I call these contacts today?”
“Please and thanks.” My brain began to spin and whirl. “Have you heard anything else from our source at the FBI?”
“There’s talk that Seuter might get offered a deal. There’s been pressure from all levels of government to charge the head of that human trafficking ring. The FBI are digging through Seuter’s house and computers as we speak.”
“Have they interviewed Nita Donovan?”
“She’s on the list, but they haven’t got to her yet.”
“They should move her to the top. She’s got very detailed records of his movements. Pass along that suggestion to your contact,” I offered.
“How’s Jared holding up with the interview process?”
“I did an initial round, but there are still details to go over. And Dylan also.”
“What if the FBI offers Seuter a deal before June 19?”
“Then the case is put on hold and there’s nothing we can do. But if they’re executing search warrants now, I don’t think it’ll happen by that date. It will probably take another month or two for them to dot all their i’s and cross their t’s.”
“Okay. Meantime, I’ll get the subpoena orders ready.”
“Also, get the PI to dig up everything they can about the studio. And the actors that were on the payroll, especially the male ones. His EA told me that Seuter often had sex with young male actors in his office. Let’s see if it was consensual, or if he has any other skeletons hiding in his closet.”
“On it.”
“Anything else?” I asked.
“The lawsuit is hitting the press in California. Entertainment News Now left me a voicemail requesting a quote.”
“Nothing to say at this point. Oh, one more thing. Jared’s home was broken into last night. I’ll have Alex email you the details, but we think Seuter is somehow behind it. I want our PI following his every move. I don’t care if we have to pay him round-the-clock.”
“What about the budget?”
“I don’t care about the PI expense. Just have the investigator make this case his top priority.
Chances are, with the lawsuit hitting the news and the FBI on his arse, Seuter will crumble, and we’ll get a settlement offer instead of having to go ahead with the trial.
Our win will more than cover our expenses. ”
“I’ll let him know.”
“Thanks, Lairin.”
“Speak to you soon.”
I tapped the end button and sat back against the headboard with a sigh. Jared and Alex re-entered the bedroom in matching white bathrobes and concerned expressions.
“What’s going on?” Jared asked quietly. “We couldn’t help but overhear some of what you said. The FBI?”
“Sit down,” I urged Jared and he slid onto the bed beside me.
He snuggled in close, then leaned over and kissed my shoulder.
Jared was very affectionate, and not just when it came to sex.
Alex moved to sit on the other side of me, wrapping his arm around the two of us.
Another piece of my previously hardened heart fell right into their hands.
“Seuter is being investigated for suspected participation in a human trafficking ring. The FBI wants to get the ringleader, a man named Jeja Simone, and chances are they’re going to get him by going after Seuter.”
“How does that affect our case?”
“Well, your lawsuit was picked up by the press. Which is good and bad. Not great for you, given the attention, but good for the case. There’ll be more pressure on Seuter to settle at this point.
Or he can take his chances and see if the FBI offers him a deal before our first deposition.
It’s difficult to tell at this point. All we can do is keep gathering evidence.
I’m having the PI follow him. If we can link him to the stalker threats, even better. ”
“I feel like I’m living in one of my movie scripts,” Jared whispered.
I tightened my grip on his hand and he dropped his head to my shoulder.
“We’re doing everything we can to build a strong case. Usually, defendants will settle,” I reassured him. “I know it’s not the outcome you’d like. A monetary settlement is not justice for what he did to you. But given the circumstances, it’s the best we can do.”
Jared nodded.
“This whole thing may be over sooner than you think. And it will be for the best. Then you can move on with your life.”
“Are you talking about the case? Or about us?”
For someone who made a living asking the tough questions, I wasn’t sure I was prepared to answer that one.