19. Jareth
Icalled my best employee and resident hacker. “Amelia.”
“Jareth, why are you calling me this late?” she grumbled.
“Don’t tell me you’re not still working,” I scoffed.
It was only 7:00 p.m. in the United States, and even though it was Christmas Day, I knew full well Amelia was trying to get into some place she shouldn’t. Her lack of ethics was only one of the reasons I hired her. Discretion and loyalty were the other two. Especially when I needed her help with Sherwood Inc. business.
“I’m a busy woman, Jareth. What can I do for you?”
“I need you to find someone for me. This one should be easy. I have no reason to believe he’s in hiding.”
“SI, business, or personal.” She knew all Sherwood Inc. activity was under the radar. I’d already reached out to her before I’d left for Bali with direct instructions on what remained on the to-do list to take down Perennial Prose Publishing Inc.
“Personal. Keep it discreet.” I peeked around the corner to see Hazel snuggled in bed, watching more Christmas movies. She didn’t know the meaning of sleeping in even on Christmas. She saw me, waved, and blew a kiss. I winked back and was rewarded with a grin.
Amelia grunted. “You know the drill. Gimme what I need.”
I rattled off the information. “Bill Jones, lives in Bali, Ex-Pat, used to work with my father at the textile factory, likely between 55 to 65 years old.”
The clacking of her typing got a little faster. In a matter of minutes, she had the information I sought. “Done. Check your burner. I’m texting you his address, an aerial view of the house he’s renting and the surrounding area, as well as any of the associates I pulled from his phone record.”
It was a long shot. “Did he reach out to the Sultons or anyone in their circle in the past few months?”
“Hmmm, not in the past few months. Let me go back further.” She hummed random notes to a sound I didn’t recognize. “No contact with them, at least that I can see. There are a few suspicious numbers I can look into, but nothing that stands out yet.”
I leaned against the open doorway of the bedroom, staring at Hazel. “Amelia delete any profiles on dating apps or sites, then remove them from Hazel’s electronic devices.”
Hazel’s eyes narrowed.
“You are mine,”I mouthed to her. At least she was for as long as she’d let me keep her.
She got a wicked gleam in her eye and raised her voice. “Amelia, delete any of the same for Jareth. And purge his phone records of any past dates and hookups. Go as far back as you want.”
Amelia snorted into the phone and immediately began choking.
“Some of those are business contacts,” I reminded Hazel.
“Well, isn’t that too bad? I guess it’s time for you to branch out then,” she retorted.
“Tell her I’ll expect a confirmation when she’s done.”
“She’s got you by the balls. I fucking love it,” Amelia chortled into my ear. “Tell her I won’t hold her bad choice in men against her.” I didn’t miss the lack of surprise in Amelia’s response.
Hazel gave me a self-satisfied smirk before she went back to the movie. I didn’t give a shit about losing those contacts. I did, however, find Hazel’s power play fucking sexy.
“I plan to stop by and see Bill in the next few days,” I informed Amelia. I’d already promised Hazel we’d celebrate this afternoon and call her family tonight while they did their gift exchange.
Hazel deserved for us to celebrate. I already knew that depending on what I learned from Bill, I might not be the best company in the short term. “Let me know if anything changes with him before then.” It was about time to hang up on Amelia. I had better things to do. With Hazel.
I met Hazel’s widened eyes. She must have seen my intention on my face because hers was infused with red, and she started fidgeting with the collar of her robe.
“Jareth, wait!” Amelia snagged my attention.
I grunted, not appreciating the delay in my ability to give Hazel plenty of orgasms.
“You can’t wait that long.”
Fuck.
“He’s booked a flight with his wife to Sydney tomorrow.”
“Shit. Thanks. Start tracking his movements.” I hung up the phone and sat at the edge of the bed with my forearms resting on my thighs.
“Sounds like Amelia found your guy.” Hazel kneeled behind me and slid her arms under mine to clasp her hands at my chest. Her head lay at the top of my back, closer to my left shoulder. The warmth of her body seeped into me, a reminder that instead of lounging around, teasing her with my touch, I needed to get ready to go soon.
“She did.”
“You don’t sound as happy as I thought you would be. This could be a big break in learning more about your dad’s death.” Her words vibrated through my back. The rumble of her voice comforted me.
“It’s Christmas.” We hadn’t discussed our plans for the next few days yet. After cleaning the kitchen last night and putting away the cookies we baked she’d fallen right to sleep.
We woke up early for sunrise yoga this morning. Correction: Hazel went to yoga while I worked. I’d wanted to take her to the Melukat Purifying Ceremony later this morning. While we were gone I had coordinated with the staff to bring in a live tree that could be replanted later. Hazel had discussed the benefit of replanting trees for a solid thirty minutes last year and how purchasing a tree this way supported the local economy.
“And then in a week, we’ll have New Years. Are we listing holidays?” I knew she sensed the tension in my shoulders and was doing her best to pull me out of the dark headspace I’d fallen into.
“I had hoped we could celebrate today before I had to deal with this. I don’t know what I’m walking into or what decisions I’ll have to make.” I said, resignation clear in my tone.
She left one arm around my waist while she slid the other higher, using her palm to rub soothing circles on my chest. “Will you kill him if you think he played a part in your father’s death?” I was only partly surprised at her blunt question.
“Yes.” The answer rolled off my tongue with the ease of twenty years trying to avenge my father’s death.
“What if you get caught?” she asked, her worry casting a kernel of doubt about my plan. Doubt I didn’t need right now.
“I’ll make sure there are plans in place for you to get home safely. Not that it’ll come to that. I’ll be careful.” The rest of this vacation would be tied up with me tracking his movements so that his death, only if necessary, would appear accidental. It might be best to send Hazel home early so she didn’t get caught in the crossfire.
Her hand froze. “Is that really what you think I’m worried about? Finding my way home?”
I laid my hand over the one still resting on my chest. “I know it’s not.”
She let go of me and slid off the bed to kneel at my feet. I wasn’t so far gone to not wish she was doing that for a far different reason. One I’d hoped we’d partake in that afternoon. She cupped my jaw in both her hands. “You’re not alone anymore.”
“I will not have you mixed up in this,” I snapped at her. She would obey me.
She stiffened and dropped her hands. “I’ve already explained that you can’t tell me what to do.”
“This isn’t a game, Sunshine. I won’t have you get hurt over my vendetta.”
“Jareth, let me help you,” she begged.
“No.” This was the darkness that I didn’t want to touch her soul. I had to live with these choices. She didn’t. In the best case scenario, I would just have an informed chat with Bill, but if he had anything to do with my father’s death there was no way I could hold back.
“Well, you can’t stop me. I’m coming with you.” She threw off the robe, and my eyes devoured the tight yoga pants she wore. It highlighted one of my favorite features, her luscious ass. She yanked off the pants and the tank top she wore. She was likely trying to change my mind or distract me with her body. Either way she was off to a good start.
She stomped into the closet, her mumbles only growing louder the more aggravated she became. When she stepped back out, she wore a short-sleeved floral top and a pair of dark-wash jeans. Everything she wore turned me on.
“Are you ready to go or what?” After slipping her purse over her shoulder, she sailed out of the bedroom door, not bothering to glance my way.
I stood. “You have no idea where we’re going.” I made my way over to the safe and placed my thumb on the scanner. Once it popped open, I grabbed my holster, strapped it on, and then grabbed my gun, being sure to hide it under my clothes.
“Not true,” she sang out from the other room.
Forget Bill. I was going to kill Amelia. She was the only way Hazel would have the address.
I strode from the bedroom, determined to leave Hazel behind. “What do you think you’re doing?” I pulled on a blue button-down shirt I’d left out to change into.
“I’m your backup, 007.” I was pretty sure she was smirking at me.
“I think you’ve gotten your heroes mixed up. He’s the good guy, Hazel.”
She kept sentry by the front entrance. “So are you. Besides, there’s always been the debate on whether he’s morally gray. So you and he match. At least you’re not such a narcissist.” She grinned.
“This isn’t a game, Hazel.” I narrowed my eyes. “Move.” She didn’t need to see me like this. I had to shut down and push emotions to the side when dealing with dangerous situations like we currently found ourselves in. It was taking a herculean effort to close myself off because after the last few days with Hazel, I was softer than I would have even believed possible. I didn’t want to expose her to my cold, ruthless side.
It also surprised me to realize I didn’t want to shatter the illusion of the last two days in my own mind, much less in hers. More importantly, I didn’t want her in any danger. If she got hurt, I’d never forgive myself.
Her lips pressed together and her foot rapped a quick staccato as she continued to block the door with her body. “No, it’s not. And only if it’s to come with you.”
I rubbed a hand over the back of my neck. “I can pick you up and move you out of the way if necessary.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Listen, we can both agree that killing him today is not a good idea. So I don’t see the harm in me going.”
“Hazel,” I growled, now standing in front of her. “Killing isn’t the only option on the table. I will get the information I need from him whether or not he’s cooperative.”
She laid her palms on my chest, instantly soothing my irritation. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was using Jedi mind tricks on me or some kind of magic. “We both know I’m excellent at getting people to talk and let’s face it, I’m one-hundred percent more of a people person than you are. The way I see it, I’m like your secret weapon.”
With a swift kiss on her forehead, I lifted her up and shifted her out of my way. I opened the door and strode out while texting my bodyguards to meet me at the entrance with a car.
She sputtered for a second before chasing me out the door. “Heck, no.”
It didn’t matter how fast I walked. She ran to catch up. Finally, I stopped. My legs were far longer than hers, and as pissed as I was at her decision, I didn’t want to leave her like this. She caught up and glared at me. “Sunshine, you’re staying behind.”
“Jareth, so help me. I’ll follow you if you don’t let me go with you .”
I tried a new tactic. “Tell me why you want to go so badly, even knowing it might get ugly.”
She grabbed my hand, threading her fingers through mine until we were a perfect fit. I stared at our joined hands. “You have me now. That means we’re a team.”
“Haz—”
“No. We just decided to see where this goes with us. I won’t lose you after finally getting everything I wanted.”
I frowned. “I told you I’d be careful.”
“That’s not what I mean. You still haven’t dealt with the loss of your father. And before you say anything. Yes, grief is lifelong. We never get over losing someone we love, but this revenge is taking more room in your heart than the love you had for him.” She drew in a breath, her thumb rubbing against the back of my hand. “You might think I haven’t noticed, but I can always tell when you’ve been looking into his death and when you didn’t find the answer you sought.”
I kept a tight lid on my emotions, yet somehow Hazel always saw through it all. “How?”
“It’s like a small piece of who you are disappears. You’re the same, yet different. Harder, more calculating, closed off. If I can be there to stop you from losing one more piece, it’s worth it to me.”
I tugged her to me and wrapped my arms around her. “I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”
“What if I promise to stay near the big guys?” she asked, referring to my bodyguards, Tony and Dex. “I’m going to find a way to follow you. I’m safer with you.”
“Fine.” I’d been able to hold my position with fiercer opponents than Hazel, yet she ran right over me. “Stay close.”
She nodded.
“At the first sign of trouble, you get to the car and get out of there. And if I tell you to leave, do not argue with me. Just go.”
“Absolutely. I promise.”
With one arm still wrapped around her, I guided us to where I was meeting the guys. For the first time in years, I said a quick prayer, asking anyone listening to keep Hazel safe. I would burn the world to the ground if anyone harmed a hair on her head.