Courting Suspicion. Kimberly Dean

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СКАЧАТЬ he now? Nina’s lips flattened. ‘What do you think, Genieve? Forget Haynes. Don’t worry about me or Luxxor. What do you want to do? Tell me, and I’ll make it happen.’

      The escort paused. ‘I think he may be right.’

      Nina thought through the options. ‘Is he there now?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘Let me talk to him.’

      She glanced at the alarm clock beside her bed. It was nearly three o’clock in the morning. She’d been jolted out of a dead sleep – although a very active dream. Adrenalin was pumping through her system, and it honed her thoughts. She needed to think strategically.

      ‘Nina.’

      Two syllables was all it took for her to measure the man’s mood. Scary.

      ‘Brody. What’s the situation?’

      ‘Not good. The reporters were pretty loud with their accusations, but the police knew they didn’t have anything solid. The detective on the scene seemed suspicious, though. You have to destroy that contract.’

      She shook her head. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t. ‘I need to hear it from one of the parties involved.’

      ‘Are you serious?’ There were sounds of footsteps. ‘Jenny, tell her to burn the thing.’

      Genieve’s voice came on the line. For as upbeat as she usually was, she sounded worried and tired. ‘Nina, you’ve got to get rid of it.’

      ‘Does the senator know?’

      Brody was back on the line. ‘He will. He’ll do whatever I tell him if he wants to keep his job.’

      ‘He won’t be happy.’

      ‘I’ll deal with it.’

      It wasn’t the best way to conduct business, but they needed to get rid of that damning evidence as quickly as possible. ‘I’ll handle it myself,’ Nina promised. ‘The video the reporters took. Have you seen it?’

      When Brody cleared his throat, it sounded suspiciously like a growl. ‘Enough of it.’

      She rubbed her forehead. ‘Can we get it?’

      ‘Not legally. They took that as evidence for the B&E charge. Those reporters have to be pissing their pants right now. I should be able to handle them. Our bigger problem is the anonymous tip.’

      Nina hadn’t missed that part. She just needed to focus on the most important things first. ‘I can take care of Genieve.’

      ‘I’ll do it.’

      ‘She’s my employee.’

      ‘And the senator is my problem.’ Haynes let out an uncharacteristic sigh. ‘Nina, this is my turf. I handle clean-up better than anyone, including you, and this is a crucial time in the campaign process. I’m not going to jeopardise the senator’s seat.’

      She’d give him that, but she knew the lengths the man went to when he swept issues under the rug. ‘I won’t have Genieve hurt or thrown to the wolves.’

      ‘I’ll protect her.’ He paused again. ‘I promise.’

      Nina slowly rested back against her pillow. For all his games, she’d never seen Brody Haynes outright lie. He spun things, twisted them or fluffed them up.

      ‘It would be best for everyone if we separated your attachment to her,’ he argued. ‘You’re simply her employer, like a waitress at a coffee shop or an account manager at a media firm.’

      Good point. ‘Did the reporters use Luxxor’s name?’

      ‘No. It never came up.’ There was rustling on the other end of the line and then Genieve’s voice in the background. ‘What?’

      Nina heard murmurs as the two talked, but the phone was too muffled for her to hear. When the voices cleared, Genieve had control of the phone again.

      ‘Nina, that’s the bad part.’

      Nina let an eyebrow lift. They hadn’t gotten to the bad part yet?

      ‘Your detective was there. He recognised me.’

      ‘Morgan?’ Nina’s heart kicked into overdrive again. She was so surprised, she didn’t even argue that he was her detective. ‘What was he doing there?’

      ‘Working? It looked like he was in charge.’

      Nina came right off the bed and started to pace. Of all the cases for him to catch. Nothing that Genieve had told her should have brought the authorities’ attention to Luxxor. They had plenty of other things to be concerned about. Luxxor should have flown right under the radar.

      But with Morgan on the case?

      A dog with a bone.

      She rubbed her forehead as she turned to pace in the other direction. Her thoughts were flying low and fast. ‘Stay with Brody. You’ll be paid for your time. Do whatever he says.’

      ‘OK. But Nina? He was good to me. Morgan, that is.’

      Yes, he had that sweet side that came out on occasion just to mess with a woman’s head.

      Nina turned her back on the rumpled bed. She couldn’t look at it any more. ‘I’m glad you’re safe, Genieve. Call me if you need anything.’

      ‘I will. And Nina? I’m sorry.’

      ‘It’s not your fault. Be safe.’

      Nina hung up from the call, and the silence in the room was heavy. Under the lamp on the bedside table, her blue butterfly glowed.

      She turned on her heel and headed for the walk-in closet. She slipped her arms into the sleeves of her satin dressing robe and belted it tightly. From being so overheated, she suddenly had a chill.

      He’d come for her soon.

      He might not have any proof, but he’d come.

      She had to be ready.

      She swept up her phone again and hit speed dial for her security team. ‘Mr Howard, we have a situation.’

      She moved through her penthouse apartment, turning on lights as she headed to the kitchen. She needed tea. She needed to remain calm. ‘Genieve ran into a bad spot with the press tonight. I don’t know if they’ve connected her to Luxxor yet, but you might have some unexpected visitors setting up shop outside. Do not engage, but make sure our people get home safely without being harassed.’

      Hosts picked up and dropped off their escorts at the security office on the first floor of their building. It was a good safety procedure. Nobody ever knew where an escort lived. The only clients who might avoid that requirement were the ones with exclusive contracts – like the one Genieve had with Gunderson.

      ‘Wasn’t СКАЧАТЬ