Eli’s tone is utterly serious. I cock my head. “You would?”
“You’re a Valentine, Mackenzie. And the Valentines are held in high regard in this city, including you. And I know you would never do anything to besmirch the family name, especially not get arrested.”
“Eli …” I trail off, taken aback as I think of every reckless thing me and my brothers have done over the years. We’ve literally dragged the Valentine name through the mud so many times I’m pretty sure it’s entombed there for all eternity.
Elijah’s booming laugh fills the room.
“Oh my god!” I flick him on the arm with the business card in my hand. “Eli! For a minute I thought you were serious.”
His grin disappears. “I am serious.”
I laugh and shake my head. “You are not.”
Mitch arrives through the back entry in his own tuxedo and catches my attention. His appearance is remarkable, though I’m sure he knows it. My eldest brother has a presence that commands the room and sharp eyes that stick you like a pin, but tonight they’re dark and weary and his movements are sluggish. Mitch is tired from working overtime. I’ve hardly seen him in months. I point his way, knowing he could use his best friend right now. “Go and harass my brother. He’s the one who deserves it, not me.”
Eli gives me a casual salute with the hand that holds his scotch and turns to leave, saying, “Thanks for the drink.”
“Wait.” I grab his arm, halting him as an idea hits me.
His brows rise in question.
“I do need something.” And it’s a risk bringing it to the attention of the newly appointed Chief Inspector, but it’s a risk I feel will pay off. I can trust Eli. I know it just as I know the sun will rise tomorrow, so I speak my mind, and the truth. “I have a case.”
He blinks. “You have a case.”
I nod firmly. Convincingly. “Yes. With Jamieson and Valentine Consulting.”
This time his brows don’t just rise, they shoot up so fast they almost fly off his face. Eli doesn’t usually give much away, but it seems he can’t contain the surprise this particular news has on him. “You’re working for them now?”
“Unofficially. But you have to keep this between us for now, okay? I can trust you right?”
He huffs and rolls his eyes as if my question insults him. “Of course you can trust me.” He leans in a little and I relax. Already, he understands my need for discretion. “Tell me about this case.”
“It’s drug related.” Eli, having graduated alongside Mitch from Charles Sturt University, climbed the ranks of the narcotics division while my eldest brother busied himself with homicide. If anyone can help me with this case, it’s Inspector Elijah Rossiter.
“Drug related, you say?” He looks at me closely, his interest piqued.
“Yes.” I’ve managed to skim-read the file I lifted from the office. The contents include background information on four criminals and their potential ties to a high-threat drug syndicate. The request memorandum was simply to pad the file with further information for Operation Strike, a multi-pronged investigation that’s working to tackle the effects of ICE in Australia.
Already, I’m in over my head. What kind of padding do they need? Is the firm simply required to hand over any and all information pertaining to the four criminals that they already have on file, or perform some kind of surveillance?
“What do they need?”
After a quick glance around to ensure privacy, I lower my voice. “Something to do with Operation Strike.”
“Mac.” Eli’s jaw hardens. “That’s a dangerous and extremely covert operation. I don’t think—”
“Eli,” I hiss as he downs a mouthful of expensive scotch. “I can handle dangerous. I just need some direction. And you said you’d help me with anything at all,” I remind him.
I expect anger for putting him in this position, but instead he smiles tightly as though he knows arguing with me is useless. Which it is. “Okay. I’ll help you. On one condition.”
I’m so grateful at this point, I’m willing to offer him whatever he wants. “Anything.”
“Lunch,” he says. “It’s been so long since we caught up with each other. I want to know what’s going on with you. And there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
I nod. I can do lunch. Easy. “Lunch sounds perfect. I’ll bring the file?”
“Please,” he replies, then looks toward Mitch. Jared has since joined him and they’re both deep in conversation as they walk away from the bar, drinks in hand. “Can I go now?”
“You can go,” I say imperiously.
He grins and shakes his head, walking away.
I make my own way to the bar. After handling a few issues, I phone Travis when I notice he’s yet to arrive. My other brother is late. Again. It’s unacceptable. I place a call. He’s driving and I’m placed on speaker while Quinn convinces me they’re only five minutes away (which likely means they only just left). I end the call and return my phone to my clutch then tuck it on the bottom shelf behind the bar. I won’t need it for the rest of the night.
When I straighten, Jake is behind the bar with me, appearing like a sexy magician. “You look beautiful,” he tells me, inspecting me thoroughly.
“Thank you. You look…” my eyes run over his black collared shirt with rolled-up sleeves and black pants “…good enough to eat.”
His lips curve. “Then what are you waiting for?”
Jake’s question makes me pause. That’s it. That’s all it takes. One suggestive comment and I’ve lost my mind. But I’m the host. I can’t just run off like we usually do for a random sex session.
You can! my vagina cries recklessly. Don’t leave me hanging here!
I compromise because I find saying no impossible. “Give me an hour.”
JAKE
I give her the hour. Right down to the second. Then I have her arm in mine and I’m leading her out the back door. You have to be forceful and decisive when it comes to Mac. She responds to it, like I’m the sun and she’s a flower unfurling beneath it. That analogy makes me sound like a dick, but it’s how I feel. How she makes me feel.
The time for contemplating my next move is over. Now it’s time to implement it. Grace and Casey’s accident helped make my decision. Life is too short. And I’m a selfish bastard. Impatient too. The emotion burns hot enough that some days I fear I’ll choke on it. If Mac needs time to heal, she can spend that time healing with me.
“Where are we going?” she asks as I rush her outside. She’s trotting beside me in her high heels and slinky dress. Good. Her struggle to keep up will give her no time to think. “And where’s the fire?”