Five days later, Alex looked over the men assembled in the VIP section of the club and felt a sense of satisfaction. At least one thing had gone right with this damn operation. Almost a week had gone by and he still hadn’t found a chance to slip into Chazz’s office. Security was lax around the club—everywhere except Chazz’s office.
But Alex had a plan for that and Jake was right where he should be, his eyes bloodshot and his normally pressed suit just the slightest bit wrinkled. His eyes slid over Alex and then back to Eve. He leaned over to the man seated to his left and whispered something in his ear.
Chazz laughed and leered a little Eve’s way before shaking his head. Alex could just catch the last of the conversation. “I don’t think he’s the sharing type, buddy.”
The VIP section of the club had been transformed into a dining area. Only the kitchen staff was around at this time of the day. The rest of the club was quiet. Chazz and Jake sat while three other men were gathered together talking quietly.
He slid his fingers through Eve’s, completely satisfied with the connection. God, he’d gotten to touch her more in the last several days than in the years that came before. Even though they were in the middle of an operation, he allowed himself to revel in the way her hair smelled. She’d changed her shampoo. She used to favor floral scents, delicate rose and lilacs. Now, her hair smelled like grapefruit, sharp and alive.
He dropped his head close to hers and whispered, “Don’t give away Jake, angel. He’s here for a reason.”
“Yes, Master.”
He was almost disappointed with the blank doll look on her face. He’d gotten used to bratty Eve. He would never admit it to her, but when she’d said she was worried that they hadn’t been as solid as they’d seemed back when they were married, he’d agreed. He hadn’t told her that he’d worried their life had become a dull set of never-ending protocols, and he’d actually resented having to select her clothes for her toward the end. That look on her face now was the one she used to get when she simply agreed to everything.
Maybe they’d both lost themselves somewhere along the way. He’d had five days of getting to know her again. Five days of holding her. Five days of completely withholding his cock.
That had to change.
“Although you could have told me in the car,” she whispered, her whole face turning stubborn and resentful.
And so cute. She was adorable when she thought he was a dumbass. He leaned over and kissed her. She didn’t flinch anymore. She was beginning to openly accept his affection even when they were in private. “I wasn’t sure he’d made it in. I found out about this investor meeting thing yesterday afternoon. Chazz mentioned he was going out to party. I wanted to see just how reckless he is. I sent Jake in to party with him. I hadn’t heard anything since. Apparently it went pretty well because he hasn’t changed his clothes.”
It proved that Chazz was a bit reckless. Jake had partied with him the night before. This was supposed to be a serious, rather secretive business meeting and Chazz had invited a virtual stranger in. Now, Jake had been playing a high roller, throwing money around, so Chazz might honestly think he was going to get something out of it, but there was no way the man had vetted Jake.
And it was also the perfect time to bug the little fucker’s car. Jake ran a hand through his hair and blinked twice. To the casual observer, he would simply look like a man who was a little tired, a little unkempt, but to Alex those two gestures meant the world. Jake had completed two of his three objectives. He’d bugged the car and Chazz’s private residence. Jake sniffed and gave him a little shake of his head. It was a no go on the keys to the office.
Damn it.
He was going to have to find another way in. Every day that went by put them in danger.
“He’s going to be obnoxious, isn’t he?” Eve asked, proving she knew how these things went.
And that was another reason he’d asked Jake to play a small role. If he needed to learn something about Chazz, then Alex wanted Chazz to learn something very specific about him. “Oh, yes. He’s going to prove a couple of points about me as well as getting his hands on some financials for us. But I can’t keep him in the game for long.”