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Which meant Ian didn’t sleep well. Cam restrained his smile.
“I’m working on it, Ian. Getting information without her help isn’t easy, though. The congressman and his wife protect their own privacy just as rigorously. So far, all we have are a few innuendoes of dirty games, but no definite reports. ”
Ian slouched back thoughtfully, an elbow resting on the arm of his chair as he scratched at his cheek.
“What kind of dirty games?”
Cam shook his head. “We’re working on it, Ian. ”
They needed that information. Congressman Roberts had targeted Ian nearly a year before, when his application into the Sinclair men’s club had been rejected.
The club was known in a very small circle of men. It wasn’t hidden, they didn’t try for complete secrecy of anything except the reason for it. Which meant there were a lot of applications rejected for one reason or the other. And a lot of resentment.
“We could put his name before the judiciary committee,” Cam suggested, not for the first time.
The judiciary committee of the club was a twelve-member table that decided if anyone inside or outside the club required punitive measures. Those punitive measures could destroy a business, an individual, or a group. The combined force of the club members almost always followed the committee’s decisions.
“Not yet. ” Ian shook his head. “I prefer we only use the committee when the secrecy of the membership or our charters are in jeopardy, Cam, you know that. ”
“They could become jeopardized if Roberts and his wife continue this,” Cam pointed out.
Ian straightened and leaned forward in his chair. “I want proof,” he stated. “I want to know why they’ve targeted Ms. Wright. Then I can go to the committee. She’s your woman; you’ve already stated that in the proposal for her work here, in defense of the accusations made against her. You took responsibility for her. Find out why her reputation is being targeted, and we can take that to the committee. Otherwise, we’re S-O-L. ”
Shit out of luck. That just about described it.
“Ever try to make Courtney tell you something she doesn’t want you to know?” Cam asked him.
At that, Ian smiled. “I have my ways of learning her secrets, Cam. Find out what works with Ms. Wright. If she belongs to you, then we can defend her and take care of the threat Roberts represents at the same time. The club has its rules, its checks and balances, for a reason. Find out what he did to her, then we can neutralize his threat to the club before it becomes valid. ”
And that was imperative. Part of Cam and Chase’s job was identifying threats before they became a problem, and finding ways to neutralize them before the committee became involved; because, if they became involved, then the punitive measures could affect more than the person threatening the club. As Cam had told Jaci, it could affect every relation, every friend, every area of a person’s life. The committee didn’t always show mercy.
“It’s an issue of trust, Cam,” Ian finally said, his expression lightening as he leaned back in his chair. “She doesn’t trust you. ”
Cam stared back at him for long, silent moments.
“What the hell do you mean, she doesn’t trust me? I’d kill for her, and she knows it. ”
That made zero sense. Jaci knew he would protect her against anything, didn’t she?
“You said it yourself. It’s been seven years since you’ve seen her. Seven years is a long time. A lot of hurt and sometimes a lot of pain. She’s not going to give you what we need without trust. ”
Cam rubbed at the back of his neck, grimacing heavily. “There’s no reason for her not to trust me, and she knows it. ”
Ian shook his head, a smile quirking his lips. “Let me guess, you’ve gone after her the same way you go after everything. Direct. To the point. Stating your demands and expecting her to fall in with them. ”
“I’m not that bad. ”
“Worse. ” Ian laughed. “Talk to your brother, Cam, he knows how to make a woman give what he needs. Maybe you should learn. ”
“I haven’t had any trouble getting Jaci,” he growled in disgust. “What the hell are you getting at?”
At that, Ian shook his head slowly. “Getting a woman’s body and getting her heart are two different things. And gaining her trust is another problem entirely. You, my friend, are about to learn that the hard way. ”
And if Ian’s expression was any indication, he was going to enjoy the hell out of watching it.
10
“You’re angry. ” Courtney led the way into the large sitting room of her suite and glanced at Jaci over her shoulder as Jaci was closing the door carefully behind them.
