Page 56 of Secret Redemption

Chapter Twenty-One

Ava held Zack’s arm as they moved across the room, stopping periodically to say a brief ‘Hello’ to people he knew. It had been a complete shock when he had proposed earlier that night and coming on top of the most mind-blowing sex of her life, her head was mush.

She kept sneaking peaks at the ring he’d slid onto her finger, wondering if it was real or an elaborate dream. It was the feeling of dread that she couldn’t shake that assured her that it was real. Not dread for herself or anything that had happened but dread that had been growing since her attack, although it wasn’t the attack that worried her. It was her mother’s illness and a feeling so strong that Zack was in danger that she felt sick with it.

She had been tempted to ask Celeste to try and find out, but she felt wrong using her abilities in that way. Watching Lucy across the room did alleviate her fear a little, she and Jace were the best at what they did, and they worked so well together. Working the room, and evaluating the chinks in the security.

Most of the men in the room could hardly keep their eyes off the beautiful woman, as she moved to the dance floor with Jace. But she only had eyes for her man, and he was clearly smitten as he watched her every move with love evident on his face. A sleek, slate grey and sequinned column dress clung to her curves as she swayed in Jace’s arms. Never had a couple seemed more in love, well except perhaps her and Zack.

Zack’s arm hadn’t left her all night, and the way he looked at her made her feel cherished and so desirable that her bones almost melted. Which made the fear curling in her belly so much worse.

“Zack!” she heard from her left, and they stopped moving. Turning, she recognised their mark. Sir Walter Hamilton was coming towards them, a smile on his handsome face.

Ava had seen his picture, but up close, he made her skin crawl as he looked her over. He was a tall, fit man in his late fifties, with dark hair greying at the temples. At first glance, he looked amiable, good looking even, but when she looked closer she could see his eyes were too close, and they looked at her as if they were undressing her.

“Walter!” Zack answered and shook the hand the man offered. He seemed at ease, but Ava felt the tension rocket through his body.

“And who is this little beauty?” he asked as his eyes dipped to her breasts. Yuck, what a jerk! She felt Zack’s hand tighten on her back as he noticed the way the other man looked at her.

“This is Ava, my fiancée. Ava this is Sir Walter Hamilton.”

Walter put his hands up and stepped back, “No offence Zack.”

“None taken Walter,” Zack replied coolly. “If you will excuse us I see someone I know,” he said and led her away.

“That piece of shit,” he spat as they walked away and Ava felt the tension in his arms and knew it would do him no good to lose focus.

“Dance with me?”

“I’d love to,” he said and pulled her onto the dance floor as the band played a slower song.

Being in his arms felt so natural and right as she laid her head against his neck, inhaling the masculine scent that was all Zack, Hugo Boss if she wasn’t mistaken. They swayed together and anyone watching would see a couple in love, and they would be right. What they wouldn’t see is two operatives watching every move around them.

He nuzzled her hair and whispered in an almost conversational tone, “Elliot Henderson just walked in.” He twirled her, and her head came up, and she smiled up at him, turning her head to see the owner of Omega Pharmaceuticals at the bar talking to none other than Sir Walter Hamilton.

Lucy and Jace danced next to them. “You see what I see?” Jace asked.

“Yeah, interesting!” Zack murmured. “Another drink babe?” he asked inclining his head towards her and then the bar.

She grinned. “Love one!”

They walked to the bar, his hand ever present on the small of her back.

Zack ordered them a drink as they stood a few feet from the two men. Lucy and Jace had sidled in beside the two men. Ava glanced around as if she were surveying the beautiful room and spotted Roz and Kanan on the other side of the dance floor.

They made a devastatingly beautiful couple. Roz wore a gold sheath dress, covered in sequins, the high neck was modest, the dress cinched in at her tiny waist, curving over her butt. But the killer was the hip high split on the left side of the dress. The low back was cut to just above the curve of her ass and was accentuated with a back necklace.

Ava could practically see men drooling, which made the look on Kanan’s face all the more comical. He was very dashing in a black tux and looked like bad boy 007, but a very grumpy 007. In fact, he looked ready to start tearing out throats.

She elbowed Zack in the ribs and motioned her head towards K and Roz. “Look.”

Zack followed her gaze and frowned. “Fuck sake, I haven’t got time for this shit. I need ears on those two,” he said looking towards their two marks. “We need a distraction so that Lucy can plant something on them both.”

Ava wrinkled her nose, thinking, and then smiled. “I might have an idea, but I need to fix my make-up first,” she leaned up and kissed him gently. Ava sashayed towards the ladies’ room, catching Lucy’s and Angel’s eye as she went past them.

Ava walked in and smiled at the two women who were fluffing their hair in the mirror. She used the toilet and then came out to find the room empty except for Angel and Lucy. Lucy put her finger to her mouth and took out what looked like a lipstick from her bag and ran it around the stalls, while Angel locked the door. Ava washed her hands and left the tap running just in case any bugs were missed.

“Okay we’re clear but make it quick.”