Page 27 of Isabelle’s Forbidden Love

“We can do that at Scanguards too,” Isabelle said, worried who the car key would lead to. What were the odds that both a letter addressed to Orlando and a car key belonging to a Hummer were found in the victim’s house? She reached for it.

“No, don’t worry. I’ve gotta do some work too, right?” He smiled. “Or the chief will realize that I’m not pulling my weight and figure he doesn’t need me after all.” He winked at her good-naturedly. “It’s job security.”

Isabelle pasted a smile onto her face, even though she could kick herself. She should have stashed the car key away like she had the letter, but when she’d found the key, it hadn’t even occurred to her that there was a possibility that it belonged to Orlando.

“If you say so. I’d better get back to the office and see what Cooper and Benjamin found out in the meantime.” She turned toward her car. “And Nelson, call me once you know more about the car key, all right?”

“Of course.” He waited somewhat awkwardly while Isabelle unlocked her car. “It’s really nice working with you, Isabelle.”

“Same, thanks,” she said quickly and got into her car.

Was Nelson flirting with her? The thought made her feel uncomfortable. Not that he wasn’t a handsome man, and a vampire at that, but she only had eyes for Orlando. But what if Orlando was somehow involved in Wayne Hong’s death? Was it only a coincidence that a piece of mail addressed to Orlando had ended up in Hong’s house, and that she’d also found a key to a Hummer, the same kind of car that Orlando drove? Or was she reading too much into it? The car key was probably not even his. And it could have been stuck in between the couch cushions for years. Also, mail got mixed up with different people’s mail all the time. It didn’t have to mean anything.

Still, she couldn’t simply push this aside. She was a firm believer that an honest conversation could clear up most misunderstandings before they turned into catastrophes. All she had to do was talk to Orlando. She was sure he would be able to put her mind at ease.

16

It took Orlando several hours to install all indoor cameras and sensors, but he had to wait for sunset, before he could install two outdoor cameras: one covering the front door, the other the back door that led into the small yard. He tested that the sensors were working and that the live feed was transmitting to his cell phone without any trouble, before he jumped into his Hummer and drove to the Mezzanine.

Traffic was heavier than the night before. Thursday was a popular night for hitting the bars and clubs, and he mentally prepared himself for a busy night at the Mezzanine. Taking the night off wasn’t an option. He needed to make sure nobody realized that something wasn’t right in his life. The last thing he needed was somebody asking questions he wasn’t prepared to answer.

When he exited the freeway, his cell phone rang. He saw the caller’s name displayed on his dashboard. For a moment, his heart jumped with joy—which was unusual for him.

“Hey,” he answered the call, surprising himself how husky his voice sounded.

“Orlando.”

Isabelle’s voice felt like a breathless whisper, and instantly, his cock hardened beneath his cargo pants. Yeah, that’s how bad he had it. Isabelle would be his downfall. Already now, he couldn’t fight the draw she had on him.

“You all right?” he asked, unable to say what he really wanted to say: that he missed her, that he’d enjoyed making love to her, that he wanted to feel her again, to have her close to him, even though it would put her in danger.

“Yeah. I wanna see you tonight.”

He’d hoped for that, and at the same time he’d dreaded it. Because the more time they spent together, the more she became part of his life, the more danger she was in.

“I’m sorry. I’m on my way to work.”

“I could come by the Mezzanine later. During your break.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“Why?”

“You really wanna have your brother catch us again? That’s not how we can keep this under wraps.”

“But it’s important. I need to see you.”

“I’ll think of something.” Because meeting at his home in Glen Park was a bad idea too. Since the person who’d sent him the note knew where he lived, it was entirely possible that he was watching the house. And if he saw Isabelle there, it would only give him another front on which to attack.

“But it has to be tonight.”

His burner phone suddenly began to vibrate in his pocket and he pulled it out and looked at the display.

“I’m getting another call. I’ll call you after my shift. All right?”

“Okay.”

He disconnected the call and pressed answer on the burner phone and put it to his ear. “Craig?”