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She looked over at him. “You make it sound so simple.”
“It is simple. I didn’t say it would be easy.” He went back to checking out the other train passengers. He knew they were safe for now, but he needed to mentally review all the angles. He couldn’t cover every contingency…but he could cover most.”
The train pulled into the station twenty minutes later and they headed out. It was a short walk to the hotel but he needed a phone. “Stay here,” he said to Allegra and handed her the bags. “I’ll be right back.” He turned and walked down the street for a block until he saw what he needed.
A man walking toward him had just finished his call and had dropped his cell phone into his outer coat pocket. Xavier offered up a silent apology and then bumped shoulders with the guy, mumbled an apology as he lifted the man’s phone from his pocket and kept walking. The man hadn’t noticed Xavier’s sleight of hand and continued on his way. Xavier tapped the screen to keep the device from locking, then pocketed it. He turned and walked back to Allegra, pulling the phone out as soon as the man he stole it from walked into the train station.
He quickly dialed Hank’s number. “It’s Xavier. Sorry to wake you, I need your help. Do you know anyone who can get the head of security at the Jasmine Door in Geneva to meet me on the sidewalk outside the hotel? I’m going to need their help to get up to Damon’s room, I think. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to have them on hand in case bullets start flying.”
Hank grunted. “I know just the person. I’ll call you back at this number when it’s done.” He hung up.
Allegra cocked an eyebrow at him as they headed toward the hotel. “That was pretty smooth. You looked like a pro.”
Xavier smiled. “Some skills are handier than others.” He glanced at the phone screen. It had only been a couple of minutes since he’d swiped the device, but he had to keep the phone from locking just in case he needed to make another call.
They came to the corner of the street where the hotel was located but Hank hadn’t called back yet. “Hold up,” he said and put his hand out to block Allegra’s path.
“Why? Do you see someone?” She looked around.
“No. I called Hank and asked for some help contacting the head of security at the Jasmine Door Hotel. He hasn’t gotten back to me yet.”
“Oh,” she frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me you needed that? I could’ve called Sunny. She works for Drake. She would’ve done it.”
“Who?” Xavier kept his head on a swivel. He didn’t really care. He just wanted to keep Allegra from getting nervous. Stress had been coming off her in waves since the train.
“Sunny Travers. She knows Hank. That’s how I got to book the jet. She also works for Jameson Drake. He owns the Jasmine Door hotel chain.”
“I see. Well, that’s probably who Hank is calling so hopefully we’ll have an answer soon.” The phone went off in his hand. Xavier glanced at the screen. It was a European number. He killed the call. It rang again from the same number. He declined the call and swore.
“What?” Allegra demanded.
“The guy whose phone I stole knows it’s missing and keeps calling it. I’m going to have to ditch it because he can no doubt track it with an app on his computer or something.” The phone went off another three times. “It’s no good.” Xavier turned the phone off and tossed it in the garbage can.
Allegra stared at the trash can, an absurd look of longing on her face.
He’d have laughed if their situation was less dire. “Okay, we’re going to have to go in blind. Stay close to me.”
She bit her lip. “What do I do with these?” she asked holding out the shopping bags.
“We’ll use them for cover until we get to the suite. You can drop them there.” He paused. “You do know what suite he’s in right?”
She nodded. “The Iris Suite. Eighth floor.”
“Okay. Just follow my lead.” He started to move and then turned back to her. “One more thing…if I tell you to run, fucking drop everything and run as fast as you can to hotel security or the police or any kind of safety you can think of. Do not wait for me. Don’t look back. Just run.” He pulled her close and kissed her hard on the mouth. Then he turned, grabbed her arm, and hustled her down the sidewalk.
CHAPTER16
Allegra hadto half-jog to keep up with Xavier’s strides.Run.What the hell did he think would happen? She couldn’t worry about that now, about him now. He would be fine. They’d be fine. They had to be. She’d asked him not to come but he refused. Said it was his choice and he wanted to be there. The relief she felt at knowing he would be at her side was overshadowed by the guilt she felt that he might get hurt.
She let out a deep breath and pushed those thoughts aside. There was no time for recriminations now.Focus.
They entered the lobby where he took one bag from her with his left hand, and she hooked her right through his arm. Just another couple out for an early morning shopping spree? Shit, she hoped no one noticed the time.
As they made their way to the elevators, Xavier slowed his stride. “What?” she demanded in a hushed voice.
“We need someone to go up in the elevator. A place like this will make guests use their keys to get to their floors.” He was right of course. This was a Jameson Drake hotel. The man’s initials were everywhere. Totally upscale, opulent, and designed for the safety and security of their wealthy guests. She wanted to laugh when she thought about the ego involved in that. Sunny had always maintained that Drake wasn’t an egotistical asshole, but she wasn’t so sure.
They lingered in front of a fireplace that ran along one wall. It was already on despite the early hour, but the heat did little to relax her. Someone better come along soon or they would start to look suspicious. Allegra tried to look like she was just taking in the opulence of the lobby which wasn’t hard to do.
