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“Like I usually do then? Is this why you've been holed up in your office most of the time?” I figure any information is good information at this point. Anything could be something to the case.
Justin nods, his eyes meeting mine. “Yeah, man. Something big is coming. We just need everyone to be on their A-game.”
“Something big?”
“Just keep a lookout for anything out of the ordinary and report back to me,” he says quickly and a little more sternly than I’d expect.
My mind races with possibilities as I wonder what’s got Justin acting so squirrely. Most importantly though, I move to reassure him. “Got it. You know you can count on me.”
“Sure do. There's no one else I trust more right now.”
My head jerks back. “Apart from Decker?”
Realizing his misstep, he quickly covers it with a laugh. “Of course. You and Deck,” he replies. “OK, better go. See you guys later.” Then just like the boss, he’s gone.
As soon as the door closes behind him, my eyes go to the screen. I find Marlee sitting on a stool at the bar, her long bare legs crossed, her dress hugging every inch of her curves and commanding attention. She nurses a cocktail in her hand and not only is every man in the control room watching her, I swear every male VIP is eyeing her too.
“Decker sure is a lucky bastard,” Ben mutters, before looking over his shoulder at us. “I'm not wrong.”
“No, but maybe don’t say it in front of the boss next time. Would you want your wife or girlfriend to be talked about?”
Ben smirks. “If she looked like that, I’d be proud that everyone else wants her.”
Chris shrugs with a cheeky grin on his face before they both get back to work.
“And look, there's the man of the moment going to save his woman from all those prying eyes,” Ben announces. Sure enough, Decker strides into the VIP lounge from the back hallway, making a beeline for Marlee. His presence doesn't go unnoticed, all heads turning his way as he crosses the room.
She uncrosses her legs and stands up to greet him, her face brightening before he leans in and pulls her into his arms. Her mouth moves to his ear and judging by the way Decker's face lights up, I really don’t want to think about what she said to him.
I’ve been the man in Decker's position. I know how it feels to have all of the woman’s focus on you. It makes you feel like you’re the only man in the room, a rock star, the luckiest son-of-a-bitch on the planet just because it’s you she wants. That's the wonder and the lure of Marlee Manning. But there’s so much more to her than her looks—layers and layers of more.
Once upon a time, I was the man who had the honor of peeling back those layers one by one, watching her transform from an awkward shy kid to a daring teen, to the irresistible woman who has grown into her looks, confidence, and inner power. One who can slowly but surely weave her web around a very dangerous man and do it with ease.
Decker James may think he has all the power and is the man pulling the strings, but I’m not sure he realizes who he’s dealing with when it comes to Marlee. That’s why she’s so good at what she does.
My mind is stuck on our conversation from a few days ago. Some day…
It’s wrong to hope that she could eventually forgive me and give me another chance but I can’t stop myself. She deserves so much more than I’ve ever given her and after not being in her life at all for the past year, I know that I’d fight for any scrap she’s willing to throw my way.
Five minutes after Decker leads Marlee to what I now know of as his booth, Justin appears on the feed to join them. Checking that Chris and Ben are busy working, I switch channels on my earpiece comms and bring up the camera feed for Decker’s booth on my computer. At the same time, I activate the microphone that’s closest to them so that I can hear what’s being said and keep track of where they are. Unfortunately, whatever I hear would never stand up in court, but it will be helpful nonetheless.
“You never know when something you hear might come in handy,” Harry once told me while working a high-stakes divorce case. That recording netted us details about a mistress and a whole other family that the ex-wife had no idea about. This time, hearing what they say will help the case and help reassure me that Marlee is OK.
I give Chris and Ben another cursory glance before bringing up footage I looped earlier on my computer to use as a dummy live feed. First chance I get, I switch the videos, holding my breath until it's done and the change goes undetected, showing the same empty hallway over and over again.
Needing to move, I push off my desk and stand, grabbing my cell off the desk. I slap my pocket to check that Marlee’s burner is still there but come up empty, biting back a groan when I realize it’s in my locker downstairs and I have no time to go get it. Thankfully, I don’t think we’ll need it tonight and the audio in my ear will alert me to get out regardless. Or so I hope…
“Heading out?” Chris asks, looking over his shoulder at me.
“Yeah. Just going to make sure everything’s still OK. You know, since Ben has a love of the Q word tonight.” Ben chuckles and shakes his head.
Chris nods. “Sure thing, A. You’re due a break anyway, aren’t you?”
“Probably. But needing one and taking one are two different things.”
“Just go do what J does and sit at the bar and people watch,” Ben adds, waggling his brows.
“Don’t you mean check out the talent?” Chris muses.
