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I offer up a shrug. “Maybe I should go see what he finds so fascinating about it then if it’s the done thing.”
Chris shakes his head. “Whatever excuse you need to sleep at night, Lawrence. You do you.”
Little does he know, that’s exactly what I’m about to do. I just need to do it undetected and hope I find a smoking gun in Justin’s office.
Chapter 17
Aiden
Moving down the hallway I listen to Justin talking shit in my ear as he seemingly tries to impress Decker, Marlee, or maybe both. With the feed covered off and the three of them still in the VIP lounge, I know I'm good to proceed.
That’s not to say my heart isn’t still pounding as I reach Justin’s office door. Any slip up now could cost me everything and ruin any chance we have of stopping Decker. But I’m not going to stuff up because there’s no way I’m ever going to put Marlee in the line of fire—real or otherwise—again. I've faced far worse adversaries than Decker James in my time to falter now. People are depending on me, Marlee needs me to get this done.
Just as I’m about to ease the office door open to slip inside, my phone vibrates in my pocket. Pulling it out, I’m surprised to see Harry’s name on the screen. I quickly reject the call and put it away again, not wanting the distraction. I’m not supposed to talk to him anyway, but losing my cool in the middle of the delicate operation would not be a wise decision. Right now I need to focus.
Without being able to see the camera feed, I rely on the audio, pausing for a second just as Marlee's sultry voice fills my ear. “You going to tell me why you wanted to meet me tonight, Decker? You mentioned an event?”
He chuckles. “Can’t a man just enjoy the pleasure of a beautiful women’s company?”
“Of course. But you’re a busy man, and the last time you brought me here, you left me by myself to tend to business. So forgive me if I want to get that part of the evening out of the way first, just in case you get called away again.” Her tone is sassy and almost seductive, the perfect kryptonite. Hell, if I was sitting next to her, there’s no way I’d be thinking about anything other than getting that woman into my bed.
“Hmm,” Justin replies. “She's got you there, Deck.”
“I could make it up to you if you’d let me. I’ve been trying for a week now and you keep brushing me off.” There he goes riling me up again without knowing he’s doing it. Just the thought of him making anything up to Marlee has my fists clenching tight.
“I’m a busy woman. You know how it is,” she replies smoothly. “And we agreed that we would keep this professional.”
“You agreed, Quinn. I never did. Definitely not when it comes to you.” And I can almost see him wink at her. “I definitely don’t kiss my other business associates like that.” I clench my fists at the memory.
“Maybe I had a few too many drinks,” she shoots back with a laugh. I can’t just imagine Decker’s ego taking a hit from her brush off.
“Good to know. Maybe I’ll just keep the drinks flowing so you can get professional like that again,” Decker replies, Justin soon joining him. Whereas I’m thinking about storming down there to drag Marlee out of the club like a caveman instead of focusing on the office I’m about to break in to. Head in the game, Lawrence. She can handle herself just fine.
I take a deep breath and checkup and down the hallway before pushing the door open and slipping inside.
Surveying the room, I move straight to the desk, quickly trying the first set of desk drawers with no luck. Moving to the other set, I find the top two locked but hit pay dirt with the last one. Pulling it open, I catch sight of a generic-looking burner phone underneath a pile of paper.
“Time to focus, gentlemen. You talked about an event, Decker. Did you want me to organize it? The last time we talked, you said you wanted me to focus on the VIPs and influential clients,” Marlee says in my ear.
“I did. It’s being held next weekend, in fact,” Decker replies calmly.
“OK…I can do it. I’m sure I can. It's just short notice, that's all. What's the occasion?” she asks as I carefully pick up the burner phone and try to turn it on. I’m surprised when it not only powers up but I discover that there's no password protecting it.
“I have no doubt, Quinn. But that’s not necessary.”
Scrolling through the call log, I see nothing but four numbers. I take a photo of the screen so the numbers can be traced later but one of them I recognize and it’s the confirmation I didn't want to get. The final nail in Harry’s coffin. I have to block that out of my head now though because until I'm out of this office and back in the control room, I'm a sitting duck and mine and Marlee’s covers are both at risk the longer I stay here.
“What do you mean?” Marlee asks.
Decker chuckles. “Can't a man plan an impromptu celebration?”
“Decker James can do whatever the hell he wants,” Justin lets his hero-worship flag fly and I roll my eyes.
Marlee snorts in my ear. “I guess a man with Vegas in the palm of his hands can do that.”
“I like the way you’re thinking, Quinn.”
“You still haven’t told me why I’m here and why Justin is here if you’re not going to talk business,” she asks.
