Knock Out (A Reynolds Security Novel) (7 page)

Viktor toured her around each case, telling her about each piece. Sensing this was all about his ego. Lou continued to gush about how beautiful the creations were and what a genius he was. As they neared the last display his conversation veered toward a personal nature.

“That man you were with, are you together?”

“
Mr. Carpenter? No, we only shared a dance. I did come with someone.” She made a show of looking around. “I am not sure where he went. I left him by the bar.” She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “To tell you the truth I only agreed to the date because of the opportunity to see the collection.”

“
I feel so used.” Colby’s voice in her ear nearly made her laugh and she had to bite it back.

“
I am so pleased you went to such lengths to view my collection.”

“
It is quite a collection.” They reached the final case it was the necklace with the rainbow of colors. “I think this is my favorite.” She spoke with a bit of awe in her voice. “It is so colorful.”

“
Would you like to try it on?”

“
Are you serious? No I couldn’t possibly.”

“
Nonsense. You wore none of your own to the party. I insist you wear this one.”

“
Viktor, I couldn’t. I mean, it must be worth a fortune, what if something happens to it?”

“
Ah my dear there is security all around.” He point out men in black suits stationed all around the room. “You are in no danger of a thief.”

“
He is right about the security.” Lou looked up as Jace and Elena rejoined them. “Though I am not sure I approve of the risk.”

“
This is the man in charge of all the security.” Viktor laughed. “We pay him to not take risks. But jewelry is meant to be worn.”

“
Don’t worry my dear.” Elena spoke up. “He does this every time the collection is on display. He selects a young woman to model a piece. Nothing has ever happened.” Lou bit on her lower lip as if in indecision.

“
If you’re sure.”

Viktor disarmed the case and placed the necklace around her neck. It was heavy and cold. She felt as if she had a chain around her neck. The sensation unnerved her but she smiled.

“Oh my gosh I can’t believe I am wearing one of Viktor Castillo’s creations. Quick take my picture.” She fished her phone out of her clutch purse and handed it to Jace. He snapped a picture and she made a show of looking at it before putting it away.

“
I may spend the rest of the night in front of a mirror.” Lou giggled.

“
Nonsense. Go. Dance. Have a good time. Before you leave we will put it back in the case.”  She nodded with the excited head bob of the fan girl she was portraying.

“
Lou’s call sign is now bait.” Colby’s voice chuckled in her ear. She waited until there was no one within ear shot before responding.

“
Very funny, I turned on my tracker but if you guys let me get snatched I am going to be so pissed.” She hissed. She heard a series of chuckles meaning the men had keyed their mics just so she heard them laugh.

One by one her team came out of the woodwork to dance with her. Just to make it look like she was mingling without her having to dance with too many strangers.

“Hey Bait.” Her earpiece whispered. “This guy at the bar is acting really strange, kinda creepy. Come and flirt with him.”

“
Sounds like just my type.” She muttered.

“
I am ready to blow this popsicle stand. The sooner someone makes a move the sooner we can all get out of here.”

“
You’re tired? My feet are killing me!” She grumbled.

When she reached the bar she saw the man Colby had been referring to. He was nursing a drink and staring out at the room. He was a white man but had a dark tan, dark hair and eyes. She
took the seat a couple away from him at the bar and ordered a drink. She pretended to take a sip and sighed.

“
The best thing about these things is the open bar.” She said to the man and giggled as if she had made good use of the open bar. The man looked at her, his eyes dropped to the necklace and then lifted back to her face. He nodded and gave a weak smile.

“
You don’t really look like you are enjoying the party.” She tilted her head toward him in sympathy. “Anything I can do to cheer you up?”

“
No, but thanks.” The man walked away taking his drink with him.

“
I said flirt with him, not proposition him.” Colby laughed.

“
I was flirting!” She defended.

“
Maybe he’s gay.” Someone else said.

“
Nah, he’s not gay.” Colby said.

“
Maybe he already has a girl.” Lou defended him.

“
Yeah right, he still would’ve flirted.” Someone else’s voice, she thought it was Charlie said, “Probably would’ve done a lot more than that.” Lou sighed and swiveled on her stool.

“
How long do we have to wait? Isn’t it possible that nothing is going to happen?”

“
We wait until the place clears out and the jewels are secured in the hotel safe I guess.” Colby said. Lou glanced at the visible security team stationed around the room. They had to be really bored just standing there. At least she was free to move around go to the ladies room if necessary. She glanced toward the hallway to the bathroom. She had gone when she first arrived and she had to admit the Radisson bathroom was the most opulent bathroom she had ever been in. It would probably be the most opulent bathroom she ever would go in, it would be hard to top. She glanced at the man at the end of the hallway and almost felt sorry for him, guarding the ladies room all night. He met her gaze and then quickly looked away.

Something prickled at the back of her neck. There was something about the man. He was dressed like the rest of the security detail but
… he didn’t look familiar she suddenly realized.

“
Does anyone know who the guy stationed outside the ladies room is?”

“
He’s one of ours isn’t he?”

“
He’s not in the personnel directory. We’re the newest right? And we’re all in there right?”

“
Anyone recognize him?” Everyone responded with a negative response.

“
I haven’t been to the ladies room since I put this choke collar on. What if it is as simple as that? He is waiting to jump me in the bathroom.”

“
Well hell let’s find out.” That was definitely Charlie and she almost smiled.

“
Give us a minute to get in position Lou.” She looked around the room talking with passersby and pretending to drink until Colby gave her the go ahead. She walked to the ladies room. The man didn’t even look at her as she passed by. She passed a giggly woman on her way out but didn’t hear anyone else when she stepped inside. She didn’t have long to wait she didn’t hear him enter but she knew he was coming. He grabbed her from behind and she felt the barrel of a gun press against her side.

“
Just give me the necklace and I’ll let you live.” The man’s arm around her throat caused bile to rise up in her throat but she pushed it down. She was here to do a job.

“
You’ll never get away with this. The place is crawling with security.”

“
Not good enough, I got you didn’t I?”

“
So what is this some stunt to show up security?”

“
Just give me the necklace.”

“
Okay okay but you’re going to have to loosen your hold.” She put her hands up as if to undo the clasp, as soon as he loosened she brought her elbow hard into his solar plexus.” Colby, Charlie and Sam all materialized from various hiding places and disarmed the coughing man.

“
Lou you didn’t let us have any fun.” Charlie complained while zip tying the suspect’s wrists, Lou laughed.

“
Anyone have eyes on Reynolds or Carpenter?”

“
I got Carpenter.”

“
Get him in here.” Within a minute Jace joined them in the ladies room. After they gave him the run down he smirked. He looked the suspect up and down and frowned. Lou could see the wheels turning and wondered what he was thinking. He pulled a cell from his pocket and made a call. He quickly outlined the situation and listened while the other person spoke. Then he agreed with the person and disconnected the call.

“
Here’s what we are going to do. You and your team are going to wait for me upstairs.” He held up a key card and Colby took it “Room 415. I’m going to need that.” He gestured at Lou’s neck and she quickly took the necklace off. He took the necklace and the suspect and left the bathroom. She stared at the other two and shrugged.

Chapter 9

Jace was pissed, beyond pissed. He was pissed at Castillo, that guy had a gun, Lou could have been hurt and for what? A stupid stunt. A power trip. He was pissed at his team, they spent the whole night on security detail and didn’t notice an impostor among them? Not to mention they didn’t notice three men slipping into the ladies restroom.

He took the suspect to the room they had used as their staging area and pushed him none to gently into a chair. He secured his already zip tied hands to the chair.

“Why’d you do it?”

“
Do you know how much it’s worth?” The man was white but had a heavy accent.

“
Who hired you?”  The man seemed to remember that he probably shouldn’t be implicating himself and shut his mouth glaring at Jace.

“
What is your name?” The man remained silent. Jace’s phone chirped and he glanced at it noting that Ethan had arrived with Castillo. Jace stepped outside the room and confronted their client.

“
Mr. Castillo, this is not how we operate. It is one thing to test security, it is quite another to put a woman in danger.” Castillo looked surprised at Jace’s declaration.

“
I assure you Mr. Carpenter it was not my intention to put anyone in danger. The girl, is she all right?”

“
She’s just fine. She is being debriefed. I assure you she won’t be speaking about this to anyone.”

“
I would like to see her, to extend my sincerest apologies.”

“
I will convey your apologies. Right now we need to deal with the matter at hand. I assume considering the circumstances you don’t want us to call the police.” As he spoke Jace opened the door to the room where the suspect was being held Viktor followed him,

“
Of course I…” Viktor and the man locked eyes for a moment. “I appreciate your discretion. I will take care of everything. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with your team.”

“
We are the best. You should have just taken my word for it. Now if you’ll come with me I have your necklace, I would like you to verify its authenticity and lock it back in the case.”

“
Of course.”

“Sit down girl. All that pacing is making me nervous.” Lou sank into a chair, not because Charlie told her too but because her feet were killing her. She kicked off her shoes and glared at Colby.

“
Whoever invented these things deserves to die a slow and painful death.”

“
My wife is fond of saying they were invented by a man who was into S&M.”  Lou looked for the owner of the voice. He was sitting against the wall on the floor. She remembered him from class. His name was Lance and he usually stayed pretty quiet.

“
Does she wear them?”

“
Yeah,” he grinned. “She says they make her butt look good. She’s right too.” He laughed and the rest of the men joined him.

“
I don’t think it’s worth it.” She grumbled.

“
You’re not supposed to dance in new shoes. You are supposed to break them in first.” Another man, who looked to be Asian and went by Brent commented. 

“
Well I didn’t have much choice, we got this assignment yesterday.”

“
You don’t own another pair of heels?” Sam asked.

“
No, do I look like the kind of girl who wears heels?”

“
Right now you do.” Colby laughed, the rest of the room chuckled. She flipped him off and they laughed harder.

“
Damn, too bad you didn’t kick him with one of those things. That woulda hurt like a bitch.”  That even got a smile out of Lou.

They heard the hotel key card in the lock and they all looked to the door. Ethan strode through and grinned.

“I understand congratulations are in order. Guess you guys are overachievers. Couldn’t just pass the test you had to go for the extra credit too.”

“
Be all you can be.” Sam said from his spot on the wall.

“
Ack I am a Marine.”

“
Alright Semper fi then.” Sam amended and Ethan chuckled.

“
So did the company pass the test?”

“
I assume so. Whether or not we keep this guy as a client depends on whether or not Jace tears him limb from limb.” Ethan laughed again but now he had Lou’s attention.

“
He did seem a little… peeved.” Colby said.

“
That is putting it mildly. He was beyond pissed. Don’t let that easy going southern gentleman veneer fool you. Underneath he’s still as bad ass as they come.”  Some of the other men started asking questions about the situation but Lou wasn’t paying attention. She was trying to reconcile the man she had spent so many hours with, with the term bad ass. He was strong yes, as big as a linebacker and as solid as a tank. But bad ass? She hadn’t seen that. No she had seen a man who pulled his punches despite the fact that she never pulled hers. A man who always held her door and picked up the check. A man who danced like Fred Astaire and looked twice as good. No she couldn’t consider him a bad ass but damn if she didn’t pick a helleva time to figure out her crush had turned into a full blown infatuation.

Everyone in the room began to rise from their various lounging positions and she realized she had missed something important. Ethan handed note pads to her and each of the men that had been in the restroom with her. Everyone else left.

“Gentlemen just an account of what happened with the suspect. Ms. Santiago I’m afraid your account is going to have to start at your first interaction with Viktor Castillo.” Lou sighed and nodded. She took her pad over to the table and sat down. She began to write not looking up until she heard the door open again. This time it was Jace.

Jace looked tired as he took the chair on the opposite side of the table from her. She looked back at the pad she was writing on but discreetly watched him through her lowered lashes. He reached up and untied his bowtie and pulled it off.

"You want these?" Sam held up the pad he'd been writing on.

"Yeah.
I want to apologize on behalf of our idiot client. This was... Well it was total bull shit." Jace's voice was low and gravelly it made the hair on her arms stand and her stomach quiver. Each man handed him their pad. "You guys can head out. If Ethan didn't tell you, you have Monday off. I'll see you on Tuesday." The other two men nodded and left. Colby stayed.

"I'll wait and see the lady home." He said when Jace shot him an inquiring look.

"That's alright I can see the lady home."

"I brought her I should make sure she gets home." Colby insisted.
Jace's eyes narrowed and Lou could see he wasn't going to let it go. While it was sort of flattering it was also really annoying.

"Excuse me. The lady is a big girl that is more than capable of seeing herself home." They both looked at her and then back at each other neither backing down. She knew she would have to intervene.

"Colby, I have like maybe twenty more minutes. I'll be fine." He looked at her and glanced at Jace again.

"If you
’re sure..."

"I am." Colby relented and left leaving them in the suite, alone. She realized this was the most alone they had ever been. The idea sent a thrill straight through her. The idea that there was a bed in the next room both thrilled her and made her palms sweat. She hadn't been with anyone since that awful night. Before that there had only been Juan. Sex with Juan had been... Nice. She had a feeling it would be different with Jace. The kiss she'd shared with Jace had been more. She really wanted to know if she would have the kind of
‘oh my God I can't help myself’ passion with Jace that she had only heard about. Considering she could barely control herself after one kiss she had a feeling that in Jace's bed she could lose touch with reality entirely. It was a tantalizing and terrifying thought. There was still the very real possibility that she couldn't do it, that she would freeze up or have a panic attack but she wanted to try, oh boy did she want to try. She pressed her thighs together trying to ease the ache that had been there since their kiss and was now intensifying with the direction of her thoughts.

"Lou?"

"Hmmm?"

“
I said have you eaten? You sort of spaced off there for a minute." She felt a hot flush creep up her cheeks and hoped he couldn’t guess the direction of her thoughts.

“
Sorry. I am just tired. No I haven’t eaten. Unless of course you count the little hors d'oeuvres the waiters were passing around.”

“
No, I don’t count that.” He made a face and she smiled.  He looked at her for a moment a peculiar look on his face.

“
I meant what I said. I am… I would never want you to… I wouldn’t ask you to take an assignment that deliberately put you in danger.” He stumbled through the apology revealing more than he intended about his state of mind.

“
I know.” She said softly. And she did. She felt safe with Jace. Whether he was taking a swing at her in the ring or making her laugh she knew he would never put her in danger. He was the kind of guy that had chivalry ingrained so deep you could never get it out. He would always try to protect her. He would always open her door or offer her his coat. He would always see her as the fairer sex and the really weird thing was she didn’t mind. Even though she had been trying to prove herself as strong as the boys her whole life.

“
So uhh…” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “Room service?” He grabbed a menu off the table and she went back to writing.

“
I have a better idea.” He said a moment later. “I know this great steak house. It’s not too far away.” He saw her grimace a second before she hid it.

“
What?” He prompted.

“
I am tired.” She sighed. “My feet hurt and at this point I would rather get out of this dress than eat.” She saw the flare of arousal in his eyes and almost groaned at what she just said. “Besides what if someone sees us? What will they think?” She hurried to add.

“
I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks.” He grumbled. “Fine, take out. How do you like your steak?”

“
Jace…”

“
How do you like your steak?”

“
Medium.” He grinned and grabbed his cell phone. She went back to her statement trying to finish as he was ordering.