Page 91 of Beautiful Revenge

I pull in a deep breath and confirm her assumption even though she didn’t have to question it. She knows. “Yeah, baby. It was a trade for services. There’s an intermediary that I’m still trying to identify. Whoever it is, they’re doing a bang-up job keeping themselves anonymous. I’m not worried. The system I’m in gives me access I didn’t have when I worked for Secret Intelligence. I’ll find out who it is.”

Harlow’s gaze falls from my face. “Well, at least we know that Malloy wasn’t here for you.”

I give her a squeeze. When she finally gives me her eyes, my tone is grave. “I know you need to see your father, but there’s no way you’re going by yourself. Malloy might be fighting for his life in ICU, but someone fired the shots yesterday, and we have no fucking idea who did it, much less the mysterious middleman. And he’s not some chump who’s in place to take the fall. I’ve seen the communication. This guy is calling the shots and making deals. I investigated Turner for years before I left SIS, and he doesn’t trust anyone. But for some reason, he trusts this guy. If there were titles, this guy would be the underboss or consigliere, only we aren’t dealing with the mafia. We’re dealing with a tech guru who’s building his portfolio through doing business on the dark web.”

Harlow’s pleading eyes bleed into a part of me I’m not familiar with. “I get that, but after everything my father has been through, I need to see him with my own eyes. Wrap my arms around him and feel his heartbeat. I lost my mom so long ago. He’s allI have left.”

“Baby, you can’t put anything past Turner. If you’re a job for him, he’ll be determined to finish the project.”

Something between fear and disappointment moves through Harlow’s features. “I can’t tell Dad what happened with Albert. Not until he’s stronger. The added stress won’t be good for him. The doctors told Chrissie the last few months have been hard on his system. It would be for anyone, but especially for someone his age.”

Fuck. As much as I’d rather keep her right here locked away in my suite until we can get to the bottom of this, I can’t deny her. “They’re sending a plane for you?”

She nods. “Chrissie is fast and efficient. I bet she’s already finalized arrangements.”

“Let me make a call and see if I can get that flight plan to disappear. If I can make it so you’re not able to be traced, then it should be safe for you to travel.”

Her eyes light up. “You can do that?”

I shrug. “I have a friend who can. I need to make sure it’s not too late.”

She sinks into my chest. “I’m not sure how I’ll ever thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

I regret that a phone call to Ozzy Graves is a priority over ripping her towel off and making her come on my tongue, but I don’t tell her that. “I do have one stipulation.”

She hikes a brow.

“I’m coming with you.”

She stills. “Really? Can you leave work?”

“I watched you almost take a bullet yesterday. There’s no way I’m putting you on a plane by yourself. I don’t care who owns it. And since I don’t have any high-profile weddings on the docket, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Her smile swells, and so does my cock. She pushes up to her toes and presses her lips to mine.

I take over and lift the towel. When I find her bare ass, I regret more than ever that time is of the essence. I need to make a flight disappear into thin air, figure out how I can leave my business without a general manager, and find a moment where no one is banging on our door or hurling drama at us like rotten tomatoes so we can focus on each other and forget about the restof the fucking world.

If I could have a year to get that done, it wouldn’t be enough time.

If I dip my fingers between her legs to see how wet she is, her flight will be on record, and I’ll be forced to hold her hostage.

Not a good move on my end.

I break our kiss to stare down at her. Her hair is dripping wet, her lips are swollen, and she looks as disappointed as I feel.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but get dressed,” I demand. “We’re going on a trip.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

HARASS

Harlow

I’m not sure who Devon’s friends are that work with his sister, but I do know they’re powerful.

One phone call, and just like that, poof. Our flight was erased from existence even though we’re currently soaring across the country.

When I told the Stonebridge pilots, they looked at me like I’d lost my mind. I could tell they weren’t happy, but there are definite benefits to being the daughter of Patrick Madison and the sole heir to Stonebridge Capital. I announced it with confidence and didn’t leave room for questions or debate. As a consummate people pleaser, I was pretty proud of myself.