Page 41 of Benedict’s Rejuvenation (Dark Patriots #5)

It was toward the end, when he was scanning our area of the sea of people out in front of him, that he noticed the sisters.

His smooth words stumbled for a moment before he collected himself.

His eyes widened a fraction. Although he went on to finish his speech to enthusiastic applause, his gaze kept returning to them.

We sat there, pretending not to notice and looking elsewhere or at each other.

My confidence that he’d approach us grew.

His first move would be to find out our names and what was known about us. After that, he may find a way to meet us, or he’d get someone to research who we were. I had no doubt he had someone, if not more than one, who looked into anyone he wanted checked into.

It was hard not to get impatient, but that was key to undercover work.

I knew Kensy had grown tenser, so when the dancing was announced and the music began to play.

I swept her up and onto the dance floor so I could hold her and dance her around the room.

I didn’t mind dancing. It didn’t take long for Keeley and Beau to join us.

“This is the hardest part, the wait. You have to remember to smile, appear unfazed, and dazzle everyone. We might not be able to attract him to speak to us tonight. The goal is to plant the hook. The reeling in can come later,” I told her.

Kensy chuckled. “You sound like Dad with one of his fishing analogies. I guess I’m anxious to get this moving along. I keep thinking about Aimée and wondering how she is doing. If she’s with him, I know what she’s living through. No one deserves that, Ben.”

I twirled her around her sister and Beau, shooting them a smirk.

“I know you do, and I hate that you do. You’re so empathetic to begin with. This waiting has to be torture. Keep in mind that even if there is a delay, if we weren’t here, it’s unlikely anyone would know about her, and therefore, she wouldn’t be rescued.”

Kensy sighed and then snuggled closer. “You’re right. That helps. After the way he reacted when he saw us earlier, I thought he’d make a beeline for us.”

“If he’s smart, and to hide who we think he is, he has to be finding out our names and having his people, whoever that is, run our names.

He would be stupid to speak to us before knowing at least a little.

Depending upon how much he wants to know upfront and how fast his researcher is, we may not get to speak to him.

We know his routine while he’s here in Hawaii—his favorite spots to hang out.

We’ll start to appear in a couple of places, not all of them, and see if that teases him out.

This is a deadly game of cat and mouse. Only we intend to be the cats, not the mice. ”

Our next circle brought us close to Beau and Keeley again. The sisters smiled at each other. Beau and I nodded before moving apart as the music changed and became a fast song.

“Do you want to stay here and dance with Keeley, or come back to the table?”

“What do you think is the better move?”

“Dance a fast one, then come to the table.”

Beau and her sister had joined us. Keeley heard my answer. “We can do that. You go back and watch us shake our asses.” Keeley smirked.

We chuckled, kissed each sister, and then left.

We had front-row seats to the dance floor and could watch their every move.

Settling in, I soon discovered that both women were great dancers, and not just at slow dancing.

Their bodies were sensuous, the way they shook and twisted their curvy bodies.

I had no idea how any man could look away.

They were sirens calling men to their doom.

Checking out the room, I noted that more than a few sets of male eyes were on them.

Yep, I was right. They’d ensnared some. The thing about it was that most of those men were with a woman.

A woman who was being ignored, and based on some expressions, she wasn’t happy about it.

No matter if I was only with a woman casually for sex.

If we were out, I didn’t check out other women when I was with them. Talk about sleazy.

“We might have to fight our way out of here for another reason tonight. Seems Keeley and Kensy have engrossed a lot of guys,” Beau muttered.

“ Did you expect them not to be? We told you before you left, they were traffic-stopping beautiful ,” Heath replied.

We each had an earpiece that allowed us to hear and talk to each other. It would be a lifesaver if we got into trouble. If we want to speak privately, we double-tap it, and it goes to private mode. Then a single tap would put us back on an open channel.

“Yes, you did, and we knew it, but it’s different actually seeing it,” I replied.

I was watching a guy who was hovering around the edge of the dance floor. There was no way to know why or who had his attention, but he was on the side closest to our ladies.

“Do you see him?” I asked Beau.

“I have him clocked. Don’t overreact if he approaches them. There’s a chance he’s Wynne’s minion and has been tasked to speak to them. We’ll be able to hear if he is,” Beau cautioned.

It was true, we could hear the few words the women said.

It was mostly about how they enjoyed dancing again and talking about past times they went out and had fun together.

I was happy that even amid the tension and possible danger of this night, they were able to have a good time.

Those have been in short supply for both of them.

“How is it outside?” I asked.

“ Boring. Most of the people here are staff or chauffeurs for attendees. They’re standing around smoking and chatting. They look bored to death ,” Justin replied.

“Stay sharp. There could be something happening, though I doubt it would be anything too crazy. Not with this many witnesses,” Beau unnecessarily reminded them.

Justin and Heath didn’t take it wrong. They knew he wasn’t questioning their capabilities. He was just repeating it. We all did that often on a mission. It helped us to stay focused.

“He’s making a move,” Beau whispered.

His gaze was trained on the dance floor. I went to shift mine back, but I caught sight of Joshua Wynne. He was standing in the shadows. He was staring at where Kensy and Keeley were. He seemed tense.

“I got eyes on Wynne at ten o’clock. He’s focused on the women,” I whispered back.

“Stay with him. I’ve got the girls,” Beau said.

Right after he said that, we heard the conversation on their end come alive.

“ Excuse me, but I had to come over and introduce myself. My name is Barrett Sherman. I have a gentleman who would very much like to meet both of you. He didn’t come himself because he dislikes drawing attention. He’s very well-known, and people like to gossip .”

“ And why would we be inclined to meet with two strange men? That sounds like a dangerous thing to do ,” Keeley stated.

“ I can assure you, the gentleman in question only wants a chance to introduce himself. If it makes you feel more at ease, you may bring your dates along with you .”

“ The only way we’d agree to meet anyone is if her fiancé and my boyfriend come along ,” Kensy told him.

It was killing me not to look at her, but I had to keep an eye on Wynne.

“They’re turning our way. I saw Sherman subtly signal Wynne,” Beau whispered.

“And Wynne is walking toward that far door,” I answered.

I glanced back after I saw Wynne slip out.

Sherman was behind the women, following them to our table.

He wore a resigned look. He wasn’t happy that they wouldn’t go with him alone.

But he should’ve known that very few women wouldn’t be wary.

It wasn’t smart or safe. I watched him shift his expression to a pleasant one as they neared us. Beau and I rose to our feet.

“Honey, this gentleman would like to speak to you and Ben,” Keeley said sweetly.

Beau took her hand and brought her to him. His arm went around her. I mimicked the same thing with Kensy. This move left Sherman standing there with no shields. His smile was pleasant yet practiced. He often had to don it, no doubt, even when he was angry.

“Good evening, I hope you’ll forgive the interruption to your night and forgive my impertinence.

I introduced myself to your lovely companions on the dance floor.

My name is Barrett Sherman. I’m an associate of a very well-known philanthropist at tonight’s gala.

He asked me to speak to your dates and ask them to meet with him.

They are understandably cautious, as they should be.

I asked if they would accept if you were to join us. ”

“We might. It depends on whom we’re meeting. Why all the mystery? Couldn’t he be bothered to introduce and ask himself?” I asked sharply.

“My client is careful not to cause gossip. If he’s seen talking to two gorgeous women like yours, there will inevitably be talk. It has caused issues in the past for both parties. That’s why he asked me to be his intermediary. He’s waiting in a room just beyond the ballroom,” Sherman explained.

Talk about making it cloak-and-dagger worthy. However, until he disclosed his client’s name, we weren’t going anywhere. I was uneasy about going with him. Wynne could have an army of men waiting to take the women by force and either incapacitate or kill us.

“ We’re moving in closer. We can be inside within a couple of minutes ,” Justin informed us.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t just follow a stranger to meet another stranger with our women in tow. This smacks of a bad idea,” Beau told Sherman.

“You can at least tell us your client’s name,” I added.

Sherman was doing his best not to say. When he didn’t answer immediately, I pushed.

“If you’ll excuse us. We’ll be leaving,” I told Sherman.

I was turning Kensy and I around to walk off. Beau was doing the same with Keeley. We halted when Sherman’s panicked voice reached us.

“Please! Don’t go. My client will be greatly disappointed if you do. He wants to discuss a business opportunity with the ladies. His name is Joshua Wynne. He was one of the top sponsors of tonight’s gala. You heard him speak during the speeches,” Sherman quickly rattled out.

I twisted to look back at him. “If Mr. Wynne wants to speak to them, then he needs to do it at a time and in a place that is more open than a room tucked somewhere in this building. If his offer is legitimate, then he should have no problem. After such a meeting, we’d be able to determine whether we would meet somewhere private. ”

“Our names and contact information are on the registration for this event. I’m Beau Pierce, and he’s Ben Montgomery. The ladies are Keeley and Kensington Morgan. Until we receive an official invitation, we’re done,” Beau briskly informed Sherman.

Without waiting for him to say anything else, we walked off.

I wish I could see his face. We didn’t stop walking until we were out in front of the building.

Beau took out his phone to call our limo driver to come pick us up.

We’d paid for him to be on standby. As we waited, I swore there were eyes on us.

“See anyone?” I whispered.

“ No, but if he’s inside and looking out a crack in a blind, we wouldn’t. Several are cracked like that ,” Heath said back.

It was a tense five minutes until our driver arrived, and we were able to pile in and get out of there. The entire drive back to the rental, I wondered if Wynne would carry through and, if so, when.