Page 30 of Devious Corruption

“Don’t.” I put a hand up when she gets that look of reproach in her eyes. “Will it make you feel better if I check to be sure she gets to her car all right?”

“Yes.” She nods. “But don’t say anything stupid. Maybe apologize?”

“I’m not apologizing, but I won’t offend her. She won’t even know I’m there.” I’m good at that, hiding in the shadows when it’s called for.

“Fine. But hurry, because they’re starting dinner.” She smiles.

I shake my head. “I’ve spoiled you rotten.”

She nods. “You have, and I love you for it.”

“See to your guests,” I instruct as I leave her and head toward the elevators.

I gave orders for no one to approach or speak with Maxine. She was to be observed only, but obviously, she was aware of being watched. As I leave the party room, Stefan approaches me.

“She’s on her way toward her car.”

“Did you speak with her?” I demand punching the elevator call button with the side of my fist.

“No, sir.” He looks taken aback by my question. “No one spoke with her.”

“No one made her uncomfortable?”

Confusion crosses his expression.

“Keeping her under surveillance was done without her knowledge, yes?”

He swallows. “Well, I mean, she noticed me once or twice. But I never spoke to her, and I didn’t approach. I stayed on the wall, and when she met my stare, I made sure to turn.”

“So she noticed you.” I grit my teeth. “I was clear, wasn’t I? I didn’t want her to feel she was being watched.”

As much as I need to be sure she wasn’t bringing danger into my sister’s party. I also needed to be certain she wasn’t made to feel unwanted. There’s no explanation for that desire other than wanting my sister to have no issues at her going away party.

Nicolette had been left in my care at a young age, and I made it my duty to be certain she never wanted for anything.

“I–”

The doors to the elevator open and I step inside, cutting Stefan off with a swish of my hand.

“Go back inside. Stay out of the way and keep the area secure.”

“Of course.” He gives a dutiful nod and turns on his heel.

On the short ride down to the first floor, I’m able to locate Jaxon on the restaurant’s security feed. He left the restaurant only a moment after Maxine, and from the last frame I can find, he’s walking with her down the stairs.

“This woman, did she valet?” I have her photo freeze framed on my phone and shove it in the valet’s face.

He blinks a few times and moves back enough to focus on my phone.

“No. She walked out and then down that way.” He gestured to the street.

Fuck. If she didn’t valet, she could have parked in any of the three parking garages nearby. Or on the street. Heading out on foot, I hurry down the street to the corner, catching a glimpse of her as she turns left at the next corner. Jaxon right beside her.

There’s a garage on the next block. Cutting through the alley way, I get to the back entrance of the garage. There’re four floors to this damn thing, she could be on any of them.

The telltale sound of a car being unlocked by a fob catches my ear. It’s the only sign I have of her whereabouts, so I hurry up the stairs to the second floor where it sounded like it came from.

I open the door to the floor and find her standing beside her car, Jaxon leaning over her.