Page 8 of Lethal Illusion (Six Points Security #8)
The parking lot was almost full, with only a scattering of available spots to choose from. Navarre drove around to the back of the Six Points building, where he pulled into one of the open bays. He shut off the engine and got out of the car, effectively ending their conversation.
The bay to their right contained a huge black SUV with dark-tinted windows that looked like something you’d see in a presidential motorcade.
It wouldn’t surprise her to learn it was armored to withstand a rocket attack.
Jackson was there, as well as Pinto and Hatch, shooting the breeze near the front of the vehicle.
One of them pressed a button on the wall, and the giant bay door rolled down behind the Barracuda.
Sloane unfastened the seat belt and got out of the car, noting the faint smell of diesel in the air.
She’d never been back here before. She’d never really had a reason.
Like the rest of Six Points, it was clean and well-lit, with a variety of tools neatly organized on workbenches and hanging on walls.
To the right, floor-to-ceiling metal racks were stocked with parts and supplies, while large fans whirled overhead to keep the air circulating.
“Hey, Sierra—I mean Sloane.” Pinto grinned. “Sorry, I almost didn’t recognize you incognito.”
He was one of those guys with an outgoing personality that could easily be confused with flirtatious, but it wasn’t meant that way.
She knew for a fact he was head-over-heels in love with his girlfriend, Fiona.
She was practically all he ever talked about.
They’d had a rough patch over the holidays, mainly because of her jerk of an ex, but now those troubles were in the past and they’d recently moved in together.
She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not supposed to look like Sierra dressed like this.”
“You don’t,” Hatch said, his vibrant red hair catching the light and framing his chiseled face.
He was as tall as Jackson, but instead of big and burly, he had more of a basketball player’s build.
“Actually, you’re kind of rocking a Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 vibe.
Very kick butt. I wouldn’t mess with you. ”
“When are we leaving?” Navarre hung his keys on a hook near the door leading into the part of the building that housed the administrative offices and cyber security unit.
Apparently, he intended to leave his car in the bay over the weekend.
Not that she blamed him. If she owned a car like that, she wouldn’t want it sitting unprotected in a parking lot for an extended period.
“If everyone’s ready, we can go now.” Jackson pressed a button on his key ring, and the headlights of the monster SUV flashed.
“Shotgun,” Navarre said as he crossed to the vehicle’s passenger side.
“Fine by us.” Hatch opened the rear driver’s side door and gestured with a sweeping motion for Sloane to go in first. “We get to sit with the hot chick.”
She gave Hatch a look. “Suck-up.”
He grinned. “I prefer to call it strategic flattery.”
With the morning rush over, traffic wasn’t too bad, though a fender-bender on the expressway created a bottleneck in the downtown area, made worse by drivers who slowed to gawk at the wreckage.
At last, they entered the exclusive neighborhood along the Butler Chain of Lakes.
Jackson flashed his credentials to the guard at the entrance, and the man waved him through.
After a short drive through the winding streets of multi-million-dollar mansions, Jackson pulled up to a keypad at the end of a gated driveway.
He punched in a code, the light blinked green, and the iron gate slowly rolled open.
Sierra’s house, a sprawling two-story mansion, rose in front of them at the end of the driveway.
Like many of the other mansions in the area, the Tuscan-inspired estate was a blend of timeless architecture and a touch of modern design, with custom stonework, a slate roof, and a six-car garage.
The yard surrounding it was immaculately manicured, with lush St. Augustine turf, beautiful flowering bushes, and recently planted trees that would provide much-needed shade in a decade or two.
“Is she the only person who lives here?” Pinto asked as their vehicle stopped by the fountain.
“I think the housekeeper lives in the guesthouse by the pool.”
“Sierra doesn’t live here full-time,” Navarre said as he unfastened his seat belt. “Where she stays largely depends on her filming schedule. She also has homes in North Carolina, California, and a penthouse in New York City.”
“Must be nice,” Sloane said.
If she remembered correctly, Ty Flint and his team were currently at the North Carolina location to inspect that home’s security features.
Locks, cameras, motion detectors: if they didn’t meet Six Points’ quality standards, they’d get torn out and replaced with the best equipment available.
From there, the crew would travel to the New York penthouse and repeat the entire process before flying to California.
By the time they were finished, each home would be locked up tighter than the Louvre.
Pinto unfastened his seat belt. “Did Austin decide who’s going to be on her detail when she’s out of town?”
“I think he’s waiting to see how everybody interacts with Sierra before making a final decision,” Jackson replied as he reached for the door handle. “No point in assigning someone she doesn’t get along with.”
That made sense to Sloane. If they stuck Sierra with someone she didn’t like, they’d probably end up losing the contract, and they would have done all this work for nothing.
“Well, I hope it’s not us.” Pinto got out of the vehicle and offered Sloane his hand. “Nothing against Sierra, but I’d rather stay closer to home.”
“Maybe you’ll luck out, Navarre.” Hatch grinned at him over the roof of the SUV. “Now’s your big chance to land the lady of your dreams.”
Sloane’s gaze cut to Navarre. So the big, gruff security guy had a soft spot for the movie star.
It shouldn’t surprise her. He’d be crazy not to want her.
More likely than not, he was less than thrilled about being assigned to protect a decoy instead of the real deal.
That explained his lousy attitude toward her, and it left her with an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach that she didn’t want to examine too closely.
Navarre slammed the passenger door. “It’s a job, not a dating opportunity.”
“Who says you have to date her?” Hatch waggled his eyebrows.
The look Navarre shot him was lethal. “Shut up, Hatch.”
“What, I’m just—”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Eyes wide, Hatch raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Fine, whatever.”
An uneasy silence settled over the group as they climbed the steps leading up to the house. The front door opened before they reached the top, and Austin’s large frame filled the doorway.
He checked his watch and frowned. “You’re late.”
“Sorry, boss,” Jackson said. “We would have been here sooner, but an accident on the expressway shut down a lane.”
For a moment or two, Austin didn’t seem ready to accept the explanation, but then he nodded and moved back a few steps to allow them room to enter.
Sloane followed the guys inside and…wow.
The raised foyer opened to a huge living area with a warm color palette and comfortable-looking furniture.
Freshly polished travertine marble gleamed under the pendant lights hanging from the vaulted ceiling, while modern art pieces decorated the walls on either side of the massive fireplace.
Not that you really needed a fireplace in Florida, but it came in handy during those few days of the year when it actually got nippy outside.
To the right was a formal dining area; to the left, a winding staircase that led up to the second floor.
As Navarre walked past, his shoulder brushed hers, and she did her best to ignore the way her pulse jumped at the contact.
Austin shut the door behind them and got right back to business. “Pinto, Hatch, you’ll be working with Nate. Jackson and Navarre, you’re with me.” His gaze cut to Sloane. “Sierra’s people are waiting for you so they can do the final fitting. Upstairs, down the hall, last door on the right.”
“Is Sierra here?” Navarre asked, and Sloane felt a pang of something that hovered between jealousy and annoyance. It was totally irrational; they didn’t even get along all that well, and she shoved the unwelcome feeling aside as quickly as it arose.
“Not yet,” Austin replied. “Weather delayed her flight. Her plane won’t touch down in Orlando until seven at the earliest. Ryan said he’d call as soon as they arrive. Any other questions?”
“Nope, we’re cool,” Jackson said, and the other men murmured their agreement.
“Good.” Austin’s gaze traveled from person to person. “Remember, Sierra chose Six Points because we’re the best in the business. She’s counting on us to keep her safe, and I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll exceed her expectations. You all know what to do. Now let’s get to work.”