Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
“What about on the inside of Iaso?”
Justin glanced at the remains of his dinner. Gabriel was a pretty damn good cook. He hadn’t enjoyed a home-cooked meal like that in a while.
“Iaso is sealed up tight, which is what I expected. It’s going to take a little time to find a way to get into their system, and even if we find a solid way in, I have a feeling to get the real proof we need, I’ll have to be onsite.”
“And getting inside that fortress won’t be easy.”
“Nope.”
“And a hell of a lot of risk.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Thank goodness the payout is twenty-two million,” Gabriel grumbled as he put his utensils on the plate and pushed it forward. The wind stirred, sweeping across the deck and ruffling Gabriel’s hair. He lifted his hand and pushed it back into place. The lack of meticulously styled hair and suit gave Gabriel a somewhat softer, almost vulnerable look. Not that Justin was fooled for a moment into thinking that this wasn’t a dangerous predator across from him. But he certainly looked more touchable.
“Well, I do have a little good news that will keep us busy, at least for tomorrow.”
“What’s that?”
Justin sat forward and started peeling the label off his bottle of beer. “I finished going through all the data Marilyn sent over regarding the contract and who she thought issued it.”
“And?” Gabriel prodded when Justin fell silent.
“It looks like it’s the former chairwoman of Iaso Health, Gretchen Lornamen.”
Gabriel’s forehead furrowed, and he leaned forward. “Marilyn thinks the Iaso’s former chairwoman wants…to stop this drug from reaching the market?”
“And for us to kill whoever put the hit out on the two doctors,” Justin confirmed.
Gabriel stopped and rubbed his hand over his face with a groan. “Is this about destroying the company that she was forced out of or actually stopping a dangerous drug?”
Justin couldn’t help but laugh. “Couldn’t it be a little bit of both?”
“I guess.”
“Well, the good news is that we might be able to get more information out of her tomorrow. I’ve been invited to a garden party for the Hamilton County Arts Foundation. They do a little fundraiser every year, and Ms. Gretchen Lornamen is a member of the board. She’ll be there. I thought my boyfriend and I could make an appearance, maybe sneak away to have a few words with sweet Gretchen.”
Gabriel pressed his lips into a firm line, his nostrils flaring as he sucked in a breath. “Boyfriend?”
“Yep.”
“No.” Gabriel picked up his plate and carried it into the house.
Barely swallowing a laugh, Justin snatched up his plate and followed behind him. “It’s the perfect cover,” he called after Gabriel. “I’ve already made appearances as this persona at other functions for this group. I’ve needed a boyfriend to finally fill out this character, and you’d be such a great boyfriend!”
Gabriel stood with his hands braced on the sink. His narrow shoulders were tensed and the muscles in his triceps were bulging. “And exactly how convincing do you expect us to be?” he demanded, not looking around to where Justin came up beside him and placed his plate on the counter.
“Handholding. A little sweetness. Considerate. Attentive.”
“Affectionate?” Gabriel’s voice was oddly strained.
“I can be.”
Gabriel turned, fixing Justin with a heated gaze that sent all the blood rushing straight to his cock. That look was not about sweetness, but pure hunger. Gabriel wanted to devour him, and Justin was ready to let him. He could feel waves of heat washing down off Gabriel’s lean body and Justin wanted to pin him to the counter, writhe against him while claiming that beautiful mouth.
“I can fake it if you can. Just don’t push me, Justin,” Gabriel warned. He turned and walked out of the room.
Justin leaned against the counter, straining to hear his soft footsteps as they retreated to the main hall and up the stairs. There was a part of him that wanted to push Gabriel. Wanted to see what would happen if he pushed the man until that careful control he maintained finally snapped. But it would be a really, really stupid idea.
Chapter 12
A loud thump had Justin jerking upright in bed. His fingers tightened around the butt of his gun he’d pulled from under his pillow before the fog of sleep completely slipped from his brain. He’d gone to bed after another beer on the back deck and a few more hours behind the computer. On the surveillance monitor, he’d caught sight of Gabriel slipping out of the guest room to work on his laptop in the living room for a couple of hours prior to going to bed. They didn’t speak again about their plan to hit the garden party or the contract. They needed the space.
Another loud bang in the hallway drew Justin out of bed with this gun clutched in his right hand at his side. Soundlessly, he crept across the room to the door. He couldn’t guess at what he was hearing. Gabriel moved like a fucking ghost. Had someone gotten into his house? Impossible.