Total pages in book: 148
Estimated words: 139606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 558(@250wpm)___ 465(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 139606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 698(@200wpm)___ 558(@250wpm)___ 465(@300wpm)
Come to think of it, she was surprised he hadn’t caught him at the elevator. That was odd. Brian had gotten here only a few moments after Dare and Nate had left. They should have passed each other.
Unless Brian had already been up here and hadn’t wanted to see Dare at all.
“Excellent. That leaves us free to talk.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. Her every instinct went sharp. “What do you want to talk about?”
“How did the meeting with Huisman go?” He paced beside the couch but made no move to sit.
She could talk about that, though she wondered why he needed to. She’d assumed he’d been listening in. Lou had made sure they had been the only ones with an actual listening device in the room, but there were ways around that. It depended on how much high-tech equipment Brian had access to. “Fine, I suppose, though I didn’t talk to him much. I’m afraid Mr. Oakley monopolized my time.”
“So they want to use Manny to get to Dare,” he said, almost under his breath. “Did they talk about anything specific?”
“I think you should have this conversation with Dare.” She wasn’t about to give him intel. If his plans hadn’t worked, she wasn’t going to serve as his backup. “Like I said, I mostly talked to Oakley, and there was nothing of interest about our conversation.”
The conversation had revolved around how rich he was. How he owned three yachts and two airplanes and so many houses across the globe.
“Did anyone mention vaccines?” Brian asked.
This was interesting. She might have something to give her team after all. She might not have gained a lot of clarity concerning Huisman, but she was learning a bit about Brian. “I think there was some discussion about the potential for new vaccines in the future, though they talked about them not being moneymakers. I don’t know. The money stuff bugs me. We should be developing vaccines because it’s the right thing to do.”
“That’s a sweet but naïve thing to say,” Brian replied. “However, you’re right if you’re talking about well-established vaccines. There’s not a ton of money there. But new vaccines. Well, let’s just say the pharmaceutical market made some nice change off of Covid back in the day. As emerging viruses and fungal threats scare the crap out of the public, there will be ways to make billions. Did you hear anyone talk about Tandy Medical?”
Not until now. She made a mental note. Lou and Tris would be doing some serious research tonight while she played. Sometimes it paid to be the operative since usually she would be the one sitting in front of a computer. “I don’t remember hearing that name. Is there something going on that I should know about?”
“No.” He shook off his tension. “I’m just feeling bad that I didn’t go. I know how important this meeting was. You’re right. I should talk to Dare about it.”
“No problem.” The minute he walked out the door, she would change and get back to base. She wanted to know more about Tandy Med and why Brian would call Emmanuel Huisman—who seemed very formal—Manny. Like he knew the man.
Was that why he’d skipped the meeting? Would Huisman recognize him?
Brian stared at her for a moment as though trying to make a decision. “I need to go with you to the club tonight.”
Frustration welled. They’d had this discussion. “I told you no. The only reason Dare’s being let in is his connection to the club in Toronto. You said you’ve never been around the lifestyle at all.”
He gave her a hangdog puppy look that might have worked on a lesser woman. Or most women, since the man was stunning. “I haven’t but I’ve been reading up on it, and if that’s what Kara needs, then I’d like to learn more.”
She rather thought he was lying now and doing an excellent job. He said the words with a smooth earnestness. I’m just a guy who wants a girl. Please let me into your sex club so I can woo her.
She wasn’t buying it. What exactly did he want? There was something different about Brian, something slightly desperate. The situation had changed in some way, and she needed to figure out how. “The man who runs The Station was clear on who we could and couldn’t bring in.”
“Perhaps I could talk to him. Make him a bit more comfortable,” Brian offered.
Why was he so desperate? That was the vibe she was getting from him. A fine edge of desperation. “I don’t know that would work. He was very firm. Something you should know about the lifestyle is Doms tend to say what they mean and mean what they say. I’m sorry.”
That was the moment his mask slipped, and she saw the man she’d seen in the video the day he’d taken out Dare’s attacker. “Well, that is unfortunate.”