Hunger (Seductors #2) (25 page)

“Really? To me it seems like just another way of keeping tabs on us,” Georgie snapped, glaring at Miles with her hands on her hips.

“You know the rules, G,” Miles smiled sadly. “You all signed up for this. It’s one of the
rules
.” The
rules
that most of us had broken from time to time. I tried not to laugh.

“What was all that about Faith?” I asked Georgie later on by the pool.

“Her mission went Code One.” Oh no! Code One meant a Mission had been compromised, and a clean up team would be implemented to complete the mission. It meant her target might have been killed, too.

That sent shivers down my spine, making me think about
my
target—the man I loved with every ounce of my soul. Clean up would have to kill me first before they got anywhere near Oliver.

“What happened? Do we know?”

“The gossip is that her target worked out what she was doing. She was beaten within an inch of her life. Clean up was searching for her for four days.” Now the trackers made sense.    

“Poor Faith,” I muttered. I’d only spoken to her a few times in the last year, but she seemed like one of the nicer Seductors here.

“Yeah, this is why you need to be careful. What if you have the same fate?”

“Oliver would never beat me within an inch of my life,” I chuckled, shaking my head at her. “Stop being so dramatic.”

“Jade, everyone knows this is
the
top mission. You’re in over your head and you know it!”

“I can complete this assignment!”

“I wasn’t talking about the mission. I’m talking about your feelings. Do you really think you’re going to be allowed to keep him if you complete the steal?”

“I’m signing the paperwork later today, when Sonia gets back.”

“You can willingly lie to him for the rest of your life?”

“Georgie, if that’s what I have to do to keep him, then yes.”

“You can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what?” I fumed, annoyed. Couldn’t she just be happy for me?

“Running. You need to accept that Mina’s death was a tragic accident. You can’t keep blaming yourself.”

“Don’t bring her into this!” I yelled, my chest aching as my past began to stab at my heart one beat at a time. Georgie knew nothing. It was
all
my fault!

“Jade, you need closure on this. It’s been what—almost ten years?” Unable to take anymore of her shit, I stood up, knocking my chair over before storming away, ignoring Georgie’s calls. Closure for Mina—I’d never get that. I
was
the only reason she died.  

Georgie was right about one thing, though. What was I doing pulling Oliver into all of this? I needed to find the strength to let him go, but I was in too deep. I couldn’t just walk away.

“Does the contract meet your approval?” Sonia asked while I was rereading it. There were no clauses, and the contract was definitely binding—even the founder had initialed it. “As you can see, the only way this contract can become void is if Mr. Kirkham discovers who you really are or learns about The Seductors.”

“And it’s as easy as that? Once my contract is up you’ll let me go to him?”

“Yes. I think the kidnap approach is the best way to seal this deal. It will give you the strongest alibi for your four years of absence. We could even use it to our advantage when we secure this power core. Miles tells me you are extremely close. Our client is very impressed with you, Jade.” Why did the vile Imogen Windom come to mind? “I knew you could do this.”

“Before I sign this, I want to make one thing clear.” I squared my shoulders, ready to make Sonia understand just what I’d do to keep Oliver safe. “If this power core doesn’t exist, or by some unexpected reason I fail this mission, clean up will have to go through me to get to Oliver. Do you understand?”  

“
Jade
!” Sonia gasped. “You don’t know what you’re saying. You’ll be killed!”

“If you kill him, I’m as good as dead anyway.”

“Jade, think about this. He is
just
a man!” No, he wasn’t. He was the life I never thought I deserved.

“I
will
do everything in my power to complete this mission, don’t get me wrong, but for once, it’s
not
for the Seductors. I’m doing this to keep Oliver safe. That’s all I care about.” He wouldn’t be tortured. Clean up wouldn’t get their hands on him.

“Complete this mission and he
will
be safe,” Sonia glared, her tone guarded. I nodded, looking down at that contract again before finally signing it.

“I never thought you’d be this gullible, falling for a rich man. Is it his wealth that attracts you so much?” I was offended.

“It has
nothing
to do with his money, Sonia. Oliver makes me feel alive. He makes me feel…better about myself,” I admitted. “He makes me forget my past and what I’ve done.”

“Well, complete this mission, finish your contracted years, and you can have him,” she stated, taking the contract. “I’ll keep it in your file. I’ll also email you a copy for your reference.”

“Thank you.”

“How close are you to finding the power core?”

“I’ll be working for him by next week. I already have my suspicions with regards to the scientists. If this core exists, he’ll tell me. It’s only a matter of time.”

“Go. Make your preparations. I want a status update weekly. Our client is very keen to know about your progress.” I nodded before getting up and leaving.

“Please tell me you’re coming out tonight?” Georgie pouted, giving me her puppy dog eyes.

“I was thinking of flying back to New York tonight. Oliver gets back tomorrow evening.”

“But it’s Eve’s farewell party. We’re only going into town for a few drinks.” It was never a
few
drinks when Seductors went out partying together.

“I’ll come out for a few. Then I’m catching my flight home.”

“
Home
?” Georgie gasped. “Jeez, you
do
have it bad.” I didn’t give a crap. Oliver
was
my home.

I sat at the table watching Eve, Georgie, Kara, and Daisy dance on the bar. Men were trying to put money is their pants as a joke. That was the problem when a few Seductors went out together; we drew a lot of attention. Eve was British, and I loved her dry sense of humor. There were a few different nationalities in the Seductors, allowing some diversity. Our company was all about gaining the right talents and knowledge, and that meant searching far and wide.

“Aren’t you drinking tonight, Jade?” Ryan shouted in my ear, coming up behind me. Ryan was Irish, and one of the six clean up crew leaders. He was a stocky, dark haired guy. The members of clean up crew were the deadliest of the Seductors. They were the only ones who had the power and tools to kill and destroy. Ryan and Eve had been close over the last few years, and it made me wonder what he was going to do now that she was leaving.

“No, I have a flight to catch later,” I smiled, looking back at Georgie who was giving some random guy a lap dance. She was a nightmare!

“I don’t know how Eve is going to cope without all this,” Ryan mused, smiling at them all dancing on the bar.

“Wasn’t she offered the chance to stay?” I questioned. Ryan shook his head. Eve must not have been a high enough earner to be allowed that opportunity. “I’m sure she’ll do fine.” I grinned, looking back at Eve, feeling envious. Why couldn’t it be
my
contract that was up?  

“You’re leaving already?” Georgie pouted, hugging me a while later.

“I’ve had a few drinks,” I pointed out.

“Okay. I’ll miss you, Jelly Bean. Please be careful.” I rolled my eyes, hugging her back. “I think I might sleep with Evan tonight. Have you seen those abs?”

“You be careful, too,” I warned. He was part of the clean up crew, but seemed like an okay guy.

“I always am,” she protested. Now, I knew that wasn’t true. I said my goodbyes to Eve, wishing her luck for the future, before heading back to headquarters to collect my luggage.

Miles was still up when I got back. I saw his office light on.

“Don’t you ever have fun, Miles?” I called, startling him as I peered around his door. “You should have come for a drink tonight. You could have let your team handle everything for a few hours.”