Risking It All: London Calling Book Three (10 page)

Her mind raced. Could it have been her boss, locking himself away again? But if so,
why
?

***

Admiring Angeline Sinclair’s perfectly executed escape, Sebastian made a mental note to ask her how she managed to pull off looking like an MI-5 agent. Hell, maybe she was one. Or had been at one time. He wasn’t sure anyone fully knew a woman like her.
 

Nor did it matter. She could keep her secrets. He knew he’d trust the older woman with his life.

Bright lemon tweed caught his eye and Sebastian peeked out of the hallway. Damn it, Natalie was walking straight toward him. She must have given up on Angeline to see who was inside. Without a second to spare, he slammed the door and locked it.

Leaning against it, he breathed deeply, hoping like hell Natalie hadn’t seen him. Either way, she’d be inside in a minute or two. It didn’t take much imagination to think she’d be checking out this door within five.

He strode down the rarely used hallway toward the casino’s main room. Despite his broad frame, he moved soundlessly through the corridors. The lighting brightened as he neared the gaming floor. He brushed some dust from his shoulders, straightened his cuffs, and entered the room. He wouldn’t have time to make it upstairs before Natalie spotted him, so he quickly sidled up to the bar.

“Good evening, Mr. Payne.”

“Come on, Ruby. It’s Bas. Make me my usual?”

She smiled as she ground fresh coffee beans then tamped them into the stainless filter. She cranked the handle sideways to fit the basket in place before pressing a button to brew. She repeated the process three more times, pouring the shots into a small porcelain cup then chasing them with a little steamed milk. With a flick of her wrist, she finished the drink with a flourished design in the froth.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Natalie approach. Taking a deep sip, he drank until the level of coffee dropped lower. Maybe she would think he’d been at the bar a little longer than he had. Thanking Ruby, he turned to face his director of operations.

“Natalie. I’m surprised to see you. Isn’t this your day off?”

“Sure.” Her tone sounded uncertain. “Have you reopened the side entrance recently? For staff or patrons?”

Bas schooled his expression into blankness. “I’m not sure what you mean.” Hopefully, she’d take the hint and leave well enough alone.

“Pulling up, I saw someone in the doorway. At the side entrance.”
 

Bas kicked himself for telling her he’d closed that passage after realizing prior owners used it for illicit activities. He changed tack. “Oh yes. That was me.”
 

“You weren’t alone. Who else was there?”

He looked her straight in the eyes. “Ms. Enfeld,” he allowed the formality and tone of address to register, “that’s really none of your business.”

She froze then glanced around the room. Bas had no wish to humiliate her, but he had to shut down her questions. Natalie was an important part of
this
business. His dealings with Angeline were a separate matter.

Natalie cleared her throat. “Fair enough,” she said. “I apologize for overstepping my boundaries.” She was clearly peeved.

Bas nearly laughed when she looked up, defiantly staring straight at him, much as he’d done to her moments before. He resisted the urge to placate. “Accepted.”
 

Turning on his heel, he headed for the stairway. When he reached the landing, he looked back down to see Natalie watching him, her chin held high. He nodded at her then closed himself in his office.
 

Taking out a planner from a locked drawer of his desk, he opened it to the correct date. He quickly jotted down notes from the meeting with Angeline, before he forgot something. She never allowed him to write anything down and always emphasized the need for complete secrecy. When questioned how to keep track of their discussions, she pithily advised him to use his brain and
remember
.
 

Well, he had a lot of things to remember. So he took notes, just never in her presence.
 

At the bottom of every daily page, there was a space for key takeaways, quotes or to-do’s that merited special emphasis. Sebastian tapped his pen against his lip, recalling Angeline’s parting words whispered in his ear.

Let the games begin.

***

Dominic pulled open the passenger door of the car while juggling a paper bag of food and two large coffees. Dark clouds had gathered overhead and looked ready to unleash rain any time. Sliding inside, he shoved the bag toward Frank then pushed the cups into the drink holders of the console. He turned to his driver.

“Happy now?”
 

Frank took a long pull of coffee then opened the bag. He pulled out two packets of fries, handing one over to Dominic. A napkin followed. “I am now,” he said.

Dominic munched on a fry. They were hot, crispy and perfectly salted. Grudgingly, he grunted. “Me too.”

Frank chuckled, cramming two fries in his mouth. “Told you. A man needs to eat when his heart is broken, not starve. That’s for the ladies.”

“Frankie, if any of the women I know heard you say that, they’d smack you in the face. You’re an old chauvinist, that’s what you are.” He shot the other man a side-eye. There was a crack of thunder outside, then the sound of heavy rain pelting the car. “Plus, I never said my heart was broken.”

“You didn’t need to,” he cackled. “You’ve been mooning around like a lovesick swan.”

Dominic frowned then grabbed the paper sack. He took out a cheeseburger wrapped in wax paper. A little mustard leaked out, so he fished around for more napkins before returning the bag to Frank. Amusement creased the other man’s face until his eyes were nearly crinkled shut. Dominic huffed out a laugh. “We need to get your head examined. Because I am not, nor have I ever been,
lovesick
.”
 

Before Frank could reply, movement at one of the side exits to the casino caught Dominic’s eye. “Look there, Frank. I swear that door opened then shut again before anyone came out.”

“I saw it too. How many damn ways are there in and out of this place?”

“I’m not sure,” Dominic said. “I didn’t get a full look when I was in there. And I won’t be getting another.” Natalie would skin him alive if she knew he lurked outside.
 

“Well we’ve got a problem then, Nicky.” Frank’s brows drew together. “How do we know whether your lady friend leaves if we can’t see all the doors?”

Dominic winced, conceding the point. “We just have to hope she comes and goes the same way as before.” He caught himself, clicking his tongue. “Dammit Frankie, I’m not watching for Natalie. I told you it’s Payne I’m after. Something isn’t right about him. I can feel it.”

Thankfully, Frank didn’t argue about his suspicions or about who they were surveilling. Dominic finished his sandwich and wadded up the wrapper to toss back into the paper sack. Frank finished his and did the same.
 

The rain lessened so Dominic popped open the door. Taking the bag of trash, he stepped out. “I’m going to dump this. Otherwise, the car will smell like grease and onions. Plus, I need to stretch my legs a little. I’ll be right back.”

He pulled the hood of his sweater up and started off down the block. The street glowed black from all the rain they’d received, and it seemed darker than it should be. Checking his watch, he realized hours had passed since they arrived.

Seeing a garbage can, he tossed their trash then continued to walk the entire length of the block. Few people were out, probably because of the weather, but he was glad for his dark denims and black top. About fifty yards from the car, the doors of the club opened and several people filed out.
 

Mostly men, a few women, and then Natalie. She clung to Payne’s arm as they descended the front steps to speak with the parking valet.

Dominic heaved a breath. It nearly gutted him to see her with another man, let alone someone Dominic suspected was less than honest. His pride still smarted from Devon laughing at his doubts about Sebastian Payne. But he’d already uncovered enough to give anyone misgivings.

It turned out Sebastian Payne was rich as Croesus. His family’s business dealings could be traced back over a hundred years. They dabbled in everything from art and building development to finance and investments. Research showed a predilection for imports and exports. They also funded an architecture firm and antique dealers from Knightsbridge to Brighton.
 

One obscure finding combined with a strong hunch led Dominic down a rabbit hole of searches. Hours accumulated and days passed as he dug beneath layer after layer of umbrella corporations.

He still hadn’t gotten down far enough to see what all those dummy companies were shielding. But Dominic understood what kind of effort it took to bury something that deeply. And nine times out of ten, the underlying cause was illegal. Not to mention immoral.

Either way, he was keeping the information quiet until the entire puzzle was solved. He told Frank and no one else. The only problem with that plan was trying to find enough time to play Internet detective while maintaining adequate surveillance of Payne’s comings and goings.

He could use some help.

For now, though, it could only be him and Frank. Dominic shuffled toward his car, keeping his pace slow so he could observe but not draw attention to himself. He was on the opposite side of the street, which helped him keep cover.

The others left, so only Natalie and Payne stood under a deep burgundy awning as they waited for their car to be brought around. When it pulled up, Dominic noted it was the same SUV as before.

He used the moments when their vehicle blocked him from view to jog the remaining steps to his own car. He barely had the door open before Frank brought the quiet Audi to life, leaving the lights off until the SUV had time to pull out.
 

They followed Payne, leaving several car lengths between them. The longer they traveled, the more obvious it became Natalie was headed back to Payne Manor.

Dominic clenched his jaw until it ached. He must have made some sound, because Frank glanced over at him, worried. Realizing both hands were bunched into fists, he determinedly uncurled his fingers and stretched them out over his thighs.

Without words, Frank seemed to understand the conflict raging inside him. “Do you still want to follow, Mr. Dominic?”
 

He shook his head. Nothing came out, so Dominic swallowed hard then tried again. “No. Please take me home.”

Wasting no time, the other man spun the wheel to change course.
 

As Frank took him back toward Chelsea, Dominic pulled out his phone again. Pulling up his texts, he found some from Moneypenny earlier in the day.

Let me do something.

I can’t accept a penthouse from you without feeling like I’ve contributed something.

Then, a little more than two hours later, another.

You’re hurting my pride in myself.
 

Dom tapped in a reply.
 

I still need a virtual assistant, you know.

Her answer came swiftly.

Fine. Done. Stop messing around and give me something to do.

An involuntary smile played across Dominic’s lips. He missed MP’s sharp tongue.

You’ll be looking into someone for me. I’ve started down a trail, but need you to follow it through. I’ll send the file in a few.

This time her reply came slower.
 

You want me to snoop?

He replied,
You’re going to have to trust me.
 

Dominic sighed. This was too important for Moneypenny to be squeamish about privacy and the personal boundaries of strangers. She’d see, once she started looking for herself. Several long moments passed as they drove through London before his phone pinged again.

Okay.

When they pulled up outside Dominic’s hotel, Frank laid a hand on his arm to halt him from getting out. “You okay, Nicky?”

Grease from the sandwich and fries he’d eaten churned in Dominic’s stomach. Outside it smelled like damp pavement and rain-washed earth, even though they were smack in the heart of London. Dominic lulled against the headrest, closing his eyes for a moment. “No, I’m not, Frankie.” He breathed deeply. “But I’m trying to be.”

“Maybe you should talk to her. See if you can work things out.”

A humorless laugh escaped him. “No, I don’t think that’s going to happen. I tried,” he said. “She wants nothing to do with me.” He glanced down. “I ruined any chance of that before I ever got out of London the last time. The best I can do now is look out for her. Make sure she’s okay. Even if she never speaks to me again, I want to be a friend to her.” Frank nodded encouragingly. “I wasn’t any of that before.”

“I have a hard time believing bad about you, Nicky. I know you’ll do the right thing. You’re a good guy, whether you know it or not.”

Dominic felt his mouth twist into a grim smile. He wasn’t a good man. And he’d lost his only chance to change.
 

But he’d be damned if he let Natalie waste herself on another liar.

***

Several days later, Natalie stepped out of the club to deeply inhale the fresh evening air. Springtime in London had to be her favorite time of year. After a dull and dreary winter, where everything turned a thousand shades of dingy gray, it was uplifting to see budding trees and daffodils set against the swift growth of newly sprouted grass.
 

Even the air smelled different, as if it understood the possibilities of an awakening world. She’d have enjoyed it more if she didn’t imagine a trace of familiar cologne alongside it.

She’d had enough.
 

Natalie marched across the street, determined to close the gap with her intended prey. As she neared, he rolled to the balls of his feet and took off at a sprint. His hoodie fell back, revealing slightly overlong hair that looked like burnished gold under the glow of the streetlights.