SIXTEEN
“No surveillance in this room,” I said for Zane’s benefit.
“Roger that,” he answered. “I’ve got eyes on the estate. I see two guards posted out front. No one on the perimeter.”
That was good news, though I had to wonder how Zane was seeing this. “Please tell me you didn’t hack into a military satellite.”
He laughed. “No. I try not to call in those kinds of favors unless absolutely necessary. All this required was a regular old drone like you can buy anywhere.”
I doubted Zane had regular equipment of any kind, but I accepted the answer at face value.
“What about security cameras?” I asked.
“It looks like one at the front gate. Nothing else. Apparently these people aren’t at all concerned about protecting their back door.”
In a moment of immaturity, the image of the abundance of butt plugs at this party flew into my brain, giving Zane’s comment about protecting the back door an entirely different meaning.
I really was losing my mind. I turned my attention back to Chelsea and Morgan and how we were going to get out of here.
I went to the French doors and looked out. This room opened onto a narrow stone patio that was bordered by the lawn in the back of the house.
“You have any other clothes with you?” I asked Morgan. Or any clothes at all, since she was mostly nude.
“I do.” She nodded and trotted over to the corner of the room. While I staunchly did not watch her unicorn tail, she bent and retrieved a duffle bag off the floor. “I picked this room because my clothes are here.”
“Good thinking.”
Morgan was sharper than I gave her credit for, though I still wasn’t convinced I could one-hundred percent trust her.
“There’s a power room. I’ll just go get changed in there.”
Another excellent idea, because I didn’t want to be witness to the removal of the tail. I’d seen far too much of Chelsea’s bestie for my liking already.
I turned and found Chelsea cringing. She caught me looking at her and bit her lip. “Do you think that thing hurts?”
I let out a laugh. “I wouldn’t know. I suppose it depends on the size.”
She cringed again, which only widened my smile.
“Does this mean you won’t want to give one a go?” I moved closer and pulled her toward me.
“Me?” Her voice squeaked on the question.
“Just a tiny one?” I teased.
“You liked the sex show. Admit it.” She slapped at my chest but didn’t move away.
I tightened my arms around her. “I’d like a private show with just the two of us far better.”
Her smile was coy. “Maybe that could be arranged.”
And now I was completely hard again, just when I needed to have my head in the game. I groaned, resisted the urge to kiss her and released my hold.
Morgan appeared from behind the bathroom door. She was in a revealing dress and heels, not quite the best attire for making a getaway, but it was better than the unicorn costume.
Chelsea was in heels as well, so we wouldn’t have been moving incredibly quickly or stealthily no matter what Morgan changed into.
Perhaps Morgan being in a dress to match Chelsea’s was good. I could stroll out the back door with one beauty under each arm and if anyone stopped us, I could say we’d left the party hoping for an al fresco experience.
Plan in place, I moved to the door again.
Running my fingers along the frame, I checked to make sure it wasn’t wired to a security system. The last thing I needed was to set off alarms. But there was nothing.
Just as Zane suspected, the homeowners left their back completely vulnerable.
Zane’s company could make a fortune consulting with rich people on how to secure their houses. Judging by this one, it was a service that was sorely needed.
For my purposes, I was grateful for the lax security. It would help with our escape.
“Zane, we’re exiting the building through a south side door now.”
When I turned to the women, prepared to usher them out, I saw Morgan’s frown. “Where’s his phone or Bluetooth? I don’t see it.”
“He’s talking on an earbud-thingy.”
“Oh, cool. Who does he keep talking to?” Morgan asked.”
“My boss.”
“Ooo, the cute one?” Morgan’s eyes lit up.
I rolled my eyes at the entire conversation—especially the Zane portion—even as it scared me to my core thinking how a woman who called my comm an earbud thingy had initially put herself in the middle of this hornet’s nest of intrigue without any backup.
I loved Chelsea, but an operator she was not.
Love.
I chose to ignore the word I’d just thought. I’d fallen in love with lots of things while living here—American pizza included. And I’d miss them all when I left—Chelsea included.
Shoving those thoughts aside I flipped the lock on the French door, pressed on the lever handle and said, “Time to go, ladies.”
Apparently they were both ready to be out of this pleasure palace too. Morgan and Chelsea ran faster than should be possible in high heels, past me and out the door.
Thankfully, they stopped once outside and looked around, unsure where to head next. That gave me time to close the door behind me.
It wouldn’t do to have anyone notice an open door and come to investigate. Even though the guards were only stationed out front, Zane hadn’t observed them for long enough to know if they made scheduled rounds to check on the rest of the property.
I grabbed Chelsea’s hand and motioned for Morgan to come closer. With an arm draped over each of their shoulders, I started a leisurely but direct path toward the trees on the edge of the property. Unless there was a surprise hidden there, landscaping was our only obstacle in back.
“If anyone sees us, let me do the talking. Understood?” I asked.
Morgan nodded as Chelsea said, “Yes.”
“I’ve got a vehicle standing by to pick you up,” Zane told me through the comm. “Cut through the back neighbor’s property to the street.”
“Got it,” I replied.
“Got what?” Morgan asked, glancing sideways at me.
Perhaps when this thing was all over and these women were safe and this sham company shut down, I’d be able to enjoy the sheer hilarity of this situation. As it stood, I hoped the fact that it seemed I was destined to be the straight man in a comedy didn’t cost anyone their life.
“I was talking on the earbud thingy again,” I told Morgan, using terms I was sure she’d understand.
She shot me another glance. “I had no idea you British embassy guys were so bad ass.”
What to say to that? “Uh, thank you.”
“Can we save the chit chat for when we’re away from here?” Chelsea asked.
“Excellent idea,” I said.
I felt her body vibrating beneath my arm and hoped it was more from adrenaline and less from fear.
Morgan must have agreed. Her stride lengthening, I had to tighten my hold on her for fear she’d take off in a sprint.
Property values had to be insane in this area, yet these people had land as big as the White House lawn. At least it felt that way as we crossed it in broad daylight with no cover.
We were halfway across when I heard a motor. I resisted the urge to stop and pushed forward, propelling the women with me as they heard it too and turned to look toward the sound.
“Keep going. Not too fast. We’re not doing anything wrong. Just taking a stroll.” My grip on each of them did more than my soothing words to keep them from fleeing for the trees, which grew closer with every step we took but still seemed too bloody far.
Maintaining a steady stride, I turned my head to take a casual look at what was heading our way, relieved when it looked more like a maintenance vehicle and less like a security patrol.
I was at once grateful that Morgan had changed, because the unicorn costume would have drawn far too much attention.
The man driving the four-wheeler pulling the utility cart behind it grinned at me while his male passenger gave me a thumbs-up. My having two beautiful women in knockout dresses all to myself had obviously impressed them.
Perhaps these events were commonplace on this estate. So much so that the gardeners knew what was happening inside. I wondered how often the inside action spilled outdoors and the crew got an eyeful.
I envisioned the performers in a staged pony race around the property, horsetails and all, and quickened my step when I realized how Chelsea had willingly become a part of this world to find Morgan.
Hargrove had already shown too much interest in Chelsea. I was getting Chelsea off this property before he got any ideas that she’d became another one of the fantasy animals in his sex stable.
I didn’t know how far this Sanctuary Club would go to convince their performers to remain. I still wasn’t convinced there weren’t some sort of drugs involved.
Finally we reached the tree line. I grabbed both women by the hand and pulled them through a break in the hedges. We emerged on the other side, mostly unscathed except for a few scratches.
The neighboring yard was slightly less sprawling. Being midweek and daytime, I hoped the occupants were elsewhere as I picked up our speed.
The women kept up with me in spite of the heels bogging them down in the grass.
“Zane, we’re almost to the road.”
“I see you. I’ve got you on the drone cam. My man’s pulling up in front now. He’s in the black SUV.”
“I see him.” I’d never been more grateful to see a car in my life.
I boosted the women into the back seat and jumped into the passenger seat, tearing off my blasted mask as soon as I’d buckled in.
The driver hit the accelerator and we took off.
“Long time no see.” The man behind the wheel shot me a grin.
I frowned as recognition hit. “Jon Rudnick.”
He nodded. “I was in town for a meeting with Zane when he told me what was up. I wasn’t going to miss the chance to work with James Bond, so here I am.” He glanced in the rear view mirror. “I see you brought the Bond girls this time.”
“I did.” I let out a laugh, relief overwhelming me, except for one thing. “I left my Bond car with the valet at the party, however.” After getting out without incident, I wasn’t too keen to go back in.
“No worries. Zane already thought of that.” Jon grinned as he navigated the residential street.
I frowned. “He did?”
Jon nodded. “He saw where the valets were parking the cars. I dropped off one of our guys on my way to get you. Your car will be waiting at the GAPS office when we get there.”
My eyes widened.
“Don’t look so surprised.” Jon laughed. “Any thug can steal a car. It isn’t exactly a tier one operator skill.”
Perhaps not, but it was a useful one and I was more than glad my prized possession was safe.
I didn’t accumulate many material things in my life, but the car I’d acquired when I’d arrived in the States was one of my favorites . . . and I had no idea what I was going to do with it if I ended up getting reassigned abroad.
I glanced behind me at the other situation I had no idea what to do about when—if—my time here was over. Chelsea.
She and Morgan both still looked a little shell-shocked.
I’d never seen Chelsea quiet for so long, which only reinforced my theory that she was shaken up by today’s sex event. I didn’t blame her. It was a lot to absorb.
I glanced at Morgan and wondered what lasting effects the association with Sanctuary Club would have on her. I sure as bloody hell wouldn’t be forgetting my brief experience there anytime soon.