Chapter Twenty
She didn’t like these parties, but they were a necessary evil, a chance to see and be seen and to network. There were already other Sheldon Construction employees working the floor, leaders in their own departments, glad-handing prospective clients as well as checking out their competition. Thankfully, they’d come in on their own and stayed in a different hotel, keeping their distance from Vincent and all the problems he brought with him.
People had come all the way from Los Angeles to the event, booking hotel rooms for the overnight stay, which would definitely include a visit to the casino on the ground floor.
Everyone loved Las Vegas.
Ally eyed the bar, grateful she didn’t have to worry about keeping Vincent away from it. The food poisoning story had been accepted by both the staff and the clients they’d come to visit without much questioning. When he came back, Vincent would be able to walk right back into the business world with a smile and a wink.
Only a man could do that.
She sipped her club soda. There was no way she’d be able to pull it off—have such a blatant vice or glaring flaw in her character.
The thought tamped down the last vestiges of her enjoyment of the event, her smile now feeling painfully forced.
She’d have to do the upcoming presentation. There were less than two weeks left before the meeting. That’s all there was to it.
She suppressed the thrill of anticipation building inside her. Mentally she ran through the research, making notes on what she’d have to brush up on. There’d have to be slight changes to the PowerPoint and the handouts, nothing that she couldn’t deal with…
“Hey.” Trey had appeared at her elbow.
She jumped, her drink sloshing around in her glass.
“Sorry,” he said. “I tend to cause that reaction in people.”
“Damn it.” She put a hand to her neck, the vein throbbing under her fingers. “You’re going to give someone a heart attack.” She looked around, trying to figure out how he’d crossed the floor and gotten to her without being seen. “How did you do that?”
“Practice. Lots of practice. How’s the mingling going?”
She sipped the club soda. “Excellent. I’m hearing the incident with Capprelli sent some lovely ripples out into the field. The unions are happy we’re watching out for their members, the investors are happy we’re keeping the sites safe and free from slowdowns due to accidents, and it’s all working out well for us. Losing money due to accidents doesn’t win anyone anything, despite what men like Capprelli want to believe. Faster isn’t always better.” She eyed him, pleased with what she saw.
Some men appeared awkward in a tuxedo, no matter who they were. They might be born to high society and tucked into a business suit almost from birth yet still always seem uncomfortable, out of sorts no matter how expensive the tuxedo or how skilled the tailor.
Trey had none of that.
He looked, God help her, like he was born to fit into almost any situation. Comfortable no matter where he was, blending into the background like the legendary ninjas of old.
He’d slipped easily into the construction site atmosphere, not flinching at the dust and dirt while making his way around the bare bones of her world.
The meetings with the local politicians had gone well thanks to his ability to relate to both the men and women. He complimented the ladies without going too far and kept up with the men talking sports.
Now here, with men who made ten times what he did at the Devil’s Playground, he held his own and then some. She’d seen him bring smiles to their faces, breaking through the stoic glares most executives wore at these events.
She saw the women eying him, wondering if they could entice him into their beds.
Mine.
The hot flash of desire coiled in her belly, the urge to take his arm and mark him as her own almost overwhelming.
Trey tapped the bow tie. “Can’t believe people wear this all the time. It’s choking me.” He hooked a finger under it and tugged. “Made it as loose as I could, but it’s still annoying as hell.”
“Don’t worry, we won’t be here much longer.” She waved at someone across the room, pulling their name and information out of the invisible file cabinet in her mind. “I’ve done the networking. At this point, I’m here more for appearances.”
“And me?”
“You’re here to make me look good,” she quipped. “According to Edgar, you’ve initiated quite the rumor mill. It’s helped keep people from speculating on Vincent’s illness. People can’t figure out if you’re private security here to protect me from some invisible danger, or a wily associate coming out of the blue to challenge Vincent. Or a new player, a businessman about to make a move to take over the company.”
“Which is why you wanted me instead of any of your other personnel. I can disappear at the end of all this, and it won’t cause too many internal waves.” Trey studied his drink. “Excellent decision.”
“I like to think so.” She smiled at him. “But I don’t want you pulling a disappearing act just yet.”
He returned the look with interest, fanning the flames in her heart.
There was no doubting there was a connection between them. She looked forward to figuring it out in the future, when things calmed down and she could focus on herself and her needs, her desires.
“What’s going on inside that lovely mind of yours?” he asked.
“A lot of things.” She reached out and touched his bow tie, setting it straight. “Don’t worry, you’ll be free of this soon. A few more minutes and…”
Her purse vibrated, the phone going off.
They both froze at the sound.
She pulled it free, her hands trembling.
“It’s Jessie.”
Trey moved in front of her, shielding her from the others. He took her glass and placed it on a nearby shelf.
“Do you want me to take it?”
“No.” She touched the screen and put the phone to her ear, forcing herself to stay still. “Hello?”
There was no greeting, no platitudes.
“I’ve got Vincent. He’s alive and in my custody.”
“What? What did you say?”
Trey stepped into her personal space. He stayed there, putting his hand on her forearm, anchoring her as the world shifted then snapped back into focus with a hard, almost audible crash.
She pulled the phone away, letting him listen.
“I found him here in Reno. He’s drunk, belligerent, and pissed off.”
A wave of dizziness swept over her, relief mixed with a trace of regret.
Trey increased his grip on her arm.
“Steady,” he murmured. “Steady.”
She forced herself to stay still. “How is he? Are you okay? Do you need any help? What can I do?”
The sharp laugh startled her. “I’ll answer your questions in sequence—first, he’s physically fine, though I can’t vouch for the health of his liver. Second, I’m fine, thank you for asking. Last, stay where you are. I’ll bring him to you tomorrow morning, right up to the hotel room.”
“Tomorrow morning?” She squinted at the window, judging the sun’s position. “Why can’t you bring him back tonight?”
“Circumstances. It’s also a seven-hour drive back. I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early. He’s doing well, even though he’s got a hell of a lot of booze to flush out of his system. We’ll begin tonight, but warn his handler to be ready for a long, hot shower and detox to get him back to looking human again. You’ll have him in time for the big meeting.”
“Thank you.” She felt the tension ebb out of her body, replaced with bone-shattering exhaustion.
“No problem,” Jessie replied. “This is what you hired me for. Glad I could find him alive and in one piece.”
“How much…” She cleared her throat, pushing herself back to the professional businesswoman. “How much money does he have on him?”
“Less than half of the credit card advance left. And that’s only because I convinced the guy running the poker game to let me take his share out of the pot. I’ll explain when I see you in the morning. ’Night.” The line went dead.
Ally stared at the phone, digesting the information.
Vincent’s alive.
Her legs felt weak, Jessie’s words reverberating through her system.
He’s alive and healthy.
Trey took the phone out of her hand and slipped it into his pocket. “We’re going. Now.” He put his hand around her waist, pulling her close. “Just hold on to me. We’ll be fine.”
He led her through the crowd, smiling as they made their way to the entrance.
The hot evening air hit her as they stepped out onto the street, the shock bringing her back around.
“He’s alive.” The imaginary weight lifted from her chest. “Thank God.”
“Thank Jessie.” Trey gestured at the valet to flag a cab for them. “She’s damned good at what she does.”
“That’s true.” She pressed against him, thankful for his presence.
Vincent’s back.
The relief fought against the annoyance building up inside her at all the punishment her brother had put her through for the past week.
She slumped against Trey as they sped back to the hotel.
“Now what do I do?” One hand went to her eyes, rubbing them with weak strokes. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“Well,” he said. “After he gets cleaned up, you can ask him about the money.”
“Yes.” She nodded. “Thank God she was able to save some of it. I’m not sure I want to know how much he has left.”
“Important thing is that he’s got some.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “He can’t keep on doing this—it’ll destroy you and the company.”
“I know, I know.” She closed her eyes tight. “I’m an awful woman.”
“Why?” The cab pulled up at the hotel. The doorman approached them, ready to open the door.
“Because I was beginning to enjoy not having him around.” Ally leaned against him, closing her eyes. “I really was. And I hate myself for it.”
He put his arm around her. She sighed, relishing the simple contact.
After tonight, everything was going to change for both of them.