Mine Until Dawn (5 page)

“The pictures are gone. I put them in my suitcase before I came downstairs.” He rocked on his heels. “Why would the burglars take them?”

“Maybe you need to let the cops handle this, Vince.” Jade reached for the hotel phone.

“No.” When she flinched at the harshness of his tone, he added, “I mean, that won’t be necessary.”

“Why?” She gave him a long stare.

“This is
my
investigation.” His aunt didn’t want the cops involved. From the corner of his eye, he noticed something white peeking from under the side bed drawers. Scowling, he picked it up. A hotel key card. He searched his pockets for his key card. It was where he’d kept it in his pants’ back pocket. Now he knew how Hudson and his partner accessed his room. Unless they stole the key card, someone in this hotel helped them.

“Did you inform the FBI that your statue was stolen?” Jade asked.

“No.”

“The cops?” she pushed.

The woman’s tenacity could be so annoying. He had no intention of explaining certain things to her. Propositioning her was out of the question now. He had to follow this lead.

Vince picked up his jacket and reached for her arm. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Not without my purse.” Her gaze swept the room. “Where’s the duffel bag with the statue?”

Something clasped Vince’s chest and his grip tightened around her arm. “Why?”

“Hey, ease up.” She pried his fingers from her arm and stepped back. “I put my purse and wrap in it. I couldn’t leave them outside or carry them while wielding the bag—”

“Of all the idiotic….”

“Hey, watch it.” Her gaze followed him as he threw his jacket on the bed. “What’s wrong? You’re freaking me out.”

“Hudson took the bag,” he grounded out, threw her a quick glance. He’d known she would be trouble. “He grabbed it off the floor as they raced out the door.”

She blinked and moaned. “Oh, no. Oh, no.” Then she took a deep breath and turned toward him, her eyes blazing. “Why didn’t you stop them?”

Of all the contrary women he’d met….

“Don’t start with me, Jade. I’m not in the mood.” If she’d stayed put like he’d ordered her to, they wouldn’t be in this mess. He massaged his neck and ground his teeth. He wanted her gone, yet he knew that was now impossible. “Let’s go.”

She shook her head. “Where?”

He didn’t have the foggiest idea. They couldn’t stay in this hotel and she couldn’t go back to her place. Not when the bastards had her I.D. and knew where she lived. This was the kind of trouble he always avoided, being saddled with someone he wanted to kiss one minute and throttle the next. He couldn’t ditch her now. He got her involved in this mess and had no choice but to keep her with him until they found her belongings.

CHAPTER 4

“Where are we going?” Her head hurt like crazy, but the fear crawling up her spine was worse. The thought of Hudson and his partner with her I.D., credit card and…her house keys.

“I must make a call.” Jade started across the room to the bedside phone, stopped when Vince lunged forward and blocked her path. “What?”

“Who are you calling?”

Her eyes widened at his suspicious tone. “My cousin for starters.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to make sure Hudson doesn’t go on a shopping spree with my platinum card or take off with my car. Chop-shops are a dime a dozen in L.A.” She waved him aside, but he didn’t budge. “Now what?”

“Is your cousin a cop?”

“The best.”

“How are you going to explain the theft?”

She rocked back and studied his scowling face. This was about his investigation. There was something very fishy about it. He threatened to send ACT agents after her mother, yet he hadn’t reported the statue’s disappearance to the authorities.

“Don’t worry, Knight. Your secret is safe with me.”

“What secret?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just took her arm and nudged her toward the door. “Borrow my cell phone and call whoever you want once we know Hudson and his cohort are not at the dealer’s.”

Hope stirred in her chest. “How do you know they’re headed there?”

“Hudson’s partner was the tail I mentioned earlier. Even before I picked him from the crowd, I knew the dealer was running a scam. Everything happened too fast. It was all too easy.”

Or well orchestrated. Her bubble of hope deflated. She doubted Hudson would hand over her purse once they caught up with them. If they caught up with them.

“That’s nice, Vince, but I’d feel a whole lot better if I spoke with my cousin first.” She extended her hand toward him.
 
“Can I please have your cell now?”

He threw her an annoyed look. She stopped walking and raised her eyebrows, forcing him to stop too. It was obvious the man hated to be challenged. He’d better get over himself. His my-way-or-the-highway attitude didn’t work for her.

“I just want to ease my mind, so quit glowering,” she added.

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes and then disappeared. He yanked his cell phone from its holder and thrust it in her hand. “Jade, you’re trying my patience.”

“Don’t mean to.” She knew her flippant tone belied her words. “Thanks for the phone.”

“Yeah. Come on.”

They continued toward the door. His hand was closing on the doorknob when one of her stockings rolled toward her knee. She tried to free her arm from his grip. It tightened. “Vince.”

“What is it now?” He didn’t even bother to look at her, just jerked the door open.

“I need to use the bathroom.”
 

He shot her an incredulous look. “Now?”

“Yeah. Now.” She pulled her arm free and hurried to the bathroom. “I’ll be out in a sec.” She closed the door on his scowling face, lifted her dress and smothered a groan. Her new sheer silkies were ruined. So much for her gallantry. She unhooked the garter belt, pulled off the stockings and threw them in the garbage.
 
She gave her image a quick glance, ran fingers through her hair and stepped out of the room.

Vince’s gaze bounced between her, the cell phone and the bathroom. She stuck out one smooth leg. “I was removing my ruined stocking, okay? Fighting thugs is hard on a woman’s accessories.”

His gaze lingered on her legs, then ran up to connect with hers. “Why do you wear them? You don’t need to.”

A compliment? Nice.

“Thanks, but need has nothing to do with it.” She loved the way she felt in them, feminine and sexy. It wasn’t easy to reinvent oneself after a humiliating four-year marriage to an adulterous, insecure jerk like her ex. Every time she thought about Jerrod and how he’d stripped her of her dignity, she wanted to slap herself silly. Never again would she give a man the power to hurt her like that. It was all about her now, thank you very much. What
she
wanted and liked, not what someone thought was good for her.

She pushed the thoughts aside, dialed her cousin’s number and brought the phone to her ear as Vince closed his door. They started toward the elevator.

“Yeah?” Her cousin’s growled response reached her ear.

“Did I catch you at a bad time, Eddie?” I asked.

“Jade? Nah. The captain just chewed my ass.”

Jade smothered a giggle at her cousin’s sour tone. “How’s Uncle Lou? Somebody ought to remind him you’re his only son.”

Eddie snickered. “Yeah, like that’s supposed to make a difference. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind that he rides me harder than the others, but today…
 
Let’s just say, it’s been one hell of a day. What’s up?”

“I hate to add to your problems,” Jade said tentatively.

“Nothing you throw my way could make this day any worse, so out with it.”

Jade leaned against the wall once she and Vince stopped outside the elevator. He pressed the down button and stayed near the door with his back to her, giving her some modicum of privacy. Jade’s gaze swept his broad, masculine back then moved lower. Nice ass. She forced herself to focus.

“Some guy just swiped my purse, Eddie.”

Her cousin swore. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine.” As fine as she could be with an egg-size, throbbing lump on her head.

“Your heart—”

“Beating steady and normal,” she cut him off. After years of controlling her arrhythmia, you’d think her family would stop worrying about her. They never miss the opportunity to remind her that she had the disorder.

“Good. When and where did this happen?” he asked

“Less than five minutes ago at the Palace in West Hollywood.”

“Oh. I didn’t know you were participating in the women’s convention going on there. We tripled the patrol around the hotel to prevent something like this from happening. Did you get the man’s description? Recall anything distinctive we could use to help nab him?”

After their meeting at the university, Hudson’s face was etched in her brain. “Curly brown hair, bulbous nose, about six-one, a hairy mole on the right corner of his mouth.” She thought she heard Vince mutter something and lifted her head to look him. His gaze was locked on the elevator door. “Uh-hmm, dark sweat shirt and a woolen hat. Listen, Eddie, I’m more concerned about my things. My I.D., Visa, cell phone, keys and the remote for my house security system are in my purse. Could you make a report for me?”

“Consider it done. Anything else? Need tire locks on your car or a ride home? I should be out of here in less than an hour.”

The elevator door opened just as she opened her mouth to answer. Vince indicated for her to get in. Phone still on her ear, she gave him a brief smile and stepped inside.

“Tire locks would be great. I owe you, Eddie.”

“It’s nothing.”

“First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll head to the DMV for a new driver’s license. Then I’ll call you to unlock the tires.”

“Sounds good,” Eddie responded. “I’ll fax the report to your place or call you with the number once I set everything in motion.”

“My alarm system uses the fax line, so it might be busy once I talk to my security company. Call me at Ashley’s. I’m on my way to her place for the…”
 
Jade groaned. With all the craziness, she almost forgot her plans for the evening. Her gaze touched the smooth surface of her watch. Five minutes after six? She was already late for the party. “Eddie, I’ve got to go. Call me with the report number, okay?”

“Sure. Don’t forget to change your house locks too.”

“Will do. I owe you one.”

Eddie chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. Talk to you later.”

Jade terminated the call and pressed her fingers against her temple. She could kill for an aspirin right about now. Being this helpless was something she’d vowed to avoid at all costs. If she hadn’t let Vince smooth talk her into coming upstairs to see his pictures none of this would be happening. She sighed. No, to take out her frustrations on the man was pointless. He didn’t plan for Hudson and his partner-in-crime to abscond with her purse. She needed to concentrate on her next move not point fingers.

She started to dial her credit card company. It wasn’t the first time she reported a missing card and their number memorized.

“What did he say?” Vince asked.

“He’ll file a report and fax it to me later.” She pressed send and brought the phone to her ear. After being directed to several menus, she was finally connected to an operator, who promised they’d send her a new card and to expect it in the mail sometime next week. Jade sighed with relief as she terminated the call. Now for the last call. She punched in the numbers.

“Who are you calling now?” Vince asked

She ground her teeth and threw him an annoyed look. “If you must know,” she said, “I’m calling my cousin Ashley. I’m late for her party and need to explain why.” The phone kept ringing in her cousin’s loft, but no one was picking it up, adding to her mounting frustration.

Vince crossed his arms and scowled. “Why can’t you skip? I’m sure they’ll understand if you explain.”

“I can’t. We are throwing her a bachelorette party.” She was about to hang up when her cousin Faith picked the phone up and yelled a cheerful hello. Jade winced and moved the phone away from her ear and closer to her lips. “Faith, quit abusing my eardrum.”

“Where are you, Jade? Everyone is waiting for ya.”

“I’m running a little late. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Make it sooner. Just don’t forget the stripper. I can’t wait to get a handful of some hunk’s buns.”

Jade yanked the phone away from her ear and thumped the heel of her palm against her forehead. The stripper? She was supposed to confirm the booking a two days ago. The dancer a friend recommended told her to call him back, but his number was in her wallet.
 
Faith was going to kill her. No, the girls would rip her limbs off. She closed her eyes and groaned.

“What is it?” Vince asked, breaking through her self-recrimination.

She tilted her head to study him. He was hot enough to pass for a male stripper, if she could get him to relax and smile. A hysterical giggle escaped her as she imagined Vince gyrating around a room full of drunk, horny women. She’d be the first to break the rules and touch him. It was a delicious and tempting thought, but insane.

“You don’t want to know.” The elevator opened and she brought the phone to her ear as she stepped out. “I won’t forget, Faith. I’ve got to go. See you in a few minutes.”

Jade closed the cell phone and muttered another oath under her breath. She ignored Vince’s scowling face. “I need a phonebook.”

“Not now. Later.” He tried to steer her toward the front entrance.

“Don’t, Knight. I need to get my home security provider’s number,” she improvised. She thought she heard him mutter a curse under his breath. “I’ll only take a second. I promise.” She headed straight for the red-headed front desk manager. “May I borrow you phonebook, please?”

“You want to tell me what’s going on, Jade?” Vince growled from behind her.

“Jeez. All I need is the number for my home—”

“Bullshit.”

She turned to face him and leaned back to create some distance between them, not liking the frustrated look on his face. What was his problem? She was the one whose world was falling apart.

“Okay. Okay. Ever heard of a bachelorette bash without a male dancer?” He blinked. “Yeah, neither have I. I’m in charge of bringing one. I’m hoping they’re listed in the yellow pages and accept last-minute assignments.”

“Excuse me, ma’am?” came from behind her.

Jade turned to find the woman waiting with the phone book. “Thank you.”

The woman leaned forward to whisper, “I couldn’t help but hear what you told your friend. You may want to try these guys.” She pressed a business card in Jade’s hand. “I’ve used them for private parties here at the hotel. They’re a little expensive but very good. Hot.” She fanned her face with her hand. “They guarantee customer satisfaction and no one’s complained yet.” She winked.

Heat crawled up Jade’s neck. She turned to see if Vince overheard their conversation. He was down the counter, talking to the other front desk manager—a tall, dorky looking man with a receding hairline.

 
“We’re talking about a dancer, uh stripper, right?” Jade whispered to the woman.

“Of course. I used them for my best friend’s bachelorette party. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed.”

 
“Thank you. You’ve saved my hide.” They exchanged a conspirators’ smile, and Jade’s gaze dropped to the business card. Studs Inc. Not very original, but the card looked professionally done. It listed phone and cell phone numbers, fax line, and a web site. She palmed it and leafed through the white pages for the number of her home security company. Using one of the front desk pens, she scribbled it on the back of the Studs Inc. card.

She was dialing the number when she heard, “Mr. Knight, we inform our guests to keep their valuables in the safe down here.” Her head swiveled toward Vince and the front desk manager.