Back to the real world.
She stared at the beachfront estate. “That home is straight out of a fairy tale.”
“Glad you liked it.” He checked to ensure Dakota’s guy was on his six. “Time to deal with Rave.”
“My problems are irrelevant, considering what’s at stake for you.”
“Uncle Charlie isn’t going to kill me,” he said, “because I’ll fucking kill him first.”
Evangeline was wrecked. Unlike her mom, she kept a tight rein on her emotions. Every decision she made was logic based, until Sinclair Develin. The man beside her had claimed her heart. Even worse, he seemed to have found the key to her soul.
Being around him wasn’t just exhilarating; it was necessary. In years past, their kink had heightened the arousal, but straight-up sex with Sin skyrocketed her on a one-way trajectory toward the sun. She could not get enough of him. And that scared the hell out of her. She didn’t want to lose her strong sense of self and end up a desperate romantic like her mom.
Her mom needed a man to complete her. That destructive path had led to multiple divorces and an endless string of boyfriends. Evangeline promised herself she would never need another person to make her whole. But, she had gone to the extreme and walled herself off from exploring a deep, meaningful relationship. Based on watching her mom, she convinced herself that nothing lasted. Since there was no permanence when it came to most people, she locked her heart away.
While at the beach house, she gave herself permission to love Sin with everything she had. The magnificent home was magical, so why not surrender to one evening of living her best life?
As they weaved their way out of the neighborhood, Evangeline put her emotions back on lockdown. Time to get a grip on reality, woman.
Sin’s phone rang and he hit the answer button on his steering wheel. “Hey, Dakota.”
“Uncle Lalla!” said Sammy. “Can you come over and play with me?”
“I wish I could, squirt, but I have to work today. Why don’t I ask Evangeline if she wants to come with me for family dinner on Sunday?”
Sammy squealed with joy. She’s precious. “Daddy, Uncle Lalla is bringing E-Leen for family dinner!”
“Are you playing with your Christmas presents?” Sin asked the child.
“Uh-huh. I’m playing with my Barbies.”
“That’s great, honey,” Sin replied.
“Daddy wants to talk to you.”
“See you Sunday.”
“’Kay.”
“Hey,” Dakota said. “Checking to make sure my guy is trailing you.”
Sin glanced in his rearview mirror. “Not in my line of sight.”
“Hold on.” A moment later, Dakota said, “He’s there.”
“You’re on speaker. Evangeline’s with me.”
“Hey, Evangeline.”
“Thanks for helping us out last night,” Evangeline replied.
“I got another threatening text,” Sin said. “I’m certain Uncle Charlie’s behind the motorcycle accident. Probably the club fire, too.”
“Send me his phone number,” Dakota said.
“It’s a burner from Florida.”
“Where’s Anton?” Dakota asked.
“Gave him the holiday off.”
“Keep him close. I’ll talk to you later.” Dakota hung up.
“You never explained why your driver is also your bodyguard.”
He rubbed his whiskered chin. “Years ago, someone tried to kill me.”
That’s intense. “Was it work related?”
“No, it was during college. When he escaped, I hired protection.”
“Escaped?”
“On his way to prison.”
Whoa. “I wondered about that scar on your chest. Bullet wound?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
It does to me. She hated that he was stiff-arming her and stared out the passenger window.
“What’s going on here?” His voice cut through the thickening silence.
Evangeline shifted in the seat and their eyes met. “We’re having a conversation.”
“Is that it?”
She shrugged. “Maybe it’s time for more of that quid—”
His phone rang. Sanchez’s name flashed on the nav screen and he answered. “You’re on speaker and Evangeline is with me.”
“Hey, Evangeline,” Sanchez said. “Happy New Year.”
“You, too,” Evangeline replied.
“Sin, Hotel X’s GM is off today,” Sanchez said. “He’s in tomorrow afternoon. What else do you need?”
“Nothing now. Thanks for that.” He disconnected the call, then made another.
“Sinclair Develin, to what do I owe this honor?” asked a man with a distinctive, British accent.
“Hey, Greg, how’s business?”
“Smooth sailing, thanks to you.”
“Those sex workers move on?”
“Sure did, and so did the FBI investigating my hotel.”
“Glad I could help. Meet me at your office in two hours.”
“Seriously? I’ve got a houseful of relatives—”
“I need your help, and you owe me.”
“Of course. I’ll be there.”
Sin hung up.
“What’s the plan?” Evangeline asked.
“First stop, Hotel X,” Sin replied. “Then, Rave is going to admit she’s the woman in the video.”
“Just like that?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “Just like that.”
When Sin said nothing more, Evangeline didn’t pepper him with questions. If he wasn’t going to share his plan or confide his past, she would back off and give him space. It’s better this way. Yet, no matter how many times she told herself that, she no longer believed it.
She’d fallen in love with him and she hated herself for that.
18
Birdie’s Friend, Rave
The General Manager for Hotel X greeted them with a tight smile, but Sin felt no guilt for asking him to come in on his day off. After introducing Evangeline, Greg ushered them into his office. Once seated, Sin got right to the point.
“You have a guest staying here who needs to be handled before the press gets wind of the situation.”
His shoulders sagged. “Oh, no. Another sex worker?”
Sin leaned back, crossed his legs. “I have reason to believe she’s a Russian spy.”
The color drained from the GM’s face. “That’s bad.”
“The FBI will be all over this if it’s not handled quickly and quietly.”
“What do you need?”
“To speak with her.”
“What’s her name?”
“She goes by Rave, but I’m guessing that’s an alias. Can you check reservations for me? She might be a long-term guest.”
While Greg tapped on his keyboard, Sin shifted his attention to Evan. After a few seconds, she returned his gaze. Her rueful smile tore through him. Is she chilly because I didn’t open up about my past?