Page 52 of Tangled Roses

“You should have called me, honey. I could have been your date tonight.”

She rests her painted talon on my chest and edges closer. “Now your companion has left, we should slip upstairs to my suite. It would be more fun there than this stuffy old party.”

“Excuse me, Estelle. There is a business associate I must catch before the auction begins.”

She pouts as I move away and the rage boils inside me as I frantically search for Ellie.

She is nowhere to be found and when Luka catches up with me, he says simply, “I couldn’t locate her. She must still be in this room.”

“The exits?” I ask.

“Covered. Everywhere is secure. She won’t be far.”

I swear every nerve ending I possess is frayed because Ellie is not holding my hand and not within my sight.

“Find her.” I growl as I notice Michael Johnson heading my way and the fact he’s alone tells me he has something on his mind.

Luka disappears and I’m confident he will find Ellie, and I nod as Michael approaches.

“Arman, regarding your problem.”

My heart quickens as he nods toward the open door leading to the terrace.

As I follow him, we take two flutes of champagne from the waiter and as we head into the night air, I sense my heart beating frantically inside me.

“I’ve been thinking of your poor father and who may wish him harm and there is something that may help with that.”

“I’m listening.”

He glances around and lowers his voice. “Are you aware of the name Charles Kenricky?”

“The politician?” Of course, but I’m not going to admit that to Michael before I understand where this is heading.

“You may want to investigate his wife.”

“Why?”

“It may be nothing but one of the escorts I had the pleasure of meeting spoke about her and her involvement with your father.”

“My father?” I’m surprised at that and hope to God she wasn’t another conquest to drive another nail into my mother’s heart.

“Yes. She met him at one of the parties and told me she used to work for Adele. Apparently, it was Adele who recommended her to Marsha Steele.”

I am listening avidly because this may be the breakthrough we need, and Michael says in a low voice. “She recognized your father because he visited Adele one day at the office. She overheard them arguing and tried to listen in. She couldn’t hear much, but Adele told him to leave because Charles mustn’t know about them. She was begging him not to say anything and kept on assuring him of her loyalty.”

“Her loyalty?” This is like dancing on the edge of a ravine in the dark, and Michael nods.

“She said there were raised voices and Adele was crying, saying she would do anything to stop this, but it was too late. That was all she heard, but she told me it struck her as odd because Adele was the strongest and most formidable woman she had ever met. When she saw Andrei at one of the parties, she recognized him immediately.”

“Thank you.” I shake his hand. “I will look into it.”

“Word of warning before you do.”

Michael is solemn. “Charles is trying to become the Republican candidate for president next year and won’t appreciate a scandal. He’s a good man and would do well leading the country. Tread with caution because his competition isn’t as favorable to the alliance.”

His meaning is clear. Investigate but don’t rock the boat because, as always, business comes first, and this club looks after their own, even if means keeping dark secrets.

As I enter the grand ballroom, I notice everyone taking their places for the charity auction and as I approach the table reserved for me, Ellie is still nowhere to be found.

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