Page 19 of Forbidden Flames

Hendrix turned to look at the screen as well and sighed. “No, this man has serious issues. Nothing I could easily diagnose.”

Emily leaned forward, her mouth falling open. “Go back!” she gasped. When Hendrix brought the previous image back onto the main screen, she stepped closer. In fact, everyone in the room seemed to tilt their head to the left as they tried to figure out what was on the bed.

“Yep, that’s a blow up doll dressed to look like you, Em,” Hendrix explained.

There was a communal gasp of horror at that explanation and Emily turned away. Bracing her hands on the top of the center table, she looked at Hendrix. “What needs to be done? Other than barring him from the club, that is.”

Hendrix rubbed a hand over his jaw, absently noting that he needed to shave. Then he looked down at the letters still spread out over the table. “I think that I should visit his mother and see if she is aware of her son’s…uh…,” he glanced up at the screen again, relieved to see that Tony had blanked the screen. “Hobbies,” he finished lamely.

There were a few weak chuckles at that description. Hendrix knew that sometimes, one needed to laugh in order to ease the tension. This was one of those times.

Levi straightened, crossing his arms over his chest. “I should speak with her,” he announced.

“Why you?” Hendrix demanded, willing to listen, but he felt it should be him. After all, this was about his woman. He wanted to protect Emily.

“Because Agnes Albright is the ultimate snob. If you were to visit her, she wouldn’t even let you sit on her settee.She’d usher you into the servants quarters, tell her butler to offer you a cup of coffee, then send you on your way.”

Matteo came into the room at that point. “Agnes is a righteous bitch,” he warned, mimicking Levi’s stance. “I should go.” He glanced over at Levi. “No offense, my friend, but I’m at least a blood relation to an aristocrat. I should visit her and tell her that she needs to do something about her son.”

Hendrix sighed. “If you two are in here trying to take over my job, then who is out in the gaming room taking all of that idiot’s money?”

Simultaneously, all of them turned towards the security monitors just in time to catch Sean sitting at the table with Gerald Albright. In that same moment, Sean glanced up at the cameras with a look that threatened death at his abandonment.

The team burst out laughing as they turned back to the table. “Okay, so our Irish bastard is occupying the unhinged weirdo,” Levi said with another chuckle. “What’s the plan?”

Emily watched and listened to Levi, Hendrix, and Matteo come up with all sorts of ideas. But none of them would accomplish what needed to happen. Plus, many of them were illegal. Her heart warmed at the thought that these men were willing to go to jail to protect her. But she wasn’t going to let them do that. Not while she had a better idea.

“Gentlemen!” she called out, interrupting some hairbrained idea that included a lawn mower. Since Emily hadn’t been paying attention, she wasn’t exactly sure what Hendrix would do with the lawn mower. Nor did she particularly want to know.

Now that she had their attention, she smiled politely, looking each of them in the eye before offering a mischievous smile. “One thing I’ve learned over the years working here isthat the best way to fight these wealthy, entitled bastards is to beat them at their own game.” She looked at Hendrix. “We need to know how the Albrights made their money. What stocks they hold. Who owns the building in which they live.” She turned to Matteo. “I need to know who Agnes Albright invited to her dinner parties over the last several months.” She looked at Levi. “And I need to know what debts she and her son have.” She scanned their eyes. “Can you do that for me?”

Slowly, Levi, Hendrix, and Matteo smiled, nodding their heads. “Absolutely,” Levi replied, answering for everyone.

“In the meantime, it would be best if we didn’t cancel Gerald’s membership just yet. We need him to keep coming to the club. But,” she turned towards Tony and Dan, “can you two organize teams to follow Gerald? I need to know where he is at all times.” She looked at Hendrix. “We need cameras in those rooms. We need to know what he’s doing and where he is.”

Tony and Dan stood up immediately. “We can do that right now,” Tony announced. He looked at Hendrix while Dan disappeared into a supply room. “Can you keep him here for another ninety minutes?”

“No problem,” Hendrix said. “Don’t get caught.”

Dan came out of the closet, loaded up with electronic supplies. The two men grinned. “Not a problem. We’ll be in and out in less than twenty minutes.” Then they disappeared.

Levi cringed. “They both know that what they’re doing is illegal, right?”

Hendrix didn’t answer. He merely lifted an eyebrow.

Emily chuckled. “Those guys are excellent at their jobs. They won’t get caught. And I want to know where that man is at all times.”

“Me too,” Matteo replied with a sharp nod. “So, we know the plan.” He turned to Levi. “Since Maggie and Ann abandoned us, I think we should take their places as the table spies, don’t you agree?”

Levi’s grin was almost evil. “After you, my bastard buddy!”

Matteo threw back his head, laughing as he turned to leave the security room.

Chapter 20

“Good evening, Ms. Albright,” Emily greeted the elderly woman with a professional smile. “Thank you so much for coming all the way out here to speak with us.”

Agnes Albright sniffed with disdain. “I don’t appreciate being summoned, Ms. Lazarus,” she snapped.

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