Page 17 of Echo

“Sounds like you’re right about the targets, but I still don’t understand why it matters that some of the shell companies might be registered to women. Gene must have other people on the payroll. Could be he used one of them to set up the companies.”

“Maybe, but from everything we’ve learned, it doesn’t sound like this guy is much for delegating or giving up even the slightest bit of control.”

Sully slowed in front of a spectacular mansion and turned into the circle drive.

“Hold up,” I told Ace before he could reply.

I sped up a little and stopped at the next intersection so I could flip a U-turn, then pulled to a stop on the shoulder of the road across from the mansion.

“Just wait a second. He’s going inside a house, and I need to set up my parabolic mic so I can hear what’s going on in there.”

Ace remained silent while I went to work. It only took a minute to have it ready to go, and when I turned it on, Sully seemed to be just arriving.

“Gene,” he greeted from somewhere on the second floor. “It’s done.”

There was movement at one of the floor-to-ceiling windows upstairs, and I grabbed my binoculars, directing them to that spot.

The curtain slid away from the window, and shock blew through my system when the boss replied, “Good.”

“Motherfucker,” I sputtered—something I’d only ever done once before…the moment I first saw Violet.

“Everything okay?” Ace queried, his tone alert.

“Yeah. I’m just…fucking hell. I’m looking at the boss, and I think we got the name wrong.”

“Gene isn’t in charge?” Ace asked, his voice filled with frustration.

“Uh, no. That’s the boss. Only, I’m guessing her name is spelled J-E-A-N instead of G-E-N-E.”

“Her? No fucking way.”

“Yup. The ringleader is a fucking woman.”

8

VIOLET

Brodie had let me get a good look at his audio surveillance equipment this morning while he was on the phone with someone from his club, so when he got home later that afternoon, I figured I’d return the favor.

“My stuff isn’t as cool as yours, but this is where the magic happens,” I said, cringing at how cheesy that sounded. I was proud of what I’d accomplished in here—from how I’d hung each soundproofing square and blanket myself to all the audiobooks I’d recorded.

My vocal booth was larger than most, but I liked having the extra space while recording so that I didn’t feel penned in. I’d even put up a few strings of fairy lights to give the space a fun spin, which also helped make the recording sessions I streamed live a little less boring.

The only furniture in the room was my large desk. Brodie headed straight for it to take a closer look at the double monitors and microphone perched on top of the flat surface. His feet didn’t even make a sound on the carpet as he moved across the floor, his blue eyes darting in every direction as if he was examining every inch he passed.

“The reading I did curled up on the couch was really prep work,” I explained, taking a seat on my large, comfy desk chair. I turned on my computer and tapped on the keyboard to pull up the notes I’d sent to myself from my e-reader. “Now I know what to ask the author before I start recording.”

“Have you tested how soundproof the room actually is?” he asked, swiveling my chair to face him.

“I mean, my neighbors haven’t complained so far,” I replied with a laugh, but it was quickly cut short when he leaned over, his lips trailing my neck. “But you were able to listen in while I was recording.”

“Only because I microphoned the fuck out of the area surrounding Jeff’s apartment, and I still had to crank up the volume and filter out a fuck ton of background noise.” His breath was hot against my skin, and I sighed, leaning into his touch. “No matter how loud you get, your neighbors aren’t gonna hear you as long as we’re in here.”

“You think so?” I whispered, my breath hitching when he nipped at my pulse point.

“I know so, baby, or else I wouldn’t be planning for all the ways I’m about to make you scream my name as loud as you can,” he rasped. “No way in fuck do I want anyone else to know how you sound when you fall apart for me.”

He bent over to capture my mouth in a deep kiss, leaving me in a sensual fog when he quickly turned my chair back around to face the desk again. Standing behind me, I couldn’t see Brodie’s movements as his lips trailed down my neck while his hands went under the thin material of my shirt. I shivered when his fingers trailed over my sensitive skin until he reached my silky bra.

---