Page 19 of Velvet and Valor
“I’m very clever,” Axel replies with a wink.
Damn it, I laugh before I can stop myself. Now he’s going to think that I think he’s funny and cute.
After I get off the phone, Jax talks to his cop buddy for a little bit. He turns his chair around and speaks in low tones, so I can’t quite make out what he’s saying. I definitely hear the name Moorcrock at least once, though.
Eventually, Jax hangs up and faces us.
“Unfortunately, there’s no information on anyone named Moorcrock,” Jax says. “From what you told us, June, it’s likely an alias. So, no help there. Likewise, the yacht you mentioned has no registration on file. It’s going to make finding the people who abducted you much more difficult.”
“I don’t even want to find them,” I reply.
“I know.” Jax’s jaw works silently for a moment. “But they probably want to find you.”
“If we find them first, they won’t be able to hunt you down,” Axel adds helpfully.
I sigh and cover my eyes with my hand.
“Good grief. Isn’t there an option C?”
Jax taps an ink pen against his desk like a drum while he gathers his thoughts.
“We could move you to a secure location,” he says. “Which of course means there will be no contact between you and any friends, family, or business associates.”
I pull my hand away from my face and give him a hard stare.
“How long would that be?” I ask.
Jax shakes his head.
“There’s no way of knowing for sure.”
“A few days?” I say, but Jax doesn’t respond. “A week? Months? Years?”
His continued silence is far more telling than anything he could have said.
“I would lose my job, and while I’m not vain enough to think that the studio would collapse without me, I couldn’t live with myself if it did and it was my fault…” the words tumble out of me, and I realize I’m not trying to convince Jax. I’m trying to convince myself.
“I understand,” Jax says, spreading his hands out wide. “But I hope that you understand that is the standard operating procedure in these situations.”
I arch a brow at him. “Yes, but your better half Easton told me that you don’t always go by standard procedures.”
“You can say that again,” Axel says in a sudden eruption. “Me and Dane shot the hell out of…ah, never mind.”
Jax glares him to silence before turning back to me.
“It’s true that we’ve developed something of a maverick reputation. It’s also true that our, shall we say, ‘active’ methods of protection have met with a perfect success rate.”
Axel looks like he wants to say something, but he doesn’t. I can guess what’s on his mind. Platinum Security does indeed have a flawless success rate for protecting their clients.
But they also have a reputation for causing mayhem in the process.
“So,” I say slowly, “my choices are to torpedo my own life, potentially for years, until this all blows over…or to go after the people who are after me.”
“Like a fish hanging out on the dorsal fin of a shark,” Axel says. “They’ll never expect it.”
Jax gives Axel a stare that says he’s not helping. But I’ve already made up my mind.
“I’ve come too far, worked too hard to let this situation ruin my life.” I give Jax a nod. “I’m on board with your methods. Hopefully I’ll survive the experience.”
