Daron traced a finger over the black cotton material, amazed that the hat contained a layer of Kevlar. He had been surprised when Steve gave him a box from Cameron. Her notes said, it may not save you from a high velocity round, but it should give you a fighting chance. He parked the Maserati in the VIP area of the quaint south side reception hall then glanced over at Nicco Wolfe. Daron hoped things didn’t get as crazy as the meeting with Calvin.
Damn. Has my life really come down to wearing bulletproof gear on a daily basis?
He definitely didn’t like the fact that Levi was still searching for his place of residence. It meant Levi was closer to executing whatever he had planned. Daron hoped tonight would provide what he needed to shut Marquise down, then Levi would be next on the list.
Nicco lowered the window and launched three ghost drones before raising the glass.
They left the vehicle and moved swiftly to the door of the banquet hall.
“Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Kincaid, great seeing you,” a bald security guard greeted them, holding the door open.
As their feet hit the black polished concrete floor in the reception room, Daron scanned the space which buzzed with conversation. The drones were set to record using a facial recognition program. If any of the people he had loaded passed by, the device would start recording. He handed the control tablet to two of the drones to Nicco.
“In and out in under thirty minutes.” Daron said, wincing. He was still sore even though the doctor had given him a shot to help with the pain.
Nicco’s blonde hair, blue eyes, and muscular physique immediately caught the attention of a gorgeous brunette, who motioned for him to join her. “Signal or text if you need me.”
“Don’t get too distracted.” Daron nodded at the woman, whose shape was similar to Jennifer Lopez’s. She leaned against one of the high boys with red under-lighting scattered around the outer edge.
Jazz music played softly in the background as Nicco and Daron made their way through the crowd, heading in separate directions.
Daron maneuvered through the attendees, occasionally stopping and talking with familiar faces until he reached a man with golden skin and platinum hair, who was his true target. He was supposed to have information on Marquise. Mitchell held up an index finger as he wrapped up a conversation.
Daron scanned the room and spotted Alisha and Ralph in a conversation with Zack Shaw, owner of several businesses, who was also known for contributing big dollars to community programs. Scott, The Castle security supervisor, who had been crossed off the suspect list, was at the bar standing too close to a woman that was not his wife. None of Marquise’s top men were in the building, just a few minions.
Daron’s head snapped toward the door. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
Cameron walked in on the arm of a green-eyed Casanova, wearing an outfit Daron had bought for her, no less. The champagne halter dress hugged every curve like a second skin. Several male eyes were on her in an instant. She was expecting the attention because her eye color choice for tonight was emerald. It amazed him how small changes made Cameron look so different. Her face appeared thinner, her eyes seemed bigger, her full lips appeared smaller. He couldn’t see the shoes but they were high enough to have her standing at 6’2”.
Mitchell approached, forcing Daron’s attention away from Cameron. “Sorry about that.”
“I understand.” Daron clasped the extended hand and shook it. Before he could utter any more words, Casanova and Cameron were by his side.
“Mitchell, wonderful event as usual.” Casanova placed a hand on Mitchell’s shoulder.
“Dr. Patrick Pine, your presence at my events makes them spectacular.” Mitchell’s eyes went from Cameron’s face to her cleavage. “Who’s this enchanting creature?”
“Jordan is not a creature,” Dr. Pine frowned, pulling Cameron closer to his side before Daron could open his mouth to say anything.
Jordan. Daron glared at Cameron but she refused to make eye contact. Cameron was quick to set men straight. The fact that she simply gave Mitchell a mischievous but threatening smile then glanced up at Dr. Pine infuriated Daron. He thought about all the times she’d given him a hard time for doing something similar.
“She’s an extremely intelligent and multi-talented woman who—”
“I didn’t mean to offend,” Mitchell held a palm up, then gestured to his left. “This is Daron Kincaid.”
“Nice to meet you.” Daron shook Dr. Pine’s hand, then Cameron’s, slowly caressing the back of hers with his thumb while looking deep into her eyes. “A pleasure seeing you.”
Dr. Pine turned to Cameron. “Do you mind if I have a private conversation with Mitchell for a moment?”
“I don’t mind at all.”
Mitchell turned to Daron.
“It’s fine,” he answered before Mitchell said a word. He wanted a moment alone with Jordan.
Dr. Pine kissed Cameron on the cheek then excused himself as Mitchell escorted him down a back hallway.
“Jordan, huh?” Daron snatched a raspberry lemon drop martini from the passing butler’s tray and handed the drink to Cameron. He placed a palm on her lower back, leading her to a highboy near the hallway where the two men had disappeared.
“He knows my name is Cameron.” She swept the honey-brown hair over her shoulder. “It’s also his brother’s name.”
Daron leaned into her ear. “Does he know your original eye color is hazel, that you have the most adorable set of dimples, and the most sensitive spot on your body is—”
“My green eye color was his request.” Cameron stared at him as if she wasn’t going to explain any further then polished off her drink before sitting the glass down on the table. “I’m going to grab a bite. I’ll catch you later.”
He gently captured her arm. “No, I got you. It’s the least I could do after your gift saved my life.” Daron quickly made his way to the buffet table. Was Cameron really dating this Dr. Pine? Or was she up to something else? Pulling up the drone feed of Dr. Pine and Mitchell talking on his cell, he entered the buffet line of people. Daron remembered how they met and couldn’t discount Dr. Pine as a threat to getting Cameron back.
He glanced at Nicco, who was mingling in the center of the room but his eyes were on Daron. The people he recognized in the group were Zack and Tony Baltimore. Daron picked up a plate, made a selection of items she liked, returned to the table, and handed her a set of utensils and the full appetizer plate.
“Thanks.” She unwrapped the utensils from the napkin.
Daron was curious because she wasn’t using an alias, just her middle name. How does she know him? While he recognized her, he doubted those that didn’t know her well would. “Have you figured out what’s going on with your father?”
Cameron took a few bites of crab cake then said, “Not much to update. Jake seems to be narrowing down his Chicago list.”
“Have you figured out the why?” Daron asked, glancing down at the cell to check the feed and saw Dr. Pine and Mitchell making their way down the hall and back toward the reception. His time with her was running out.
“Right now, I have Trenton combing through cold cases.”
Daron hoped her being here with Dr. Pine was a means of obtaining information on her father and nothing more. “If you need help, let me know.”
“I won’t.” Cameron moved the plate, playfully blocking his hand as he went for a crab cake. She glanced at him, eyes full of hunger he recognized wasn’t for food. She shifted her attention across the room then turned to Daron. “We’ll follow him a little while longer and see if we get more clues. Nicco’s here with you tonight?”
“You wanted me to have a security detail,” Daron fired back.
Something bigger was at play with Jake visiting all those doctors. He just didn’t know what. The Castle was definitely in the middle of the situation but the bigger question was if the same person involved with Khalil’s shooting was somehow connected to Jake’s search for doctors.
“What brings you here tonight?” Cameron looked from Daron to Nicco then back to him just as her date returned.
“Daron, I must steal this beauty back from you and make up for the time I neglected her.” Dr. Pine slid his arm possessively around Cameron’s waist.
She placed a manicured hand in the center of Dr. Pine’s chest. “You’ll get away with nothing less.”
The seductive tone of her statement was like someone scraping a key against the side panel of his Maserati. Daron had to remind himself to keep his feelings in check. Focus. Once he figured out who botched the security and dealt with Marquise, he and Cameron could work through the issues keeping them apart.
An older gentleman tapped Dr. Pine on the shoulder, causing him to look away.
Cameron snuggled deeper into Dr. Pine’s side.
Daron moved toward Mitchell, whose eyes suddenly lit with fear. Cameron and her date disappeared into the crowd.
“Sorry, I’ve been so busy tonight but I see some other guests I need to greet.” Mitchell’s focus was across the room as he shook Daron’s hand, sliding a flash drive into the palm.
“Another time.”
Something was up. Daron sent a text to Nicco to keep an eye on Mitchell. He wasn’t sure who spooked him but he now understood why this was the best environment to meet. With Mitchell hosting the event it wouldn’t look strange for them to speak briefly.
Cameron and Dr. Pine slipped out of the door, which didn’t put Daron in the best of moods.
Nicco made his way into the back corridor. Daron received a text from Pedro with an article with the picture of the stolen artwork from the auction Alisha had told him about.
Daron texted back. Don’t tell me this is Reese and Amarion.
Pedro let him know they are lying low because they hadn’t given the pieces to Marquise. Daron hated that they refused the offer to put them into a safe house but he couldn’t force their help on the young men.
He sent a message to Steve to get a safe house prepared for them just in case, then went in search of Nicco. When Daron caught up with him, Mitchell was near a set of black steel doors being led down a long service hallway by two men in black suits. The two escorts held the silver handles then stepped closer to Mitchell as he exited the building.
A man with beady eyes and skin tone likened to a roasted coffee bean, a stocky Hispanic, and a burly White man jumped out, aiming their guns at Mitchell.
Daron signaled for Nicco to wait as he pulled up the drone feed and slid the listening device in one ear.
“Someone would like to speak to you.”
“No shit, Sherlock. I couldn’t tell by the two men escorting me out of my own event.” Mitchell shook his head.
A Bentley Flying Spur drove up and Marquise stepped out. “Are you trying to get shot up like Khalil? If you’re not, I suggest you keep Daron Kincaid off your guest list.”
Daron ran a hand over the flash drive, knowing Mitchell definitely had the inside knowledge needed to bring Marquise down.