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Regan Harris
Magari Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas Nevada
Liam led us through the winding back halls. He walked with purpose, like we were supposed to be there. I was lost after the first two turns. This place was a maze a rat couldn’t find his way out of. I jumped and looked down. No rats.
“Here it is.” Liam stopped walking and pointed to the door. “But how are we going to get through the security room to Edwards’s office? I think they’ll notice us.”
“There was another door in his office. Did you notice it?” Liam nodded yes. I thought out loud as I walked. “Okay. We walked straight through the security room to the office, right?”
“Yes,” Liam agreed. I dragged my hand along the wall. The hallway ended at a T-junction. I made a left and kept walking. Liam and Jax followed behind me.
“This should be the back wall to security. At some point, Edwards’s office starts.” I followed the hallway. After fifty feet or so, the hallway made another left. I turned and continued down searching for the doorway that should be there but wasn’t.
“Huh. We walked straight through into his office and directly across was another door. It should be here.”
“It is.” Liam pointed down.
I had been looking for a regular door. This door blended in with the wall. The key card entry slot, just below my waist, was the only visible clue a doorway existed. Once I looked closer, I could see the faint outline of the door but there wasn’t a handle.
“Okay, Jax. You’re up.” I fluffed her hair while she smacked her lips together, plumping them. “Let’s roll. Liam, wait here.”
I inserted the card and a light flashed green. Jax threw the door open and sashayed in. I followed behind her, leaving our bags with Liam in the hallway.
Edwards jumped up from his chair. He gulped after taking one look at Jax. She walked around the desk and sat on the edge. Jax pushed on Edwards’s shoulder, urging him back into his seat. She lifted her legs and placed her feet on the arms of the chair, blocking him in.
I closed the door and prepared myself for the show. I covered my mouth to hide my smirk. Watching Jax in action was always a good time. Edwards was about to be bowled over.
Jax ran one finger along his jaw. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
“Happy birthday.” Jax used her best Marilyn Monroe voice.
“It’s... it’s, uh, not my birthday.” Edwards stuttered out the words.
Jax leaned forward to whisper in his ear. “Let’s pretend.” She licked his earlobe.
Edwards passed out.
“Crap,” I said.
Jax glanced over her shoulder at me and then back to Edwards. She lightly slapped his cheek. He moaned. His eyes fluttered open. He jerked awake completely when he saw Jax again. Jax wrapped her hands in his shirt to keep him from sliding the chair away from her.
“Let’s take this a little slower,” Jax said. She stood up and walked slowly around his chair. One finger trailing along his shoulder and neck as she moved. She stopped behind him and ran her fingers into his hair, massaging his scalp. His eyes closed as he relaxed. She rubbed his scalp more before moving down to his shoulders.
“Why don’t we talk for a while,” Jax said. “Ease in.” She continued her ministrations on his neck and shoulders. Edwards was putty in her hands. As she manipulated him, he forgot to question why we were there. Jax was in control. She was in her domain. Her favorite times in life were when men were at her disposal.
Of course, Liam was the exception to that rule. He gave as good as he got. And she loved him even more for it.
“You must be really important,” Jax said.
“Um, I guess. Why?” Edwards kept his eyes closed, still lost in Jax’s magic.
“Why else would you need all of this equipment?” Jax rubbed harder. Edwards’s head bobbed with each movement. “I mean, I bet you could hack anything.” Sigh. “That’s so sexy.”
“You think hackers are sexy?” Edwards asked. I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, yeah. Brains over brawn have always turned me on. I would love to watch it sometime.”
“Watch? Watch what?” Edwards gulped again.
“Someone hack. I don’t even know what that really means. What a strange word, hmm?” I motioned for Jax to tone it down a little bit.
“Well, maybe I could show you something? Something small. Like getting into someone’s Facebook account and leaving a fake message?” Edwards glanced up at Jax. Hope filled his face. He wanted to impress her.
“You mean ‘post’? You’re cute.”
“What would you like to see?” Edwards asked.
“Maybe you could help me with a problem I’m having?” Jax suggested.
“Sure!” Edwards sat up and propped his hands over the keyboard. “What’s the problem?”
“I just can’t remember where my friend said he was going. Could you see what flight his name is on?”
“That’s easy.” Edwards’s fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed. I held myself back from flying across the room to see over his shoulder. I clenched my fists and held my breath. “I’m ready. What’s the name?”
“Grayden Thomas.” I said the name without thinking. Edwards stopped typing and focused his attention on me. “Uh, hi.” I gave a small wave.
He pushed himself back from the desk. “What’s going on here?”
I rushed toward him. “Please don’t freak out. Please. He’s my husband and I need help.”
“He’s the one who was kidnapped?”
“Yes. I was down here earlier. I just didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry we tricked you. But, I’m desperate. Please help.” I clasped my hands together and begged him.
“I’m not supposed to do this.”
“I know. But you were willing a moment ago. How would you feel if your wife were missing? Wouldn’t you do anything you could to find her?” I asked.
Edwards looked over his shoulder at Jax. She’d taken a step back from him once I’d started talking. “I don’t have a wife.” He spoke to Jax, not me.
Jax smiled at him and pinched his chin. “You will one day, handsome. You’re really sweet. I can tell.”
I watched as the back of his neck turned red in a blush.
“Can you help us? Will you help us?” Jax asked. Edwards nodded. He turned back to his computer and set to work. It only took him a minute to get what we needed.
“Looks like he was booked on three flights. Paris, London and New York City.”
I deflated. All large cities. There was no way I’d find him in any of them.