Chapter Twenty-Four

Aja Blue noticed Christian, Presley, Kayne, and even Nicole keeping watch as they navigated the streets. Kayne took a circuitous route, so no one followed them. She was sick of this. The constant cloak-and-dagger was so out of her league. She enjoyed mysteries and dramas on screen, but not in real life.

They had switched vehicles and were on their way to the safe house. They'd been shot at—again! Just thinking of bullets pinging by their heads was enough to cause the trembling that had overtaken her limbs.

No one else seemed affected, letting her know she was alone in her terror. This was commonplace in their line of work. She sincerely hoped Christian didn't face gunfire often. Her heart couldn't take it.

After all that had transpired, the last thing she wanted to do was dress up and attend a fundraiser with the hoity-toity. Crawling into bed with Christian was so tempting, but she couldn't let Jay down. The event tonight would raise thousands of dollars to memorialize his name. The least Aja Blue could do was to show up.

She hadn't told Sara Lea, Darwin, or Marla about the scholarship. It had happened so suddenly that she hadn't had time to contact them. She tried to decide if it was better to let them know now or wait until after the fundraiser.

Knowing they were also hurting over losing their coworker, she sent a group text. After the award was announced, they'd send a press release to their client list, hoping to raise more funds for Jay's memorial. People needed to know about it.

Aja Blue planned on asking Mrs. Sinclair if she could sit on the foundation's board. She wanted a say in who would receive Jay's award and would look for candidates who shared his ideals—integrity, perseverance, and dedication. Jay would want that, she was sure.

It still seemed surreal that Jay was dead. She missed his acerbic wit and unyielding loyalty. His designs were innovative and unconventional. She decided to create a line that borrowed from his vision. She nodded her head, loving the idea. It would be named the Jay Guitterez Collection. Proceeds would funnel directly into his scholarship.

The Sinclair pool house project loomed over her head. Mrs. Sinclair knew of the tragedy, so Aja Blue had some time to put a plan together, but she hated for there to be any delay. She'd never been one to procrastinate. Get it done as soon as possible was her motto. It had been Jay's too. Once Jay's funeral was over and she found a new office space, she'd concentrate on finishing it before creating the line in his name.

#

Christian's head was on a swivel as Kayne navigated to the safe house. He was hyper-aware of Aja Blue beside him and her slight tremble. As much as he wanted to reassure her that everything was okay, he needed to make sure he could deliver on that promise.

How the hell had someone tracked them to Detective Herbert's apartment?

Nicole called her captain to report the attempted shooting and to let him know she was turning off her phone in case it was being traced.

"Tell him I hit the guy in the upper left shoulder and to check hospitals for a gunshot victim."

Nicole repeated what Kayne said and then disconnected.

Christian waited until they were secure inside the house and Aja Blue had retreated upstairs before he gathered his crew, including the detective. He considered her one of theirs for this op. Her department might not want her to pursue the case, but he did.

"Thoughts? Why did someone stake out Nicole's apartment?"

"I've been pondering that," Kayne said. "They knew she'd been hospitalized. Maybe they watched to see when she left and followed her home."

"One theory," Christian agreed, "but it would take an unbelievable level of commitment for someone to stake out her place."

"Or they knew my name and discovered where I lived," Nicole added.

"Also good. But how did they know we would visit you?"

That had been bugging him. Had the person waited to see if they would stop by? And what were the odds?

"Maybe it had nothing to do with us, and it was someone after the detective," theorized Presley.

Christian thought about it and shook his head. "I'd have a better chance of believing that if the accident hadn't happened. They are all connected."

"But why go after her?" Presley wondered.

"I'm the one who arrested Pastor Chet and his crew. His minions would be upset with me."

"That's true," Christian realized. "His followers are like a cult. They would do anything to protect their leader."

Presley checked her watch. "You should get ready for the gala."

Christian sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was attend a party of wealthy, snobbish, eccentric millionaires and pretend to mingle with them. But for Aja Blue, he'd do it. He would do anything for her.

Presley disappeared to help Aja Blue get ready. Meanwhile, Christian dragged his feet, putting off getting dressed. When it was clear they would be late if he didn't get a move on, he took a quick shower, shaved, donned the tux, and stepped outside.

His tongue glued to the roof of his mouth when Aja Blue appeared. She wore a long black gown held up with a band of glittering crystals that fastened around her neck, leaving her shoulders bare. Her gorgeous mahogany hair was piled on her head, with strands curling down to frame her face. Her skin was creamy and flawless, and all he wanted to do was sweep her in his arms, carry her upstairs, and make love to her for the next century.

Instead, he walked toward her. "You look beautiful." Understatement of the century. He'd wax poetic about Aja Blue if Presley weren't standing beside her, her gaze expectantly fixed on Christian as if awaiting his response. He mentally flipped her off.

Aja Blue smiled. "Thanks. So do you."

"What? This old thing?"

With a chuckle, they headed to the SUV. While Christian and Aja Blue attended the soiree, Presley, Kayne, and Nicole would have dinner at the boat club situated at one end of the long pier. They would be close if needed. The club was members-only, but BeBe had somehow garnered their invites. She didn't tell him how, and he didn't ask.

#

Christian helped Aja Blue from the vehicle, and she checked the invitation to see where the boat was moored. They said goodbye to the others, who headed to the exclusive boat club. Thankfully, the dress code was casual, so Kayne, Presley, and Nicole hadn't needed to go shopping first.

Once they were gone, Christian tugged Aja Blue's hand, causing her to yip in surprise as he pulled her behind a building and kissed the breath from her lungs.

When they finally came up for air, he cupped her face. "I wanted to do that the moment you walked into the room. I lied when I said you looked beautiful."

Aja Blue's head jerked back, but he didn't release her. "You did?" Wow, that hurt. She wasn't vain, but she thought she'd cleaned up well. Presley had even remarked that if she'd been gay, she'd have hit on Aja Blue. That had made her feel good. Hearing the man you loved say you weren't attractive was particularly brutal.

Christian removed one of his hands to fan it in the air. "Beautiful is too tame of a word. Gorgeous. Stunning. Dazzling. Ravishing." The last word was said right before he bent his head and kissed her neck, making her legs buckle.

Aja Blue felt silly for doubting him. "If you don't stop, we'll never make it to the fundraiser."

"Great. Let's find a secluded spot where I can tear that lovely gown off you."

"First, you will not ruin this dress. You will take it off with care."

"Deal."

"But—"

He put a finger against her lips. "Nope. No buts allowed."

"It's for Jay, Christian."

With a sigh, he removed his finger and dropped his forehead against hers. "I know."

It would be so easy to give in to his sexual machinations. She wanted the same thing.

After one last kiss, he took her hand.

"Wait." She reached up with a thumb to wipe her lipstick from him, giving him a stern look when he licked it. Then, she quickly reapplied the sheer berry gloss and dropped the tube inside her clutch.

"All you're doing is making me want to suck it off you again."

"Christian," she warned.

"Okay. I'll try to stop. My only excuse is that you drive me crazy."

"You do me, too."

"Really?" His smile was a wicked slash of white.

"Yes. You could make millions modeling that tux."

"Are you saying I'm your arm candy?"

Aja Blue laughed. "Definitely. I'm going to have to fight off all the rich women wanting to get their hands on you."

"Well, don't worry. The only hands I want on me are yours."

Oh man, when he said things like that, her body responded instantly. "Stop the sexy talk, or I'll be tempted to take you up on it, and I would hate myself after."

His grin instantly disappeared. "I'm sorry. You're right. Let's go raise boatloads of money for Jay."

Now, she was even more tempted. He was so sweet and considerate. She had to remind herself again that it was for Jay.

A group of men dressed in tuxedos tossed around a football and roughhoused as Aja Blue strolled down the boardwalk, hand in hand with Christian, to where the Sinclair's yacht was moored. Their loud hoots and hollers mingled with the caw of seagulls, the lap of waves against the pilings, and the deep peel of a ship's horn in the distance.

"That doesn't seem like a smart idea in dress clothes," Aja Blue remarked.

"Hundred bucks someone ends up in the drink," Christian predicted.

"I wouldn't take that bet." A couple of the men were younger, but some looked like they should have known better.

"My God."

"What?"

"Look at that."

Aja Blue followed Christian's gaze, and her jaw hit the ground. She knew The Original Sin, Heathcliff and Eleanor's boat, was enormous. It was a mega-yacht owned by a billionaire, after all. The thing bobbing in front of them was next level. It was a monster, at least three hundred feet long, and looked like a luxury hotel floating on the water. Frankly, Aja Blue didn't know how it kept from sinking to the bottom of the bay.

A black helicopter hovered above one of the decks, preparing to land. Probably the hosts arriving at the party. She couldn't see them parking in the lot and walking to the boat like regular attendees. The Sinclairs didn't mingle with the little people.

Something slammed into Aja Blue, jolting her forward. Christian's grip kept her from smashing face-first onto the wood planks, as did the person who hit her.

"Oh gosh, I am so sorry, ma'am. Are you okay?"

She turned to see one of the men who'd been tossing the pigskin gazing at her with concern as a blush tinted his fair cheeks. His friends had suddenly vanished.

The blow had stunned her, but she wasn't hurt. "I'm fine."

"I really am sorry."

"No problem."

With a nod, he jogged ahead of them, disappearing into the crowd of people milling about.

"Are you okay?" Christian asked.

"Yes. He didn't hit me that hard. Thanks for keeping me from face-planting."

He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her lips. "Anytime, babe."

#

Christian and Aja Blue stopped at the end of the line and waited to board. Instructions were explicit that no weapons of any kind were allowed on the boat. Christian hated being without his Sig Sauer or his K-bar knife. He was an expert in hand-to-hand combat, but it was nice to have the reassurance of a gun.

When it was their turn to show their invitation, a man wearing a tuxedo, sunglasses, and an earwig said, "Invitation, please."

Aja Blue reached into her bag and dug around before tugging the strap from her shoulder and peering inside. "My phone's gone."

"You had it when we left the SUV because it had the directions to where the boat was anchored." An image of the man with the football crashing into her came rushing back, and his jaw clenched. "He stole it."

"He who?" Aja Blue asked.

"The man who bumped into you."

"That bastard."

"At least he won't be able to get into it."

Tyler had added a feature that would flash a message when anyone attempted to break into a secure CObrA Securities phone. An alarm would sound, and a warning would appear, letting the thief know the police had been notified and their photo and fingerprints had been captured. Even if they tried to get rid of it, it would be too late. Christian activated the app on Aja Blue's phone, hoping it wasn't too late.

Man, CObrA Securities was lucky to have Tyler. BeBe too.

"I'll need your invitation, or you'll have to step out of line," the guard remarked.

Thankfully, Aja Blue had forwarded him the email. Christian scrolled to his mailbox, accessed the message, and showed it to the gatekeeper. The man checked to ensure it was legit and found their name on a list. He waved them through the metal detector. Aja Blue placed her bag in a bin, and he added his phone. She stepped through first, and the light remained green. No alarm sounded when he followed her through. They retrieved their belongings and walked forward.

"I can't believe he stole it," she muttered as they stepped onto the deck. "Why?"

"Probably to sell or something."

"He was wearing an expensive tuxedo! He didn't look like he needed to pawn items to make rent."

"Never judge a book by its cover."

"You're right, of course," she grumbled. "But I don't enjoy being without a phone."

In front of them was a grand staircase. Christian waited until they climbed to the top before pulling Aja Blue aside from the traffic flow. "Let's see if he tried to open it."

"You can tell?"

He smiled down at her. "Yeah. The head of our tech department is a legit genius. He created a program that records the thief, snaps their picture, and captures their fingerprints."

"Wow. That's incredible."

He accessed Tyler's app and was excited to realize he'd activated it in time. He played the video of the person trying to break in, holding it so Aja Blue could watch.

The man wore sunglasses and a black fedora. His picture briefly flashed before he slammed the phone down, probably after reading the message that he was busted.

"Christian, go back." He did as asked, and she grabbed his arm. "Oh, my God, it's Johnny Cash. Look at the hat."

She was right—it was the same cap, meaning this was the man following her. A shiver of unease snaked down Christian's spine. How had he known she was going to be on the yacht? And if he had the phone, that meant he was close.

"Aja Blue, darling, there you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."

Christian turned to see a woman dripping with jewels approach them. Expertly coifed silver hair framed her face, and her royal-blue gown probably cost more than the GNP of many small nations. She air-kissed each of Aja Blue's cheeks.

"It's good to see you, Mrs. Sinclair. Thank you for inviting us to the gala and for establishing the scholarship in Jay's name. I can't tell you what it means to me."

"You're more than welcome, dear. Happy to help."

"Mrs. Sinclair, this is my date, Christian Zamora."

Christian shook the woman's hand. "Nice to meet you." When she didn't release his hand, he gently removed it. He did not like the predatory way she looked at him, nor the saucy wink.

A waiter with a tray of champagne flutes stopped beside them, and Mrs. Sinclair took one, handing it to Aja Blue. Christian declined her offer. He needed to be alert, especially now that it looked as if there might be a threat nearby.

"I need to talk to you. I've been thinking of something I want to add to the pool house."

As Aja Blue and Mrs. Sinclair talked about their project, a thought struck Christian. Johnny Cash assumed he was getting her old phone. There must have been something on there he was looking for. Before he could call Kayne or Presley, Tyler's face popped up on his screen.

"Hey, Tyler."

"Z, I got an alert about the phone we issued Aja Blue."

"Yeah, someone bumped into her and stole it. Can you run the prints? It's the guy who's been following her. Also, they thought they were getting her old phone. Can you check it for anything that might be worth stealing?"

"On it. I'll hit you back."

He disconnected and called Kayne.

"Hey, everything okay?"

Christian explained about the incident outside the boat. "I need you guys to stand by."

"On it. We'll await your call."

Aja Blue was still talking to Mrs. Sinclair—or listening. She took a drink and nodded along while the older woman prattled on. The air of money and privilege emanated from Mrs. Sinclair. He didn't know her, but he could tell she thought she was better than everyone else because of the size of her bank account.

Christian chastised himself. She'd done a noble deed by setting up a scholarship in Jay's name, and he shouldn't disparage her.

He surveyed the deck in front of them. Christian had done a quick search online about the yacht and knew some of its specifics. Among other amenities were a helipad, three indoor pools, three cinemas, two bowling alleys, four game rooms with golf simulators, and twenty-four lavish guest suites. On this level, a full bar served patrons cocktails while a fountain sprayed water and an orchestra played classical music from a raised dais.

Christian was unfamiliar with the movers and shakers of the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, but he thought he spotted two notorious senators and several A-list actors among the guests.

He couldn't fathom the kind of money it would take to own and operate the boat. Heathcliff Sinclair was famous for pursuits like launching a rocket to the moon and erecting skyscrapers that bore his name. Even though tonight's event was a fundraiser, he wasn't known for his philanthropy.

Christian's phone buzzed, and he answered Tyler's call.

"I found something interesting on Aja Blue's phone."

It seemed Christian's hunch paid off. "What's that?"

"It's big. I mean humongous. No, colossal. Gargantuan."

"Tyler, what is it?"

"I'm sending it to you now."

Christian pulled the cell from his ear and opened the text. There were several pictures. He swiped with his fingers to zoom in and almost dropped the phone. "Holy shit. Is that Cesar Nofeshku?"

"One in the same."

Dear God, The Butcher of Kormu.

"He's a notorious arms dealer, war criminal, and mass murderer."

"I'm familiar with his resume." All the blood in Christian's veins froze. "That's Heathcliff Sinclair in the picture with him." The same person whose yacht they were currently aboard.

"It is."

Christian turned to Aja Blue. "When did you take—" He spun around, looking for her. She'd been beside him a second ago. Maybe she went to the ladies' room. "I'll call you back."

He stopped a woman about to enter the bathroom. "My girlfriend wasn't feeling well. Can you tell me if she's in there?" He described what Aja Blue was wearing.

"Certainly, dear."

She entered and returned a few seconds later. "I'm sorry. It's empty. She wasn't there."

Damn it. Where was she? "Thank you for looking."

The boat was packed, and searching for her would take a while. He called Kayne. "I need you two here as soon as possible. Aja Blue has gone missing. Leave Detective Herbert on land." While he could use her investigative skills, her injury would hamper her from doing her job.

"We're on our way . . . uh, Christian? The yacht has sailed from the dock. We'll have to commandeer a boat."

"Do it."

#

Aja Blue listened to Mrs. Sinclair prattle on about the features she wanted to add to the pool house, and all Aja Blue wanted to do was scream for her to stop. Jay was dead, and the project was the last thing she wanted to consider. Yes, the woman had hired her, but it took a backseat to Jay's murder. Instead, she'd rather discuss the scholarship and how the funds would be distributed. How would the recipients be selected? She had so many questions but couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Aja Blue took a sip of the expensive champagne and glanced around. The yacht was teaming with Glitterati. Diamonds and pearls—the genuine kind—were blatantly displayed around the necks, wrists, and fingers of most women, Mrs. Sinclair included. The men wore tuxedoes with gold cuff links, expensive watches, and Italian leather shoes. Classical music wafted through speakers. Somewhere on the ginormous boat, an orchestra played live.

Her gaze drifted to Christian chatting on his cell. He looked amazing in the black tux that fit him like a glove. His blond hair was tousled, and she'd seen many of the women—and some men—checking him out, Mrs. Sinclair included. Aja Blue wanted to drag him off the boat and away from the crowd. She'd never felt jealousy before, but there it was.

Someone called for Mrs. Sinclair, and Aja Blue wanted to weep with gratitude and hug the man who'd interrupted their conversation. Mrs. Sinclair could talk the ear off a . . . what was the saying? Corn cob? No, that wasn't it. A statue? Yes, that sounded right.

Aja Blue's head started to swim. She hadn't had that much to drink . . . oops. She lifted the flute to see all the liquid was gone. A passing waiter retrieved the empty glass, and she turned to find Christian when someone tapped her shoulder. "Ms. LaLonde?"

The entire boat tilted when she spun around, and she had to throw out her hands to steady herself. She waited for the world to right itself before answering the woman with long black hair, wearing an emerald-green dress. "Uh, yes?"

"My friends and I are huge fans."

"That's nice." Her blurry eyes narrowed. "Have we met before?"

"No, we haven't. Can we get a picture with you?"

Aja Blue glanced at Christian. He was still on the phone. "Well . . ."

"It would mean so much to us. As I said, we're huge fans."

Aja Blue had always gone out of her way for her fans. She hated disappointing them. She'd been known as one of the nicest, most approachable celebrities. "Sure."

"Great. They're right over here."

Aja Blue tried to disguise the wobble as she followed the woman down a hallway or two. Where were they going? She'd never find her way back to Christian, especially when her vision narrowed to pinpricks.

The woman opened a door. "They're in here."

Aja Blue looked inside. "I don't see—"

It was all she could utter before her legs crumpled and it was lights out.