Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

Damien

Things are settling down after a few weeks of chaos—like the discovery of the cameras in Frankie's home, her staying with me, and the unexpected love bomb she dropped in Napa.

Now, as my life returns to a semblance of normalcy, I find myself focused on a new task. Tracking Adrian Sharma without his knowledge and uncovering the secrets he believes are hidden from everyone else.

His favorite drink is Stella Artois. He focuses on his arms and abs more than his legs and back during his three weekly trips to Fitness World. I also know he talks trash with his work friends, but they don't really like him and gossip about him behind his back. In that sense, he hasn't changed much from the asshole kid I knew in passing at Hope House.

Tonight, Adrian skips drinks with his friends as he leaves the office, his eyes glued to his phone while he crosses the parking lot. I've already cloned his phone onto mine, and glance at it, seeing a text from a woman named Lea asking if he's coming over tonight.

"Of course, babe." He replies smoothly, so easily, as if he doesn't have a wife at home who loves him.

A quick search tells me a little bit about Lea, a beautiful woman smitten with the single guy she met at a bar. I wonder if she really believes he's single or if she's convinced herself to believe his lies for the sake of being in a relationship with him.

Maybe she knows and doesn't care. Doesn't matter to me one way or the other. Lea isn't my problem. She might be an obstacle, but she's not my target.

I follow Sharma to a small hilltop apartment building in Silver Lake. He parks in Lea's guest spot right out in the open, not a care in the world if someone sees or notices his car.

Bold. Or stupid, depending on how you look at it.

Sharma bounds up the stairs with more energy than he has going into the house he shares with his wife. The door opens and a redhead jumps in his arms to greet him, kissing him like he's a soldier who's been off fighting wars. The kiss lasts for several minutes before they separate, grinning at each other like giddy fools, then disappearing inside.

His infidelity disgusts me, not because I have some moral high ground but because Sharma hasn't changed.

He's still the lying, conniving asshole he was when he was a teen.

I shake off those thoughts and keep my mind on what's next. After they've been inside for a few minutes, I move in to get a closer look, watching as they move around the small apartment like two people in love. He's helping her cook dinner, though in reality, he's doing more touching and kissing—more teasing than actual cooking—but Lea doesn't seem to mind. Her smile is bright. Love radiates from her face.

And I would know because I see it in Francesca, the way she looks at me or the way she smiles attentively when she's listening to me. She might not have meant to tell me she loves me, but she's not doing much to hide it.

I see it though. I see it and I know it, the same way I'm sure Adrian does.

My phone buzzes and I see on the screen it's Frankie. "Hello?"

"Hey. Is this a good time to talk?" I love it when Frankie is happy and confident. Her voice has this lilt to it that's almost melodic.

"Of course. How's your day?"

She sighs heavily. "Good. Tiring but good. Yours?"

"Can't complain, at least not too much. Woke up with a beautiful woman in my arms, made some progress at the office and now I'm just…" I pause in search of the right way to explain it. "Giving some details a little closer attention."

"You said being a total workaholic wrong," she teases.

"I have to. A very demanding lady detective made me whisk her away on an impromptu vacation and had her wicked way with me."

A soft moan escapes, sounding doubly erotic in the dark of Lea's apartment complex. "It was deliciously wicked." She let out a soft yawn. "I look forward to doing it again."

My cock twitches against my zipper at her words and for once I wish I was with her instead of prowling. "We will soon, my pet. I'd love to make you cry out my name again."

Her gasps break up my teasing.

"I'll bet you can hardly keep your eyes open. You've been working too many hours and then you come home and work a few more. You're going to burn out."

She growls. "Are you kidding me? I was just on a three-day vacation, and I am totally refreshed." Another yawn interrupts her words. "Yeah okay, maybe I could use a few hours of shuteye."

"Good. Think of me as you drift off to sleep, Francesca."

She lets out a sleep sigh. "I'm always thinking of you, Damien. Good night."

"Sweet dreams, my pet." I end the call with a smile on my face that I can admit has more to do with the woman than it does to do with the fact that I'm thisclose to having her where I want her.

She loves me, sure. But she's not quite where I need her to be.

Not yet.

Until then, there's the matter of Adrian.