Page 53 of Love & Heart Braking

Bain spoke. “I wiped the scents clean.”

The journalist shook her head. “Wouldn’t matter. You can’t trick the nose of a sphinx. Xix would have smelled me on there. On that clause, specifically.”

He could smell her thoughts on it or something? “Do you know what he meant?”

She rested back, eyes wide. “He has to be speaking about my husband. He might be warning me that this alliance won’t get me anywhere.”

How the heck did she get all that? “He phrased it as a question.”

“He often does. But he never speaks for no reason. Me being here could get my husband killed.”

Fenton piped up, looking panicked. “If you do nothing, he’ll be with them endlessly.”

She lifted her gaze. “I don’t know if that’s a risk I can take. Xix has spoken the words.”

We were about to lose one very important member of the alliance. “I’ve arranged to see your husband as one of my terms.”

Gug whipped to look at me. “You have?”

“The twelve said I need to come alone or all deals are off. But yes, the meeting will happen.”

She was silent.

I raised another topic. “Li Boquit was there.”

The older man growled. “Bitch.”

Hated that word but couldn’t disagree on this occasion. “She’s been listening in on my phone conversations.”

The guy replied, “Your phone line is blocked. Not sure who by, but she can’t have.”

He dragged out a portable computer and started to type. “What was the timeframe?”

Austin broke the quiet. “You know her address?”

“Yep, all of your addresses. Blocked your phones, those of you who needed it. And your emails. Couldn’t get to two of yours though.”

Fenton sighed. “What’s the point of these blur charms if you’re going to dig anyway?”

“It’s what I do. You can take mine off if it makes you feel better.”

“It would make me feel better,” the tall woman seethed, flinging her silk scarf over her shoulder. “Fenton, you said you’d ensure my identity wasn’t uncovered.”

The alliance was going great so far. Just swell.

Fenton held up his hands. “It’s okay. I’ll take off his charm.”

She stood, swooping to pick up a handbag I may dream about. “Nope. I’m out of here. This has gone too far.”

Fenton chased her out the door.

The older guy typed some more. “Ah, yes. Okay, there was a lapse in the block. Only for a couple of hours before it was renewed.”

“Mafia,” Devereaux grunted.

Bain frowned. “What?”

But I got the memo. Rodney must have the phone lines blocked. Seriously needed to send him a thank-you present.

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