Page 234 of Cowboys & Navy SEALs

“You’ve been so kind,” Addie said in a saccharine-sweet voice, her green eyes throwing daggers at the receptionist.

“Come on.” Maddox tugged at her arm, chuckling inwardly at her grit. “Save the claws for Brent Barrett,” he whispered.

Addie arched an eyebrow, giving him a blistering look. She jerked her arm away from his grasp, straightening her shoulders as she walked stiffly towards the guards. The sting of her rejection hit full force as he followed behind her. How in the heck was he going to get Addie out of his system? Even now, when she was being hateful and stubborn, he was mesmerized by her.

“Let me do the talking,” Maddox said quietly as they rode in the elevator.

“Sure, as long as the conversation progresses as it should.”

He tightened his jaw. “I’m the one who’s trained to handle these types of situations.”

She gave him a doe-eyed look, a hard smile stretching over her lips. “Of course, Superman.” She winked. “You got it.”

“Would you stop being so belligerent?” he seethed.

The elevator door opened. Quickly, Addie stepped out, as if to put as much distance between them as possible. Addie was so dang frustrating! Her curls bounced haughtily on her proudshoulders as she walked. She stepped up to Brent Barrett’s secretary and extended her hand. “I’m Addie Spencer.” She jerked her thumb behind her. “This is Maddox Easton.” She spoke his name like it was a curse word.

The woman gave Addie’s hand a quick shake before releasing it and turning her attention to Maddox. He took a quick assessment. The woman was tall and skinny, more like a runway model than secretary, wearing a sleek, black dress that hit her at the mid-thigh. Her glossy hair was chin length, her makeup a touch too heavy to be professional. She wore silver earrings that dangled a good two inches below her hair. Interest lit her eyes as she smiled, shifting her complete focus to him. “Hello.”

He glanced at Addie who was glaring at the secretary like she might squeeze her neck until her eyeballs popped out.

Maddox looked back at the woman, flashing a disarming smile. “How ya doing?”

The secretary just stood there, smiling at Maddox until Addie impatiently cleared her throat, spurring the woman into action.

“This way please,” she said briskly, like she’d just now remembered she was supposed to be a professional. She led them through an upscale sitting area with giant pieces of abstract art covering the walls. When they reached the large corner office in the back, she motioned.

The man sitting behind the desk, stood. “Please, have a seat,” he said in a cultured voice as he flashed a blinding-white smile.

Maddox and Addie took their seats in the chairs across from his desk. Brent Barrett looked to be in his early sixties, although he appeared to be trying to hold onto his youth. He was sporting a California surfer tan, his strawberry-blonde hair streaked with professional highlights. His skin was tight and smooth like he’d had more than a few Botox treatments, possibly a few surgeries. Maddox looked at the bookshelf lined with medical journals. His eye caught on a framed picture, presumably Brent and a much-younger wife, cheesing for the camera as they stood aboard a yacht. Everything about Brent Barrett screamed elegance and comfort. That would all change in a few hours when he was arrested for attempted kidnapping and suspicion of murder.

Brent sat back in his seat and crossed his legs, adjusting his pants so that the crease was straight. “What can I do for you?”

Maddox leaned forward in his seat, jumping straight to the heart of the matter. “We’re here to talk about the thug you hired to kidnap Addie.”

Brent’s face paled, and he looked genuinely confused. “I beg your pardon?”

Men like Brent Barrett disgusted Maddox, sitting in their lavish office buildings behind armies of lawyers, while they destroyed people’s lives. “Don’t play dumb with us. We know you hired John Wilson to kidnap Adelaide Spencer in the hope she would lead you to the hard drive containing the formula for PZT.” Maddox clenched his teeth. “Did you also kill Jordan Phelps?”

An ugly red seeped into Brent’s face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you’re way out of line. I don’t even know who Adelaide Spencer is.”

“I’m Adelaide Spencer.” Addie said, glaring at him.

Brent shook his head in bewilderment. “Why would I want to kidnap you? You’re a complete stranger.”

Either the man was one heck of an actor or all of this was really taking him by surprise. Maddox figured it was the first. A person didn’t get where Brent Barrett was without playing the game, knowing how to cover his rear end.

“You can drop the act. The money trail leads straight back to you.”

Outrage flashed in Brent’s eyes. “I’ve never heard of John Wilson. I don’t know who you think you are to come intomy office and accuse me with such outrageous allegations.” He stood. “I suggest you leave before I call security.”

“Sit back down,” Maddox ordered. “This conversation isn’t anywhere near being over.”

He pressed a button on his phone. “Sheila, call security. Have them come to my office immediately.”

“You sure you want to do that?” Maddox countered. He motioned with his hand. “Better yet, why stop with your security? Why don’t you call the police as well? Explain to them how you were in cahoots with your VP of operations, Blanche Richey. How you stole the formula for PZT so you could undercut Therapia, your primary competitor, and be the first to market the revolutionary drug that will cure Alzheimer’s.”

The muscles in Brent’s jaw quivered. He pressed the button again. “Sheila, cancel that request.”

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