Way down on the list of bonuses would be shedding the suits. I didn’t like wearing them when I was in the FBI and I liked them even less now after years of not having to wear them with Takeback. Wilson was the frontman. He was the one who sat in on meetings with government officials. Even outside of work, it was a rare occasion to see him slumming it in jeans and a tee.

By the time I made it to the front door of the mansion the hair on the back of my neck was standing on end. After I checked in and handed over my phone to Dee, tonight’s greeter, a ball of unease had solidly knotted in my gut. Men I’d never seen before lingered in the massive living room. Ten of them were sharply dressed, all with tumblers of amber liquid. Three men I didn’t recognize were off to the side, hanging back with no drinks. Private security for the VIPs.

“Adam,” Lorenzo greeted before I could get a lock on Sloane.

I took a breath, exhaled my annoyance, and returned, “Lorenzo. Nice to see you.”

“I was hoping you’d be here tonight.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Are you still interested? You know, in sweetness?”

Fucking pig.

“Yes, I remember, seeing as we had that conversation last night.” I paused to lean in close. “Though I’m unclear why you’d discuss such a matter here.”

“You have nothing to fear if—”

Stupid fucking asshole.

“If this is how you conduct business, I’m no longer interested.”

I backed away with the intention of finding Sloane but halted at Lorenzo’s words.

“She’s not here,” he sneered.

His words slammed into my chest before they bounced around in my head, making my vision momentarily haze.

“Come again?”

“Miss Ellis,” he confirmed my fear. “She’s not here.”

The need for answers barely offset my desire to wrap my hands around the asshole’s throat until I choked the life out of him.

My gaze went over Lorenzo’s shoulder to the three men standing guard, alert but relaxed. I kept a cool mask of indifference firmly in place and glanced back at Lorenzo.

“I’m unclear why you’d feel the need to inform me of Miss Ellis’s whereabouts.”

A nasty smile from Lorenzo sent chills up my spine.

“I’ve seen you watching her. I don’t blame you, she’s a very beautiful woman. Though I’m surprised.”

My blood was reaching boiling. This conversation needed to end before I said or did something that would blow my cover. Unfortunately, Lorenzo had more to say.

“She’s a prude.” He chuckled. “Or she’s a cock tease. I haven’t figured her out yet. I should’ve fired her months ago but she’s good at her job.” His nasty smile turned into a leer, and I braced. “I suppose I understand a man taking what he can get while he waits for what he needs.”

Yep. My blood was boiling.

“I don’t need to take what’s freely given,” I returned, modulating my voice.