Best Laid Plans(72)

“What the hell!” Adeline exclaimed.

Rob looked over at her, breathing heavily. He didn’t even look embarrassed. Or guilty. He said, “I thought your meeting with Senator Dutton would go on until nine.”

“Get her out of here.”

Rob pulled his dick out of the girl, then slapped her on the ass. “You heard the boss,” he said. “Sorry we have to cut this short.” He stood over the trash can and rolled off his condom. Adeline wanted to puke.

The girl got up. She was young. Much too young to be having sex in Adeline’s office. She was flushed, with bleached hair and too much makeup.

“You brought a hooker into my office? Are you trying to cost me the election?”

Rob pulled on his pants. “Lighten up, Adeline. You think I don’t know you’re screwing Joseph in San Antonio and Dennis here?”

The girl dressed in a short skirt, tank top, and jean jacket. She picked up her shoes. “Oh, Robert,” she said as she took an envelope out of her purse. “I think you wanted this?” She winked at Adeline, then walked out.

“You’re fired,” Adeline said.

Rob laughed. “Fired?” He handed Adeline the envelope. “This is the key to your victory.”

Adeline frowned and opened the paper—carefully, because that girl had touched it after touching God knows what on herself and Rob. Inside were photographs of the female senator from Texas who was about to come out with an endorsement of her opponent, if the rumors were true.

The senator was naked and in bed with someone who wasn’t her husband. In fact, the someone was a woman. A woman Adeline also knew, because she was a high-ranking staffer on the budget committee.

“How did you get these?”

“You should thank Elise. She’s not cheap, but she delivers.”

Adeline didn’t say anything for a minute. “You screwed her on my desk!”

“Get over it.”

She wanted to throttle Rob, but these photos were way too good. No way would the senator endorse her opponent now … and if she didn’t run for reelection, all the better … Adeline had been eyeing the Senate seat even before she ran for the House.

“We have a problem. Tobias lost nearly half the guns. I don’t have the details, but the word is that some rogue military group or mercenary gang came in and took them. I’m scrambling to pay back the buyers.”

“I told you long ago not to go into business with him. Never trust a business partner you’ve never seen. Cut your losses and move on.”

“I need protection from someone else first. Tobias can be ruthless.”

“Can he? No one’s seen him. No one knows who he is. Honestly, he’s probably a wimp and the first time we push back he’ll run away. There are other people we can work with. Marquez, for example. We did that deal last year with him, and everyone was happy all around. I say we do more with him and cut all ties with Tobias and his people. Though losing those guns—he’ll probably be dead within a week.”

“James is endorsing my opponent.”

“Then James can go to hell. I have more dirt on him than anyone else. It won’t help before the election, but after the election I’ll destroy him. Okay?”

“He knows things about our operation.”

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t say a word.” Rob buttoned up his shirt and grinned. “I’ve always solved all your problems, haven’t I, Adeline?”

She started to relax. “Yes, you have. But that girl—”

“Is just a whore.”

She bristled. “If you ever have sex in this office again, I will fire you.”

He raised an eyebrow and said in a low voice, “You’re the one who wanted me to seduce Jessica and keep her close. Which I did. And that means either she stops traveling with us to D.C. so I can f*ck whoever I want in my own apartment, or you get me a second place.”

“You can’t just refrain? Or find a girl with her own place?”

“Why should I?” He sat down at her desk and started making fundraising calls.

That girl. That whore was here in San Antonio. Had Rob … No. He couldn’t have had Harper killed. What a ridiculous thought! Yet … that whore was here, had been with Harper in the motel, and now Harper was dead.

Rob walked into her office. He looked irritated. “I’d just gotten back to the office when Joseph called and said it was an emergency. What’s going on?”

Adeline whirled around. “Shut the door.” He complied, without mouthing off this time. She must look like a fury. “Your young whore from D.C.? What is she doing in San Antonio?”

He blinked in confusion. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That hooker I caught you screwing on my desk!”

It took him a second. “Elise? She’s not here. You’re seeing things.”

“Like hell I am. The FBI came in with her photograph. She was in Harper’s room when he died. When he was murdered. He was murdered. By your whore. Tell me you didn’t do it—when I told you that Harper was acting strange, you had that look—”

“Shut up. Hell no. I had nothing to do with Harper’s murder. Oh my God, Adeline, I would never … I just don’t get it … Elise is in D.C. She couldn’t possibly be here.”