Big Easy Temptation (The Perfect Gentlemen #3)(5)

“I have to find out whatever I can.” Dax set his helmet on the seat of his bike and pulled his gloves on. “My father’s name was on that list.”

Only days before they’d tracked down the mysterious Natalia Kuilikov. She was a Russian woman connected to the Hayes family when Zack’s father had been the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, before the fall of the Wall. She’d written a diary people had died for, including his dear friend Maddox Crawford. All clues led to the Bratva, the Russian mob, being responsible for the murder. Connor and Lara had recently spoken to the older woman. Moments after a bullet ripped through her forehead, they’d discovered Kuilikov’s handwritten notes in Cyrillic.

The translation had come back as a dead pool—a list of assassination targets.

Joy Hayes had been on that list, as had Constance, Zack’s mother.

Admiral Harold Spencer had been on that list, as well. They were all dead. Dax damn sure wanted answers.

His father had been gone for three years. His death had been declared a suicide. Dax hated to think about any of it—not the scandal that had come before his father’s death, nor the horrible time after it, and definitely not the investigation that ended with him losing Holland Kirk forever.

Until he’d seen that translation, he’d never intended to set eyes on her again. She’d betrayed him in the cruelest fashion possible by closing her investigation after giving it as much thought as someone opening an umbrella on a rainy day. In the blink of an eye, she’d made a judgment call that gave the press free license to vilify his father. Hell, she’d even had him believing his father was guilty at one point. She’d torn down his family to further her career. Oh, he’d paid her back. Now nothing lay between them but anger and regret.

But he couldn’t let this case rest in peace anymore. Things had changed. He had changed. Armed with new evidence, Dax intended to personally make sure Holland opened the investigation again—and gave the facts the due process they deserved.

“Yes, his name was on the list,” Connor agreed in that tone that let Dax know he was being handled with care. “I’ll look into it. Lara will help. You know we can do a lot. You don’t have to go back to New Orleans. Zack pulled strings and got you placed on a special assignment here in D.C. When we’re done, you can decide if you want to go back to the Navy or not. You can spend the next couple of months with me and I’ll help you sort it all out.”

Connor knew damn well what was waiting for him in New Orleans. Or rather, who. “Thanks, buddy. But I think I’ll spend the time I have left with her.”

Connor grimaced. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid. You two will only tear each other up. You’ve done some stupid shit over that woman.”

Like waking up after a bender to find himself married to someone else? Connor had a point; some of the worst moments of his life had been because of Holland Kirk.

Dax shook that reality off. “I’ll be fine. I’m certainly not going to drink myself into oblivion and marry whatever woman happens to be next to me.”

“Her best friend. You married her best friend,” Connor pointed out. “Don’t expect her to be helpful. Hell, I half expect her to bite your head off.”

“Yeah? Well, I expect her to finally give me the truth.” He picked up the helmet before pulling his best friend into a manly hug. “I’ll call you if I need anything. I’m going to get to the bottom of this. For my dad. For Mad. For Zack.”

Someone was playing a dangerous game with his friend, the president. Unfortunately for whoever it was, Zack was one of Dax’s inner circle. They’d already lost Mad to this nasty business. Dax refused to lose anyone else.

Holland Kirk was either a pawn or a power player. He would damn sure find out which.

With a nod to Lara on the balcony above, he hopped on his bike and revved the engine. He headed southwest, toward New Orleans and the only woman he’d ever loved. As the miles rolled, the past flowed over him like a tidal wave . . .





PART ONE


    THEN





ONE




New Orleans, Louisiana

Three years ago

Holland Kirk sighed as she packed up her laptop. Another case closed. She liked the simple ones. Two enlisted sailors had gotten into a bar fight over a local and one of them had waited two days before deciding to jump his opponent back on base. He’d nearly gutted the other man. Luckily, she’d found a witness and now the seaman was sitting in a jail cell.

If only all her cases were so easy.

She stood and stretched, trying not to think about the news she’d heard earlier today. Courtney had waltzed in with two chicken salad sandwiches and the latest gossip.

Captain Dax Spencer had taken a one-month training assignment right here in New Orleans. Could Holland believe it? One of the Perfect Gentlemen here in their backyard. Courtney had been star struck.

Holland kind of wanted to hide.

Her cell phone trilled and she looked down to find a text from Courtney.


He’s even hotter than I imagined. I’m the writer assigned to him for this project! Squee! I need an entirely new wardrobe. And a mani pedi.

A flurry of emoticons followed, all conveying her excitement. Holland wasn’t sure what a couple of them were, but they definitely looked happy. Courtney knew she’d met Spencer at some point, but had no idea he was basically the man of her dreams. And now she meant to avoid him at all costs.