Page 101 of A Tempting Seduction

I plugged in the cheap hotel coffee maker in the bathroom so it wouldn’t disturb Ruby, and it gurgled to life as I pulled on jeans and a t-shirt. I wasn't the only one who'd be up this early. Tennessee time meant the guys would be awake too, probably nursing their own cups of nasty coffee and wondering what could go wrong today.

I started a group text with Jase, Simon, and Roan.

Anyone else up?

Three immediate responses.

Completely unconscious.

Dead to the world over here.

Out like a light.

Smart alecks.

Diner downstairs. Ten minutes.

I unlocked and knocked on the adjoining room where Chen was stationed. He opened it a little, still in his boxers. “I'm heading downstairs in five. Ruby's still sleeping. Can you watch her door?”

“Martinez is outside your door. You’re covered.” I nodded.

He smirked at me. “You’re up early, all things considered.”

“I thought Feebies were all discreet,” I grinned.

“We are. I’m only giving you trash.”

I laughed softly. “You’re just jealous.”

Chen shrugged. “You’re probably right. Don’t worry, your girl is covered.” He shut the door.

The diner was exactly what I'd expected from a non-descript hotel. Fluorescent lighting, vinyl booths, and coffee that could strip paint. But it was private, and that's what mattered.

Simon arrived first, his hair still damp from a shower. Jase and Roan followed within minutes, both of them looking like they'd slept about as well as I had.

“So,” I said once we'd all grabbed coffee that tasted like motor oil. “What can go wrong today?”

“You want the short list or the comprehensive breakdown?” Simon asked.

Before any of us could answer, Isaacson appeared at our table. “Mind if I join this strategy session?”

“Chen has a big mouth,” I muttered.

Isaacson shrugged. He didn't wait for permission, just pulled up a chair and signaled the waitress for coffee. “Since it's my operation you're discussing, I figured I should be included.”

I leaned back in the booth. “Your operation that somehow let a kill team get within fifty feet of Ruby two nights ago.” I knew I wasn’t being fair since the kill team had arrived before we had contacted Isaacson, but that’s just the mood I was in.

Isaacson's jaw tightened, but he didn't defend himself. “Fair point. Which is why we're taking extra precautions today.”

“What's the status on Horace?” Jase asked.

“Still in interrogation. We brought him in again last night. He's been in a conference room at the LA FBI headquarters for the past nine hours.”

Simon sat forward. “Does he have his cell phone?”

“He does. The way I saw it, if we’d asked for it, he would have lawyered up.”

“Then bad trash still happen,” Roan said flatly. “You're giving him access to his entire network while he's supposed to be helping your investigation.”