Mastering the Art of Love (The American Soldier Collection 2)

“I appreciate all the info. I’ll be in touch if I need anything more in regards to this. Keep me updated on the other issue.”

“Will do, Jax.”

Jax hung up the phone and thought about Mariana as he looked at the computer.

* * * *

“You look upset. What’s the problem?” Jameson asked his brother as he entered the office. Jameson was fixing his bow tie. He hated formal events like this. It made him feel fake.

Jax looked at the computer screen and explained that Spider had called about Clover Masters’s plot.

“That piece of shit. I’ll fucking rip his throat out.”

“Calm down, Jameson.”

Jameson felt his blood pressure rising. Clover touched Mariana the other night at the party. That scumbag was a wannabe.

“Who does Spider think the rat is?”

“He thinks it may be anyone close to us or who has access to our computer system. You know e-mails and correspondence between you and I and the staff.”

“I’d hate to think that there’s someone stealing from us. We treat our employees so well. This is the shit I’m talking about, Jax. I’m not a patient or forgiving man. If there’s a rat, I want him or her exterminated.”

“I feel the same way. I trust Spider to handle it though. He and his brothers have a way about them.”

Jameson nodded his head even though he wasn’t feeling so confident right now. He was a man of action. If someone messed with him, then he would mess them up. It was that simple.

Jameson looked at his brother, who was already dressed in an almost identical tuxedo. They both wore custom-made black-on-black tuxes. The cuffs to the black designer shirt under the jacket were white. Jameson closed them with diamond cuff links that his brother had insisted looked amazing and was the proper way to wear a custom tux. Jameson could give a shit.

He stepped to the side and immediately saw Mariana’s picture. It looked like a crappy ID picture and was slightly blurry.

“Is that Mariana?” he asked.

Jax looked at him, and the moment Jameson locked gazes with his brother he could see he was thinking of what to say.

Jameson moved around the desk, and Jax began to explain. Jameson could feel his concern for her grow stronger. It was amazing, but Mariana had remained on his mind since meeting her. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the fact that Jax had Spider investigate Mariana, but at least now he had a better understanding of her reservations.

“No wonder she seemed to shy away from us. She probably thinks we’d use her. God knows how many men have come onto her at those parties she serves at. How do we get her to see we’re different?”

“I thought about that.”

Jameson nodded toward the screen.

“Scroll the mouse down. What does it say about her family?”

Jax explained about her mother. Jameson took a deep breath and slowly released it. How could a mother, responsible for a child, act in such a way?

“Where does she live?”

“You don’t want to know.”

“Yes, I do.”

Jax released a sigh.

He brought up the address and some pictures Spider sent along with the info. Spider was thorough.

“That neighborhood is bad.” Jameson stood straighter and began to pace the room.