JAKE HAD JUST arrived at Trey’s Halloween party and was standing outside the front door. The place was packed. He’d texted Madi an hour earlier and she hadn’t responded. He called Nate before he’d left for the party to check on her. Nate told him that she was in her room and said she was taking a nap. Jake smiled to himself. It explained why he couldn’t reach her. He adjusted the red belts over his bare chest and buttoned the yellow fireman’s coat. He couldn’t believe he’d gotten dressed up for a Halloween party. Ang had forced him into wearing the costume. He rolled his eyes as he considered how ridiculous he probably looked. He didn’t even want to come tonight. If he hadn’t promised Trey he’d stop by to see his wife, Annie, and Raven, their baby girl, he’d have just gone home and stayed there. He’d barely even had a chance to look through his mail when it was time to get ready to go. Ang had dropped his costume off and he’d shaken his head at it.
“I’m not wearingthat!” he said with a snicker. “Where’s the rest of it?”
“You have to wear it. It’s supposed to be a little revealing. It’s only your chest that’s showing. Come on, show off all the work you do on those abs.”
“Are you checking me out again, Ang?”
Jake smiled to himself at the memory and rubbed his arm where Ang had smacked him in retort. He told himself he’d stay for an hour and head out.
Jake’s phone rang. It was Dave.
“What’s up?”
“I just wanted to let you know that we’ve followed Peter Markum to the mall. He’s walking around inside, munching on a bag of popcorn. We’ve got him in our sights.”
“Good. Keep an eye on him. I want to know every move he makes.” As he glanced up from his phone, he saw Allison Gregory sauntering toward him. She was dressed as a nurse.Who invited her?Jake rolled his eyes as he surveyed the area for possible photographers. He quickly turned, going through the doors and into the party. There were people everywhere. Caleb immediately rushed to his side.
“There you are. I was beginning to wonder if you were coming. There are movie promoters and directors here. I think we should use this opportunity to introduce you to some of them.”
Jake rolled his eyes. “I’m not interested in doing movies, Caleb. Not my thing.”
“Whatisyour ‘thing’?” Jake felt an arm pass over his shoulder before trailing down his arm. With his eyes, he followed long red fingernails to a bare arm up to the face of Allison Gregory.
“Allison! So nice to see you.” Caleb practically fell over himself trying to hug her. She returned the hug graciously, keeping her eyes pinned to Jake.
“Jake… are you avoiding me? Is that any way to treat the girl you’re secretly dating?” she said with a laugh.
Jake smiled politely. “Hi, Allie. It’s nice to see you.” He shook his head. “The press will make up any shit to get a story, won’t they?”
“I don’t mind. I’m glad they picked someone hot to pair me up with. Nice fireman suit. You can put out my fire any day.” Caleb let out a belly laugh that made Jake cringe. It was completely fake and out of place. Jake nodded his head matter-of-factly to Allison before searching the room for Trey.
“Have you seen Trey?” Jake asked.
Caleb put his arm around Jake’s shoulder as he motioned toward Allison. “Why would you want to look for Trey when you have a gorgeous woman like Allison right on front of you?” Jake furrowed his brows as he stared into Caleb’s face.
“I take it your wife isn’t here tonight?” Jake asked.
Caleb looked down and smiled, shaking his head no.
“Make sure you give her and the kids my love. Allison…” Jake excused himself and went in search of Trey. His phone rang; it was Nate. Jake ducked into a nearby room with one finger in his ear as he pressed the phone up to the other.
“Nate? Hold on.” Jake nudged the door closed with his elbow and stepped to the desk in the back of the room. Trey’s office.
“Okay, Nate. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know how to tell you this.”
“You don’t know how to tell me what?” Jake asked with furrowed brows.
“I went to use the restroom, and as I was walking back, I saw Madi leaving her dorm room, dressed in a long black wig, heels and a vampire costume. She didn’t see me, and she took off in a hurry. It took me a bit to catch up to her. She went to the Tri Alpha fraternity party and…”
“And what?” Jake could feel his heart constrict and anger setting in. He wasn’t sure if he was more pissed at Nate for letting her slip past him, or Madi for not returning his call, sneaking out without a guard, and going to the party she told him she wasn’t going to go to.
“When I first arrived, it took me a bit to find her.” Jake could hear the noise in the background, and he tried to focus on Nate’s voice rather than the music and sounds behind him. “But it’s hard to miss her in the costume she’s wearing.”
“Don’t ogle my girlfriend. Just spit it out. Is she okay?”
“I, um… Well, when I found her she was… She was…”
