Read Online Until Midnight by Desiree Holt, Cerise DeLand - Free Book Online
Authors: Desiree Holt, Cerise DeLand
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compound,
the headquarters of Nemesis, her security company. Nestled into the rugged hills of central Texas, the main building consisted of fourteen thousand square feet resembling a modern ranch house. Few could tell, from the road or the air, that inside were housed the most efficient state-of-the-art communications systems and the finest experts to run them. One of the two out-buildings of stucco and limestone contained back-up
generators to independently power the compound, while the other stored an arsenal of weaponry only a few security firms in the world could rival for quality and quantity.
“Nice,” Adam complimented her, squeezing her hand. “I should have heard about
you long ago.”
She smiled at him. “I’ll introduce you around. Show you the sights.”
His gaze zeroed in on her lips and he whispered so the pilot couldn’t hear. “I’ve
seen the best already and I love ’em.”
She elbowed him.
Soon, they were climbing down, and striding along the path to the main building.
She led the way. “I’ve been dreaming of owning my own company for years.
Started this almost five years ago. Growth has been swift, given the current state of the world’s troubles. But only in the past three years has Nemesis really blossomed. Great clients. Wonderful new additions to my staff. Meanwhile, so many other security firms have come under a cloud.”
“Corruption charges. Operatives who are loose cannons in the field. Gives private
ops a big bad name,” Adam said as he took note of the profusion of live oaks and yucca amid the rocky landscaping leading to the wide front doors.
54
Until Midnight
“Right. So I have strict procedures. Strict ethics. One misstep and a consultant is severed. No questions. No excuses. Gone, baby, gone.”
Adam swung open the front door for her and let her precede him. “Good practice.”
“Saves lives,” she told him as she beckoned him down the hall with a nod in one
direction. “And a lot of heartache. In here,” she told him and opened the heavy door to her private office.
He whistled as he measured the thickness of the metal door. “Are all the doors this tempered steel?”
“Every one. No one can get to us. Or me.” She caught a lift of his brows. “Except
you,” she murmured and gave him a smile. “Straighten up, Molloy.” She spun and
smiled at her assistant. “Say hello to Catrina Cardoza. Hey, Cat. Meet Mr. Adam
Molloy.”
The young woman stood and grinned at Nicki, then handed her a stack of neatly
opened mail and a glass of sparkling water. “Hello, Mister Molloy, welcome. Nicki, you’ve got Maddie and Dan Foreman in your private conference room, as you
requested and you can call Ridge Tarleton whenever you want. He said to emphasize
that, once I told him you were on your way in.”
“Good to know. Thanks, Cat.”
“Mister Molloy, would you like a drink? Anything to eat?” Cat’s dark brown gaze
traveled over his rumpled clothes. “Anything? Name it.”
“Sure. Now that you mention it. How about a pastrami sandwich on rye, a bottle of
Johnnie Walker Red and a glass?”
Nicki had to chuckle. “Make that two sandwiches and two glasses, Cat. Come on
inside,” she told Adam. “My lair.”
“You shock me,” he told her after she closed the door behind him. His hands on his hips, he surveyed the room. “When you said the latest technology, I really didn’t expect you to rival our setup in Jerusalem.”
55
Desiree Holt & Cerise DeLand
She grinned as she took her chair behind her large granite-topped steel desk.
“Actually, I’ve been told we rival the toys that the boys at NSA have at Fort Meade.”
“Never been there. But I believe it!” He sank into a chair opposite her. “Cozy.”
She pressed a button and a screen opened on the far wall. “For teleconferencing.
Similar system to what’s in Camp David and the Secure Room under 1600
Pennsylvania. Over here—” she clicked on another screen for him to
the headquarters of Nemesis, her security company. Nestled into the rugged hills of central Texas, the main building consisted of fourteen thousand square feet resembling a modern ranch house. Few could tell, from the road or the air, that inside were housed the most efficient state-of-the-art communications systems and the finest experts to run them. One of the two out-buildings of stucco and limestone contained back-up
generators to independently power the compound, while the other stored an arsenal of weaponry only a few security firms in the world could rival for quality and quantity.
“Nice,” Adam complimented her, squeezing her hand. “I should have heard about
you long ago.”
She smiled at him. “I’ll introduce you around. Show you the sights.”
His gaze zeroed in on her lips and he whispered so the pilot couldn’t hear. “I’ve
seen the best already and I love ’em.”
She elbowed him.
Soon, they were climbing down, and striding along the path to the main building.
She led the way. “I’ve been dreaming of owning my own company for years.
Started this almost five years ago. Growth has been swift, given the current state of the world’s troubles. But only in the past three years has Nemesis really blossomed. Great clients. Wonderful new additions to my staff. Meanwhile, so many other security firms have come under a cloud.”
“Corruption charges. Operatives who are loose cannons in the field. Gives private
ops a big bad name,” Adam said as he took note of the profusion of live oaks and yucca amid the rocky landscaping leading to the wide front doors.
54
Until Midnight
“Right. So I have strict procedures. Strict ethics. One misstep and a consultant is severed. No questions. No excuses. Gone, baby, gone.”
Adam swung open the front door for her and let her precede him. “Good practice.”
“Saves lives,” she told him as she beckoned him down the hall with a nod in one
direction. “And a lot of heartache. In here,” she told him and opened the heavy door to her private office.
He whistled as he measured the thickness of the metal door. “Are all the doors this tempered steel?”
“Every one. No one can get to us. Or me.” She caught a lift of his brows. “Except
you,” she murmured and gave him a smile. “Straighten up, Molloy.” She spun and
smiled at her assistant. “Say hello to Catrina Cardoza. Hey, Cat. Meet Mr. Adam
Molloy.”
The young woman stood and grinned at Nicki, then handed her a stack of neatly
opened mail and a glass of sparkling water. “Hello, Mister Molloy, welcome. Nicki, you’ve got Maddie and Dan Foreman in your private conference room, as you
requested and you can call Ridge Tarleton whenever you want. He said to emphasize
that, once I told him you were on your way in.”
“Good to know. Thanks, Cat.”
“Mister Molloy, would you like a drink? Anything to eat?” Cat’s dark brown gaze
traveled over his rumpled clothes. “Anything? Name it.”
“Sure. Now that you mention it. How about a pastrami sandwich on rye, a bottle of
Johnnie Walker Red and a glass?”
Nicki had to chuckle. “Make that two sandwiches and two glasses, Cat. Come on
inside,” she told Adam. “My lair.”
“You shock me,” he told her after she closed the door behind him. His hands on his hips, he surveyed the room. “When you said the latest technology, I really didn’t expect you to rival our setup in Jerusalem.”
55
Desiree Holt & Cerise DeLand
She grinned as she took her chair behind her large granite-topped steel desk.
“Actually, I’ve been told we rival the toys that the boys at NSA have at Fort Meade.”
“Never been there. But I believe it!” He sank into a chair opposite her. “Cozy.”
She pressed a button and a screen opened on the far wall. “For teleconferencing.
Similar system to what’s in Camp David and the Secure Room under 1600
Pennsylvania. Over here—” she clicked on another screen for him to
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