Touch of Doubt (Law vs. Love Book 2) by Audrey Alexander Page B

Carrie had left him three years prior. And he certainly planned on introducing Carrie to his titillating world now that she’d stopped fighting against the passion between them.
    He knew he needed to introduce it slowly, in order to ease her into it all. If he pulled out a whip the first time he took control, it might give her a bit of a shock.
    But not everything about the morning had been as pleasant as fucking Carrie as hard as he could. There had been that article, of course. Madison Holland, step-daughter of Anders Holland, found dead in her apartment. Someone had shot her in the night.
    When Jace had discovered that Madison was a Holland the night before, he had wasted no time in looking into it. A few phone calls and he had his answer. Madison was Anders’s step-daughter, though the marriage to her mother had ended six months before. Madison had never been on Jace’s radar since she’d lived out in California until her recent move to New York, according to his sources.
    Jace slid on his suit and exited the penthouse, opting to take the elevator down to the lobby rather than exit through the back as per his usual routine. Ever since the police had highlighted him as a person of interest, Jace had decided a record of his comings and goings might come in handy in case something else happened. Except when it came to Carrie, of course.
    Frowning, Jace exited the elevator and stepped out under a canopy of chandeliers. He’d had to keep his investigation hidden from Carrie, of course. If she found out he’d been prying into Madison’s past, she wouldn’t be happy. Not to mention, he didn’t want her to start skulking around people’s apartments again. It was far too dangerous, and he’d do anything to keep her safe. Even if that meant lying to her.
    Jace scanned the lobby. Franklin Snow was scheduled to meet him here, but he saw no sign of his well-groomed assistant. Frowning, he glanced at his Rolex. It was well past the allotted time, and Franklin was always more than punctual. He flicked his fingers toward one of the staff members hovering behind the front desk, and the young woman took quick steps to his side, a bright smile painted on her youthful face as she smoothed her pristine uniform.
    “Have you seen my assistant this morning?” Jace asked, barely giving her a glance as he continued to scan the lobby. “Mr. Snow.”
    “No sir,” the young woman said. “I’ve been at the desk all morning, and I haven’t seen him in here.”
    Jace frowned and gave her a nod before sliding his phone from his suit pocket and making the call. Franklin’s cell rang and rang, but there was no answer on the other end of the line. That was odd. Franklin always answered his phone, even in the dead of night. It was one of the things he liked about his assistant.
    Unease settled into Jace’s mind. He’d sent Franklin to speak to Madison after he’d found out where she lived. Franklin had interrogated individuals for him in the past, and it seemed the best course of action to send him on this particular fact-finding mission. Carrie had been right. Jace couldn’t do it himself. A third party had to get involved, and he’d chosen Franklin to find out what Madison knew about the people trying to set him up. He was the best man for it, based on his past.
    Now, he was missing from their scheduled meeting to discuss his findings. And Madison Holland was dead.
    “Is there anything else I can do for you, sir?” the desk clerk asked Jace. He’d forgotten she was standing there by his side.
    “Yes, if you see my assistant, call me immediately.” Jace gave a nod and strode through the revolving doors. Outside, the sky was overcast, gray clouds blotting out the sun. The wind whistled through the towering buildings, an addition to the usual symphony of taxi horns and rumbling trucks. His pristine shoes crunched through melting slush as he made his way to the limo idling on the curb. Despite the recent turn of events, Jace had