Over the course of several run-ins at the coffee shop, he’d poured on the charm. Wore her down with his sharp, sparkling wit. Captivated her with his charisma. Had he stalked her, memorizing her schedule, watching her every move, before he even struck?
The cowardly leech.
From the beginning, he’d planned to take advantage of her. That was on him, a weight on his conscience, what little of it remained.
No longer did she consider herself stupid or naïve for trusting him. He’d counted on her being a kind, decent person. She would never apologize for those traits.
“He worked a long con on me.” Fury boiled her blood. “Like Robert Redford and Paul Newman did, in that classic movie ‘The Sting.’” Despite her torment, a brief smile touched her lips. “My mom loved that movie. Loved Robert Redford. The last of the handsome, gentleman heroes, she’d called him. She bought the tape and I watched it with her endlessly—on our combined TV-VCR. Remember those big, clunky things?”
“I do.” Devon shared her reminiscing smile. “My mom and I had the same thing.” She curled her lip. “Ridiculous, outdated technology. I tried to tell Mom we could ease into the twentieth century, get a separate TV and a DVD player. But then, what would she do with her collection of VHS movies?”
Sophia laughed, in spite of the world she’d put her trust into collapsing around her, threatening to crush her.
“Back to your statement.” Devon sobered. “Todd definitely ran a long con on you.” She blew out a whistling breath. “He did it so masterfully. If it hadn’t been for the information you provided on him, in the past hour, Alex Atlas might’ve never gotten to the source of the heist.”
Alex Atlas. Her fearsome boss, and his suspicions, still hovered over her future like a dark shadow. “Did my test results make it to him? Has your company shared what you know so far?” Instead of giving in to doubt, Sophia huffed. “Mr. Atlas has probably been staring at the screen for a sleepless night, waiting for an update.”
“Trey said Alex received them. You’re officially in the clear.”
Thank God the technical interrogation worked out in her favor. If she hadn’t run out of tears, more would’ve gathered in her eyes. “I’m so relieved.” A suffocating weight lifted. “That’s great news.”
“It is, but we are far from in the clear.”
Sophia caught the word “we.” Like the whole upper echelon of the Soren conglomerate had been in her corner from the start. “Trey said he’ll authorize funds for Liam to go after Todd.”
Grateful yet questioning, she asked, “When did you have time orchestrate that?”
Devon winked. “My superpower is multitasking. I’ve been IM-ing with Trey the whole time I searched for Todd.”
“Impressive.” She wondered, though. “Why would Trey agree to fund a trip to track down my ex-boyfriend?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way.” Devon returned to her perch at the front of her desk, hands folded over her knee. “For our company, your situation is technically a job. Liam was hired—our firm was hired—to track down the thief. Now, we begin phase two.”
“Which is…?”
“Reclaiming the stolen money.”
Sophia swallowed. “How do you plan to do that?”
Observant dark eyes pinned her to her chair. “We respect your position, Sophia. And we’re going to help you. We also intend to help Alex Atlas in the process. This is a new opportunity for us, utilizing the Sorens’ years of bounty-hunting experience. If—no, when—we retrieve the funds, we’ll receive a cut of the returned proceeds.”
“How will you track down Todd?”
“Well, this is where you come in. We need your help.”
“Okay…what does that entail?” Sophia asked, feeling like the interrogator Liam was.
Several dings from Devon’s computer interrupted their conversation. The efficient woman spent fifteen minutes on her computer, going back and forth between input from different people and departments. Finally, she explained.
“Any information we find out about Todd will become company property.”
Sophia peered at her. “Why is that important?”
“We’ll capitalize on your eye-witness account to confirm Todd’s identity. To do that, you’ll travel with Liam, at our expense. For the next week, you’ll be working for us. If that’s okay with you.”
“Working…for you?” Sophia’s eyebrows pulled together. “But I have a job.”
“Trey confirmed it with Alex. Your boss wants you on site with Liam, too.”
Returning to her screens, Devon spent another five minutes, then ten, then twenty, using the company’s IM system to “talk” to various high-level people in the company. Those chief influencers no doubt held varying opinions on this latest venture into new professional territory. Any major corporation would consult some kind of board.
Sophia tried to sit patiently, as dozens of scenarios ran through her mind.
“The official word just came in. Operation Track is a go. We’re going to send you along with Liam, to track down Todd.”
The thought should’ve elated her. “It’s just, I don’t know anything about tracking someone. Todd snowed me, over and over again. What makes you think I’ll be any help?”
“Assuming Todd left the state—if not the country—he might’ve changed his appearance. Only people closest him could pick up on his gait, his mannerisms, other personal ticks. Leave the tracking to Liam. Once he finds Todd, you’ll be there by his side to confirm it. Liam can give you further instructions.”
“Oh.” It seemed like a huge risk to Sophia. But they didn’t need to hire her or pay her. She’d happily assist regardless, for her own reasons.
“Nice. Good news. Mindy Atlas has traced him and found the flight with him in it. She’s brilliant at that aspect of company affairs.”
“Mindy Atlas?” Sophia’s throat tightened.
“She’s our resident marketing genius, and works side-by-side with Cade. She’s also excellent at detailed transportation arrangements. She once worked for the best travel agency in Denver. And here she is, as we speak.”
A bubbly blond strolled in, cute and petite, her ponytail swishing. All smiles. Sophia wished she could radiate sunshine and rainbows, too.
“I found him.” Her blue eyes brightened. “Byron Todd Beckless used his own passport to book the flight. The dummy. He must think he’s made of Teflon. Here’s his flight, departure and arrival times, and destination.”
Sophia intercepted the printouts before Mindy could hand them to Devon. She scanned them quickly. “What is Martinique?”
Mindy tilted her head. “Isn’t that an island in the Caribbean?” she offered, so dang perky.
Nodding, Devon typed a quick message. “I believe so. And I know just the person to ask about the legal ramifications of international extradition.”
Another person strolled into the room less than a minute later. “What’s up? And why do you need my wife?”
Sophia swiveled around and looked up. Oh, this guy had to be a Soren. The cheeks, the jaw, the deep-set eyes, the height, the shoulders. He could’ve been torn from the pages of Vogue magazine. Or the Milan runway. He was drop-dead gorgeous. He held the same bearing as Liam, leaner than the heavier muscled Trey and Adam, along with lighter eyes and blonder hair.
Cade?
“Is Kylie available for a quick consultation?” Devon asked. “I need help with international law. Isn’t her friend, Dominique, from the Caribbean?”
Adonis nodded, folding his arms over his pinstripe vest. “Sure, Dominique is from Trinidad. What kind of information do you need?”
“A briefing on international extradition laws.”
“You’re in luck.” His smile could make a blink woman blush. “Kylie and her sister are having lunch together a few blocks away. They’d planned to stop in to visit me and Slone. I’ll call her and ask if she can take it to go.”
“Perfect. Thanks, Cade.”
Pressing hi
s phone to his ear, he exited the office.
“Anything else you need from me?” Mindy asked cheerfully.
“Please. Can you book the private jet to travel from Denver to Martinique? I have no idea what’s involved on that end of things. You’re the pro.”
“I can do that.” Mindy grinned at Sophia. “It’s nice to meet you. My husband is Alex’s cousin. He recommended Liam to investigate your case. I’m really glad he did. You’re in good hands, Sophia.”
Surprised, Sophia nodded mutely and returned the vibrant smile as best she could. Did everyone around here know who she was? Sans introduction?
The thought struck her as embarrassing. She could picture this integrated team of coworkers whispering behind their hands as word spread. Hey look, there goes the girl who got swindled by a con artist. Such a shame.
However, they all seemed flawlessly professional. And genuinely kind. Her thoughts were prone to keying into the darker side of humanity, at the moment. Trust had become harder to earn for her, in the past twenty-four hours.
Ten minutes passed, while Devon continued to conduct research and correspondence from her computer.
A thought occurred to Sophia. She possessed one small suitcase, and no clothes to take with her for a week-long trip. To shore up her courage that morning, she’d dressed in her the respectable attire of a skirt suit and heels. Hardly tropical-island appropriate.
Where they were supposedly going, she assumed she and Liam needed to blend in, unnoticed among the swarming tourists. Her all-business suit might draw unnecessary attention. If Todd bothered to look over his shoulder, he’d spot her and recognize her immediately, before Liam had a chance to track him down.
That led to another thought. If Todd might’ve changed his appearance, should she do the same, too?
“Are we going undercover for this?” she asked Devon.
“In a way, I guess.”
“Then…shouldn’t I change my appearance? Different haircut, different clothes?”
Devon frowned thoughtfully. “Not a bad idea. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. This all transpired so fast.”
“I know the feeling.”
Devon sent her a compassionate smile. “Maybe Kylie and Lindsey can take you on a quick shopping trip, before you head out.”
Sophia let out a breath of relief. “That would be helpful.” Then she winced. “Except, Todd cleaned me out. Until my paycheck goes through, my pockets are empty.”
Devon waved away her concern. “Liam will cover it. Don’t give it a second thought.”
Super, she thought dully. Another thing she’d be indebted to him for—the list just kept growing.
The notion popped into her mind that she could give him the illustrations he liked so much. A reasonable exchange, for all he’d done, and continued to do, on her behalf.
Mom would be indignant, but that seemed like her only option. The ledger had to balance somehow. The accountant in her could accept nothing less.
Fussy-baby sounds echoed in the hallway. Two women, clearly sisters, entered Devon’s office. Kylie and Lindsey, according to Cade. Very pretty women, with flattering curves. They both left their honey-brown hair long and flowing, one with more highlights than the other. One wore a long hippy-patterned skirt, carrying a baby in an over-the-shoulder cotton sling. The other wore a cobalt blue dress showing off her obvious baby bump.
The pregnant woman’s eyes were glued to her phone. “I spent the walk over doing some research,” she said. Cade’s wife, Kylie.
“Pardon me, but I need to feed this little imp.” The sister sank into the chair next to Sophia, plopped out her breast, placed her child against it, and turned to her. “Can you believe they recently installed nursing stations in Denver airport?” She huffed indignantly. “It’s a start, but still, the gesture seems half-hearted. Like mothers need to be kept on the fringes of society, because breastfeeding their babies is a shameful act. I mean, isn’t that like don’t ask don’t tell? Seriously, aren’t we past that? As if the most natural thing in the world needs to be hidden away from everyone’s too-easily-offended sensibilities. Ridiculous.”
Admiring the chubby little one in the sling—perhaps just under a year old, like her friend’s baby, the one who’d moved to Portland. Sophia respected Lindsey’s all-natural approach, and how she extended that to the way she chose to raise her child. “I can appreciate your stance. Not sure why people have made it into a ‘thing.’”
“Right? So annoying.”
“In past centuries, the most scandalous thing a woman could do was show her ankles. The décolletage was on full display, thanks to corsets. Every age has its absurd hang-ups.”
“Excellent point,” Lindsey said, eyeing her with respect. She told Devon, “I really like her.”
Devon grinned. “There’s a lot to like.”
“No wonder Liam has gone above and beyond for you.” Lindsey nodded as though she’d come to a firm conclusion. “You’ll fit in well with our crazy crew.”
I don’t…I can’t…I’m not “with” Liam. She kept her reply to herself.
Why did everyone who knew him assume they were more than friends? Were they even that? She’d like to think so. At the same time, wasn’t she technically a job to him, like Devon had suggested?
She’d known the man for too short a time.
Of course she appreciated the lengths he’d gone to, on her behalf. Those didn’t automatically warrant a deeper, emotional connection let alone commitment. She still reeled from Todd’s betrayal.
The thought of a new relationship made her shudder and recoil. No matter how great Liam was. Her heart didn’t have the capacity to embrace that possibility. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
“I just received Dominque’s text, responding to my questions about international law and the Caribbean. It isn’t encouraging,” Kylie said, sending an apologetic look at Sophia.
“What’s the verdict, law scholar?” Devon asked.
Sophia braced herself.
“Martinique is a French territory.”
“And?” Devon waved her hand in a circle, inviting more information.
Kylie sighed. “While the French signed an extradition treaty with the United States in two-thousand-and-two, they’re notoriously bad at extraditing felons, even the convicted ones. To extradite a non-convicted party to face our courts is rare. When it does happen, it can take up to ten years, or more, for all the paperwork to go through.”
“Well, shit,” Devon said, dropping her pen to her desk.
Mirroring the sentiment, Sophia felt oppression weight her chest like cinderblocks. Todd wouldn’t receive justice for another ten years? At least?
I’ll never recover my money.
There went her and Mom’s dream, flushed into the sewer. Her exhausted tear ducts managed to line her lower lashes with liquid discouragement.
Her boss wouldn’t reclaim his fifteen million either. That thought hurt just as much.
Kylie offered a pained expression. “It’s even harder—if not impossible—when the person has dual citizenship.”
Drawing the inevitable conclusion, Sophia said bleakly, “Todd’s mother is a French citizen. He might be, too, since he went to boarding schools overseas.”
“I’m so sorry, Sophia,” Kylie said, like her heart ached, too. “I wish I had better news.”
Devon stood. “This is yet another justification for sending you and Liam down there to hunt the bastard. The best one, all things considered. If you two can find him and confront him, using persuasive tactics like only Liam can, we could retrieve the accounts. Your money and Alex’s could be restored. No extradition required.”
The solution Devon proposed might be the only way.
“Count me in,” Sophia said, fisting her hands.
“We’re all on your side,” Kylie assured sweetly.
“Yeah, we are,” Lindsey chimed in.
Turning, Sophia faced the sisters. “If you don’t have anything better to do on a Friday a
fternoon, would you two help me pick out clothes for a Caribbean destination?”
“Absolutely,” Kylie said. A secret smile played on her lips. “I have personal experience in this realm.”
“Excellent,” Devon said. “I’ll sum all of this up for the guys.” She reached into her purse. “Here.” She handed a credit card to Sophia. “Use this to charge your purchases.” She lifted hand to stop the protest perched on Sophia’s lips. “Before you say no, it’s a company card. Liam will reimburse it.”
“No, I’ll reimburse it,” Sophia said with steel in her tone.
Devon grinned. “Good attitude. Liam won’t let you, but I respect your offer.” She shrugged. “We’ll sort it out later. Until then, you girls have a wardrobe to create.”
CHAPTER NINE
Martinique Island’s airport was small, shaped like the bottom part of a U, with only enough room for three commercial airliners. It offered a more conducive arrangement for private jets. Having never been to an island, Sophia didn’t know what to expect.
Liam descended first, turning to help her down the narrow metal steps.
Tropical breezes swept around them, caressing her in a warm, sultry welcome. Despite all they needed to accomplish in a short time, she inhaled a deep breath. If they had to track down Todd, there were worse places to do it. Like the Antarctic.
He rested an arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “Welcome to our honeymoon paradise, baby.”
In response, she forced a smile but didn’t return the affection. Even though the notes of intimacy—almost seduction—in his voice reverberated down her spine.
The concept of them traveling as a newlywed couple, to throw off any suspicion, had been his brother Adam’s idea. The man had claimed it worked for him and his fiancé—only, she discovered later the pair hadn’t even been dating at the time of the ruse.
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