“Just seemed a better fit,” Kane replied. “There were some assumptions made when I arrived with Holly, and we decided to go with it. Does it matter?”
“Nope,” Bravo replied. “Like you said, I can spend time searching for the necklace while you keep the rich people occupied.”
Holly let go of the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. When Kane finally looked her way, she mouthed, Thank you.
He smiled in return, and warmth washed over her.
“It shouldn’t take too much,” Kane said. “With Holly’s ability to make people trust her and my knowledge of how their world works, we might even be out of here by tonight.”
“You think?” Bravo asked.
“Maybe,” Kane said. “She’s good. Tells people what they want to hear so they let their guard down. I’ve seen her in action. If anyone can get someone to slip, it’s Holly.”
Was that supposed to be a compliment?
Of course it was, her inner voice reminded her.
Something about it rankled her. Did he think she’d played him last night? Could he see when she was being genuine? She didn’t know.
Ask him, an inner voice urged.
Did she want the answer?
She peeked through her lashes to watch the men as they kept the sailboat moving and on course. Both were handsome. Fit. But Bravo was the kind of man she needed. The kind she could walk away from. Not that she planned to act on the thought.
Kane was dangerous. If she let him in, he’d break her heart. She just knew it.
So, what did it matter if he thought she was a big phony? There was nothing between them but a few shared confessions and a kiss brought on by too much rum. That didn’t make it a budding relationship—especially when balanced with their past encounters.
She needed to focus on what she came here to do. On what she was paid to do.
Get the necklace and get out.
To want anything that involved actual intimacy was foolish and an unacceptable risk when it came to the mission.
…
Kane pulled out a chair for Holly at a small table on the edge of the garden where brunch was being served to the other guests.
After they’d moored the boat, Bravo had taken the rescued dog to a local vet while Kane and Holly had retired to their room for showers and a change of clothes. Staying true to character, he’d taken her hand when they left the room, and she didn’t shake him off. Instead, she almost snuggled into his side. Like they were meant to be together.
The entire time, she hadn’t said a word about the morning. Or last night. He’d wanted to. There was something unexpected about Holly that made him want to know more.
Work comes first, he reminded himself. It was why HRS put him in charge—he knew his priorities, and acting like an infatuated school boy wasn’t on the “to do” list, unless it was part of the act.
A flutter of a hand caught his attention. At the opposite end of the garden and in front of a rose arbor, a blonde woman dressed in a form-fitting, pale green dress came toward them, skirting the tables. He recognized her from the pictures—the trophy wife. Tammi Lynn Burke.
Stopping for only brief hellos, she arrived at their table. “I heard about what happened. I am so sorry. Enzo feels horrible about it. Just horrible.”
“I’m sure he does,” Kane replied, sure that the mobster felt anything but sorrow.
“I wanted to ask him to leave, but Tim said we should leave it up to you,” she said, her voice hushed as she leaned in toward Kane, one hand on the table and the other on his shoulder. “What are your thoughts?”
That Enzo needed to be beaten? Shot?
That would go against mission protocol. His job was to blend, and acting above it all was the best way to do that. Still, he promised himself that once this operation was over, he’d make sure that Enzo would think twice before he messed with anyone from HRS. “An apology is sufficient,” he said.
“Thank you,” she replied, “I knew you’d be a good sport about it.”
“You’re welcome,” said Holly. “Where is he?”
“He went into town with Rachel. I think he was a tad embarrassed.”
“Good,” Holly said and went back to her food.
Her attention still on Kane, Tammi Lynn squeezed his shoulder, her hand sliding so her fingertips touched the bare skin of his neck, her nails skimming the flesh.
He jerked back, and Tammi Lynn’s hand fell to her side as if nothing had happened.
What the hell? Had Holly seen? She sipped her mimosa, and he realized the hostess’ hand was out of her view.
Sneaky. He thought about what Holly said yesterday—that she’d seen Tammi Lynn leaving the bedroom and adjusting her clothes. If this was how she acted with strangers, it wasn’t unthinkable that she’d be sleeping around.
He had the urge to scrub his shoulder but resisted.
Tammi Lynn continued. “By-the-by, your assistant called from the vet’s. They’re going to keep the dog you found for the day. They want to run some tests and give him fluids.”
“Of course,” Kane said.
“Did they find a microchip?” Holly asked, sipping her drink.
Kane hoped not, but even if they did, he wasn’t giving the dog back. On the upside, if there was a chip, they would know who to turn in to the police for animal abuse.
“Not that I know of.”
Unfortunate. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure,” she purred, running a hand along his arm before she headed back to her table at the opposite end of the garden.
“Do you think Enzo will cause trouble?” Holly asked, once they were alone.
“Enzo? He’s a coward,” Kane replied.
Back at her table, Tammi Lynn clinked a crystal glass with a spoon, and the group fell silent. Sipping coffee, Kane listened as she made the gratuitous speech about how they appreciated everyone coming.
Boring. He turned his attention to the crowd. Elizabeth Bowler, the girl from yesterday, leaned in toward an older man, his graying hair giving away his age. Normally, he’d say it was her father, but in their crowd, one never knew.
He sipped his drink. Would Tammi Lynn never shut up?
Elizabeth’s partner dropped his napkin, his face toward Kane as he reached to retrieve it off the grass.
Lucien Pascua. Enzo’s father and a leader in the Corsican mob. Why was Elizabeth with them, and why were they here?
The best answer was that they wanted a politician in their pocket and were here to test the waters. Or perhaps they had already infiltrated the political circle, and this was their way of keeping tabs on their host, Tim Burke.
Or did the necklace factor in? Maybe. Possibly. Or was it just a coincidence that they were all here at the same time? There was no way to tell. If it did, it made it even more imperative that HRS recover it.
“What’s wrong?” Holly asked.
“Later,” he said, not sure how much he planned to tell his partner. They were here to retrieve a necklace, not take on organized crime.
Should he say anything? Only years of training allowed him to focus his attention back on Tammi Lynn as she continued to talk.
“The game begins right after brunch and ends at four. Any couple not turning in their camera will be disqualified and mocked,” she said with a laugh, though he sensed a bit of truth beneath the comment.
There was a collective groan from the group.
“Game?” he whispered. What had he missed?
“We’re going on a scavenger hunt,” Holly replied, giving him a sideways glance. “We take pictures of whatever we’re supposed to find. It’s supposed to be fun, though I think it sounds more like an opportunity.”
She was right. While everyone was marking pictures off their list, he and Holly could go search for the safe.
Tammi Lynn continued, “The winner will be announced tonight at the auction.”
“That gives us just a few hours to find the necklace,” Holly said, under her breath.
“We’ll still have to take a few pictures,” Kane said.
“Why? Let’s grab what we came for and leave.”
It was tempting, but too risky. If they didn’t find the necklace, the Corsicans might wonder why he and Holly weren’t participating in the game. He didn’t want to draw their attention or anyone else’s.
Let them do their thing, and he’d do his. Easy peasy.
Setting the coffee aside, he took a long drink of the mimosa. “We do both,” he said, his voice low. “These people live to win—even if it’s a token award. If we don’t find the necklace then we’ll need to show them something besides a shrug.”
She shrugged.
He gave her his best, I’m not amused, glare, but it didn’t seem to faze her. “Can you promise me we’ll find it?” he asked.
“No.”
She seemed as irked as he did. Why had he dreamed that a few hours alone would change their basic dynamic of pissing each other off?
Idiot.
He finished the mimosa, and in seconds a waiter filled his glass again. He’d have to pace himself, or he’d be hammered before noon.
“Why are you pissed?” Holly whispered.
“What?”
“You’re glaring at your drink like you want it dead. It’s champagne and orange juice. It doesn’t deserve the animosity.”
Slowly, he twirled the crystal stem between his palms. “Just thinking about the person who left Mr. Wiggles to die,” he lied.
“Me too,” she said. “But more about how I plan to make them pay. It won’t be lethal, but it won’t be pretty, either.”
He couldn’t fault her desire for retribution. Most agents saw the world as black and white with very little gray. Not everything was forgivable, and leaving an animal to die a slow death from dehydration and starvation was one of those things. Someone would pay for leaving Mr. Wiggles on the island.
She clinked her glass against his, took a sip, and opened the envelope on their table. Around them, everyone else was already reading the contents.
Inside was a list of objects.
Rooster
Abalone shell
Sunrise
White shoe laces
3 ft. pink ribbon
Left-handed scissors
He folded up the list and crammed it in his pocket, leaving the rest unread. All they had to do was get a few pictures, not the entire list.
Tammi Lynn picked up a small, brass gong and struck it with a matching mallet. “Go!”
…
“It seems you have an admirer,” Holly said when Kane closed the door behind them. Leaving breakfast with the rest of the group, they’d headed back to their room on the pretext of getting better shoes for Holly, but in reality, they wanted to give everyone the chance to leave so they could search for the necklace.
“You noticed that?”
“I did. It was hard not to. I also couldn’t miss the face you made.”
He frowned. “A face?”
“Like you tasted something sour.” She sat on the bed. “You’re lucky that Tammi Lynn paid more attention to your body.”
He gave a half-hearted shrug. “What if she did? We’re engaged.”
“It isn’t real,” she replied, wishing she could take the words back as soon as she said them.
His jaw tensed, and she didn’t miss the subtle flex of muscle as his hands clenched in frustration.
Why couldn’t he be more like Bravo? Bravo would see Tammi Lynn’s propensity to sleep around as an opportunity to get the necklace. His flexible morality was what she liked about him. Plus, he was a professional thief who did what was needed. Women like Tammi Lynn didn’t matter. Even she didn’t matter.
Except to Kane. She hated that she cared that he cared.
Knock it off. Just stop it.
This was Kane she was contemplating, and they were working. He’d made that clear from the moment that Bravo walked in on them. She glared at her partner. “She doesn’t know this is a fake engagement, Kane. You should remember that.”
“Why does it matter?”
How could he not see the opportunity this presented? “Tammi Lynn is predatory when it comes to men. I know her type. Getting a man to break his vows is a way to validate that she is important or beautiful or something equally pathetic. Somewhere in her sad, insecure mind is a little voice saying, ‘See. You made him cheat. You are better than his wife.’ We can use that to our advantage.”
“You want me to sleep with her?” His mouth screwed up, and he gave a visible shudder.
There was that look again, and it helped quell the jealousy rising in her chest. “I’m not saying that, but Bravo would. If we don’t find the safe, getting close to her might be the only way to get the necklace.”
He shook his head. “I can’t.”
Holly fell back into the bed. “I know this is out of your realm. You’re the guy in the van calling the shots. Disconnected from the action with a microphone and headset, but this is the field, Kane.”
“That’s not it.”
“What is it, then?”
He sat next to her. “I should have been the assistant.”
“I agree,” she snapped, hating the situation. Hating that she wanted Kane to want her.
Hating herself for being cruel.
She wished she could take back the sharpness in her voice. He’s not the enemy, she reminded herself. You brought this on yourself by not listening to him in the first place. If Bravo were the fiancé, you wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
She sat up, hands in her lap. “What’s the problem? Did your girlfriend cheat on your or something?”
His breath hitched in his chest.
Dammit. She’d hit the truth with an unintended ferocity. “I am so sorry,” she whispered, taking his hand in hers. “I didn’t…”
He jerked away. “It’s okay.”
It wasn’t, and they both knew it. She also knew it didn’t matter. They were on a mission, and what mattered was getting the necklace. “I know this is painful for you—”
Understatement.
“—but you have to set that aside. This is a job. That’s all.”
The silence ticked by.
Shit. All this for a trinket? Granted, a trinket worth millions, but she couldn’t ask him to do this. “We’ll find another way.” she said, sliding her hand over his.
“In less than two days?” he replied. The anger and pain she’d seen only seconds ago was gone. Erased as if it were never there. “We have an obligation to the operation, and it’s my job to make sure we complete the mission.”
She nodded, both frightened and impressed by the speed at which he’d reined in his emotions. “Okay. What’s the plan?”
He looked down at their joined hands. “Like you said, we keep Tammi Lynn in play in case we need to use her. For now, we search the house while everyone’s gone.”
“Where do we start?”
“The master suite.”
“Perfect,” she tried to rise, and he pulled her back to the bed.
“We need to talk,” he said. “There’s a wrinkle.”
“A wrinkle?” The way he said it told her that he wasn’t talking about sleeping with the enemy. Not anymore. This was something more sinister, and only one person who fit that bill. “Is it Enzo?”
“Not anymore. It’s his family. His father is here.”
“One of the leaders of the Corsican mob?”
Kane nodded.
She wanted to ask how he knew these people, but didn’t. “Do you think they’ll retaliate?”
“No, I don’t think they’re here for us.” His gray eyes bored into hers. “I think they’re here to buy a politician.”
“Or for the necklace,” she said.
He nodded, not shocked or surprised at the comment, and she knew he’d been considering the same possibility.
Of course he had. He’s Kane—the brains behind the thieving. “Which means we have to get to it be
fore they do,” she said, rising. This time he didn’t stop her.
Chapter Eight
“This would be a lot easier if we could sneak in through the balcony,” Holly whispered as they skulked down the hallway. It had taken longer than expected, but the last guest had finally gone outside to start the scavenger hunt, leaving her and Kane to search the house.
He didn’t answer because they both knew using the balcony wasn’t possible. The master suite was above their room, but its balcony faced the backyard, and while the other guests might be gone, the catering and house staff had swarmed the area immediately surrounding the mansion, prepping an enormous, white tent for the dinner and auction. All it would take was a single glance upward to blow their cover.
It was the hallway or nothing, and this was the best chance they’d ever get. If someone asked what they were doing inside rather than out with the rest of the guests, they’d just pretend they hadn’t heard the part about the scavenger items all being located in the small, pretentious part of town just down the road.
Voices echoed up the stairs, followed by the sound of glasses clinking against each other as the staff cleaned up after the Burke’s guests, who, from the number of glasses making noise, were a group of lushes.
They kept moving. “Maybe we’ll get lucky,” she said. “The necklace could be in a jewelry box.”
“Or on a silver platter,” Kane replied, his smile softening the sarcasm.
The clinking and chatter grew louder, and his arm tightened around her waist. For the job, she reminded herself when she caught herself sinking into his touch, memories of their early-morning kiss making her ache for him.
She sighed. For something that was supposed to have been a walk in the park, this op grew more confusing with each passing hour. It wasn’t just the kiss. There were all the personal details they’d shared with each other. Bravo. Even the damned necklace. She didn’t know what she wanted anymore. Or who.
They reached the stairway to the master suite and went up, keeping to the side where the boards would be less worn and creaky. The noise from downstairs faded as the staff presumably moved to another part of the house.
Holly knocked on the Burke’s bedroom door. Don’t be there. Don’t be there. No answer. Another knock. Nothing but silence. “So far, so good,” she whispered.
Undercover With the Enemy Page 9
