by Lisa Pietsch
If I can't be with him, I still want to be able to be around him. I can't risk getting kicked off the team.
He reached for her and ran his fingertips down her bare arms. “Do you?”
Oh, sweet Jesus. Take me now!
Sarah bit her bottom lip and looked at Vince's forehead so she wouldn't have to look into his eyes when she lied. “It's what I do.”
Vince smiled. “Okay, cool. There is a lot at stake here, and we all need to bring our A-games.”
“Oh, I'm bringing it.” She smiled to lighten the mood. “Believe it or not, I'm not going to jump anybody on the team just because they're easy.” Sarah turned and busied herself with the dishes. Looking at Vince standing there in a towel was too much.
“What? Are you saying I'm easy?”
“If the towel fits.”
Vince chuckled. “I wish I'd met you years ago. Things might have been different.”
Sarah smiled and blinked back the mist forming over her eyes. “That's sweet for a tough guy, but you know you wouldn't have done anything differently. What you see here is a product of the mission. I've never been a beauty. You never would have noticed me.”
“I don't know about that. You're a hard one to miss.”
Sarah turned to look at Vince. He was the most attractive man she'd ever laid eyes on. Every inch of her screamed to touch him. It would be so easy just to pull that towel from his waist, but there was too much on the line and she couldn't mess it up by complicating things with sex and emotions. She cleared her throat. “You'd better get downstairs and get some sleep.”
“I'm gonna go get dressed.”
Sarah looked Vince over and took a deep breath through her teeth. She couldn't help but smile at him. “Yeah, I think you should.” She caught a glimpse of a smile as he looked down and walked away.
A few minutes later, Vince emerged from the bedroom fully dressed and headed for the door. He spoke over his shoulder. “Thanks for breakfast. Mission brief tomorrow at oh-nine-hundred. Usual place.”
Sarah walked toward the door after him. “I'll be there.”
“I'll see you later tonight.” He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.
A jolt arced through Sarah's body like she just stuck her finger in a two-hundred-twenty volt socket. Her heart stopped.
“I, uh, I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from.”
That was the first time Sarah saw Vince nervous. She caught the gleam of panic in his eyes and gathered enough self-control to let him off the hook.
Too many mixed signals, Sarah. It’s too dangerous. Let it go.
“You're just tired. Go get some rest.”
He sighed. “You're a good sport, Sarah.”
“Not the first time I've heard that.”
Good sport. Doormat. Same. Same.
Vince stopped short and turned to look at Sarah on his way out the door. “Sarah, I'm not that guy.”
“I know, Vince.”
You can’t help it. Your personal life will always be second to the mission.
Chapter Four
“Vince, check it out.” Will nodded in the direction of the bar.
Vince turned to see Sarah in a very short dress, standing near the bar with a man's arm around her waist and liking it. The guy wore an Armani suit and was flashing a killer smile at her every chance he could. It made Vince’s skin crawl to see her with somebody else.
Get a grip on yourself, man. She’s not yours.
He turned back to the table and drank his beer in one long gulp. “So she's having a drink with a guy. So what? The girl's not a machine.” He said the words more for himself than for Will, and he wasn’t buying any of it. He never had a problem separating his business from his personal life, but Sarah changed all of that.
“Yeah, I'm on board with that but take a closer look at the guy.”
Sarah's date turned around at that moment and Vince suddenly realized the cause for Will's concern. “You gotta be shitting me!”
Will shook his head. “I want to chalk this up to a small world but that's just too small.”
No fucking way!
Vince stood up and walked directly to the man with his hand on Sarah’s hip. “Well, I'll be damned!” He gave Nikolai a light, one-armed hug as he shook his hand.
No guns.
Nikolai smiled as he checked Vince for a weapon the same way. It was the standard underworld greeting when you weren’t expecting to see someone who made their living selling weapons. “Vince. What a surprise. What are you doing here?”
Wondering what the hell you're doing with your arm around my honey pot!
“Everybody likes business meetings in Las Vegas.” Vince waved to the bartender who nodded back as he poured about twenty cosmopolitans for a squealing bunch of hotties who, by the look of the one in the veil, were having a bachelorette party. “Fancy meeting you here.” He gave Sarah a quick glance as though he didn’t know her before moving between her and Nikolai and dismissing her.
I don't want this slimeball close enough to touch you.
“Hey, sweetheart. Excuse us for a minute?”
~~~
Sarah stepped away into the crowd but kept her eyes on Vince. She wasn't sure what the hell was going on between him and Nikolai, but she was pretty certain she wouldn't be getting anywhere near lucky tonight.
Will emerged from the crowd of partygoers and smiled at Sarah as he took her arm. “Let me buy you a drink.” He kept a firm grip on her arm and pulled her into the crowd of squealing girls at the other end of the long bar in the elegant White Room at Pure. When Vince and Nikolai were out of sight, Will stopped and his tone seemed almost interrogative. “Sarah, what are you doing here? Do you know who this guy is? Where did you meet him?”
Sarah gripped her purse tight and clenched her teeth.
What the hell? After his speech about A-games this morning, he’s got the balls to bring Will in on crashing my date?
“Being a bit overprotective, aren't you? Am I not allowed to date? Nobody ever said I wasn't allowed to have a life off duty.” She glared at Will and spoke with an edge of indignation in her voice. “Did you guys follow me here?”
Will’s blue eyes focused on hers, icy cold. “Sarah, tell me how you met this guy.”
“He's Niko, my Russian tutor's son.”
Will flipped open his phone and hit a speed dial number. “Your tutor? Your tutor set this up?”
Going a little overboard about a date, aren’t we?
“Yeah, why? There's no policy that says I can't see men outside the job. What's this about?”
“You can't see this guy again.”
Sarah stopped smiling and glared at Will.
Where the hell do these guys get off telling me I can't go out for dinner and drinks with someone?
“Why not?”
Will held the phone to his ear and raised his hand motioning for Sarah to stop. He spoke quickly into the phone. “Chris, you need to run a background on Sarah's tutor.” Will’s jaw was firm and his eyes narrowed when he looked at Sarah again. “Did the agency set up the tutor?”
“No, she's a civilian from the University of Nevada.”
“She's a civilian, Chris. Get a complete background.”
I need to have the fucking CIA do background checks on my dates?
“What the hell? Since when do I need a background check for a dinner date? It's not like I'm shacking up with the guy.”
This is Vince’s doing. He doesn't want me, but he doesn't want anybody else to have me either. Like a dog pissing on a tree.
“This is bullshit.”
What started as an innocent date and some great Russian practice turned into a load of bullshit with the Cock-of-the-Walk.
Will smiled at Sarah. “Just pretend you don't know who we are.”
Sarah turned on her heel to make her way back to the bar and Niko. “I don't.”
Vince smiled politely at Sarah as she returned through the crowd. “Sorry to interrupt your eve
ning.” The bartender finally arrived and Vince ordered with a pat on Nikolai’s shoulder. “Your best champagne for my friend, Nikolai. Put it on my tab.”
The bartender nodded. “Sure, Vince. I’ll have it brought to their table.”
Sarah smiled at Niko. “A friend of yours?”
“A business associate.” He slipped a hand around her waist and led her through the crowd. “Our table is in the Red Room. Let's get out of this crowd and drink that champagne.”
What kind of associate? If he was a bad guy, Vince and Will would have whisked me out of here. Wouldn't they?
Sarah had enjoyed her date with Niko up until Will and Vince interrupted. She had some difficulty getting back in the festive, flirty mood they’d been in previously. Anger at Vince’s mixed messages festered inside her.
After a glass of champagne and some small talk, Niko’s phone rang. He pulled the phone from his breast pocket. “Excuse me?”
Sarah nodded politely, grateful for the interruption.
“Yes? Oh, really?” He turned to look at Sarah and he wasn’t smiling.
A chill went up Sarah's spine.
Okay, I am definitely uncomfortable now.
“No, there's no need for that. Yes, I'll take care of it right now.” He slipped his phone back into his pocket and fidgeted with his tie.
Sarah smiled demurely. “Is everything okay?”
“Unfortunately, no. I need to take care of some business tonight. I'm sorry to cut this short. I'll take you home.”
“Thank you but there is no need. I'll just take a taxi.”
“I insist.” He stood. “The city at night can be a dangerous place. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you on your way home.”
“No, really. I'll be fine.” Something about the way he looked at her made Sarah feel uneasy so she told a little lie. “I have to stop to get some cat food anyway.” She hated cats.
Niko walked her out of the crowded club and saw her to a taxi.
She kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”
“I'll be in town for a few more days. May I call you tomorrow?”
He’ll never call. Something is really wrong here and I plan to get to the bottom of it right now.
Sarah kept her cool and smiled. “I'll look forward to it.”
Those bastards cock blocked me and that call was his way of getting out of a bad date.
~~~
Sarah walked into her apartment and closed the door. She pulled her phone out of her purse and dialed Vince.
No answer.
Those sons of bitches are going to answer for this.
The more Sarah thought about it, the angrier she became.
Where the hell do they get off scaring my dates away like a couple of big brothers puffing up their chests?
She called Will.
He picked up on the first ring. “Sarah, you okay?”
“I'm pissed. Where's Vince?”
“We left the club about fifteen minutes ago. He was going straight back to his place.”
“Great. I'll find him.”
“Sa…”
Sarah hung up before he could say anything. She left her apartment, stomped down the hallway and punched the elevator button.
Son of a bitch.
When the elevator didn't show up immediately, she ripped open the stairwell door and ran down the two flights of stairs to Vince's floor.
She banged on his apartment door like a cop ready to bust a drug dealer.
Vince opened the door within seconds wearing a casual smile. “Hey, sweetheart.”
A flash of pink silk caught Sarah's eye. She looked past Vince to see a beautiful brunette in pajamas lounging on his sofa.
Rage boiled beneath her skin. Every muscle in her body tensed with anger. She glared at him but he seemed oblivious as he smiled at her.
Mutherfucker!
She didn’t try to stop herself as she threw her whole body into a hard punch to his stomach.
Vince wasn't expecting the hit. He braced his hands on the doorframe, bent slightly into himself and stepped back before recovering. His face was red and he looked genuinely surprised when he looked up.
His voice boomed. “What the hell was that for?”
“Don't sweetheart me, you bastard! You get to bring women home whenever you like, but I finally find a nice guy to go out to dinner with and you and your flunky, Will, have to fuck it up?”
He shook his head and grabbed her arm. “Now hold on a minute!”
Sarah cut him off. “No, you hold on!” She shook her arm free of his grip. “Let's get something clear here. We may work together but my off-duty time is mine.” Sarah turned without waiting for a response and stormed down the hall. Behind her, she heard Vince's door slam shut.
Son of a bitch!
~~~
Vince slammed the door and stalked across the room to the bar. “Damnit!” He poured a drink and then pounded the bottle of Jameson so hard it shattered on the bar. “Bitch!”
“Wow! Vinny's in love.”
He shot a glare at the pretty brunette and raised his hand for her to stop. “Don't start, Gina.” He flopped onto the couch, set his drink down and lit a cigarette.
Gina walked over to the bar and started picking up the broken glass. “That was a good bottle of Irish whiskey. Dad would have your ass for alcohol abuse like that.”
Vince slugged his whiskey and shot another glare at Gina.
She smiled. “You were right. She is pretty.” Gina giggled like she'd just been tickled. “I like her spunk. She's a keeper, bro. I don't know what happened tonight but you should go talk to her.”
Vince growled at Gina. “I don't feel much like talking right now.”
She gingerly tossed a handful of broken glass into the garbage can. “Okay. I get it. Nobody likes getting sucker punched and told off. Kinda like growing up with Rig and Marco, huh?”
Vince smiled at the reference to his brothers. They all used to give each other some hard beatings as kids. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed Will.
“Hey, boss. Sarah's lookin' for you.”
“She found me. What did you tell her about Nikolai?”
“She didn’t give me a chance to tell her anything. Why?”
Vince rolled his eyes. “That explains it.”
“Did you fill her in on Nikolai?”
“Nope. She didn't give me a chance either.”
“Oh, well. She's safe?”
“Yeah, safe as a junkyard dog.” Vince hung up and set his phone on the table in front of him.
Shit.
Chapter Five
Sarah woke up still pissed from the night before. After their talk yesterday morning, she really thought she and Vince were on the same page. Sure, they couldn't be together, but she didn't think Vince would do anything as juvenile as cock block her before bringing some bimbo back to his place.
What kind of guy does that?
To bring Will in on it was just beyond comprehension. Even if Vince was that big of a prick, she never expected that sort of behavior from Will.
A cloud of dust followed behind her as she drove along the dry, dusty roads toward the Camp. When she reached the secret CIA training base, she pulled up under a canopy of camouflage fabric and parked her Jeep before going into the briefing hut.
The rest of the team filed into the room shortly after she took a chair at the briefing table. Once they were all seated, Colonel Young, their team’s handler, came in and began the briefing.
“You folks did a great job of taking out Hassan and his network. We seized so much money Al Qaeda is definitely feeling the pinch. Unfortunately, there are always people happy to raise more. Now we have to hit them where it really hurts, their supply lines.”
“No guns, no war.”
“That's right, Jason.” Young picked up a remote from the table and clicked on a large television screen. “Vince and Will have been working their network since your las
t mission and cut a deal with a major arms player, Nikolai Federov.”
Sarah caught her breath as she looked up at the familiar face on the screen. He had longer hair and a beard, but it was him. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and her skin went cold. She gasped. She looked over at Vince, and he shot her a sideways glare.
Oh, shit.
Sarah's face grew hot with shame. She'd punched out her boss for breaking up her date with a major arms dealer.
This is so not good.
Young continued and flashed another face on the screen. “Victor Bolshoi is the best at what he does. Nobody thinks about getting into the arms trade without first considering how it may affect him. So far as we know, he is the Godfather of arms traders. The real power player. Nobody makes a move without his blessing. Victor has the infrastructure to move anything, anywhere. He also has a virtually unlimited supply of Soviet light and heavy weapons as well as delivery vehicles to include aircraft, watercraft and land vehicles.”
Sarah examined the photo closely.
Brian winced. “One stop shopping, eh?”
“That's right. If you want to go to war, you call Victor. Even if you don't call Victor and get your supplies from another dealer, that dealer will have to call Victor because he's the only one who can move merchandise from point A to point B. He is your next target.”
My new boyfriend. And to think I was only one degree of separation off. Ain't that some shit?
Young placed the remote on the table and walked around the room to pass out mission folders to all of the team members. “He has more than a handful of legitimate import-export businesses and is so good at hiding his tracks, nobody has been able to get anything to stick. The Belgians tried it once but he slipped through their system in twenty-four hours. The Italians have been trying to nail him for years but never get enough evidence to hold him. They're going to work with us on this operation. Your team needs to infiltrate and get enough information so we can finally nail him to the wall. Since we have a special arrangement with the Italians and what we’re doing isn’t exactly legal over there, they, of course, will receive the credit if the job goes well.”
