“Okay.” She flicked her wrist in a come-hither motion. “Details. Why the name?”
“Damn, woman, Knox warned me about you, and I didn’t believe him.” His dark brow lifted as he peeled the skin off a banana next.
“What?” she asked, a sudden shyness taking hold of her.
“You sure do love questions.”
She fiddled with the handle of her coffee mug but didn’t lift it. “Well?”
His white teeth flashed in the bright light. “I was a fighter for a couple of years before joining the SEALs.”
“Like professionally? In the UFC?”
“Nah, like in underground clubs and alleyways in New York.” He chewed his food and added, “I’ve always been a bit of a rabble-rouser if you can believe that.”
“Really? Yup, super hard to believe.” She dragged her words through a layer of sarcasm but added a smile. “Do you still like fighting?”
“As long as I have a worthy opponent.” He kicked his denim-clad leg up on the table, his black military boot catching her eye.
She couldn’t imagine him and Luke working together. They were like fire and ice.
Eva held up a finger. “Be right back.”
When she returned, Asher had his hands casually resting behind his neck, and he angled his head her way, the sun reflecting off his glasses and hitting her eyes. “A pen and paper? Is this an interview now?”
“No, but I’d love it if you could help me create a list of names so I can keep everyone straight in my head.” She assumed her seat and removed the cap from the pen, poised and ready to jot some notes.
“We don’t really want you knowing much about us.”
“Too late for that. I just want names, by the way. Not your social security numbers and bank account information.”
“Pretty sure your account is a hell of a lot more padded than mine.” He looked back up at the sky, far too laid-back for a man on a covert mission. Then again, he did get assigned to her, and not to Malik. He probably drew the short straw.
“I already know Knox,” she said while writing his name and Charlie next to it.
“And you’re fairly familiar with the boss.”
She faked a cough, telling him not to go further—hoping he’d get the message. “Aussie accent? That was who again?”
“Ladies’ Man Liam.”
“What? The accent makes women hot?” She scribbled his name in a rush and reached for her mug.
“Nah, it’s his ten-inch cock.”
She nearly knocked her coffee off the table as a breath of air whooshed from her mouth.
“Kidding. Relax. I’ve never confirmed that detail myself.”
She was used to working with actors who played the role of rough and tough SEALs on her show, but none of them were actually like this. Of course, the keyword was actor. These guys were legit.
“Computer guy? Kind of edgy? Or on edge, I should say.”
“Owen.” Asher released a quick laugh. “Actually, he’s a wild man, but when in the middle of an op, he doesn’t screw around.”
“Okay.” Doesn’t screw around, she thought while jotting down the note. “The pretty woman you like to argue with.” Okay, she remembered her name, but now she felt like giving a little feistiness right back to him.
“Jessica—is she pretty? Haven’t noticed.” He lifted his glasses and shot her a quick look. “I prefer brunettes.”
Sure, you do.
“I think that’s enough for now,” Asher said and dropped his leg to the floor and stood. “Don’t want to overload you.”
“Funny.” But maybe he was right. What was the point of even getting close to any of these guys when she’d never see them again after a few days?
God, she couldn’t handle much longer than a couple days, and surely her brother and family would begin looking for her soon. “Um, could you find out something for me?” Since she was on the topic . . . “I know you guys are busy, but maybe you could check to make sure my family is still okay, and that they aren’t checking the hospitals for me.”
“I overheard Luke getting an update from Jessica this morning, actually. He’s on top of it—your family is good.”
Relief struck her. “Thank you, and uh, thanks for watching out for me. I’m sure you’d prefer to be in the other room.”
He scrunched his nose and mouth together. “Nah, I hate intelligence shit. I’m more into the action.”
“I highly doubt that’s the only reason you’re doing this job.”
He smiled. “This isn’t a job, sweetheart. It’s more of a calling.”
“Right.” She stood. “I guess I’m gonna hit the shower.”
“Do me a favor. Keep the door unlocked in case you slip and fall.”
“I’m a civilian, not an idiot. And don’t come barging in on me. If Luke were to walk in and think—”
“I told you I like to fight.” He pushed away from the terrace wall he’d been leaning against and strode toward her, stopping only inches away.
“Yeah. A ‘worthy opponent.’”
He smoothed a hand over his beard. “My buddies happen to be the best fighters I know. How do you think I practice and keep in such good shape?”
“Well, I’d prefer Luke and you not throw down. Not over me, at least.”
“You’re quite confident you’d provoke such a strong reaction from him, aren’t you?”
She tensed. “Um.”
“Relax.” He leaned in closer to her. “We don’t mess around with each other’s women.”
“I’m not his woman.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“Yeah? And how about his sister—is she off-limits for you?” She’d been reaching, but . . . it shut the SEAL up.
“Thank you,” Jessica whispered to Eva a few minutes after she and Asher had joined the room with the rest of the team later that evening. “I heard what you made Asher do today.”
Eva tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled. “He told you?”
Jessica’s attention snapped to where he stood by the window for a brief moment. “No, he texted Knox, complaining.” She gave a gentle squeeze to Eva’s shoulder. “French films with English subtitles . . . thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Maybe they really did hate each other? “Anytime.”
A grin met Jessica’s lips before she walked back into the pit, to the area crowded by computers and SEALs.
Eva took a seat next to Knox, the only one without a gadget in his hand. “So, you think Malik knows we’re here?”
“I’m sure. It’s what he wanted, but we didn’t have a tail when we left the airport in Nice,” Knox answered.
“And we didn’t have one, either,” Luke added. He dragged his gaze slowly up and met her stare from across the room. “But he’s anticipating our moves.”
Eva had gone back and forth between regret and confidence in her decision to turn him down last night.
And the way his blue eyes, like the color of the sky on a clear night, held hers right now . . . it created the hard sting of desire once again.
“Six weeks ago,” Owen nearly shouted, cutting thoughts of sex from Eva’s mind and pulling her back to the situation at hand.
“And?” Luke asked.
Owen pounded a fist into an open palm and smiled. “I finally placed Malik and his brother in the same city together. Guess where.”
“Here,” Luke said, his brows stitching tight as if putting the pieces together.
“Well, Nice—but I’m betting the safe is somewhere close by here,” Owen answered.
“Would Malik really take the chance of having us in the same city as the safe?” Jessica eyed her brother.
“Maybe he figured he wouldn’t have time to get to it if he were farther away,” Owen said.
“Which means he’s confident he’ll get the code from us.” Jessica held up a finger all of a sudden. “One sec.” She reached into her pocket and held her phone. “Yeah?”
Luke lifted th
e computer off his lap and set it on a table before approaching his sister. His hands rested on his hips as he eyed her.
Jessica nodded a few times as if the caller could see her, and then said, “Okay, thanks for the update.”
“Well?” Owen pushed away from the desk, the wheels of the chair rolling across the gold carpet.
“It doesn’t look like Ender will wake. The doc thinks he’ll stay in a coma.” She frowned.
Luke’s hand plummeted to his side like a ton of bricks cutting through the air, then he started for the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To speak with Malik. With this news, I don’t want to waste time.”
“Whoa. Wait a second.” Jessica crossed the room and grabbed his arm, urging him to look at her. “Are you out of your mind?”
“He’s not going to do anything to me in this hotel for the same reason we’re not making a move on him. So, why the hell not have a friendly heart-to-heart? Maybe it’s about time.”
“He’s not in his room, remember?” Owen stole Luke’s attention. “He’s in the casino with three of his guys, playing poker. We have two men covering him now.”
“Who the hell plays cards at a time like this?” Luke cursed beneath his breath. “I’ll have to go through metal detectors, then.” He bent down, lifted his pant leg and unsnapped a pistol from a hidden holster.
“You’ll need a blazer,” Knox noted and quirked a brow. “There’s a dress code for the private gaming area he’s in.”
“Are you really doing this?” Jessica faced the room as if seeking help from the group, but they simultaneously looked away from her, not wanting to tell her no, apparently—but also, not wanting to say yes.
“Any of the shops still open? I didn’t exactly bring evening wear,” Luke said with a hint of a smile that fell away when he looked at Eva. “And don’t let her out of your sight while I’m gone.”
“Bring me with you,” Eva sputtered before she had a chance to think her words through first.
Luke stalked toward her, his brows lowering with an uncompromising look in his eyes. “Why?”
She fought the tremble in her bottom lip and said, “He wants us both. If you’re going to face him, let him know you had the guts to bring me, too.”
“Not a bad idea,” Knox said.
Eva resisted looking at Knox; she couldn’t lose sight of Luke. She needed him to know she was serious.
“I won’t put you in danger,” he said sharply.
“If you’re safe, shouldn’t I be, too?” She crossed her arms.
He lifted his chin, his gaze narrowing, but he kept his lips tight.
“It’ll confirm that we’re both here and we didn’t fall for his trap. It puts us on an even playing field.”
“We don’t want an ‘even playing field.’ We want an advantage.” He started to turn, but she caught his arm.
“Of course, but we let him think that.”
“Malik doesn’t know whether Ender’s alive,” Knox interjected. “It could be a smart play to rattle him by having her show up with you at the casino. It’s a move he won’t expect.”
“I don’t like it,” Luke said, his jaw tightening.
“You’ll be by my side,” Eva noted.
“She should go,” Jessica said.
Luke’s shoulders squared back, and he pulled his arm free. “Fine,” he hissed. “I’ll have to get you something to wear downstairs.”
Triumph spread throughout her body. “You don’t know my size, remember?”
His blues traveled the length of her from head to toe. He leaned forward, and his breath touched her ear. “I’ve seen you naked, sweetheart. I’ve got your digits memorized now.”
Goose bumps scattered across her skin at such an inopportune time, and a soft kiss of air left her lips when he stood erect, ignoring the weight of the stares from the room.
“I want this wrapped up,” he said while straightening, and a huskiness bled through his command.
She wondered if his sense of urgency also had to do with a sudden need to get away from her.
Chapter Seventeen
When Eva had exited the hotel room, wearing the black fitted dress he’d picked out for her, he’d nearly thrown her over his shoulder and locked her back in the room.
And hell, maybe he should have.
Inside the elevator now, her attention was on the ground, which suited him fine. It afforded him the chance to study her, to take in every curve and beautiful line of her body.
Eva officially looked the part of Everly Reed—from the dress to the makeup.
“You look stunning.” He toyed with his collar and popped the top button. He’d refused the tie, but the blazer and black dress shirt made him feel like he’d been sprayed in starch and a hot iron had scorched the material to his body.
“And you look”—her gaze briefly flicked up to meet his eyes—“lethal.”
“Is that a compliment?” He smiled.
“I’m not sure yet.” She tucked her long, silky strands behind her ear, exposing a diamond stud. Jessica had given her the earrings to wear before they’d left.
The elevator doors parted, and he pressed his hand to his ear. “What’s the target’s position?”
“He’s still in the same spot,” Owen said into his comm.
“Copy that.”
Eva glanced back at him as they walked through the lobby. There was something in the look of her eyes that had his stomach dropping.
It wasn’t fear he saw, but he wasn’t sure what the hell it was, either.
After crossing the plaza and reaching the main casino, he placed his hand on the small of her back as the doors were opened for them.
A tiny shudder moved beneath his palm, and he wondered if his touch had the same effect on her as it was having on him right now.
“You said you’ve been to Monaco before. Vacation or . . .?” he asked as they worked their way past the gaming tables and through the aisles of slot machines, the clinking sounds taking a back seat to the thumping of his heart.
“My dad was filming a racing movie here five years ago. He insisted I come.”
“Must’ve been fun.” He eyed Knox at the roulette table off to his right and Asher at his nine o’clock.
“There’s the room.” Luke tipped his head to the back corner. “Are you nervous?” He stopped walking and faced her. “You can back out.”
She kept her eyes on the two closed doors. “I want this over.”
God, he hated this. He reached for her hand. “Best to make it look like we’re a couple.”
“Okay.” She allowed him to tighten his grasp, and a buzz pulsed up his arm.
“Any seats open?” he asked the suited man guarding the private gaming room.
“Ten thousand euro buy-in.” The guy’s snake tattoo wrapped around his thick neck, the tongue extending up the jawline.
“Not an issue.” Luke tucked a hand in his pocket and started to reach for the wad of cash Jessica had supplied him, but he stopped when the man held up his palm.
“There’s a wait. What’s your name?” He held a phone now, and Luke offered him the alias, Cross. “She’s not playing, too, right?”
“What? I can’t play cards because I’m a woman?” She folded her arms, a flash of defiance settling across her face.
“Are you playing?” the man asked, his tone deepening to borderline offensive.
Eva’s lips rolled inward, and her cheeks deepened in color. “No, I’m not.”
The guy sniggered and pointed to the bar behind them. “Wait there. It shouldn’t be too long.”
Luke thanked him and motioned to two empty stools at the bar.
“So, now we wait.” Eva crossed one long leg over the other, and the skirt of her dress edged higher up her thighs.
He nodded and drummed his fingers on the counter.
“Lethal in a good way,” she said, catching him off guard. “You stole everyone’s breath when we walked into the room.”
He stabbed a finger at his chest. “Me?” He swept an exaggerated gaze from left to right. “Honey, they’re all looking at you.”
“No.” She swirled a finger in the air, and he wanted to snatch her wrist and press her palm to his heart so she could feel how fast it beat around her. But he wasn’t romantic, and he shouldn’t keep wanting her, so . . .
“Do you not have any idea how beautiful you are?”
“I don’t care about that stuff.” She blushed. “Well, your beautiful package caught my eye, at first—”
He tipped his head back and laughed. “‘Package’?”
“You know what I mean. You’re hot.” She slapped his arm and slowly pulled her hand away. “I’m not insecure, by the way. But one of the perks of being Eva is I no longer have to try and impress anyone with how I look.”
He swallowed back the untimely lust that continued to gather inside of him like a storm that was about to surge. The appearance of the bartender saved him from saying anything ridiculous. “What do you want to drink?” He let go of a hard breath.
“Oh, how about champagne?”
Luke looked at the bartender and ordered, “Le champagne et l’eau minéral.” He scooted his chair a touch closer to hers, fighting the impulse to rest a hand on her thigh, even though it seemed like the natural thing to do.
“No alcohol?”
“I don’t drink on an op.” He smiled. “Usually.”
“So back at the house in Pennsylvania—”
“Was different.”
Her long lashes lowered, hiding her gaze as she focused on her lap. Her nerves were clearly pulling her apart, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
“So . . .” He cleared his throat. “Was there one defining moment that made you up and leave your old life behind?”
Her focus moved to his face, and it had his leg muscles tensing.
Any time this woman looked at him—really looked at him—his insides thawed and set him on fire.
“Not really.” She lifted her shoulders. “At first, it was about freedom from the spotlight. But once I got a taste of it, I didn’t want to go back.”
“But you missed writing?” He looked at the bartender as he served the drinks. “Merci.”
Stealth Ops Series Box Set Page 14
