That would be a problem.
“No, your cartel connections were quick. I tried to contact the pilot a few hours ago to ensure you had everything you needed and that the plane was getting a thorough inspection before you came home. I couldn’t get him on the line, so I called the airfield and talked to the manager. Funny thing was, he said he’d never seen the pilot I hired. He described the pilot as a pretty blonde girl who brought in a bunch of suspicious-looking men and he was worried you’re in over your head.”
“Not at all. I performed admirably.” It had been a while since she’d landed a plane. She needed to fly more often. She was getting soft at 4L. At least she knew the bodies wouldn’t be a problem. “I’ll have Case and the team send you the names of the people who got past your human resources. They’ve already got the identity of the flight attendant and her long-standing criminal record.”
“Damn it.”
She felt bad playing on his guilt, but sometimes she had to use every tool in her arsenal. She moved to the window and drew back the heavy curtain, peeking out. Light streamed through but she saw exactly what she’d expected. The small courtyard had a couple of tables and chairs close to the tiny swimming pool that might or might not serve as its own unique biosphere. Ezra sat with Michael. They’d found a deck of cards and seemed to be passing the time in a leisurely fashion.
“It’s all right, Drew. I’m meeting with my contact sometime in the next couple of days. I’ll be home after that and we’ll talk about it. Until then I’m going to let Case call the shots.” When it made sense for him to.
“Case isn’t there.”
“No, but I’ve got two bodyguards on my ass. When Case gets back, I’ll have four. Four big, strong, well-trained men and I’m sleeping with their leader.”
“And Ian Taggart knows about this mission of yours?”
Sometimes her brother made her feel like a lying five-year-old. “He knows where we are and that Case is helping me out. You can call him.”
“Yeah, well he better not send me a bill. That asshole charges through the roof. I did not sign off on four full-time guards. Do you have any idea how much Taggart would bill for that?”
Thank god. If her brother was bitching about costs, he wasn’t thinking about screwing up her life. “It’s cool. I’m paying for the whole thing with my body.”
Her brother groaned. “I did not need to hear that.”
She saw a man moving in the background, walking from the office toward the rear of the west building. He wore a hat low on his head and walked with slow grace. Ezra’s head came up, looking at the man, but he turned back to his card game. Drew continued to rant about not hearing about her sex life.
The man’s face turned slightly and she recognized him.
Tony. Tony was here. The time was now. Somehow he’d located her and this might be the only shot she had at getting him to talk.
“Drew, I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
“Have Taggart call me.”
She clicked the phone off before he could ask for more. As quickly as she could, she ditched the robe and found her jeans, pulling them on and reaching for a T-shirt. She knew she should put on a bra, but there wasn’t time. She had no idea when he would surface again. They could be waiting for days. Especially since he’d very likely figured out she hadn’t come alone.
Crap. She was going to lose him. He would sink into the background and she might not get another lead from him again. Shoes. She needed shoes. What the hell had Case done with her bag? He was a slave to organization, apparently a leftover habit from his Navy days.
Good in bed and a neat freak. She was a lucky girl.
Her shoes were lined up on the floor of the closet. She’d only brought three pairs. Sneakers, flip-flops, and a single pair of killer heels she’d intended to go with the cocktail dress she’d brought hoping to get Case to go to dinner with her. She shoved her feet into the flip-flops and realized her problem. There was zero chance that Ezra and Michael would allow her to go running off after a former CIA agent.
The bathroom. There was a window. It was a little high, but she might be able to make it. Her heart was pumping. Tony might already be gone. He might have taken one look at Ezra and Michael and fled the scene entirely. She had to shove her body out that window and pray she didn’t get stuck.
She’d promised Case.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
She couldn’t break her word to him. Couldn’t. She’d promised Case she wouldn’t run off on her own. Mia strode to the door, grabbing the ice bucket and the key. It was time to talk her way out of the situation.
The minute she opened the door, Fain’s head came up. Michael turned as well.
She gave them what she hoped was a brilliant smile. “Any idea where the ice machine is?”