embarrass the Colombian government, shaky as it is.” She swore under her breath. “I never expected that class on South American terrorism and real world politics would ever have applicability in my life. I just took it because Colombia has always been one terrorist group away from being a failed state and is a fertile ground for tracking drug and terrorist money trails.”
“We’ll get out of here.” Risto patted her knee. “Trust me?”
“Yeah. And I think after I find all Cruz’s laundries, Ren will have to offer me a job at SSI. Keely and I would be a super-analytical team and could prepare intel analysis for the NSA and other SSI clients.”
Risto said nothing. Having Callie around 24/7, within arm’s reach, at Sanctuary might be more than even his iron will could handle. Good thing Ren had okayed him heading up an SSI-East in Upper Peninsula Michigan.
Chapter Three
The Sofitel Santa Clara Hotel was situated in the core of the ancient city. Adapted from a seventeenth century monastery, it was the perfect blend of old and new, and if Callie had been here for any other reason, she would’ve enjoyed staying longer and exploring everything the ancient city had to offer.
She shot Risto a curious look when he pulled the Hummer into a temporary guest parking spot instead of driving up to the entrance and allowing the valet to park the vehicle. “Why are we stopping here?” She looked in the side mirror and saw the trail of vehicles following them had parked on the street illegally, hovering like predators to see what the prey would do next. “They’re still there.”
“We need to talk about some things while we have absolute privacy. Don’t worry, I have my eye on them.” He left the car running and turned toward her. “When we get to the valet, we need to put on a show for our friends back there. I suspect Cruz is in the town car.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Exactly what kind of show?”
“I want you to kiss me as you’d kiss a new husband you hadn’t seen in four days.
You did okay back at the shoot location, but I’m pretty damn sure Cruz’s men have given him a blow-by-blow, word-by-word description by now.”
“And he might suspect the display was not lover-like enough. Gotcha. I can do that.” Boy howdy, could she. Her lips already tingled anticipating it. The last kiss hadn’t been nearly long enough and she’d only gotten a hint of how he tasted. Hell, she was aroused just inhaling his scent in the short drive from the shoot location. A real kiss might push her over the edge into jumping his bones. It had been a long—a really long—
sexual dry spell for a myriad of reasons. “Then what?” she asked.
“We’ll go to the suite and get ready to go to a late lunch … out. Then we’ll lose the tail and go to Conn’s place.” His formerly shuttered expression fell away. He hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand, displaying the first real emotion she’d seen from him. “Callie, fuck it. I wasn’t going to tell you something since I’d already given you a good reason for moving, but you have a right to … shit, there’s no easy way—”
“What is it? You’ll find it’s easier to give it to me straight, Risto. I’m tougher than I look.”
“The fucker has eyes and ears in your suite. Probably has had since you checked in.”
“You mean,” she massaged the too-tight muscles over her throat as she attempted to speak, “…h-he’s … he’s been watching me? V-videotaping m-me?” She thought of all the times she’d strolled around the casita naked. Hell, she’d used her vibrator the other night for a little stress relief, hoping it would help her sleep. And Cruz … his men …
watched her!
“Not just taping, but real time, live eyes. When I scouted around earlier, I found their setup in the next casita .” Risto’s tone was coldly furious. Well, hell, he could join the friggin’ club. She wasn’t feeling exactly all happy-happy, joy-joy,
Learning to Kill: Stories