Yurii? He attempts to kill me and you recapture him in the process, is that it?”
“Not exactly. Simply returning him to prison isn’t enough to crush his operation.”
“I’d say they learned that a little late. I spent four months in his—”
“Bed.” His eyes stared her down.
“I did my job.”
“ Oui. Quite well. I heard you had Petrov eating out of your hand.”
“No, it was actually one of my shoes.”
“He asked you to marry him.”
To that, Casmir made no comment. She had done what was necessary to complete the mission. All anyone needed to know—including Polax, and now Pierce—was relevant facts.
He continued to stare her down.
It was the eyes of judgment, at least that was what it felt like. And it pissed her off. “You’re a real tough guy, Pierce. You play with guns and knives, move in quick and get out quicker. If you feel like screwing it’s on your own time and you don’t have to fill out a report afterward. Well, screwing is my job, tough guy, not my hobby. I did my job, and filled out a report. It’s not my fault it didn’t solve all Quest’s problems with Yurii Petrov. Maybe they should have had a backup plan.”
“No argument here.”
“You said I’m the bait. Obviously Quest thinks Yurii will come after me, or at least send someone to kill me. What am I missing?”
“His headquarters is believed to be in the Mediterranean, but no one knows where. He keeps an extensive database on past and current clients, as well as his own diverse business information. While you were taking Yurii down months ago, I was coming off a mission in Greece. You’ve heard of the Chameleon?”
“Yes. Onyxx’s nemesis who refuses to die.”
“Petrov launders the Chameleon’s money. That connection is Onyxx’s interest in this. As Merrick told me, when agencies work together, good things happen.”
Casmir stood. She had never expected to see Yurii again after she had sent him to prison. Had prayed she would never have to face him again. Then four days ago he’d shown up in Bratislava, and all those days and nights with him had come flooding back.
Be careful when tempting the devil. Especially when you’ve stolen his soul.
Pierce was still talking. She stopped pacing and faced him, suddenly realizing the game. “You want me to lead you to Yurii’s hideout.”
“That’s right. He takes the bait, and we follow once you’ve been captured.”
The perfect bait. The perfect worm on the hook.
“What if he simply wants me dead?”
“You don’t believe that, do you?”
She didn’t know what to believe right now. “I suppose you’ve figured out a way to let him know where to find me.”
“He already knows where you are. Tonight the noise you heard was me. Two men have been watching the cabin since the moment we arrived. I let one get away. We don’t want this to look too easy.”
“You think he’ll take me to Nescosto Priyatna.”
“Oui.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Right now Yurii’s a wanted man. His hideout is the safest place for him. We think he’ll send someone after you, with instructions to bring you to him.”
“Polax should have told me.”
“I agree.”
If he had, then maybe she would have found a way to share with him the reasons why this mission wasn’t going to work out the way they had planned.
She turned away. Pierce was right; her loyalty to Quest had kept her in Polax’s pocket. He’d sat in his big chair and lied to her. He’d set her up and pretended to be concerned about her safety. And what about Mama? How dare he risk her life!
You’re in the deep freeze until we can find another use for you.
Well he had certainly found a use for her. The term bait wasn’t the right one, however. She was their sacrificial lamb.
“Once you’re in, and we have the location, I’ll retrieve the data, and pick you up on the way out.”
What an arrogant ass. Casmir turned to face him. “If you think it will be that easy, you’re even a
“Not exactly. Simply returning him to prison isn’t enough to crush his operation.”
“I’d say they learned that a little late. I spent four months in his—”
“Bed.” His eyes stared her down.
“I did my job.”
“ Oui. Quite well. I heard you had Petrov eating out of your hand.”
“No, it was actually one of my shoes.”
“He asked you to marry him.”
To that, Casmir made no comment. She had done what was necessary to complete the mission. All anyone needed to know—including Polax, and now Pierce—was relevant facts.
He continued to stare her down.
It was the eyes of judgment, at least that was what it felt like. And it pissed her off. “You’re a real tough guy, Pierce. You play with guns and knives, move in quick and get out quicker. If you feel like screwing it’s on your own time and you don’t have to fill out a report afterward. Well, screwing is my job, tough guy, not my hobby. I did my job, and filled out a report. It’s not my fault it didn’t solve all Quest’s problems with Yurii Petrov. Maybe they should have had a backup plan.”
“No argument here.”
“You said I’m the bait. Obviously Quest thinks Yurii will come after me, or at least send someone to kill me. What am I missing?”
“His headquarters is believed to be in the Mediterranean, but no one knows where. He keeps an extensive database on past and current clients, as well as his own diverse business information. While you were taking Yurii down months ago, I was coming off a mission in Greece. You’ve heard of the Chameleon?”
“Yes. Onyxx’s nemesis who refuses to die.”
“Petrov launders the Chameleon’s money. That connection is Onyxx’s interest in this. As Merrick told me, when agencies work together, good things happen.”
Casmir stood. She had never expected to see Yurii again after she had sent him to prison. Had prayed she would never have to face him again. Then four days ago he’d shown up in Bratislava, and all those days and nights with him had come flooding back.
Be careful when tempting the devil. Especially when you’ve stolen his soul.
Pierce was still talking. She stopped pacing and faced him, suddenly realizing the game. “You want me to lead you to Yurii’s hideout.”
“That’s right. He takes the bait, and we follow once you’ve been captured.”
The perfect bait. The perfect worm on the hook.
“What if he simply wants me dead?”
“You don’t believe that, do you?”
She didn’t know what to believe right now. “I suppose you’ve figured out a way to let him know where to find me.”
“He already knows where you are. Tonight the noise you heard was me. Two men have been watching the cabin since the moment we arrived. I let one get away. We don’t want this to look too easy.”
“You think he’ll take me to Nescosto Priyatna.”
“Oui.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Right now Yurii’s a wanted man. His hideout is the safest place for him. We think he’ll send someone after you, with instructions to bring you to him.”
“Polax should have told me.”
“I agree.”
If he had, then maybe she would have found a way to share with him the reasons why this mission wasn’t going to work out the way they had planned.
She turned away. Pierce was right; her loyalty to Quest had kept her in Polax’s pocket. He’d sat in his big chair and lied to her. He’d set her up and pretended to be concerned about her safety. And what about Mama? How dare he risk her life!
You’re in the deep freeze until we can find another use for you.
Well he had certainly found a use for her. The term bait wasn’t the right one, however. She was their sacrificial lamb.
“Once you’re in, and we have the location, I’ll retrieve the data, and pick you up on the way out.”
What an arrogant ass. Casmir turned to face him. “If you think it will be that easy, you’re even a
Similar Books
