Page 3 of Death Wish

A chilly smile curved Brent’s mouth. “Guess.”

Jesse’s heart sank. “Mexico?”

A nod. “The Chihuahua province.”

He groaned and dragged a hand down his face. “Great. Just great. Will I have backup?”

“The Shadow Unit is down there for three more days, unless they finish their mission early. Artemis will replace them. Look, Jesse, I know how much you hate going undercover. If you refuse to go, the mission will still go forward.”

He didn’t like the setup, but what choice did he have? If he didn’t agree to go with Simone, Brent would send her undercover with someone else. He hated that idea even more than the prospect of going to Mexico with the feisty computer hacker he’d met a few weeks earlier. “Before I commit, what’s my role in this?”

“Security for Simone and Dragon Alley.” Brent paused. “You’re also going in as Simone’s boyfriend.”

Jesse stared. Boyfriend?

“Problem?”

None except he’d wanted to take his time romancing Simone Kent, and he’d been stepping lightly around her from the moment he met her. Now, he’d have to play the role of Simone’s boyfriend when he wanted the role to be real.

“If there is, tell me now and I’ll send someone else. Just thought you might want the job yourself.”

“I do.” No way would he step back and allow someone else to spend that much time with a woman he was interested in dating. “Our covers are ready?”

“Zane is completing the finishing touches as we speak.”

“Accommodations?”

“Already taken care of. I called in a favor from a friend. You and Simone will stay in a house outside Sayulita, Mexico.”

Sayulita, the hometown of Dragon Alley’s Mexico headquarters. “Any terrorist organizations in the area?”

A snort. “What do you think?”

“Wonderful. So, when will this fun assignment begin?”

“Tonight. Jet leaves in six hours.”

And the fun just continued. “Does Simone know?”

A knock sounded on the door, and Gloria said, “Simone Kent is here.”

“Send her in.”

Seconds later, Simone Kent, hacker extraordinaire, strode into the room, confidence practically oozing from every pore.

Brent stood. “Take a seat, Simone,” Brent said, motioning toward the chair near Jesse’s.

Jesse joined her.

“Am I in trouble already?” Simone asked, mischief in her eyes.

Brent’s eyebrows rose. “Should I be concerned about that statement?”

“Might be best not to ask.”

He chuckled. “Why am I not surprised? Hackers are all alike. You can’t resist the bright and shiny things behind closed doors, can you?”

“Guilty.”

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