Page 62 of Wicked Suspicion

Case would have attempted to outdo the colonel with the don’t-give-a-shit attitude, but Nyx was in a hut on the other side of the encampment. He settled on casual, but not too laid back, and waited some more.

“You don’t have questions?” Ramirez finally asked in Spanish.

“I have all kinds of questions,” Case said in the same language. He almost added a smartass remark, but remembered his Fireball and toned it down. “Am I allowed to ask them?”

“I’ve lost two encampments because you either escaped or were rescued from them. It took time and effort to set them up.” He sounded irritated. As if Case wanted to be kidnapped.

“By now, you would have moved the first one, anyway. It’s too dangerous to remain static in Puerto Jardin.”

Ramirez’s eyes hardened.

It was going to be a fine line between staying in character and keeping Nyx safe from the colonel’s wrath. Vargas was easier to deal with. He was cold and deadly, but he was steady. He was able to let comments roll off his back. Up to a point. The colonel appeared to be touchy.

Like a land mine was touchy.

This staring contest lasted longer than the first one. This time, Case broke the silence. “What can I do for you, Colonel?”

“What makes you think I want something from you?”

Case tucked his thumbs into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. Indolent. Arrogant. Cocky. “Your men have kidnapped me twice. Three times, if we count today. I can’t go anywhere in Trujillo without seeing them tailing me.” They were fucking tracking him, and they both knew it. “Why waste manpower without a reason?”

“You’re a difficult man to meet with.”

“I’ve had meetings with Señor Vargas, and with a representative of Señor Torres, among others. I could have made room on my calendar for a meeting with you if it was worth my while.”

“Perhaps I prefer a private meeting, one on my turf. You never stayed long enough for me to reach the encampment.”

Case picked up the implication. “Is that why I was kidnapped twice, and drugged once? To meet with you?”

“Kidnapped isn’t the word I would use.” Ramirez frowned, but Case felt like it was for show. “Let’s say you were brought in for a conference and opted to leave before I could arrive.”

“And drugged?”

“My men were overzealous. They knew I was displeased to arrive the first time and find you already gone. They were determined I would not be disappointed again.”

Yeah, he bet the colonel’s men didn’t want him angered a second time. He could have asked more questions about the kidnappings, but it was curiosity, not anything he needed to know, not even in his role as Charlie Case. “I’m here now. What did you want to discuss with me, Colonel Ramirez?”

That instigated another lengthy stare, and Case swallowed his impatience. It was easier to play the game when his woman wasn’t alone, guarded by men he didn’t trust. He wanted to be with Nyx, to watch over her and keep her safe. Yet here he was, waiting for the dregs of humanity to get to the fucking point. He wanted to nudge him along, but Ramirez was the kind of dude who’d take out his rage on Nyx.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Case prepared to wait out this bullshit. He might be new to having the lead on an undercover op, but he was already tired of the posturing and the games to acquire even the smallest amount of leverage.

At long last, Ramirez leaned back in his chair and said, “You have weapons.”

“I have access to weapons,” Case corrected.

“Semantics. You are a seller of weapons.”

“Sí.” Case debated for a moment, before he added, “I’m hoping to sell whatever I can get my hands on to Señor Torres.”

“Torres.” There was a definite sneer in Ramirez’s voice. “Why sell to him when there are so many others who would pay you more for the same weapons?”

“Maybe because Torres kills anyone who tries to nose in on his territory. Look what happened after he learned his second-in-command had betrayed him. I’d rather have less money and years to live, than max profit for a few days.”

“Surely a man like you isn’t afraid of Torres.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? He has an army behind him. I have a few buddies who’ll make themselves scarce if Señor Torres decides to come after me.” That wasn’t the answer the colonel was expecting, but Case didn’t have to prove how big his dick was. “My plan is to establish a relationship as a supplier to Señor Torres and let him handle the sales.”

“You better rethink that plan.”

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