Page 25 of Unhinged

A twisted and maddening obsession has taken hold of me. I force myself to stop thinking of the woman by my side and focus on the plan. The room is full of people who act like marionettes being pulled by the invisible strings of social obligation.

Most of the laughter and chatter that fills the room sounds fake. And their eyes are empty and soulless. Such is Mexico City.

Alice is different in every way. She’s a jewel in the darkness. A beacon of light in this cesspit that is Mexico City. I watch her, drinking in every little thing about her.

“There he is,” Alice murmurs, her eyes fixed on Pablo Estrada.

She learns quick. I’m so distracted by her that I might have to rely on her to do my job. Which means I need to get a handle on myself.

“Well done.”

She smiles at me. “A drink?” she suggests.

“Good idea.”

Pablo stands by the bar, so it makes sense for us to get a drink.

I keep hold of Alice’s hand and lead her to the bar. The noise and chatter fade away as we get closer to Pablo. He shouldn’t recognize me, as I haven’t met him, and Ileana has been careful to ensure I kept my face out of the media because I’m her spymaster. Pablo turns, and his dark eyes brush over us with disinterest as we sit on two free stools at the bar a few feet from him.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, leaning toward Alice. “We’re in the clear.”

She relaxes slightly.

“What can I get for you?” the bartender asks.

“Scotch on the rocks.” I glance at Alice, realizing I don’t know what she drinks. I know nothing about her, but I want to know it all. “What would you like, baby?”

The nickname baby is for the show here at the event, but her eyes flash, and her nostrils flare as if it affects her. “A margarita, please.”

The bartender smiles. “Coming up.”

I tap my fingers against the hardwood bar, listening as Pablo speaks with the city commissioner.

“How much will it cost?” Pablo asks.

The commissioner glances around the room to check no one’s listening, and I move to kiss Alice on the cheek as if I’m engrossed in my girl.

She shudders at my light touch. “What was that for?”

I lean close to her ear. “Cover. They can’t suspect us.”

“Right,” she murmurs, her eyes fixed on my lips as if willing me to kiss her again. “If you keep doing that, I’ll forget why we’re here.”

I chuckle. “Focus, little bird.”

“I’m trying,” she murmurs, clutching onto my hand as if her life depends on it. “Can you hear what he’s saying?”

I kiss her cheek again. “When you’re quiet, yes.” And then I press my lips to her mouth for the first time.

She tenses before relaxing into it. Her mouth parting for me while I try to listen to the conversation behind us. My mind is too drawn to the woman in my arms. Her taste is as sweet as I remember, and I want to lose myself. Control snaps the whip in my mind, and I force myself away, straightening up. “We shouldn’t do that again, or I’ll lose focus.”

Alice is flushed, and her lips swollen from the kiss. “Right.” She tugs her bottom lip between her teeth, testing my self-control.

I chuckle. “Don’t do that, little bird.”

Her wide eyes meet mine, and I can see the hunger there, mirroring mine. It’s dangerous, this game we’re playing. I came here on a mission for Ileana, but Alice could be my downfall.

“We need to focus,” I murmur.

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