Page 63 of The Spy Who Ghosted Me

Izan grabbed a satchel, probably stuffed with cash, before exiting the car and making his way toward me. Some of the trepidation he’d displayed the night before was gone, and that wasn’t a good thing. His red eyes and mussed hair made him look unhinged. He marched up to me as if that would intimidate me, but I could’ve had the drop on him in a second flat if I’d wanted to. He bravely got in my face by standing on his tiptoes. I couldn’t help but laugh. Didn’t he realize that not only did he look ridiculous, but it put him at a severe disadvantage, being off-balance like that?

“Hey there—stand down, little man. What’s your deal?” I played aloof.

His unnaturally sculpted face burned brighter. “Who do you work for?” he demanded to know.

“Strategic Investments,” I answered casually.

“Who do you really work for?” he spat.

“Listen, buddy, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you need to back off. Why do you care so much who my employer is?”

“You know why.”

I shrugged. “Are you in need of a business analyst? If you are, I’m your guy.”

Izan spit on the ground. “You’re no business analyst. You’re one of his goons. I know he’s watching me. He did something to my laptop.”

I had to keep from smiling, and I would have to thank Ivy later. “Who are you talking about?” I was hoping he’d divulge the name of this he. I assumed it was the person he was selling the diamonds to. My guess was that Izan believed I was a hired thug for whatever organized crime ring he’d gotten involved with. Getting a name now would make my job so much easier and save the FBI from having to interrogate it out of him. Although my people had narrowed their search for the lapidarist who’d cut Lexi’s diamond. With any luck, that would lead us to the crime boss Izan was dealing with.

Izan backed away and shook his head. “No one. You just stay out of my way and keep your mouth shut. If you say anything to Lexi and her family, people are going to get hurt—maybe even Sabrina.” He sounded more scared than threatening, but his comment didn’t sit well with me.

Without a thought, I wrapped my hands around his scrawny neck, applying just enough pressure to make it hard for him to breathe.

Pure terror filled his fake blue eyes.

“I don’t know what you’re involved in,” I lied. “But if anyone hurts Sabrina, it will be the last thing they do. Do you understand?” I let go of his neck.

Izan rubbed his neck and took a large gulp of air, backing away from me slowly. “I’m sorry,” he begged forgiveness. “I’m not sure what got into me. All I want to do is marry Lexi. That’s all. I don’t want any trouble. Please don’t say anything. All I want to do is marry Lexi,” he repeated. “I love her.”

It was the first thing he’d said that I had ever believed. I would admit to having a little sympathy for the guy and could even relate to him. He knew he wasn’t supposed to get the girl, but damned if he wouldn’t try. I was certain now that the only reason he was sticking around was for Lexi.

“Hey, man, do you need some help?” I offered, playing good cop, per se, wondering if maybe he would let something useful slip.

He steeled himself, and the darkness returned to his eyes. “I don’t need any help, especially from you. I don’t know who you are, but just let Lexi and me be.” He scrambled off.

No can do, Izan. You don’t deserve the girl. Maybe I don’t either.

Sabrina

I STARED AT LEXI’S ANIMATED reflection in her vanity mirror as Mia and I each wrapped strands of Lexi’s dark locks around styling wands, creating perfect loose waves. I’d brought Mia in for backup—I figured she could take a little break from canoodling with Drew in the stables. Besides, I’d missed her this week. Mia was my partner in crime, and if ever I needed one, now was the time.

“So, Lexi, why the rush on the first look?” Mia asked, annoyed.

It annoyed me too, but I was more worried about Lexi’s pricey Louis Vuitton luggage, all packed and ready to go. Lexi was more of a last-minute, make-everyone-late kind of girl when it came to these types of things. Growing up, we’d missed flights because of her poor time management skills and her whining that she had nothing to wear. Maybe she was just super excited about her honeymoon, but they weren’t supposed to leave until Sunday morning, the day after their wedding and reception. It was only Wednesday. Something seemed off. Was Cash right? Was Soren on the move? Would he take Lexi on the joyride from hell?

Lexi giggled nervously and bit her lip, adjusting her silk robe. “Soren just couldn’t wait to see me in my wedding dress.” She was totally lying.

“He couldn’t wait three days?” Mia rolled her eyes.

I wanted to ask if they would be here in three days.

“It’s romantic, okay?” Lexi said, defensively.

“If you say so.” Mia shrugged and grabbed another section of Lexi’s hair.

I glanced over at the luggage. “You’re already packed for your honeymoon?”

“Yep,” Lexi tittered, refusing to look at me in the mirror.

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