Page 40 of Stealth Mission

“The woman, I bet. Quit dragging your feet, Storm. Spit it out.”

I drop my chin to my chest. “I want to tell her why I’m here.”

“Oh, shit. Did you have sex with?—”

“No!” I interject. “But she’s caught up in some kind of danger and I do not feel good about lying to her?—”

He cuts me off this time. “You’re an honorable man for not leaving her swinging in the wind. But are you sure what you tell her won’t get leaked?”

“Negative, but I’m not okay with lying to her about my fucking name. Or pretending why I’m here. I’m between a rock and a monumental hard place here.”

His slow exhale rumbles in the phone. “I have complete trust in your judgment.”

Is that a good thing? Maybe I need someone to check me right now.

I squeeze the back of my neck. “There’s another problem.”

“Well, damn. You sure know how to ruin my morning. Two problems?”

“She’s the mayor’s daughter. The one who hosted the party where the car bomb blew up.”

First a silence. Then a low whistle pierces my ear. “Damn, brother. This is going to make things complicated in our search.”

“Don’t I know. She could be an ally, one with inside knowledge.”

“You’re talking about enlisting her to help?”

“Possibly, but I’ll admit, this is not going to be a clean, unbiased thing.” I clench my shirt as I stare sightlessly out the window. “I can’t stop thinking about her and that’s a dangerous thing.”

Chapter Seventeen

A freaking surveyor.

“Get off my land.”

I cross my arms to hold myself together. My whole body is throbbing with anger, threatening to blow the top off of my head like a volcano.

The slender man shifts uncomfortably, kicking the dirt beneath his shoes. “Ma’am, I was just hired to complete the survey.”

“Off my land. I didn’t hire you.”

He drops his hands on his hips and looks around.

My eyes go wide as I realize something. “Wait, did the bank send you?”

Lips pressed tight, he tugs off his hat. “I’m not allowed to say who my client is. There’s a confidentiality agreement.”

I’m walking a thin line here. If the bank did this, it could be related to the loan. If not… then something is seriously wrong.

“Come on, can’t you tell me anything?”

He clamps his lips tighter and shakes his head.

Even if it’s the bank, I am not letting this happen without my consent.

“Off!” I shove a finger toward his truck. “Get in your truck and leave, or I’m calling the police and having you arrested for trespassing.”

He grumbles something about women.

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