Page 78 of Sinful Beauty

I give it some thought. No one knows, right? But why else would they take Lucia? Was she involved? Is she a loose end?

“She’s the assistant who informed Sage her sister had resigned. I didn’t think she was involved.” Fuck me. “We’ll get the questions answered after we find her. We have a Blue Notice out and tags on the car she got into. I’m on my way now to meet with the car service.”

“Let us know how we can help. As you know, we want to find those responsible.” He lost a teammate to these fucks. This is personal for him too.

“Once I’m back at my place, I’ll send you everything we have. We’ve got our guys on this, but your guys?—”

“Aren’t encumbered by international law. Send over whatever you’ve got and we’ll see what we can do.”

Chapter28

Tristan

In my flat, I open a panel wall in my office and select a Glock, load it, and select a knife. My skin lights with energy as I dial Penny.

“Thanks for the address.”

“No problem, dear. Nigel asked if you need back-up?”

My instinct roars that there’s no time. They’ve had her for five hours. “Any striking details on the business?”

“On the outset, it’s a legitimate business.”

She and I both know that means nothing.

“Hasn’t been flagged. I sent you a diagram of the floor plan registered with the city.”

“Anything on the driver?”

“The name is Tobias Müller. Dual EU and Swiss citizenship. Traveled to Russia five times in the past three years.”

“For business or pleasure?”

“Listed as pleasure. It’s possible he has family there.”

“Is he Russian?”

“Possibly, if you go far enough back. Born in Switzerland.”

I sheathe the knife and check my profile in the reflection of a window. Someone glancing at me shouldn’t be able to tell I’m armed. “Well, he’s working for someone. Seems we should find out who, yes?”

“Yes, dear. Back-up?”

“No. But perhaps be on the ready to reach out to local law enforcement?”

“We have a contact. I’ll prepare him.”

“Say nothing that sends them to the door. I want time with Tobias.”

In the garage, I pop the trunk on my Aston Martin. In the trunk, I add Kevlar wire, handcuffs, zip ties, protective gloves, a battering ram, bolt cutters, a lock pick set, flashbangs, and smoke grenades.

Five minutes later, I’m conducting a brief surveillance, looping around the city streets of my destination, both getting a lay of the land and ensuring no one is following me.

My cover may blow sky high. But we’ll catch these fuckers, and it will be worth the sacrifice.

Every time we approach someone, they end up dead. And now Lucia has been taken. The situation is too similar to the American girl. There’s no way it’s not the same people.

Lucia must be confused and scared. They didn’t hurt the American girl. Sloane Watson specifically stated that the men holding her captive were instructed to not hurt her. Of course, we suspect that’s because her former lover took her. I doubt Lucia will have any such connection. And Salo claimed the original order had been to eliminate Sloane. Fear surges, and emotions I can’t categorize, but I push it all back. I need to be at the top of my game. Lucia’s life depends on it.

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