She crossed her arms, keeping the towel around her.
“You tell me,” I said instead of peppering her with a question. “WhywouldI be following you?”
Maybe knowing what Louis was up to, what shit he’d caused to hit the proverbial fan, would give me a hint of why that other fucker had targeted her.
Her mouth hung open as she stared at me. “What?”
“Yeah. You tell me, Isabel. Why would I be chasing you down?”
She blinked, scowling as she lowered her gaze. “I have no fucking clue.”
There we go. That’s more like it.Every trace of trauma and fear was gone from her eyes. Her sass was a welcome return to the fiery, spirited woman I’d met and wanted too much for my own good.
“No clue?” I wasn’t buying that.
“Yeah, no clue,” she shot back.
“You didn’t seem surprised that I was following you when you first noticed it. You didn’t do the sensible thing like go to the cops and say that a stranger was stalking you.”
“Because they wouldn’t know how to help. They wouldn’t know what to do. Besides, I knew you’d keep looking and looking. I…” She faltered, lowering her gaze again. “I didn’t realize you’d be there when that man jumped out at me, but…”
“No.” I stepped closer, surprising her enough that she looked up, frowned, and retreated a couple of feet.
“No, you’re not slipping back into that shock again. Don’t go there. Don’t think about it. Why would you be so casual about someone following you?”
“Because my father is Louis Flores.” She tipped her chin up.
Now we’re getting somewhere, sweetheart.She didn’t deny it, but as she stated the fact, she didn’t seem happy or proud about that association.
“He’s a corrupt, sneaky, deceiving liar and asshole who’s fucked over countless people all over the world all so he can be as rich, as powerful, and as superior as he thinks he can be.” She grunted a weak laugh. “He’s who you want. Not me.”
“Not so.”
My original contract was to take him out. Louis Flores was my target until someone had tipped him off that there was a real and active hit out on him. He’d gone into hiding and Drago told me to kidnap, then kill, her instead.
“You think you’re going to get anything fromme?” She pointed at herself and scowled as she backed up again. The towel sagged, then dropped from her as she seemed to angle for the door.
Fifteen minutes ago, yeah, I would’ve been really confident in thinking I’d get something from her. An orgasm or three. More kissing and the chance to lead up to what I assumed would be, hands down, the hottest and best sex of my life.
I saw no desire sparking in her eyes now. Only anger. I stalked after her, backing her up across the room. Still, this game of chase was too addicting to stop.
“You’re looking in the wrong place for answers about Louis. I cut ties with him years ago. I know nothing about him. Nothing of value. I haven’t heard from him since I walked away with nothing. I haven’t seen him, and I never want to again.”
“You cut ties with him but you’ll still be quick to assume he’s the reason someone would be afteryou?”
She nodded. “Yes. I don’t know what’s going on, but I havenothingto do with it. The only reason anyone would care to follow me is to use me as leverage. As a pawn for something to do with him.”
“What are you suggesting?—”
She growled. “I’m not ‘suggesting’ anything, Miguel. I am innocent. I’m clueless. I have zero answers or clues or tips to offer anyone looking for Louis Flores.”
“That’s bullshit.” I shook my head and ran my hand over my wet hair, slicking it back. “You have to know something. You have to have something or?—”
“I don’t!” She insisted it with fire sparking in her eyes. Maybe she believed that, but I wouldn’t be so quick to take her word for it.
“Then why was that other man looking for you too?”
Her brow lined as she stared at me for a long moment. I’d knocked that attitude and sass down a little bit. Now she looked at me like I’d spoken another language.