Page 74 of Betrayed

When he was inside and the door had closed to give them privacy, Mari blurted out, “Anything?”

“She took the bait and made contact as soon as you left the office. They have a meeting set up for next week.”

“Next week?Why so long?”

“We want her to sweat. The more she worries, the more chance she’ll slip up and we’re hopeful during that time, she’ll put her friends on alert. If so, I’m positive they’ll be watching when the meet goes down.”

“And you and Jonas’ men will close in?”

“Exactly.” He sent her a small grin as he pushed the ignition button and the engine hummed to life. She waited until he pulled out of the lot before saying more.

“What else do I do?”

“Nothing, your job is done. You play it cool like you’ve forgotten all about Mr. Abdallah and go about your routine, none the wiser.”

She crossed her arms over her chest with ahumph.

“Let the professionals do their jobs, Mari. Do not interfere.”

“I don’t have a clue what you mean,” was her innocent reply.

As Arturo’s smile faded into a frown of concern, she glanced out the window, grinning smugly. She had no intention of getting more involved with spies and international arms dealers than she already was, but he didn’t need to know that.She’d already decided she enjoyed watching Mr. Calm Cool Secret Agent Man squirm. Let him stew in his own juice for a while.

Chapter 20

STAKEOUTS WERE THEworst part of the job but a necessary evil. He could think of a million more productive things he could be doing. Most involved Mari and his, as yet, unsuccessful attempts to smooth things over between them. She was as stubborn as she was beautiful and was staunchly defending the walls she’d erected around her heart. He’d broken through them once, and he was determined to do so again even though she’d built them higher and wider than before. He just hoped he had enough tools in his arsenal this time around.

His phone dinged for probably the hundredth time that day. When this case was over, he planned to take a month of R&R, with a blue-eyed, midnight-haired subbie, somewhere tropical. He didn’t care where. He had only two requirements—Mari in her electric-blue bikini and no fucking Wi-Fi.

“Arturo here,” he barked into his phone.

Rock’s gravelly voice boomed in his ear. “We’ve got action at Mari’s house.”

“Ardiana?”

“You got it. This time she brought hardware. I think I saw a drill cord hanging out of her toolbox.”

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