Page 56 of Shark Bait

Alessio glares. “Short of declaring an emergency, I have mobilized every agent we have. They’re working as fast as possible while also preserving their covers. It’s been a day, and I have seven names, including his point of contact in the US. It’s a woman.”

Heisgood. The best, actually. “One day. Seven names. That’s great work, boss.”

“Eat me.”

I clear my throat. “This sounds like an organization, not a one-man type of scheme. When Troy spoke about it, I got the impression La Falena brought her in and things spiraled from there.”

“The seven people I’m putting on the list are the staff seen helping him and Fis get her on the yacht.”

“You mean there’s a surveillance video?”

“Niksha put together pieces from various sources.”

Niksha is one of the best operatives in the world. He’ll work for anyone who offers the most money. Usually, it’s Alessio, but sometimes, it’s the US government. We also like their contracts, but oftentimes execute them for free. One never knows when you’ll need CIA intelligence. I’m sure we could use it right now. “I want to get this job done before she has my baby.”

Alessio whips his head around. “Your baby?”

I shrug. “Troy is a package deal.”

Alessio wipes his face with the towel. “If you say the baby is yours, she’s yours. I haven’t told Valerina anything about your future wife. It’ll be up to the two of you what you want to say.”

“I’ll say that baby girl is mine.”

Alessio nods. “You think the baby is a girl?”

I chuckle. “Yeah, I have a bet going with Troy. She thinks it’s a boy.”

“It’s a girl,” he says. “I’m in for a hundred euros. Or dollars. Whatever currency you two agreed on.”

What did I say about rich people and their measly hundred dollars? “You’re a prophet now?”

“Troy’s face glows. It means she’s having a girl.”

I slow almost to a stop. “How do you mean her face glows?”

“Your future wife glows. Even when she’s sad, she glows. It’s magnetic, the essence of the word attraction.”

“You think Troy is attractive?”

“Yes, I do.”

“What the hell?” I step off the treadmill, crack my neck, and think about snapping his.

Alessio hops off the treadmill, pinning me with his blue eyes. “Tread carefully. I might start thinking you can’t handle a compliment I gave you about your girl. I might start thinking you think I want to take something you’ve claimed for yourself.”

I grind my teeth. If I open my mouth, I might bite off his cheek, so I stay quiet and content with the happiness the image of biting off his cheek evokes.

Alessio looks down my body and steps back. “You better wear boxers next time we work out.” He throws a towel at my face. “And bring your own towel.”

I wipe the sweat off my forehead and neck. “You know how violent images make me horny.”

“An image of a pregnant woman is the very antidote to violence.”

“Oh, that’s not what I was thinking about. I was thinking about biting off your cheek.”

Alessio walks over to the window and opens it to let in the fresh morning air. “If I said she was ugly, how would that sound to you?”

“Unacceptable,” I tell him. “I see where you’re going with this. You’ve made your point.”

---