Page 39 of The Forbidden Secret

She flung an arm over her eyes. “He’s too solid. He’s too well-guarded. I think I would have an easier time taking out the president of the fucking country than this man.”

“There’s going to be a way.”

We didn’t have a lot of time. Giovanni had stationed three of his men to cover all the entrances of my apartment while we were away, but I didn’t want to leave Evelina in anyone else’s hands for long.

She wasmineto keep safe.

Mine.

“This is fucking ridiculous.”

Jaimie released a huff as if in agreement, but she didn’t move. What was there to do? The situation continued feeling more hopeless with each lost lead. There were no options. Aside from handing over Evelina and allowing her to get close and attempt to kill him, there wasn’t anything we could do.

“The only thing we can do right now is go inside,” she stated, inclining her seat and cracking her back. “They know your face, so I have to go in.”

“If you get the shot to take him out—”

“I’ll take it.”

She reached into the cup holder and grabbed a pair of glasses that had both a hidden camera and an attached microphone that connected to a tablet I brought. I pulled it out and connected the device before allowing it to load.

The picture came through clearly. “You’re good to go. Don’t get caught.”

She gave me a silent look as if to say, “have Ievergotten caught?” She shoved the door open and began walking toward the building. I watched her adjust her concealed firearm beneath her clothes as she waltzed inside confidently.

A part of me hoped that she had the opportunity to take out this threat right now, but I knew it wouldn’t be the case. Clide had been too meticulous. Too careful at every step of the way. I doubted he would allow himself to be exposed now.

But I could hope.

I watched the screen as she walked through the door and glanced around at the small antique shop around her. The flannel patterns and rustic wood of the floors made it look like I would be a popular option for people searching for home décor. It was the kind of store I would imagine Evelina scanning.

A young Russian woman stood behind the cash register and greeted Jaimie with a nervous smile. Jaimie responded in kind and moved toward the back of the store.

I didn’t expect to see Clide Newton sitting at a small table with an Italian man, speaking in hushed tones. I got only a glimpse before Jaimie veered her eyes away and continued moving. She passed by four more Russian men throughout the store, and as she intentionally brushed past one and focused her attention on the concealed weapon at his hip, it confirmed the theory that he was one of the guards.

Taking out Clide Newton here wouldn’t be an option.

“What are you searching for?” one of the guards asked as he came to stand at her side.

He used clear intimidation tactics, standing too close to Jaimie and focusing the full weight of his attention on her, but I knew she didn’t budge. Even without seeing her body language, I could tell from the tone of her reply that she was just as nonchalant as always.

“Why is it any of your business?”

“It’s my family’s shop, and I’m curious what customers are most interested in.”

She stared directly at him, and from the angle of the camera, I could see that she tilted her head in her usual predatory way. “My husband wants some coffee table toppers. We moved intoour new apartment a month ago, and the place is feeling rather empty. Now, if you would excuse me…”

She went to brush past him before the glasses panned to him holding her upper arm.

“I wasn’t done talking.”

“If you don’t release me right now, I’ll call the police and pepper this shit hole with horrible Yelp reviews.”

I tipped my head back and laughed at Jaimie’s attempt at sounding like a normal woman. She could kill him a dozen different ways in the next ten seconds, and he wouldn’t even have a chance to draw his gun.

But he released her with a scoff.

“Is this how you usually treat your customers?” I wondered why she was baiting him. She could have played a different role entirely. “You know what, never mind. Fuck you. You’ll be lucky if I don’t call the police.”

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