Page 76 of The Perfect Stranger

I took a few steps forward sliding my hands up Nina’s arms and cupped the back of the neck, tilting her face to mine.

“I’d like very much to tease you,” I rumbled. “But first we need to talk.”

“Talk?”

Letting her go, I put on my jacket. “Yes, I have some plans we need to discuss.” I met her confused face. “Rather pressing plans.”

“Ah, okay. Can’t we just discuss them here, in the room?”

“Cariña, I have a weakness… that’s you being close to a bed. I can’t, and I won’t concentrate on a word I say if all I’m thinking about is having you under me.”

That beautiful blush of hers reddened her cheeks once again. “Well… when you say it like that,” she stumbled.

“Let’s go. I’ve made a reservation downstairs.”

Nina’s hackles were raised as we entered the restaurant, her suspicions and unanswered questions over almost everything were not adding up. My demeanor wasn’t helping as the final hours bore down on us. Eventually, as the wine flowed and she relaxed, we fell into easy conversation until her natural curiosity won.

“How did you and Evan Jacobs meet?”

“Similar interests.”

“Like?”

My fingers drummed on the base of my wine glass. “People. Things.”

“That’s very evasive.”

“It’s safer that way.”

“Why?”

Because if I told you the truth I would never see you again.

“In my line of work, the fewer people know about me, the better.”

“Are you really Colombian?”

“Tell me about you. Since you are the target, I’d like to know more about who I’m dealing with.”

“I don’t know why I’m a target. I know you rattled something off about having ‘knowledge,’ but in all honesty, I don’t possess anything that would help anyone.”

“Why did you become an agent?”

“What?”

“It doesn’t suit you. So why did you become one?”

My observation rattled her. But it was true. She was far too innocent to be an agent.

“Nina, it takes a certain mindset to be an agent. While I can see you’re an intelligent woman, you don’t belong on the streets chasing people or investigating the corrupt scum of society. You certainly don’t belong in a world where you’re being hunted down by a drug cartel. So why did you become an FBI agent?”

For the next few minutes, I listened to the events that happened in her young life that encouraged this career path. Her father’s brutal murder of which she knew nothing of Los Santos involvement, to her first year as a rookie agent and losing her partner, Garcia. Of which, she again knew nothing of his involvement with Los Santos.”

“Your boss… Delacroix. Can you trust him?”

“Up until a few days ago, I thought I could.”

“What makes you question him?”

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