Page 68 of Nanny for the Mercenaries

Both men turned to look at me. “Huh?” Jordy asked.

“Kaylee,” I repeated. “You wantKayleeto stay, I’m sure you meant to say.”

“Yes, of course,” Archer answered. “That’s very clearly what we meant.”

Like hell it is, I thought.

“It’s too late now,” Archer went on. “The die is cast, so to speak. Why don’t we discuss our preparations?”

“About time,” I muttered.

“First things first, I’m glad I didn’t need to remind you to shave for this mission.”

“No point in putting it off,” I replied.

Jordy leaned over and patted my bare cheek. “Smooth as a baby’s ass. You look like a new man.”

I snatched his wrist before he could pull it away. “Touch me again, and you’ll be eating with your left hand the rest of this mission.”

“Everything with the helicopter company is prepared,” Archer cut in like a disapproving parent. He waited for me to let go before continuing. “Jordy and I will spend every day giving tours of the city to tourists. Kadyrovic has already reached out for a private tour of the city, especially an aerial view of the Formula One course, but he has not booked a specific day with us as of this moment. I suspect he will be arriving at the last minute and expect us to drop everything to accommodate him. Which, of course, we will.”

“Why are we certain he’ll choose our company?” I asked. “Or what if he changes his mind?”

“Because we have promised Kadyrovic, who is a huge racing fan, a meet-and-greet with Daniel Ricardo.”

Jordy sat up straighter. “We’ve got Ricardo working with us?!?! The driver?”

“No. Daniel Ricardo, the famous Formula One driver, will not be with us on this mission,” Archer said dryly. “That is merely the bait for Kadyrovic.”

“Aww.” Jordy slumped back into the couch.

“Okay,” I said slowly. “And what happens when this Russian piece of shit shows up and we can’t deliver his celebrity dick-sucking? Is that when we’re taking him out?”

It was the perfect setup, now that I thought about it. Lead Kadyrovic into some private room where Ricardo is supposedly waiting. Tell him his bodyguards—I’m assuming he’ll have an entourage of bodyguards—can’t come. Strangle the asshole with piano wire, then make our escape before his bodyguards figured out anything was wrong.

“That is not when we’re taking him out.” Archer cleared his throat. “The specifics of the mission have changed.”

I gave a start. “Changed how?”

“Mission parameters never change once the contract is accepted,” Jordy said.

“It is unorthodox, and I raised these concerns with the contract administrator at Mathos HQ in Frankfurt,” Archer replied. “Apparently, a special exception was made in this case. Kadyrovic’s death now has to be made to look like an accident.”

“Shit,” I cursed under my breath.

“Why? Who cares if it’s an accident?” Jordy said. “Putin runs around giving polonium tea to every Russian defector without repercussions, but we have to wear gloves for our job?”

“None of that is our concern. It is the contract as it now stands. And we are being paidextremelywell for the work. Let’s move past it, please.”

“An accident.” I rolled the word around in my mouth. It tasted bitter. “What, we drop a piano on him when he’s walking around town? Tie his fucking shoelaces so he trips on the stairs?”

“The modifications to our plan are quite simple,” Archer answered. He had a hint of a smile, the kind he wore when he was pleased with himself. “Quite simple indeed. Care to venture a guess?”

“I don’t feel like playing games,” I said.

“I’ll give you a hint. It involves the business we are temporarily commandeering for the mission.”

“I said I don’t want to play games.”

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