Page 20 of Off Limits Billionaire

“Well, you bought the clock and Brody here confused you for someone else.” Viper slapped the shoulder of the driver a lot harder than I expected. It was definitely a signal that the driver had messed up.

“You gotta give me more than that, Viper.” Marcus demanded answers.

“Give us a minute, fellas. Do a sweep of the area. I have a feeling Brian isn’t too far behind these two.” Viper issued the command and the men dispersed while we stood in front of this person with whom Marcus was familiar.

Once the men left us in the empty hangar, Viper offered me a smile. “I’m really sorry about this. I work for an organization, GOLIATH.”

“Get the fuck outta here, man. That agency is a myth!” Marcus waved him off.

Viper moved his hand along the side of his body and said, “Do I look like a unicorn, bro? We were on a mission to intercept the purchase of an antique that’s being used to smuggle diamonds by a known arms dealer. My guy Brody was the one we planted inside the auction house. We believed the Godschalk was the item in question, but it can’t possibly be that, since you’re the one who bought it.”

Marcus ran his hand over his face. I could see the exhaustion setting in. We needed to get out of this hangar and onto his family’s jet. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I couldn't blame him, but we were right in the middle of something we had no business being a part of.

“We should pick it up and get my jet ready for takeoff,” Marcus told me.

I opened the door to the car and pulled out my bag but didn’t find my phone. I felt a well of panic come over me. Without my phone we couldn’t track the clock. I franticly searched the car. It wasn’t until I shoved my hand into the crease between the seat cushions that I found it. Relieved, I opened the app and found the clock wasn’t far away.

“It looks like it’s in this building,” I told him, pointing to the screen. I zoomed in for Marcus to look and he nodded.

“That’s the main reception area for VIPs. The flight crew is probably waiting for us there. Let me get them ready to fly. Ana, I’m so sorry about this.”

“Don’t apologize to me. As long as our deal is still intact and we make it home safely, I’m okay.”

10

MARCUS

None of this was okay!

I didn’t care what Ana said about everything that had happened. Our deal was intact, and once I thought about it, I wanted to tack on an extra 15% for hazard pay because what the fuck?!

Ana tugged on my sleeve as we made our way to the reception area of the airport. She whispered as Viper followed behind us. “Marcus, if we’re free to go, why is he still following us? Who is he?”

“We served in the Navy together.” It was all I told her. I didn’t want to say anything while he was in earshot.

The private terminal of Heathrow had a concierge waiting to greet us as we walked inside. I glanced over my shoulder to see that Viper had disappeared. There was a young woman behind the counter tapping away on the computer while another employee stood beside her with a huge smile on her face.

It almost made me uncomfortable to see how happy she was compared to what Ana and I had just experienced.

“Welcome back, Mr. Adler,” the delighted employee greeted us. “We have your delivery all checked in and ready to load. Your crew is onsite and can be ready for boarding in the next hour.”

I nodded. “That’s fine. Thank you. We’ll just wait over here.”

Ana and I headed toward the seating area where we got some coffee and a few snacks. I needed something to keep my hands busy. I wanted to go outside and punch someone or something. Having a gun pointed in my face didn’t evoke warm and fuzzy memories of my time served. The worst part was, I probably wasn’t going to get any more clarity on what was going on.

That’s not my life anymore,I thought. I found myself staring at Ana as she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. I wanted her in my life, but would she even consider it?

The family feud was one thing, but this? Armed men hauling us out of a taxi based on mistaken identity?She’s never going to want to travel with me again. She’ll probably never talk to me again after she’s been paid for the gig.That didn’t sit well with me and I had to salvage whatever I could to ensure she kept in touch with me.

“Ana?”

“Yeah?” She didn’t face me, keeping her eyes glued to the table.

“I’m sorry.”

“I told you not to apologize. Just get me home safe, Marcus.”

I huffed out a breath and didn’t know what I could do, so I just started talking. “I didn’t know that any of this was going to happen.”

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