Page 52 of Erik's Salvation
She stepped into the expansive living area. “The home is less than five years old, and you’ll find the owners spared no expense. To our left, we have a Swarovski crystal fireplace in the very well-sized living room. The flooring is all Macassar Ebony, which is quite rare.”
Marco ran a finger over the fireplace mantel. “I do like expensive things.”
Uh, yeah. She could see that. Even his watch screamed money.
She cleared her throat. “If you follow me into the kitchen, you’ll find Carrara marble countertops and ILVE appliances.”
When he remained silent, she looked up to see him watching her closely. So closely she wanted to squirm.
“You seem uncomfortable,cara.”
Was she that obvious? “No, of course not.” The words stuttered from her chest, awkward and heavy.
“You are worried about Erik, no?”
She swallowed, wanting to be professional but not exactly sure how to steer this conversation around. “Maybe a little.”
“I am a bit hurt that he has spoken ill of me, as I consider him a friend, but I can assure you that I am not as bad as he must have described. And today, I am simply an interested buyer.”
She opened and closed her mouth a few times. “He’s just…overprotective. I’m sorry.” She tried to smile with a bit more ease. “Follow me, I’ll show you a laundry that’ll make youwantto wash your clothes.”
* * *
Erik leanedback in his office chair as he read over the notes for tonight’s job. He was returning to work earlier than planned because he was bored as shit.
Target was a senior member of a Middle Eastern terrorist organization who was currently in the country and close enough to Redwood to make Erik the obvious choice. He was here under a false name but had been positively identified by the FBI.
He flicked through images of the guy. They didn’t have enough evidence of his participation in the organization to get him through legal means, but they still knew exactly who he was and what he was responsible for…so that was where Erik came in.
He read every page of the dossier, including what the asshole’s organization had already done and suspected plans for the future. It fueled Erik’s rage to get the job done quickly.
He spent the next hour planning his execution. It was only when his phone rang that he finally dragged his gaze from his computer screen.
“I’ve got it handled, Chandler,” he said to his friend. “I might even be able to get this job done without you hacking into any systems.”
“You expect me to believe you can complete a job without me?”
One side of Erik’s mouth twitched. “Could do it without youandwith my eyes closed.”
“You’re dreaming. My voice in your ear has been the only thing to save your ass on more occasions than I can count.”
It was damn true. The guy had given him exit routes and penetrated alarm systems so many times, Erik would be a dead man a hundred times over without him. “Today, I’ve got it handled. Feel free to join me as backup, though.”
Chandler scoffed. “Backup, my ass.” There was a small pause, and when Chandler spoke again, all traces of humor were gone. “But I didn’t call about the job, Hunter.”
Erik’s brow quirked. “What is it?”
“You asked me to put a guy on Marco.”
He had. Because he didn’t like the guy being in Redwood and definitely didn’t like seeing him with Hannah. Dancing with her. Touching her. “Yeah?”
Tapping of keys sounded. “Marco’s still in town. And I just sent you some pictures my guy took today.”
Erik’s muscles were already tensing as he clicked into the email. Then his breath hissed from his chest. “What thefuck?”
The first photo was of Hannah standing by an open door of a huge house, and Marco’s car out front. He clicked through the images, getting a play-by-play of the guy walking up to her. Kissing her fucking cheek. There were photos of Marco in a window, looking out. Then more of him leaving. But not before kissing her cheek again.
Erik’s hands fisted tightly, and he wanted to lash out at something. A wall. The desk. The fucking face of Marco Salvatore.
