Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(62)

“Drew, I have to go. I’ll call you later.”

“Have Taggart call me.”

She clicked the phone off before he could ask for more. As quickly as she could, she ditched the robe and found her jeans, pulling them on and reaching for a T-shirt. She knew she should put on a bra, but there wasn’t time. She had no idea when he would surface again. They could be waiting for days. Especially since he’d very likely figured out she hadn’t come alone.

Crap. She was going to lose him. He would sink into the background and she might not get another lead from him again. Shoes. She needed shoes. What the hell had Case done with her bag? He was a slave to organization, apparently a leftover habit from his Navy days.

Good in bed and a neat freak. She was a lucky girl.

Her shoes were lined up on the floor of the closet. She’d only brought three pairs. Sneakers, flip-flops, and a single pair of killer heels she’d intended to go with the cocktail dress she’d brought hoping to get Case to go to dinner with her. She shoved her feet into the flip-flops and realized her problem. There was zero chance that Ezra and Michael would allow her to go running off after a former CIA agent.

The bathroom. There was a window. It was a little high, but she might be able to make it. Her heart was pumping. Tony might already be gone. He might have taken one look at Ezra and Michael and fled the scene entirely. She had to shove her body out that window and pray she didn’t get stuck.

She’d promised Case.

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

She couldn’t break her word to him. Couldn’t. She’d promised Case she wouldn’t run off on her own. Mia strode to the door, grabbing the ice bucket and the key. It was time to talk her way out of the situation.

The minute she opened the door, Fain’s head came up. Michael turned as well.

She gave them what she hoped was a brilliant smile. “Any idea where the ice machine is?”

Ezra stood, his jacket moving slightly so she caught a flash of metal. “I’ll get it for you.”

Just what she’d thought he’d say. Ezra, she could handle. It was Michael Malone who would likely prove to be the hardass. Case was his best friend and partner. Lucky for her he still wasn’t moving so great at this point so she’d likely only have to deal with the man she’d hired.

“I’ll come with you. Get a lay of the land, so to speak,” she said, striding up to him.

He took the bucket out of her hands and started moving toward the back of the building, the same way Santos had gone.

“I’ll hang out here.” Michael leaned back in his chair.

She looked straight ahead as she caught up with Ezra. “I need you to be my bodyguard now, but I need you to do it discreetly and from a distance.”

“May I ask why?” His tone was even, as though they were merely talking about the weather.

“Because Tony Santos is here.”

Ezra stopped. “Damn it. Did he see me?”

They’d gotten behind the second buildings and she didn’t see Tony anywhere. “I’m sure he did. He’s probably gone, but I have to look. Please watch my back, but do it from a distance. And tell Case I wasn’t alone. Okay?”

He set the ice bucket down. “Go. Do what you need to do. I’ll be there even if you can’t see me. I’ll follow you however I can. If he gets you in a car, stall him for a few minutes so I can follow you in a cab. There are a couple running around here most of the time from what I’ve seen.”

She nodded and took off, jogging the direction she thought he’d go. The beach was to her left. If she took a right, she would get back to the street. Likely he’d had a car parked on that street and he was driving away and he wouldn’t call again.

Not that he’d called in the first place. He’d e-mailed her the photo with all kinds of cryptic commands. Mia stalked past a massive bougainvillea bush. The back of the motel was covered in the glorious pink blossoms, but Mia didn’t have time to admire the flowers. No time to smell the flowers or enjoy doing touristy things with her man. No four-star hotel with a spa for her. No, she had to track down the crazy guy who couldn’t talk on the phone because everyone was out to get him.

And yes, she knew everyone really was out to get him, but it still sucked.

She was going to have to tell Case she’d screwed up. Again.

“Hello, pretty girl. How about a walk on the beach?”

She turned and there was the man she’d met six months before. After the debacle at Sanctum, she’d taken the assignment to write a story on human trafficking. Tony had been working, trying to find the daughter of a friend of his. He was a slender man, not much taller than herself, but she’d seen Tony fight. His lack of muscle belied his lean strength. He was also pretty mean. The man could bite with the best pissed-off Doberman. “I thought I lost you.”

He started walking slowly toward the beach. “I thought I told you to come alone.”

She felt herself flush as she followed him. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’ve finally got some sense.” Tony walked slowly, avoiding the super sandy part of the beach. Though he was dressed casually, no one would likely mistake him for a guest at the various beach parties going on around them. Makeshift canopies dotted the beach and cars pounded out various rhythms, all leading to one big party.