The Freedom Broker (Thea Paris #1)(64)
And talking of fa?ades, the General had demonstrated how adept he was at lying, which came as no surprise. Even Thea had proved to be a talented poker player. If he didn’t know her so well, he’d have missed the subtle signals of panic she’d emitted as Jemwa approached them.
It meant she’d read the notes he’d slipped into her computer bag. Now that his past was out in the open, she would see the truth, that Papa wasn’t some kind of hero. She needed to understand how much he’d suffered because of their father’s greed. Hope sprung up inside him—that Thea did love him unconditionally. Together, they’d made a real difference with the African charity, but there was so much more they could do.
“You didn’t tell me your sister was so beautiful,” Xi-Ping said after Chi left to speak with one of Kanzi’s dignitaries.
“Feeling threatened?” Nikos asked. Thea had won the gene-pool lottery, inheriting their father’s dark hair and olive skin and their mother’s emerald eyes, but it was her intelligence that set her apart.
“Never.” Xi-Ping smiled, her tongue then stroking her lips. “Come to my room tonight—I’ll show you how threatened I am.”
He laughed. “I’m afraid I’ll need my beauty sleep to be fresh for tomorrow’s business.”
“What are you talking about? You aren’t involved in the negotiations.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I need to refresh my drink. Excuse me.”
“But—”
He headed for the bar. He might not know his father’s location yet, but he would soon enough. The twists kept the game stimulating.
Chapter Forty-Five
Rif stood in one corner of the Livingstone Room, taking in the coffered ceilings, elegant sconces, and rich burgundy tapestries. Definitely a tonier venue than his usual, military-style accommodations. He’d ordered a tonic water from the bartender—no alcohol for him tonight, though he could use a stiff drink.
A few feet away, a circle made up of Thea, Nikos, and a striking Chinese couple—undoubtedly the opposition in the oil deal—had just broken up. Good thing, as he sensed from their body language that trouble was brewing. General Jemwa had his arms crossed and was leaning slightly backward, a position indicating opposition. Given the history between him and Nikos, Rif was not surprised.
In turn, Nikos maintained intense eye contact with the giant man, which in certain situations could mean positive interest. In this case, it probably indicated that Nikos had zero trust in the general and didn’t want to lower his defenses. Still, there was something unsettling about the interaction between the two men that Rif couldn’t put his finger on.
Chi, black hair slicked back with product, hadn’t blinked once during the entire conversation—a potential sign of deceit. Thea’s head and neck had been straighter than a steel rod, her shoulders rigid. People never tilted their heads if they were with someone they didn’t trust or were afraid of.
He’d been about to rescue her when she’d led Jemwa in the opposite direction and Chi had turned away, leaving Nikos alone with the Chinese beauty. The woman’s hungry gaze drifted from Nikos’s eyes down to his lips. Someone was hot for Nikos. And this clearly wasn’t their first meeting. They emanated a familiarity, standing way too close to each other to be strangers. He wondered if Thea knew anything about their history or had sensed it tonight.
A few suits drifted around the room. Rif recognized two of the corporate types as lawyers from Paris Industries—he’d met them briefly when he’d handled security at industry functions. Ahmed Khali was also there, pressing the flesh. With all the characters in place, these negotiations promised to be compelling. And somewhere in this complex web hid the answer to Christos’s kidnapping—he’d bet his life on it.
He combed the perimeter of the room, scanning for threats, keeping a close eye on Thea. He’d taken a quick shower earlier, and she’d disappeared. She was aware of the potential threat, so she had to be up to something important to take any risks at this point. He’d check with the bellman later, slip him a tip, and ask if she’d taken a taxi into town. Although he hated to invade her privacy, he couldn’t risk her safety. And forthcoming wasn’t exactly her middle name.
As he negotiated the crowd, he came face-to-face with the general. “Quite an impressive camp you had in the desert. You expecting a war?”
The man’s nostrils flared. “You expected child soldiers toting antiquated weapons? Sorry to disappoint. This region of Africa is a dangerous neighborhood; it’s best to be prepared.”
“I lived in Kanzi when I was a kid.”
Jemwa blinked. “With Christos Paris?”
“My father coordinates his security.”
“Well, then, perhaps it’s your father who’s antiquated. His methods didn’t prevent Mr. Paris from being kidnapped.”
Rif stood straighter. “Now that you mention it, your soldiers’ weapons did look brand new. Chinese manufacture, if I’m not mistaken. Did those come from Ares?”
“Who?”
Rif could feel Thea’s gaze on him but didn’t look in her direction. “Your arms dealer. I bet you know more than you’re saying about what happened to Christos. Weren’t you the one who kidnapped his son twenty years ago?”