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"Someone should have told me it was a serious meeting rather than simple playtime," she remarked, as she jumped to her feet and eyed the six men warily. "I might have taken a nap instead of slipping in to see what all the interest was here and whether or not I should be jealous. "
"Whether or not she should be nosy," Shayne snorted. "I'd say not, if she had asked my opinion. "
"But I didn't ask you opinion, did I?"
She didn't dare meet Khalid's gaze. She turned to her fathers instead.
"Really, Dads, you should have warned Khalid about leaving me in the limo. You two know me much too well. "
Joe covered his mouth with his hand as though wiping at it in frustration. He was actually fighting a grin--she hoped. Zach continued to stare at her as though he had no idea who the hell she was or from where she had come. Strange, he had helped trained her. He should have known better.
Khalid and Shayne were staring at her with the promise of a certain confrontation in their gazes as Mohammed glared at her. Abram Mustafa was the only one who appeared unfazed, in fact, a bit amused. She flashed him one of her deceptively sweet smiles as she pushed her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and wondered if her face had started bruising yet. Evidently not, because Khalid hadn't murdered Mohammed yet.
"Shall I assume we have an addition to our little meeting, gentlemen?" Abram glided to her, a grin tugging at his well-molded lips. The short black beard that covered his lower face gave him a piratical look, as the twinkle in his deep, black eyes encouraged her to join in whatever joke he was having at her expense.
As she watched Khalid and Shayne cautiously, Abram gripped her arm and urged her into the room.
"Come, my dear, let's not loiter in the hall where this slight confrontation can be witnessed, shall we?"
Marty followed, albeit reluctantly, as she watched Khalid and Shayne slowly slide their weapons back into the holsters beneath their jackets. How Khalid had managed to wear that holster without her knowing it, she couldn't explain. He had to have placed it there after entering the club.
"Inviting me in now?" She glanced at her fathers, noting Zach's grimace as all but Mohammed stepped back into the room.
"I do hope Mohammed didn't leave bruises on your delicate flesh as he pressed the gun into your neck. " Abram flashed another grin at her, as his wicked black gaze raked over her face. "I'll be certain to ensure that he never makes such a mistake again. "
"Abram. " Khalid's voice held a warning note.
"Ah, little brothers can often be quite intense, can they not?" Abram grinned at her again as he released her arm and moved to the bar. "Would you like a drink, perhaps?"
She glanced back at Khalid as Abram laid his hand against the small of her back and led her to the bar.
"This isn't social hour," Khalid snapped. "Stop pretending it is. "
Oh boy, he was pissed. It would have been amusing if the air of danger surrounding him wasn't so thick.
"I never pretend such things. " Abram was clearly amused as he poured two drinks. "You have been so reluctant to allow me the chance to meet your beautiful woman over these many years, that I have decided to take this chance that has been presented so beautifully to me. I am certain Ian will forgive me for allowing this slight bend of the rules. "
He handed her a drink as he toasted her with his own.
Marty lifted the short glass to her lips, gave a little sniff, then narrowed her gaze on Abram as she realized it was indeed one of her favorites. A splash of expensive whiskey over ice. She toasted him back before sipping. She continued to gaze at the other men warily.
"She's going to get herself killed," Zach muttered to Joe, as she glanced at them.
"And you're just figuring that one out?" Khalid glared at her fathers before stalking to the bar and pouring himself a stiff shot of whiskey and tossing it back; he continued to glower at her.
"I've been warning both of you," Zach snapped as he glared at her father and her lover. "But have either of you bothered to listen at any time?"
"And all of you seem to be forgetting exactly what her career is. " Her father, Joe, surprised her as he snapped at all of them. "She's a trained agent, and you were all warned that she wouldn't sit back lightly once she became suspicious. For God's sake, Zach, you helped train her. You should have known she would slip in here. "
That was her thought exactly.
She stared back at Zach, not really surprised at his anger. He hadn't wanted her to join the Bureau to begin with, and she was aware that it was his influence that had kept her from the assignments she had sought. "How did you convince Abdul to allow you out of the limo?" Khalid pushed his fingers through his hair before propping them on his hips.
"He's sleeping. " She shrugged, covering for her friend. "I promised him I'd stay put. "
"And he knows better than to bel
ieve you," Khalid barked.
