My heart, which was already pounding in my chest, raced even faster.
But then she reluctantly released me.
I cupped her face and kissed her. Slow. Passionate and tender. And it terrified me.
My back was cool against the sheets and her body hot against mine when she tucked herself beside me. Her foreheadpressed against the side of my neck, both of us covered in a thin layer of sweat and our damp skin stuck together.
I wanted to remain like this. Wanted to believe her life wasn’t in danger, but it had been in jeopardy from the moment Gio picked up on my attraction to her. The disgusting little shit had laid out his plan for Olivia during the walk to her cabin, and I’d gotten far too close to drawing my SIG and aiming it right between his legs.
I was going to have to drag myself from this bed and return to my mission. I’d already been gone too long. She’d thrown her arm over my chest, and she hesitantly retreated when I turned on my side to face her.
“I’m sorry,” I said, meaning every word. “I want to, but I can’t stay.”
“I know.” She slipped beneath the sheets, drawing them up to cover herself. I wanted to look at her some more but fought back the desire to pull the covers down. Instead, I rose, disposed of the condom in the bathroom, and dressed silently as she watched me through the mosquito netting.
When it was done, I came to her side of the bed, slipped through the curtain, and kissed her.
Fuck, I wanted her. Again and again.
“Good night,” I whispered against her lips.
“Good night, Nathan.”
I turned out the light and headed to the door, knowing how she’d meant it. That she’d keep this secret. My real name was only for her.
Halfway back to my room, my phone buzzed with the door alarm, and my pulse jumped.
Shit. Was this another meeting with Johannes... or was Gio going to attempt to pick up where he left off with Olivia? My hands tensed into fists at the thought. Just watching her give him that forced, quick kiss earlier had turned my stomach.
Things were so different now.
I crouched in the long grass at the side of the path andsettled into a comfortable position I could hold, but also move quickly from if needed. At least it was overcast this evening, so the moon wasn’t so bright.
I followed the dark figure to the same empty cabin were Johannes was once again waiting. The pending return trip to Rome must have accelerated the Abramos’ timetable.
“The boss,” Johannes said, “he likes this gun. Here is an advance. He hopes it buys trust.”
An ugly scowl twisted on Gio’s face. “My trust isn’t something you can buy.”
“Then he hopes it is a good first payment.”
Once the deal was complete, I followed Gio back to his cabin and wondered if he was always this inept. He hadn’t searched Johannes for weapons during either exchange, and as far as I could tell, Gio hadn’t verified the uncut stones he’d been given were actual diamonds.
Was this how the Abramos did their business? Sloppy. How had the CIA not been able to breach their network before?
Abruptly, Gio pulled up short, his feet digging into the sandy path.
Renzo stepped out of the shadow of Gio’s cabin, a wicked grin smeared across his face, and I had to drop into the bush to avoid being spotted.
“How was your meeting?” Renzo asked.
He played dumb. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re a fool, Giovanni. I see everything, like your father trained me. I know what you really came down here to do.”
The grass in front of me swayed in the breeze and momentarily obscured my view, not that it mattered much. Pieces fell into place, and I felt like an idiot. Vitale wasn’t branching out to Africa. His disobedient son was all on his own.
“You don’t know a fucking thing.”
