Page 50 of High-Priority Asset

It was a playing card. Ace of spades.

“First they sent me the king of spades. Then that one. The death card. It’s from the Guzman cartel and means they’re coming for me. But I have something in the works to fix this problem.” He leaned forward, putting his forearms on his desk. “Isabel doesn’t know any of this. Her father wanted her sheltered from our affairs. She was sent to the very best all-girl boarding schools until she went to college. Scripps.”

Once again, an all-girls school, just outside of LA.

“I wish to honor her father’s desire to keep her in the dark,” Vargas said. “But I worry about her up here by herself. She refuses to move back to San Diego and won’t let me give her any bodyguards. I believe she thinks they’d spy on her for me.”

“Would they?” Dutch asked.

Vargas waved his hands out. “Por su puesto.” Of course. “I have the best of intentions.” He sat back and crossed his legs. “I believe there is a place for you in the fold, where your skills could be of use to me. I would like to offer you a job.”

“Doing what? I hope it’s not spying on your niece because the answer would be no.”

“You have integrity. I respect that.” Vargas drained his glass. “I want you to protect Isabel. That’s why I’m trusting you with this information. You need to understand what we’re dealing with if you are to keep her safe.”

“But Don Emilio,” Max said. “You can’t trust an outsider with her safety.”

“Are you questioning my judgment?” Vargas said in Spanish.

Rodrigo stepped forward. “He would never. Neither would I, but we don’t know him.”

“Isabel knows him.” This time Vargas spoke in English. “Likes him. Trusts him. She’s rejected everyone else I’ve proposed, including you two.” He cast them both a look that screamed don’t dare say another word. Neither man spoke again as Vargas shifted his gaze back to Dutch. “It’s no secret to my enemies that I love Isabel dearly. That could make her a target to some. I need to insulate her from danger. Immediately, with this attack tonight. I think you’re the man to help me do that without frightening her. I doubt she’d have any objections to your presence and as you’ve stated, your loyalty is to her.”

Dutch nodded, slowly, considering the surprising offer. “What does it pay?”

“Ten grand a month.”

“Just to keep her safe?” Dutch whistled. “Heck, I’d do it for free.” And he would.

“A man has to eat. Does he not?”

Dutch lowered his gaze and clucked his tongue. “Not all of us want to dine on white truffles and Strottarga Bianco.”

“You know of the finer things,” Vargas said.

What Dutch knew about them had come from reading an article after Googling expensive indulgences of the stupid rich.

“But you don’t need it.” Vargas studied him a minute. “I can see why Isabel is fond of you.”

“I can’t formally say yes to your offer until I know Isabel won’t object to me working for you.”

“And if she does?” Vargas asked.

“Then I’ll still be there for her, to keep her safe as best I can.”

“I will tell Isabel that I approve of you and I’ll have a new helmet sent. A Schuberth, yes?”

“Yeah,” he said, noticing that Vargas hadn’t asked for his address.

“It was good to meet you, Dutch.”

“Likewise, sir.” He stood and shook Vargas’s hand.

“Take my card,” Vargas said, offering him one. “It has my private number in case you need to speak with me about my niece.”

Dutch pocketed the card. On the way out, he met Max’s glare and caught the suspicion in Rodrigo’s eyes.

He closed the door and headed down the stairs, hoping that the USMS had taken the time to cement his cover story online and in hard records, making it ironclad, because Vargas was about to run a full-scope background check on him.