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“I couldn’t, Rob. Fletcher strangled her, and he drugged her! Even if she was someone else, and I wasn’t attracted to her, I wouldn’t have turned away. The woman needed help.”
Rob’s head bobs up and down as if trying to convince himself I did the right thing. “Well, this could be a coincidence, but something is happening. Stay vigilant.”
“Anything from Blake?” I ask about our PI.
Rob hands me a folder. “The three Chinese men dining with Fletcher are from a Shanghai-based infrastructure development company. They’re partnering with various African organizations to build roads, railways, and airports. Fletcher is aiming to win a contract for supplying traffic control systems.”
I read the report and frown at the last paragraph. “Military? Is that Fletcher’s final aim?”
“Looks like. Military systems for the major hubs in Africa.”
That stray cat uttered ‘radar’ a couple of times in his dinner conversation with those men. It’s not farfetched that he was referring to installations on a large scale.
“I’ll relay the news to Adler. He’ll deal with the CIA, and no doubt they’ll find more. Africa may just be the start.”
“So, what’s happening between you and her?” My big brother can’t hide his concern.
“She didn’t want anything to do with me. She went back to him. They were gone before I woke up.”
“And?”
He knows me too well—it’s not the end of it.
“I’ve asked Blake to dig into her records.”
I’m desperate to find her again. When a man loses his treasure, he’s got to keep seeking. She is that—a treasure. Because everything fell into place when I was with her, despite her resistance. Or maybe it’s because she resisted that my urge to find her compounds.
Most of all, though, I want to help her find her freedom.
Rob draws a breath. I can almost see red lights and exclamation marks floating around his head. Yet he refrains from telling me to stop pursuing her.
I continue, “I haven’t got much so far, but her name is Isabella Martin.”
“That name doesn’t mean anything to me, but okay,” Rob says tentatively.
“I’ve asked Blake to find whatever there is to know about her. I’m doing everything I can to protect myself, Rob.”
Even though logic can’t explain how I feel, it doesn’t mean my head has stopped working. I’ve learned my lesson, and I’m not going to rely on my judgment alone.
My ‘Clay the Player’ days had taught me to err on the side of caution rather than regret. Not all of my breakups were nasty, but those that left a scar are enough to condition me to adopt a ‘guilty until proven innocent’ approach. When your assets are in the billions, angels can turn into thieves, and sweethearts into cheats. I’d been amazed by how good an actor some women could be, tricking me flawlessly even after we’d spent intimate time together—and I don’t mean one-night stands.
My assessment of Isabella may still be right, that she’s a woman with no money motives and that she isn’t the type who uses men for her advantage. But no matter how much I’ve learned, a master manipulator might still outsmart me. So, while I unintentionally extended my vacation, our PI has been gaining intel on her.
Rob softens. “I guess that’s why Blake has been looking for you like you were his new master.”
“Has he?”
“She’s that beautiful, huh?” My brother appraises me.
“Fletcher doesn’t deserve her.” I purse my lips in frustration.
“No woman deserves Fletcher.”
“Especially her,” I emphasize. “She’s not like the others, Rob.” I pause, contemplating my own statement. “I know every new girlfriend is different. But—I wasn’t looking. I wasn’t even thinking of love or whatever it is. I was with Mrs. Mac, for goodness’ sake!”
Rob chuckles.
“She just came to me,” I tell him as plainly as I can.
