Page 26

As I took long strides toward the main office, I thought about how quickly the plane had been spotted. With one airport and dozens of flights departing and arriving, commercial andprivate, the likelihood the exact plane had been spotted was slim to nil.

Plus, the police were supposed to be paying attention. Yeah, there was something weird going on and I didn’t like being in the middle of a warzone.

My pilot had known someone who’d allowed the plane to taxi to a semi-hidden spot near several maintenance buildings. The site chosen carefully, there’d been no way a passerby would have paid any attention. That meant someone had known ahead of time of my arrival and intended departure.

Anger swelled from deep within.

Flying out on any aircraft would be dangerous, but a ship would take too long with too many possibilities for a hijacking. Being cornered had already gotten on my nerves. Men had died because of that alone.

I stormed into the small office, instantly on edge. When an older man appeared, eyeing me warily, every muscle in my body tensed. He was nervous, constantly darting his eyes toward the weapon attached to my hip. I pressed both fists on the counter. This needed to be done quickly.

“I need a room.”

“We have suites,” the man said with a decidedly British accent, the tone clipped.

“That’s fine. How much?”

“I need to see some ID.”

“No, you don’t.” I lifted my eyebrow and when he swallowed, I took a deep breath. “I’ll be paying cash.”

He darted his eyes toward the window. It was easy to see he was debating calling the cops. If he reached for the phone, he wouldn’t live long enough to finish dialing. At least that’s the way I’d normally handle an operation. No questions asked. No shit allowed. I had to remind myself I was no longer a SEAL.

“Three fifty.”

I’d exchanged several thousand U.S. dollars with Bermudan dollars as required of any missions of this nature. I tossed over a thousand for good measure. “We won’t be bothered.”

“We?” He greedily scooped up the cash, curling his hand around the bills.

“Yeah, my wife and me. And our dog. Got it?”

He glanced out the window again and the nervous tic in the corner of his mouth caused an instant reaction. I leaned over the counter, narrowing my eyes as my hand automatically reached for the weapon. “No one is to know we’re here. You keep silent, I’ll ensure you have a windfall. If not, the money will be exchanged for a bullet between your eyes. Do we understand each other?”

“Yes. Absolutely. I don’t want any trouble.”

“A place in the back.”

He remained shaking as he grabbed two keys to the room. No keycards. That could work in our benefit.

“Neither do we.” I headed to the door, stopping before exiting. “Where can I purchase some clothes and food, a bottle or two of liquor?”

“Just around the corner. You’ll find almost everything you need.”

“Good.” I headed out, hearing a single bark. Pulling the weapon into my hand, I rounded the corner, crouching low. When I reached the edge of the building, I took a deep breath and cursed.

Tank was currently resting half his body on top of Juliette. While his tail was wagging, a clear indication he was enjoying the hell out of himself, she was doing everything to push him away.

I took my time walking over. Handling her was going to become an issue. The last thing I wanted was to be saddled with some socialite prima donna.

She was tossing her head from side to side, making no headway in pushing Tank’s large body aside.

When she noticed I was standing over them, she grimaced. “Would you get him off me? Please?”

“What are you doing out of the Jeep?”

“I just needed some air.”

“Why didn’t you roll the windows down? Old-fashioned crank handles.”