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Before he could think about that statement, Case noticed the guard was watching them through the window again. He had a guess as to why the man was so interested. Engaged couples usually didn’t sit with the width of the sofa between them. Patting the empty cushion beside him, he said, “Come here, Fireball.”
Her hesitation was nearly imperceptible before she slid over. Nyx stiffened momentarily when he slung an arm across her shoulders and tugged her closer to his side. As he pressed his lips into her hair, he whispered softer than soft, “Balcony guards watching.”
Nyx put her hand on his thigh, just above his knee, and squeezed her acknowledgment.
There was nothing sexual about the touch, but Case almost spontaneously combusted. A fantasy invaded his mind of her running her fingers lightly up the inseam of his pants until she could cup him. Stroke him. Blood started to leave his brain and head for his cock. He struggled to rein himself in. She was already leery that he’d ask for her body as payment for his protection, and he didn’t want her to believe there were any strings attached.
“How much longer do you think Señor Vargas is going to make you wait before he talks with you?”
Case struggled to focus. He was saved from sounding like an idiot when she moved her hand from his leg and linked her fingers in her lap. “I don’t know. I didn’t expect it to take this long, but we’re on his schedule, not ours.”
“I’m aware of that,” Nyx said. Her voice was serene, but there was a note of irritation beneath the calm. “I’m not sure you realize this, but I checked in at the inn in San Isidro. My things are there, and the innkeeper, Señor Alvarez, is aware that I went to the ruins. I didn’t tell him why,” she added.
Fucking great. Case knew Alvarez from the shit that had gone down last year. The man was retired from the presidential brigade, Puerto Jardin’s Special Forces. When Nyx didn’t return to the inn, the innkeeper would round up a search party to look for her, and it would no doubt include two other older gentlemen who’d retired from the brigade.
Alvarez and his friends had even breached this hacienda last year, although all hell had been breaking loose at the time. Case couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t try to get in here again to rescue Nyx. That could be a problem.
“When I meet with Señor Vargas, I’ll ask him to send someone to get your things.”
“If he makes you wait until tomorrow to talk with you?—”
“I know.” Case cut her off. “Alvarez will send out search and rescue for you at first light, but I can’t do anything about it at the moment.”
She rested her head on his shoulder and Case felt his thoughts blur. Her hand was back on his knee. Her fingers tapped lightly. Then one pointed toward the windows. Once again, a guard was monitoring them.
The last time he’d felt this fucking helpless was when he was a child. He was locked in a room that had been bugged and might still have a stray mic or camera that he didn’t find. He had peeping tom guards on the balcony, and he was protecting a woman who might be completely innocent or might have an agenda of her own. On top of that, he needed to worry about three old men launching a mission to rescue Nyx.
What had Stony called this? Juggling hand grenades?
Yeah, Case was juggling hand grenades.
Chapter 7
Case waited for a summons to meet with Vargas.
Dinner had been wheeled into the room and cleared hours ago. He had the TV on again with the volume low. Nyx dozed beside him on the couch, and his gut churned. Case wanted to get things moving and the only way to do that was to talk to the drug lord. He could nearly hear a clock ticking in his head, counting down the minutes.
By now, the innkeeper would be worried about Nyx. The question wasn’t if he would launch a rescue, the question was when. Case had a little time. Nothing could happen until morning. Alvarez would search the area by the ruins first, but when he didn’t locate his missing guest, he’d start investigating.
How long did Case have?
And how long did Vargas plan to let Case sweat? That’s what this delay was about. Making him anxious. It was working, too.
He glanced down at his brunette fireball. Once everything had blown up today, she’d been an asset. He hadn’t needed to issue a warning or remind her they were playing roles. Despite the fact he knew firsthand she was a spitfire, Nyx had willingly followed his lead. It was unexpected, but Case appreciated it.
It was her calmness that tripped him up.
Her eyes opened, and she caught him studying her. “What time is it?” she asked, voice thick.
“Almost midnight.”
“No word on a meeting.”
It wasn’t a question, but Case answered anyway. “Nothing.”
“That makes tonight unlikely, yes?”
He nodded. “Unless he wants the element of surprise, very unlikely.”