Page 56 of Bastard

“It was our headquarters until a traitor exposed us.”

A traitor.“You mean Kylie Smith?”

“Yes. At first, I believed she was responsible.” How frightening to be on the receiving end of his wrath. “She did her job and did it better than most of my men. I’m here today because of her work tracking guns from Paris to Mexico. Mexico City is where your brother discovered the uranium connection.

“As well as the woman he loves, his fiancée, Aubrey.”

Hayden makes a noise in his throat.

“You don’t like Aubrey?”

“I dislike that he fell in love while on TORC time.”

“Love doesn’t understand time.”

He tenses beneath my arms. “No. I suppose it doesn’t.”

My mouth drops open. Did I hear him correctly? But before I can comment, he’s spinning us around like he’s been dancing for years. I hold tightly and follow his lead, laughing and thoroughly enjoying his touch and uncharacteristic openness.

“It ends in Africa.”

“And I’ll be a part of ending it?”

He’s involving me. Like I’m important. Like I’m special.

Loco.That’s what I really am for allowing myself to feel this way again.

“You want this badly?” I softly ask.

“Yes. I want a lot of thingsbadly.” His whiskey-rich tone sends chills down my spine. “I’ve spent months strategizing. Gathering information and patiently moving forward with my plan. My life isn’t simple. And I’m risking a lot so I can turn my attention elsewhere once this assignment is over.”

Badly?“You mean Cape Town, right?”

Silence.

“You’ve sacrificed a lot to head this organization.”

“Everything.”

I pull back to look into his eyes.

“I’ve made mistakes. Demanded too much from my men and myself.” He pauses. “You trust me?”

“Yes,” I reply without hesitation.

“And if things go wrong? Those guests ... they’re dispensable. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Like what happened in Cork?”

“My men have been talking.”

I swallow hard, realizing my mistake. “Because they believe that you trustme.”

“We play our parts well and this assignment will go smoothly.”

“It’s a cocktail party not a cartel fiesta,” I remind him of our past, when Loreto’s three competing cartel bosses would host swearing-in ceremonies.

“Never underestimate a target. Our host, Mr. Ogdenhayer, is a threat to global security.”