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“I see.” She picked up her lipstick then dropped it, giving away her nerves. “Um, excuse me.” She brushed by, and I grinned, pleased it worked.

“Nicole,” I called to tell her it was me, but she marched up to Cole who had a hard time keeping a straight face.

“Something tells me Blackstone keeps their team in the know, so why am I minutes away from walking into that den of vipers with Dan here?” She pointed at me, and Cole rolled his eyes. “Where’s Paul? Why isn’t he taking me?”

“Nicole,” Cole’s smile appeared, which only seemed to piss her off more, “you’re missing?—”

“Do you know how hard this job is for me?” she blurted.

“I try to act like I’m not terrified, but I am.

When I found out what happened to my last team, and Ben was taken, I couldn’t sleep for days.

Those men are ruthless heathens who will stop at nothing to get what they want, believe me!

” Bruno’s face flashed before me; whatever he did to her sure left a mark.

“I’m putting my life in danger here, for good reason, but that doesn’t mean you can pivot the plan at the last second. ”

“I didn’t,” Cole said calmly, “and Dan isn’t taking you.”

She looked at me in confusion. “But he said?—”

I pressed the button on my vocal box so she could hear my real voice. “It’s me, Paul. We had to know that I didn’t look or sound like me.”

“Seems to me someone could use a Marcus Martini.” Mark beamed and handed Nicole a drink. She took a deep swallow.

“Sorry for upsetting you.” I felt bad when I saw her finish the entire martini.

She handed Mark the glass. “How very Day of the Jackal of you.” She screwed up her face then ran her finger along her bottom lip. “We should get going.”

Cole brought the computer over to show me the map of where Talya’s oldest friend lived.

“I know you know the plan, but I want to run through it one more time. You and Nicole work the party, and the rest of us will check out the friend’s house.

Keith has altered his look a bit and will act as your driver and will be your eyes outside.

If any of us gets anything, we share it real time. ”

“Got it. What are the odds her friend will be there?” Nicole crossed her arms. “The Cartel will be turning over every rock in this country, especially the Canos and Perez families. God only knows who else is after that child.”

“It’s a start.” I knew I sounded snarky, but my lack of patience with all this was eating me up inside.

“Are you two able to act like you don’t want to kill one another?” John piped in with a smirk, and she shot me a nasty look.

“We’re professionals. We got this.” I handed Nicole her purse. “Okay, let’s go.”

Cole stood and opened a box. “Earpiece,” he handed it to her, “and a tiny pin camera that will look like it’s part of your dress.

” He watched as she pinned it through the fabric.

“Just push the front and back of it to activate, but they’ll do a sweep of you when you first arrive, so only turn it on once you’re in. ”

“Copy that.” She tested out the earpiece. “Can you hear me?”

“Loud and clear,” I confirmed.

“One last thing, if you ever need Paul to intervene, you need a safe word.”

“I’ll order a dirty martini, because Sully normally has champagne circling at these parties.”

Cole nodded at me. “Dirty martini is her safe word.”

“Copy that.” I took her arm and headed for the door. A limo was parked and waiting. If we were going to this thing, we were going to look like we belonged.

“Nicole,” Cole addressed her one more time, “if you get any tip at all on where the child might be, repeat it when you’re alone. We’ll be listening. We just need one lead, so let’s make it count.”

I opened the door to the limo, and she slipped inside. I signaled to Cole that I was good and joined her.

“You know where,” I called to Keith, who was dressed as our driver. He would stay outside in case we needed him.

Nicole kept her eyes on the window while I began to channel my head into my new character.

I was Dan from LA and worked in international trading.

I figured it was something that would catch their attention.

I knew enough to carry on a decent conversation from when I was Eric, so I shouldn’t get tripped up with any of their questions.

When we arrived, we were stopped at the gate, and once Nicole showed her invitation, we were let through to drive down a very long driveway. The house reeked of drug lord. Their homes were always big, grand, totally over the top.

“Very John Gotti,” I whispered. “Have you been here before?”

She opened her purse and pulled out a small mirror. “Just once a long time ago.” She snapped her mirror closed and kept her gaze out the window. “Let’s just say I’m breaking a promise to myself by returning.” I wondered if that was the place she first met Bruno.

We pulled up, and I acknowledged Keith’s glance in the mirror before he stepped out and opened our door.

“Ready?” I asked her.

“Yeah.” She waited for me to step out and offer her a hand.

She had slipped into character instantly.

She was good. Her smile was wide, and she looked pleased to be there.

I slid my hand down her back and rested it above her tailbone to show ownership, as one would with such a beautiful woman on their arm.

The second we stepped out of the limo, I knew they’d be watching us.

Nicole might be welcome here, as she was with the American press, but I was an unknown American, and there’d be plenty of questions and speculation.

These were dangerous people, and they wouldn’t hesitate to kill. We had to tread very carefully.

We showed our invitation again as we stepped through the security. The moment I spotted the champagne flutes I grabbed two and snagged a napkin off the tray. I handed her one and pretended it dripped on her dress.

“Shoot, sorry.” I used the napkin to shield my hand as I slid it into the side of her dress to activate the camera. Her smooth skin and the curve of her breast caught me off guard, and I paused for a moment at the sudden warmth that went through me.

“Thanks.” She smiled up at me as I removed my hand and took a small sip of the drink.

I did a sweep of the guests and was shocked to see I knew some of them. Well, Eric did.

She raised her glass to her mouth as she spoke. “Sully is coming up behind you. He’ll be a hard sell.”

“Copy that.” I loved a good challenge.

“Well, if it isn’t our latest escape artist.” Sully lifted a brow at Nicole. “May I say, you look lovely.”

Nicole leaned in for an air kiss, and as she stepped back, I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to me. She played along well and ran her hand over mine.

“Sully, this is Dan Brandel from LA and my date for this evening.” Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me. Her hand ran down my chest as she leaned in.

“Nice to meet you, Sully. You have quite the house.” I shook his hand as he studied me.

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you too.” He tilted his head back a little as if to raise his nose. “What is it that you do?”

“Let’s just say I have a knack for moving people around.” I hoped that comment might intrigue him.

“Is that so?” He smiled like he was impressed. “Perhaps we should talk more later.” Perfect.

“I’d like that.”

He looked at Nicole, and she jumped right back in.

“I wasn’t running, Sully, but I wasn’t about to be babysat by one of Bruno’s greasers who thinks he can hit me whenever he feels like it.”

“Are we talking about Nando or Bruno?” He made a poor attempt at a joke, but she handled it like a pro.

“Both.” She chuckled darkly. “How is our mutual friend doing?” She made a face. “You do know the man is completely unhinged.”

“I will not comment on Bruno’s mental state, Nicole.

He is very upset that the child hasn’t been located yet.

” I knew Nicole felt my flinch at his words, but I kept my face unfazed as Sully watched me closely.

“You have disappointed him with your lack of information. I’d be careful if I were you.

You of all people should know he’s out for blood. ”

“He just hates to lose.” Nicole waved a hand as if to brush off Sully’s remarks. I wished I knew more about their past. I could sense there was a lot being left unsaid.

“That, he does.” Sully sighed dramatically. “Well, I’d say there is more at play here than just the whereabouts of the child.”

“Meaning?” She nonchalantly brushed an invisible speck from her dress.

“Oh, you know, this and that.” He waved her off, but I felt her hand flex on my back as if she understood what he might mean.

“Come, Dan.” Sully motioned at me. “I have some people you should meet.”

This could be interesting. I pressed my lips to her cheek then smiled lovingly. “I’ll be back.”