Page 25 of Inez

Inez stares at him. "Separate arrangements?"

Bradley nods. "Yes, ma'am. This way, please."

He leads us out of the suite into a lobby or foyer area featuring the emergency stairwell and elevator, a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking Las Vegas, the double doors to the primary suite, and another set of double doors. Our keycards, he tells us, work for the elevator and both sets of rooms.

The secondary suite is a fraction of the size of the primary, with one bedroom, one bathroom, the living area, and no kitchenette. After ushering us in, Bradley waits at the door while Inez and I do our sweep and return to him.

He hands us a business card with his first name and a phone number. "That's my direct line. Call or message me at any time, for any reason. I am your sole contact here at the Bellagio, so if you require room service, additional amenities, or anything at all, contact me,nothotel staff."

“Understood,” I answer, and shake his hand. "Thank you, Bradley."

He nods, and takes the elevator back to the lobby, leaving Inez and I alone.

Inez, standing with her back to the still-open French doors, scans the suite with a puzzled expression. "Why would he do this?"

"I don't know," I answer. "Ask him?"

She glances at me, nods, and slides her phone from her back pocket. Hits a contact from her favorites—the only entry, as a matter of fact—and puts it on speaker.

It rings twice. "Inez." It's Jakob—his voice is unmistakable.

"Sir. We've arrived at the…safehouse."

"This line is secure, Inez. And I had that entire floor swept for surveillance before your arrival. You may speak freely."

"Very well, sir. You are on speaker, and Lorenzo is beside me."

"Hello again, Lorenzo."

"Jakob," I say.

"I trust you understand that my identity is a secret which I guard rather aggressively. Inez is one of two people on the planet who have seen my face or know my name."

"And I do not know your surname," Inez adds.

"My point is that in telling you my name, in speaking to you as I did, I extended my trust. Please do not violate that trust by revealing that name to anyone."

I consider my response for several moments. "As a former intelligence operative with my country's highest security clearance, sir," I say, "I believe I am more than capable of keeping your identity to myself."

"I would not have spoken to you in person as I did if I didn't believe that, Lorenzo. But some things should be made clear so there is no possibility of error."

"Of course."

Inez sighs. "Jakob, why do we have a separate suite?"

You can hear the amusement in his voice when he answers. "You and Lorenzo have much to work through, Inez. You requireprivacy for that. You have been run ragged the last several weeks, and you in particular have endured…well, it doesn't bear discussing. I thought you might enjoy some privacy in which to recuperate and refresh yourselves before the next phase of our operation."

"Do we have a next phase?" Inez asks.

"Indeed. I am working on it. I have several resources working on a location for our quarry, and the men are closing in on Pugli, I believe."

"The situation at the club…" Inez starts.

"I am surveying the damage now. I'll have to close down for awhile so my engineers can assess the structural damage. Everyone made it out alive, however?"

"Yes, sir. Fonz took a serious injury to his leg, and Toro to his arm, but considering the number of opponents we faced, we came out remarkably well."

"You had some of the best shooters on the planet at your side, my dear friend. Of course, you came out on top. I'd expect no less. If Pugli thought a pack of amateurs could take out La Víbora and Lorenzo Oliveira Araujo, then he is stupider than I imagined."