Page 59 of Raul

“I appreciate the discretion. A lot.” She didn’t need the media tying them together.

“Embarrassed to be seen with me?” His grin was teasing.

“I like to keep a low profile.” She settled in against him, reveling in the heat between them.

“Are you nervous?”

“About meeting Bertucci? No.”

“El corazón de un león.”He nuzzled a kiss against her temple. “You have the heart of a lion.”

Ha!If only he knew how much her heart was cringing from the thought of tomorrow and the end of their fling. “WithMikel’s people there, I have nothing to worry about…other than that Bertucci won’t show up.” She glanced at the raised divider between them and the front seat. “Who’s driving?”

“Pascal. Dario has the day off. And as you said, Mikel’s people will be taking care of our security.”

They rode through the narrow, winding streets of old San Ignacio before pulling into an enclosed parking lot. Erica scooted away from Raul and reached for the door handle, but he said, “Wait.”

After a few seconds, both back doors opened. She glimpsed Pascal on Raul’s side, but she didn’t recognize the young woman on hers.

Before she had time to think, they had been ushered through an unmarked door and into the conference room in what she assumed was Mikel’s office building. She had been here for her interview for her job flying Gabriel’s plane, but then she had come through the front door.

She barely had time to notice the oak paneling that covered the lower half of the walls and the historical murals painted on the upper half. A large olive wood table that looked very old stood in the middle surrounded by green leather chairs.

“Su Alteza Real. Erica.” Mikel rose from one of the chairs and bowed. Today, he was wearing black jeans and a dark gray T-shirt. She’d never seen him in anything but a suit before. “Would you like to sit?” His question was directed at Raul.

“I’m good,” Raul said.

Mikel turned to Erica and gestured to the array of hardware on the table in front of her. “You have your choice of audio devices. You should choose the one that seems most comfortable for you.”

A sports watch, a fitness tracker, a pen, a baseball cap, and a slim black box sat on the beautiful wooden surface.

She picked up the white sports watch and slid it onto her left wrist. She always wore a watch when she flew, so it felt familiar.

“Please say something,” Mikel said as he slipped on an earpiece.

“Hello, Ricardo,” she said.

“Muy bien!You remembered to use his alias,” Mikel said with a nod of approval. “And the device is working properly.” He removed the earpiece and tapped the envelope on the table. “Here’s your cash in an envelope from your bank. It shouldn’t trigger any suspicion in our subject.”

She picked up the envelope and tucked it into the crossbody bag. Her nerves tightened the muscles in her throat and shoulders. Now she understood why Mikel made some people anxious. His intense focus and competence in things that most people never needed to know hammered home the seriousness of what she was doing.

“Let me introduce my security team.” He swiped something on his phone, and a few seconds later, the conference room door opened to admit two women and two men.

“Ines!” Raul said as the second woman came through the door. “Great to see you again!”

“Su Alteza Real. A pleasure.” The woman bent her knees in a small curtsy. The others also acknowledged the prince with bows or curtsies and a noticeable air of deference.

“Ines was on my security detail until she got promoted,” Raul said to Erica.

Erica wondered what position was higher than guarding the prince, but she decided not to ask.

Mikel introduced his team members to Erica and Raul. They ranged in age from mid-twenties to mid-forties, Erica guessed. Two were dressed casually. Two wore more formal clothing that suggested they might have gone to church this morning. All looked fit and alert, and her nerves calmed a good deal.

Still, Raul’s mouth was a tight line of worry. She started to lay her hand against his cheek but stopped herself as she scanned the people in the room. Instead, she said, “I’m feeling very safe and confident.Gracias, Mikel.”

He nodded before he once again turned to Raul. “Shall we proceed?”

Raul shifted his gaze to her. “Are you good?”