Page 46 of Wicked Intention

“You can’t tell me that you don’t miss the work.”

“Zo is the only adventure I need.”

“Some of those illegal arms have found their way to Ramos.”

“So what? Ramos has been working with arms dealers for years.”

“So the M4 replacement is the latest technology—it’sbarely out of prototype status—and no one wants it in the hands of a drug lord.”

Finn froze. He’d heard rumors about that particular weapon. “Precision-guided,” he guessed.

Pienkowski didn’t react, but he didn’t need to. Finn knew by the change of atmosphere in the Jeep that he’d nailed it. From what he’d heard, the accuracy of these high-tech pieces was frightening, and it didn’t matter if both shooter and target were moving. Weapons that devastating didn’t belong in the hands of Alfonso Ramos or his hit squad.

“Interested in working with the team now?” Ski asked.

Shaking his head, Finn said, “You can complete the mission without me. Zo is more important.”

“Once she’s in LA—”

“You know Zo better than that,” Finn interrupted. “How long do you think she’ll stay in the States before she’s back down here to help me?”

Ski huffed out a breath. “Can’t you control your woman?”

Finn turned his gaze from the road and stared at Ski. “Who would come down as her sidekick if Zo told her what she was up to?” His buddy stayed silent. “Let me answer for you. The hellcat. The only reason it isn’t going to happen is because Zo won’t say anything to your wife.”

“The hellcat wouldn’t—”

“Really? As loyal as she is, you think she’d let Zo come down here alone?”

“Fuck. Why’d we introduce them?”

His lips quirked up before Finn could stop it. “As I recall, the two of you showed up to make sure Zo wasn’t using me. She and the hellcat were friends before twenty-four hours passed.” They weren’t using Langley’s name as a safety measure, but there wasn’t the same issue for Zo. Too many people in Puerto Jardin knew her and knew them as a couple. “I’m not sure which of them is the bad influence.”

“Your woman, dude. It’s definitely your woman.”

There wasn’t much Finn could say. Zo did have a job that routinely put her at risk. It was why the Paladin League had hired him—to keep her safe. Finn sighed. There was another logging truck approaching.

After slowing the Jeep, Ski said, “Word is Ramos is looking for more of these weapons. I wasn’t lying when I said we could use your skills.”

“The last time, it took months to get anywhere, and once things kicked into gear, I ended up in a Puerto Jardinese prison for nearly six weeks before you assholes got me out.”

“You keep bitching about that.”

“I bitch about it because even thegoodsection of a Puerto Jardinese prison is a hellhole, and I have no desire to end up back there again, not even to help out the team.”

The logging truck didn’t slow, and the Jeep shook as it roared by. Finn waited until they were back at a faster speed before he added, “None of that matters now. I’m not interested. My sole concern is getting Zo home safely and making sure she stays that way.”

“You know,” Ski said slowly, “the way you talk about rescuing Zo, you’d think she was important to you or something.”

Finn stiffened. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“Nothing. But as agitated as you are, a person would think you cared enough to ask her to marry you.”

“Mind your own business.”

“The way you minded yours whenIwas a moron?”

“You asked for my opinion. I didn’t ask for yours.”