Page 74 of Wicked Intention

There was a long silence, but it didn’t bother him. He’d played head games before with men every bit as astute as Archer was. Men who were deadlier. Probably. Finn leaned back in his chair enough to be noticed, but not enough to look indolent, and let the quiet linger.

“Zofia trusts you,” Archer said at long last, changing the subject.

“She has no reason not to.” At least not anymore.

“She’s told you what she does for the Paladin League, correct?”

Ah, they were getting down to the job part of the discussion. “She told me.” Archer waited, but this time Finn knew he needed to fill in the quiet. “She travels to meet with antiquities brokers and purchases looted artifacts so the Paladin League can put them in museums. You’re in charge of this covert arm of the organization.”

For a moment, Archer stayed silent. “Did she explain to you how many artifacts are lost every year to looting and the shadow markets? Not that long ago, cuneiform tablets stolen from Iraq were being sold online.”

“To finance ISIS and other militant groups. I was aware of this before I met Zo.”

“Of course,” Archer said smoothly. “Someone who’d been a Green Beret would be well-versed in what terrorists are doing. Puerto Jardin is a hornet’s nest of illegal artifact sales, and Zo is excellent at identifying whether or not the item is legitimate. She’s even better at negotiating for a fair price.”

“But?”

“But she cares more about saving the relics than she does about her own safety. The Paladin League can’t afford to lose someone with her talent, and this is where you come in.”

Finn inclined his head, indicating that he was listening.

“If you agree to work for us, you’d escort Zofia on her trips to South and Central America, and protect her.”

There it was. “Why now? Zo has been part of the League for more than two years without a bodyguard.”

“Because she’ll allow you to accompany her. I tried to assign someone to watch over her in the past, and she managed to lose the person shortly after arriving in Puerto Jardin. She wasn’t found until she arrived at the airport for the flight back to the States.”

“And you think Zo would let me go with her because?”

Archer’s lips curved up at the corners so slightly that it was nearly imperceptible. “Because I allowed Zofia to think she maneuvered me into creating a position for you.”

Finn considered that. He had no problem believing the man had manipulated Zo. His loquita was savvy, and she was wary of her boss, but she also was a straight shooter who didn’t appreciate subterfuge.

But he remained uncertain that she really did need him to watch out for her. “Zo’s smart,” he said. “She knows when to withdraw and regroup.”

“Perhaps, but I’ve received reports from my contacts about the chances she’s taken to protect an artifact.”

Finn remained skeptical, and the man opposite him picked up on it.

Uncrossing his arms, Archer planted his hands on either side of his hips. “You believe this job doesn’t have real merit, correct?”

“Yes,” Finn agreed.

“Why don’t we do a trial period? You accompany Zo and watch her in action firsthand. We’ll meet after a trip to Puerto Jardin and discuss then whether or not you think this job exists to make her happy, or if she does indeed need a keeper. Deal?”

Finn turned the offer over, looking for strings, but he didn’t see anything that would trap him. “Deal,” he agreed.

“Good.” Archer stood, looking smug, and Finn wondered what he’d missed. “I’m assigning Zofia to recover a tumi knife looted from Peru that’s being offered for sale by a broker in Puerto Jardin. It’s gold with turquoise inlaid in the headdress and earlobes—worth a small fortune. You’ll leave tomorrow after I meet with her.”

Finn got to his feet. “You’re returning it to Peru, correct?”

Archer looked vaguely insulted. “Of course. After the tumi is purchased, the two of you will fly from Rio Blanco to Lima. Zofia will meet with a Paladin League operative there who’ll ensure it reaches the national museum. We’re not thieves, Mr. Rowland. We are rescuers.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Alfonso Ramos’ Estate

Present Day