Gus had shifted to a lookout point in time to watch Nikolett studiously ignore Eric as she walked past him. Eric had grinned at her like a fool, and there was no way she didn’t see him, which meant Nikolett was actively ignoring Eric.
Gus had suspected they were fighting since they hadn’t been seen together since Italy before his little bit of fun in Dublin stirred things up. It was good to get confirmation that she was ambivalent about the Dane despite her saying his name at an inopportune time. And based on the way Eric looked at her, it was clear the disinterest was both wavering and one-sided. Eric still wanted, or at least felt possessive of, Nikolett. Which in turn meant Gus still had cards to play there.
He should let the Nikolett situation go because it had gotten messy. Ignore her message. Ghost her.
Instead, he sent her a text.
Gus Alias +44 Number
I don’t want to pressure you into meeting up again, but I had a good time.
Gus rolled his shoulders before putting his phone away. He couldn’t think about Nikolett too much because every time he did, it sent dangerous vibrations through the web of his plans.
Easier to focus on Eric. Why was he in Paris?
The answer was, of course, that Eric was here to help with the elaborate trap they’d set for the Spaniard. The Spaniard would break in, get the information, and probably make it all the way out of the building before the Masters’ Admiralty grabbed him.
Taking out a small tablet, he unfolded it and watched the screen, studying the plethora of data he’d gathered and fed into a time lapse of today compared to yesterday. The difference in foot and vehicle traffic gave him a rough idea of where everyone was stationed for this fun little trap.
The sun had set, though it wasn’t quite full dark. This part of Paris was mostly businesses and expensive hotels, so the streets were quiet.
It was time to begin his approach. In order to spring their trap early, he had to prime it, which meant they had to see him coming, and that would be easier if it wasn’t fully dark. They wouldn’t catch him—unless he had to pivot mid-action and allow them to take him.
He had a plan for that too, but that was endgame, and he wasn’t done toying with them.
As of now, the plan was to disappear just before they had him, using the hidden ways in and out of that monstrosity of a building.
Lost places and hidden paths were his specialty. He’d survived by learning to see what other people overlooked.
What was through that door?
Why was there a shadow there?
What happened if he turned left here when the sign pointed right?
At first, it had been a way to hide. Now, it was a way to go where no one wanted him in the physical world. He had other tricks for being unseen digitally.
No one ever expected him to disappear—he was too big, too noticeable.
Gus threw his leg over the delivery service moped he’d purchased. The box on the back was perfect for storing his tools, as well as giving him cover.
He kicked the engine on and zoomed out into the street, the full-face helmet rendering street-level camera facial recognition useless.
The connecting door opened.
Nikolett sucked in a breath and glanced at the partially open bedroom door. Because of the angles, whoever was walking into their suite couldn’t see her and Eric, but still…
She tugged on Eric’s hair.
He flicked her clit with his tongue.
This time, Nikolett sucked in a breath for an entirely different reason.
“Eric,” she hissed. Wait, could he hear her? Probably not with her thighs clamped to the sides of his head. Could he breathe?
She dropped her knees wide and tugged on his hair again while saying, “Eric, someone’s coming.”
He looked up from between her legs, and she had no idea she’d find that so arousing until it happened, and she nearly passed out from the fresh wave of desire.
