“So, is she worth it?” Jewell asked.
“I’m not sure. There’s an attraction, at least on my end. But we just met.”
“Then find out, Blake. Do you have to let her know everything to find out if she’s someone you want to be with?”
“No, probably not.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “But it’s only a week. It’s probably best if we just keep our distance.”
“Sure, of course, you're right. I mean, why take a chance on a fun, intelligent, tenacious woman? She’s pretty, too. I have her picture. Green eyes and dark brown hair. I’m sure you’ll meet scads of other women through your work. Oh … right, you’ve been doing this for how long and haven’t met anyone? Oh, and don’t forget after the mission, you both turn into pumpkins, so yeah, no sense in acting like an adult.”
“You sound just like Mom.” Blake chuckled and glanced toward the small cottage. “We’re going to need food.”
“I’ll take care of it. Just keep her out of sight.”
Blake was just about to sign off when he had a sudden thought. “I haven’t been compromised, correct?”
“Correct, and there’s a simple reason for that. You’re damn good at being a ghost. You gave them nothing to work with. We erased the street camera feed, security system, and electronic door cameras as you were walking her to the new hotel, but wedidn’t even have to do that. You messed with every camera angle in that hotel and on the street.”
“That’s habit.” One he did automatically. Cameras had standard angles. He’d learned to turn his face, dip his head, or sit with his back to the typical camera locations.
“And you wiped down the hotel room before you left. So, no fingerprints, not that they’d find anything on you in any system if they had your prints, but if they wanted to plant your prints with hers in this frame-up, they can’t.”
“All right. Let me know when Rook is here, and I’ll go over and check on him for you.”
“Thank you. You guys are not superheroes, and bullets don’t bounce off you.” She sighed. “He wasn’t going to be stopped when we told him you needed backup, though.”
“He’s a good man,” Blake agreed. “I’d better get back inside before she gets suspicious.”
“Either Con or I will be here, and I’ll let you know any updates we get. Be careful, Blake. CCS is clear.”
Blake picked up the two suitcases and moved them into the cottage. He avoided the steps that creaked and walked into her room. He smiled despite himself as he caught her rolled up in a quilt, her lips slightly parted, and a soft snore drifting in the air. Her dark lashes fell on her cheeks, and the cool air painted her cheeks with a rose color. After setting down her suitcase, he backed out of the room and shut the door behind him. Then he stepped into his room and placed his bag on his bed.
Jewell’s question echoed in his mind. Was he attracted to Elise? Initially, no. She was an annoyance he had to deal with. Don’t get him wrong, she was a striking woman. Curves in all the right places, and those green eyes were beautiful, but when he’d first started watching her, he wasn’t lookingather. He was planning how to eliminate his target, and she was a bump in his road. One he didn’t want to deal with.
But then he’d met her. That first night, he was convinced she’d been planted on earth to make his life difficult. A reporter of all things. Investigative reporter. Blake scowled at the term. Wasn’t that rather redundant? All reporters investigated facts for their stories, didn’t they? Well, reporters did, and of late, not all who recited the news were journalists.
When Elise had dived into work at the library, that was when he’d started to notice, to see her for who she was, what she was capable of, and understand why she was doing it. Elise wasn’t classically beautiful, but she was striking. Her big green eyes and bright, ready smile framed the curiosity, intelligence, and determination that rolled together, making her more than a striking woman; it made Elise uncommonly and addictingly attractive to him. Which, as he told his aunt, was more of a problem than an advantage. A problem because he’d never really considered a relationship. It never occurred to him that he’d find someone. He’d always been a loner and was okay being alone, but being with Elise … that was an intrigue he’d like to examine.
His earpiece activated, and he tapped it, whispering, “Stand by.” He made his way soundlessly down the flight of wooden stairs and went outside to the opposite side of the house from Elise’s window.
“Go,” he said when he was sure she couldn’t hear.
It was his Uncle Zane who came over the comms. “Rook will be given instructions to stop at a market in Budapest to pick up an order for both you and him. He’ll be landing in an hour. He’ll stop by your location. I’ll let you know when he’s arriving.”
His Uncle Zane was once a Shadow like him. He’d walked away before the demons of the job took over his life. He was also one of the reasons why Shadows now worked with support from each other. Going it alone was no longer the norm.
“I copy.”
“Word of advice?”
Blake blinked. “Go for it.” He’d take any advice from any corner. Whether he’d use it or not wasn’t open for debate.
“Zajac’s going to be spooked. Triple check that routines haven’t changed or that plans haven’t been made. Added guards, more patrols, you know the drill. Insider information would be helpful.”
“Januse Brzek’s mother is my in. He’s Zajac’s right-hand man. I’ll make her acquaintance once Rook is entrenched. She should know if her son is going to be here for an extended period.”
“Good call. Do you need anything from us?”
“No. I’ll keep in contact.”
