“Quite the entourage,” Andrea commented, trying to appear calm.“All this for me?”
“Where I go, they go.You know this.”So obviously, they knew each other.That didn’t bode well for her.“Do you have it?”The buyer had a thick middle eastern accent that Andrea couldn’t place.
“Do you have what I asked for?”she questioned instead of answering.
The buyer looked perturbed, probably not used to people talking back, but he snapped his fingers.One of the guards lifted a briefcase from behind the table right next to the buyer—lazy bastard—and opened it.
Andrea felt her eyes widen at the amount of money that was inside.She had no idea how much, but it looked like a lot.
“You strike a hard bargain.”
“It’s worth a lot of money.”
“And you knew I would pay it.”The buyer chuckled.
“If not, there are plenty of others.”Andrea hoped she sounded like Holly.She was sassy and confident, and so far, no one seemed to notice a difference.She hoped it stayed that way.She was sweating profusely and about to ruin her makeup.
“No need.Ten million as agreed.Now do you have what I asked for?”he queried, sounding impatient.
Andrea was still reeling from the amount, then realized it was her turn.She pulled her left hand out of her jacket pocket and reached into her back.The men stiffened and reached toward the inside of their jackets, probably for their guns.She lifted the drive up between her index and middle finger.
The buyer’s eyes were glued on it, looking hungry.“Give it.”
“Give me the money, and I’ll give you the drive.”
“You don’t trust me?”The buyer raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“I don’t trust anyone.”
“You shouldn’t, but that isn’t how I do business.Now give me the drive, or you don’t leave.”
Andrea really didn’t want to hand over important information to this guy, but she knew Jack and his team wouldn’t let it leave the building.
Andrea tossed it to one of the guards, knowing if she walked forward, she might stumble.Distance was better too.She didn’t know if Holly had ever met the buyer face to face, but she didn’t want to get too close in case she had.
“We done here?”Holly wasn’t known for her patience.She started tapping her toe, appearing impatient when it wasn’t that much of an act.She was anxious to get out of here.She wanted to keep looking around for the guys.What if they weren’t here?
“What’s the rush?”The buyer cocked his head as if studying her.That wasn’t good.
“I have a flight to catch,” Andrea lied and stepped closer, reaching for the briefcase.Before she could close the lid, the buyer reached across the table and grabbed her wrist.
“What are you trying to pull?”he hissed as his grip tightened around her wrist.She wouldn’t be able to pull away even if she wanted to.
“Nothing.We had a deal, and now it’s concluded.I have to go.Now release me.”
“You aren’t Holly.”
Andrea’s heartrate accelerated.She could practically hear it thumping in her ears, threatening to drown out any other words.“Why do you say that?”she asked, trying to keep control of the situation.
“I know Holly, and you are not her.”He looked her over as if examining her.The gaze turned her stomach.He made her feel like a piece of meat on auction.
Andrea was about to counter him when the conference doors burst open.Everyone turned to see four men walking in with their guns drawn.Andrea didn’t recognize the middle man, but the other three she recognized from the bar.This must be Carlos.
How the hell had he found them?
“Not so fast,” Carlos hissed when the buyer’s men reached for their guns.“That drive is mine.As is the money.”
“You fucking bitch.You double-crossed me,” the buyer snarled and pulled her forward, dragging her up and over the table to his side and placing the gun against her temple.
