“What’s taking so long?” I paced the van, aware I was giving my head of security a headache with my repeated questions. Unsure why I couldn’t ignore that niggle running down my spine, I refused to sit still. Something didn’t feel right. “Has your team gone in yet? Shouldn’t we—”
“Sir,” Wilkes began.
I gave him an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“You’re worried, I understand, but you need to trust me.”
I frowned. “Not Luke?”
Wilkes stood, his bulky body dwarfing the small space. “I trust him. I just don’t trust he had the right information.”
My brow hit my hairline. We’d discussed this plan since the night we questioned Andrew before Luke’s appearance. “You sent Mikaela in there knowing something I didn’t,” I seethed.
His hands flew up, palms out. “That came out wrong. I put additional contingencies in place just in case.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? What contingencies?”
“I didn’t tell you because I needed us to be on our game without worrying about your safety.” I had no words. “I won’t let any harm come to her, sir. You have my word.”
I knew he was deliberately avoiding my second question and took a moment to breathe. He’d never let me down, ever.
“We’re moving out,” the call came through my earpiece.
“Moving out?” I looked at Wilkes.
“Sir, I need you to buckle in. As soon as we stop, I’ll give you the details.”
Forcing myself to calm down and trust him, I did as he asked. The van pulled away from the tree we’d parked under. To say I was a ball of nerves was an understatement. It was killing me to sit still in a vehicle, not knowing where we were headed or what the fuck was happening. All I could think of was what Mikaela was going through. Had that bastard hurt her again?
Breathe, Xavier, just fucking breathe. She’s all right.
Fishing my phone out of my jeans pocket, I scrolled through my photos until I stopped at one I’d grown attached to, taken the night of the ball. At that moment, Mikaela said she couldn’t dance. With my arms tight around her, I’d leaned down until our noses were almost touching and asked her to embrace her imperfections. Without my knowledge, Levana had taken it and only sent it to me when she’d returned to the States. Admittedly, she’d captured not only Mikaela’s beautiful innocence but my adoration I thought I was doing a perfect job at hiding.
Ironically, like she’d heard my words that night, Levana’s accompanying message kept me thinking.‘True love isn’t perfect without flaws.’
“They’ve stopped,” the voice in my ear had me looking up as our vehicle slowed to a stop. Shoving my phone in my jeans pocket, I unclipped my seatbelt and stood.
“Let’s give them the requisite ten minutes, then we move out.” Wilkes glanced back at me from the passenger seat, his expression unreadable. “I suppose if I tell you to wait in the vehicle, sir, you’ll shoot me dead?”
“Your supposition would be correct.” Not even a bullet to my heart would keep me in this van.
He stood, neared me, and held out a bulletproof vest in one hand and a black box in the other. I took the box, opened it, and chuckled. “You surprise me at every single turn, Wilkes.” I picked up the Smith &Wesson Chiefs Special. One of the first guns I’d learned to practice shooting after I’d stolen it from my grandfather. I ran a finger over his name he’d carved with a knife. It was a gift from his father for his war medals and kept in a case along with the other family heirlooms.
“While I’m aware you can handle any weapon thrown at you, I figured you’d want to carry your grandfather’s pride and joy if you’re tagging along. Not that you need it,” I could’ve sworn the man smiled. “Had it cleaned, polished, and tested. It works.” While he helped me into the bulletproof vest, he gave me details. “Luke’s a good man while Kabir’s a cunning bastard. He fed Luke enough rubbish to make him think Luke had one up on him.”
“Is that why you were questioning him about the cameras? You were testing him.”
Wilkes nodded. “Luke told us the truth. Only he and Kabir were playing each other. What Kabir isn’t counting on is the ace we have up our sleeve.”
I frowned. “Ace?”
“Zarina. Kabir’s sister.”
“I thought you couldn’t find...” I trailed off, catching on.
“I’m sorry for the lies, but you’re my priority. Keeping you in the dark was the only way I could guarantee your safety while ensuring Mikaela wouldn’t be harmed.” Unsure how to digest this information, I inhaled deeply, counting on my usual calm. He looked apologetic. “With all due respect, sir, you’re a businessman. Numbers are your forte, whereas criminals are mine.”
“You forget who you’re talking to, boy.” I grinned, reminding him I wasn’t unfamiliar with this territory as some might like to think.
