Those pissed-off eyes swung back to Jagger’s. “Why the hell would I risk what’s left of my future trying to kill a woman I don’t give two shits about?”
“You tell us,” Liam ordered with a shrug. “Go ahead. We’re all ears.”
“I’m going to say this one last time, so I hope you’re both listening closely. I’m not your stalker, I didn’t attempt to kill Natalia, or anyone else for that matter, and I have no idea who did.”
“For your sake, I hope you’re telling the truth.”
“I am,” Keith seethed. “Now get the fuck out of my home.”
Jagger and Liam shared a look before Liam turned and opened the door. Jagger started that way, but stopped just this side of the threshold, deciding to leave Keith with a few parting words.
“I find out you had anything to do with the attempt on Talia’s life, I’ll be back.”
“Make all the threats you want.” Keith held his ground without waiver. “I may not be Natalia’s biggest fan, but I’m telling you, I’m not your guy.”
He shot the other man a smirk that held the promise of vengeance to come. “That’s good news for you, then, because Iwillfind the person who tried taking her away from me. And when I do, his death will be anything but painless or quick.”
Jagger walked out of Keith’s apartment feeling both better and worse. Better because his gut said Talia’s former colleague wasn’t their guy. And worse because?—
“I know what you’re thinking.” Liam pulled his keys from his pocket as they made their way back to the car.
“What’s that?”
“You don’t think Sinclair’s our guy.”
Rather than answer the man’s question, he asked one of his own. “Do you?”
Liam glanced over at him with a slow shake of his head. “Gut feeling? No. I think he was telling us the truth. Of course, he used to be a government trained spy, so I’m sure he’s also well-versed in the art of deception.”
“I’m sure he is, but I’m with you,” Jagger agreed. “I don’t think he’s the one who’s been messing with Talia.”
“Which sucks because if it’s not him, that means we’re back to square one.”
And there it was. The reason for Jagger’s internal conflict. If Keith wasn’t the person to place that bomb on Talia’s car, the person was still out there.
They could try again. Attempt to kill her anywhere. Anytime. And until Jagger figured out who the hell they were, the woman he was pretty sure he loved was in constant danger of losing her life.
15
“Is thereanything else you’d like to add, Mr. Lopez?” Natalia waited for the cuffed man sitting across from her to respond.
There wasn’t much of a need, really. He’d already provided more intel on Arlo Sanchez than she or anyone else at Homeland could’ve hoped for.
Thanks to the deal she was able to secure, Mateo Lopez would receive a reduced sentence in an undisclosed corrections facility far away from the rest of Sanchez’s incarcerated crew. They wouldn’t know where he was. No one within the penitentiary would be aware of his affiliation with Sanchez.
Not even the facility’s warden.
The exchange of solid, actionable intel for his safety behind bars was a deal Lopez couldn’t refuse. From this day forward—aside from Natalia, Lopez himself, and a select few agents at Homeland—the man’s whereabouts would remain hidden from the rest of the world.
And with a specialized team of field agents already acting upon the information they’d been given on Sanchez, the smuggler’s days were all but numbered. Which meant, for all intents and purposes, that she was finally done with the case.
“That is all I know.” Lopez’s heavily accented voice filled the small room.
“You made a very wise decision today, Tommy.” Natalia stood from her chair and gathered the signed papers before her. “Your cooperation has been noted and is very much appreciated. If you think of anything else that’s useful, be sure to let us know.”
“H-he won’t find me, no?” His words became stuttered with fear. “Señor Sanchez…he can never know it was me. If he does?—”
“He won’t.” Natalia’s assurance was firm. “As far as Arlo Sanchez is concerned, you’re simply a foreign prisoner who became lost in the system.”
