Wasn’t Konstantin a bastard who knew far too much? Ryan was so over that prick. But he really wanted to get back to the part of the conversation about how Konstantin and Hugo had heard “every word of your conversation with Logan earlier.”
“You gave Simone up to Logan, thinking she was safe.” Mocking laughter from Hugo. “What a fucking dumbass move that was.”
He knows that Simone left with Logan. The sonofabitch knows.
“Here you go,” Charlotte announced brightly as she appeared at the table and put the fresh food down near Hugo. “Let me know if there is anything else you’d like. Coffee, tea or?—”
Hugo grabbed her. Yanked her down in front of him. Shoved his gun into her side.
Ryan did not look away from Hugo’s scowling face. “I think you’re scaring our waitress.”
“Get on your feet, spy! Walk the fuck out of here with me. And I won’t put a hole in the pretty lady.”
He saw Charlotte’s jaw lock.
“Better plan,” Ryan counter offered. “You let her go, and I don’t shoot your dick off. Because, see, I’m aiming at it right now beneath the table.”
“What?” Automatically, Hugo glanced down.
And Charlotte slammed her fist into his face. First her fist, then she yanked up the plate she’d just delivered and rammed it into his forehead. The plate shattered, sending chunks of porcelain and chunks of eggs to the floor.
In a flash, Ryan was on his feet, around the table, and yanking Hugo against him. He put his gun to Hugo’s chest. “What in the hell is happening with Simone?”
“Uh, Ryan…” Charlotte began.
Hugo started laughing.
Ryan nearly killed him. Right then and there. But he was supposed to be the good fucking guy. Wasn’t he?
But…Simone. No one hurts Simone.
Then Hugo yanked out a hidden knife and drove it toward Ryan’s chest.
Chapter Twenty-Five
They exited via the back of the hotel. Through the door marked STAFF ONLY. She’d shoved her hair beneath a broad, white summer hat that Logan had grabbed from the hotel’s gift shop and given to her. A pair of oversized sunglasses shielded her eyes, and Simone double-timed her steps to match Logan’s as they hurried down a side street.
They were going to do this. Get away clean. And?—
“Simone?”
Dammit, Harry. How could she have forgotten how much that man liked to lurk?
A swift glance behind her shoulder showed her that Harry was rushing toward her.
“Simone!” he yelled. “You’re not supposed to be out here!”
“Fuck.” Logan grabbed her hand. “Hurry!”
She was hurrying. Harry was just oddly fast, and he did not really seem like such a green agent any longer. She and Logan rounded a corner. An engine revved. She jerked at the sound, right before a black Bentley Mulsanne shot forward. It raced past her. It?—
A choked scream.
A thud.
And…Simone whipped around.
Harry. “Harry!” She began running toward him because the black luxury car had just slammed into Harry. The MI6 agent sprawled on the side of the narrow road, and she could see blood all around him.
