Brad looked at the cup in front of him. That woman was uncanny when it came to deflating his ego. “I’m actually waiting for someone that might help us,” he said. An idea flashed. “If you’ll give me access to some of the girls in your care, it’d be an even better interview.”
“Interview?” Llallana repeated cautiously.
“I’ve lined up one with a TV reporter. He’s international. I was going to give him facts and figures, and he was going to go to thekafenason his own to check out what’s happening, but if we can get some of those girls to talk to him, Llallana, it’d be hearing the story straight from the source.”
“And what has that to do with your department?”
Brad looked at the coffee cup again. He was proud enough not to want to admit to Llallana that his department was part of the problem. After all, she was doing something, in spite of his disapproval of some of her illegal methods. He, on the other hand, couldn’t even get his own officers to uphold the international law.
“It’ll bring publicity.”
“To you?” Her voice turned cynical. “Always thinking ahead about the career, aren’t you?”
“To the problem. Lily, stop it. I’m not the enemy here.”
There was a pause. “How are you going to protect me and the locations where I have some of the girls?”
Brad seized at the opportunity. “Meet me for lunch. We’ll go over the logistics.”
“Be seen in public with me?” She laughed. “You’re getting brave, Bradford Sun.”
He couldn’t care less if he was seen with her. This was Velesta, after all. “Will you believe it if I tell you that it’s for your sake that we meet in private? The less you’re seen with someone like me, the less likely you’ll draw attention, right?” Sometimes he thought her baiting deliberate; at other times, like now, he wondered whether she really hated him so much she couldn’t think straight. He had seen her teasing with Amber when her guard was down, so he knew she had a sense of humor under that prickly façade she put on for him. It suddenly occurred to him that these two women were best friends sharing many qualities. That meant, like Amber, Llallana wouldn’t be able to resist a challenge. He tested the theory. “Do you want to help, or not? It’s going to be difficult, keeping identities and locations a secret, so if you’re afraid to do it, I’ll understand.”
“I’m not afraid.”
Brad smiled. “I don’t want to cause any problems for you or Amber. Especially you,” he said smoothly, “because you want to keep a low profile in this town. But you’re also very outspoken and if you get yourself into the interview, you might be seen on TV all over the place.”
“Are you saying I can’t shut up?”
“I think you’re very passionate about what you’re doing and won’t be able to resist making comments. Not that I don’t agree with your opinions. Just that I know you’ll say something really colorful and then the interviewer will want to know all about you and your background, and what it is exactly that you do to help these girls. See the risk? Maybe we shouldn’t even think of doing this. Too dangerous for you.”
He emphasized the last word. It would be dangerous for the escaped girls, too, but it was a risk that might bring some good. An exposé by an international television reporter, with real pictures and interviews, might make those who had voted against him yesterday change their minds about arresting Dilaver and those like him.
“Where do you want to meet to discuss this?”
Oh, he knew where would be the biggest challenge of all. “At my place. It’s secured, as you know. Unless you feel uncomfortable going there, of course.”
There was another pause. “I’ll be there.” He could visualize her clenched teeth as she said that. “Time?”
“In two hours? A late lunch.”
“Fine. And it’s still Llallana to you.” She abruptly rang off.
Brad made a call to the reporter, who was running late, asking to postpone the meeting. He promised to get back with the man later, with more than just an interview with him. After rearranging his schedule, he got up from his desk, picked up his cup, and drained the rest of the coffee.
He had finally gotten Llallana to meet with him alone again. Somehow, in spite of the heavy subject matter they were going to discuss, he felt very lighthearted.
The man was good. Amber hated to admit it, even privately. Throughout lunch, Hawk had shown just enough interest in her during the meal to amuse Dilaver, and not so much that it caused suspicion. She understood the plan behind it—he was going to ask her out while he was in town. She would bet money on it.
There was something in the way he looked at her that made her…She tried to put a finger on the feeling. It wasn’t comfortable at all, whatever it was. Something inside her jumped every time he caught her gaze. Even worse, whatever she was thinking would trail off, and she had to work extra hard to keep her focus on the conversation.
He seemed amused by it, too. Damn the man. He probably knew he had this effect on all women. He was too good-looking not to know.
She blinked at the sound of her name. Dilaver had asked something. Damn it. She hid her dismay as she pretended to take a drink from her mug. Now what? Damn, damn, damn.
“I’d like that. I heard there’s an opera not too far from town, even an art show. It’d be great if you can do it, Amber,” Hawk said, the glint in his eyes revealing that he’d known she hadn’t been paying attention to Dilaver. “I’d like to see more of Macedonian culture other than the inside ofkafenas.”
Amber cocked her head. “A cultured American? I thought men like you just came here for business.”
