“Oh, noooo,” JL cooed. “Maybe I can go with you?”
“Not this time. I’m gonna be gone for a hot minute.”
JL’s expression morphed into anger, her eyes turning beady. “You can’t just ghost on your job.”
“Relax, you got this,” Erik pushed back. “I’ll be back beforeyou can even miss me.” He flicked his attention to Caroline and pointed his thumb at JL. “She’s crazy about me.”
This guy’s a piece of work.
JL shook her head. “If you ghost on your job, I’m firing your ass.”
The tension in the air was so thick, Greystone turned to Caroline. She returned his gaze as a dancer approached their table.
The dancer smiled at Erik before locking in on Greystone. “How’s everyone doing tonight?”
“Better now,” Erik replied, ogling her breasts.
Greystone wanted to tell the guy to rein it in. Yeah, breasts were awesome. He loved ‘em as much as the next guy, but drooling over them in front of his girlfriend was a total dickhead move.
The dancer started working Erik for a lap dance.
“What’s your name?” she asked him.
“Erik.”
“Why don’t we spend a couple of minutes together?” suggested the stripper.
Grinning, Erik sat up straight. Greystone glanced over at JL.
Dude, you are fuckin’ this up with your woman.
“JL, do you mind?” Erik asked.
When Erik turned toward JL, Greystone zeroed-in on a scar next to his left eye. A surge of adrenaline raced through him.
Was he Haqazzii terrorist, Sajid Haqazzii, or some random dude who also had a deep scar next to his left eye?
He doesn’t look like him.
Beneath the table, Caroline squeezed his thigh, hard. When he glanced over at her, a knowing look passed between them.
“Erik, I’d rather you didn’t,” JL protested.
The dancer regarded Greystone “How ‘bout you, handsome? You look like a good time.”
“No, thanks,” Greystone replied.
“Jennifer, honey, don’t you want to make me happy?” Erik asked. “There’s a treat in it for you too.”
Greystone’s stomach soured.
JL’s upper lip had curled into a snarl. “Sure, go ahead.” As she pushed out of the chair, she mumbled, “Ladies’ room.”
While the stripper began her lap dance, Greystone studied Erik. If this man was Sajid, he’d done a great job disguising himself. He’d cut his dark hair super short, colored it light brown. Unlike the mug shot of a bearded and mustached Sajid, Erik was clean shaven. Large, black-rimmed eyeglasses framed his narrow face and his super-bright green eyes.
He’s wearing tinted contacts.
As the dancer worked Erik like the pro she was, Greystone glanced at Caroline. She was waiting, the confidence in her eyes a sign they were in sync. But they had to be sure. There was no room for error. If they’d found number-two, they had to move fast, especially if he was headed out of town.
