Gabriel ended the call, then checked past surveillance for the woman. At first, he found nothing, but after scrolling back farther, he found the footage. He started it up and watched as a masked intruder entered, turned off his security system, then rifled through his house.
What the fucking fuck.
When she opened his safe, his blood boiled, the anger sending him pushing out of bed. He raked his hand through his hair as the intruder cracked open his safe, continued her search, but didn’t touch the cash. Then, she returned to the kitchen, poured herself a glass of wine, went back upstairs and onto his balcony. There, she removed her ski mask and took a damn break.
As his frustration morphed into full-on anger, she got up, hurried into the hallway. Then, she bolted into the closet, exiting a moment later in one of his robes.
No fucking way.
His anger had him seeing stars, the rage tearing through him like a tornado.
The intruder trotted down the stairs, chatted calmly with Pina, then went back upstairs. Moments later, she left.
The feelings he’d felt for Halston were washed away in the tidal wave that ripped through him, drowning out any romantic feelings he’d confessed mere hours ago.
Halston entered the bedroom. “It’s the first day of a New Year. Gotta make the most of it, right?”
He was staring into the eyes of the enemy. She’d been playing him the entire time. He wanted to storm out, never speak to her again.
But that wasn’t how Gabriel rolled. He needed answers, and he damn well was going to get them. Forcing a smile, he walked close, dropped a light kiss on her lips. Staring into her eyes brought the heat, but he wasn’t stupid enough to get played again.
“How’s this?” he asked. “Keep our friends close and our enemies closer.”
Her smile brightened her husky-blue eyes. “That’s been my life for my entire career.”
“Do you mind if I shower?” he asked.
“Go for it. I’m going to order breakfast. Will you stay?”
He had questions. Who sent her? Why? Had she been stalking him this entire time? Was this work related? Was she a psycho?
“Are you okay?” she asked. “You’re staring at me like you could take me out. I like the look… very sexy.” She opened a dresser drawer, pulled out black panties, and slipped into them.
He stood, his feet cemented to the floor while she strapped on a bra.
“I’ll stay,” he said before he vanished into the bathroom.
As he waited for the shower to heat up, he tried to piece together the puzzle that was Halston Devereux. She’d saved his life, twice. First, the poison in his drink at Lost Souls. Second, the Bratva in his rental house.
She killed him herself. But why?
He stepped into the shower, let the water sluice his body. Did Caroline and Sydney know the real Halston? The longer he stood there, the more questions he had.
There were a number of ways he could approach this problem and a total of fifteen minutes to come up with a bullet-proof plan.
HALSTON
Halston finished dressingin a dark gray pant suit and simple knit sweater. She pulled her hair into a tight bun, leaving her long bangs in place. Next, she inserted a new pair of brown contact lenses, slid on her spy glasses.
Her work phone chimed with a text. After retrieving it, she glanced down, then did a double take.
What the?—
After unlocking the screen, she read the text from the unknown sender.
Eto Bob Smith. Posol Bulgrov dal mne vash nomer. YA priglashayu vas na uzhin. Segodnya vecherom ili zavtra
This is Bob Smith. Ambassador Bulgrov gave me your number. I take you to dinner. Tonight or tomorrow
