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“And then what?”

“Well, that’s where the killing begins,” I say. Then crack a grin at Mark and he realizes I’m fucking with him.

Mark puts his hands on the table and looked at us, “Let Poppy get close. They’ll let her in and not realize she brings the FBI, Brick, and you with her. What we need is simple. Nothing major. A picture. If you can get his voice, even better. But a picture ties him to software, passports, real evidence, then we can satellite locate his ass. If I can, I’ll stand by and take him.”

“Fine. But if something happens to her---”

Brick interrupts me. “Blah, blah, blah…not a hair on her head…tear the world apart. Got it.”

Winner. That’s what we’ll be if we do this right.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

Poppy

I’m riding the high of my first cooking demo, and it was well received. But the buzzing in my blood has nothing to do with that. It’s all what’s next. They know I’m on the schedule. I just need an opportunity to see them face to face so I can confirm what he looks like now. Mark will take him out when I signal with a yellow bandana around my wrist once I have a picture. It’s simple.

We all agreed wearing a wire was too dangerous. If they find it, then the whole case would be blown. I can do this. I dig my nails into the palms of my hands, tits out and shoulders back. I’m scurrying around the backstage areas theoretically looking for the Chef’s lounge, but I’m snooping. I sat in the VIP area for a while and nothing. Maybe Enzo doesn’t need me anymore.

I wander around some more, and I’m not paying attention because I’m rubbernecking the Cookery demo. It’s a really amazing chef driven website. I’m proud to have done some recipes and cooking segments for them. A shoe squeak turns my attention, and I slam into a brick wall of a man.

I shriek and toss my arms around Lou. He evades my hug, forcing my arms down. “Come with me, Ms. Gelbert.” He takes my wrist and drags me after him and everything I’ve ever known about the man is in direct contrast to this moment. What is happening?

“Lou, you’re hurting me.” He pulls harder.

He whips me around his body and into a green room of sorts. He pushes me into a chair.

“Lou. Lou, what is happening?”

His voice is gruff. “Don’t. Stop fucking talking to me. There’s no choice but G.”

What is G. Is Cady, G? Was Lou a sleeper agent of some sort that’s been activated by a trigger phrase? His eyes are cold, and his voice clipped.

I say quietly, “What is G?” The door creaks open and two men enter. One I know, the other smiles, and it chills my blood. He must be Phil Cady.

This smaller man has perfectly coiffed gorgeous silver hair with strands of his original brown still fighting to be relevant. He’s compact and built solid but not overly muscular in appearance. His eyes are a cautious blue. Almost like a military gray blue and they’re most certainly not kind. The fact that the man at his back still breathes has me pulling against the restraints Lou just slapped on my wrists.

Lou steps back to the corner, and fucking Enzo’s stench of oregano and too much bitter cologne clouds the room. Cady walks like a tight, beautiful panther or puma of some sort. It’s precise but pleasant enough that you’re not alarmed. The allure of a predator. My breathing catches, and I work to maintain it. Get myself under control. A wrinkle forms in my forehead as I ponder that this one man, who can’t be that much taller or bigger than myself, is responsible for so much carnage and devastation to the world, specifically my world. He nods to me and I return the gesture.

“Ms. Gelbert.” I expect him to tent his fingers and start stroking a cat. Or turn into a giant lizard person because it’s the ascension. I shake my head to get the image of the Big Bad out of my mind.

“Mrs. Pietro,” I grit out.

“So it is.”

“And you are?” I ask, trying to get confirmation.

“Now, now, let’s not play dumb. I hear you’re rather clever. You’d have to be to survive this long.” He pulls my wrists up and stares at my tattoo. “Tsk. Your downfall but it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Sometimes I wish I could have made his. Pity such a powerful man was killed by a peasant.”

Enzo killed the random assassin as soon as he confirmed Sal’s death. Enzo sneers at me.

I turn my head to the side and spit at his feet. He lifts his hand, and I brace to be slapped with my head held high. Lou grabs his arm at the top of the arc, and Cady stares at Lou.

“Sir, with all due respect, she still has another appearance today on a panel. Smack her around later.” My stomach turns, but I’m thrilled to hear my beating is delayed. Cady nods to Lou and in an instant my wrists are freed then refastened with zip ties behind my back.

I say, “What is it you want? You can have all the parts.” I have to get a picture and I have no idea how I’m going to do it. Cady laughs.