16. Elena
16
ELENA
“ T his conversation isn’t over. Don’t you walk away from me. I want to trust you, but you have the Great Wall of fucking China up between us,” Nash calls out to me.
“And whose fault is that?” I whirl around at him.
“Mainly yours, but I’ll put my hand up for some of it. Do you have any idea how fucking combative you are?”
“The same could be said about you.” I pout back at him, not liking that he’s calling me out. “You are the most frustratingly, annoying man I’ve ever met.”
“Why thank you.” He smirks. I flip him off, otherwise, I’ll drown him in the sea. “Look, with this off-the-books mission you have planned, and I’ve now been dragged into, you need me.”
“Doubtful,” I snip.
“I’m sure you could do it on your own, but you need me. Yes, you may be able to flutter those eyelashes and get any of the men to do your bidding, but the wives will see right through it. These women are tough, they have to be in this life, and don’t think they will hesitate to end you if they think you are stepping on their toes.”
“You don’t think I can’t be a girl’s girl because I know how to seduce men?”
“I’m sure you are, but Russia is a hell of a lot different to Mexico,” he warns me.
“I know, hence why I have a date tonight. He’s my in for the charity event.”
He stills as if he’s forgotten all about that.
“That’s your Plan B?”
“Yep,” I answer with a pop.
“Does he have a wife?”
I narrow my eyes on him, I’m not a fucking amateur. “Technically, yes, but he has a long list of mistresses. His sons are grown, joined the cartel like daddy, and his wife lives happily in Europe with someone else.”
“This isn’t a good idea,” he warns me.
“It’s like you think I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m the fucking CIA, asshole. My job is to kill people. Bad people. Do you think there isn’t a situation I haven’t been in that wasn’t bad?”
He shrugs. “I have no fucking idea.”
“There have been many times where I thought this was the end, and honestly, I’m surprised I’m still here. So, please pay me the respect that I can handle myself.”
He stares at me for a couple of moments. “It’s hard picturing it, that’s all.”
“Good. That means I’m doing my job.” I smirk.
“I was able to pull the knife on you though,” he states.
“Because I let you. You may be bigger, stronger, and heavier than me, but I let you think you were in control in that moment as I didn’t want to show my hand,” I explain to him. I can see it in that thick head of his, the wheels turning, trying to work out if I’m telling the truth and if he could take me on. “Try me now,” I ask him.
“No. Why are you always asking me to fight you?” He groans.
“I miss the adrenaline, okay,” I confess. He raises his brows at that. “How about this? If you can trip me over, I’ll cancel going on the date and do things your way. But if I can get you over then you trust me and let me do what I have to do.”
“You seriously betting me on this?” He scoffs.
“You’re that confident you can beat me?” I say, planting my legs into position and then placing my hands on my hips.
“Ellie, come on, I don’t want to hurt you.”
Urgh. This man.
“Do it.”
He rolls his eyes and then launches himself at me, thinking he’s catching me off-guard. Unfortunately for him, I’m one step ahead. He thinks he has the advantage in the water due to his size and weight, but that means he needs to work harder than me.
My hands end up around his neck as I hold him underwater until he taps out. I let go and he launches himself and gasps for breath. “Fuck,” he curses, sucking in deep breaths as he glares at me.
“I wasn’t going to kill you. I was just proving a point.” I shrug.
“Point proven,” he growls.
“Don’t be a sore loser.”
“I’m not. Okay. I know you can look after yourself. You just fucking proved it. But I’m fucking human so excuse me for being worried about you going on this date with some cartel guy,” he argues back before storming off.
Oh.
“Nash, wait.”
“I need a moment,” he says, holding up his hand as he continues to stomp through the water.
Okay. That’s fair. Today has been a lot. I nervously nibble my lip as I watch him disappear back home.
Sophie: How did things go with Nash?
Ellie: I told him the truth.
Sophie: You did?
Ellie: You guys trust him. And as you’ve told me before I need to start trusting people.
Sophie: Nash is a good guy.
Ellie: Debatable.
Sophie: You’re probably the only woman I know who doesn’t like Nash.
Ellie: I’m immune to his bullshit.
Sophie: He’s not that bad.
Ellie: He really is.
Sophie: You two really don’t like each other?
Ellie: No, we don’t.
Sophie: Guess the feeling is mutual. He’s currently complaining to Brooks as we speak.
Ellie: *Insert eye roll emoji*
Sophie: I would love to be a fly on the wall between you two.
Ellie: I should have never promised to not kill him.
Sophie: You can’t kill people you don’t like.
Ellie: It’s worked for me all these years.
Sophie: Seriously?
Ellie: Yes.
Sophie: Wait, did you seriously fight him to go on some date with a cartel member?
Ellie: He didn’t believe I could defend myself.
Sophie: So, you showed him.
Ellie: Of course. How else was he going to realize I can handle this?
Sophie: I get it. Men like to underestimate us.
Ellie: Exactly.
Sophie: How do you feel about this date?
Ellie: I’ve done it plenty of times before.
Sophie: And you think you’re going to be able to get invited to the gala?
Ellie: Are you doubting me?
Sophie: No.
Ellie: I’ll get an invite.
Sophie: Do you think Pearl is going to be there?
Ellie: Maybe not at the gala around their wives, but usually there’s an after-party.
Sophie: Why would your date bring you to that?
Ellie: Trust me, I know this world. I know these men.
Sophie: You’re right. I’ll stop asking questions.
Ellie: Don’t, I like it.
Sophie: You do?
Ellie: I’m not used to having people look out for me. It’s nice.
Sophie: Wow. Didn’t expect that from you.
Ellie: Guess I’m turning into a Clark.
Sophie: *Inserts flip off emoji*
Ellie: Aw. You do care.
Ellie: How are things going in Dubai?
Sophie: Brooks has secured an invite, and the market is in two days.
Ellie: Have you confirmed that Jade is there?
Sophie: She seems to be from our intel.
Ellie: Good luck. I know you guys can do this.
Sophie: You too.
Ellie: Thanks. Stay in touch.