Chapter 5 #4
He didn’t wait for his father to respond, merely walking out of the office with his shoulders held back in an air of defiance.
The line in the sand had been drawn, something he’d hesitated from doing for the past two years.
Twenty-four months of playing their lapdog in hopes of obtaining a position at their round table.
Until one or more died, that was never going to happen.
He chuckled as he headed down the ornate set of stairs.
Maybe he needed to take matters into his own hands.
He’d broken the rules, getting close to the enemy.
Perhaps this was the ultimate coup.
As he moved out into the sunshine, he envisioned Ashley’s stunning smile, his cock twitching. His longing for the dangerous woman had increased given the distance and what no one would ever know were the lengths he would go in order to find her.
One day, she would be the one to bear his children. And one day, he would be the ruler, king of the world.
Miami
One week later
Federal Agent Sophia Waters sat at her desk attempting to concentrate. She tapped her pen on the open file, studying the same notes she’d been staring at for over an hour. The same ‘what if’ scenarios burned in the back of her mind.
What if Pierre Renier was The Player?
What if she’d figured that out earlier?
What if she hadn’t fucked him like some wanton slut?
And what if she hadn’t fallen hard for the man?
At least she hadn’t botched the entire operation.
Catching a glimpse of Stephen leaving the club had set the operation in motion.
Their return to the states had been without incident.
However, she’d fudged the follow-through report, leaving out certain…
aspects of the case. The nagging regarding Pierre would remain until she was able to dig more seriously into every detail of the officer’s past.
She’d scoured everything in her search to find The Player, and the men who obviously had the assassin’s back. Rumors abounded, whispers of a group that had set their sights on ruling the world.
But they were just rumors, almost like the identity of The Player.
“You look like you’ve lost your best friend,” David said as he flanked her desk.
While she appreciated everything her partner had done, including securing the exit arrangements in Monte Carlo, she was in no mood for additional harassment.
She’d had enough of that from her superiors after her return. “Just a few nagging details.”
“Hmmm… Are you going to tell me what really happened?”
“I’ve told you everything I know.” Along with everyone else.
She chewed on her inner lip as she thought about Pierre.
She thought she’d seen him racing after the SUV, dressed in all black and she could swear he had a gun in his hand.
Even remaining in the shadows, there’d been no mistaking his handsome, rugged face.
Jesus Christ. Why couldn’t she think straight?
“Well, at least Stephen Wallace is safe, thanks to you,” he said as he tapped his fingers on her desk. “Time to move on. We have other cases.”
“He’s coming here.”
“Here?”
“To the United States.”
“You mean The Player?”
She lifted her head, staring into her partner’s eyes. “Yes.”
“We don’t even know the assassin’s name.”
“But we know the kind of target he prefers.”
David scoffed. “You really think he’s allowed to pick and choose, selecting the most powerful people in the world to assassinate? You really think there’s some formidable group ready to control the world?”
She closed the file, sitting back in her seat.
The Player’s ability to appear and disappear meant connections.
The way he blended in with the rich and famous meant the group was well funded.
“That’s exactly what I think. He’s ceremoniously taken out at least eight targets who were considered corporate moguls, industry leaders, or military giants that we know of.
He’s never taken a hit on the little people, not a single one. ”
“So he craves being around the wealthy.”
“That means he has an endless supply of cash and credit.”
David sat down on the edge of her desk. “What are you thinking, partner? I can see your wheels turning.”
“I do believe there’s a consortium of sorts that employs our player and they pay lucratively for exclusivity and for dedication. My guess is that they’ve been around for years, much like a cartel or mafia organization but infinitely more powerful.”
“You make this sound like a romance novel.”
Sophia rose to her feet, staring him in the eyes. “No, this is definitely not a romance novel.” Her thoughts drifted to the BDSM club, her body shivering involuntarily. While she wanted to deny the fact anything about what The Player was doing could be romanticized, she knew she’d be lying.
“Have you mentioned your theory to the director?”
She exhaled for the fifth time since poring over the file. “Not yet. I want to make certain there’s some evidence to support this.”
“You do realize that you’re no longer on the case. Right? There is no sign that this player dude is in the United States or coming after Mr. Wallace. There have been no other outward attempts at assassinations either.”
“I know but my gut is telling me we haven’t seen the last of The Player.
” This was an international firm and certain reports of other assassinations had filtered into the newsreels.
Either the FBI and CIA were hiding under the sand or they weren’t telling the worker bees in the various law enforcement agencies the truth. She’d bet on the latter.
His eyes twinkling, David leaned closer, lowering his voice.
“That makes it seem like you know what the assassin looks like, which could give you a very important advantage. From what I’ve heard, he’s never been identified in any manner, not just his appearance.
You wouldn’t happen to know what he looks like, now would you? ”
“Bucking for another promotion, David?”
Shrugging, he swept his gaze down the length of her. “I’ve never lied about my ambitions. Funny how you’ve never mentioned yours. Maybe you’re tired of this life of fighting crime. Considering retiring to the islands with a dangerous criminal, partner?”
While her partner was teasing, a cold shiver trickled down her spine.
A flash swept into her mind. Windy, sandy beaches.
The ocean the color of aquamarine. Living the life of luxury even while being on the run.
She rolled her eyes, shoving away the delicious image.
That wasn’t her. She was a dedicated agent and if her instincts were correct, The Player would make a mistake, allowing his identification to be known.
If that was the case, she’d be ready to take him down. And the reason for the mistake?
His unwavering desire to dominate her.