23. Anna
ANNA
Archer and I were gearing up in the hotel room, grabbing our ear comms and trackers in case we needed to divert and separate.
As we got ready, we went over the plan one more time.
As soon as the LVPD officers alerted us that Mystery Front Lobby Man had arrived, Archer would go out to the front area, near where our mystery man would hopefully be.
Archer would be visible to him but in a semi-protected location. He would then wait for the man to approach him, or he would walk to his location to try to get more information out of him.
There would also be two snipers ready to go if needed.
They were positioned in the parking garage right next door and had a perfect view of the valet drop-off area where Mystery Man would meet Archer .
Though ideally, we wanted anyone and everyone involved to stay alive so they could be arrested and testify against the Paganos .
Sara and I would be inside, over near the slot machines in the casino. As Archer —hopefully—moved from just outside the front entrance into the lobby, an assembled team would intercept the mystery man.
“Remember, when in doubt, just talk into the comms if you see or hear anything out of the ordinary,” Archer said to me as I tied my shoes.
“Jesus, Archer , this isn’t my first rodeo,” I informed him.
“I know that, but there is way more on the line here than any of your other missions,” Archer countered. “ You were mostly gathering intel, and none of those people were planning to kill you.”
“Look. I know it’s in your nature to protect the people you care about, but it’s in my nature to fight back. I may not be strong enough to win a physical fight, but I’m also not just going to lie back and take it.”
“Woman, don’t make me blow this whole mission up just to keep you safe.”
“Archer, you blow this mission up, and you’ll also blow up any second chance with us. We’re either a team on everything, or nothing at all. Make your choice,” I asserted, hoping it conveyed the seriousness of my message loud and clear.
“Geezus, you drive me insane.”
“Right back at you, stubborn mule,” I retorted. “ You think I’m happy that you are going to be close enough to talk with this creepy mystery man? No . If you are close enough to talk, he is more than close enough to shoot you,” I pointed out.
“Which is why I’m wearing a vest and will have two snipers close-by ready to take shots if he reaches for a weapon.”
“You and I both know that’s not good enough sometimes,” I told him, my voice softening a bit because he did know that—sadly, very well.
He walked to me and put his hands on each side of my head, tilting it up so I could look straight into his eyes.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you care about me and are worried you might lose me as a husband.” His words were teasing, but they were also soft enough to hold meaning.
Now was not the time to be squishy and sentimental. I needed to be focused, and so did he.
“If you don’t want to lose me as your wife, then you need to get your old cop face on and pay attention,” I told him, adding in a little snark at the end.
“You calling me old?” he teased.
“If the shoe fits,” I goaded him. “ Wouldn’t want you to get out of breath too quickly on this mission and need me to rescue you.”
“I bet I can make you out of breath before me,” he said before leaning down and claiming my mouth with his.
He moved his hands to my sides and then slid them down over my butt and squeezed as he pulled me in to be flush with his chest. He deepened the kiss as he ground his now-hardening cock up against me.
A knock at the door startled me out of my freshly kissed fog.
“You definitely seem more out of breath than me,” he said quietly against my lips.
Blast this man.
I growled under my breath. “ Just focus on the mission, Archer .”
“I was focusing,” he replied before leaning in closer and whispering in my ear. “ And I’ll show you how good I can focus on other things later. Things I plan to spend a lot of time on to make you feel incredible.”
He turned quickly and headed toward the door, leaving me to my thoughts about what had happened last night.
Not only had the sex been great, but lying in Archer’s arms and falling asleep with him wrapped around me had made me feel wanted, loved, and treasured—like I belonged.
Archer was the only person I had ever truly felt loved by other than Mom , Auntie , and my sisters, but it was a different kind of love.
I wanted that with him again, and it scared the crap out of me.
After I had come down from the high of my orgasm last night, I’d lain there next to him, wondering if I had just made the best decision or worst decision of my life.
The answer to that wasn’t any clearer today than it had been yesterday.
* * *
Sara and I positioned ourselves behind a group of four slot machines. She and I were seated next to each other at a ninety-degree angle so we could see different areas of the casino around us but could also see each other.
We had mapped out several potential escape routes in case of emergency, but we also had easy access to the front lobby area, where Archer and Vince would be in case they required assistance.
Now it was just the waiting game. Sara and I had to limit our conversation, which was normally how we would fill our time, because we were wearing our comms devices and needed to keep the lines clear in case someone needed to relay information.
Things like if we had to move to plan B , or someone needed assistance, or even if someone noticed someone sketchy and wanted a second opinion.
Sara and I played a few games on our machines to not only look the part, but also to keep us from getting too bored while waiting.
“Well, folks,” Coleman’s voice broke in to our comms. “ This just got a little more complicated but a lot more interesting. Joey Pagano himself just showed up to test his luck with the house.”
Sara and I turned to face each other, both realizing at the same time that this just became even more of a multifaceted mission.
“Is he actually gambling?” Kerrigan asked, sounding piqued by this news. “ Because that’s a violation of his parole, and we can arrest him on that.”
“He’s here with four other men,” Coleman added. “ Three are definitely bodyguards, but the other looks like either a friend or colleague. They’re over near the roulette table but not actively playing. I’ll let you know if that changes.”
An older man in his fifties sat down next to Sara and began playing on the machine next to hers. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it did mean we had to start pretending to play more intently to keep up our ruse.
“Mystery man has arrived,” Axel said in our comms. “ He’s exiting a vehicle and walking to the same spot where he was smoking yesterday.”
“On our way,” Vince announced, letting us know that he and Archer would be getting into their position so that we could intercept the mystery man.
“Teams are ready to intercept,” Kerrigan said.
“Pagano is gambling,” Coleman interrupted. “ I repeat, Joey Pagano has laid down chips and is actively playing roulette. Do I turn back and grab him or proceed to back Archer up?”
“Grab him,” Kerrigan said. “ I’ll move to cover Archer .”
Sara turned to me and spoke. “ I’m moving over to the next row, but I’ll still be close by if you win big.”
Our communication had to be limited with the man now sitting next to us, so I simply nodded in understanding. This was her way of saying she would still remain close to me, but also have a better eye on Pagano if she was needed to provide backup.
Honestly, I wasn’t overly worries since all the action was elsewhere, and she would still be close by.
Plus , I was tucked back here in a small corner.
It was just me, the overweight man in his fifties two machines down from me, and the two old ladies across the row, all currently consumed with their slot machines.
Sara made her way to the next row as more voices rang out on the comms.
“Making my covered approach,” Archer said.
“Our target won his turn and is collecting his chips,” Sara announced discreetly. “ Coleman , approach from the left so I can keep you in sight if he or his bodyguards try anything dumb.”
“Will do,” Coleman responded. “ Though I grabbed two security guards to assist.”
“Excuse me, ma’am,” the man beside me said with a smile. It startled me a little since I had been paying attention to what everyone was saying on the comms.
Despite his pleasant approach, I did not smile at him since this was not a good time for him to chit-chat.
“I know it’s a longshot, but are you Anna O’Hara , the famous news anchor?” the man asked me, grinning from ear to ear. “ My wife and I watch you all the time in Atlanta .”
You’ve got to be kidding me!
“My name is Giovanni , and I think you are the best news anchor I have ever watched,” the man continued. “ My wife agrees too.”
Giovanni? Seriously ? Was this the man who emailed me at the TV station? The same one who told me he and his wife were huge fans of mine? What were the odds that this man, all the way from Georgia , would find me here at the exact moment I am supposed to be watching for Sara ?
I turned to him so that I could end this now and move on. “ Umm , no, I’m sorry,” I said, changing my voice slightly so he would think I was someone else. “ You have the wrong person, but that’s cool you think I look like someone famous.”
I smiled back at him and then turned my head, searching for Sara’s face. That was the wrong move. I should have kept an eye on the man next to me, because as soon as I turned my head, I felt a sharp sting on my arm.
“Grab her,” Giovanni’s voice bluntly whispered.
I gasped and murmured a short curse before feeling someone else’s arm wrapping around my back and going under my armpit as if to hold me upright.
A second later, I knew why, as I lost all feeling in my arms and legs. I tried to scream, but nothing came out.
“Ace, what was that?” Archer’s voice said in my ear, but I couldn’t respond.
“My beautiful Anna ,” Giovanni said in my ear. “ Now you are finally mine.”