Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
T his was bad.
Viper wasn’t familiar with La Sombra Roja, but generally speaking, cartel members were a ruthless bunch. Izzy could be in real danger.
"Your father’s death does sound suspicious." His voice was low, almost a murmur, as he sat down across from her. "You have a right to be concerned."
Izzy's eyes flashed. "I won’t sell, no matter what the threat to me. You heard what Hernández said. The mine is vulnerable. Selling it could lead to people losing their jobs, the work drying up."
Viper nodded. She was brave, but then he wasn’t surprised. You didn’t get to where she’d gotten without having a good deal of backbone.
"I need to update Pat.” He raked a hand through his hair. “If your father was murdered, it makes your situation more precarious. The U.S. authorities should be notified."
Izzy heaved a frustrated sigh. "The FBI know about the threats," she said flatly. "But until an actual crime has been committed, there's not much they can do. They can’t get involved in the Mexican side of things."
"They can look into your father’s death." Viper leaned forward to make his point. “Although the Mexican police have jurisdiction, the FBI can assist when the crime involves an American citizen.”
"Do you think they would?" She stared up at him.
"I'll get Pat to check on that too. He’s pretty well connected. I’m sure he can get them involved."
She nodded, a hint of hope flickering in her eyes. "Okay, if you think it'll help."
"In the meantime, I strongly suggest you don't go out more than necessary. Here, at the hotel, I can guard you, but out there in bars and clubs, it's a lot harder."
Izzy sighed again, this time more heavily. "You're right. I need to take this seriously."
Viper hesitated, then asked, "I’m sorry to ask this, but could anyone in the company be sending you these letters? Who benefits if you sold your share?"
Izzy's expression turned dismal. "I thought about that," she admitted. "Robert and Rafael have a few shares, but then so do a lot of other people. Nobody has the money to buy me out. I wish they did.”
“What happens if you sold your share to another company?”
“Then that company would have the controlling interest. Robert and Raff would lose their jobs, or if they were kept on, would answer to a new boss. As it stands now, they pretty much run the company. It's in their best interests to keep me here."
Viper nodded slowly. He was beginning to understand the complexity of the situation. "I see."
Her eyes widened. "What Hernández said about the cartels was frightening. If they got control of the mines, they’d pilfer the profits and run it into the ground or use it to launder their drug money. My father warned me about them."
Viper's face darkened. "It’s a high-risk region, particularly for an American."
"It is," Izzy agreed. "But the investment and infrastructure are so good for the local economy and the communities that live there, that my father considered it worth it. He was a courageous man."
Like his daughter.
“When my father acquired the mining rights, the government was promoting industrial growth and foreign investment. He saw an opportunity to make a difference."
Viper's eyes narrowed as he considered the implications. "How would anyone from La Sombra Roja know where to find you?"
"It's easy enough to figure out someone's address," she said.
"True, although the threatening letters were sent from a U.S. location."
"The cartel could have contacts in the United States. Just because the letters weren’t sent from Mexico, doesn't mean they wasn't from them."
Viper shook his head, frustrated. "I wish we had more clarity. An unseen enemy is the worst kind. You don’t know what you’re dealing with."
He felt so damn helpless. Her life was at stake, and the situation had just escalated beyond levels he was comfortable with. He didn’t even think Izzy realized just how much danger she could be in.
He glanced down at his burger, which all of a sudden didn’t seem nearly so appetizing. This was way more serious than he’d first thought. The threats weren’t coming from some obsessed fan or lustful admirer, these guys were organized criminals who wanted her to sell her father’s company, and if he knew anything about the cartels, it was that they didn’t stop until they’d gotten what they wanted. Even if it meant taking someone’s life to do it.
Viper called Pat as soon as they finished eating. He knew the hardy former Commander wouldn’t mind the late hour. Not if it was work-related. To his surprise, Izzy opened her laptop and started working, content to remain in his room. Every now and then she'd smile, shake her head, or raise her eyebrows.
He liked having her here, even though it meant he had to be on his best behavior. Her presence seemed to fill the room, or maybe that was because her fragrant, floral scent kept wafting over to him, tantalizing his senses and sending unwanted thoughts flying through his mind.
"That your signature fragrance?" he asked, taking out his phone to call Pat.
A smile lit up her face. "Yes, do you like it?"
"It suits you." Fresh, uplifting, with a sensual undertone that he found alluring.
"Thanks, I thought so too." Shit, when she smiled at him like that… he’d slay dragons for her. Hell, he might have to.
Pat was understandably concerned after Viper had filled him in on what Hernández had told them about her father’s accident, the cartel, and their plan to devalue the enterprise in order to purchase it.
"There’s a possibility Beaumont was murdered, sir," Viper said carefully. "In which case?—"
"In which case, Izzy's in more danger than we thought."
"Yes, sir."
She kept working, although she'd stopped typing and was gazing at the screen, her finger idly clicking through images.
"I think it’s time we escalated this. I’ll talk to my contacts in Washington."
"Any news from the police on the letters?" Viper asked.
"Not yet. Fingerprint analysis didn’t turn up anything and we’re still waiting on the DNA results, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
"Understood, sir."
"How is our girl?"
"She's doing good, sir. She's right here if you'd like to have a word?"
"She's with you now?" He heard the surprise in his boss’s voice. It was late—going on midnight. Pat would have assumed Izzy would be fast asleep in her own room by now.
"Um, yeah. We've been discussing the situation in Mexico."
"Put me on."
Viper handed Izzy the phone. She shot him a reassuring smile before she turned her focus on the call. "Uncle Pat, it’s good of you to check up on me. Yes, I'm absolutely fine. Viper's doing an awesome job. He literally doesn’t let me out of his sight.”
Viper tensed, as he felt her gaze wander back to him, but he purposely didn’t look up.
“Don't worry, I won't take any risks. He's already given me a stern talking to. Of course I will. Take care. Bye." She handed the phone back with a smug little grin.
"Thank you." He slid it into his pocket. "You didn't have to sing my praises."
"It's the least I could do," she said. "Considering you've been so attentive."
Was she teasing him? Flirting with him? Her eyes were sparkling as she tossed her glossy hair over her shoulder. Suddenly, he wished he’d had more personal protection training, although he suspected this wasn’t in the rule book. The men he’d guarded before had been dignitaries or businessmen, not gorgeous, young—What was the word again?—Influencers.
"How about another beer? You're off duty now." Technically, yes, but she was still his responsibility. While he was on this assignment, he would never be fully off-duty.
"Sure." He wouldn't drink it all—just a few sips to be sociable. He felt they were building a rapport now, which was good. It made things less awkward. It would do her good to get used to him being around, to start trusting him, even if he found her presence… complicated. But that was his problem, not hers.
He got two beers out of the mini-fridge and handed her one.
"Here's to a productive week." She lifted the bottle, her eyes meeting his.
He ignored the flutter in his belly, clinked it, and took a long pull.
"What's your story, Viper?" She leaned back in her chair and studied him. "I know you are ex-military and Pat speaks highly of you, but apart from that, I don't know anything about you.”
He shrugged. Where to start? What did you tell your principle about your personal circumstances? Usually very little. Keep it professional.
“Are you married?" That definitely wasn’t in the rule book.
"No," he replied, a little too quickly.
"Significant other?" She raised an eyebrow.
"There's no one."
She smiled, like she was pleased to hear it. They were verging into dangerous territory here. Talking about his personal life was not his strong suit.
"And why is that? A guy like you must have plenty of options." She raked him over with her gaze.
He hesitated, then took a seat opposite her. "I'm not in the right frame of mind for a relationship."
She tilted her head to the side. "Oh, why's that?"
“Do you always ask so many questions?”
She chuckled. “Actually, yes. I guess I do. I’m a curious person and you’re… Well, you’re interesting.”
Interesting? Well, he guessed that was better than boring.
"Being in the military doesn't lend itself to long-term relationships. I'm away a lot, coming and going at short notice. It's not fair to put that on someone."
"But you're not in the Navy anymore," she pointed out.
He ground his jaw, refusing to let her see how much that statement bothered him. “No, I’m not.”
He was still getting used to being out. It was a hell of an adjustment, one he hadn’t been handling too well, until Blade had come along. He touched the scar on his temple, a permanent reminder of just how hard it was to adjust.
Her eyes softened. "Well, the Navy's loss is my gain."
"That's nice of you to say, ma'am."
"Don't you think you can call me Izzy now?"
He bit his lip. "I'm not sure. It doesn't sound right, ma'am. This job is important to me. I don't want to come across as unprofessional."
"Well, I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable."
She snapped her laptop shut and got to her feet. "I'm going to bed. Thanks for helping me with Hernández." She hesitated, like she was about to say something else, but then decided not to.
"You're welcome."
He watched as she disappeared through the connecting door to her suite and closed it behind her. He listened for the click, but it didn't come.
She hadn't locked it.