Chapter 30 #3
He looked past Finn and over to where Carmen was speaking with Antonio on the couch. It reminded him that he never asked Harper how her morning had gone with that horrid woman. And he still needed to get Antonio alone somehow.
“Luciano was here a few minutes ago, and then he left to knock on your door. Carmen told him you were having sex upstairs.” Finn shrugged.
“I didn’t correct her.” He tipped his head, motioning for them to head farther away from Carmen and Antonio, and hopefully, Carmen hadn’t seen Roman yet.
“I talked to Jessica. Remember the video footage Bravo had of Ezra meeting with someone at his hotel in Israel before he went to Barcelona?”
“Yeah, but they couldn’t get an ID on the guy, right?” Roman tensed, thinking back to the moment Knox had been shot.
“Mossad sent the CIA a partial profile image they finally pulled this morning, and from what Jessica can tell it was—”
“Talon Fox?” Roman finished for Finn, and he nodded. More evidence to back them up, which was what they needed to keep POTUS on board with the plan in South Africa.
“Jessica also helped give us more ammo for our plan with the brass by confirming Talon Fox is now in South Africa,” Finn said. “She spotted him on some local CCTV footage a few miles away from our hotel.”
“When?” Harper quickly asked.
“About an hour ago. Not sure when he arrived, but clearly Talon was banking on us going to your uncle with the idea to draw him out. Looks like Talon had his bags packed and was waiting for the call to show up here.” Finn handed Roman his suit jacket, but Roman was too hot to put it on, so he draped it over his arm.
“And what if your uncle changed his mind and really does want you dead?” Harper asked, keeping her tone soft.
When Roman looked at her, his heart swelled despite the concern etched across her beautiful face.
“He won’t, but it doesn’t matter what his motives are, anyway. We’ll outplay him,” he said as he shifted his focus to Antonio and this time caught his eyes. Roman mouthed, “We need to talk,” and Antonio nodded.
“Jessica also thinks it’s highly possible Will never intended that we go to Monaco on Monday.
It was simply a message. That he provided the date and location in case we had any doubts about who was behind everything, and he wanted us to be certain,” Finn added a moment later, keeping his tone low.
“But I guess that doesn’t matter, either, because we’re going to put a stop to his plans before Monday.
” Despite his words, he didn’t sound all that confident, which had Roman uneasy.
“And where are Luke and Wyatt at on the, uh,” Harper began, checking to make sure they were out of earshot of everyone, “other thing?”
Thing. Yeah, it was a pretty important “thing” if tomorrow’s plan was to shake out the way they needed it to happen.
“In process,” Finn said, a bit more confident this time, which was good because the lives of Roman’s family, in part, depended on that “thing.” He couldn’t risk taking down his uncle and have a hitman kill his mom, two sisters, or even go after Harper or someone on the teams as a result.
“Good. So, what’s next? For today, I mean?” Harper asked as Roman caught sight of his uncle stalking his way with self-assured but angry steps.
He lifted his chin, and she followed his gaze. “I think we’re about to find out.”
“Where’d you go?” Luciano’s eyes lowered to Harper and Roman’s clasped palms before setting his attention back on Roman. He flicked his hand toward Finn, shooing him away, and Roman knew it took all of Finn’s control to follow that command and bow out.
“For a walk. Not your concern.” Roman squeezed Harper’s hand a bit tighter, a signal to his uncle he was done hiding his feelings. Harper was his, and he’d put down anyone who tried to get in their way this time.
“We have a private dinner by the pool this evening,” Luciano announced. “There will be some guests in attendance that I need you to impress.”
Guests? Sure. This will be another test. Twenty-four more hours, and he’d be rid of the devil—he needed to focus on that fact.
Keep in mind this would all be over soon.
His uncle and Will in one fell swoop, and he had his uncle to thank for involving himself in their case.
All they had to do was tie Luciano to Will and Talon, and his uncle would be locked up right along with those assholes.
“Wear your best suit.” Luciano’s focus dipped to Harper’s cleavage, and it took all of Roman’s willpower not to reach out and snap the man’s neck. “And something sexy for you.”
Roman turned away from him, eager to get the hell out of there and be alone with Harper, but his uncle grabbed hold of his arm. He shot his uncle a menacing look. “What?”
“Where do you think you’re going?” Luciano lifted a brow. “You have more work to do before then.”
Harper’s hand went lax in his grip for a moment, and he knew she was worried, but he locked their clasped palms tighter to let her know it’d be okay.
More games from his uncle. More tests.
It’s almost over. He let go of a pent-up, angry breath and seethed, “What do you want me to do?”