Chapter 28
They’d gotten kicked out of the café. It closed between meals and Cal scanned the streets as they headed to the city park where they’d run into Ellis. It was a good location to talk because no one could approach undetected.
Not that they’d be able to stay there long.
He and Io had to keep moving. It would be harder to hunt them down that way, but they needed time to hash out a strategy. Cal was grimly resigned to her decision. She was right. There was no way to protect her indefinitely. It didn’t mean he had to like it.
As soon as they turned onto one of the eight spokes leading to the center statue, Cal went on higher alert.
There were more people present than he expected, but it was only mid-morning, not hot enough yet to drive most indoors.
The bench he liked, the one that would put their backs against a stone wall, was empty and he guided Io toward it.
He scanned the plaza another time as they reached the seat.
There was enough breeze to have the palm tree fronds swaying, scattering shadows across the concrete.
Cal waited for Io to sit and then settled beside her, careful to keep a respectful distance, but close enough that they could talk quietly without their words traveling.
“We can’t stop here long,” he said. “Ten minutes and we walk.”
“Understood,” Io said calmly. Her own gaze swept the crowd. “Let’s use the time to try to hash out some kind of plan.”
“Letting Petrova’s team grab you is off the table,” Cal warned her. He didn’t think his Wild Thing would suggest that, but he couldn’t be sure. When it came to protecting her sister, nothing was out of bounds.
“Definitely off the table. I don’t trust the mafia not to torture me for intel.”
Cal nodded and released a long, silent breath. At least they weren’t going to argue on that score. “I know you think the best defense is a good offense, but what do you hope to accomplish with it? Petrova and his boss, Ivanov, both have reps for taking what they want.”
“Yeah.” Io resettled the palm-leaf hat she wore, pulling it lower on her forehead. Her blonde hair was tucked up under it, but it wouldn’t fool anyone for long. “The problem is if we stay in avoidance mode, they get to pick when and where the confrontation occurs. We’ll be outmanned and outgunned.”
“We’re already outmanned and outgunned.” Cal scowled, but refrained from adding more.
They’d hashed this through last night and her arguments were sound.
Fighting about it again didn’t change their circumstances, it just wasted time.
“What are we going to do? Set up an ambush and take out his men two at a time?”
“I was thinking we go after Petrova. If we cut off the head, the body dies. Or at least returns to Russia.”
“The head is guarded by former Spetsnaz. The new guy yesterday? The one I dubbed Snidely? He’s one of them and he was there because he was protecting Petrova.
” Cal took a moment to thoroughly scan the park before he asked a question he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to.
“By cut off the head, do you mean assassination?”
Io flinched, the first sign of weakness he’d seen from her.
“I’ve never killed anyone in cold blood,” Cal said quietly. “Only in battle, and you’re asking me—”
“I’m not asking you. I’ll do it.”
“Have you killed anyone, ever?”
He wasn’t surprised to see her shake her head.
“Then you don’t know what you’re suggesting.
It’s not only pulling the trigger, Thing, it’s living with it afterward.
Killing in battle…you can talk yourself through it.
You were protecting your friends. You were protecting yourself.
There is no logic you can use at two a.m. to convince yourself it’s okay after you walk up to someone and put a bullet in them. ”
Io’s chin wobbled, and Cal wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tugging her against him. Giving her the hug she needed. “How about an alternative?” he asked, voice muffled against the top of her head.
“I’m listening.”
“What if we keep Petrova and his men busy with a wild goose chase? You know how to gather intel, so you know how we could plant things that would keep them off you and running in circles.”
“Doesn’t that just delay him without solving the problem?”
“I was thinking we keep him spinning while we work to get to Torres. Once we reach his level, we can casually mention that Petrova is looking for the treasure, too. Want to bet Torres handles the situation?”
Leaning back far enough to meet his eyes, Io asked, “That’s a little iffy, isn’t it? Ivanov is a major buyer. If Torres kills one of his top men, he’d lose a customer. Would he take that risk?”
Grimness settled over him. “There are no shortage of buyers interested in what Torres sells. He’s not going to worry about losing Ivanov when he can replace him easily.
But he might not kill Petrova. Torres can get his hands on weapons that other arms dealers haven’t been able to touch.
That gives him clout. If he has a pointed conversation with Ivanov, Petrova might find himself back in Moscow emptyhanded. ”
That wasn’t the most likely scenario, but Cal wasn’t sure Io could live with being responsible for a man’s death even indirectly. If it took a little bullshit, he would spread it if it meant protecting her.
After studying him a moment more, Io nodded. “I like your idea better. We’ll start dropping some seeds, and work our way to Torres. And while we’re waiting, we can search for the treasure, too.”
Cal scowled. The kind of interest that could attract was potentially dangerous, but he didn’t say anything. Torres would expect them to keep hunting for the treasure and sitting around would make him suspicious. “You want to go back into those fucking tunnels.”
Io’s lips quirked. “Yes, I definitely want to return to those fucking tunnels. The odds are there’s no treasure there, but maybe there’s a clue.”
“I’m going to start calling you Velma instead of Wild Thing, because all we need is the mystery machine, a dog, and some—” Cal stopped short. “We made it eight minutes. Petrova’s assholes found us.”
Io located the two men that Cal spotted and her stomach knotted up. “They’re searching the park, but they haven’t ID’d us yet. There’s time to get out of here.”
“We can try, but they’re looking for a woman with a mercenary. Even with your hair hidden, we stand out.”
“And as soon as we get up, they’ll glance over.”
“That, too. They’re walking the circle that goes around the statue. When they’re far enough around, we’ll walk out of here slow and easy.”
“Copy,” Io said. She tried to center herself.
She struggled because she was still rattled by the conversation she and Cal had about assassination.
What had she even been thinking? It might be time to stop reading those spy novels she indulged in.
It was warping her perception of what she was capable—
Io’s thoughts stopped and her gaze zeroed in on a woman. A redhead, strolling casually while she talked on her phone, but something about the way she moved made the knot in the pit of her stomach expand to fill her body.
The woman glanced over at her. Their eyes met.
Io’s vision blurred and instead of a redhead, she saw a brunette with brown eyes. Standing over her. Telling her not to fight. Drugging her.
Fuentes! That was fucking Fuentes!
Her heart stopped for a split second before it raced in double time. Before she realized what she was doing, Io half stood, and the only thing that kept her from racing out of the park was Cal’s hand tugging her back to the bench.
Was Fuentes working with Petrova? She hadn’t been before, Io was certain of that. If she had been the woman would have turned her over and collected her reward.
Cal took her hand and squeezed hard. “Calm down, Thing.”
Nodding, Io tried to regain control. Cal was with her. He wouldn’t let Fuentes grab her again. Drug her again. She shouldn’t be on the verge of a panic attack this easily. She took a deep, shaky breath, hung on to him, and said softly, “Fuentes. That redhead is Fuentes.”
He stiffened, and a moment later said, “I’ve got her.”
Something about his matter-of-fact tone helped Io stop spiraling. “I’m okay.”
“I know you are. She’s a secondary concern unless she proves otherwise. Let’s keep our focus on Megatron and Shredder.”
“Right. Copy that.” Cal and his cartoon nicknames for the bad guys helped her lose some of her edginess. She wasn’t going to flash back to being held captive. Cal needed her to be on top of her game. She couldn’t fail him and put them both in danger. She wouldn’t fail him.
She glanced at Fuentes. The woman stood unmoving, talking on her phone, but Io knew she was aware of her. That Fuentes had her in her peripheral vision.
Shake it off. Focus on Petrova’s team. “They’re almost far enough around the statue pavilion for us to leave.”
“Almost,” Cal agreed, but he didn’t move and he didn’t release her.
Io took another peek at Fuentes. She couldn’t help herself.
Cal squeezed her hand, reclaiming her attention. “When I give the signal, we stand slow and easy. We stroll straight ahead. That’s the nearest exit from the park. I know Fuentes has got you off your game, but I need you with me, Thing.”
“I know. Every time I look at her…” Io let her voice trail off.
“Then don’t look at her. Trust me to keep her in my sights. I’ve got you.”
“I trust you.”
“Thank you.” Cal laced their fingers. “Now, let’s meander our way to the street.”
Io rose when Cal did and continued to hold his hand. Just a mercenary and his woman, taking a romantic stroll in the park. Nothing to see here. But her pulse was hammering. Not because of Petrova’s men, although she was concerned about them. It was because of Fuentes.
The sounds of the other people in the park, the breeze through the palm fronds, the traffic driving past the plaza all faded. The only thing Io could hear was the thud of her heart.
“Shit,” Cal murmured as they reached the exit sidewalk. “Megatron and Shredder just came around the statue. Keep walking and keep calm.”
She followed orders. It didn’t matter that she was supposed to be in charge. Fuentes had left her rattled. Cal needed to run the op. The same way she’d handed off control at the house where she’d been held prisoner.
But she couldn’t stop herself from flicking her gaze sideways. Fuentes was still there. Red hair catching the sunlight, phone pressed to her ear, posture casual. Yet Io knew—knew in her bones—that Fuentes was watching her. Tracking her. Waiting.
Her chest tightened. Why? Why now? Why here? And how the hell had the woman found her?
“I’m watching her, Thing. Don’t look. Keep moving.”
“I’m trying.”
“I know. You can do this.”
Other people passed them, some going into the park, some leaving. All moving faster than they were, but Io stayed at the measured pace Cal wanted.
One last glance. She couldn’t stop herself.
Instead of meeting Fuentes’s eyes, her gaze locked with one of Petrova’s men. Recognition flashed across his features.
Cal noticed, too. “Move. Now!”
Io obeyed, forcing her legs into motion, every nerve screaming. They slipped into the stream of pedestrians, but she knew—knew—they’d been made.
And Fuentes was still watching.