I Spy a Naughty Game

“Hey, Oz, what’s up?”

She sagged in relief, head on the window, staring into the night. Once again the exchange was brief, and he hung up, checking the rearview mirror.

“We’ve got a tail, a few cars back. Silver BMW. Oz said they’re following a good distance behind, and the car has made every single move we have.”

“Kosta?”

“Probably. Or one of his henchmen, though my gut says it’s him. I don’t think he would’ve had enough time after we all left the club to call someone else to follow us.”

“Me, either. Unless he’d already made us.” The thought of the game being up before it started gave her chills.

“No, he didn’t. If he had we wouldn’t have walked out of there.”

“I’m not sure if that’s a comfort or not.”

“Believe me, it is. We’re still alive.”

Hard to argue with that logic. “So if he hasn’t made us, why is he following?”

“He’s checking us out. It’s what anyone would do if they had their eye on a wealthy mark. He wants to funnel our money into their little group of terrorists, and he needs to be sure we’re legit.”

“Which we’re not, so let’s hope our cover holds up to scrutiny.”

“We have the best people creating the paper trails necessary to make sure it does, and in reality that’s not what usually gives us away. It’s the small things that seem innocuous. A personal habit that doesn’t jive, a turn of phrase, even a facial expression. One single detail being the slightest bit off can get you killed. It’s all in the performance.”

“Frightening as hell.”

“Yes, and don’t let go of that fear. Once you get complacent, it’s over.”

She took that kernel of advice to heart, frequently glancing in the rearview mirror as they rode the rest of the way to their temporary home. There was no way to tell which car was the one tailing them, but that didn’t stop her from looking.

Only when Blaze turned off the highway onto the road leading to the house did she spot a pair of headlights a fair distance behind them doing the same. She thought she caught a flash of silver but couldn’t be certain.

“Looks like the bastard’s going to trail us all the way,” he muttered. “Get our address, run a check.”

“You’d better hope our boys are as good as you claim.”

“They are — trust me. This ain’t my first rodeo, darlin’.” With that, he shot her his familiar grin.

It was hard not to trust him when he pulled out the charm. If she didn’t know him so well by now, that would be dangerous. She almost felt sorry for his enemies, but not quite.

Hitting the button to raise one of the three garage doors, he pulled inside. Instead of closing it again right away, he got out of the car and met her as she came around the back.

“Shouldn’t we close up?” she asked as he wrapped her in his arms. “He can see us in this light.”

He pulled her flush against his body and brushed their lips together. “That’s the whole point. He needs to see a couple who doesn’t have a clue they’re being watched.”

“Oh.”

She gave herself to his mouth and melted into him, boneless. He tasted her, seared her from the inside out like no man ever had.

When they finally came up for air, she scanned the neighborhood out of the corner of her eye. “I don’t see anyone, even our guys.”

“You’re not supposed to. That would sort of defeat the purpose of being spies, baby doll.”

Making a face, she stuck her tongue out at him and started for the door leading into the house.

“Hey! Why don’t you do that again and bring it over here where I can show you how to use it properly?”

“Oh, I know how to use it, tough guy.”

“Prove it,” he challenged with a leer, stalking her like a lion.

“You’ll have to catch me first!”

Bolting, she took off with a shriek, her lover giving chase.

It was a footrace she had no intention of winning.

Twelve

“Daayam, you are the best-looking woman I’veever seen!” “Shut up, Willis.” Glaring over Emma’s shoulder, Ozzie scowled at the other agent, who hadn’t stopped hooting like an owl for the past fifteen minutes. “Wanna trade places? I hear being a girl is kinda natural for you.”

“Not as natural as it is for you, obviously.”

“Aw, sweetheart, no need to be testy,” Blaze drawled. Ozzie was pretty funny when he was flustered, and watching Emma do his makeup while he glared — looking eerily fabulous as a woman — was pretty damned hilarious. “Having a pretty face is a good thing, right?” Reaching out, he squeezed one of Ozzie’s fake boobs. “Unless this is too much for your manly ego?”

Ozzie smacked his hand away. “I’ve got your manly hangin’ right here, buddy. Anytime you want to compare with a ruler and come up short, you just say the word.”

Emma rolled her eyes, dabbing at Ozzie’s lips with some gloss. “Jeez, everybody’s so weird this morning. Didn’t you guys get any coffee?”

“Must be the lack of coffee,” Willis put in with a chuckle. “ ’Cause it sure ain’t the pussy.”

Willis and Ozzie thought that was funny, and Blaze couldn’t resist joining the laughter. Those two were a never-ending source of entertainment.

Emma turned bright red and muttered, “I have a hard time believing either of you is getting any, no matter how you’re dressed,” she flung at Willis.

“Ouch!” Ozzie winced. “She scores.”

“Have you heard from Bastian this morning?” Willis asked Blaze, thankfully changing the subject.

“About an hour ago, right before you got here. Good news — they’re starting to think Michael will pull through.”

“Christ, that’s a freakin’ miracle,” Ozzie breathed, serious for once. “I mean, three rounds to the chest and abdomen at point-blank range…”

“No shit. He’s just lucky the hit man didn’t take time to aim between his eyes.” A torso made for a lot easier target on the fly. Blaze shuddered at the memory and pushed it aside. “There’s more news, too. They finally ID’d the assailant, one Arthur Lee Burns, an enforcer for the Liberation group. Like the others we captured, he claims no knowledge of where they’re keeping the weapon, but he named a few names. Guess who was on the list?”

“Augustine Kosta?” Ozzie guessed.

Blaze shot an imaginary gun at him. “Correct. And Major Fontaine.”

“Cool. Nothing about the others in Kosta’s band of merry investors?”

“Nope, not a word.”

“Well, it’s something, anyway. At least their names are more than just ‘under suspicion’ now.”

“Right. And if all goes as planned, we’ll soon have some solid evidence of exactly what’s going on and where Dietz and that fucking weapon are hiding.” Blaze continued to observe Emma work and was highly impressed with how easily she transformed a person into someone else.

“Your turn,” she said, straightening to smile at her lover. “Ever wonder what you’d look like thirty years from now? Well, you’re about to find out.”

“Do I have to? That’s not something I have a desire to know just yet,” he said, only half joking.

“Yep. Pull up your big boy pants and get over it. Sit.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He liked the way her eyes twinkled at him merrily when he gave in to her order without more