Honestly.”
“How did you get mixed up with these bozos, anyhow?”
“Through business circles. Our paths crossed one too many times at parties, which I’m now guessing probably wasn’t an accident. I’m such an ass.”
“No, you aren’t.” She cupped his sweet face in her hands and tilted it up. “At any point did you ever wake up and say to yourself,
“Well, when you put it like that…”
Blaze hovered in the corner of their living room, glowering, arms crossed over his yummy chest. Seeing as how she was still pissed, she ignored him. Mostly.
“We have two other operatives besides Blaze who’ll be listening while you’re in there,” she reminded him. “You’re in good hands, so don’t worry.”
“That does relieve me quite a bit.” He turned to Blaze. “You’re meeting me back at my house afterward?”
“That’s the plan unless something goes wrong, in which case we’ll meet in the park about six miles from Kosta’s office.”
“Got it.”
Blaze couldn’t hide his concern despite his argument with Emma. “Are you sure about this? You can cancel, make up an excuse.”
“No, I’m in this all the way. Something’s going to happen. I feel it. Maybe this is what’s needed to shake it loose.”
Emma felt it, too, but bit her lip to keep from voicing her opinion again. Her lover was already testy, and it wouldn’t help matters.
Lan left first, and they gave him a head start to avoid following too closely. Ozzie and Willis trailed at a safe distance in the van; she and Blaze were last, in their car. Her lover had insisted they bring another vehicle just in case — the only thing they’d agreed on all morning. Well, that and the fact that Nicole didn’t need to be in the middle of what was going on. Lan had sent her shopping or something.
Nearing Kosta’s office a short time later, they parked on a side street about a half mile from the building. She and Blaze hurried to the back of the van and climbed in, immediately fixed on the bank of monitors against one side. Lan’s tie-clasp camera showed a view of the front doors getting closer as he walked up the steps.
“Going in,” he murmured, knowing he wouldn’t be able to hear a response. “Wish me luck, guys.”
“Don’t let him fuck this up,” Ozzie said, more to himself than to anyone in particular.
“If he’s successful and they let him into their fold, he might be able to learn where the weapon is,” Blaze reminded them. He sounded a tad defensive.
Emma exchanged a look with Ozzie. There was no talking to their prickly leader right now, so they didn’t bother.
They tracked Lan’s progress through the lobby and up the elevator to the fourteenth floor, where he got out and greeted the receptionist with polite calm.
“I’m Landon Hart. I have a four-thirty appointment with Mr. Kosta.”
“Oh, yes. Go on back, he’s expecting you.”
Emma waited tensely as he walked to Kosta’s office, the place where Ozzie and Blaze had been caught by the bastard just yesterday. She did not have a good feeling about this at all.
The camera showed Lan’s fist reaching out to knock on the man’s office door, and he was told to come inside. Kosta rose from behind his desk to greet Lan, his smile not reaching his dead eyes. How could anybody be taken in by him for very long?
“Lan, sit down,” he said pleasantly. “Let’s get right to the point and discuss what’s bothering you, shall we? You know I have nothing but the greatest respect for you, and I don’t want you to lose faith in our endeavors.”
“Then show me some solid figures to prove where my money has gone, and I’ll be happy.”
“Now, Lan. You of all people know that large investments take time to pan out.” The man’s tone was patronizing.
“Not this long. I began lending you money more than six months ago, and I’ve not seen one shred of documentation to support my investment in more than four.”
Willis spoke up. “Smart of him, getting that on record.”
Everyone nodded and continued to listen and to watch Kosta’s posturing.
“What’s the sudden hurry? Give me a couple of weeks and I’ll have a report for you that shows everything you want to know. Will that suffice?”
“He’s stalling. He’s caught and he knows it,” Ozzie muttered. “Get out of there, Lan.”
Then, the unthinkable spilled from their friend’s lips.
“Tell me, Augustine — who is Robert Dietz?”
“Oh, fuck me,” Blaze moaned. “Jesus Christ!”
The camera got a great picture of Kosta’s mouth falling open, his eyes wide with unguarded shock for about a split second. Then he pulled himself together, a cold mask slamming down over the jovial facade of moments before.
“Where did you hear that name?”
“You’re not the only one with contacts, friend. You’ve forgotten that I’m a wealthy man same as you, and I can get information if I’m motivated to do so.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“I don’t think so. Does the term ‘weapon of mass destruction’ mean anything to you?”
A black hole of silence ensued, and Emma leaned forward. The poison between them was so thick that she felt ill.
“What do you want?” Kosta’s lips tightened, and his hand strayed under his desk.
“Uh-uh, not a good idea. Do you think I came unprepared? If I don’t walk out of here, my lawyers contact the FBI and the media. Is that what you prefer?”
“Your price,” he said softly.
“A cut equal to yours and Meyer’s, plus fifteen percent for my trouble.”
“I had you figured for the banner-waving American citizen, Lan. I must say I’m surprised.”
“Don’t be. I’m a businessman first. Do we have a deal?”
Kosta paused, hatred and the promise of retribution unmistakable in his steady gaze. “We do.”
“I’ll expect you in my office with a real report by Tuesday of next week.”
Emma was about to hyperventilate with the urgent need to get Lan out of there. Even Lan had to know that meeting would never take place. He’d placed himself in grave danger.
Kosta stood. “Show yourself out.”
Everyone in the van sat stunned as Lan exited and took the elevator. They glanced at each other, their unspoken questions the same:
“Talk to me, Blaze. Where do I go?”
Blaze started at Lan’s voice. Flipping open his cell phone, he punched speed dial. When the other man answered, he barked, “Don’t go home. They’ll be waiting on you by the time you get there. Revert to Plan B.”
The park.
“I’m going,” Emma told Blaze as he hung up.
“Not this time. Stay here and monitor.”
She pursed her lips, trying to hold her anger at bay. “Is that an order?”
“Damned straight it is.” Leaning over, he brushed her lips with a quick kiss. “I’m sorry, baby. I don’t have time to argue with you anymore. Help me from here, okay?”
She relented some. He knew what he was doing, and she’d only hamper him by being a pain in the ass. “All right. But be careful.”
“I will.” Giving her a wink, he was gone.
The pit of sick dread in her stomach grew wider with every passing minute after he left. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this op was about to go FUBAR. Glancing at her two companions, she slipped from the van for a moment.
