"A pleasure to meet you," he told her then looked from one to the other. "I understand this marriage is recent?""It is." Max nodded. "I waited a long time for the right woman." "I'm happy to see you've found her. Congratulations to both of you."Regan gestured to a tray on the coffee table holding a carafe, cups, and a plate of miniature pastries. "I took the liberty of ordering something. I find having conversations over coffee always makes them go so much more smoothly. Please have a seat and let me fill a cup for you."Her voice was a warm contralto, soothing yet at the same time confident. Not a woman Jed would want to cross. He found it interesting that she not Max, seemed to take the lead in this situation, but maybe that was by design.When everyone was seatedMax and Regan on one couch, Jed on the other facing themRegan gave him a smile that felt strangely as if it had skewered him."I understand how unsettling it has to be for all of you," she told him, "to have this sw
Max tore a sheet of paper off the notepad by the telephone in the living room, flattened the paper on the coffee table, and wrote a short note.Normal conversation. Suggest we get a drink downstairs.Regan nodded."I thought this was a good beginning for us with this group," she said in an even tone. "Don't you agree?""I do. Jed Whitlow seems to have his act together, and Bernardo told us the others were the same. I'm looking forward to this meeting at the lodge.""Yes. I'm anxious to hear the final details of the plan." She studied his face, watching for clues as to what to say next."We have a little time before we have to meet Jed for dinner. How about a drink downstairs?""Sounds good to me. We can leave right from the bar."The first thing Max had done when they arrived at their suite was to check every inch of the place for listening devices. Jed Whitlow owned the hotel, he wasn't too happy with this substitution, and they fully expected he'd bug every inch of the place.
"You know, Regan, in all my SEAL training, one of the things I learned over and over again was the mission requires personal discipline. No matter how tough the assignment, no matter what my personal feelings might be, the mission was the only important thing. Everything else was sublimated to it.""I know that." She smiled. "I was married to a SEAL, remember? And I work with several. Is there a problem I'm not aware of?" The smile disappeared from her face. "Is it me? Did I do something? I thought"He held up a hand."There isn't a thing wrong with you, Regan. You're not the problem. I am."Regan frowned. "I don't understand."He sighed. "I shouldn't even be telling you this, but I thought you should know in case my behavior is odd at times. And just so you know this is not a situation I've had to deal with before.""Damn it, Max. Whatever bug you've got up your ass, just spit it out.""Look." He took in a breath and let it out. He was in very unfamiliar territory here. "We're
Lorena Alvaro looked from her husband, Elias, to the man sitting next to him on the couch. A man she neither liked nor trusted but was tied to by an arrangement worth millions. An arrangement that was also about to open the door for more millions and untold power. If only he wasn't so obnoxiously arrogant and had more concern for other people. Of course, if that was the case, he wouldn't be where he was now.Luis Rojasknown as El Toro because he was built like a bullwas one of the most powerful cartel leaders in Mexico. Maybe in all of Central America. He and Elias' brother had been friends since they were both halcones (falcons) in the cartel named for Luis' family. Now Luis was the leader of the group that rivaled Sinaloa and was continuing to expand its reach. They were among the most feared narcotrafficantes and considered the most adept at bringing high-value humans over the border.More than a year ago, Elias' health had prompted him to remove himself from an active role and st
"Forgive me, senora, but Jed Whitlow cannot see through his own ego. It is convenient to let him believe he is the leader of the group. He does most of the work, and he is the conduit to provide the firepower. But once everything is in place, we may find it better to have someone else in charge.""Like you?" Lorena gave an unladylike snort. "That will never happen, and you know it.""No, my dear. I was thinking of you. With me as your silent partner. I cannot, obviously, be the face of this organization." His lips curved in a humorless smile. "Just the actual el jefe.""They'll never approve it," she told him, even as her heart beat just a little faster. "Everyone in that group believes he should be the one at the head of the table. None of them will give up even an inch of their power."She'd lusted for this since the beginning, knowing even then it would be an uphill battle."Then it's up to you to convince them." He drew another slow puff on the cigar. "Or you and I."Lorena s
Silas leaned back in his desk chair and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms. His hands felt gritty and dry and no wonder, the amount of time he'd spent looking at the damn screen this afternoon. Normally, he'd assign this kind of research to someone who did it as part of their job, but it was important that he read every bit of the information himself to pick up any nuances. So many times you had to read between the lines.Luis Rojas could win an award as one of the most evil men in the world. He had grown up as a foot soldier in the violent La Regla cartel, regla for rulers, which they had fully intended to become, until the day he assumed the mantle of control. There were whispers in back rooms that Rojas had gotten the throne not because he was the heir apparent but because he had killed off the three men higher than he was in the ranks and the two who had been discussed as logical successors. In dark corners and back rooms they called him asesino. Killer.Si was certain R
The living room was empty when he let himself into the suite. He wondered if Regan was getting ready for bed this early.No. Don't think about that.He walked over to the big window and stood looking out at the lights of the little town below them."All set for tomorrow?"He had not heard Regan come up beside him, and her voice startled him. The carpet in the suite was so thick the sound of footsteps was almost nonexistent. When she touched her fingers to his arm, a powerful electric shock ran through him. The first time they'd touched, a handshake the day they met, the little tingles that surged along his arm had startled him but not given him a lot of worry. He was, after all, a healthy man with healthy appetites. He might not be as young as he once was but that didn't mean his desire had faded. He'd had to keep reminding himself this was not just a business arrangement. It was also an assignment he'd accepted with the fate of the country at stake, so no hanky-panky.So what if they
He licked the surface of her lips, teasing at the corners before very slowly easing his tongue inside. And oh, god, the taste was like an elixir. He licked slowly, letting the flavor seep into his mouth. Regan reached up to place her hands on either side of his head and, when he eased back on the kiss, whispered against his lips."Bathroom." She mouthed the word. "They'll be listening for the water.""You're right."Taking Regan's hand and tugging her along behind him, he strode into the bathroom, slid back the solid glass pane of the shower door, and turned on the faucet full blast. He could adjust it once they were inside. Then he turned, brushed a kiss over her mouth, and stripped off his clothes. He was surprised he didn't pop the buttons on his shirt, as fast as he pulled it off. He kicked off his shoes and yanked his pants and boxer briefs down in one movement, being careful not to do damage to his rigid, protruding cock.Then he turned back to Regan, who stood there with a look