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You’ll screw up if this mindset continues.
“Did you say something, Sam?”
He turned toward her, resting on his side. “So what did Antigua have to say?”
She closed her eyes again. “Nothing valuable. He’s concerned about our lack of inactivity.”
He huffed loud and clear. “You mean he’s concerned about you not getting enough sex.” His chuckle pleased her with the overtones of evil intent. “Maybe he can tell I haven’t been scoring anything lately.”
“You had your chance earlier.” She smiled sweetly, laughing under her breath.
“If you mean Nita, she came on too strong.” Sam snapped the waistband of his trunks. “I don’t trust just anyone with my stuff.”
Lana laughed softly. “I don’t remember your requirements.”
“Yes you do.” He stroked her thigh. “I remember all of yours.”
Okay. He knew how to arouse her without getting in her pants. Her mind snapped back to business as she caught sight of Antigua and several of his party heading to the rear of the ship.
“I think the hunting party is gearing up, Sam.” She swung her legs off the chair and rose to stretch. “Keep your temper under control.”
Sam got up and patted her ass, reassuring her in a husky whisper. “I won’t embarrass him any more than necessary.”
* * * *
Sam took in the scene where Antigua stood waiting like some frigging wuss on a safari. He held a skeet rifle like a rookie cop, and his pockets bulged with shells. Two of his men stood nearby wearing the same dumb expressions they always wore. He figured they would test positive for hydrophobia.
Getting back into character came hard. Sam waved like a clown to make sure Antigua noticed him.
“Hey, Antique.” Trying to sound interested in the proceedings was rough for Sam. “Tell me what we’re shootin’ at again.”
Antigua inhaled with visible disgust, but Sam could imagine the power he felt at dealing with an inferior. “The targets are skeet. Small clay targets fired from that machine.”
“You don’t say.” Sam reached for Antigua’s weapon.
The watchdogs stepped forward. Antigua waved them off. “Sam, you never reach for another man’s weapon.”
Sam shuffled his feet and ducked his chin. “Okay, man. When do I get a gun?”
Antigua nodded to the guard nearest them. “Give Sam a rifle.” He smiled at Sam with a knowing quirk of his brows. “You may fire first.”
Catching a glimpse of Lana at the edge of the small crowd watching, Sam motioned her forward. “I need a kiss for good luck.” He held his hand out to her, and she ran to his side, offering her luscious mouth for his kiss.
“Thanks, baby.” She was an amazing actress, glancing down shyly, but her pinch to his side said something different.
She issued a tight-lipped warning. “You’d better let him win.”
“Sure, doll face.” He watched her walk back to the flimsy barricade the activities people had set up.
I’ll let him win. This time
.
Antigua eyed him as he took the rifle, probably expecting him to drop it. “Take aim and tell the man at the controls that you are ready.”
Sam pulled the rifle butt to his shoulder, squinting through the sights. “Okay. I’m ready to roll.”
Sam chuckled at the sound of petulant irritation in his host’s voice. “Was that wrong?” Sam enjoyed the look of anger worming across Antigua’s face.
“You say ‘pull’. The targets will come out and you fire at them.” His words were chopped off and mean.
Sam shrugged. “Okay.” He set his weapon and yelled, “Pull.” The trigger was smooth as satin and the clay pigeon sailed past. Still in one piece. “Pull.” He lowered the weapon and grinned at Antigua. “Guess this isn’t like quail hunting.”
As he expected, Antigua became animated, downright friendly. “It takes practice. You did well for a beginner.”
Sam longed to kick the creep in the ass, but hung his thumbs in the waist of his trunks. “Thanks, man. Maybe we can play some cards one day.” He laughed. “I ain’t any good at that either.”
He suffered the pompous ass shooting with marginal accuracy at a dozen clay targets. Each time he missed, Antigua turned to scream at the guy working the machine. He shook his head and informed Sam the wind had shifted or his weapon had malfunctioned.
Sam nodded and slapped Antigua on the back several times. He enjoyed the wince of irritation he gained from the man who couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.
Offered another try, Sam declined. “Naw, I don’t think me and guns go together.”
Antigua seemed pleased with that and ignored him as Sam backed away from the man who thought he should be shining his shoes.
Sam walked toward Lana, winking broadly at her. She smiled and he knew he’d passed the test with her. His step quickened, working on his plan to make her smile wider damn soon.
Chapter Eleven
Lana’s smile was from relief. “Thanks, Sam.”
She put her arm around his waist, sipped her drink, and thought about what would happen once they reached international waters.
“Sam, I think it would be a good idea for us to make a list of possibilities and probabilities.”
Either he hadn’t heard her or did what he did best. Ignored her.
He seemed distant, his gaze on the placid blue water on the horizon. “I think you’re right. This guy thinks he’s royalty and don’t even take a leak by himself.” He tugged on the scarf tied at her waist. “We’ll make that list tonight.”
Lana brushed at her hair. “Good idea.” The insanity of the job they were on left her slightly off-kilter. “I don’t like not having an airtight plan. Too many things go wrong.”
“Pearly,” he drew her to the rail, looking over her shoulder while offering some insight, “the brass is aware that Antigua has more bodyguards and spies than the Prince of Wales. They don’t much give a shit how we bring him home, even if it’s in a plastic bag.”
“So, you’re telling me we are more or less on our own.” Her lungs squeezed against her ribs. Sent out to clean up a mess the department didn’t want to be involved with. “How nice. I knew this was all too sweet. Sending me on a cruise with an agent I know nothing about. No tangible orders on the actual arrest, no back up, nothing. The bastards.”
He took her arm, pulling her against his side. “We are expendable, Pearly. I suggest we concentrate on staying alive.”
“Count on it, Horn.” She buried her anger and a hint of fear. “Antigua’s a worthless piece of crap, but I’m going to have the pleasure of taking him down.”
“That’s my girl.” Sam exhaled, the first time she’d gotten the slightest hint he wasn’t into the game. “Let’s take a stroll around, visit the shops, and get a little tipsy.”
She took his hand, feeling alone for the first time in her career. Sam had become her anchor, and she had only him to rely on. “Yes, let’s do that.” She heard music coming from the party room where the young crowd gathered. “I feel like dancing.”
He nodded, his sexy smile making an appearance once again. “Let’s do it, babe.”
She shimmied her shoulders and pointed toward a women’s dress shop. “I have to have the proper dress. Bring your charge card.”
He laughed and dug it out of his trunks pocket. “Always prepared.”
Lana held his hand and walked him into the ritzy shop, amazed that he didn’t try to hide behind something while she shopped. He looked around with no sign of discomfort. He proved to be patient, waiting without complaint while she tried on dresses.
She made her choice, an azure blue slip dress. She went back out to the sales floor and gestured to Sam, who lounged by the entrance. “Sam, I’m taking this one.”
The warmth of his gaze told her the dress met with his approval. “Nice, Pearly.” He handed over his credit card to the saleswoman. “Anything else you want. Or need?”
Somewhere in that question, he had inserted something personal. What had happened to her? The tight-fisted, tight-tempered, and lonely Lana flew away. She wasn’t lonely or afraid anymore.
She took the bag that held her suit and scarf, laughing freely. “Good times, Sam.”
He took her hand and smiled. “Yeah, good times. While we can.” He took the shopping bag from her. “Do you want to stop in at our cabin first? I need to make a costume change if I’m going to dance.”
“You look fine.” They had moved a few steps away from the shop entrance when she stopped him. “That isn’t what you meant, was it?”
“You’re too smart for me, Pearly.” He took a step. “I want to make a call before we party all night.”
He didn’t have to tell her whom the call would be to. Something bothered him and that worried her. He always ran two steps ahead of every problem and had a reputation for taking chances. This must be huge.
“All right, Sam.” She touched the shopping bag. “Anyway, I don’t think you want to carry that all evening.”
The crowd had grown around the shop doors and overflowed from the party room. She changed her mind about dancing until she noticed the Cobra woman standing in the doorway. Antigua must be enjoying himself inside.
“Sam,” she said as he tugged her forward to the elevator, “I have an idea.”
“Me, too.” He winked at her. “Hold on to it until we’re alone.”
He hadn’t said two words on the ride up to their suite. She hated to admit it, but she missed the little sexist comments he normally made. Right now, serious and quiet, he went into the bathroom to make a call. She didn’t eavesdrop, just accidently overheard parts of the conversation.
His voice rose, and he threw a towel through the open door. “We’re going to act at the next port of call, damn it.” There was a lengthy pause. “No fucking way. Why weren’t we told about the army he has with him? My God, he can’t ever be alone. And we’re not dealing with an idiot.”
Lana’s nerve ends bristled with tension. Sam yelled at the person on the line with him. She moved closer to the bathroom door to listen.
Sam had turned on the faucet in the sink, probably trying to keep her from hearing his conversation but she caught most of what he said. “What went wrong down there? When we get back, I’m kicking some ass. And we’re handling this our way.”
Lana scampered to the closet and pretended to hang up her silk scarf. “Something wrong, Sam?”
He gazed at her for a second before saying anything. “I knew you were listening.”
“Okay.” He stripped off his trunks as if she couldn’t see him. “Seems the extra gun power Antigua brought wasn’t in the plans. And no one is getting on this tub to watch our backs.”
“I see.” Her heart hammered in her chest. She wasn’t thinking about the mob, but the man standing nude a few feet from her. She breathed deeply and grabbed the towel he’d thrown out the bathroom door. “Here, Sam. Couldn’t find your shorts?”
He rubbed his jaw. “Hell with my shorts.” He absently wrapped the towel around his hips. “We have to get into his confidence and damn quick.”
“He’s at the dance, Sam.” Lana went to the stack chest she shared with him. “A shower, lace underwear, and lots of perfume.” She headed for the bathroom. “I won’t be long. “
“Need company?” He took underwear from the dresser. “I’m available.”
“I’m sure you are, but this only requires one.” She shut the door and leaned against it.
Hurry up and get him out of this comfy setting. He’s so confident he shows you what you’ve been missing. And he’s so willing to share. He looks better now than he had two years ago. And you want him twice as bad.
She hurried her shower, finishing in record time, and toweled herself semi-dry before putting on her panties. No bra needed tonight. The dress had built in cups and she fit right into them.
He knocked on the door before she got her hair combed. “What is it?”
“Need any help, babe?”
He did have a way about him. A con man without any qualms about spur of the moment sex. “No.”
She opened the door, working her hair into a single braid. “It’s all yours.”
“Hmm. You look good enough to eat.” He grinned and turned her back to him to zip her up. “I’ll be ready before you can get your shoes on.”
She sat on the bed to slip on her sandals, not surprised he didn’t shut the door. “What did headquarters have to say?”
He turned the shower on full blast, probably to avoid telling her everything. She wouldn’t give up. Night was coming and he’d sing like a canary if she had to seduce him to find out.
She turned on the television and went to the bathroom door. “You may as well tell me. I’m in this, too.”
He emerged from the shower just as she expected—naked and gorgeous. “Hand me that towel, Pearly.”
“Here.” She didn’t look away while he dried off, met his teasing gaze without a flinch. “Would I be correct in thinking they didn’t prepare for extra guests at this party?”
“You’d be correct.” He pulled on his shorts and rubbed the towel over his hair. “I think I know how we handle this. Are you into doing some snooping?”
“That’s my specialty.” Would he ever get dressed? “When do I start?”
“Tomorrow night, if Antigua cooperates.” Sam calmly walked passed her to pull slacks and a shirt from the closet. “If he’s as vain as I think he is, I can keep him busy most of the night.”
“Oh, he’s vain enough if the bait is irresistible.” She busied herself putting on makeup. “We have to cement our plans tonight. This is all so messed up.”
“Listen, Pearly,” Sam buttoned his shirt, stalling his answer, “we don’t make plans we can’t change.” He worked his shirttail into the waist of his black slacks. “We’ll handle anything Antigua throws our way.” He clipped a .38 to his waistband before putting on a light jacket. “Right?”
Lana got the feeling Sam liked not knowing what to expect. That scared the hell out of her. “Right.”
* * * *
Sam had been in tougher spots, but he’d always been alone before. Pearly added another equation to the problem. Now, he had to move with caution. That wasn’t his way.
She had brains and obviously the grit to take this man down. Right now, he had no clear idea how to do that. Except one. He couldn’t get over the reluctance to use Pearly to pull it off. That was ludicrous. She knew what to do and could use that Glock she carried.
“Okay, pretty woman, let’s go charm the devil in a silk suit.”
