Deceived by Kate Serine Page A

you’re going to need a few things before we get where we’re headed.”
    â€œLike what?” Eli pressed.
    â€œWell,” Luke said, “at this time of year, odds are good you’re going to need some snow boots. . . .”

Chapter Seven
    Jacob Stone took his seat in the café where he was supposed to meet his contact. He was early. He always made sure he arrived well in advance of any meeting so he could scope out the area first and assess any potential threats—old habits and all that.
    He was enjoying his café cubano , appreciating the extra caffeine after his rather rigorous dalliance with Ms. Holt, when a man in light linen slacks and pale blue cotton shirt sauntered toward him. The guy sported the kind of tan one would get spending a life of leisure on a private yacht and the swagger of someone who knew he was the one in control, regardless of the situation.
    Stone smiled and raised his coffee cup in salute, but stayed seated. He knew how to play this game, too.
    â€œYou need to get out in the sun more, Stone,” the guy said as he took the seat across from him. “You’re pale.”
    Stone downed his coffee and signaled to the server. “I like to spend my time in the boardroom—or the bedroom—these days, Evans. I don’t miss sweating my ass off to further someone else’s agenda.”
    â€œBut you clearly have no qualms about asking someone else to further yours ,” Evans drawled with a smirk. He didn’t even glance toward the pretty senorita who appeared at his elbow, merely held up two fingers.
    As she scurried away to get their drinks, Stone mirrored his companion’s nonchalance. “Favorite spot of yours?”
    Evans lifted a shoulder. “I like the service.”
    Stone could imagine. If he didn’t have Ms. Holt waiting in their hotel room for him, he would’ve brought back one of these tasty pieces of ass to enjoy during his stay. Hell, he still might. “Care to make a trip home?”
    â€œI’m open to a visit,” Evans replied. “For the right reason. There are people there who’d prefer I stayed gone.”
    A tall glass filled with rum and Tropi-Cola appeared in front of Evans with hardly a sound, and another was placed before Stone along with his coffee before the server slipped away. Apparently, Evans’s friend knew how to be discreet during his meetings. “Well, I have about five million reasons that I’d be willing to share with you. Would that be sufficient?”
    Evans inclined his head in a slight nod. “I suppose. When?”
    â€œThings are a little . . . delicate at the moment,” Stone said. “Everyone is on guard. Give it a few days to settle down.”
    â€œAnd is there a particular window of opportunity for this visit?” Evans asked.
    Stone toyed with his drink. That was, indeed, the question. Will was already moving assets. All cash and investments would’ve been shifted within hours. The Alliance was nothing if not prepared. But the non-liquid assets would take longer, the logistics in place but requiring careful execution for the purposes of concealment. If his timing was off, if he waited too long before making another move, whatever information Eli Scoffield possessed would no longer be useful.
    Blake would’ve most likely passed along only the shell of a contingency plan. Only the Grand Council and the commander placed in charge of relocating assets would know the final destinations. And there was no way in hell he was making a move on Will. Not yet.
    â€œThree weeks,” Stone finally answered. “Maybe less.”
    â€œWhere will I be visiting?” Evans asked.
    This made Stone squirm a bit. “That’s the other problem. I’m not entirely sure.”
    Evans’s smirk grew. “You want me to make a visit, but you don’t know to where? ”
    Stone forced a smile, wishing he didn’t need the smug