color.”
If he got a thrill fondling her bra, let him. If he was trying to intimidate her, let him try.
Casmir went to sit in the wicker chair in the corner of the room. She settled her butt down and tucked the towel firmly into place above her breasts. As she relaxed and crossed her legs, she noticed Pierce’s eyes zeroing in on the edge of the towel. Any second now he would begin to picture what he couldn’t see.
She raised her hand and ran her fingers through her hair, spreading the wet strands over her shoulders. “You wanted to talk.”
“I didn’t come to play one of your games.”
“Then maybe you should put my bra back where you found it.”
“Territorial? That wasn’t in your file.”
“Neither was your fetish for lingerie.”
He smiled, then tossed her bra back on the bed and walked to the window. He pulled the curtains together, and when he turned to face her he was no longer smiling.
“Since I was recruited this morning I haven’t agreed with the agenda for this mission. When an agent steps into a snake’s den you don’t go in with your eyes closed.”
“Are we on a mission, Pierce? I was told I was on vacation.”
“ Oui, we’re on a mission.”
“Are you here to open my eyes and tell me what kind of snake den has brought us together?”
“ Oui. The why of it, at least. I told Merrick a little while ago that I don’t care how good the reason is—deaf and dumb, in my book, gets you dead.”
“In this case I’m the deaf and dumb one, right?”
He relaxed against the wall next to the window and crossed his arms over his chest. Casmir didn’t like the direction this conversation was going. She had been suspicious from the beginning, and now Pierce had just confirmed that Polax had conned her in some way. He would only do that if he knew she wasn’t going to like the outcome.
Needing to keep the ill feelings at bay, she went into survival mode. She was beginning to feel like a cat with one paw in a trap and the other three in quicksand.
“You know, Pierce, I never liked you in Austria. You thought I was a dumb blonde then, too. I assure you I’m not as dumb as you think. And I never go anywhere with my eyes closed.”
“I don’t think you’re dumb, amant. What you are is loyal, and that’s what Polax was counting on when he cooked up this subterfuge with Merrick.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning he didn’t have to spill his guts to make you pack your bags.”
“They were already packed.”
“ Oui, there you go. He was damn sure of you. So sure, he mapped out this mission knowing you would go wherever he sent you.”
“And are you going to spill your guts and tell me why I’m here? At the same time maybe you could explain why Lazie kidnapped my mother and brought her here in his trunk?”
“Today didn’t go as planned. You took off and—”
“You didn’t show up when and where you were supposed to.”
“Okay, so I should have met you.”
“What was that? You’re admitting you made the mistake?”
“If it makes you feel better.”
“It does.”
“At the Glitterbug I told Lazie to get Ruza out of there and bring her here. My guess is he felt she wasn’t going to cooperate, so he made a decision.”
“One I’m having difficulty explaining to her.”
“That can’t be changed now. Let’s talk about Yurii Petrov.”
Casmir’s body tensed. “Let’s not.”
“I know what happened between you two. I read the report.”
If he had read the report, he didn’t know the half of it.
“If you have the details then you talk and I’ll listen.”
“I got clearance from Merrick to summarize the mission’s agenda. Like I said, Polax should have been up-front with you.”
“Spill your guts. I’m all ears.”
“You’re the bait.”
She’d heard that word before. Polax had used it in Prague, and on the phone when they’d last talked.
“I’m the bait?” A knot gripped Casmir’s stomach. She now understood. “I’m here to lay a trap for
If he got a thrill fondling her bra, let him. If he was trying to intimidate her, let him try.
Casmir went to sit in the wicker chair in the corner of the room. She settled her butt down and tucked the towel firmly into place above her breasts. As she relaxed and crossed her legs, she noticed Pierce’s eyes zeroing in on the edge of the towel. Any second now he would begin to picture what he couldn’t see.
She raised her hand and ran her fingers through her hair, spreading the wet strands over her shoulders. “You wanted to talk.”
“I didn’t come to play one of your games.”
“Then maybe you should put my bra back where you found it.”
“Territorial? That wasn’t in your file.”
“Neither was your fetish for lingerie.”
He smiled, then tossed her bra back on the bed and walked to the window. He pulled the curtains together, and when he turned to face her he was no longer smiling.
“Since I was recruited this morning I haven’t agreed with the agenda for this mission. When an agent steps into a snake’s den you don’t go in with your eyes closed.”
“Are we on a mission, Pierce? I was told I was on vacation.”
“ Oui, we’re on a mission.”
“Are you here to open my eyes and tell me what kind of snake den has brought us together?”
“ Oui. The why of it, at least. I told Merrick a little while ago that I don’t care how good the reason is—deaf and dumb, in my book, gets you dead.”
“In this case I’m the deaf and dumb one, right?”
He relaxed against the wall next to the window and crossed his arms over his chest. Casmir didn’t like the direction this conversation was going. She had been suspicious from the beginning, and now Pierce had just confirmed that Polax had conned her in some way. He would only do that if he knew she wasn’t going to like the outcome.
Needing to keep the ill feelings at bay, she went into survival mode. She was beginning to feel like a cat with one paw in a trap and the other three in quicksand.
“You know, Pierce, I never liked you in Austria. You thought I was a dumb blonde then, too. I assure you I’m not as dumb as you think. And I never go anywhere with my eyes closed.”
“I don’t think you’re dumb, amant. What you are is loyal, and that’s what Polax was counting on when he cooked up this subterfuge with Merrick.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning he didn’t have to spill his guts to make you pack your bags.”
“They were already packed.”
“ Oui, there you go. He was damn sure of you. So sure, he mapped out this mission knowing you would go wherever he sent you.”
“And are you going to spill your guts and tell me why I’m here? At the same time maybe you could explain why Lazie kidnapped my mother and brought her here in his trunk?”
“Today didn’t go as planned. You took off and—”
“You didn’t show up when and where you were supposed to.”
“Okay, so I should have met you.”
“What was that? You’re admitting you made the mistake?”
“If it makes you feel better.”
“It does.”
“At the Glitterbug I told Lazie to get Ruza out of there and bring her here. My guess is he felt she wasn’t going to cooperate, so he made a decision.”
“One I’m having difficulty explaining to her.”
“That can’t be changed now. Let’s talk about Yurii Petrov.”
Casmir’s body tensed. “Let’s not.”
“I know what happened between you two. I read the report.”
If he had read the report, he didn’t know the half of it.
“If you have the details then you talk and I’ll listen.”
“I got clearance from Merrick to summarize the mission’s agenda. Like I said, Polax should have been up-front with you.”
“Spill your guts. I’m all ears.”
“You’re the bait.”
She’d heard that word before. Polax had used it in Prague, and on the phone when they’d last talked.
“I’m the bait?” A knot gripped Casmir’s stomach. She now understood. “I’m here to lay a trap for
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