CHAPTER 1
“That one. I want her ,” Kevin Colin declared as he tapped his index finger on the screen of his sleek laptop several times.
“Poor choice. She’s brilliant, but not a great actress—more accustomed to espionage. She’s new, just came on board about two months ago. I get the feeling…”
“Go ahead.” Kevin leaned back in his leather chair and chuckled lightly at his assistant. “No matter how good they are, you always find a flaw.”
Sarah folded her arms across her chest and sighed. She took a moment before answering, examining all the images of her newest recruit. “She’s still recovering from a job at the Agency, one that went bad. Thus her employment with us. I really wasn’t going to consider her for anything dangerous for a few more months.”
“How bad?” Kevin arched a brow.
“Tied-up-in-a-shed-in-Qatar bad.”
“That’s bad.” Kevin looked again at the computer screen. No, it has to be her . “I’ll be there with her, every second. It will ease her back in. Besides, I know the man’s tastes. She fits this job like a glove.”
“Geez, Colin, she’s an agent, not a prostitute.” Sarah scowled at him.
“She looks like a prostitute.” He held up his hand to ward off Sarah’s attack. “Sorry, I know she’s on the job in these photos. Sit down, Sarah, you’re making me nervous. You have a bad habit of looking over my shoulder.”
Sarah took the seat across the huge mahogany desk and smirked.
“And you have a bad habit of questioning my judgment.”
Kevin laughed and ran his hand through his hair. “Agreed.”
He wondered for the hundredth time how he had ever managed without Sarah. The tiny, middle-aged black woman seemed a very unlikely agent. Which made her the perfect agent. She had lost her ex-military habit of calling him “sir” rather quickly, and they had become fast friends. And he relied on her judgment, utterly. Then why are you ignoring it this time ?
“Pick someone else, Kevin.”
“Nope, trust me, curvy brunette. Or you can find me someone else. I know the man—this is what he’d want.” He tapped the photo again. This is what any man would want . Long legs, curvy hips, perfect full round breasts swelling above a low-cut top. And that cherry-red mouth, those dark chocolate-brown eyes. Very hot.
“I can see I’ve lost this one. I thought you put aside your libido when it came to work? That’s what I tell everyone. You’re really letting me down, boss. You’re going to have to walk her through it.”
“Tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. What’s her name?”
“Layla Swann. Thirty-two.”
“And?”
“Agency for five years. As I said, she went a little haywire after her last job with them. They were probably too structured for her anyway. Good with weapons, breaking and entering. But a rather poor actress, as I said . Very high IQ. Fluent in Spanish, French, German, Arabic, but no Greek. Good sense of humor. And then, of course, men seem to want her the second they lay eyes on her. Wait until you see the 3-D version. I think she’ll do well, it’s just a little too soon…”
“Nice catch, Sarah. You’re the best recruiter in the business. Talk to her. A hundred, half up front.”
Sarah nodded and made a few notes. “You can stop salivating now,” she called over her shoulder in parting as she left his office.
He laughed, shutting down his laptop. “There goes that raise.”
***
A hundred thousand . Layla stared at the ceiling, wondering how it would feel to see a check with five zeroes on it. No, seven, if you counted the pennies. Seven zeroes. Of course, I might die before I get to cash it, she thought, wondering if she could will it to someone. If it were like the Munich job, she’d die of boredom. If it were like Qatar…
“And of course, you’ll have to meet immediately with Mr. Colin. This Ardros is a bit tricky, not to be underestimated.”
“I won’t sleep with him. Ardros, I
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