Page 23 of Pervade Montego Bay
“Now we can talk.” He tucked his phone away. “What’s an Earl doing out in the field?”
“Earldom things.”
“You have no interest in leveling with me, then?”
My back straightened. “You haven’t earned my trust.”
“This is a suicide mission and I’d like to know why you accepted it.” He hesitated and then said quietly, “Victoria’s death was why you left the Navy?”
I assumed the crew aboard the sub had been gossiping. It made the hairs on my nape prickle.
“Something like that changes a man,” he added.
“Don’t even go there.”
“You joined MI6 so you could find her killer?”
My chest tightened. No one knew that…
“James, I have the skill to find the man who made you a widower.”
“You’re a loose cannon.”
“You keep everyone at arm’s length.”
“Now you’re boring me.”
He shrugged. “Looks like we both know too much.”
“Or not enough,” I muttered.
“That’s my point.” He folded his arms. “So, this is the great James Ballad in action.”
“You might not like my endgame,” I said as the lift reached the ground floor.
He bit his lip and he even made that look erotic. I imagined he’d pleasured women to within an inch of their lives with that smart mouth. The trust I saw in his eyes when he looked at me made me want to know more about him. He didn’t seem the type who’d betray his country.
The doors to the lift slid open. Foreign operatives in the bar hadn’t prevented us from leaving, which made me suspect there were more men here on the ground floor. Getting the location of our safe house and the name of our operative here in China would be a coup for them. Chances are they also didn’t want to be captured on the security cameras, which meant once we slipped outside the hotel the danger would be elevated.
We stepped out of the lift and the way ahead appeared clear. We strolled through the luxurious lobby where high-paying guests hustled about, dragging along their over-priced luggage.
“Don’t try anything,” I snapped at Xavier.
He gave me a wicked grin, which did nothing to reassure me.
“Going back to the U.K. is not an option,” he admitted. “Not until I’ve cleared my name.”
“That’s the risk you take when you dabble in espionage.”
He gave me an incredulous look. “You’ve got it all wrong.”
“Then you can enlighten me on the way.”
“I’m not going back to the sub.”
“Let’s agree to disagree.”
The oppressive humidity hit us as we strolled out into the night. The rumble of city life reminded me of Hong Kong. Macau was a thriving metropolis and with its casinos and malls on the Cotai Strip, it easily earned its reputation as the Las Vegas of Asia.
