Page 26 of Braxton

“Hola,hermosa. Why don’t you join me?” he invited, patting the seat beside him.

“I’d love to.” Quinn slid into the booth, prepared to shower the asshole in endless compliments.

“You aren’t supposed to make contact,” Brax snapped in her ear.

But, she ignored him. Too late for that. What the hell was she supposed to do? Ignore Mesa’s invite and leave? No way. She’d simply adjust and Brax would have to deal with it.

After less than ten minutes in his company, he was trying to feel her up under the table. Biting back the bile crawling up her throat, she gritted her teeth. He was getting a little too frisky for her liking, and she restrained herself from breaking his fat fucking fingers as they slid up under the edge of her short dress and squeezed her thigh.

She’d been through far worse as an agent with the CIA, but that didn’t mean she had to like it. Men like Mesa thought they were God’s gift, but it took a lot more than money and power to impress Quinn.

Wanting to get this torture over with, she met his dark, beady eyes. “I think we should leave. Is there somewhere more quiet we can go? Just the two of us?”

Ryland made a gagging noise in her ear and she didn’t miss the annoyed sound from Brax.

“Good idea.” He motioned to one of his guards who dutifully walked over. “Vámonos!”

Relieved, Quinn slid out of the booth, smoothing her skirt down, and turned toward the emergency exit. She couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there and let Gray finish this.

“This way,” Mesa said, grabbing her arm and tugging her against his side.

With a frown, she allowed him to slide an arm around her waist and lead her away from the exit. “Where are we going?” she asked. Surely not back downstairs and through the crowd. That made zero sense.

“Back to my place.” Flanked by his bodyguards, he guided her over to a concealed door she hadn’t noticed earlier. It was covered in crimson velvet, cleverly camouflaged, and he slid it open to reveal an elevator.

They’d reviewed the building schematics and it didn’t show an elevator.

Oh, shit.That shot their plan to neutralize him in the alley to hell.

“Oh, an elevator!” she exclaimed for the team’s benefit. “Where are we going?”

Underground parking garages in Miami weren’t really a thing, so when they stepped into the cab, she wasn’t surprised when he hit the up button.

“I had a private lot installed on the roof, just for me,” he informed her arrogantly.

Also not on the building plans.

“That’s convenient,” she said, forcing a smile and preparing herself for a big change of plans.

And, unfortunately, a little longer in Mesa’s company. She had no idea where they were going, but she discreetly activated the small GPS tracker sewn beneath a sequin on her handbag. Brax and the team would be able to follow her and figure out how to take the shot.

And, if they couldn’t, she’d do it herself.

Chapter Eleven

“Goddammit!” Braxton snarled after Quinn alerted them to the change in plans. “There was no elevator in the building plans.”

“Mesa probably greased some palms,” Zane said calmly. “Don’t sweat it. She just turned on her tracker.”

“Everyone meet back at the SUV,” Brax ordered. “Hang on, Q, we’re coming.”

He hated the idea that she had to deal with Mesa for longer than necessary, but Quinn was a trained professional. Reminding himself she could take care of herself, he stormed back to the Suburban. Once everyone was inside, Saint hit the gas as Brax pulled up Quinn’s moving location on his phone’s app.

Listening to Quinn flirting with Mesa through the comms unit made him squirm in his seat. Luckily, she had some good acting skills, because he knew it was hard for her to pretend to like the cartel leader. Even though he knew it wasn’t real, Brax hated hearing every minute of it. Her flirting game was good, and it dredged up thoughts about how many men she’d dated during their time apart. How many she’d slept with.

Shutting that line of thought down fast, he studied the map. Mesa’s vehicle was heading toward Miami’s luxe Epic Residences & Hotel, one of the plushest spots in the city. Heprobably had a suite there and Brax’s mind whirled as he considered their options.

Instead of pulling up to the valet, though, Mesa’s car circled around the posh hotel.

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