Page 35 of Wicked Intention

Finn wasn’t overly familiar with this part of Trujillo. It was a newer section of the city, upscale with low-rise apartment buildings and expensive boutiques. It was bland—it would fit in any city in the US without standing out—but it had its plusses. There was less traffic, less noise, and wider streets and sidewalks.

It was the quieter atmosphere that allowed him to spot the woman on the other side of the street. She was a bit ahead of him, and he could only see her back and a sliver of her profile, but with the height and the long dark hair worn loose today, his body’s reaction told himexactlywho it was.

Fucking son of a bitch.

It didn’t take long for a break in traffic, and Finn crossed the road, coming up on her rapidly. He caught Zo by the wrist and turned her to face him. “You told me you’d stay the hell away from Silva,” he accused, voice low.

Her surprise and irritation at being grabbed changed to confusion. “I have stayed away from him.” Understanding chased the clouds from her eyes. “You mean he’s around here?”

“Why else are you wandering this area on a Saturday?”

Zo tugged her wrist free and straightened. “This is where Mari lived. I’ve been visiting businesses, asking the people who work there some questions. I had no idea Silva was in the vicinity.”

“Sorry,” Finn apologized gruffly. “I didn’t realize you’d changed tactics.”

Some of the rigidity left her muscles. “How could you? We haven’t talked.”

“Does that mean you missed me?”

That earned him a glare, and Finn grinned. “I missed you, loquita.” The smile faded as he lightly traced a fingertip over the side of her mouth. “There’s still a faint bruise, and it’s been four days. That bastard really tagged you.”

And if Finn had any say in it, the fucker would be spending a hell of a long time in prison at the end of this.

Zo shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt much anymore.”

Finn leaned down and whispered a kiss across her lips. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop him.”

“You couldn’t do anything. If you’d tried, we’d both be dead. Bruises heal. Another day or two and it’ll be nothing except a memory.”

She was right—if he’d continued to move toward the bodyguard, they’d be in the morgue—but it didn’t mean he liked it. He realized he stood close enough to feel the heat of her body. Finn decided not to step back and had a moment ofsatisfaction when she didn’t move away either, not even when people had to go around them to get by. “How’s the new plan going?” he asked.

Her grimace preceded her answer. “Not well. Today’s been a bust, and so was Wednesday.”

“What did you do Wednesday?”

“I visited her favorite places.” Zo shook her head. “No one has seen Mari, not since I stopped getting messages from her.”

He smoothed her hair back from her face and waited for Zo to meet his eyes. “I’m going to tell you the same thing I said on Tuesday. You need to back off.” The mutinous glare that immediately appeared had his lips curving, but he was serious when he said, “You know I’m right. This search of yours? It doesn’t help your friend. The only thing it does is make you feel better because you’re doing something.”

“What if I could save her?” she asked, her voice less sure than he’d ever heard from her.

“What if you put her at risk?” he countered.

Zo seemed to collapse, her body leaning into his, and Finn put his arms around her. “I know it’s hard. If it were my friend missing, I wouldn’t want to stop looking either, but sometimes the smart thing isn’t easy.”

After a long moment, she straightened away and said, “I’ll think about it, okay?”

Finn knew that was the best she was going to give him today, so he reluctantly dropped it. Her heart was battling her brain.

“When’s your meeting with Silva? Do I have time to get clear?”

He stiffened, checked his watch, and hoped like hell that the teammate trailing him to the café was a close buddy and not someone like the chief or, worse, his captain. “I have about ten minutes. You should have time to get out of here but turn around. You’re headed toward my meeting.”

She nodded and took a step before she stopped and grabbed his forearm. Her grip was tight. “Be careful, okay?”

“Always,” he promised. Zo stared for a long moment, then released him, and without another word, walked the direction he’d told her to go. He watched her leave, bemusement holding him in place. She cared about his safety.

A honk brought him back to the present, and Finn cursed under his breath. He was going to have to hustle now, or he’d be late. Glancing around, he tried to find whoever had his back, but he couldn’t spot anyone. His team was good.

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