Page 56 of Raul
“Possibly. It would certainly disappoint him since he would lose out on a substantial sum of money,” Mikel said.
“I’ll go,” Erica said. “If you have people there watching, I’m not concerned about anything bad happening. He’s clearly done this before, and no one got hurt.”
“Are you sure you can keep her safe?” Raul asked Mikel.
“There is no reason to believe he will do anything other than carry out the transaction,” Mikel said. “And I will have plenty of undercover agents on-site.”
“It will be fine, Raul.” She almost laid her hand on his arm to reassure him but was stopped by Mikel’s presence. “I will need cash.”
Mikel pulled a fat envelope from his breast pocket and placed it in the middle of the table. “The purchase price. We have all the serial numbers of the bills recorded, of course.” Once again, he pinned his gaze on Erica. “How do you feel about wearing a wire? It’s not absolutely necessary, but it could be useful if we need to build a legal case against Bertucci.”
“I have no problem with a wire,” she said, although a shiver of nerves ran down her spine. The cash-filled envelope and the wire made this seem far more serious than she had expected.
Raul frowned and echoed her thoughts. “I’m not sure I like all this espionage, Mikel. Maybe it’s better if Erica is a no-show.”
She shook off her momentary anxiety. “Don’t worry. With Mikel’s people there, I’ll be well protected.”
“You are a woman of great courage. I know that,” Raul said, his voice stiff with dissatisfaction. “But you were meant just to gather information, nothing more.”
“It’s not like I’m buying anything illegal,” she pointed out to soothe him. “Just a few bits of dragon eggshells. Not a big deal.”
It annoyed her when Mikel turned to Raul, clearly waiting for his approval to go forward with the plan. Then it hit her that Raul was Mikel’s boss. In fact, technically, Raul was pretty much everyone’s boss, with the exception of the king. Somehow, she hadn’t quite absorbed the implications of that until now.
Raul didn’t appear in any way surprised by Mikel’s deference, but then, he wouldn’t be.
The reality of who her lover was slammed into her like a freight train, knocking the breath out of her lungs. Wrapped in the cocoon of hishabitaciónor even camping in the mountains, she could shove aside the knowledge that he was the second-in-command of Caleva with the power to control all the resources of their country.
Seeing the formidable Mikel wait for Raul’s okay made it all too vivid.
Raul nodded and said something that she didn’t hear. “I’m sorry, what?” she asked, tearing her mind away from the abyss gaping between them.
“If you change your mind at any time, just say so,mi corazón.” His voice held a caress that sent a surge of pleasure through her until she remembered that Mikel had heard it too. She glanced at the king’s security chief, but his face held no expression. He had probably seen far more intimate scenes and remained unperturbed.
But would he feel obligated to tell the king?
It didn’t matter. As soon as Raul was on his feet again, he wouldn’t need her to entertain him.
The pain of that slashed at her.
“I’m good,” she lied.
Mikel stood, picked up the cash envelope, and looked at Erica. “We’ll meet at my office in San Ignacio at eight. Then I will return you to your home to pick up your car. You will need to drive yourself to Acantilado Alto.”
“I’ll pick you up,” Raul said. “How long will it take to get to Mikel’s office from your place?”
“You’re supposed to stay off your ankle, so I’ll manage on my own,” she said.
“I will see you tomorrow,” Mikel said, a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips. “With or withoutSu Alteza Real.” He gave his half bow to the prince and left the conference room.
“According to the doctors, tomorrow I am officially allowed to walk as far as I feel capable of on the crutches. Although I am supposed to use good judgment about not overdoing it,” Raul said with a smile that was part rueful, part triumphant. “Not to worry, I’ll have a driver, but Iwillpick you up and come with Mikel to your meet with Bertucci.”
Another pang pricked her as she realized that her time with Raul was shorter than she realized. Tomorrow he would be able to leave hishabitación, so her company wouldn’t be necessary.
“Okay, come by my place at seven forty-five. I’ll text you my address,” she said, deciding it would give her a little more precious time with him.
“Muy bien,”he said before he took her hand and tugged her toward him, his eyes hot. “Now if you take off your jeans and sit on the conference table in front of me, I will have the great pleasure of making you come.”
Desire seared through her, and she leaned in to give him a long, lingering kiss, trying to imprint the feel of his lips on her memory.
