Page 9 of His Sweet Torment
Padme sighed inwardly. She really didn’t like this joker. “Which would be the first place any assassin would look for Enver. Yep,greatidea.”
She was rewarded by Brian’s face turning red. He excused himself, and they watched as he went to talk to Henry. Enver chuckled. “He’s gonna tell Papa on you.”
Padme shrugged, dismissive of the lawyer. “Where on earth did you find that guy?”
“Tinder,” Enver said with a straight face, and Padme laughed.
“Yeah, well, you should have swiped left.”
“Got it.”
Padme looked at him. “You nervous?”
Enver nodded. “Just want to get this show on the road.”
“You’ll nail it, baby.” The epithet came out of her mouth before she could stop it and Enver smiled.
“I heard that.”
“Shut up,” she hissed and then laughed. A moment later, the clerk of the court called Enver in. Padme watched him walked inside the courtroom and mouthed ‘Good Luck’to him. He winked at her and disappeared into the court.
Padme let out a sigh of relief. The public gallery in the court had been shut off, and even the journalists covering the case had a gag order until Enver was safely out of the country. There were armed guards in there with him - he was safe.
“Hey.” Dale came up behind her, and she turned. “We got him here alive. Feels pretty good, huh?”
Padme smiled. “Sure does.”
Dale grinned and lowered his voice. “He’s a good guy, Pads…I’m really happy for you.”
Her eyes widened, and she felt a cold fear spike inside her. “What?”
Dale put his hand on her arm. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to say a word, but it’s pretty obvious to me that you two are…”
“We are notanything,”Padme lied, “He’s just a friendly guy.” She hated to lie to Dale like this, but she didn’t want to risk being thrown of Enver’s case.
“Girl, after everything we’ve been through, don’t you think you can trust me? I’m not saying a word, I think it’s a great thing. But you want to deny it, go right ahead.”
Dale walked off, and Padme felt awful. Dale was right – sheshouldhave trusted him. She caught up to him and pulled him into a corridor. “I’m sorry, D. You’re right, Enver and I have…history. But we’re not together, at least, not while this case is going on. It’s too risky for him, for us.”
Dale’s expression softened. “I know. Listen, I meant what I said. I won’t say a word. And hey, just for the record, you’re a great agent. End of discussion.”
Padme relaxed. “You are the best.”
“Oh, I know.”
Enver looked drained after a day’s worth of questioning, and he was quiet on the trip back to the compound. Padme, sitting next to him, surreptitiously squeezed his hand and he gave her a weary smile.
“Bad day?” She said, but he shook his head.
“No, just draining. They talked a lot about Max and Julia’s murders. They showed the court photographs of the crime scene…and their bodies.”
“Oh god, Enver, I’m sorry.”
He nodded, and she could see the pain in his eyes. She wanted so much to hold him, kiss him, make him feel comforted but in this small confined helicopter, it was impossible without being seen by the pilot.
They landed back at the compound. The lights in the main house were out, and Padme narrowed her eyes, suspicious They had left Chaley and two security men in the property. Padme drew her weapon. “Enver, stay inside the copter with Mac and Wiley. Mac, if you hear shots, take off and go to the emergency safe house, got it?”
“Got it, boss.”
