Page 79 of Blind Trust
“Let me guess—no name, just a location, right?”
“Yes. I’ve been told the CIA has field officers heading to the location and will be running aerial surveillance as well. They’re also looking into all American travelers who’ve entered the country in the last forty-eight hours.”
Tom frowned. “American travelers?”
“All three men said it was an American man who sought them out. Paid them cash, provided them with their passports and tickets to Miami.”
“All of them are claiming the same thing—someone in the US is connected to the gun smuggling, counterfeiting, and money laundering.”
Lyla’s words rang loudly in his ears. Tom needed to make another phone call to Bob. Military weapons trafficking, money laundering, counterfeit supernotes...if someone in the US was connected to this, they had a broad reach. Especially if they were securing passports for foreigners.
Tom pulled up to a light. “Bailey, keep me updated on this. I’m going to have Kekoa pull surveillance footage from the airports, and I’ll get in touch with Richard Vale.”
“I’ve already spoken with him, sir,” Bailey said. “About an hour and a half ago. I got caught in a meeting, which is why I didn’t call you with the information right away.”
“That’s no problem. I’ll reach out to Bob Perkins and update him.”
Ending the call, Tom drummed his thumb against the steering wheel. He hated to do it, but he pressed Bob’s number again.
This time Bob answered after the second ring. “I would like to go home, Tom.”
“It might be a long night.” Tom hit another red light at the next intersection and groaned. Maybe he should head back to the office himself. He didn’t imagine he’d be getting any sleep anyway. “I just got off the phone with Special Agent Hutchins, and I think there’s a bigger issue we’re facing.”
Tom looked over to his left to see if he could change lanes when the light turned green, but a car pulled up. The driver made eye contact, and a vise tightened around Tom’s gut. Before he could hit the gas, the man pulled out a gun and fired.
27
“Nicolás, say something.”
He dragged his hand down the side of his face, trying to find the words, but all he could think of was the truth. She at least deserved that. “Yes, Lyla, it’s partly because of you, but not in the way you’re thinking.” The hurt on her face was devastating. “Over the last four years, I’ve come to admire your relentless desire to fight the atrocities of the world, but sometimes I wonder if you do it at the detriment of your safety because you don’t realize”—he took a breath—“what it would do to those who love you if something happened to you.”
Her brow dipped into avas she took in his words. Nervous energy bounced through him. He rewound the words in his mind ... had he said he loved her? Sort of? Not clearly, but—
“I don’t think I’ve ever considered that.”
Nic smiled. “Because that’s not who you are, Lyla.”
“But I’m trying to be different, so you don’t have to worry and then you don’t have to leave.”
“That’s the thing. Who you are is what makes you stand out above everyone else, Lyla. I’ve realized that I care way too much about you to stifle your pluckiness.”
Lyla’s lips tipped into a smile. “You think I’m plucky?”
“Among other things, yes.”
Lyla’s cell phone rang, and Nic’s cheeks burned when he saw Mason’s name and face appear on the caller ID.
“He’s just a friend, Nicolás,” Lyla whispered before she answered the call.
The reassurance should’ve made his peek at her phone less awkward, but it only caused his cheeks to flame hotter. Nic pulled out his wallet and paid for their dinner of chocolate and forced himself not to listen in no matter how much he found himself wanting to. He was notthatguy. Then again, he never guessed himself to be the guy to confess feelings over a vat of molten chocolate either.
Nic peered into the nearly empty pot. What’d they put in there? Secret confession sauce?
Lyla’s grip on his arm pulled his attention from the chocolate to the worry lines creasing her forehead. “Okay, yes. We’ll meet you there.”
“What’s wrong? Is your family okay?”
The lines at the corners of her eyes softened. “My family is fine. That was R.D.” Lyla was sliding out of the booth but caught the concern on Nic’s face. “She’s fine too but wants to meet us.”
