Page 86 of Razor

Snake grins. “You never will. It’s ingenious, really. Nobody knows their identity, or who Angel himself is. They always meet as five and speak in turn. Nobody takes control, and it’s almost as if they rehearse the conversation before it happens.”

“Where are their men?”

I glance around, and Ryder shrugs.

“Another well-guarded secret. They materialize from the shadows like angels of death when required. Nobody knows who they are, just what they are, and the mystery is the stuff of legends in this town.”

We reachthe guest house and Ryder gets straight down to business.

“We’ll go over the plan when it arrives and assign roles.”

“When it arrives?”

I am so confused, and Snake nods. “The Angels will have it all worked out. It will be delivered shortly, and we can wrap our heads around the details and assign roles.”

A movement in the distance distracts our attention, and a familiar voice yells, “I thought I’d find you here.”

Tyson advances with a huge shit-eating grin, and Snake growls, “You took your time, soldier. You’re slipping.”

Tyson shrugs. “While you’ve been holed up in the tomb, I’ve been gathering the intelligence we need. Some of us get up early, Snake.”

He winks, and Ryder asks. “Is that the plan?”

I regard the crisp white envelope in Tyson’s rough hands, and he offers it to Ryder with a shrug.

“I picked it up on my way in. Harrington told me it was important.”

Ryder points to the table on the terrace.

“Then we should discover what’s inside and plan the mission. This could be a very long night.”

CHAPTER 44

SUNDAY

It’s been the strangest day. From rags to riches indeed, because this time as I sit handcuffed to the bed, I am dripping in designer elegance. My silent assistant styled my hair, did my makeup and dressed me in the most stunning silver gown. It’s as if liquid steel is flowing around me as I tower on tall silver heels, diamonds on the shoes.

Many times throughout the entire afternoon, I considered my escape. The woman may be softening toward me, but her grip was firm and her strength never in any doubt. There were also the two bodyguards who stood silently watching from the doorway. There was no conversation, no imploring glances, merely a woman doing her job as if she were an automaton.

The only time the men turned away was when she stripped me naked in order to re-dress me in finery. Even then she wouldn’t meet my eye, and it was an extremely surreal experience.

Then I was returned to my room and handcuffed to the bed, and my heart is beating out of control when I hear footsteps approaching.

The door swings open and the woman heads inside, closely followed by Santiago, his gaze searing my flesh, his intentions sinister.

It’s as if there’s a different vibe in the air tonight. It’s supercharged with something I can’t quite place and his gaze is greedy as it tears into my very soul.

“Josephine.”

His low purr of contentment sends shivers down my spine.

“You leave this room tonight and will never return.”

I say nothing, but my heart rate quickens, and his gaze turns to the woman beside him.

“Kneel.”

Her gaze is lowered to the floor as she does as he says, and I gasp when he removes a thick rope from his pocket.