Page 7 of Her Chosen Protector

“I raise your bullshit, with a load of buffalo turds,” Cullen said disgustedly. “There isn’t a fucking chance in hell that the CEO of the USForce Bank setting foot on Venezuelan soil escaped the notice of either Maduro, or for that matter President-elect Guaido. Who signed off on this operation?”

“This wasn’t a government-sanctioned trip. It was a humanitarian effort from the international community,” Kane reminded everybody. “This group has been working together in Geneva for the last month, trying to find a way to fix the Venezuelan economy. You know this country is in turmoil.

There’s been a mass exodus due to starvation, disease, and crime. It’s a humanitarian crisis and both Maduro and Guaido want it to stay that way until one of them is declared the winner of the contested election so they can magically fix things and take credit for it. Then they’ll declare themselves a

national hero.”

“That might not be true,” Asher disagreed. “The way I’m hearing it, Guaido is on the up-and-up.”

“Kane is a cynical bastard. He always believes the worst until he’s proved wrong.” Max reminded everyone. “What we do know for sure is that Maduro is bleeding his country dry.”

“How many Venezuelans have died because of that asshole?” Cullen asked bitterly. “It’s almost government-sanctioned genocide.”

After everything Cullen had seen in one of their last missions in Africa and being engaged to a woman who worked for Doctors Without Borders, the man was incredibly attuned to the atrocities that happened around the world. Despite his easy-go-lucky demeanor, he truly wanted to save the world. Time to change the subject.

“Who’s hosting this meeting?” Asher asked.

“The Venezuelan Finance minister fled the country six months ago,” Kane explained. “He hasn’t been replaced. Right now, the provisional head of the Central Bank and the Chairman of Banco de la Gente are the hosts. According to the intel that finally fucking downloaded in the last two hours, these two ladies are straight arrows.”

“Okay, now that we know the politics and the players, where are they, and what is our role?”

Asher smothered a grin—apparently, Ezio could only keep quiet for so long.

“Suzanne Azua is feeding information to us. She’s the head of Banco de la Gente, and she’s insisting it’s a fortress and has security that will help them. The bank is between the Central Bank and the Embassy.”

Kane let that sink in.

“Dammit, wasn’t this supposed to go under the radar because they were having this meeting during Carnival?” Max glowered.

“That was the hope.” Kane agreed. “The good news is, according to the intel, whoever has Central bank surrounded isn’t making any overt moves. Which is interesting because the back wall has been demolished.”

“Why aren’t they going in right this minute?” Leo asked Kane.

“It’s either they’re waiting for tomorrow tonight,” Kane said as he looked at his watch. “I mean tonight—that’s when Carnival really takes off. Or they can’t get ahold of Maduro.”

“Is it tonight or tomorrow night?” Nic asked.

“Today is Friday,” Raiden said for Kane. “The beginning of Carnival might start at sundown tonight, but they’ve been getting ready for this for a week. The party will go on until Sunday morning.

Everybody will be hungover for church,” Raiden chuckled.

“So, they have the cover of darkness and no witnesses now. If they’re not holding out for Maduro’s say-so, why not right now?” Leo persisted.

“They’d be seen for sure. Raiden’s right, people are out setting up.” Kane explained. “The secret police don’t want to be that obvious.”

“People are already setting up? At two-thirty in the morning before the event?” Nic asked incredulously.

“You’ve never been to Mardi Gras, have you?” Cullen asked.

Nic shook his head.

“They take this shit seriously. But is it going to turn into anti-government protests?” Cullen asked Kane.

Asher saw Leo shift, bending his leg. It looked like his mobility was improving.

Kane rubbed the back of his neck. “It did last year, Cullen. My sources aren’t sure. Here’s our

problem. The coalition’s security team was going to pick us up, but that’s out. What’s left of them are at the Central Bank. Suzann Azua is sending people she trusts to meet us. She swears we can depend on them.”