Sensing that Natalie wanted to ask questions, Jude put his arm around her shoulders. “Later,” he murmured and kissed her hair.
“They have some explaining to do,” she whispered back, her face lowered and partially hidden by her flaming hair.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Neil
“It’s a damn good thing all this is on our friend back home,” Kane said as they sat in the costly hotel restaurant the following morning. He stared at the menu in his hand. “I can’t afford these prices. I daresay Jude and Nat can’t, either.”
Neil fought a yawn. Slow to recover from the jet lag, he and Jordan spent much of their time since their arrival in their room, either sleeping or watching television. Of all his companions, only Kane and Taylor brushed aside their exhaustion and seemed as energetic as ever.
“Should we go to the beach today?” Emily asked, taking a long drink from her glass of iced water. “Before all the excitement begins?”
“Before we do that,” Kane replied, “we need to chat. Mine and Taylor’s room after breakfast?”
“Sure,” Drake agreed. “Emily, did you pack your bikini?”
Emily laughed. “Are you kidding? I don’t have one. I brought a nineteen-twenties style bathing suit that covers everything.”
Drake’s face dropped under the general laughter. “We’re going shopping,” he growled. “My girl will wear the skimpiest bikini we can find.”
“And a thong for you, my love.”
“A what?”
Emily smirked. “A thong. Just enough cloth to cover what’s important and leaving a string up your crack.”
Drake actually cringed, “Uh, now wait a minute.”
Neil snickered, trying to imagine himself in a tiny thong, and suspected no thong in the world would cover a dragon’s genitalia. “I’ve seen you naked, Drake,” he said. “A thong won’t cut it.”
“You’ll get me arrested for indecent exposure, girl,” Drake complained, then nibbled on Emily’s throat as she laughed, trying to fend him off.
If we are being watched, our words and behavior will mark us as true lovers with our mates, and not agents working together undercover. As he ate the delicious and spicy breakfast, Neil casually glanced around the semi-crowded restaurant. His gaze passed over a pair of dark-skinned businessmen dining together at a table nearby, did not linger, and returned to his friends.
Yet, his dragon instincts told him the men listened closely to the conversations at their table, and they watched from the corners of their eyes. His gaze met Kane’s as they all laughed over a dirty joke Natalie told, then flicked briefly to the men and back. Kane knew better than to nod, and under the pretense of beckoning their waiter, shot them a quick look.
Whether or not they convinced their watchers that they were innocent and simple tourists, Neil could not tell. He felt the attention they sent himself and his friends like weights on his skin and memorized their faces. Jude continued to feel their regard on them until they left the restaurant and rode the elevators up to their rooms.
While General Smithfield didn’t get rooms for them in a cluster, they at least were all on the same floor. All the rooms were expansive suites with a sitting room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom the size of Jordan’s ranch house living room. Trickling to Kane and Taylor’s room in pairs, discreetly, they found places to sit on the couches, chairs, the bureau, and the thickly carpeted floor.
Only Kane stood. “Okay, kids, now we know we’re being watched. I think we have these guys convinced we’re the genuine article, but they may watch us for a while longer, just to be certain we’re tourists.”
“They appeared Middle Eastern,” Daryl commented. “Would Russia and North Korea hire from outside their nations?”
“They have to,” Ronan replied. “I imagine they need local talent to blend in. A pair of North Koreans watching folks might appear strange.”
“Daryl’s right,” Emily broke in. “We could also expect to be watched by nationals of other countries. Normal tourists aren’t expected to notice things like that.”
Kane nodded agreement. “So, we found the first spies for our friends, and we can expect others. But I believe we passed the test. Once we do that, we can expect to be ignored from now on. I guess they will also pass the word that we’re not American CIA.”
“Our pals will arrive the day after tomorrow,” Jude said. “How will we first spot them? I mean, sitting in the hotel lobby hiding behind a newspaper is a rather obvious cliché.”
Kane grinned and gestured at Emily, Natalie, Daryl, Jordan, and Taylor. “A group of bikini-clad beauties will be noticed, but for all the wrong reasons. If they happen to be giggling and gossiping in the lobby when our friends walk in, well, I think their harmlessness will be obvious.”
Taylor frowned. “But Moon and Bobrovsky won’t arrive at the same time. Their planes come in hours apart. That won’t work.”
“No, you’re right,” Kane answered with a smile. “That’s why our bikini models will be you and Emily for Bobrovsky, the first one to arrive, and Daryl, Natalie, and Jordan for Moon a few hours later.”
Daryl snickered, running her fingers through her long golden locks. “Supermodel runway, here we come.”
“Whoa, wait a minute, time out.” Neil made a T sign with his hands. “This is a Muslim country. Even tourists in bikinis in public will be frowned on. We don’t need them arrested by the local cops.”
Kane frowned. “Shit. You’re right. All right, same plan, but modest clothing. Jeans, shirts, shoes. But you stand around in the lobby, girls, talking, but not drawing excessive attention to yourselves.”
“What a spoilsport.” Daryl pouted.
“Save the bikinis for the beach,” Kane advised. “You’ll show plenty of skin there in good time.”
Ronan spoke slowly. “What if we were to hide the girls in traditional Muslim clothing? They would be virtually unnoticed, literally. No one can recognize a woman’s face from behind a boshiya.”
“No way,” Daryl protested. “Stick my face behind a black veil?”
Ronan’s eyes traveled over her trim body slowly. “I like that idea, baby. Keep your beauty all to myself.”
While Daryl rolled her eyes, Drake nodded. “I like that better, boss. They’d be the next thing to invisible in this city.”
“Indeed, they would.” Kane eyed Daryl’s pout. “Save it, girlfriend. A Muslim you shall become.”
“Just as long as I don’t have to pray three times a day.”
“If it comes to that, you will.”
“We may also consider donning traditional Arab robes for us guys,” Jude suggested. “Sometimes we’re American tourists; sometimes we vanish into thin air and stalk our prey as Bedouins in flowing robes.”
Neil laughed. “Let’s grab a couple of camels while we’re at it.”
“Good luck with that, boys,” Jordan said with a grin. “They spit if you piss them off.”
“And bite and kick like shit,” Drake retorted. “Bedouins, maybe, but we leave our camels parked somewhere.”
“I like that,” Kane commented. “The camels will be terrified of us dragons anyway, so we can’t use them.”
“Just have Neil have a chat with the beasts,” Jordan remarked with a sly smile. “He’ll have them as tame as little bunnies.”
Neil glowered. “I am not interested in talking to damn camels. I was only joking about the fucking things.”
“What are you talking about?” Daryl demanded.
“Neil can talk to animals,” Jordan replied brightly. “He’s convinced our horses he’s God’s gift to equines, and my Rottweiler adores him for that reason.”
“For real?” Daryl’s eyes took on a worshipful look that made Neil uncomfortable.
“So that’s what you guys meant,” Natalie exclaimed, “when you were saying you could ask the horse to behave.”
“Neil is terrific at it,” Jordan answered with a grin. “My stallion, Cade, is like putty now because of
him.”
“So, if we need your talents as a camel whisperer,” Kane commented, “you’ll do it?”
Neil scowled. “I don’t want to talk to a camel, end of story.”
“I bet we all could do it, if we tried,” Ronan said. “We’re sort of on their level, after all.”
“Let’s get back to business,” Kane said, pacing. “If we need camels as a cover, we’ll convince them to not spit, bite, or kick, but now we need to talk about the weapons. Who is going with me to meet the contact?”
“I will,” Neil offered. “Let’s pick up native clothing while we’re at it. Men as well as women’s. It’s too convenient to be able to hide in plain sight here to pass it up.”
“What should the rest of us be doing?” Jude asked.
“For now, play the tourists,” Kane replied. “Wander the bazaars or the Dubai Mall, but keep an eye out for guys like those in the restaurant. We need to play the tourist angle to the hilt.”
“Maybe we should split up,” Jordan suggested. “Not go as a huge group. That may look odd to anyone spying on us.”
Kane frowned. “No, Jordan, I don’t like the idea of us separating at this point in time. We don’t know if the folks watching us will get aggressive or not.”
“I agree,” Neil went on. “Stick near Drake, Jude, and Ronan for now, babe. Convince these guys we’re harmless, and then we can start to split up.”
“All right.”
Neil stood up from his spot on the floor to hug and kiss Jordan. He smiled into her eyes. “I’ll see you in a while.”
Jordan slid her arms around his neck, nuzzling her face into his throat. “Be careful, okay? This place isn’t like home where we know what is dangerous and what isn’t. They’re touchy here, and you can piss someone off by looking at them wrong.”
“The same goes for you, babe,” he murmured. “Women are second class and disposable. Stick close to the guys.”
“I will.”
Even as Kane made his farewells to Taylor, Neil headed for the door. “Hope you know where we’re going, boss,” he commented.
“Yup,” Kane replied, following him. “Have it written down in Arabic.”
Leaving the room, they strode together down the plush hallway to the elevators. The car slid smoothly down the hundred floors, passing the world’s highest swimming pool, the Armani restaurant where they had dined a short while ago.
Standing amid the tourists and wealthy Arabs in their flowing robes, their goat hair agals keeping their ghutras in place, Neil and Kane waited their turn to have a taxi hailed for them. Neil found it difficult to determine if they were being watched but then conceded it might also be difficult for anyone to watch them.
When at last, Neil and Kane entered the taxi, Kane asked the driver, “Do you speak English?”
“Yes, I talk good English,” the man replied, smiling in the rearview mirror with several teeth missing.
“We need to go to this address.” Kane handed him the paper. “Will you wait and bring us back?”
“Sure, sure, I wait.”
The cabbie pulled the car smoothly away from the curb, entering the traffic on a busy roadway. “Where you from?” he asked.
“California,” Kane replied before Neil could answer. “Just here on vacation.”
“Ah, tourist is good. Bring American dollar, you see the sights, yes?”
“We’re trying,” Kane told him as Neil gazed out the window at the passing traffic, the Arab men and women in traditional garb walking on the sidewalks. He didn’t much like seeing the women striding behind the men, but thought he’d better remind Jordan to do that when they donned their disguises.
She won’t like that, not one bit.
The cabbie chatted away in broken English about what to see and do while on their vacation in Dubai. Kane did most of the talking while Neil tried to determine if they were being followed or not. Turning and looking over my shoulder too much will get the driver’s attention. I don’t want him suspicious.
Thirty minutes later, the cabbie parked along a side street with rows of shops. He pointed to what appeared to be a cigarette, pipe, and smoke shop. “There. I wait.”
“Thanks,” Kane said, opening the door.
Neil climbed out, gazing around at the area and tried to take note of anyone watching them with more than simple curiosity. He noticed nothing that seemed out of the ordinary and followed Kane into the place.
It scented of different tobaccos and herbs, almost clogging his sinuses with the overpowering odors. Kane sneezed. Pipes and cans sat in cases while packs of different cigarettes from across the world stood on shelves. Signs in what Neil guessed was Arabic advertised wares in the place, attached to the shelves.
A short man with a mustache, goatee and turban smiled at them from behind a counter. He said something in Arabic, perhaps a greeting. Kane paced slowly toward him while Neil hung back to watch the street outside through the windows.
“I’m Mr. Smith,” Kane said. “This is Mr. Jones.”
The clerk jerked his head toward the rear of the shop. “This way,” he said in perfectly unaccented English.
Kane went with him to the backroom as Neil stayed in the front to watch for trouble. The cab sat by the curb, its engine idling, while traffic and people passed by without stopping. Long minutes passed, and Neil started to fret a little, worried about Kane. “He can handle himself,” he muttered.
A few minutes later, Kane emerged carrying a black canvas bag by its handle. By the bulge in his arm, Neil guessed it was heavy and contained their weapons. Now concerned about what their driver might think of them going to a smoke shop empty-handed and coming out with a heavy bag, Neil crossed the shop to them.
“Maybe we should send that guy on his way,” he said, his voice low. “Get a new cab.”
“Yes, get rid of him,” their contact in the turban said swiftly. “There’s a cab stand a few blocks down where you can get another to take you back.”
With a nod, Neil left the shop and approached the idling cab. Pulling cash from his pocket, he paid the driver off and sent him on his way. Returning inside, he arrived in time to hear Kane asking about where to obtain Arab clothing.
“How much do you need?”
“For five men and five women,” Kane answered.
The contact nodded. “There’s a coffee shop down the street a few blocks. Go enjoy a few cups and come back in two hours. I’ll have them for you.”
“Who are you?” Neil asked. “You sound American.”
“I am,” he replied. “I won’t tell you anything else except that it’s my job to get folks like you whatever you need.”
“Great,” Kane said, hefting the black bag. “We’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
Leaving the smokey place with relief, Neil strode down the sidewalk beside Kane. All the people he saw made him feel exposed and vulnerable, as they were the only ones who were clearly not locals. He saw no tourists at all, nor did he see anyone who appeared to be police, or those in authority.
“We stick out like a roach on a wedding cake,” he muttered to Kane.
“I know. Just be cool; no one seems to be caring that we’re not from around here.”
Yet Neil didn’t feel much better until they entered the dim interior of the coffee shop. The clerk spoke very little English but accepted their American money as Neil and Kane bought their coffee. Sitting at a table near the window, they watched the traffic and comings and goings of the citizens of Dubai.
“It is a very pretty city,” Neil remarked, sipping the strong coffee.
Kane had set the bag on the floor under the table, and Neil couldn’t help but kick it now and then. “Yeah,” he agreed. “Our friends picked a good place to visit.”
“They’ll only be here for a couple of days,” Neil commented. “Can we get all the sights in?”
Kane yawned. “Have to.”
The two hours passed slowly, and Neil quickly grew sick of the coffee and abnormal conversa
tion. “Time’s up,” he said, standing. “Let’s go back.”
Leaving the shop, Neil noticed a trio of young Arabs wearing long-sleeved shirts and jeans watching them from across the street. “Trouble over yonder,” he muttered as he and Kane ambled down the street.
“I see them.”
“Think they’re local thugs or spies for our friends?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Kane answered slowly. “My guess is that they think they found a couple of dumb, rich Americans.”
Neil laughed. “And think we’re easy prey?”
Glancing down at himself, Kane asked, “Don’t we look it?”
“No. We’re both good-sized, and young. They can’t hope to overpower us by force.”
“Then they have weapons.”
Walking on without glancing over his shoulder, Neil sensed the trio’s attention on their backs. “Let’s draw them into a place where we might have some privacy.”
Kane cast a quick look over his shoulder. “We’re almost to the smoke shop. They’re not real close yet. Maybe they’ll go away once we’re inside.”
As Kane opened the door, Neil also glanced back the way they had come, observing the young Arabs had also halted to lounge casually against the wall of a store.
“They’re going to wait for us.”
“Maybe our pal here will let us slip out the back door,” Kane said, looking through the window.
Their contact nodded to them and passed a pair of backpacks across the counter. “The clothes you need,” he said. “I also tossed in fake beards and mustaches, as well as sunglasses. You’ll need to cover your blue eyes.”
“Thanks,” Kane replied, handing a pack to Neil. He hoisted the other onto his shoulder. “We have a tail. Can we leave by your back door?”
“Certainly. This way.”
He led the way into the back as Neil held the backpack in his hand. He didn’t want encumbrances if the young men following them picked them up again and decided to make their moves. Whatever those moves might be. Robbing what appears to be a pair of vulnerable Americans is my guess.
Dragon Fever: Limited Edition Holiday Romance Boxset Page 69