Mina chuckled. “Yes, I got a very clear understanding of how your bones don’t lie yesterday when you explained it in excruciating detail. Vince and I are heading in soon to discuss the Fiefer case. Then we’ll know what McAllister is thinking.”
Kaylee leaned forward, a frown forming on her lips. “I know I’m not going to be privy to all the stuff you three discuss today, but please be careful. That goes for you too, Kramer.” Vince glanced up from his cuff, giving Kaylee a quick nod. “This kind of intel gets people killed. It’s big trouble if the wrong people find out what you suspect.”
“We’ll be careful,” Mina assured her. “Nothing will go further than McAllister’s office.” She shot Vince a worried look. She couldn’t hide it. Kaylee was right. These kinds of things got people killed. If Ambrose Bernard felt like he was backed into a corner and was worried about exposure, and Vince was to blame, there would be retribution. It would be swift and calculated.
“I plan to fully cover myself,” Vince said. “I trust my soldiers. If what I suspect is true, stopping Ambrose Bernard will become my number one priority. But I won’t get caught.” He moved closer to Mina, his expression soft, running a hand up her forearm, grasping it lightly. “That’s a promise.”
“You can’t promise something like that,” Mina argued. “Like Kaylee said, this is big trouble. Even if you trust your subordinates, things can and do leak.”
“Nothing gets out if I do it my way,” Vince said.
“What way is that? The magic way?” Mina placed her hands on her hips.
Kaylee cleared her throat. “This is probably a great time for me to bow out, so I don’t intrude on your first lover’s quarrel. Because, you know, you’re lovers now. Just pointing out facts. You guys have a good meeting with the boss. If you need to find me, I’ll be at Atlas Park. Ta-ta! Kevin, end vid.”
“Sure, darlin’.” She popped off waving.
“Did that sim have a southern accent?” Vince leaned in to give Mina a kiss.
Mina accepted the kiss, but made it brief, even though her inclination was to yank off Vince’s plush wrap and situate herself on top of the meal counter. “Yes, Kaylee’s sim Kevin has a southern accent. But you’re not getting out of this by changing the subject. Nothing about investigating a double agent is foolproof. No matter how careful you are. And once we go into McAllister’s office, and you tell us what you know, it can’t be undone. It’s like Norm said yesterday, if we do this, you have to be prepared to stand on old train tracks and get hit by a passing freight.”
Vince grinned. “Not sure I’m familiar with that saying.”
“Never mind. It’s not a saying, exactly.” She shook her head. “He was trying to warn us away from gathering his testimony against the Syndicate. This is kind of like that, but you’re going against the powerful leader of the French military, instead of an age-old crime organization. Same rules apply. Once the information is out, there are no second chances, so you have brace for the train. I want you to be absolutely certain you want to do this before we go in. If you don’t want to tell McAllister what you know, he won’t press you. You’re basically giving him international intelligence of your own free will. You’re entitled to change your mind.”
“I can, but I won’t. I understand your caution. But having your director hear a firsthand account is going to help keep me safe. It’s part of my plan. I can use it as a bargaining chip if I ever find myself in need. It would be useless for Ambrose to kill me if he knew the US had information that would expose him.”
“You just finished telling me you wouldn’t get caught. You actually made a promise.” Mina slid her hands up is very ample chest which had just enough dark hair covering it to make it completely sexy and not overly furry. Vince could laser it off very easily, but she was glad he didn’t. When she reached his shoulders, her hands continued, splaying around his neck, drawing him down as if to press he lips against his. Instead, once he got close, she whispered, “If you go back on your word, you won’t get another taste of this.” She kissed him deeply.
He drew back from the embrace slowly, grinning, running his arms around her waist, pulling her tightly against his still damp chest. “My word will hold.” His lips were mere millimeters away from hers. “Now that I’ve had it, I’m not sure I could live without the taste of you.”
Sign-up for my Book Alert newsletter to receive new release info in your inbox so you don’t miss a thing!
Amanda’s Newsletter Sign-up
About the Author
Amanda Carlson is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a BA in both Speech and Hearing Science & Child Development. She went on to get an A.A.S in Sign Language Interpreting and worked as an interpreter until her first child was born. She’s the author of the high-octane Jessica McClain urban fantasy series published by Orbit, the Sin City Collectors PNR series, the contemporary fantasy Phoebe Meadows series, the dystopian Holly Danger series, and the futuristic thriller Mina Kane series. Look for these books in stores everywhere. She lives in Minneapolis.
FIND HER ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA
Website: amandacarlson.com
Facebook: facebook.com/authoramandacarlson
Twitter: @amandaccarlson
Instagram: @author_amanda
Nothing is completed without a great team.
My many thanks to:
Awesome Cover design: Damonza
Digital and print formatting: Author E.M.S
Copyedits/proofs: Joyce Lamb
Final proof: Marlene Roberts
Drop Zone Page 22