Chapter 32

Nyx would have liked a little downtime to recover, but that wasn't in the plan. As soon as they were clear of the docks, and Case found somewhere he considered safe, he'd handed her his phone—a new one since his other was still with Vargas—and told her to call Archer. Her boss upended the day.

He wanted her to rendezvous with Frankie. Her teammate had found something she wanted Archer to study. Or more likely one of Archer's experts. He had arranged a meeting so Nyx could carry it back with her to the States.

She told Archer to have Frankie bring her things, including her passport and ID, so she would have her own clothing and personal items. The argument was brief and Nyx had prevailed. When she mentioned the rental Jeep, Archer informed her that a San Isidro resident had turned it in on her behalf. It was a relief to cross that concern off her mental list.

Despite everything they'd covered, the call had been brief. Then Case had taken her to a store, bought them each a change of clothes, and checked them into El Hotel Embajador. Or as he referred to it, the second nicest hotel in Trujillo.

A room with one king-size bed. Her body heated just thinking about it.

That was for later, though. Now, Case was leading her on the scenic route around Trujillo to make sure they didn't have anyone tailing them. Nyx hurried to keep up with him. He was hyperalert to their surroundings and didn't want to be distracted with talking, but apparently forgot that she was half a foot shorter than he was and hadn't been for a run in nearly a week. Her legs were feeling it.

Suck it up, Nyxie. Mind over matter. Her lips curved. Her dad didn't listen to excuses, and she wasn't going to make any with Case either. She'd suck it up, and she'd keep pace with him even if it killed her muscles.

She had nothing to complain about, anyway. She wanted Frankie safe. Nyx was showered, her damp hair up in her usual ponytail, and she was dressed in clean clothing. Overall, life was good. Once they were back at the hotel, it would be better.

Case made her a promise, and he always kept his word.

They were meeting Frankie at a park near the center of the city. Case told her it was mostly concrete, but that the layout made it safe. That it would be difficult for anyone to come upon them without him noticing far in advance.

Damn, Case looked good in jeans and a black T-shirt. He'd put on a shoulder holster over the top of it, unconcerned about concealing his pistol. Well, it was Trujillo. The city was filled with mercenaries and wannabe mercs looking for work. This was where the hiring took place even though the war was happening on the other end of the country.

He was cute. More than cute, he was gorgeous. But it was cute the way he tried to tame his hair. He'd come out of the shower with it carefully combed down, but as it had dried, that tousled, every-which-way look was back.

She planned to mess it up more later. Nyx didn't think he'd mind.

The park stood out. Case slowed, but she studied the place. Triangles of red and white flowers surrounded the few trees in the area, and wide swathes of concrete came in like spokes on a wheel. She counted eight of them. In the center was a statue of someone. She couldn't tell who from this distance. Benches lined the concrete walkways, but in the midday heat, the place was nearly empty.

"I can see why you said you'd see trouble coming."

Case slowed and flashed a grin at her. "We're not going to be here more than a few minutes. The risk to your teammate increases the longer we stay."

"I know. I'll make it quick." She reached over and took his hand, lacing their fingers. "Let's stroll the rest of the way and not make a mad dash into the park."

"Mad da—oh." His cheeks reddened. "Sorry, Fireball, I didn't think. Why didn't you say something?"

Nyx ignored the question. "I see Frankie." She knew better than to point. "The woman with the sunglasses and the scarf over her hair."

"Sitting with her back to the base of the statue. I got her."

Frankie stood as they approached, a smile on her face. "Lurch! What are you doing here with Nyx?"

"You two know each other?"

"We met." Case blanked his expression, so that meant he wasn't talking. He slipped his fingers free from hers. Frankie noticed.

"Oh!" She laughed. "Does Deck know about this?"

"He knows." Case's voice was flat, giving nothing away.

Nyx connected the dots. She had a good guess who they were talking about, but she wanted verification. "What's Deck's handle?"

Case frowned and didn't answer.

"You mean his nickname?" Frankie asked. "His friends call him BD."

Now Nyx laughed. "That explains how growly he was. I bet he wanted to reprimand you so badly, Case, and he couldn't because he'd just gotten done protecting Frankie."

"And romancing me," Frankie chipped in. "Don't forget that part because Deck didn't."

"I'm pretty sure Case had that fact in reserve on the chance he needed it."

"Is that your real name? Case?" Frankie asked, looking up at him.

He nodded once, sharply. "Keep calling me Lurch."

Frankie's lips curved again. "Got it. Only Nyx is allowed to use your first name."

His sigh was long, and it was loud. "We're supposed to be quick, remember?"

Nyx sobered. "Archer said you had something for me to bring home?"

"Two things, actually." Frankie turned and picked up a messenger bag. "The diary with the code is in here. I know I decoded it incorrectly. I want you to bring it to Archer and have him get someone who knows what they're doing to look at it. There's also another document. It records the final words of the ship's captain before he was executed. He had a lot to say, none of which seems very important."

"Maybe he was stalling, hoping for a last second reprieve?"

"You're probably right, but I want Archer to have someone parse through it in case the man was trying to pass along a message to whoever was smart enough to decipher it."

"Archer will have to call in more of his angels," Nyx said. She smiled as she slung the strap of the bag across her body.

"I'm sorry? Angels?"

"Personal joke," Nyx said, not wanting to take the time to explain how Archer made her think of Charlie's Angels. "I see my duffle bag. You grabbed my passport and ID, too, right?"

Frankie nodded and reached into her purse. "Here's everything you had in the hotel safe. Your clothes and toiletries are in the bag."

She started to pass the duffle to Nyx, but Case intercepted it. "I got it."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Because—"

"Fireball," Case said and his tone warned her that she wasn't going to win the argument. With a shrug, she conceded.

Nyx turned back to her teammate. Frankie's brows were raised, and she had a shit-eating grin on her face, but she didn't comment on the exchange. She hesitated, not wanting to crater Frankie's mood, but she couldn't protect herself if she didn't know what was happening.

"Frankie," Nyx said, voice low, intense, "there are multiple groups interested in the treasure. The arms dealer is the tip of the iceberg. There's a drug lord named Julián Vargas who had me do research for him. He's decided he wants the treasure for himself. There was also the leader of the raiders. He's dead now, so he's not a threat, but I don't know who he told about this, and more of his men are out there. Watch your back and warn Ellis not to be so trusting. She…" Nyx hesitated, then said it. "She scares me because of how na?ve she is."

"I know. She spent too much time being book-smart and didn't pick up many street smarts. I talked to Archer about replacing her, but he's reluctant."

"Because she's good. She's also in over her head down here, and we both know it. I'll talk to him when I get back to LA and report in."

Frankie nodded, but said, "You know Archer."

Yeah, Nyx knew Archer. He'd only listen if it suited his agenda. "Be careful going back to the hotel. Take a roundabout route, watch who's around you, make sure?—"

"Nyx, I know. Deck drilled it into my head. You be careful. You're not out of Puerto Jardin yet." Her gaze went to Case. "And you, Lurch, you take care of my teammate, and not just her physical wellbeing. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, ma'am. Understood."

With a nod, Frankie left, her back ramrod straight as she walked away. Nyx looked up at Case. "We better go, too."

He nodded and inclined his head toward a different spoke off the main circle of the sidewalk. Nyx fell into step with him and linked their fingers again.

Case watched Nyx lock the messenger bag in their hotel room safe and tried to keep his expression blank. She was anxious and had donned her brave face. As much as he hated seeing it, this time it amused him. She didn't have any reason to worry. He'd go as slowly as she needed him to go, and if she changed her mind, they'd stop. Simple.

She began pacing the room, looking for something to do. "You could always close your eyes and think of England," he suggested, voice bland.

Nyx stopped, stared at him, and then smiled. "Sorry. I'm…" her voice trailed off, and she waved a hand.

"You're nervous. I can tell. Relax, Fireball. I'm not going to throw you on the bed and fall on top of you. Remember one thing. You call the shots on this one hundred percent. You tell me to slow down, I slow down. You tell me you need a minute, we take a time out. You tell me you don't want to do it after all, I stop. No arguing. Got it?"

She crossed the room to where he stood. "I trust you, Case. If I didn't, I never would have asked you to be my first."

Be her only. But Nyx wasn't ready for that discussion yet.

She was pacing again. "Okay, let's go," Case said.

"Go where?"

"Anywhere. Just out of this room so you can relax." He started herding her toward the door, but Nyx dug in her heels.

"If we leave, we'll have to go through all those evasive maneuvers again to return to the hotel. I don't want to take another scenic tour of Trujillo today."

"So what do you want to do, Fireball? Watch TV? We could rent a movie."

"Rent a movie?"

She sounded confused and Case took her shoulders in his hands, wanting to impress upon her he meant what he said. "I want you to relax. You're wearing your brave face, and you don't need it. Not with me. If you want to watch a movie and fall asleep in my arms, I'm good with that. Just because you mentioned making love, doesn't mean we have to do it."

Nyx put her hands on his forearms. "I have an alternate suggestion. Let's rip off the bandage."

He needed her to spell it out without ambiguity. "What I'm hearing is you want to make love now. Do I have that right?"

"You have it right. I want you, Case. I haven't changed my mind."

Going up on her toes, Nyx pressed her lips to his.