Diane became silent.
“Diane?” Drake raised his voice.
“Listen, I need to get ready. I’ll call you tonight since there’s an hour difference in time.”
Mark felt his gut clench. “Diane, do me a favor, and please be careful. Be aware of what’s going on around you. You and Sage stick together and remember if you feel uncomfortable or your gut bothers you, get to safety.”
Mark’s brothers looked at him strangely.
“I know, Mark. Hank, Paul, and Willie had me take the self-defense classes with Dalton and Hank, along with Sage and Millie. We’ve been really careful.”
“Okay, we love you,” Mark said.
“Yes, love you, baby, and can’t wait to see you tomorrow,” Lucas stated.
“Love you, honey, be good, and go to bed early. In fact, don’t bother to go to the party,” Drake added.
She laughed. “You know how much I like getting dressed up. I love you all, too.”
“Don’t forget to call tonight.”
“I won’t. Bye.” She hung up and Mark leaned back in his chair and ran his hands over his face.
“I can’t wait until she’s home and in our arms. I’m so worried. I have this bad feeling in my gut,” Mark shared.
“That’s because of the case, that agent who was killed and the one who was injured,” Drake said.
“Don’t forget about the raid. This could all be over tonight. She’s safe in New York. Not that I think anyone would come here to attack me, but just in case, I think we all should take extra precautions. Then when Diane returns, we can work on loving her and planning our futures,” Drake said.
“I’m all for that,” Lucas said as he stood up and headed out of the room. Drake followed after he squeezed his brother’s shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. Mark stared at the picture on the screen, as he processed everything in his head.
He pulled out his phone and texted Diane a picture of Brenda. A few seconds later, she texted back.
“She’s very pretty. I hope that she’s okay. She’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you, Diane. I love you. Only you.”
“I know that. No worries, and thank you for sharing her picture with me. It means a lot.”
“Be safe. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
The texting ended and he felt slightly better at sharing her picture with Diane.
Please be safe, Diane. I would die if anything ever happened to you. He touched the screen, and closed his eyes as her face filled his mind, and his heart ached for her quick return.
* * * *
Marzban watched her from across the room. She was more stunning than the pictures Zand and Arshad found online and that they took of her. In fact, the woman would make a great trophy to keep by his side and serve an even greater purpose alive. Agent Mark Santos would live in agony and defeat knowing that his lover was taken from him by the man and the operation he yearned to destroy.
It was time to meet her. He waited long enough. He walked closer as another modeling agent attempted to speak with Diane. She was getting lots of
offers from what he overheard. She was quite the beauty, yet had a shyness about her.
“Excuse me, I just had to come over and introduce myself. I’m Miguel Samir. I am a member of the board with K&S modeling. Monique told me so much about you.”
Diane smiled as she shook his hand, and when their hands touched, he felt the instant attraction to her. Being a man to always surround himself with many women of his choosing, he couldn’t believe the intensity of the attraction he felt. He didn’t have that same sensation for Brenda. In fact, Brenda was still being watched closely by his team. He wondered where she disappeared to.