Her gaze found his in the mirror, and swear to God, that look had a punch, hitting hard enough to make his balls shrivel. Her dark eyes blazed with righteous censure and judgment. But there was desire as well, no matter how hard she fought to hold it at bay.
More than anything, he wanted to see that desire win out.
It was dangerous to hope for such a thing. He only had one week with her, and during that time, his focus needed to be on Vera Gomez.
Dinner with Alejandro was approaching, and he counted on Vera being there. The sexual chemistry between Gina and him was so potent it wouldn’t go unnoticed. Not by Vera nor Alejandro nor anyone else present tonight.
He would flaunt it, not hide it. Let them obsess over his relationship with the fighter. Better that than on the real reason he was here.
Even Tomas detected the energy ricocheting between him and the woman in the shower. His friend leaned against the wall beside the vanity, wearing a scowl full of opinions.
“Shut your fucking mouth.” Luke tossed the razor aside and rinsed his face.
“I didn’t say anything, you twat.”
Gina turned off the faucet, snagged a towel, and strode toward the doorway as if she couldn’t get away fast enough.
“Your dress is on the bed,” Luke called after her. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
With a middle-finger salute, she disappeared around the corner.
Tomas stared after her with smoldering interest in his unmasked expression. A jolt of aggression shot up Luke’s spine, and he slammed a hand down on the vanity.
“That woman is fucking beautiful.” Tomas blinked and finally dragged his eyes away from the doorway.
“That’s the last time you’ll notice.”
Tomas huffed a disbelieving laugh. “Have you lost your goddamn mind?”
A sharp inhale stretched Luke’s nostrils, and he pushed away from the sink.
“Oh, shit.” Trailing after him, Tomas whispered harshly, “She’s getting to you.”
“Don’t be a moron. I’ve known her less than a day.”
“It only takes a look, man. You’re fucked.”
Luke whirled and shoved a finger in that smug mug. “Back the fuck off.”
“Save it.” Tomas leaned in, putting their faces an inch apart. “I’m the last person you want to fight.”
That much was true. Tomas would mop the floor with his ass.
“I’ve got your back.” His friend stood taller, using his height to drive home his point. “Even when it means protecting you from your own mistakes.”
“What mistakes are those, Tommy?” He lowered his growl to barely a whisper. “Raping an innocent girl?”
“Next time, it may not be rape. Then what? How will she react when you have to fuck another girl who doesn’t like you?”
“That’s insulting on so many levels.”
“Get the sand out of your vagina.” With a scoff, Tomas raked a hand through the flop of his brown hair. “Focus on your target.”
“I am.”
“Good.”
“Fine.”
They glared at each other for a hot minute before Luke blew out a breath.
“I’m not doubting you.” Tomas clapped him on the shoulder. “To be honest, you’re managing this so well I feel useless here.”
“You’ve done plenty.”
In twenty-four hours, Tomas had gathered more intel on La Rocha than in all the years their team had been tracking the cartel. He knew the location of the monitoring room, every camera on the property, as well as the names and positions of every man who came and went through the gates.
“Did you find the girl who was in the limo with us yesterday?” Luke asked quietly at his ear.
She hadn’t been wearing a hood during the drive. If they found her, Luke might be able to coax crucial information from her.
“Yes.” Tomas’ face turned white.
“What? What is it?”
“The girl in the basement… The one on the hook—”
“No.” His stomach turned, and his chest burned with bile. “That wasn’t her. It couldn’t be.”
“I’m one-hundred-percent certain. But we couldn’t have known. Her face was…”
Beaten to a pulp. Unrecognizable. But he should’ve looked closer. Should’ve questioned.
“Fuck!” He spun away and slammed his foot into a trashcan, sending it screeching across the floor.
“Pull your shit together.” Tomas grabbed Luke’s neck and yanked him close, bringing their foreheads together. “Move on. Right now. With me?”
“Yeah.” He drew in a breath and released it. Then another. “I’m with you.”
Footsteps approached, and Gina poked her head in. “Lover’s quarrel?”
Luke shook off the sick feeling in his gut and turned to face her. “Let me see you.”
Her fingers tightened on the door jamb, her body out of view. But he glimpsed the edge of a sexy strap on her shoulder.
Stubbornness hardened her expression, her eyes shifting with indecision. Then she set her jaw, straightened, and stepped into the doorway.
The air rushed from his lungs, parting his lips and caving in his chest.
Tomas gave him a squeeze on the shoulder and left the room. Terrible idea. Luke couldn’t be trusted with this intoxicating creature.
She stood before him, dripping temptation and sin in a gown of black silk. Fresh face, damp curls, and spiked heels that seemed to extend the length of her bronzy, athletic legs.