“What now?” he asked.
“This is starting to sound more like an all-inclusive vacation than a job.”
Another whisper of a smile touched his lips, but the appearance of Decker, papers in hand, reestablished the serious tone of the conversation. He set them on the table, nodded to Hix, then looked at Everly and offered his hand. “Welcome aboard, ma’am.”
She shook his hand. “Everly, please.”
“Everly,” he confirmed. “If you need anything while Mr. Hix is training or working, please ask me or any of my guys. We’ll take care of you.”
Warmth tugged in her chest. Everly had to remind herself this was a job. When this was over, she’d never see any of these people again, and even if she did, she’d be considered Hix-enemy number one.
“Will do,” she told him. “Thank you.”
He nodded, grabbed a few nachos, and returned to work with Mirabella following on his heels, engaged in a nonstop monologue about something nonsensical.
“This is the employment contract and a nondisclosure agreement. Please read everything before you sign it. I’m very serious about the rules, and I have a zero-tolerance policy. Any violation, regardless of the reason, and you’re gone.”
Right. Reality check.
“I understand.” Everly met his gaze directly. “When do I start?”
An hour later, Everly sat across the table from Gianna Bliss—a boss’s boss of sorts—at Café Loco. Roman and Ian sat at their own table, close enough to participate in the conversation, far enough away to appear unrelated to the women.
Everly had been followed to the restaurant by someone trained in surveillance. She hadn’t seen anyone come in after her, but whoever it was could still be watching. And while she was doing what she’d told Hix she’d be doing—meeting a girlfriend for dinner and returning later that evening with the signed papers—she didn’t need the watchdog returning with an alternate scenario.
After the waiter took their drink order and disappeared into the kitchen, Everly said, “I’m in, but he’s suspicious. You’ll need to put backup on the ground for my references and employment. I have a feeling he’s going to verify everything in detail, if not personally, in person via one of his men.”
“Already in place,” Roman said. “We’re tripling our normal efforts. Real, live, breathing references, coworkers and friends of Everly Callaway, aid worker, are in place.”
Gianna put a cute little shopping bag on the table. “Burners.”
Everly peeked inside. “Aww, you shouldn’t have.” Holding the smile, she asked Gianna, “Why was our team brought in on this? It’s not exactly the kind of thing we normally handle. I mean, I’m all for backing up friends with a little muscle now and then, but if you really just want to get the kid back, you could have gone with a few mercenaries and a waiting jet. Seaver is on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Surely she could have handled this with a few phone calls.”
“She tried that,” Gianna said, letting out a long breath. “Eight months ago. It went badly. Hix escaped with Mirabella from Mexico and came here. She only found them again a few months ago, and found out that while Costa Rica participates in the Hague Convention on paper, they don’t enforce it. So even though Seaver has cus
tody in the United States, they won’t get the girl back unless they physically fight for her.”
“And if he ran once,” Roman said, speaking to everyone, but looking at Ian, he’ll run again.”
Likewise, Everly kept her gaze on Gianna when she asked, “So is this an asset mapping assignment or a retrieval?”
“Both,” Roman confirmed. “While you’re evaluating how to get the girl out safely, you’ll also be mapping his assets in case your cover is blown and he runs again. Everything he owns is hidden through a wily chain of shell corporations. Sam is ferreting out his financials.”
“He’s got a team of guys there now,” Everly said. “Looks like they’re doing some training on the property.” She met Gianna’s gaze directly. “How confident are you in your intel?”
“Very. Why?”
Gianna’s answer wasn’t a surprise. She was a cautious woman. As cautious as she could be when she headed an interagency task force aimed at catching the shadiest criminals. She enlisted the help of Manhunters when a situation required finesse, secrecy, anonymity, raw power, or plausible deniability. But this was different. This was a personal favor for Gianna approved by Everly’s boss, Roman.
She shook her head. “Just a feeling.”
“What kind of feeling?” Roman asked.
“Can’t quite pin it down yet.”
“There’s no question on the intelligence,” Gianna insisted. “Everything’s in the file: the legal papers assigning the Seavers custody, Hix’s military record showing his dishonorable discharge and a dozen egregious offenses.”
“Is that why custody was given to the Seavers?” she asked.