or buy new stuff when you get to each location, and we’ll arrange for it to be delivered.”
“I can get Pax to handle it. She knows my size and style and will keep it appropriate for the job. What about weapons?”
“All guards will be carrying handguns and their own personal choice of weapons, but only the registered stuff will get through passport control so be aware of that. If you have specific items you can’t live without, let me know, and I’ll have them shipped with our stuff when we fly out.”
“This looks fine so far. I’ll read the rest tonight after I pack. Should I meet you and the team here tomorrow?”
“Yes, and I need you to sign a contract.”
“I didn’t sign one last time.”
“I know, but this is a long-term assignment.”
“Fine, give it here.” Astrid took her time reading over the contract, which was detailed but not unreasonable and signed.
“That was quick.”
Astrid raised an eyebrow. “You do know what my previous job was before Zenobi, right?”
“You’re former CIA. Disavowed when your team got caught in South America.”
Astrid wanted to laugh at the simplistic way he said it when it was anything but simple. “Yeah, in a nutshell.”
“Maybe you can tell me about it one day?”
Was he offering the hand of friendship to her? “Surely Will has picked apart the details and relayed them to you already?”
Jack didn’t even try to lie, and she found that was another point in his favour and hated to feel another chink in her armour where he was concerned. Maybe grumpy Jack was safer than honest Jack. “He has, but I’d like to hear it from you.”
That was surprising and rattled her a little. “Maybe one day.” Astrid wasn’t sure exactly what he thought he knew, but he certainly didn’t know all of it. After all, the reports documenting events were written by the people who’d betrayed her.
Feeling exposed suddenly, she stood and wiped her hands down her legs. His eyes followed her movements as he slowly stood, too. “I should get going. I have a lot to get done before the morning.”
Jack walked her to the door, and she felt awkward for the first time. Her snark and attitude had somehow left her hanging. She held the envelope up to him. “I’ll read this tonight, promise.”
He nodded, his lips twitching slightly, and she couldn’t pull her eyes away from his mouth. He had his hands in the pockets of his black trousers, and she refused to look down and see the way it pulled the fabric taut across his thighs and other areas she wouldn’t think about.
“I’ll see you in the morning. We leave at five am sharp, so don’t be late.”
“I’m never late.” Her reply was terse and prim, and the lip twitch grew, making her shake her head at him. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“So I’m told.”
Having no response, she walked back towards the road where her car was waiting.
“Astrid!”
She turned to see him still watching her. “What now?”
“Say hello to BOB for me later.”
She’d thought she’d got away with that, but he’d proved once again that he missed nothing. Having no response, she gave him the middle finger salute and put even more strut into her stride, earning her a deep chuckle she just knew would haunt her dreams that night.
Chapter Three
They were a week into the tour, and so far, everything had gone perfectly. Any other person would be thrilled by that, but Jack wasn’t any other person, and the status quo made him antsy. Malta had been uneventful, and as they came to the last two days in Cyprus, the same was true of that.
He’d shed his suit jacket as soon as he’d walked in his room, the heat of the island almost blistering in its intensity and they hadn’t even hit Australia yet, where it would be even hotter. A knock on the door had him looking up and moving quickly to answer it. They had a team brief in half an hour, and it was most likely Alex wanting to catch up first.
“Hey, Alex, come on in and grab a drink.”
Alex had changed into shorts and a shirt and looked like a tourist, which was part of his role in order to get intel from the staff and blend in with other people.
Jack loosened his tie and drew it over his head, hating that he had to wear it, but he needed to fit in with the rest of the detail. “Any intel you need