Seeing Love: Saints Protection & Investigations by Maryann Jordan Page B
Authors: Maryann Jordan
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the papers in front of him and continued. “Krustas’ concerns are legitimate. While the Bureau is taking the kidnapping seriously and working around the clock to find Erik, there are some other agents that are using the opportunity to delve deeply into organized crime in Virginia. Not only Krustas, but the other three organizations he mentioned to you are under scrutiny now.”
“What does this mean for us?” Monty asked, looking between his neat notes on his tablet and the screen. Organized and efficient, he typed as quickly as Mitch spoke.
“I was in contact as soon as we got Ivan’s suspicions and have arranged for Bart and Ms. Romani to meet with each of those organizations.”
Bart’s eyes immediately jerked to the screen. “Ms. Romani too? What the fuck? She’s not an investigator.”
“Yes, but Krustas wants her involved to see if there are any impressions she gets with these men,” Mitch replied.
“So, what?” Bart almost yelled, his hair standing on end as he ran his hand through it fiercely. “You’re asking me to take an untrained, unarmed woman into not just one den of thieves, but into three of them? Jesus, what a fuckin’ disaster!”
“No harm will come to you, I assure you. These organizations have agreed to an interview because they’re under pressure from us to cooperate. I’ve personally talked with Escobar, Volkov, and Maldoni. None of them are happy, but they know your purpose is about Erik, not their businesses. They agreed because you’re independent and because Ms. Romani is going as a profiler.”
Bart looked around at the other faces of the trusted Saints, seeing their expressions of doubt as well. It did not seem to sit well with any of them, taking an innocent woman into these kinds of meetings.
Before he had a chance to argue further, Mitch continued, “Look, I’ve had the opportunity to see Ms. Romani at work twice with the Charlestown police. She listens intently and has a way of drawing not only what someone is saying, but also adding an element that’s…that’s…hell, I don’t know. As if she can really see inside of someone.”
Scoffing, Bart shook his head. Great, now the fuckin’ FBI contact is enamored with her. She’s certainly spun her web…but not over me!
*
The highway lines passed along that afternoon, the sound of the engine the only noise breaking the silence in the cab of Bart’s truck. He and Faith had left Charlestown behind, driving first to Richland to meet with Miguel Escobar. Bart comprehended Miguel had agreed to a meeting only to try to exonerate himself of the kidnapping and to keep the DEA and FBI from digging too deeply into his businesses.
He wanted to ignore the woman sitting beside him but found his gaze continually straying to the side. When was the last time I tried to ignore a woman in my truck?
She faced the front, occasionally twisting her head to look out her side window. By now he had her profile memorized. Her complexion was difficult to describe…not olive tan and not pale, but a curious mixture of both. He wondered about her father, who had never been mentioned. Her large, dark eyes had not looked at him since they started the trip.
Bart thought back to what Jack said to him earlier. Work with her, but if you prove her a phony in the process, that’s fine. A smile crossed his face for the first time since he accepted this case. The chance to find Erik and prove her false at the same time appealed to him.
Faith had spent the last thirty minutes trying to keep her eyes off the wall of angry testosterone sitting next to her. His large truck cab felt too small, as his presence seemed to take up all the space. Why am I doing this to myself? How am I going to function if the only thing I feel is negative vibes pouring off him? I’m not psychic—I just get feelings. Oh, Babushka…I should have never given into the first time I noticed I was different.
She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear and wiggled
“What does this mean for us?” Monty asked, looking between his neat notes on his tablet and the screen. Organized and efficient, he typed as quickly as Mitch spoke.
“I was in contact as soon as we got Ivan’s suspicions and have arranged for Bart and Ms. Romani to meet with each of those organizations.”
Bart’s eyes immediately jerked to the screen. “Ms. Romani too? What the fuck? She’s not an investigator.”
“Yes, but Krustas wants her involved to see if there are any impressions she gets with these men,” Mitch replied.
“So, what?” Bart almost yelled, his hair standing on end as he ran his hand through it fiercely. “You’re asking me to take an untrained, unarmed woman into not just one den of thieves, but into three of them? Jesus, what a fuckin’ disaster!”
“No harm will come to you, I assure you. These organizations have agreed to an interview because they’re under pressure from us to cooperate. I’ve personally talked with Escobar, Volkov, and Maldoni. None of them are happy, but they know your purpose is about Erik, not their businesses. They agreed because you’re independent and because Ms. Romani is going as a profiler.”
Bart looked around at the other faces of the trusted Saints, seeing their expressions of doubt as well. It did not seem to sit well with any of them, taking an innocent woman into these kinds of meetings.
Before he had a chance to argue further, Mitch continued, “Look, I’ve had the opportunity to see Ms. Romani at work twice with the Charlestown police. She listens intently and has a way of drawing not only what someone is saying, but also adding an element that’s…that’s…hell, I don’t know. As if she can really see inside of someone.”
Scoffing, Bart shook his head. Great, now the fuckin’ FBI contact is enamored with her. She’s certainly spun her web…but not over me!
*
The highway lines passed along that afternoon, the sound of the engine the only noise breaking the silence in the cab of Bart’s truck. He and Faith had left Charlestown behind, driving first to Richland to meet with Miguel Escobar. Bart comprehended Miguel had agreed to a meeting only to try to exonerate himself of the kidnapping and to keep the DEA and FBI from digging too deeply into his businesses.
He wanted to ignore the woman sitting beside him but found his gaze continually straying to the side. When was the last time I tried to ignore a woman in my truck?
She faced the front, occasionally twisting her head to look out her side window. By now he had her profile memorized. Her complexion was difficult to describe…not olive tan and not pale, but a curious mixture of both. He wondered about her father, who had never been mentioned. Her large, dark eyes had not looked at him since they started the trip.
Bart thought back to what Jack said to him earlier. Work with her, but if you prove her a phony in the process, that’s fine. A smile crossed his face for the first time since he accepted this case. The chance to find Erik and prove her false at the same time appealed to him.
Faith had spent the last thirty minutes trying to keep her eyes off the wall of angry testosterone sitting next to her. His large truck cab felt too small, as his presence seemed to take up all the space. Why am I doing this to myself? How am I going to function if the only thing I feel is negative vibes pouring off him? I’m not psychic—I just get feelings. Oh, Babushka…I should have never given into the first time I noticed I was different.
She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear and wiggled
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