The Wedding Trap (Second Service #1)(20)
Author: Adrienne Bell

"We don’t have a choice," John said. “It’s sounds like your guy has already made the drop. The damage is done. And your asset there isn’t going to fix it by looking through some personnel files.”

"You can’t be serious," Alex said. His tone was low, his stare lethal. John didn’t blink.

"You’re not thinking straight. We’ve been handed a perfect situation.”

“Now I know you’re joking. Beth’s life is on the line.”

“Exactly. We know your guy will come back to finish the job, and you have the perfect cover to be right next to her when he does.”

"It’s too risky. I promised her I wouldn’t put her in harm’s way," Alex said.

"I think that you’re letting your emotions get the better of you," John said.

"There’s no emotion here."

"Really? Because you just snapped a man’s neck without getting any useful information out of him.”

Alex barked out a bitter laugh. "I got plenty of information. Munoz is after Beth. He wants her dead. Staal didn’t stop, not even once he knew he was outmatched. He kept going for her. They won’t stop until they get her."

"Exactly. They won’t. Ever,” John said. His tone was cold and practical. “So, I only see two choices here. Your girl goes into hiding for the rest of her life, or we end this now. The way I see it, we’re better off dealing with it here."

"With Beth as bait? It’s too risky."

"You’ve only known this asset for a little over twenty-four hours, Alex. Who is this woman, and what the hell does she mean to you?" John asked. There was concern in his friend’s eyes, and more than a little confusion.

Alex didn’t have an answer for him. Not a good one, at any rate. He wasn’t the kind to let his heart rule his head. He wasn’t soft. What was he supposed to say? That she had brought him a muffin? That her laugh made him smile? That her talent for finding trouble pulled at him in a way that he didn’t fully understand?

"She doesn’t deserve any of this," he said, knowing full well that it wasn’t the answer John wanted. "She’s innocent."

"Innocent? You reported that she was blackmailing you."

"It wasn’t like that,” Alex protested.

"Listen, Alex. Beth is an asset. A good one. She’s the only person that can make a positive ID on our traitor. We need her here, and you know it."

Alex shook his head even though John was right

"He’ll come for her again,” Alex said. “He doesn’t have a choice.”

"And we’ll be waiting for him," John said. "You both just have to go on like nothing has happened. Keep up with the wedding. It’ll confuse him. It will make him bold."

Alex looked down. He ground his back teeth. "I don’t like it," he said.

"You don’t have to," John said. "But be careful, Alex. We’re counting on this man’s emotions making him sloppy. I can’t afford to have the same thing happen to you.”

***

“I’m staying,” Beth said as the men came out of the bedroom. She’d heard the low murmur of their whispers, but she hadn’t been able to decipher the actual words. Not that it took much imagination to figure it out.

Someone wanted her dead. She could either run, or stand and fight. Neither option thrilled her. Still, she’d made her decision.

She waited for them to say something, to start with the rationalizations, the manipulation, the bargaining, but it didn’t come. Both men stared at her, implacable.

Maybe she needed to go further. "These people are bad, aren’t they?"

"Yeah," Alex said.

"They’re not above going after the people that I care about to get to me, are they?"

"No," Agent Ryman said. His voice was even, but she heard a slight hint of admiration. Not that she cared. She wasn’t doing this so anyone would think highly of her.

"Then I’m staying."

A muscle in Alex’s jaw twitched, but he didn’t move any closer. He stayed just outside the doorway. His arms were crossed in front of his chest. Whatever conclusion he and Agent Ryman had reached in the other room, it was pretty obvious that he didn’t like it. Her declaration wasn’t doing much to brighten his mood either.

"I’m glad that you feel way, because we can use you," John Ryman said. He took the seat across from the bed.

Alex grunted with irritation. This was the first time that she had seen him this way, the first chink that she’d glimpsed in his heavy armor. It dawned on her that it was the first time that she was seeing him as his true self. He’d never quite fit into the mold that she had tried to cast for him, neither as Charlie or the nameless car thief.

But Agent Tanner fit him perfectly. She was still uneasy with the skill and lack of hesitation with which he had dispatched the man who tried to kill her. But at least he was on her side. That counted for something. Who was she kidding? Right now it counted for a whole hell of a lot.

Beth switched her attention to Agent Ryman as he explained the plan to have her continue her role of bridesmaid, luring the traitor out into the open. It was a decent plan, even if the idea of being human bait made her stomach churn.

"Alex will stay by your side every moment," John said.

Beth turned toward him.

"I promised to keep you safe, and I’m going to do that," he said. He didn’t seem too happy about it. Beth knew a guilty face when she saw one.

"Thanks," she said. His jaw twitched again. Apparently, he wasn’t much interested in having that guilt assuaged.

"We’ll also be putting a full team into the hotel for the rest of the weekend,” John said. “You may not see us, but rest assured, we’ll be there.”

Beth’s life had turned upside down. Now she had a bodyguard instead of pretend boyfriend. It was a covert operation instead of her best friend’s wedding.

"You just let us know if you need anything," Agent Ryman said, standing up.

"A cheeseburger," Beth said.

"Excuse me?" John Ryman said.

"You just said to tell you if I need anything. I need a cheeseburger. And fries."

John gave her a slow nod.

"With bacon," she added.

Alex raised his eyebrows.

"What? I was just nearly murdered in the street. On top of being scared and mentally exhausted, I’m starving. I think I deserve a little bacon."

For the first time since he’d stepped into the room, Agent Ryman smiled. "I couldn’t agree more, Miss Bradley. I’ll see what I can do for you."

The men nodded at each other. Beth had no trouble hearing Agent Ryman’s whisper this time. “I’ve changed my mind. When all this is over, you should marry her."