Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 84544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 338(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
All in all, nothing out of the ordinary until he spotted a short, slim man walking briskly through the terminal with a black ball cap pulled low over his face and a black jacket. His hands were stuffed deep into his pockets, and his head was on a swivel as he constantly looked around and over his shoulder. That behavior alone put him at an automatic five.
“K,” Ed started in a low voice. “Ten o’clock.”
“Yeah, I made him. Charlie said we keep a low profile.”
He shouldn’t have been surprised. Kairo might look like he was totally wrapped up in his boyfriend, but he was aware of his surroundings, if only to protect Isidore.
Isidore glanced at his watch and then from Kairo to Ed. “What’s at ten o’clock?”
“Possible trouble, but it’s not our trouble. That’s a problem for airport security. We just keep moving,” Kairo explained.
“But if something could happen that results in other people getting hurt, shouldn’t we act?” Isidore’s eyes confused gaze darted back to Kairo yet again.
Hell, he was glad those eyes weren’t pleading with him. That was all on Kairo’s shoulders.
“We’re mercs, not the world police. We act only if we’re hired or if we can do something without other people noticing,” Kairo said.
“Oh, okay.” Isidore sounded as if he accepted the explanation but didn’t completely understand it. That was fine. Kairo would help him. Theirs was a free but complex world. They had to accept that they couldn’t save everyone. The rules of operation helped them stay safe, protecting the team, their contacts, clients, and family.
For now, Ed’s full attention was on Mr. Shady, who’d just spotted Ed watching him. Their eyes met behind large glasses with black rims. It was hard to guess his age. His clothes were baggy and nondescript casual like a young twentysomething, but those green eyes seemed so much older.
Ed fully expected the guy to break off the eye contact and hurry away. But he didn’t. He marched straight toward Ed with a very determined look on his face.
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit. This felt bad.
Hell no, he didn’t want this kind of trouble.
He was not going to be a trouble magnet. That was not his job. That went to Charlie and sometimes Kairo. Not him.
As the man drew near, Ed held up one empty hand, preparing to say the one Greek phrase he’d managed to learn: I don’t speak Greek.
The words never had a chance to escape. The stranger grabbed his hand with both of his, pressing something soft against his palm. “Please, I need your help. Send this to Dr. Janet Jones. She’ll understand,” the guy pleaded in a tone so soft Ed could barely make out his words over the cacophony around them.
“But—”
“Please, help me.”
Ed’s eyes met the stranger’s again, and it was as if he’d reached inside his chest and grabbed his heart. Fear and desperation turned his eyes into glistening wet spring leaves. Ed was just frozen, unable to say anything.
And then the man in black with the vibrant green eyes was gone, hurrying past him, heading deeper into the terminal.
Green Eyes didn’t get far before a trio of men in casual jeans and T-shirts ran up to him, completely surrounding him. Ed’s heart lurched in his chest and his fist tightened around the object in his hand to watch the man struggle for a second, then completely give up. Rather than escorting him out of the airport, he was taken to one of the gates.
The men who captured him were not Greek airport security or Interpol.
As they stood there stunned speechless, another man dressed like the trio approached them. He was all friendly smiles, but they felt like a slimy lie. Particularly after Green Eyes’s look of panic and his frantic plea.
The new stranger spoke in Greek, but it wasn’t as smooth and crisp as Isidore’s speech. It had to a be second or third language for him.
“He apologized for his friend. Claims he was just playing a prank. He would like to know what he said to you,” Isidore translated.
“Just that…he’s late and can’t find his gate. He left before I could help,” Ed lied, gripping the item in his hand even harder as he held his fist down by his side. He didn’t know if Green Eyes was an evil villain and had just drawn him into his scheme or if he was truly a victim. The only thing he did feel sure of was that the asshole standing in front of him was trouble. His gut had seen him through plenty of trouble over the years. He knew to trust it.
The guy’s slimy smile never wavered as he thanked them and jogged off to join the rest of his gang.
“Ed?” Kairo inquired.
“Car,” was all he said, and it was more than enough. Kairo would understand. There were too many eyes in the terminal and too many cameras. Once they got to the car, they’d be able to talk more securely.