llroom floor. She walked purposefully toward a passing waiter, reached

ing a man next to him had said. Aida timed her steps, waiting for the exa

ightly, faking a stumble.

golden liquid splashed directly onto the sle

a dark scowl. He spun around, his mout

god, I am so sorry!" she cried out. She quickly pulled a silk handker

er face, the furious scowl vanished. A slow, oily gle

ngers clamped down like a steel vise, the grip

ed at her to rip her hand away, but she forced her muscles to relax. She

er voice light. "CEO of NovaTech. I a

, lingering on the curve of her waist before snapping back up to her face. "A dry clean

her head. But the image of the five-million-dollar term sheet upstairs flashe

p hard, his fingers pressing possessively into her side, and physi

waist. His expression remained unreadable, but his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. After a long moment, he brou

somewhere private. That's when we move." He glanced at his watch. "Have the intercept teams get into position. I want t

spoke quietly in

, but his eyes tracked every step. Then he turned and walked toward the staircase, his lon

vy revolving doors, pulling Aida out into the cold, damp

A sleek, black Maybach silently rolled up to t

heavy rear door open himself,

of the car looked like an open grave. She took a breath, be

ammed the door shut and leaned forward. "T

erful engine purring as it merged into the hea

now striding through the lobby toward the underground garage. He

ttan-likely his private basement garage in the Meatpacking Dis

e "test" had just become a kidnapping. "Abort the espionage track," Brendan said, his voice hard as steel. "Move to p

parking garage, Brendan walked with long, furious stri

onto the leather seat. The air inside the SUV insta

glowing tablet in his hands, his eyes locked on a bli

uth toward Lower Manhattan,"

the driver. "Tell the interce

ut of the parking garage in a tight, synchronized format

d his weight, sliding closer to Aida. He reached out and wrapped a

looking past the driver's shoulder. In the side mirror, through the rain-streaked glass, she saw