The Boss Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 3) by Victoria Paige (summer beach reads .TXT) 📕

right now, but I can have them return you to the general prison population.”

“You can’t do that!”

“Oh, why not?”

She glanced at Antonio in distress, but he kept his expression neutral. “Antonio, you have to get me out of here.”

“He has no power.” Garrison said.

“Get me lawyers,” Claudette demanded.

This time Antonio couldn’t help laughing. “Let me get this straight, you think I owe you something?”

“I told you, I had nothing to do with those pearls. You should ask Renata.”

He froze. Garrison tensed beside him, too.

Recovering, Antonio countered, “Renata said it was all you.”

Claudette huffed. “Fine. I was trying to find more business for you. She said Pierre had a person on his way to Paris.”

“That person and Pierre are dead,” Antonio said.

“Oh my God.” Her face blanched. “They’re getting rid of everyone who handled it!”

“There was nothing on the virus pearls in your police interviews,” Garrison pointed out.

“Why would I have mentioned it? They were asking me about the baby swap and I kept it focused on that. I figured it would be a less sticky charge. Besides I thought if I kept Antonio’s name out of it, you would find a way to get me out. But you never came, and Renata wouldn’t answer my calls.”

“I used my connections to find you,” he said.

“They moved me.” Claudette glanced at Garrison.

“It was a clusterfuck. They moved us out too,” the CIA officer replied. “Can you describe the person who handed you the pelican case?”

“His features are vague now. We rendezvoused at the hotel’s restaurant … the one where I was staying. He was very careful. We did not meet face to face or even talk. He left the pelican case under the table,” Claudette blew a breath. “I thought that was strange. But I figured it was because Renata was doing it behind your back.”

“Why would you think she would hide it from me?” Antonio asked.

“Because Renata said you were considering removing XZite from the product line. She also said Ortega would have connections to people that would make you an obscene amount of money, not only on the west coast but most of America and even break into Canada.”

Antonio regretted introducing Raul Ortega to Renata. He knew the two exchanged business contacts. At that time, he was hoping to get close to Ariana.

“You know what Raul told me, Antonio?” Claudette asked. The accusation in her eyes gave him no doubt what she was going to say. “That I was merely a placeholder for Ariana.”

“I made no promises about a future between us,” Antonio said. “I told you that from the start.”

“We’re getting off track,” Garrison pointed out. “You can sort out your love life later.”

A growl rose up Antonio’s throat. This was not the place he wanted to be. He wanted to be where Charly was and watch over her.

Garrison pushed a folder toward the woman.

“What’s this?” Claudette asked warily. “If it’s not a reduction in sentence I’m not opening it.”

“Just open the damned thing,” Antonio snapped.

Claudette’s mouth tightened mulishly, but she flipped the folder open and her jaw went slack, mouth falling open. “This is him … well … it looks like him. How did you know?”

“How do we know that you’re not bluffing?” Garrison asked. “Give us a name.”

“I don’t know his name,” she said, tapping on the picture. “I do know what that woman who tried to kill me said … she said ‘Lev Zorek gives his regards’,” she huffed. “Could she be any more cheesy?”

“The man’s name is Lev Skoryk. He’s connected to the Ukrainian brotherhood. We believe he carries out jobs for them.”

“We have confirmation?” Antonio turned to Garrison.

The CIA officer nodded. “We’ll have to transfer Claudette to a more secure prison. Looks like they’re trying to get rid of loose ends.”

“Look, I’m not dangerous,” she said. “How about house arrest?”

Garrison regarded her carefully. “Not a bad idea.”

Antonio held his tongue. He hoped he wasn’t thinking of shoving Claudette in with them. If that was the case, then he was going to get Charly to a hotel. Get Oscar to round up his best security and she would be guarded like the most precious treasure.

“We need to make your exit from here count though,” John said. “Maybe even better that you make an appearance, Andrade.”

“What?” Antonio did not trust the full-on scheming expression on the man’s face.

“Not sensationalize it by having Gabby escort Claudette out of prison,” Garrison clarified. “Maybe have Kelso do it, but we’ll stage it like you’re waiting for her.”

“Fuck you, Garrison.” Antonio shoved away from the table and stalked to the door. “Guard. I’m done here.”

He didn’t wait for the CIA officer but headed down the hallway where a door opened and the female detective walked out and intercepted him.

“Wait.” Detective Woodward planted herself in his path.

Antonio tried to get around her but she shadowed his side.

“It’s a good idea. That would make the people who want to get rid of her nervous, make them careless.”

“I don’t want to be anywhere near her.”

“You did have her as your … er… mistress.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” he muttered. Because why deny it?

“Claudette can turn on the charm.”

“And I’m not an inexperienced schoolboy.”

“But you’re different with Dr. Bennett, aren’t you?”

At the mention of Charly’s name, every muscle in Antonio’s body locked and he stopped walking, turning around slowly and shooting the detective a warning stare. “Keep her out of this.” Antonio knew Charly had met the detective at the CDC and Garrison must have mentioned their relationship. His mind stuttered on that word, but he was honest with himself to admit it now. Because that would mean he had every right to feel protective of her and act on it.

The detective stepped into him, chin tilted up in challenge. “That’s going to be hard, especially since we’re becoming one big, dysfunctional family. You put the wrong two women together—Renata and Claudette—and now we have a bioweapon on the loose.”

“Renata is missing,” Antonio said gruffly. Even if he knew his childhood friend