Read Online Just the Messenger by Ninette Swann - Free Book Online Page B

tittered as she scurried away.
    “Okay,” he said, after a few bites. “I’ll go talk to that waitress.”
    Marco rolled his eyes. “Always thinking with your dick.”
    “Not true! That’s the waitress I’ve got to question. I can tell by her legs.” Warren smirked. “Plus, you’re right,” he added, unfazed. “I shouldn’t talk to those guys. Gracie should talk to them.” He nodded at Grace.
    “What?” she said. “Why? What would I say to them?”
    Marco swallowed. “Nothing. You’re not going to talk to them.”
    “Hear me out,” Warren said, completely at ease. “You have to go over there and woo those boys, girlie. Use your… assets. They’ll fall for it. You’re choice real estate here.”
    Marco sputtered. “You’ve lost your damn mind. You’re sending her to the wolves.”
    “Listen, hermano , Grace is perfectly capable of handling herself. Your organization would have never involved her if she weren’t. Do you think I’m stupid? I do my research. This girl is no photographer and you’re no assistant. Now,” he turned to Grace, “here’s the plan. You see the one in the sunglasses? He’s the one these lovely ladies are drooling over. That’s your target. Woo them both, but zero in on him. He’s got some kind of clout around here, and we need to find out what it is.”
    “He’ll never tell me that,” she said.
    “Well, no, he won’t come out and tell you he’s a drug lord or anything, but he will brag to you. That’s important. Take note. And hopefully his buddy will try to one-up him. Just remember everything and bring it back to us, even if it seems like it’s not important. The key things we’re looking for are where these two are from and where they’re going. Got it?”
    Grace nodded, but Marco shook his head. “And where would we be during all this?”
    Warren laughed. “You, my sour friend, will be sitting right here, looking pissed off.” He mock surveyed Marco. “See that? You’ve already got your role down pat. You’ll look like the spurned lover, and maybe, if you’re lucky, one of those chicks will take pity on you. The girls obviously know who these guys are, and they’re not scared. That’s a good sign for us. And with your smoldering eyes and hurt puppy dog act, you’ll be a shoo in.”
    “I don’t think I like this,” Grace said quietly, staring straight at Marco to make her meaning clear.
    “It’ll be fine,” Warren quipped. “Just wrap it up, big guy .” He clapped Marco on the back.
    Marco gritted his teeth. “And you?”
    Warren smiled. “I already told you. I’m going to go chat up Maria. Maybe I’ll have some luck, too. With information and with…other things.”
    Marco took a deep breath. He didn’t like the plan. “If we’re sending Grace over there, we’re going to need a reason. Let’s fake an argument, so it doesn’t look like she’s coming on to them.”
    “Okay, we’ll start shouting,” Warren agreed. “Gracie, when you get over there, make sure you get a picture of them. I don’t care how you get it. Oh! And don’t tell them who you really are or where we’re staying. Got it?”
    She nodded solemnly.
    Marco took a gulp of his beer and steeled his nerves. It was going to be a long night.
    “Excuse me.” Grace spoke softly, and the barkeep didn’t turn around. She was standing just to the left of the two men sitting on stools. They looked over at her, appraising her openly, but didn’t speak. “Excuse me,” she repeated. Nothing.
    She sighed and pulled out a stool, being careful not to bump her long legs on the underside of the countertop as she crossed them. The men looked over at her again. This time, she met their eyes and gave them a slight nod.
    “What’s a girl have to do to get a drink around here?” she laughed, nodding at the bar, her voice weak with nervousness.
    “Don’t worry, mami ,” the smaller man said. “He probably just can’t hear that sultry whisper of a voice you