Armed And Dangerous (The McKinnon Legends - The McKinnon American Men Book 2) (6 page)

That very agent had silently entered the office and was standing without a sound in the doorway, sporting a new style with soft, shoulder-length chestnut colored hair and a tan that set off her beautiful sky blue eyes. Robert managed not to let his shock register on his face.

She looked dazzling and just vampish enough that Mason would fall like a ton of bricks. Now, he saw and understood why she had earned her name of Chameleon while working for the C.I.A. She was a true master of disguise. He just wasn’t sure if this was a disguise or if this beauty had been hidden away behind a camouflage of plain and unremarkable. She had blended in so well that he never would have recognized this gorgeous bombshell if he had not been expecting her arrival.

It finally sunk in what Robert had said and Mason’s raised voice brought Robert’s eyes back to his brother.

“Retirement? Jesus, Robert. Are you going to make me a boy toy to a cougar?” Mason shot to his feet. “No. Screw that. I’ve done a lot for you and for this company, but even I have my limits, Robert. I’m not hard up for female company, and I do not want to go to Central America bad enough to slide up next to a hag. If I just cannot live without seeing it again then I’ll take some vacation time.”

“Are you sure about this, Mason?” Robert felt underhanded, but really did not care at the moment. Mason was deserving of what he was about to get if he walked away from this assignment. Robert knew it would be dangerous, but the rewards potentially would be life-long if he could stay alive and not manage to get himself killed. Saving Jesse was just exactly what Mason needed to realize he needed to grow up. Family was important.

“Dead positive. I’m out of here. You can find me at the shooting range.”

He turned to leave and faced one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen standing provocatively against the door jam. Her blood-red cashmere sweater dipped off one shoulder, hugging ample breasts which in Mason’s expert opinion were by far her best assets. The black leather miniskirt showed toned slender thighs and a narrow waist. Her black boots were thigh-high and of the softest leather. Fishnet stockings completed the ensemble. She looked like she had just stepped out of a music video or was on her way to work at the closest gentleman’s club. Either way, he did not care.

She was hot.

“My wife?” Mason asked as he turned to look back over his shoulder at Robert.

He nodded in the affirmative.

“Robert, you are a freaking genius and I’ve reconsidered your charitable offer. Let the honeymoon begin.” He racked this beauty from head to foot and back again resting his gaze on her ample chest.

“Oh, this ought to be good,” Robert laughed quietly under his breath.

Robert began. “Do you Mason…”

“Damn right, I do!” Mason agreed before hearing all Robert was about to say.

“What about you?” Robert asked the woman standing at the door. “You game for this now that you have seen who and what you will be dealing with?”

“Of course she is game, Robert,” Mason answered for the exotic vixen. “Aren’t you? This will be one honeymoon we won’t soon forget.” He lowered his voice provocatively eyeing his prey. “That, my lady, is a promise.”

“You still want to go through with it?” Robert asked one more time. “It is not too late to back out.” He waited for confirmation. He barely perceived the small nod of her brunette head.

“Yes, I’m prepared. I’ve handled the likes of him before.” And with ease, she mentally added. Mason might be a handful, but he was manageable.

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mason, my man, you may kiss the Bride.” Robert thought the play on words was just a little clever. It was a joke only he caught.

He was not sure either one really realized he had the legal authority to perform civic ceremonies. However, he saw no other way. The documents had to be legal to get the passports and tickets. McKinnon-Bride was not the federal government with the ability to falsify documents. So, it was necessary for the marriage to be authentic. They just did not have to know that fact.

Mason covered the distance of the office in several long strides fully prepared to get to know this beauty that he was going to have the pleasure of calling his woman for the time being.

If there was one thing he knew it was women. If he grabbed her it could spook her or piss her off, neither boded well for a positive first encounter. So, he carefully reached out cupping her face. When she did not resist, he gently pulled her to him, kissing her softly yet deeply. He pulled her leg up high on his thigh opening her to his hips as he pressed her further into the door jam. Slowly exploring and savoring her lush mouth, he had to change his opinion. Her mouth was definitely her better asset. She had left him reeling and heady from that kiss, and he knew she had not been unmoved by his advances. Experience told him as much. This might be a great mission after all, he thought.

“Um, nice,” he whispered into her ear just before nipping it playfully.

He usually liked his women uncomplicated. Not necessarily dumb, but not deep either. As long as they looked good, he really did not care if they had brains. It had never been a prerequisite. This woman was obviously intelligent. Otherwise, Robert and Josh would never trust her to help retrieve Jesse. There was too much at risk. She was intelligent, amazingly lush, provocative, and sensual, a combination he actually liked. When he tossed in extremely sexy, it just sealed the deal.

It was only after he inhaled deeply catching a whiff of familiar perfume that he pulled slightly away and began to see the woman behind the makeup.

“YOU!” Mason stepped away, narrowing his eyes and drawing his lips across his teeth.

“Oh look, Robert. As man and wife, Mason and I are about to have our first fight.” Barbara Allen Bride, partner, wife, and Mason’s boss, answered back in that cool voice Mason had come to despise.

Mason wheeled on Robert. “Oh, no you don’t, Robert. Is this some kind of sick, fucking joke?”

Robert snapped. It was time for Mason to grow up.

“Watch your mouth, there is a lady present. And no, this is not a joke, but a deadly serious situation. So, just get over it. Barbara is the best in this business at what she does otherwise I would not have her as a business partner.”

“Business partner? What the hell?” Mason was confused and thrown off by this piece of information.

“Mason, meet Barbara Allen Bride. She is your boss, deal with it. You signed a contract, Mason, but even if you hadn’t, you know the terrain and recon better than anyone. Moreover, it is not about you and how you might feel. Contrary to popular belief the world does NOT revolve around you. This is about Jesse and Josh and getting that kid home alive and in one piece.”

Robert was actually angry with him, something Mason had not seen since he was a kid. Well, since a kid, if you didn’t count the time that he was caught with the daughter of his commanding officer and Robert had to subsequently bail him out of trouble by calling in some pretty serious Washington favors.

Barbara laid a soft hand on his forearm. “Do you dislike me so much that you would be willing to let someone with less skill go in to extract Jesse?”

Her soft pleas pierced him. Damn her hide, he cursed internally. Why were women his weakness? Especially ones who looked like her? And how had she hidden her looks for all these years? She was beautiful. She truly was an ugly duckling who transformed into a gorgeous swan.

He took a deep breath. How did he really feel? He felt betrayed. He felt played. Robert would never take legal action against him even if he did walk on the job. He could walk away. He should walk away, he thought. However, like a ton of bricks, a stark realization weighed heavy on him. Of all the operatives within their organization, Robert and Barbara placed their trust in him to get the job done right, and this job was very personal. Jesse needed him.

“Give me credit, Barbie Doll,” he answered her. “I’m not willing to risk Jesse’s life just because we cannot seem to push this thing we have for each other aside. We are professionals. I’ll make it work, even if it kills me.”

Mason was feeling more than just a little betrayed. Why had they kept her involvement in the business such a secret? He had no idea Barbara had such a background. He always assumed that she was an office assistant-turned-sometime bodyguard after beginning her career here at McKinnon-Bride. Robert had kept this from him. Why? Not that it really mattered, he supposed, in the grand scheme of things. It was Robert’s business to run. However, it hurt that Robert did not trust him enough to share who he had sold his share in the company.

He quickly concluded he could deal with her. They would be in and out in seventy-two hours, tops. If he could put up with a toothache for a week in the Iraqi Desert while doing recon patrol in one hundred and thirty degree heat, he would put up with her for a few days.

At least she looked better than his partners did at the time.

Smells better, too, he added mentally.

Robert stood up from his desk. “Good. It is settled then. Here are your tickets, marriage license just in case you need it, and Barbara's updated passports."

"How did you manage to get this so quickly," Mason asked while looking at Barbara's passport sporting her, or should he say, his last name.

"Chase still has some very powerful friends. I'll leave it at that," Robert said keeping it as vague as possible. "Your flight leaves in less than two hours. I’ll check you in for your flight. So, get a move on."

Robert looked at Barbara. "Mason can brief you on the plans we have made while on the way to the airport.”

She nodded while signing her name to the marriage license. She had to remember to compliment their document preparer. These were some of the best forgeries she had ever seen.

“The limo is still downstairs waiting,” Barbara informed the men.

Robert turned back to Mason. “I took the liberty of packing your necessary items on the off chance you would agree to take the mission. They are in the limo.” Robert handed him an envelope containing a photo of the Del Torres brothers, maps, and satellite recon photos of the villa compound. “Sorry I don’t have more for you,” he said apologetically.

“It is a start and better than nothing. My gear?” Mason asked taking the packet from Robert and opening it.

“It will be waiting for you in Panama.”

“Do we have a contact on the inside,” Mason asked, already putting himself into mission-ready mode.

“According to Cullen, we have an agent inside Del Torres’s operation deep undercover. I cannot risk his position. Your contact, once in the country, will be a man by the name of Enrique Vasquez. His cover is working a guide for the resort.”

“One of ours?” Mason asked while looking at the photo of the agent and their contact. He would leave the photos behind. It was the safest thing to do. He did not want to risk them being found once they got to Panama. He passed them to Barbara to look over. It would be important for her to know both the faces of their enemies and their friends.

Robert shook his head. “No, but he will work with us.”

“By force or voluntary?” Mason understood sometimes compliance was gained by less than honorable measures.

“Carlos Del Torres killed his son’s wife and his three grandchildren.”

“I’d say pretty damn voluntary then.” Mason and Barbara both agreed.

Robert handed him another package, much smaller this time. “Your wedding rings,” he explained.

Mason handed Barbara her band just before slipping his on as well. It felt like a noose, and he had the urge to shake it off his finger. The added weight was constricting.

Robert noticed his reaction to the ring. “You will get accustomed to the feel of it soon enough,” he offered placing his hand on his shoulder. “I’ll make contact with you through Enrique once Josh and I have a chance to get some aerial reconnaissance photos and make the final plan of attack. It may be a few days. Until you hear from me, just enjoy yourselves. You are on your honeymoon.”

Teasing him, Robert smiled mischievously, gently squeezing and lightly rocking Mason’s shoulder.

Mason snorted.

“Mrs. McKinnon, after you.” Mason opened the office door to let her go out first. His mamma also taught him to let the lady go first. He saw no issue in following his mother’s directive as it always gave him an alternate view of the scenery. At least there will be some fringe benefits, he mused as he watched her hips softly swing as she walked in front of him to the private elevator. At least he would not have to have an ugly woman to claim as his wife. However, she was more than just pretty. She was alluring, provocative, and oozed sensuality. He could see where she would draw attention. Not necessarily a good thing in this instance. As to her clothes, well, he thought, she had better change in the limo into something less obvious. Upon closer inspection, he was not sure he wanted her out in public dressed quite so provocatively. There was only one type and kind of heterosexual male that he knew who would not want to have a taste of that luscious piece of dessert and that would be a dead man. He was not up to defending her honor, and he was sure there would be plenty of unwanted male attention. It actually disturbed him that a man could ogle her body. He remembered his initial reaction to her. He had wanted to strip her naked on the spot.

Um, Christ Almighty, he thought, mentally shaking his head. It would not be good if he had to kick some poor man’s ass for treating her inappropriately. He almost had. Better she change. He wondered if she had those ugly overalls handy. They were the perfect man repellent.

On a positive note, the current state of their relationship would put him into the position to pretty much do whatever he wanted. She would have no issues with him finding agreeable company. He definitely did not feel guilty about leaving her alone in the hotel room. There was no way that he was snuggling up to this ice queen. Frostbite hurts.

The doors opened and she stepped inside the elevator leading to the private section of the parking garage. He followed only a step behind. Reaching across her, he inserted the pass card allowing him to push the button for the basement level. Stony silence filled the carriage of the elevator as each floor dinged on the electronic panel.