She shrugged. “It seems silly to put on a dress only to have it taken off.”
“You’re spoiling all my fun. That’s the whole point. Taking it off. It’s like makeup sex.”
“Made-up sex? I do not comprehend.” She sashayed across the room, and he couldn’t resist following the sway of her sweet ass.
“Not made-up. Makeup. Like after a quarrel.”
He finished programming the cells and checked for Internet access. Two bars. This was going to be brutal. He’d communicate faster with the squad with the radio on the boat, but first he had to repair it.
While Jacinta had been shopping in San Carlos’s lone department store earlier, he had wandered into a secondhand electrical supply hole-in-the-wall opposite and found the replacement transistor for the nonfunctioning radio. Later tonight, after she was asleep, he’d head back to the boat and set things in motion.
“So one must quarrel and then have makeup sex?” Head tilted, she speared him with a raised brow and shook her head. “Truly. I shall never understand the workings of the male mind. How do I start? The room service?”
He grinned. “The menu’s in the desk drawer. Whatever you order, double the portions. I’m starving.”
“You should be. You used up your caloric intake with all that fucking.” She colored fast and furious on the last word but dug determinedly into the desk drawer and retrieved the menu.
“Calories. More colloquial. Very daring of you, little Miss Cloister. Now, let’s hear you say ‘eat my pussy and suck my clit.’”
She snorted, though the dusky rose in her cheeks deepened, and then she opened the menu. “There are seven chocolate desserts. I cannot decide. Listen to this one, a Brazil-nut chocolate tart spiced with cinnamon and served with a whole-bean vanilla sauce.”
“Order all of ’em.” He checked the progress of his download on the phone. Complete.
Crap
. Five minutes for each picture. At this rate it would take an hour to download everything he wanted.
“Oh no. I cannot do that. It would be too devadent. So sinful to gorge and be so greedy. It’s one of the seven sins, you know.”
“Decadent. I’m of the opinion that in order to be good, you must sin.” Demon started another download with a long exhale.
He stretched his bare feet out and studied her intense concentration. If all went as planned, she’d be on a plane before midmorning tomorrow. Tonight he’d have to slip another sedative into her food and early in the a.m. smuggle her onto the boat. The landing strip was located about two miles downriver.
At last the odds seemed to be turning in his favor. Finding out Xavier was a bush pilot for one of the mining companies located in the area had been nothing but gold. The young groom hadn’t wanted to accept payment for flying Jacinta to Manaus, but Demon had insisted.
Satan, who was on standby in Trinidad, would meet Jacinta in Manaus and take her to the island’s capital, Port of Spain, where they’d both wait for him to finish this job. Tonight he’d revise his will, have a couple of hotel employees witness it, and fax it to Satan. Jacinta would never have to worry about money, and his soul, what was left of it, would rest easier if he didn’t survive his encounter with o Assassino Sorridente.
“Okay. I have made a decision. For me, the
bolinhos de bacalhau
, then the
feijoada
, and finally the
bollo prestígio
covered with
brigadeiro
.” She raised both brows, and her statement ended on a question as she handed him the menu.
Demon couldn’t repress his shit-eating grin. Jacinta’s taste in food mirrored her passionate nature. Cod croquettes, a rich meat stew, and a decadent-to-the-max cake with a coconut-and-milk filling covered in dark chocolate sprinkles for dessert.
“Tell me. How is it that in Brazil of all places, a country that exports chocolate, you end up never tasting it until you left the cloister?”
“Mother Superior believed that if you’re never faced with temptation, then you will not stray from the righteous path. We ate only those things that we could grow or hunt. Never meat or fowl. Mother Superior kept doves and parrots. And not pig because it was unclean. Fish, dried shrimp, root vegetables. Unleavened bread made from cassava flour.”
Each word stabbed him in the heart. He glanced at the menu. “I’ll have what you’re having and order every single chocolate dessert. Add in a bottle of wine.”
She scooted off the bed, knelt in front of him, settled between his legs, and nudged his thighs apart. Her warm palms cradled his jaw, and she kissed him, the scar at the side of his mouth, the tip of his mangled nose, and finally the cleft of his chin. “I love you. You are the kindest of all men. It makes me weepy that you would order all the desserts just so I can have them. But we must not indulge in such waste.”
It cut to his core to hear her say those three words. To want them so badly. And she’d hate his guts by tomorrow night. But he couldn’t afford a single moment of hesitation and decided an order of distraction was necessary. “Who says I’m ordering them for you? What if I told you that I intend to eat them off your belly and breasts?”
Meeting his stare without blinking, she whispered, “You cannot fool me, Demon
mina
. But it will be my great pleasure to eat them off your belly and cock, dick, booner, jonesy, wooding—”
He couldn’t hold back a hoot. “Stop. Stop. You’re making my dick cringe. Now repeat after me. Boner. Jones. Woody. I don’t care if you bastardize any other English words, but not those. Go on. Place the order.”
He captured her wrist when she began to walk away. “Where’re you going? The phone’s right there. No need for you to sit anywhere but here.” He patted his lap. “My boner, jones, and woody are anxious for your sweet rump.”
He teased her without mercy once she began dictating the order. Nibbled on her ear, rolled her nipples, slipped his hand under her panties, and toyed with her folds.
“You are a wicked man.” She dropped the phone like a hot potato when he pinched her clit. Flushed and a tad sweaty, she smacked his chest. “Suppose the operator heard? I will never be able to look anyone in this hotel in the eye.”
“How long did they say for the order?” Demon hated to spoil the easy camaraderie.
“Half an hour. Why? You cannot mean to fuck again?”
He stifled a wince, wishing she’d say make love instead. Wanting to hear her say it once before he stowed her on the plane.
“No. I want to go through all the photos I’ve downloaded. And make sure you know how to use that cell.” He angled his head at the two phones on the desk.
She sobered instantly. “You have the pictures of my father and mother?”
“And your uncle. Before we start—go put in your contacts and pull on your jeans.”
For once she didn’t protest about the contacts but glanced at the phones, nodded, and headed to the bathroom.
Demon used the time to pulverize the sleeping pill and hid the powdery packet under the menu. When she returned, he had changed positions and occupied the lone couch against the far wall.
She raised a brow, and her gaze strayed to the desk.
“The lighting’s better over here.”
When she sat next to him, he began with the phone. “I’ve preprogrammed three numbers. Mine. A friend in Trinidad. His name is Lorcan. If we’re separated for any reason and you can’t find me, call him right away. The third number is Fredo and Lucia’s. Let’s test them now.”
He made her ring all the phone numbers, starting with his.
“Now Lorcan’s. You’ll get his voice mail. Leave him your name and the time and date.”
After she left Satan, aka Lorcan, the message, he advised, “Speak slower next time so if there’s static he can figure out what you’re saying.”
“I was nervous. I will be slower next time.”
“Now Fredo and Lucia. You should get them at the restaurant. Chat with Lucia if you want. She liked you. Go on, kitten. I’ll get the photos ready on my phone.” Demon listened with half an ear to the women’s conversation, only paying attention when Jacinta related the wedding and the rescue, and was surprised to discover that the gossip had spread faster than the Orinoco’s currents and Lucia already knew of their help.
His gritted his teeth. The news only reinforced his determination to get her on the plane pronto.
“Did you hear? That Lucia already knew about Maria and Xavier and…us?”
“I heard. Ready?” He folded her hand in his and noted the dampness on her palms.
She nodded.
He punched the camera roll icon. “This is Jose Genro.”
Her grip tightened, her mouth flattened, and her breasts rose faster as she studied the close-up of Genro’s face. The silence stretched and stretched. Finally she shook her head. “I see nothing of me. Or Emilio. This man’s face doesn’t tug at my heart. And yet, he is my father. I would never have known. I would’ve passed him in the street.”
She raised a stricken face to him. “Should I not feel
something
?
Anything
?”
He caressed her cheek. His chest felt battered and bruised, as if he’d gone a few rounds in the boxing ring. “For all intents and purposes, Sister Helen and the nuns raised you. They were your parents. Remember what I told you before—”
“You can’t pick your relatives.” She inhaled audibly. “I remember. Go on.”
“This is your uncle. Pedro Nunez.” He thumbed the arrow.
She sucked in a gasp. “He is so young. He cannot be much older than you.”
“He is by about nineteen years. Pedro fancies himself handsome. He’s had a ton of plastic surgery. You know what that is?”
“Sim. Sim. Many of the Boa Vista students had boob and nose jobs. Such a thing I cannot comprehend. I would give anything to have smaller breasts.”
Demon blinked and almost, almost choked. Not the time, nor the place for
that
conversation.
“How old is my uncle?” Focused on the picture, she didn’t notice his clenched fists, the reflexive reaction he thought he’d conquered years ago.
“Forty-nine.”
“They say he burned down an orphanage. That he smiled while the children screamed. He—I would notice. He has a nice smile. I comprehend his title, now. The Smiling Killer. His picture affects me. His smile makes my neck hairs stand tall. Like they do when faced with a big cat ready to pounce.”
“That’s your instincts, your gut kicking in. If you ever get that squirrelly back-of-the-neck feeling, go with it.” He nudged her shoulder. “Got that?”
“Yes. It is like what I felt with Emilio. But I thought it was because I had been in the cloister. That I didn’t know enough. Do not worry, Demon mina. I make a mistake only the once.” She smoothed the rough skin over his knuckles.
“Emilio, you know.” He brought up her half brother’s picture. “The next one’s his mother.”
She studied the picture. “I do not know her. She is not the woman who stared at me at the party. Though she has the look of her. But, no. It is not the same woman. She was older and thinner. She is my stepmother, no? Again I feel not the connection. Go back to Emilio’s picture.”
He complied.
“Now my father’s.”
Again he complied.
“Emilio resembles neither.”
He brought up the three pictures and arranged them side by side. “You’re right. Maybe he resembles one of his grandparents. When I have the time, I’ll check into those for you.”
“Do not bother. Emilio means nothing to me. Are there more?”
“A few. Rafael Vilas. Another of your Uncle Pedro’s enemies and the father of Elvira Genro.”
“Rafael Vilas. Another governor. He controls Amazonas. Why does he let Pedro live? Two governors as enemies—surely they can send men to kill my uncle?”
“Pedro is very powerful, and he has a huge army. It’s not easy to get close to him.”
“And yet you go to be his right-hand man. You sail into the valley of a murderer and rapist. I do not want you to do this, Demon mina. Let some other warrior go. I would have you here safe with me.”
“Nothing I would love better, kitten. But this is something only I can do.”
“Why?” She climbed onto his lap. “Why must you be so honorable?”
Their gazes met and held, and he saw the second she realized her protests and arguments were futile. “There is nothing I can say to change your mind?”
“No.” He kissed each of her fingertips in turn. “And you are the only one who has even the slightest chance.”
She laid her cheek on his chest. “I could help. You could use me as a distraction. My uncle doesn’t know I exist, does he?”
“Not as far as I know. And I damned well intend to keep it that way. Now let’s get back to work. Room service will be here soon, and I have dessert plans tonight.” He waggled his brows.
“You will not distract me so easily, warrior. May I sign for the room service? And tip the waiter?”
“Why would you want to do that?” He didn’t want anyone who wasn’t necessary getting a glimpse of her.
“Because I never have.” She shrugged. “You will have to give me the money, of course.”
She had him so wrapped. “Go for it, kitten. When they buzz, I’ll get the money for you. Back to work.”
“More photos?”
He advanced the camera roll. “Only a couple. This is Hugo. And this is Brio.”
“The one from the jetty that first morning. I did not see him clearly.” She shivered. “He has mean eyes like Julio’s. I do not know the other. Why do you show me their pictures?”
“Because Fredo was supposed to capture both of them that night we left on the riverboat. But I don’t know if that mission succeeded. Hugo and Brio are dangerous and vicious. If you see either of them, run. Get into a public place like the hotel lobby and stay in the middle of a crowd. Scream rape if either of them so much as looks in your direction. I’m dead serious about this, Jacinta. Hugo and Brio rape and kill for pleasure just like their boss, Pedro.” Demon captured both of her hands and pressed them to emphasize his point.
“I comprehend. I will be careful. I promise. Go on. Finish.” She gestured at the phone.
“Okay. A couple more photos. This one’s Lorcan. He’s sometimes called Satan.”
“He is your friend?” Her gaze swept from the picture to him.
“I would trust him with my life. You can trust him with yours.”