Page 96 of Angel

She whispers nervously, “He is the man with the white trousers and jacket.”

I flick my gaze around the gathering and notice a large man squeezed into a white suit, his hand griping an attractive girl’s ass. She is smiling, but even from here I can tell it’s forced.

“What were your instructions?”

She shifts uncomfortably. “Listen, you seem nice, too nice to be here. All I know is Emilio wants your date. I overheard him talking about it with Mr. Goodman.”

The steward returns with our cocktails, and she half turns toward the ocean, waiting for him to leave before she whispers, “I’m sorry, sir, but you should watch your back. If Mr. Martinez wants to take her, you are not safe.”

I appreciate the warning but had kind of figured that out for myself and I smile. “I can look after myself.”

“I hope so.”

She rests her glass against mine and says huskily, “I am yours for the weekend. Those were my instructions. I am to seduce you, and they will film the evidence of that and use it to blackmail you. It’s either that or a swim with the sharks. They couldn’t decide what would be best.”

“And they said all this while you were listening?”

I find it very hard to believe they would be so foolish, and she grins.

“Years of hiding behind doors and underneath beds has sharpened my skills, sir. I haven’t lived this long without being one step ahead of the game.”

“Can you swim, Gosia?”

I lean on the rail, and she adopts the same pose, moving a little closer to me and batting her lashes.

“Not very well, but I can stay afloat.”

“Good to know.”

I say nothing and merely turn and search for Sophie because she is in danger and I’m her only shot at getting out of it in one piece.

I note how miserable Sophie looks sitting beside Martinez with his leg pressed against hers and his arm slung along the back of her chair.

“Excuse me.”

I smile at Gosia and leave her by the rail, heading toward Sophie because I will not play his game.

Before I reach them, two men block my way. “Excuse me.” I attempt to pass, and one of them reaches out and pushes me back.

“You are not permitted to approach, Mr. Martinez.”

“I beg to differ. I said excuse me.”

Their blank expressions tell me they are done with this conversation and before I can insist, Sam arrives beside me.

“Jason, do you have a minute?”

He virtually pulls me away and I make a fist as I contemplate Sophie’s misery right now.

Sam guides me away from the area and hands me a glass of champagne.

“I would go with it if I were you.”

He sighs. “This is a game that has already been won, and he is already claiming his prize.”

“You knew about this?”

He nods, resignation in his voice. “When you are asked for a favor from a man like Martinez, you don’t make excuses.”