“Good. Just have her stay there.”
“Should I ask how you plan to get Zara on board?”
“Toss her over my shoulder and take her aboard, kicking and screaming before putting her in restraints. If Avery won’t take her that way, the two of you can go to the cockpit while I deal with her until she quiets down. Then I’ll take her home and hand her off to somebody there. I’m going to keep Zara safe whether she likes it or not.”
Zara headed into town, found a parking space for the sports car right outside a branch of her Swiss bank, and got the cash she needed. She used the phone in the bank to arrange for a powerboat to leave Monaco’s harbor and take her to Fariq, who she knew was most likely on his yacht, cruising the Mediterranean Sea. She then left the bank and stopped at a kiosk she knew handled off-market burner phones and bought several.
Zara arrived at the marina, arranged to have the rental car returned, then boarded the boat. She hoped she’d been quick enough that she was motoring out of the marina before Noah ever got the SUV hotwired.
Noah was going to be furious. She had no doubt her tender lover of the night before was going to be replaced, at least for a while, with the hard-nosed, no-nonsense commando, who would make sure she understood the extent of his wrath. It galled her that the very thought of it made her tingle all over, and not in a bad way. It wasn’t that she looked forward to his punishment, it was the man himself and his dominance that made her shiver in anticipation.
She had no choice but to handle things the way she was. After all, Fariq was a businessman first and foremost and would stand by the deal. It rankled that she had to give up whatever it was that had him rattled, but it was worth it to ensure Fariq didn’t make killing Noah a priority. She would trade the information—and what she was sure was a Pulitzer prize-winning story—for his safety.
Once she had cleared the marina, she placed her first phone call.
“Ghazil, you bastard, if you call Noah, I swear I will tell everybody and their brother just how many times I’ve used you for information and that you are in the employ of the Wild Mustang team.”
“Zara, my darling. Did you manage to get away from that delicious man who was so intent on finding you? I must say you have exceptional taste. There is no need to threaten me. You would never sign my death warrant by revealing the help I have given you in the past, and I am far more concerned about what Noah Taylor would do to me than about you, but tell me anyway how I might help.”
Zara sighed. Ghazil was right. She wouldn’t get him killed, nor would she reveal he had worked for her and with Wild Mustang.
“Noah’s people think Fariq is behind the hit on me.”
“He said as much to me. I don’t think it’s outside the realm of possibilities, but it doesn’t make sense. You are no threat to Fariq. After all, what could you reveal that isn’t already known? But the heir apparent who hides in the shadows? That’s another thing entirely.”
“Do you think Fariq knows about the contract?”
“I think Fariq knows everything. He may not have given the order, but he also hasn’t canceled it. Speaking as a friend, you really should let Taylor and his people look after you until this is over. The whole arms community is taking a wait-and-see attitude.”
“What about Springer?”
“Gerold Springer is out. You must have been lying low. His apartment was bombed late last night. Several fatalities, Springer among them.”
“The heir apparent?”
“Perhaps, but my money is on Fariq. After all, Springer did try to make a play for Fariq’s organization, and Fariq isn’t ready yet to leave.”
“Ghazil, thanks, and sorry about the threats. You’re right. I’d never do that to you.”
“That’s all right, Zara. Want to make it up to me?”
She laughed. “Sure, what do you want?”
“An invitation to the wedding.”
“What wedding?” she asked, confused.
“Yours, of course. You don’t honestly believe a man like Noah Taylor isn’t going to claim you as his, then make you put a ring on your finger and place his collar around your pretty little neck, do you?”
“We’ve never even talked about marriage… much less the other. You don’t think he wants that do you?”
“In case you missed it, Taylor isn’t much on words. He’s a man of action. I suspect when he catches up to you, he won’t do much talking.”
She laughed. “You’re probably right about that, at least. Well, if there’s any kind of celebratory event, I’ll be sure you get an invitation. If nothing else, next time you’re in London, brunch at the Savoy on me.”
“Thanks, darling. If you need help planning anything, do let me know.”
He rang off, and Zara shook her head before doing the same, stomping the cell phone into multiple pieces and tossing the thing into one of the holding tanks in the boat. Her next call was to Finn. She prayed she was alone and could take the call.
“Zara?”
“How’d you know? Can you talk?”
“Not for long. Croft is on his way back to the house. I have maybe five minutes. Are you all right? Do you have any idea how pissed the whole lot of them are, Noah, in particular?”
“I’m fine. I’m sure they are pissed, and I don’t want to think about how pissed Noah is. Jesus, the man has a wicked hand.”
“You’ll be lucky if it’s just his hand.”
Zara laughed. “Yes, I will. How are you holding up?”
“You mean because it seems my brother is not the man I ever thought he was, but instead is part of an organization that has put out a contract on my best friend?”
“Don’t go there, Finn. There was no way for you to know any of this. I’ll be fine. It isn’t the first time and probably won’t be the last, although I suspect knowing I have the Wild Mustang boys behind me will deter some of the possible hitters. Fariq has agreed, in exchange for Thom’s laptop, he’ll call everything off, and we’ll go back to square one. Neither you nor I can pursue the story, but at least everyone is safe. And let them know there may be something afoot there in Mesa.”
“They’re already working on that. You aren’t really thinking of confronting Fariq directly, are you? Have you lost your mind?”
“I have no choice. If I hadn’t agreed, he was going after Noah. Ghazil believes your brother is the one who actually put the hit out on me, and if he’s the heir apparent, Fariq is the only one who can stop him.”
“I get that, but Fariq could have done that, and he hasn’t.”
“I know, but he wants Thom’s laptop and the information buried, so he’s willing to do an exchange. Oh, shit. Ghazil just told me Gerold Springer’s apartment was bombed last night. Springer is dead. The team might know already but tell them just in case.”
“Zara, I don’t know what you think you’re going to do, but you need to let them bring you in and keep you alive.”
“And do what? Hide the rest of my life? Look, I know he’s your brother…”
“No, the day he became Fariq’s henchman and put a contract out on someone’s life, he ceased being my brother. If it comes to it, and it’s you or him… you take him out. He’s dead to me already,” Finn said with a catch in her throat.