The Boss Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 3) by Victoria Paige (red scrolls of magic txt) 📗

Then it was a brief respite at the Alcantara plantation before Antonio kidnapped her. Another twenty-two hours on a jet and stop overs because a billionaire never stopped working, apparently. And last night, all the exhaustion hit her like a brick wall.

She stretched again before swinging her legs onto the floor and padding into the bathroom. It had the basic necessities, but the quality boggled her mind. She had no doubt the unlabeled soap was French-milled, and the rich silky shampoo and conditioner? No labels either, but the natural scent of lemon and coconut hinted that it was not a commercial brand.

Smuggled?

Charly snickered. It wasn’t far-fetched after having spent nine months under the nose of cartel business. She’d spied how they moved products. One time she’d seen them stock cocaine in juice cans. Juice cans!

After enjoying the luxury of a second hot shower in the span of twenty-four hours, Charly felt almost human. The shopping bags were mostly empty, and Charly noticed a pile of neatly folded clothes on a settee. She walked over. Ida or one of her minions must have laundered all the clothes, and not only that, they were ironed as well. Even the cotton panties looked pressed.

She was treated to acceptable hygiene at Carillo’s but only because she demanded a sterile environment to do her work safely.

No French soap for sure, and the detergent they’d used caused her skin to break out, but Charly preferred the smell of bleach to the stench of body odor. She had her last few years of med school as well as her stints in laboratories to thank for that environmental conditioning.

She reached for a clean shirt and noticed the tremor in her hand. She pulled it back and clenched a fist at her side. Shit, it was going to be one of those days.

After changing into jeans and a shirt and slipping on her reliable clogs, she left the room. She stopped at the top of a grand staircase and eyed the other hallway opposite the one she came from. She was curious, but wasn’t stupid, so she did as she was told and went straight to the dining room.

Luis was there reading a newspaper and smoking a cigar.

“Bom dia,” Charly said tentatively. “It’s interesting to see people still reading newspapers.”

“I like the crossword puzzle and the comics,” Luis said, laying down the periodical. “How did you sleep? We didn’t see you at breakfast.”

“I overslept. So you can say, I slept well,” Charly replied.

Ida swept into the dining room and laid down a basket of pao de quiejo. “Senhor called and said he was running a bit late. Munch on this a bit, but not too much. Plenty of food.” The housekeeper glanced at Luis. “You better get rid of that cigar or the Senhor will be on my case again for letting you smoke so much.”

“You should stop spying for him,” Luis grumbled, but took one last puff and squashed the lit tobacco.

“He cares for you. You should make him worry less, eh? He has too much on his mind already.”

“Why do you keep on smoking?” Charly asked. “It’s obviously not good for you. I heard your whistling breath yesterday.”

“Oh, and what is your diagnosis?”

Charly studied Luis’ pallor. “How long have you been smoking?”

“Since he was twenty-five.” Ida came back from the kitchen, left another plate of munchies and swept up the ashtray. “If you lived in this house, I would dump all your Cubans.”

“That’s why I don’t live here,” Luis called after her retreating back. He glanced at her. “We’re not always fighting like this. We’re really agreeable people.” He paused. “Except when Renata is here.”

“What’s up with Renata and Ida?”

“Men issues.”

Her eyes widened. “They’re fighting over a man?” Ida could be in her mid-forties and Renata was probably in her late thirties or even younger, so it was possible. “Over Pierre?” She stilled. “Antonio?”

Luis started chuckling. “No. No. Nothing that sordid. Martinez. You met him yesterday.”

“Briefly. I think. The Commander of the SWAT?”

“BOPE.” Luis scowled. “And he’s a captain. Renata and he were childhood sweethearts, but he married Ida’s younger sister.” He sighed. “That story needs to come from Renata or Antonio. It’s their story.”

From the older man’s face, it wasn’t a happy one.

“Renata told me about Dante.”

Luis was surprised. “She did? Huh. She must like you.”

“She wants me to help Antonio.”

The older man laughed. “I see you’re not easily manipulated.”

“So how did you end up at Andrade Industries? And Antonio seems to respect your judgment.”

“I worked for his old man.” Luis reached for the spot where his ashtray had been and noticed it wasn’t there anymore. He shook his head. “You can research it on the internet—Emilio Andrade and Andrade Organization. But I’ll tell you straight, we weren’t always legitimate.”

“You mean like mafia.”

Luis grinned. “Exactly like mafia … with a heart of gold.”

Charly rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”

“What? You don’t believe me?”

“That’s the same thing they said about Pablo Escobar … like he was Robin Hood, but he murdered everyone who got in his way. What was it that you said yesterday? The end justifies the means.”

“Regrettably, I shouldn’t have said that. Rest assured with Martinez watching over Renata, Antonio, and Ida, we are model Brazilian citizens.”

There was amusement in the old man’s eyes, so Charly wasn’t sure she should believe him. “So, what exactly is your job description?”

“I’m no longer involved in the day-to-day,” Luis said. “But I advise Antonio. I taught him everything he knows.”

“About business?”

“About everything.” His eyes grew guarded. “Whatever I thought they needed, I acquired it for them. He and Renata are quick studies, but they grew up in the slums and usually skipped school. I made sure they got an education, hired them tutors. Antonio knew more about running a business before he finished his first year in business school.”

“When did Emilio die?”

“Six years ago. He had heart problems, but by then Antonio was already at the helm of Andrade Industries, so there wasn’t much