Her Very Strict Captain by Carpenter, Maggie (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

to be promoted to oversee the whole fucking state.”

“Not a chance in hell would he put someone like you in a position like that,” Scott barked back with a contemptuous sneer, “but it doesn’t matter. He won’t be promoting anyone. You’ll both be sniveling behind bars.”

“You don’t get it,” Jim exclaimed vehemently. “Conchello has more people under his thumb than there are fucking fans at the Super Bowl. People who matter, people who pull strings. Politicians, top cops, powerful lawyers. Be smart. Climb on board the gravy train. I don’t know who you work for, but I can make it happen. It’s either that, or be sliced into little pieces, and I’ll be there to watch.”

“You’re out of your mind,” Scott shot back. “I have everything I need to send you and Conchello down for a long time, a very long time.”

“You’ll be the one going down, asshole. Six feet down in a wooden box.”

“We’re done,” Scott exclaimed, heading for the door, but stopped and turned around. “I forgot to ask,” he lied, “you sent Elizabeth here with a bag full of money. What was that about?”

“Fucking bitch,” Jim grunted. “That was Conchello’s idea. He likes playing games. All kinds of games. He baits traps and catches people, he stalks, he watches, he does all kinds of shit, and when she got away the night of the raid he ordered me to send her here, then told Dan Miller to hunt her down. It was weird though,” he continued, as if talking to himself, “Conchello liked Elizabeth, and he doesn’t like anyone—except that old housekeeper of his.”

“Did he know Elizabeth and Manny were DEA?”

“If he did, it wasn’t from me.”

“Why didn’t you—”

“Tell him?” Jim interrupted. “You really are an idiot. I have someone else working for Conchello, but you won’t catch him either.”

“What’s your point?”

“If I’d shopped them and he found out, what the fuck do you think would happen? The line I walk is as thin as a piece of thread.”

“Correction, walked,” Scott declared. “I already know about that someone else, and that ship has sailed.”

“I don’t believe you, there’s no way in hell. You’ll meet your maker, asshole. No one outsmarts Conchello, no one,” Jim shouted, then suddenly broke into a grin and lowered his voice. “There’s nothing like having the power of life and death. It’s such a rush.”

“The evil psycho finally speaks.”

“Are you fucking her? I bet you are. Yeah, you’d be her type. What’s she like? Is she a squirmer? A squealer? I bet she’s both.”

Though the desire to land his fist in the middle of Jim’s face blasted through him, Scott turned and walked out the door.

* * *

Jim’s admission had shocked Elizabeth to her core. As Scott walked in the small office, she lifted her eyes from the screen and stared up at him.

“Words fail me,” she stammered. “How could I have been so wrong about him—again?”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Psychopaths are masters of deceit and manipulation. They can mimic emotions in a heartbeat, and know how to read people and play to their weaknesses.”

“How were you able to see through his act?”

“Watching the two of you, I was able to study him. I’ve interrogated many just like him, and I’ve learned how to recognize the signs. When we have a minute, I’ll show you.”

“Uh, Scott, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“You have that amazing, high-tech safehouse on your little island, then this small home here on St. Thomas. They’re so different. What’s the deal? Can you tell me, or is it top secret?”

He grinned. “This small home is only used for interrogations. The safehouse is designed to protect high-value targets. They come in from all over the world.”

“What kind of people?”

“Witnesses needing protection, VIPs under threat, that sort of thing. The house keeps them under wraps and out of danger. Sometimes we’ll have an entire family, that’s why it’s so big.”

“Interesting…” she mumbled, “and about what’s happening now. You have Jim and Dan being sent back to California, and David Clark and Ewen MacDonald working with you against Conchello. Do you think you’ll be taking him in soon?”

“Elizabeth, the operation is in full swing. If things continue to fall into place, the answer is yes. I have a plan, and I’m almost ready to share it with you.”

“I can’t wait to hear about it, but you just said the safehouse on the island is for international guests?”

“Yeah.”

“Holy crap,” she breathed, her eyes widening. “You work for the CIA.”

Chapter 20

Scott narrowed his eyes, then slowly nodded his head.

“Guilty as charged.”

“The CIA, wow, I’m impressed,” Elizabeth exclaimed. “So, are you a spy?”

“I’m a Navy SEAL who now works as an agent for the Central Intelligence Agency.”

“That’s really hot,” she breathed, rising to her feet and moving her arms around his neck. “You’re like 007.”

“What’s this obsession you have with James Bond?”

“Are you kidding?” she whispered, pressing herself against him. “There’s nothing sexier than a secret agent or a Navy SEAL, and you’re both.”

“And you, Elizabeth McKay, are insatiable. Get your cute butt into that kitchen and finish making lunch,” he ordered, landing a quick slap on her backside. “I want to leave right after Jim is picked up.”

“Where are we going?”

“Back to the safehouse,” he replied as he bustled her from the room. “I’m meeting Jack there.”

“What about David Clark?”

“I need to bring you up to speed about him and some other things. I’ll tell you everything while you’re—dammit.”

“What?”

“Don’t you hear that? There’s a vehicle coming up the drive.”

“I do now, but only vaguely. Do you need extra sharp hearing to be an agent for the CIA?”

“You need to be extra sharp in many areas to be a SEAL,” he said solemnly as they walked into the kitchen. “The van will stop in front of the house. I’ll close the door to the hall. Stay in here and finish making lunch, and don’t come out.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” she quipped with a grin.

“Hey, Elizabeth, this is serious shit.”

“I was just