Chapter 3
David set the white gift box down on the dresser, quietly moving out of the room. Mia was more beautiful asleep, without all that crap on her face, than he had imagined. They had time, so he didn’t want to wake her yet. He didn’t want to be the one to wake her at all. He couldn’t trust himself. His every thought was of taking her in his arms and kissing her stupid. Those lips, watching her talk, plan out the events that would take place tonight, she had been so sexy. Her brain worked in wondrous ways. She took the lead and really laid out all the details for her team, taking input, but her plan would work. David would hand off the money, and then as they exited the ball, with the diamonds, they would be arrested, along with the broker inside. In his room, he quickly pulled on the tuxedo, and then paced. It would all be over soon. Mia made sure his brother, and family would also get witness protection. But somewhere far from him, and that Charles and his wife would get rehab and cleaned up. Since their parents died a few years ago, they were all that was left, so it didn’t matter. While he waited for the trial, he would be able to sort out details of his company and turn everything over to Jeff. The man had been at his side since day one, and deserved it.
A knock at his door finally broke his thoughts.
“You ready, sir?” Jeff asked. David came out from his room, and immediately, his breath was taken away. Mia stood in the shared space, her floor length golden gown, shimmering in the light. Her long dark tresses were pulled up, into a tight bun on top of her head. She looked elegant, regal. He could have never imagined how gorgeous she could be.
“Say something,” she joked. He enjoyed that her real voice was not as annoying as her cover tone. That damn accent drove him nuts.
“You are stunning,” he told her. Walking closer, he pulled a velvet box from the pocket of his jacket. “But, you’re missing something.” He opened it, and she gasped. “No woman, on the arm of a diamond broker, can look so bare.” He had gone downstairs, after she laid down to sleep, getting her the gown. When he went to leave the shop, this necklace had caught his eye, and he knew, just knew, it was made for her. A simple silver chain, with a large square topaz, surrounded by diamonds. It matched her gown, and graced her neck with perfection.
Heled her down to the waiting car, and Jeff drove them out of Freetown. As they approached the compound of Commander Foday, he tensed. Stone walls loomed around the mansion., ten feet high, smooth facing with no footholds and a metal gate. Soldiers paced the walls, with automatic weapons. This was what he was trained for. As a Navy SEAL, he was used to operations. This was the first time though, that he was the one without a gun. He gripped the small bag he carried, tightly in his hand. It held a million dollars cash. To buy the diamonds and drugs. Entering the mansion, he watched Mia’s awe. He knew the Russians she went after. They didn’t do luxury., they did practical. Everything shone and glittered, dripping in diamonds. The man flaunted his wealth. A large dark-skinned man approached. His military uniform, self-made, covered his tall frame. At over six and a half feet tall, Commander Foday was an imposing figure.
“David,” he said, his thick African accent making it sound like Daveed.
“Commander Foday, please meet my companion, Mia.” Foday bent, kissing her hand.
“Thank you for the invite,” she giggled. David had instructed her to seem vapid, but not as ignorant as with the Costello’s.
“Such beauty,” he stated smoothly, “And that necklace, a perfect choice, for such a stunning woman,” he complimented.
“Thank you,” David answered.
“We will do business first, then enjoy the night,” Foday instructed. He led the couple into a private office, where the music from the party faded. Mia’s purse held a tracker, and sound device, apparently disguised as useable lipstick. She had explained before they landed, that the CIA had a team already in country. They dropped off necessary items, while she had slept, including a gun. She refused to give him one though. Hers was strapped on her somewhere, and his cock twitched, every time he wondered where it was.
Keeping his hand on her back, his fingers burned at the contact with her soft, smooth skin.
“What a pretty painting,” Mia exclaimed. Inside the office, there was a large painting, leaning against the desk.
“Do you think so? It just sold for a million,” Foday told her, winking at David. He led her to a seat in the corner, leaving her there.
“Let the men talk, baby,” he murmured to her. Moving to the desk, he opened the bag, showing Foday the money. The man turned the painting, peeling back a corner of the paper that backed it. Inside, there were rows of diamonds, held in place with clear packing tape to the back of the canvas. As he pulled back more, below the gems, were two grey bricks of what David knew was cocaine. One hundred thousand dollars’ worth of cocaine. And a million in diamonds.
“Have you ever seen so much luxury, together?” Foday joked. He pressed the paper back onto the painting’s frame.
“So, we’re good? A million for the diamonds, a hundred thousand I wired you earlier, for the coke?” David asked.
“Correct, we are all set. The courier will get it to the ship, and we go party.” Foday slapped David’s back in comradery. He felt guilty, at setting up a man who had done so much, to help David when he was in trouble.
“Where’s Gabriel? I thought he would be here?” David questioned. The man who dealt the diamonds was normally at their meetings.
“He’s,” Foday paused a moment, “Indisposed. Permanently.” The man grinned. David got it. He had been killed. Foday most likely made a move, to take the diamond mines, and won. It gave him a stronger foothold in the country, against the militias that tried to over throw him. Mia stood, walking over to him. Wrapping her arm around his, they walked out of the office.
“Thank you, sir. I appreciate your hospitality,” David said. That was the code that the deal was done. Guests milled about the room beyond the hallway they were in, enjoying the string quartet that played, drinks being served and food. From the crowd, emerged ten men, in black suits. The team piled into the hall. They pulled guns, half facing them, half turned to the doorway to watch their backs and ensure the guests did not get too close. This had to go down quietly. Mia could tell, they were uncomfortable in their suits. Since these were most likely SEAL’s or field agents, it would be odd for them to do a takedown in monkey suits, instead of battle gear. But they worked efficiently.
“Commander Foday, David Kennedy, you’re both under arrest. For trafficking, drugs and blood diamonds, as well as war crimes and smuggling.” Two men approached and grabbed them, quickly cuffing their wrists. Foday grew angry, screaming at them.
“This is wrong, you got this wrong, I work security, I don’t smuggle,” David cried out. He played up his anger and outrage at the situation.
“You do this, in my home, when I’m entertaining? How dare you?” David could only stand by, and watch in horror, as Foday wrapped his arm around Mia’s neck. A gun appeared in his hand, pointed at her head. His heartbeat raced, and instinct took over. Though, never with someone he was so attracted to, he had been in this situation. Holding his hands up, he tried to placate Foday.
“Come on man, you don’t want to do this. Not to my girl, man.” He stepped closer. It was risky. He didn’t want Mia hurt, but they couldn’t blow the op, or her cover. “Let’s go, we can work this out. Both of us, have enough money, to get the best legal counsel ever.” Foday’s eyes shifted between the armed agents, his men, and David. Another step closer, and he the agents shouted at him to stay still.
“Sir, remain still, don’t make us shoot.”
Mia looked David in the eyes, and he could see the clarity shining. She winked, and he realized she was going to make a move. Slowly, David got down on his knees, slowly moving his hands, to behind his head. An agent grabbed his wrists, handcuffing them.
“Please,” he begged. “Just let Mia go. She has nothing to do with this,” he cried out, pleading with Foday. Mia lifted her leg, as the armed man shook with anger.
“You come into my home!” He shouted, and she shifted a little more, to the slit in the side of her gown. He had been so enraptured with her beauty, that he never even noticed the long slit along her right leg. His cock thickened, pressing against the tuxedo pants. He cringed, knowing this was absolutely, the worst, possible timing for a hard on. But the sight of her long, milky white leg, begging for his hand to slide up, under the material of her desk, drove him crazy. Finding what she was seeking, Mia pulled her gun out. She waited quietly, for Foday to begin yelling again, and his gun moved away from her temple, she took advantage. In action, Mia was the most beautiful creature, he had ever seen. She twisted her body in a way so that it broke the choke hold Foday had on her. His gun arm moved, at the same time his finger squeezed the trigger. A bullet flew past one of the agents, planting itself into one of Foday’s own men. The guy fell to the ground, blood dripping from his chest. His other guards shook in fear, not well trained like the men they stood against. Thankfully, the music from the ballroom was loud enough that hopefully no one had been able to hear the shot. David let out a breath he hadn’t known was being held.
Mia grabbed Foday’s free arm by the wrist, turn, as she pointed her gun at him. With his arm at such an angle, that it had to be painful, the man cried out. He let go of his weapon, letting it fall onto the floor. She pressed her gun against his temple.
“Don’t ever, ever, point your gun at a lady. It’s not very gentlemanly. And, you never know when it’s going to be the wrong bitch to attack,” she said, her tone calm and it turned David on more. This woman was just amazing. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He elbowed the leg of the agent next to him, looking up, from where he was still on his knees. He rolled his eyes towards Mia. Thankfully the guy got the point, that their cover must be protected.
“Ma’am, put the gun down,” he said, turning his weapon on her. She looked around, playing up the badass, shocked socialite. Hell, David didn’t know what to call it, but it was hot, sensual, sexy.
“You gonna try and use me as your shield again?” She asked, yanking on Foday’s arm again. He shook his head no, eyes watering. She released her grip, slowly raising her arms in the air. She bent at the waist, giving David ample view of her breasts as she did. He cocked an eyebrow at her, and she smiled, as agents rushed over to cuff them both. Foday’s men grew anxious, and shifted, their guns wavering, unsure of how to react.
“Foday, call them off, you’re going to get us all shot. The easier we cooperate, the quicker we can get our attorneys on the phone, and get out of here.” David looked directly in his eyes, as he plead with him. Foday directed his men to stand down. “This is all a mistake. I will be back soon. Please, keep my guests calm and do not speak of this. Just tell them I’m in a meeting and will be back shortly,” he said to his men who stood to the back of them, in the hallway. He calmed down, realizing it was going to be easier to not make a bigger scene than he already had.
Someone cuffed Mia, who screamed at David, about being a liar and getting her into trouble. They were led outside, and piled into separate waiting black SUV’s. As the convoy left the compound, Jeff followed in their rented car.