Chapter 13

"What a joke!" She laughed loudly. "Why do you think they delegated the job of coming here to me?"

Surprise momentarily lit his golden eyes up. "So they’re scared." "Good, that works in our favor."

"Will you stop talking as if this has anything to do with me when it doesn’t?" Charley choked. "I’m just the pawn here you’re using to salve your wounded arrogance!"

"Pawns are very powerful pieces on the chessboard."

"Oh, shut up!" She flared up. ‘Have you no idea how infuriating it is that you have a slick answer to everything?’

‘Seemingly not.’ A hint of a wry smile touched the corners of his mouth. "I will try to curb the habit," he offered.

Pulling in a deep breath, Charley let it out again. "Now can I go?" she repeated.

Reaching out for the telephone sitting on his desk, he stabbed in a set of numbers, then began shedding instructions in Italian to whoever was listening on the other end while Charley listened and wished to God that she didn’t find the rich, smooth tones in his voice s