Free Locked and Loaded by Alexis Grant Page A

tonight—and you didn’t even tell me when you left today.”
    She paused, listening to Roberto’s vague explanation about how his meeting had morphed into an unexpected business trip, and was very careful not to reference New Orleans or to ask him any details. The more he thought she was ignorant of his whereabouts, the better, and the key was to get him on the defensive, on the explaining side of the verbal joust. That way, she could press for concessions—the main one she needed right now was space away from the compound to maneuver.
    “But Bruno says I can’t go to the spa or out to eat with my friends, or even stay at the Ritz until you come back. What’s going on, Roberto? Is something wrong? And since when did Bruno become the boss of me? Why is everyone treating me like this today?”
    Roberto’s voice was firm and yet oddly consoling as he tried to make her think she was living in a fairy tale. “Baby, it’s gonna be all right,” he murmured, patronizing her. “Bruno is definitely not the boss of you, all right … don’t cry. I just want you to be safe. Nothing’s wrong, but the economy is bad and wealthy women are a target. So go easy on Bruno and do what he says security-wise … and I give you permission to go to the spa and go out with your girlfriends. If you don’t want to go home and want to stay at the Ritz, just make sure Bruno knows where you are at all times. Put Bruno back on the telephone.”
    Triumphant, she turned back to Bruno, and now that her cover story had been accepted, she could allow him to see the puffy side of her face. Thanks filled Bruno’s eyes for making him seem like he was her hero and was also following his boss’s directive. Bruno gave her a brief nod when he accepted the cell phone from her.
    “Yeah, boss.… Okay. I’ll send Rico back here with her car. Yeah, yeah, two-man detail outside the spa, the Ritz, and any club she goes to. I’m on it.”
    Their eyes met as Bruno accepted his orders; she mouthed “Thank you.” He nodded. As soon as the call ended, Bruno let out a long breath.
    “You should put some ice on that,” he said, studying her face, “before it turns into a real shiner.”

CHAPTER 5
     
    Getting rid of Bruno was fairly easy—she just handed the man all her shopping bags, kissed his cheek, and asked him to please take her loot over to the Ritz Carlton where she’d be checking in later. Oh, yes, and if he could be a sweetheart and get her a suite. There was nothing a security guy hated more than being made an errand boy for the boss’s woman. But Bruno was in no position to argue. She’d just taken a lot of heat off his ass, so he owed her.
    Quid pro quo allowed her to exploit her short-term hold over Bruno to give him something constructive to do, specifically, to get out of her face and let one of his other brutes watch her sashay down the street to the spa.
    It wasn’t that big of a deal, actually. Bruno only gave her a cursory scowl and complied. Everything was located along the open-air pedestrian mall on Lincoln Road. Thankfully, there was no need to get into one of the rigged vehicles with any of them—something she’d have to definitely talk to Captain Davis about at some point very soon.
    Miami heat, speed bumps, and unwitting, innocent civilians were giving her the hives as she thought of the hundred and fifty things that could set off an accidental detonation.
    But she had to get to the spa. The über upscale establishment was right next to her selected eating emporium, by design, just like the gym was right across the pedestrian thoroughfare. It was the only place she could make a safe call and visit regularly without suspicion. And just as membership had its privileges, so did being a regular spa-salon patron at the chic enterprise that was competing with all the services offered at the Ritz.
    There, she had a permanent locker with a false back in it. Going to a salon and spa three times a week wouldn’t raise