7
THE ITALIAN MET THEM in a small conference room provided by the hotel. It was a quick transaction and took all of thirty minutes to complete.
As they were wrapping up, Jammer asked, “Alberto, do you have any ideas where would I get my hands on seven or eight hundred surface-to-air missiles and two planes?”
Callie closed her eyes and swore softly when Alberto regarded her quizzically.
“This information I have already given to the fair Gina. È questo non è così?”
Jammer looked at her as she smiled and nodded at the Italian. “Yes, you have, but I haven’t had a chance to discuss it with Jammer.”
“Ah, well, I must depart. Your shipment will go out this afternoon to the place you have specified.” He kissed Gina’s hand and exited the room with his two bodyguards.
As the door closed, Jammer turned to her. “You know where to get the rest of the weapons? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was checking all my contacts.”
“Why do that when we have a solid lead on those weapons? It’s all I need to complete the shipment.”
Just then Jammer’s cell rang. He answered curtly. “Fuentes,” he mouthed to Callie. He listened to the voice on the other end and rubbed at his temple as Fuentes’s yelling rose another octave. Switching to Spanish, he said, “I am meeting my obligation and I will have everything you requested within the allotted time, which I have to point out isn’t up yet.” Jammer was silent again. “I don’t care what rumors you’ve heard. I fulfill my promises and expect that everything will be to your specifications.”
Fuentes’s voice dropped, and Jammer ended the call shortly afterward.
“Now, who is this contact?”
“Joost Roorback,” Callie said. She wasn’t disappointed in Jammer’s reaction.
“Son of a bitch! Three years I’ve been doing this and not one problem. Not one.” He sat down heavily in one of the conference room chairs. “Joost fucking Roorback hates me, and the Ghost in particular. He feels that he’s being dissed every time I make a buy in the Ghost’s name. He’s a loose cannon and a murdering, sadistic bastard. I don’t want you anywhere near him.”
“He doesn’t hate me, Jammer. Maybe I can work with him.”
“No! Out of the question. We’ll find another way.”
She came around the conference room table to where Jammer was sitting. He’d worn a gorgeous gray Armani silk wool suit that darkened the shade of his eyes and easily cost ten thou if she was any judge. The silver-gray, unembellished tie made him look sleek and sophisticated. She settled her hands on his shoulders and kneaded the knotted muscles through the jacket and white silk shirt. “Okay, okay, I’m on your side. I’ll keep checking with everyone I know. Jeez, don’t shoot the messenger.”
Jammer nodded, his features tight. “Sorry, but that man is bad, bad news.”
“I’ve only heard rumors. I haven’t had much of an opportunity to deal with him.”
“Good. Steer clear. That guy’s going to come to a violent end, Gina. Mark my words.”
“So, I guess our trip to Italy is over. I didn’t even get a chance to go to Tuscany.”
Jammer swiveled the chair, cutting her legs out from under her so that she landed in his lap with an “oomph” and a giggle.
“Well, why not? When do we meet lover boy?”
Callie straightened his tie and smiled wryly, “Jammer, he’s not my lover boy, and we’re not supposed to see him until Friday.”
“That leaves us two days. Plenty of time.”
“You’re serious? You want to frolic around in Florence for two days?”
“Why not? It doesn’t make sense to head back to the U.S. when we’d just have to turn around and go to London. Might as well take advantage of the time we have together.”
True to his word, they flew into Florence. It wasn’t until they landed and got to the hotel that he told her he’d booked a bike tour around the city. Callie loved the idea.
They spent their first day doing that, then it was off to San Gimignano to a farmhouse for the night, to experience the Tuscany region and the vineyards of the area. The day was filled with nothing but wine sipping and pool lounging, until Callie felt so relaxed and refreshed she never wanted to leave.
Jammer bought a bottle of wine and a meal from the generous owners and they took it out to the terrace.
She was tipsy from the wine and warmed by the sun when she sat down to the simple but delicious fare the couple had prepared.
Jammer filled her glass and said, “This variety of wine dates back hundreds of years to Greek sailors.”
“I feel as drunk as a sailor,” she said softly, and they both thought that was completely hilarious.
“You know the last time I had wine with you, mister, I ended up very wet and very satisfied.”
Jammer’s eyes glowed, and an infectious grin split his lips. “As I recall, you didn’t protest too vigorously.”
“As I recall, I was shackled and a victim to your debauchery.”
“Debauchery?”
They broke into gales of laughter over that, too.
After dinner, Callie stepped up to the railing of the terrace and appreciated the view. The panorama of the Tuscan countryside spread out before them-undulating hills topped with little terra-cotta-roofed farmhouses.
“Let’s go for a walk,” Jammer suggested as they left the terrace. It was getting dark, but there was a full moon and plenty of light to see where they were walking.
They soon came to a field full of red poppies gently blowing in the breeze, which carried the smell of earth and grass. Callie leaned her forearms on a fence and took in the countryside.
Jammer came up behind her, his hands encircling her waist. He kissed the back of her neck, sending spikes of pleasure down her spine. Her head reeling from the wine, she relaxed into him, breathing in his clean, sharp male scent and sighing.
“What a beautiful night and a beautiful place.”
“You’re beautiful, Gina. So damned beautiful.”
“Is that the wine talking?” She giggled.
He chuckled and said, “No, you crazy woman, it’s not. You’re beautiful from the top of your silky cap of hair down to your breasts, to your long, killer legs.”
“I can kill a man with my legs, you know.”
He laughed softly into her neck. “I can attest to that fact.”
She laughed with him, and said, “I can.”
“Yeah, you’re lethal, I have no doubt.”
“I know moves that would shock and awe you, Jammer.”
“I’ve already been shocked and awed by many of your moves.” He kissed her ear, the laughter thick in his voice.
“Oh, you’re not being serious,” she said, but couldn’t keep a straight face.
“As serious as I can be with a beautiful woman in my arms and several glasses of very good wine in my system.”
“Well, if we’re talking about moves, Jammer, you’ve got some amazing ones of your own.”
“Do I? Elaborate.”
“Well, your mouth should be registered as a lethal weapon. It can make a woman so weak she simply can’t fight back.”
“What else?”
“Oh, your hands definitely need to be considered armed and dangerous, because you certainly know how to use them on defenseless victims.”
“Do you mean, like this?” He cupped her breasts, gently catching her nipples between his fingers as he squeezed. A moan slipped out as she arched into his hands.
Very gently, he pushed her forward until her hands were on the fence. Huskily, he said, “Spread your legs.”
Callie obeyed as he skimmed his hand from her calf up to her thigh and then under the short sundress she wore. The contact made her shudder. He planted open-mouthed kisses on her nape as his hand slid down between her legs and he curled his fingers into the sheer, lacy material of her panties. He tugged hard, ripping the insubstantial scrap of material right off her.