BENOIT
Location: Luxury Train, Prague to Destination Unknown
I’D DONE MANY things in my life. Gone everywhere. Seduced many a man. Been accustomed to more private jets and chauffeured cars than I could count. But Dimitri was giving me a first I’d never even considered: traveling across Europe on a luxury train.
I took to exploring while Dimitri met with Omar in the back lounge. Always private business with those two, and Omar had stared me down until I finally left the room.
No matter. That was what the recording device I’d planted in the lounge was for.
I strolled toward the bar and ordered a cognac, then scanned the occupants of the car as I waited. There were a few unfamiliar faces, but others I’d seen around the castle in Prague briefly. From what I could tell, Dimitri’s entourage took up the majority of the train’s accommodations, and though I was tempted to ask one of them where we were heading, I’d wait to pry that info from the man himself.
“Your cognac, sir.” The bartender set the snifter in front of me, and though it was still relatively early in the day, I took a long gulp of the good stuff. Hell, time didn’t matter on vacation?—
I stopped short, drink halfway to my mouth, and set it back on the bar top.
I wasn’tonfucking vacation. Though everything about this trip so far had felt like it, I was here for a reason. The job was the most important thing.
“Is Hennessy not to your preference, sir?” the bartender said. “We also have a stellar Courvoisier I recommend that?—”
Shaking my head, I waved him off and took another sip for his benefit. “This is perfect.Merci.”
He nodded and moved on to the next guest as I felt someone come to stand on the other side of me.
“You are French?”
I glanced at the man who had a good twenty years on me, but the twinkle in his eyes gave him an attractive edge.
With the alcohol encouraging my playful side, I grinned. “I am. Though I could be a good many things for the right man.”
He threw his head back, laughing. “Definitely a Frenchman.”
“Benoit Olivier,” I said, holding my hand out for him. He obliged by planting a kiss there. “And you are?”
“Oskar Krüger. It’s very nice to meet you, Benoit.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
That earned me another laugh, along with a round of drinks, courtesy of my new friend.
I didn’t necessarily need another glass, but then again, my mission was accomplished for the day, or at least until I needed to remove the device I’d planted, so what could it hurt?
“Is it too bold to ask where you’re heading?” he said, and then added, a little hopefully, “Maybe we’re getting off at the same stop.”
“Now that’s a great question, Oskar. I’m not actually sure.”
He looked puzzled at that, and I couldn’t blame him. How many people boarded a train with no known destination? I wasn’t even sure of the stops along the way, given the way my cell service kept cutting out every time I did a search for the itinerary.
I leaned in close, as if to impart a secret. “Apparently it’s a surprise. Romantic, isn’t it?”
“Oh, I see.” The disappointment in Oskar’s tone was clear, but he gave me a small smile anyway.“Warum sind die schönen Männer immer vergeben?”
Without thinking twice, I responded in fluent German,“Keine Sorge, auch du wirst dein Glück finden, Hübscher.”
Oskar had started to reply when his gaze traveled over my shoulder and his smile fell.
I turned to see who had interrupted our little tête-à-tête and was surprised to find Dimitri standing there, an unreadable expression stamped across his face. That was nothing new, though, and if there was one thing I was becoming good at, it was distracting Dimitri from whatever was on his mind.
“Well, would you look who finally stopped doing business long enough to indulge in something a little more pleasurable.” I held up my glass and dangled it between my fingers. “Can I tempt you into joining me,mon monstre?”
