Strings of Deception: A Dak Harper Action Thriller (The Relic Runner Book 7) by Dempsey Ernest

Author:Dempsey, Ernest
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 138 Publishing
Published: 2024-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

26

The woman’s intoxicating scent spiraled up into Dak’s nostrils in a vortex of olfactory delights. Dak couldn’t identify all the flowers and herbs the perfume reminded him of, but he knew he loved it.

Maybe he would get a bottle for Nicole before returning to Istanbul.

Dak slid into the seat and pulled his two glasses close. The woman leaned toward him, staring at him with her deep brown eyes, as if trying to extract every secret from his soul.

“This isn’t the best place to pick up women, you know,” she said.

“I wasn’t trying to pick you up,” Dak countered. “You just looked like a pretty woman having a pretty drink. I thought you would enjoy a few more.”

The response caused her to blink.

The first tell, Dak thought. He’d played enough Texas Hold ‘Em Poker to know when someone’s body language gave away the truth. In this instance, the woman had been in total control until Dak basically confessed that he wasn’t interested in her for any sort of physical reason. He’d just been a nice guy buying a woman a drink with no expectations on the back end.

Of course, this joint, and the others like it, never played host to nice guys, which could have meant the blink only signaled she thought he was full of it.

Not that he’d blame her. Dak doubted any guys came in here acting in such an innocent way.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing.” She regrouped and plastered the indifferent look on her face.

“Surely I’m not the first guy to buy you a drink,” he said, forging ahead. “I’d find that hard to believe.”

“What are you? Is this your first time in one of these establishments?”

“No.” He shook his head and shrugged. “I’ve been in several dens. First time in this one, though. It’s nice.” He looked around as if admiring the architecture and decor. “Has a real Ritz-Carlton with a splash of menace to it.”

She giggled. It only lasted a second, but once more he broke through the icy exterior.

“I never thought of it that way. What is your name?”

“Does it matter? Everyone in these places uses an alias anyway, right?”

“True. One can never be too safe when surrounding oneself with murderers and thieves.”

“Seems like a bleak way to live a life.” Dak picked up the glass of Casa Dragones and raised it toward her. “To a brighter life beyond this darkness.”

The woman lifted her glass without taking her eyes off him. She continued to study him, scouring his eyes, his face, his posture for any sign of weakness. He figured she was probably also trying to figure out his angle, why he was here with her, what he wanted.

She clinked her glass against his. “To a brighter life,” she echoed. “Anything I should know about this one, other than what you told me?”

“I think this one is better left to surprise you. But the toast is appropriate. This joven tequila has bright, fruity notes on the front end. It excites the senses, then mellows toward the back of your mouth into a warm, almost caramel note.

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