The Spy With The Silver Lining

The Spy With The Silver Lining
Wendy Rosnau

Known as a cool seductress with a taste for couture, chic superspy Casmir Balasi had played her role too well this time — getting love-struck master criminal Yuri Petrov to propose on bended knee…and fall into her trap.But it wasn't long before Yuri caught on — and when he escaped prison, he vowed to enforce "'til death do us part." Now Casmir was saddled with an arrogant if irresistible bodyguard, sent by an agency that didn't have her best interests at heart.Would her protector's secret agenda place her in the hands of her worst enemy? Or would she fall into her defender's arms instead? One thing was certain — surviving this deadly game required the performance of a lifetime…

The Spy with the Silver Lining

Wendy Rosnau

To Jen

Wise beyond your years, my darling, here’s to endurance and owning who you’ve become—an amazing young woman. You’ve grown with such beauty and grace, and I’m so very proud.

Love you,

Mom

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Coming Next Month

Chapter 1

The world is a stage, Cassie. Play to your audience and get them to love you. Life is an investment. It’s like buying a satin suit and fabulous shoes. You get what you pay for.

Head up, shoulders straight, and remember, never buy cheap.

For twenty-eight years Casmir Balasi had lived by her mother’s words, as well as her motto: quality, not quantity. She’d been a trendsetter in her youth, a runway model by age nineteen, and for the past five years Ruza’s teachings had turned the blonde with attitude into one of the most valued femmes fatales at EURO-Quest.

Her model figure and fashion sense, along with her catlike ability to land on her feet, had allowed her to infiltrate some of the most dangerous criminal circles in the world.

Code-named “the actress,” she had recovered precious gems, exposed the most cunning criminals, foiled terrorists and carried top-secret documents across enemy lines, while entertaining evil in the process. And each time she had managed to keep her identity a secret to play the game another day.

She’d been as elusive as a grain of sand in a sandstorm. Her top-notch skills allowed her to haul her butt out of tighter spots than a Gucci leather skirt.

Until tonight.

Tonight, the black wide-brimmed Tularo shielding her green eyes and the silver Devicca suit outlining her curves had fallen short. Nasty Nicky was seated at the bar and he was looking straight at her.

Normally that wouldn’t have drawn a red flag, but the smug look on his face warned Casmir that he wasn’t just enjoying the sight of an attractive woman in a crowd.

There was something else in that look.

It was a look of recognition, and something more. As if he knew the secret life behind her secret life.

Casmir scanned the beautiful club, and the throngs of beautiful people who had ventured out tonight to play at the Kelt. If Nicky was here, Yurii Petrov must be somewhere close by. Which meant the Russian had escaped the maximum security prison in Prague where he’d been eating and sleeping, and dreaming of freedom, for the past seven months.

And if that was true, it meant Yurii knew everything—who, what and why.

Even more damning, it meant he knew that she was responsible for his recent address change, his dismal room with no view and, no doubt, his weight loss due to crappy prison rations.

She wasn’t fool enough to believe that he’d suffered beyond what was bearable. Yurii Petrov had risen to the ranks of soldato early in life. He was a hardened criminal who had grown up in the company of hardened criminals. He’d reached Don status to become the most notorious blood-seeking mobster in the Red Mafia.

An iron-tough son of a bitch topped the list on his profile. A detail man who was used to getting what he wanted and holding on to it. A man who didn’t blink when it came to following the laws of the cartel.

Had she underestimated Yurii? If he was here, then, yes, she had.

A year ago her assignment had been specific. Trip up Yurii Petrov. Find his weakness and get close to him. So close she knew what brand of toothpaste he used, what made him laugh and what turned him on.