Now.
Resisting the urge to spit on my hand and rub the ink off on my jeans, I smile super-super-sweet. “Listen, I’m a professional and don’t need or want your help.”
Charlie, who I told specifically to stay hidden, jumps up behind me. “She’s also an awesome tutor and plays a mean game of chess.”
Dean Brennan, if that’s his real name, reaches over my shoulder and tugs a lock of my client’s hair. “Hey kiddo, can I ask why you don’t have an Insta account? TikTok?”
“My dad won’t let me. He’s uber controlling.” Her cagey answer sends a warmth of pride into my chest. If the wrong people get wind of Tommy O’Malley’s daughter on the lam, things will get far fuglier than they are now.
The insistent, annoying man quirks up one side of his mouth, a panty-wetting move he’s no doubt practiced in front of the mirror. “Before I leave, I need to have your real names, in case I’m questioned by the police.”
“Sky Young. Google me. I run my own security business.” While heat pools between my legs, I press my thighs together, and will away my body’s response to his musky scent.
The dark-haired man rasps a palm over the sexy stubble on his jaw and he shakes his head. “You mean the phony website? It took me about thirty seconds to figure out the sham.”
Fuck. The Feds assured me my cover was solid. His keen insight suggests I ought to assess him further.
My gaze narrows with my fiercest scowl, but the cursed man grins, and leans in closer. “So? Who are you?”
My weapon in my pocket, I click off the safety, and point in his direction. “Sorry. Above your paygrade. C’mon Charlie. Time to leave. And I swear to God, mister, if you follow, I will shoot you.”
His cocky grin sends a zing straight to the nether-lips who haven’t voiced their opinion about sex for months, perhaps years. Oh, hell to the abso-fucking-lutely not. No way I’m going to be attracted to this, this, nosey Parker.
“Enough talk. Nice meeting you. Sayonara, auf wiedersehen,arrivederci, buh-bye.” My gut clenches when he makes no indication of departing.
What the fuck should I do next? Decision made, I make a fist, punch a pressure point on his neck, and he drops.
“Charlie, help me drag him to the bathroom.” Once I’m sure his wrists are securely tie-wrapped behind the john, I slap his face until he moans.
“What the hell?” He has the audacity to sound angry.
The guy gave me no choice. This dude is way too much of a boy scout to be mixed up with Tommy.
“Sorry.” Kicking his gun under the sink, I place a knife near his foot. Eventually, he’ll be able to free himself, but by then, we’ll be gone.
“See you soon.” My teenage client leans over, kisses his cheek, and stands.
Bouncing up and down, she grabs my arm, and pulls me out the door. “Holy crapola. If I’d known being on the run was so much fun, I’d have done it years ago.”
“It’s not a game, hun. Your father’s enemies want you dead, or worse. Grab your knapsack. Thanks to Inspector Clouseau, here, we have no idea if the guy who came to the door was friend or foe.”
“Sky, I’m not your enemy, dammit. Do not do this.” As the handsome do-gooder struggles to snap his plastic binds, I pick up my go-bag and follow my charge out the back door to the garage.
After a glance in the rearview mirror confirms we’ve passed the gated communities, I check the GPS, and sigh. “Pennsyl-tucky, here we come.”
Charlie responds to my grin by frowning. “We should stop at home. I bet Daddy’s done with the sale and the threat is over.”
The kid knows better than to ask, but I cut her some slack. It’s easy to forget she’s still in high school.
“Sorry.” One eyebrow raised, I drive deeper into the countryside. One headlight appears behind us, and I don’t think much of it. The second motorcycle puts me on edge. When the next four zoom into view, I lower my foot to the floor and shout above the roar of the engines.
“Get below the dash.”
Charlie glances out back. “Oh shit. Automatic rifles.”
“Stay the fuck down.” My hand reaches to her head and as I push, a blast hits the back window.
Thank God for bulletproof vehicles, but holy forking shit-balls. My left back tire explodes, the SUV pulls to the side, and I knock the biker alongside us into the ditch. Swerving to the right, I lose another tire, and then, two more.
