“Two of our men are down. I don’t know their conditions.”
As Jarvis handed me my usual weapon, I pocketed the one from the perp, a standard Sig Sauer carried by half the criminals in the city. There wouldn’t be a serial number for tracing purposes.
Hissing, I shifted and looked out the back window as Jarvis rolled down the road. People were out on the streets. Four cop cars rolled by with their lights flashing, the sound of the wailing sirens penetrating the SUV.
“Who’s your guest?” he asked.
“Collateral.” Determining what to do with her could prove challenging.
“I’m not collateral,” she countered. “I’m attorney Catherine Devereaux with the New Orleans prosecutor’s office assigned to prosecute Mr. Prince’s criminal case.”
Smirking, Jarvis and I locked eyes in the rearview mirror. “Now that we have your credentials in order, Ms. Devereaux, you can relax.”
“She doesn’t know you very well. Does she, boss?”
With a quick scan out the window, I shook my head. “Not yet.”
“You’re a horrible man.” Her words faded and she tried to shield her emotions, but I could easily read her mind, the ugly thoughts of kidnapping and torture preventing her from realizing I’d just saved her life.
From who? Who the fuck would dare attempt to kill me in such a manner? The Russos? Bold even for them considering they would be the prime suspect. This shit was getting twisted.
The bigger question was why did it seem the beautiful Catherine was a player in all of this? If so, which side was she on? I would find out even if it meant breaking her.
“What a fucking mess,” I muttered. “Did you see the assailants arrive?”
“No, and I had a bird’s-eye view of the front of the courthouse.”
“Then they came in through the service bay.”
Damn it. They’d managed to enter a public building in broad daylight without tripping security. I’d bet they’d disguised themselves as workers cleared to enter the building. That meant they were highly trained and had spent some time learning the building’s security. How long had the assassination attempt been planned? I’d been locked in a goddamn jail cell for two days. Long enough to plan an attack. They’d taken the opportunity, even though it was risky as hell, which was exactly what I would have done.
“You did this,” my lovely companion stated without fear in her voice. Her defiance was notable and I would enjoy sparring with her had we not been in the middle of a crisis. “You knew you had a chance of remaining behind bars, so you ensured you’d havea get out of jail free card.” She moved as far away from me as physically possible, but her glare remained as heated as before and I had no doubt given the chance she would either attempt to escape or scratch my eyes out.
Either choice and I’d be forced to punish her. The thought was positively enchanting, and given the circumstances and the fact someone wanted me stone cold dead, I should be avoiding it.
“While I have no problem taking credit when it’s due, the attack wasn’t anything I planned.”
“Right. You’re alive. The perpetrator could have easily killed you, which means the entire event was staged. Nice try, but you are going down for the murder. I will see to it.”
Jarvis glanced into the rearview mirror as he picked up speed, amusement in his gaze. While I wasn’t immune to people poking fun or disrespecting me, my reaction was often strong. A few people had met their maker for less.
“I suggest you try and remember where you are and what just occurred, Ms. Devereaux.”
Restraint was necessary. The fact the DA had switched prosecutors lingered in the back of my mind. Our enemies were clever. I wouldn’t put anything past them, especially since I’d sent out a proclamation of my intent to do harm once I learned the identity of the person responsible.
“You’re a murderer, Mr. Prince, and I’m going to prove it so that you’ll spend the rest of your miserable life in prison.”
The woman’s defiance should be considered outrageous. She had to know who she was talking to and what I was capable of. “I’d be very careful telling a man you think to be an abominablekiller your intentions.” Seeing the flash of fear brought no joy as it usually did with my enemies. “Besides, I didn’t kill that man. However, you were right in your first impressions of me. I am very dangerous and often unpredictable. I didn’t lie to you the other night.”
“Wow, something to keep me warm and fuzzy at night.”
She shrank back even more when I crowded her space, allowing my eyes to lower to her long legs, her right thigh peeking out from how her skirt had shifted upwards by several inches. Huffing, she attempted to tug down the material, but not before the pale shade of rose blossomed across her cheeks.
“You’re a monster.” She issued the words so easily, as if she’d already tried and convicted me.
Her sudden silence unnerved me. I wasn’t used to women defying me at every turn.
“I’m alive because of skill, Ms. Devereaux. You should be thankful I was there as I undoubtedly saved your life.”
