“You’re so smug,” I grumble.
He lets a full smile loose, and that isn’t any better for my brain function.
“I like knowing the effect I have on you.”
“Please,” I scoff. “You already knew from yesterday.”
“It’s nice to have confirmation, then.” He rolls his eyes playfully then nods at the car window behind me. “Go on, then, we’ll be right here waiting for you.”
I look toward the front of the car, relieved that the partition is up and Blake didn’t hear me being a total dumbass over Eian and his kisses.
“You can’t stay parked here,” I let him know when I open the door, with the empty briefcase he gave me in a tight grip, and I have to shake my head at his simple retort when I climb out.
“I can park wherever the fuck I want.”
Yeah, I guess if you’re Eian Dempsey, you sure can.
It’s surprisinglyeasy and quick, getting someone to open my deposit box for me, not even twenty minutes after Iwalked into my bank. The man opens the barred door for me and follows me in.
I remember where my box is, so make my way right over, and then nod in thanks when he places it on the table at the center of the room.
Even though he turns his back to me to give me a sense of privacy, I make a show of taking out some papers from the briefcase—Maggie’s birth certificate and all the adoption papers. I put them on the table, quickly grab the thick manila folder and the slim drive from the box, putting only the folder in the briefcase, the drive I put in the inside pocket of my coat. Then I put the new papers in the box and close it.
Never put all your eggs in one basket, Colby.
Dad’s voice reminds me that despite recent events, I do know what I’m doing. Iaman intelligent man.
“Done,” I announce for some fucking reason, and pretend his smile isn’t barely polite and mostly confused.
During my career, and my extracurricular activities since I was fired, I’ve never beeninthe action except when I got myself kidnapped, and yes, that is a little embarrassing, but I don’t mind too much since only I know about it.
In any case, being on this—admittedly super simple—mission is freaking exhilarating. I can feel the fast pump,pump, pump of blood in my veins, and there might be a slight ringing in my ears.
I believe I’m freaking invincible even as I feel like I’m being watched while I walk out of the building and okay, maybe I even run a little to the black SUV that, as Eian said it would be, is still parked there, and no cops are around to give him any tickets.
“Hey, woah, woah.” Eian’s clearly startled by how I practically throw myself into the car and slam the door behind me. “What’s the matter?” he asks with that dangerous frown, then he looks out the windows as if searching for the men who are following me—of course there are no men.
“I’m just . . . revved up,” I confess.
“But you got everything, right? I was listening...”
“Yeah, I got everything.” I nod a couple of hundred times. Eian stares at me for a moment, but then, without taking his eyes away from me, he taps twice on the partition and the car starts moving.
“Then what the fuck?” He nods at me like that explains his question.
“I felt like I was a spy,” I confess, the giddy energy pouring out of me. I don’t even care how dorky I sound, this is exciting shit. I can’t even sit still, twitching around like I’m on crack or something.
After another moment staring at me, Eian presses a button so the partition will open.
“Park somewhere quiet then get out,” he orders, then sits back and stares straight ahead.
My adrenaline spikes even more at how tense he seems all of a sudden, hands balled up into fists, jaw jutting out so much he’s gotta be grinding his molars.
God, is he gonna take the research then leave me in some deserted alley?
The car stops and I hear the driver’s door open then close with a decisive bang. I can’t fucking take this, it’s too much, it’s too...
“I’m sorry, I’ll be quiet, I don’t?—”
