Lance glanced at her before moving her back slightly to open the door a bit more so Robert could enter.
Well, she knew the sliver of betrayal that dripped down her spine and wound around her heart wasn’t one she would be able to ignore.Every single instinct she possessed screamed at her to curl her index finger around the trigger and pull, ending the betrayer’s life.
Had she the anger she used to carry she probably would have, but hating people who’d wronged her took up too much of her energy and she had other things to do.Right now, that included figuring out why the man she’d fallen for was siding with the one who had nearly gotten her, and him, killed.
The minute the door clicked shut, Lance handed over his sidearm to her and immediately frisked the bleeding man before them.
“He’s clean.”
She doubted it but didn’t say a word, merely handed the weapon back to Lance and stepped away.
“Let’s get him fixed up.”Lance guided Robert to the kitchen table.
His phrasing didn’t go unnoticed by Jasmine and she sneered at their backs.Instead of following the men to the kitchen, she went to the bedroom and changed out of her sleep clothes.
Lance entered the room as she tugged her cargo pants up over her ass.He stared at her as she fastened them then tucked the SIG in the waistband.No words were spoken as she grabbed a charcoal gray ribbed tee and drew it over her head.
“Jasmine,” he said, licking his lips and coming closer.“I know you don’t want to see him, but he needs our help.”
Her heart was breaking.It was official.After yesterday and now this, she didn’t have a lot to give.Normally she’d wear something different out of the apartment but she didn’t care right now.And she longed for clothing that made her feel comfortable.Anything to help combat the iciness coating her insides.
“Do what you need to.”
It was like swallowing razorblades getting those words out.He stared at her, unblinking until he moved close and slipped his hand around the nape of her neck and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to her lips.She couldn’t help it, sinking into him was natural and perfect.
“Thank you for understanding,” he murmured as he drew back.“I’ll see you out there.”He grabbed his shirt on the way out of the room.
Swiftly braiding her hair, she tied it off and swiped her go-bag from the closet.This place was burned.She wouldn’t ever feel comfortable resting her head at a place that Robert knew existed.
Years of being on her own while hiding from the company that had betrayed her wasn’t about to be wiped away because the man she was fucking wanted to trust him.Dropping to her knee, she cast one look to the door before reaching under the simple end table and depressing the panel there.It slid away and she dipped her hand in and pulled out the mini folio then shoved it into her bag.Another peek to the door and she replaced the panel.
Bringing her bag with her on the way out of the room, she ducked into the bathroom.She knew her shit and had an exit in there.As she shimmied out the window and jumped to the fire escape, she cast one last look over her shoulder as if she could peer through the walls and actually lay eyes on Lance.
“Goodbye, Lance.”Her words fell barely above a whisper.
Slipping away into the people on the sidewalk, she ignored the tears that threatened and didn’t look back.
Chapter Fifteen
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
~ Sun Tzu
“I’m going to kill you myself if this ends up being a trap.”Lance didn’t even look over to the man who was beside him at the window of an empty apartment building as they overlooked the building across the street.
“How many times do I have to tell you, I didn’t betray you.I didn’t betray your woman either.”
Lance scowled and pulled his gaze from the scene before him to glare over to the man with him.“Fuck you.”
“Don’t blame me.She decided to leave.I didn’t make her do that.”
“Not this time anyway.”
Robert snorted, eyes never wavering from the window.“I had my own orders.”
“Whatever.”Readjusting, Lance took up his position once more and watched the faded red brick building.It was showing signs of age, a few bricks missing sporadically around the front and the side he could see.The windows were a mixture of covered by different threadbare curtains and shades to having none or being open.
He assumed the rooms there were like they were here—small with low and water-stained ceilings.Dirty, smudged and grimy windows.A few windows across the way had precariously balanced air conditioning units with jerry-rigged support.
