“Fuck,” I muttered to myself. I had a mask rolled up to only cover my hair and the tops of my ears. I pulled it down to cover my face fully as I stalked after them. Naomi might not know my face, but I was sure I was on War’s radar due to my father.
I picked up speed and slipped further down the narrowing path, the trees making me lose sight of the two men momentarily. Unease crept up my spine, and I trusted my instinct and said, “Fuck it,” running full-out, not caring that they would hear me coming.
I heard a loud grunt followed by a small scream that had my blood running cold. An unexpected panic flooded through me, a feralness I’d never felt before hitting me. Nothing could happen to her. It didn’t matter if she figured out who I was. All that mattered right now was her. I needed to keep her safe regardless of the cost.
It didn’t matter if I didn’t get to bring down my father or anything else. That moment blew the lid off whatever had been brewing inside of me about who and what Naomi was to me.
When I rounded the bend, I saw the fucking stocky douchebag on top of her. The lanky one was just coming to his feet, blood gushing down his nose. I went for him first. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Naomi flip the man on top of her as they struggled.
The lanky one spotted me as I closed in on him, his eyes widening, taking a few stumbling steps backwards and putting his hands up. They weren’t looking for a fight, but they’d miscalculated their target.
“We were—” That’s all he got out before I swung on him, nailing him in the stomach hard. He barreled forward, and I jammed the barrel of my gun into his gut and fired. The close contact helped to muffle the sound. He dropped, and I leaned down and pressed the gun against him. “Please don’t.” He coughed up blood.
“She’s mine,” I told him before I pulled the trigger again, ensuring that he was down for good before turning and going for my second target.
Naomi had flipped him once, but he was back on top again. There was blood on the corner of her mouth and a cut on her right side. She’s a tiny thing, and no matter how hard you train and practice, brute force in close contact, when you are half their weight, isn’t going to end well without a weapon, and I spotted hers.
She had him by the throat, her fingers digging into his windpipe. Her other hand was reaching for a knife. He was straddling her, trying to get her hold off his throat as I stalked toward them, drawing his attention. Naomi stayed focused on the threat in front of her, pure determination in her eyes.
“The fuck?” I thought he tried to say, his words strangled by the hundred-pound girl under him. I could have killed him right then. It would have been so easy, but instead I simply nudged the knife with my foot right into her waiting hand. Oureyes momentarily locked for a half second before she swung the knife, dropping her other hand from his throat and lodging it there.
Blood sprayed out, coating her, but that didn’t slow her down. She kept her momentum and kept pushing so he collapsed beside her, the knife still in her hand as she sprang to her feet. She had a slight limp on her right side where I’d spotted the cut as she squared off with me.
I stepped back, letting her know I wasn’t a threat, but she didn’t give a shit. Smart girl. “I killed the other one.” I lifted the front of my sweater to show her my gun and then let it drop back down to cover it.
“Who—” She sucked in a breath. “Who are you?”
“No one.” I took another step back. We stared at each other for a long moment.
“Take the mask off,” she ordered. I bit back a laugh. A tiny thing with only a knife issuing orders, knowing I had a gun and was easily twice her size, maybe three.
“I’m not going to do that.” I kept my voice low, knowing this would not be the last time I spoke to her. There was a slight shake to her hand holding the knife.
“I’ve never killed anyone before,” she muttered, more to herself than me. I highly doubted this would be her last kill. “You should go.”
“I know,” I told her. I didn’t want to go, but I was sure her father and his men would be here shortly. “See you around,” I said before dropping the gun on top of the dead man. Not sure how they’d go about cleaning this up.
“Thank you,” I heard her say before I disappeared from her sight, but not her from mine.
“Sir, we are taking off…” the tall blond flight attendant says, jerking me back from my thoughts. She gives me a coy smile. “Is there anything I can get you?”
“No.” I dismiss her with my hand. “I don’t want to be bothered until we’re landing.”
She gives me a nod and disappears back behind the curtain. I pull my laptop out and get to work. I might be an hour behind her, but by the time she lands, I’ll be twenty steps ahead.
Chapter Ten
NAOMI
“Don’t judge me!” Bonte says, finishing off her glass of champagne before Suzie can take it for her. We’re about to land. “Y’all went partying last night without me.”
She only had a few glasses, and Mac had one. I need a clear head, so I’m not having anything today. Though I did enjoy the fact that after a few glasses last night, I was able to relax. I’m not sure if I would have kissed Paxton without them. I’m still surprised how much I enjoyed it.
“You were busy,” I remind her. Bonte’s cheeks start to flush.
“Eww.” Mac agrees with my sentiment on that. I don’t need to hear about Eros’ sex life.
“I only had one glass to help with my slight hangover.” Mac slips her sneakers back on. “This one was spry this morning. Climbing a tree like a spider monkey.”
