Zayn eyed Ria, that stupid smile still in place. “Nah. She’s more likely to sneak into your room at night and slit your throat.”
Ursalla looked taken aback for a second but quickly regained her composure. “Well then. You want to tell me what you need, if it isn’t a fast, sweaty ride to heaven?”
He slapped a hand to his chest and this time Ria smacked him in the shoulder. She looked at the other woman. “We’re trying to find where Lastite Lala lives.”
Usralla’s thin brows rose. She reached under the ruffles of her skirt and pulled out a slim metal container and withdrew a cigarette. A man walking past stumbled over himself to light it for her. She offered him a brilliant smile, then blew a cloud of smoke into the air. “I suggest you leave Lala alone.”
“We can pay?—”
“I don’t want your money. Lala’s dangerous, no doubt about that, but what most people forget is that she’s a child.”
“We don’t plan to hurt her,” Zayn said. “This is a life or death situation and only she can help us.”
Another puff of smoke. “I heard you helped her out with the Baker brothers yesterday.”
“We might even be able to help her,” Ria added. “Get her off this rock.”
“This rock is a home to many. It’s the only refuge Lala’s ever had.” Ursalla gazed around the room.
Ria knew the woman had noted the location of all her girls and what they were doing.
“But that girl deserves more.” Ursalla pinned them with a hard look. “You promise me you won’t hurt her?”
Ria and Zayn nodded.
“Fine. She lives in an abandoned mine on top of Nitro Hill. Just outside town to the east.”
Zayn nodded. “Thank you.”
Ursalla held out a smooth, milk-white palm. “I’ll take the payment now.”
Ria frowned. “I thought you didn’t want the money?”
“A girl can never have enough gold.”
Zayn handed over some gold coins with a grin. “Thanks.”
“Anytime, sweetheart. And if you ever ditch Ms. Snarly and Dangerous, come track me down.” She blew him a kiss. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
Ria gripped Zayn’s arm and dragged him back into the street. “I can’t believe you. You still have my scent all over you and here you are all smiles for that…woman.” She wasn’t going to lower herself to name-calling. But the hard kernel of emotion inside her, one she didn’t quite recognize, was egging her on. “Why don’t you just drag her upstairs? Then I won’t have to watch you drooling and grinning like an idiot?—”
The shove slammed her up against the wall of the saloon. His big, male body crowded her in, pressing her breasts hard to his chest.
“I’m not interested in Ursalla.”
Ria turned her head to the side. “Could have fooled me.”
His hands slid up her sides, then continued up to cup her cheeks. He turned her head, forced her to look at him. “I was being nice so we’d get our information. That’s all.” He leaned down and nipped at her lips. “There is only one woman I can’t stop thinking about.”
Suddenly Ria was hot. Her skin flushed and her insides melted. God, she was easy.
“Only one woman I want to kiss and stroke and touch.” He kissed her, a long drugging kiss that left her head reeling. “Onlyone woman whose cries I want to hear in my ear when I slide myself inside her.”
“Zayn.” A husky whisper. Now she felt like an idiot.
He nipped her lips again before he stepped back. “Come on, let’s go climb Nitro Hill, get our girl, and get off this dusty rock.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
