The mercenary’s pockets contain a pack of cigarettes, a lighter, extra ammo, and a high-quality jackknife. I pilfer those last two items. Might as well get some souvenirs.
In another pocket, I find a high-tech walkie talkie with advanced GPS tracking and tons of other bells and whistles. All completely untraceable.
Interesting.
I still don’t know who these men are, but I’m starting to doubt they’re Finn’s. Specially made technology, the uniform…
None of this feels like the Irish Kings to me. Which is bad news. If Finn and his people aren’t behind this, then who is? There must be an uninvited third player in this game. And to keep Trinity and myself alive, I need to figure out how to keep these fucks away from us.
Out of all the missions ever assigned to me, I refuse to fail this one.
Over my dead body.
From a different pocket of the mercenary’s uniform, I retrieve a small photograph of Trinity. A recent one, taken within the past few weeks.
Uneasiness stirs in my gut. These assholes were doing recon on her at the same time I was, and I didn’t even notice. Declan won’t be pleased when I explain, that’s for sure.
Along with the picture, I discover several syringes of propofol and cable ties. Kidnapping supplies. But that doesn’t add up. If he’s supposed to bring Trinity back alive, why did he pull a gun on her and act like he was going to shoot? Was it just a scare tactic?
Or maybe he’s just an idiot.
Shoes shifting on gravel interrupts my concentration, and my gaze jerks in Trinity’s direction. She’s hunched against the graffitied alley wall, retching as she gawks at the body on the ground with wide eyes and a blanched face.
I rub the back of my neck. We don’t have time for her to lose her shit, but I recognize that she’s basically a civilian. As far as I know, she’s never been exposed to anything like this. Probably a lot of carnage for a stuck-up pain-in-the-ass mafia princess.
Though, if that’s the case, I can’t help the swell of admiration. A lot of other women would be catatonic or screaming in the corner. Clearly, Trinity was shaken up whenwekidnapped her, and the shooting and killing must be ten times worse. Somehow, despite all that, she’s still functioning.
Maybe I should try to think of her as a more annoying version of my older sister. Part of the world but innocent of the violence.
My eyes trace over Trinity’s body, the act sparking a wave of heat in my veins. Okay, so imagining her as my sister might be a lost cause.
Focus, Brody.Work first. Ogle later.
I shift out of my crouch and get right in front of her, fixating on those emerald green eyes. “Are you hurt?”
That’s not worry for her pinching my chest. If she’s damaged, Declan will be pissed, and if she’s injured, she’ll just slow us down.
Several seconds elapse before my question brings Trinity back to reality. Her eyes flick between the edge of the alley, the body, and me. The lingering shock fades, replaced with a resilience I don’t expect.
“Who are you?” She straightens her back and clenches her hands against her chest. “I want your name.”
“Well, aren’twedemanding? I, too, want lots of things, princess, but we can’t get everything we wish for.”
I pull my newest knife out of my pocket and grab her wrists. She flinches as I hold up her arms and balance the blade against the zip tie. With one good rip, I liberate her hands.
While she rubs her wrists, I return to the body on the ground. “My name is Brody.”
“Well, Brody…” Her voice is breathy. Empty of inflection. “You kidnapped me, killed a bunch of people, and then saved my life. I don’t know what to say.”
“How about ‘thank you’?” I continue to dig around the numerous pockets of the soldier, stopping only when my fingers brush over ice-cold steel.
Handcuffs.
Trinity studies me with a flush in her cheeks that stirs the molten heat in my gut. Now that the rush of battle has dissipated, desire trickles in.
I sigh. No time for that, even if I could convince her. Disappointing, since after-fight sex to release excess adrenaline is some of the most satisfying.
“Do you really deserve thanks when you put me in danger in the first place?” A little smile curls the corner of Trinity’s mouth.
