Trinity interrupts my typing by darting off in my periphery.
“Shit.” I shove my phone in my pocket and launch into a chase.
How the hell did she spot me? I was so careful. Whatever the reason, I can’t let her escape.
She breaks right toward the music hall. Doubling back, I envision the campus map in my head and cut through some adjacent indoor-outdoor lecture halls. I haul ass down a slim sliver of sidewalk that winds around the lecture halls to the back entrances of the theater and dance buildings.
Seconds after I reach the secluded curve that leads into the shade between the two structures, Trinity crashes into my chest with a shout and all the strength of a wet blanket.
Grabbing her around the waist, I crush my other hand over her mouth and force her head back against my sternum. She bucks against my grip like a wild animal, kicking her legs and attempting to shriek at the top of her lungs through my palm.
I tighten my arm around her waist and drag her deeper into the shadows, bracing her up against the brick wall while she squirms and wriggles against me, which I’ll admit doesn’t feel half bad. No time for fun, though.
I lean close to her ear, inhaling her soft floral scent. Lavender, maybe? “If you don’t calm down, you’re gonna get me all excited, princess.”
She freezes when I shift my arm from her waist to her hip, and she breathes hard against my palm. At least she’s listening.
I continue to push into her, molding my groin to her ass. “Now, any other time, I’d love a good fight. A feisty woman is sexy as hell. But we’re on a deadline, so if you just behave, you won’t get hurt.”
Grabbing my pistol, I press the cold barrel into her warm midriff. Her body tenses but otherwise goes motionless.
“Good. If you struggle or scream, you get a bullet. Understand?”
She nods once while wetting her lips with her tongue. The sensation tickles my skin. If only I weren’t on the job…
Jed jogs up a few moments later, his crazy black eyes flashing. “Oh, man, she’s cute.”
“Shut up and hold her.” I release Trinity’s mouth and push her toward Jed, who grabs her waist with one hand and bands the other one around her throat.
He’s nearly double her size, tall and beefy, and wears a creepy grin on his lips as he keeps her still. “Been a while since I had such a pretty little thing in my arms.” When he sniffs her hair, she cringes away. “Got time for a quickie, boss?”
I shove his shoulder but not enough to dislodge his hands on our prize. “Don’t be disgusting.”
Sure, I had similar fantasies, but I would never actually act on them. Jed’s a fucking pig, though, and I’m not letting him harm our target before delivery.
Once she’s in Declan’s hands, she’s no longer my concern.
Trinity gapes at me, her eyes like bright, glowing emeralds. “You?”
So shedidnotice me at the graduation ceremony. I raise a brow. “Surprise.”
She glares, her face red and her hair wild from her attempt to flee. Jed’s right, loathe as I am to admit such a thing. Sheiscute.
Around the corner, Marko’s van screeches through the alley.
I tuck my gun back into my holster. “Let’s get out of here.”
Jed laughs, heaving Trinity up so he can walk without tripping on her unwilling legs. “Come on, babe. We’ll get you nice and comfy. It’s not a limo, but I think you’ll like it.”
I follow while checking for witnesses, but no one’s paying us any attention.
Another job complete.
Chapter 3
Trinity
“Let me go!” I struggle against the big man’s arms as he carries me to a dark van. The thing might as well havekidnappersscrawled all over its windowless walls.
