Deep down, I know the answer is no.
Regardless, I can play along with Trinity’s game. Let her believe I’m her chauffeur, her white knight, her equal, her recruit. Whatever she needs me to be.
This changes nothing. I’ll get the drive, and then I’ll deliver it—and her—to my father. Maybe Declan will treat me like Connor’s equal for the first time, rather than a second-rate son.
If not, at least he’ll realize I have the qualities of an underboss. And maybe, once he no longer needs her, he’ll let Trinity go.
Maybe then she can live a normal life. She deserves that much.
Still, what if Declan doesn’t let her go? What if he kills her?
No.I won’t let that happen. I don’t know how this will turn out, but I’m certain about one thing.
I won’t let anyone harm Trinity.
We settle into the motel room, an ugly brown-and-green monstrosity with peeling paint and a mattress that squeals when I settle on the springs. The cheap potpourri bowl sitting on a rickety dresser clashes unpleasantly with the scent of stale smoke, but at least the space comes with a TV and a lock on the door.
I’ve slept in worse places.
Trinity props two pillows between my back and the headboard, sets a water bottle on the nightstand, and smooths the edges of the blanket over my legs.
Then she paces in the corner to the bathroom, rattling the shower rings on the rod and thumping around out of sight.
What the hell is she doing?
By the time she returns to the bed and starts fidgeting with the pillows she already placed behind me, my nerves are frayed.
“Will you stop?” She flinches at my bark. I count to three and try that again. “You’re stressing me out. Just sit down.”
Trinity huffs and picks at the threadbare quilt. “How can you say that when we’re being hunted?”
“You’re the one who suggested staying put for a minute.”
She levels a narrow-eyed glare at me. I swallow a laugh—I know she won’t appreciate that—and wave a hand at the bag I grabbed from the trunk. “I have some spare clothes in there. Go get a shower and relax.”
Grumping under her breath, Trinity stands and snatches the bag before stalking into the bathroom. She closes the door witha snap, and a few seconds later, the hiss of water echoes into the room.
Finally.Maybe now she’ll calm down, and I can too.
She’s not wrong to be on edge. I still don’t understand how the hell the Russians found us to begin with, but there’s no connection between the Port Kings and this motel. As long as we don’t linger too long in one place, we should be safe.
After a good night’s sleep, we’ll ditch the Beemer, grab some new wheels, and hit the road first thing in the morning.
The pain meds from the IV have started to wear off. My leg aches like a bitch and a half. So does the lump on the side of my head, and the various bandages and butterfly stiches on my torso and arms itch like crazy.
I’m alive, though.
When Trinity emerges from the bathroom—dressed in one of my t-shirts and a pair of boxers, her fiery hair falling in a wet curtain down her shoulders—my body reminds me thatitsalive too.
She’s temptation in the flesh. Though I’m exhausted, my dick is more than willing. Seeing her in my clothes fills me with primal satisfaction.
I remind myself that this is just business. Despite what I told her, my mission remains the same.
Though that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy some of the perks of keeping a woman like Trinity close by. Since she believes we’re on the same team now, nothing’s stopping us from having a little fun.
I catch her gaze and pat the bed beside me.
She sits on the mattress while combing her fingers through her hair. “Need something? I saw some painkillers in that bag, just generics but?—”
