“She and the guy who drove her to the hospital are staying at a high-end apartment downtown.”
“How?”
“Why does it matter, how?”
“It was your job to kill her, and your last plan failed.” He took a menacing step forward. “So I’ll ask you one more time…how?”
The man’s dark eyes didn’t hide their own frustration as the muscles at the sides of his long jaw twitched. “Explosives are a tricky thing, so I always have a back-up in place. After the ill-timed explosion, I backtracked to the other side of the hospital, changed into the pair of scrubs I was wearing under my other clothes, and then I took the back way through the hospital and waltzed right into the E.R.”
“Then what?”
“I waited.” Reiner pulled a small tablet from the bag slung over one shoulder. “I knew our girl was knocked out by the blast, and typical concussion protocol would be a CT to also rule out a brain bleed. So I made myself scarce until the techs came down to get her, and Iaccidentallybumped into her gurney when they started pushing her down the hall.”
The other man tapped the tablet’s screen, flipping it around for Doug to see. He watched as the footage began to play, and within seconds, he realized what Reiner had done.
“You put a tracker on her shoe?”
“No one ever thinks to check the shoes.” Reiner shrugged. “And before you bring it up, as far as the bombing is concerned, the cops won’t be looking for a guy in scrubs. So I’m not concerned about having been seen inside the building. Hiding in plain sight and all that.” He began tapping the tablet’s screen once again. “Anyway”—the other man continued—“after our girl left here, she went to a high-rise downtown, where she remained for about an hour and a half. From there, the tracker shows her going to a new apartment building a few blocks away. Nice place, which means it has lots of security.”
“You saying you can’t get to her?”
“Not at all. Just that it’s going to be a challenge. But, if you’re willing to forgo discretion for effectiveness, I know a couple of guys willing to help. Best I’ve ever used, to tell you the truth. They don’t ask questions, do exactly as they’re told, and they’ll take it to their graves.” Reiner added a belated, “For the right price, of course.”
The right price.
There was always a price. For Reiner’s men, it was money. For Reiner, it was making sure his trusting wife never found out she’d married a liar and a cheat.
As for Doug, his price was a bit more complicated than that. He had plenty of money, no wife or kids, and no strings whatsoever. For him, it was about the love of the chase, and the thrills he got from the deadly risks he so willingly took.
And then there was Stanton. The man who relied on Doug far too often to clean up the messes the idiot inevitably made. But having a senator in his back pocket…or even better, the U.S. President, well…that was worth all the risks Doug had ever made combined.
Giving Reiner a stark warning, he told the man, “You have one chance to make this right, Andrew. But listen closely, because there’s been a slight change of plans.”
CHAPTER11
Finally.
Shadow fell into Digger’s arms, the front of her body pressing against his bare, sculpted chest. His hand slid from her cheek, his fingers gently finding their way up under her hair.
He was kissing her as if she might suddenly disappear. Thanks to Stanton, she almost had.
Digger’s masculine groan of pleasure met her moan, vanquishing all thoughts of near-death experiences and killers. At five-three, she was a full foot shorter than the tall, dark, and fascinating man. So to avoid missing even an ounce of the pleasure his mouth was creating, she balanced on her tiptoes and cranked her neck back.
Hot. Wet. The kiss was erotic and all-consuming. And the way Slade was holding her body flush with his…
It’s like we’re two pieces of a perfect puzzle.
Shadow’s nails dug into the skin at his back as she kept a tight grip on his broad shoulders. He was warm and slightly damp from his recent shower, his scent a mixture of soap and shampoo, along with his own natural, masculine spice.
Her mouth opened wider, letting more of him in as their tongues swirled and danced in an explosion of euphoric bliss. Digger swallowed her next moan as his hands slid low on her back, and her hips instinctively moved forward toward his.
Butterflies swirled when the impressive bulge between his toweled thighs pressed against her lower belly. Her sex filled with desire, and her inner muscles clenched with anticipation from the magic the two of them were about to share.
Their hunger grew to new heights, and before she realized what was happening, Shadow felt herself being hoisted into Digger’s arms. On reflex, she wrapped her legs around his narrow waist, locking them at the ankles to help keep herself from falling.
He’ll never let you fall.
The thought whispered through her head as his strong hands held the backs of her thighs. Digger turned and walked toward the stairs. His mouth never left hers as he carefully carried her toward the second floor, moving with ease as if she weighed nothing at all.
