"I'm sorry." And I mean it, even as I stand and edge out of his reach. "But you left me no choice. And you’ll get out of them in lots of time to help."
I don’t have long. I need to get going.
"Lisa, you’ve had your fun." The warning in his voice makes my stomach flip, but I hold my ground. "Take these off. Now."
Edging around him, I move to the door.
"No." Meeting his eyes, I keep my voice steady, even though my heart is hammering. "I’ll be wearing an earpiece and a camera. You’ll be right there with me.”
He yanks on the cuffs, hard, and the radiator groans but holds. Then his eyes flash amber, and the sound that comes out of his chest makes every hair on my body stand up. These cuffs won’t be so easy to break.
"Those are mine," he growls, the realization hitting him. "How the fuck?" He twists and looks down, realising that I lifted them from his belt just minutes before. “Lisa, get your ass back here.”
Pressing one boot against the wall, he uses his body weight to try and pull the entire antique fitting out of the ground.
“Careful, Beau. If you break that radiator, you’ll flood the whole place.”
Quickly, I take off my oversized jumper and uncover my revealing outfit. The rattling from the bathroom intensifies, as does the steady stream of curse words coming from his mouth.
Shit.I have less time than I thought.
"I think they're strong enough to contain whatever you are."
He freezes and stares at me, eyes wild.
"At least for a little while."
His expression shifts, the fury cracking just enough for me to see the fear underneath, and the guilt nearly buckles me. But I've come too far to back down now.
When he stands, his gaze goes to the wall between this room and the next, but the second before he opens his mouth, I grab a clean sock and shove it inside.
Stunned and indignant, he glowers at me, rage making every feature look hard and dangerous, even as his eyes drink in my form-fitting outfit and how my breasts are hiked up to my armpits in the world’s most aggressive push up bra. The leather pants fit like a second skin, the top leaving very little to the imagination, and with my hair down, I look nothing like a detective and everything like a woman who belongs at an underground fight.
"I'll make it up to you. When you're not so… upset."
A growl emanates from his chest, so powerful, I feel the vibrations travel through me.
"Maybe I'll even let you do some more butt stuff? I didn't think I'd like it but that was kind of fun." Leaning in, I slick some red lipstick on before I press a kiss to his furious face. His eyes go wide, and he thrashes against the cuffs, the metal radiator screeching against the wall.
"No? Okay. Think about it."
It was worth a try.
Swiping the room key off the dresser, I slip out the door and close it behind me, locking it and taking a breath so deep, it hurts.
Tripp is standing beside the truck, checking his earpiece.
"Where's Beau?" Van asks, coming out to hand Tripp a button camera to attach to his clothing. We all stare at the door, behind which a furious, if not somewhat muffled roar, and banging sounds grow louder.
"He's just taking a second to calm down." A thud and what sounds like smashing glass comes through the wall, followed by the screech of metal against tile. "He's fine, it’s just hard for him to let me go in."
Van's eyes widen, but Tripp just grins, slow and appreciative. “So, you’re my date?”
I nod. “Seems so.”
"Okay then." He laughs as I climb into the passenger seat, while Van shakes his head and slams the door shut. "Let's go."
25
