Page 51 of Cops and Robbers

“Back on Ninth.”

Lewis sighed. “I’ll stop on the way out. Let’s get going.”

Caige pivoted and jumped into the front seat.

Sid opened the back door. “Ladies first.”

Raz kept his dominance in check, his feisty attitude rearing fire along his spine.

“Thanks.” She slid into the last row and stretched her legs out on the seat, back against the door. Confident. Dominating any space she entered. He wanted to share a part of that space. Raz lifted her legs and sat with them in his lap. Sid took up the whole middle with his laptop and computer. Once Lewis took the driver’s seat, the SUV moved.

“What are we all feeling?” Lewis asked.

“Coffee,” Sid said.

The dominance in the vehicle pushed at Raz’s skin. His dragon was on fire, roasting him on the inside. Drawn to Kate, he pulled her pant leg up enough to wrap his hand around her ankle. Soothing energy flowed through his veins upon touching her.

She met his gaze and smiled.

“I know you briefly explained it before, but what is a Hackers Gala exactly?” Raz asked, sitting on the king-sized bed of the opulent president’s suite after their long road trip.

“Ziegler, one of the leaders of organized crime in Germany, made it up,” Kate said from inside the master bathroom. “It’s a gambling showcase for hackers. The first one to hack wins the purse.”

He pictured her surrounded by the most wanted criminals that could buy their way off that list. His insides boiled, nerves twining his stomach into a knot. He thought he could handle the idea of her going in alone, but that was before they got to Detroit, and reality hit him in the face. “And you received an invitation?”

“Of course, technically my partner did, while I’m his representative. I’ve been working this avenue for a while now.”

“How did you learn Matsuda uses Ziegler’s hacker for his cybersecurity?”

“When you’ve done this for a while, you recognize someone’s fingerprints. Just like my lip print, these people lay claim to their work.”

That kissable lip print still haunted his dreams, even if he could kiss those lips. “And you’re sure your code won’t work without this access?”

Something slapped against the countertop in the bathroom. “Yes. I have to log in remotely as well as directly into the sub’s security cameras. Without access, Matsuda will see us steal the Bell.”

“Do you think Matsuda will be attending tonight?”

Adrenaline laced with dread swirled across the link. It was apparent she feared that possibility. Fire burned the back of his throat.

“He doesn’t concern himself with such trivial pursuits,” she said. “His time is too precious.”

“Said as if you’ve heard him say it before.” He couldn’t help but pry.

“Possibly.”

She stepped into the bedroom in a long, bright-as-sin red dress that clung to her curves. Makeup chiseled out her already high cheekbones, shadows broadened her small nose, and a dark eye cream framed her thick eyelashes. She’d curled her bob to match playful waves. Instead of that damn pink lipstick, a red color glamored her lips.

My fucking…How is she this talented?

His engorged dick strained against his pants as he straightened. “Do we have a few minutes?”

A natural blush brightened her cheeks. “Sorry, hot rod.”

She placed her still-socked foot on a chair, hiking up the long slit of her dress to slide something up her leg.

“What’s that?” he asked, looking away from the tantalizing bare skin.

“A poly-fiber lock-picking kit.”