Page 43

This gets a laugh. “No. We want you dead, we”—he makes a hand motion like a gun—“boom, you're dead.”

“You have a way with words, man.”

A banshee scream comes from inside the SUV at my back, making all of us turn.

“Sorry about that. She's worried, I guess.” I give a pointed look to his hand still in the makeshift gun. “That's probably what's pissing her off. But don't worry. I've seen her fight. You can take her if all hell breaks loose.” I look back to the SUV. “In fact, I have some news to share with her that I know she’s not going to like. You guys available by the hour?”

When I look back, the four men are already sliding into their black Escalade. Shooting a glance over my shoulder, I find the SUV blocking us in from the other end of the alley is gone.

“Well, I'll be damned.” The smacking of the envelope against my thigh is covered up by the roaring of the Russians’ SUV vibrating down the alley. Almost as soon as the whole strange encounter started, it's done.

Turning on my heels, I trek back to the Suburban, the strange conversation replaying as I try to process his meaning. After picking up the discarded gun, I inhale deep, readying for Randi's fury.

The diffusing quip I prepared vanishes from my thoughts the moment I open the SUV door. It takes half a second to take in the scene before I'm flying into action. Lunging into the SUV, I grip the back of Grem's suit jacket and shirt collar, yanking him off Randi and out of the SUV. After a quick once-over, making sure she's unharmed, I turn to the panting agent leaning against the brick wall.

“She was trying to get out, Trey,” Grem says, lifting his hands from his knees in surrender. “I wasn't hurting her.”

His words should make sense, but all I hear is the roaring in my ears. My chest tightens as I fight the urge to knock him on his ass for touching what's mine. My common sense and anger clash, fighting an internal battle in my mind as I stare down my teammate and friend.

Cold fingers grip my hot neck, their touch seeming to sizzle against my skin. A sharp tug and I'm pulled down, soft wet lips sealing over my own. My body instantly reacts to her presence. Relaxing my tight fists, I wrap both arms around her waist, hauling her closer. Jagged nails scrape along my scalp before gripping the ends with a soft tug. I pour the intensity of the night into our kiss.

“For fuck’s sake, you two.”

Tank's rough voice breaks through the fog that settled over my brain, taking reality with it. With one last soft kiss to her forehead, I relax my hold but she doesn't step back, doesn't pull away. Palm to the back of her head, I tuck her face to my chest and rest my chin on the crown of her head.

I meet Tank's dark eyes, expecting to find anger but instead seeing understanding. A silent conversation passes between us until the screeching of tires at the end of the alley breaks our stare.

“It's the other guys,” Tank mutters while rubbing his large palm over his head. “I can't stop this, can I?” I shake my head, causing him to expel a heavy breath. “Just keep it private, Benson. And don't let it affect your job.” He points to me before swinging his finger to Grem. “He wasn't hurting her, simply protecting her idiot ass—”

“Hey,” Randi grumbles against my blue dress shirt.

I smirk as I stroke two fingers up and down her spine.

“She wanted to jump out and save you.”

Leaning back, I peel her face from my chest and arch both brows. “Save me, huh? With your mad fighting skills?”

A small chuckle vibrates in my chest as she purses her lips and avoids eye contact.

“What did they want?” Champ's voice carries down the alley from where he stands beside the other SUV.

Immediately I force my hands to drop as I put distance between me and Randi.

“Russians,” I say, my eyes locked on hers.

“No shit,” Tank huffs. “Tell us what we don't know, Playboy.”

“I really need that story,” Randi butts in. She wraps her arms around herself, rubbing her hands up and down her biceps.

I shrug out of my jacket and drape it over her shoulders. My chest swells with pride when she dips her nose to the lapel and takes a deep sniff with a soft sigh.

“They had something for her,” I say, nodding to Randi while bending to retrieve the envelope off the ground where it fell in my commotion with Grem. “Here.” I slice it through the air to Tank, who catches it easily. “They seemed….” I pause to crack my neck. Fuck, I'm tense. Even though my banter was relaxed with those guys, every muscle and nerve ending was on high alert the entire conversation. “I don't know the word for it, but I don't think they want to hurt Randi. It's more like they want a conversation or something. If you can believe what they said, they’re the good guys. He said they were only following Taeler because she was left unprotected.”

“Then why'd they leave?” she asks.

“Not sure. They handed me that envelope and bounced.”

“Wonder what's in it,” she mutters more to herself than to us as she steps toward Tank, eyes on the envelope. He lifts it high above his head when she tries to reach for it. “Hey, that's mine.”