Page 54

“You fuckin’ animal!” she shrieked, lunging with outstretched hands, with her nails aimed at my face.
Santari intercepted her with a right hook to her jaw. The woman folded instantly, collapsing beside her boyfriend in an unconscious heap.
A guffaw slipped from my gut, and Cruz shook his head and whistled. We both stared at Santari with lust in our eyes.
Valets and guests gawked at the two bodies on the pavement, then at us, then back at the bodies.
“Damn, girl,” Cruz murmured, his eyebrows raised at Santari.
“What?” she replied, shaking out her hand. “That bitch had it coming.”
Christian gazed at Santari with newfound respect, then burst into laughter. “Now I see why you keep her around. She’s exactly your speed.”
I fought back a smile but grabbed Santari and drew her close by her throat. “Now, why would you turn me on in front of these people like that?”
She licked up my face, and I bit her bottom lip and sucked in her tongue.
“My suite is on the fifteenth floor of the Fontainebleau,” Christian offered. “There’s plenty of space, and the bar is fully stocked.”
I mounted my bike, and Santari mounted behind me. “Some other time.”
“There’s still a million dollars at play,” he added.
I sucked my teeth. “Not for long.” I revved my engine. “Hold tight,” I told Santari as we accelerated away from Primal Luxury Resort, leaving two unconscious bodies and questionable onlookers in our wake.
The Following Day
Through the floor-to-ceilingwindows of the penthouse suite, I watched Santari cut through the private pool’s water with smooth strokes. The morning sun caught the droplets that flew from her arms, making them sparkle against her rich mahogany skin. My need to keep her close hadn’t diminished since the warehouse but watching her move with such freedom, eased the tightness in my chest.
The laptop screen glowed with information about Aaron—the man who’d helped us find her. His file painted a mundane picture: He was a mid-level staffer at Santari and Storm’s university, married for fifteen years, and had two kids in private school. Nothing about his portfolio explained his connection to professional killers.
My fingers tapped the keyboard as I dug deeper. Bank records showed regular deposits from shell companies. Each one led to another dead end, but the pattern was clear. Someone with resources was covering their tracks.
Santari emerged from the pool with water streaming down her curves. The sight of her wrapped in a towel made my dick throb, but business had to come first.
She entered and disappeared around a corner, then strolled to my side minutes later, dressed in a strapless shirt and mini skirt.
“I’m going to make a quick run,” she said, kissing my face then turning to slip away. I grabbed her ass and pulled her back to me.
“Where are you going?”
Her mouth curved into a sexy smile, and her tongue touched the corner of her mouth.
“To the store a few floors down.”
“Tell me what you need, and I’ll have them bring it up.”
“That’s just the thing, my love, I want to go myself.”
I stood up. “Okay. Let’s go to the store.”
She placed her hands on my chest. “Nooo. Sit down, please, and finish doing what you were doing.”
I stared at her inquisitively. “Should I be concerned that you want time away from me?”
She gawked, her eyes rising. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just going to the store. It won’t take me long.” She frowned. “Is security not tight in your hotel?”
“You know it is.”