Page 10

Adler

“Coval has been spotted in New York,” Ghost told me three days later. “We had someone on his ass, but he managed to slip the tail again.”

“Fuck,” I swore. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s safe to say he’s coming right for you.”

I scrubbed my hand through my hair, my grasp on my phone tightening enough it should have cracked the device.

“We have eyes on your building,” my contact continued. “His men aren’t well known, though, and we don’t know who he might have contact with in the city. He could have recruited any number of the disenfranchised to join his cause.”

“His cause being to off me,” I muttered.

“Not necessarily.”

Which was even worse. I knew what Ghost intimated. Coval might be after those important to me. Revenge for his brother. An eye for an eye.

“Thanks for the update,” I said, surging to my feet and pacing my office. I paused at the window, staring outside at the busy street. He could be out there, blending in with the crowd.

“I’ll keep in touch; let you know if we spot him or learn more. You know, maybe he’s in town to get fitted for new suits at Alan David .”

“Right.” We disconnected and I crossed my arms, staring outside. Coval might think he was invisible, but he didn’t know me.

Turning away, I yanked out my phone again.

“Boss,” Connor, my second in command, answered. “You need me there?”

“I need the team to pull traffic and security cam footage in a three mile radius to my building. Run it through facial recognition, looking for Coval. Anything within a half mile needs to be a constant live feed into the software.”

Connor had been my dive partner in SEALs and he’d been on that last op with me. When it had been time for him to re-up a year later, he’d retired and come to work for me. He knew exactly who Coval was.

“He’s here?”

Quickly, I brought him up to speed, something I probably should have done sooner, and would have if I hadn’t been distracted by Linzey and all the places I could fuck her in this penthouse.

Answer: plenty…but not enough. I already wanted her again.

Which didn’t bode well for my work in the future, after Coval’s threat was eliminated.

“I also need you to get the safe house ready. Until we know what he’s up to, I’m moving Linzey. We need to get Booker and his family moved out of the city temporarily, too.”

“Got it.”

We hung up, and I stalked toward the media room where I knew Linzey was working on one of her online classes. I needed eyes on her and not through a camera.

The last week had been difficult enough without added danger and fear. I had no idea what I should share, or if I should keep it need to know…assuming she didn’t need to know.

The incident at the club had thrown Linzey into a spiral, barely eating…

exercising even more…having nightmare upon nightmare.

And I wasn’t much better. I’d slept less than normal, and I couldn’t settle, my restlessness driving me into perpetual action.

While I didn’t sink into a dissociative, PTSD-induced state, constant memories plagued me.

I remained on edge, sure that danger lurked around every corner.

The only peace for either of us was when we were together, possibly why we needed sex so much. An obsession? Yes. A coping mechanism? Possibly. Love? Hell yeah. Neither of us had said the words, but it was there.

Having her in my arms at night helped. It helped both of us. And I never wanted it to change. I hadn’t been in my own bed since before the day we’d gone to Bradford’s . If she ever needed alone time I wasn’t sure how I’d handle it. I was quickly becoming addicted to sleeping with my woman.

So, maybe, I should stop being an asshole and just tell her my feelings.

I’d known how I felt for… Actually, I couldn’t pinpoint when my devotion had turned to love.

Longer ago than I knew, that was for sure.

Then the shooting had happened, propelling me into action.

Making sure Linzey knew she was mine. She still mentioned the gala we’d go to in a couple weeks and had started fittings for her dresses, but whenever the subject came up, it was us, as a couple, who’d be attending. Not her, looking for a man.

I still wanted to whisk her away someplace, but if she wanted to go to the fancy party, I’d give her whatever she asked for.

“Hey,” she said, setting aside her laptop when I entered the media room. I sank onto the plush, leather seat beside her and pulled her into my lap, my mouth immediately on hers.

“Needed to see you.”

“Funny thing… I needed to see you, too,” she replied, her small hands sliding along my cheeks.

I turned my head, kissing the inside of her wrist and running my tongue along the small scar there.

Linzey shivered, arching into me. Turning my head, I buried my face in her neck, breathing in her pure-Linzey scent of clean linen and sunshine.

“Adler,” she moaned, turning to straddle me. My hand skimmed up her torso to cup her breast.

“Is your laptop off?” I rasped.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Not giving your class or some rando professor a show.”

Reaching over, she closed the device. “Just in case. I’ve seen too many crime shows the past few years.”

“Good plan.” I shoved up her T-shirt then tugged down her bra to give me access to her lush breasts. Her nipples were pearled, begging for my mouth and hands. Cupping her, I flicked my thumb over on hardened tip while I took the other deep into my mouth.

“Oh God!” she cried, pushing into me while I sucked, my tongue lashing over a hardened peak. She grabbed my shoulders as the world seemed to shift, everything shaking.

Then something crashed over on the other side of the penthouse. An explosion from someplace below us rent the air, and I yanked back from Linzey. Holding her, I surged to my feet.

“What’s going on?” she exclaimed as the building shook. “Earthquake?”

In New York? Possible but unlikely.

I shook my head while I pulled her clothes back into place, trepidation heavy in my gut.

My phone went off. Connor. I yanked the cell from my pocket as I ran for the service door near the elevator, keeping Linzey close to my side.

“Talk to me,” I demanded.

“Explosions in the parking garage beneath the building. Not enough to bring it down. Yet. You need to evacuate. Don’t exit through the lobby. I already have a car on the way to meet you at the side service door.”

Right. Because Coval or his associates were probably watching. I had no doubt they’d see us, no matter were we exited.

I detoured to my office and opened the security panel built into the desk. After pulling out my weapons, I snagged my bulletproof vest and fastened it on Linzey.

“When we get to the door, keep your head down and close to me. We’ll have to run, but I’ll cover us and so will our pickup man.”

“Okay,” she gasped, breathless with worry. “I don’t understand. Do you think they’re after someone in the building?”

“Yes. Me.”

“What? You?” she cried as we hurried down the steps. We couldn’t use the elevator. God knew if there would be more explosives or if the first ones had compromised the system.

“Yeah.”

Another explosion rocked the building, and Linzey screamed.

I yanked her up into my arms so I could run faster.

At the same time, I gave thanks that the builders had constructed a solid structure or that the explosives were small.

It would be just like Coval to do that. Well-placed munitions wouldn’t bring down the high rise, but would draw out the occupants.

After what seemed like forever, we reached the first-floor door to the corridor that led to the side service entrance.

Placing Linzey on her feet, I shifted her behind me then drew my weapon.

Cautiously, I cracked open the door then surveyed the area.

Seeing it all clear, I pulled her into the passage and we rushed toward the steel outer door.

I didn’t suppose that we’d be as lucky when we opened it.

Pausing, I yanked out my phone again.

“We’re at the exit. Is the car here?”

“It’s there.”

“Recon?”

“No one suspicious. Proceed with caution.”

Following the same protocol as with the last door, I cracked this one open and again surveyed the surroundings. As Connor had reported, it appeared all clear.

“Okay, little girl, we’ve gotta run. Remember what I said.”

She nodded.

“Head down; stay close,” she said quickly, the words tumbling together.

“Good girl.”

Gun at the ready, I folded her against me, and we dashed for the waiting car.

The driver, Matteo, stepped out, covering us from that direction.

I heard a shot, and Linzey screamed again, ducking lower.

Lifting her, I ran the rest of the way to the vehicle and dove inside.

I’d barely slammed the door when Matteo peeled away, even as more more shots hit the car.

“Bulletproof,” I muttered into Linzey’s hair as she sobbed into my chest. My God, how much could one woman take? I was trained for this. She was not. She didn’t deserve this, any of it.

I hugged her tight, knowing what I’d have to do and dreading it. She’d never forgive me.