Page 35 of Bound By Betrayal

My wrist lit up with a text from Derek, who was with another team on the other side of the building. He was checking my status and letting me know they were about to make entry onto one of the main floors. I knew it had taken a lot for Derek to be here. He’d promised Eva years ago he was done with this life, but he wasn’t willing to let me go alone. Fucking up on my own was one thing, but putting my life in the hands of others, especially ones I was barely acquainted with, was another level of trust neither of us had reached yet. And while we didn’t like the idea ofsplitting up, I wasn’t going to bitch about it and give Amalia the ammo to shit talk later.

“Does your little friend Rocco ever make it, or does he just send you to do his dirty work?”

She turned to me and fisted my shirt. “I’m no one’s errand girl, and I’m here for my father, not Rocco.”

“You look fucking adorable when you’re ready to kill someone.”

“I’m sure I’ll look just as cute when I put my foot up your ass.”

“I know you will.”

“Cain. Vicious. Head in the game. We’re about to breach the main level stairwell.”

We both snapped our attention toward Holly.

“Don’t do that,” Amalia said, shaking her head and falling back into step with the others. We heard an amused chuckle from the entryway where Holly and her partner had disappeared.

“That’s my thing,” I whispered. “She can’t just take it.”

“Of all the names you could have—”

“It’s perfect for you.”

As hard as she was probably trying to hide her smile, the small lights on the pipes above us were on my side.

She was fucking beautiful.

“Hey.” I caught her wrist, and while she didn’t turn around, she stopped walking, waiting to hear what I had to say. “Don’t chew my head off, but I just feel like it needs to be said. “Be careful.”

“I didn’t know you cared.”

I leaned in, inhaling her soft, unforgettable scent. “You still owe me.”

“Ugh.” She mushed my face back and hurried after the group.

In the next several minutes, we were up three flights of stairs and busting through the door to what should have been a banquet hall occupied by our targets. But it was empty.

“Are we in the wrong place? Bad intel?”

Amalia didn’t answer. She scanned the room, her expression both perplexed and flustered. “No, this was what he said. We confirmed with his guy, and he wouldn’t betray my father.”

“Vicious, everyone has a price. I keep my circle small for that very reason.”

DEREK

First level clear. No one here.

ME

No one here either, D. Head on a swivel. Something is up.

DEREK

Copy.

ME

Shit goes left, get yourself out. You got a wife and kid.