Page 26

Kost

“Sorry.” A man scrambles past me after bumping into my shoulder.

He’s gone in the next moment, hurrying off to catch up with his family that is already at the customs line.

A quick scan and I find the chestnut-haired mark scooting her way into line behind a woman that’s shuffling three kids in front of her toward the desk.

I take my time making my way into line behind the tired and weary travelers who want nothing more than to get out of this airport. There’s no rush on my account.

The hunt is the best part for me.

As the mark reaches the desk, she drops her passport. Bending over to retrieve it, her backpack slips off her arm, smacking her in the face as she gets back up.

She takes a moment, inhales an angry breath before turning back to the desk and thrusting her passport at the attendant.

He does his best to hide the smirk, but I see it. He’s laughing at her. My fingers curl into a fist as I move up a spot in my own line.

After collecting her stamp, she adjusts her backpack again and forges through the double doors into the baggage claim along with the horde of people from our flight from Moscow.

“What brings you to the United States?” the attendant at my custom desk asks, dragging my attention from the doors to him.

“Visiting family,” I say, forcing a grin. “A short visit.”

He looks back at my passport—it’s a forgery. One too well made for him to detect, even though he pretends to try. After scanning it and clicking a few things on his computer, he hands it back to me.

“Have a good visit.”

“Thanks.” It’s getting too easy, slipping in and out of countries without being detected.

There’s very little challenge in it these days. I would have thought with all the new technology it would become harder, but as the governments gain tech, so do my associates.

It’s almost boring.

My phone rings the moment I step into the baggage claim area. It’s an explosion of people fighting through crowds to get to the conveyor belts carrying luggage.

“Dmitri,” I greet my brother.

“I got your message. The last one is gone?”

This is what I like about my older brother. He gets right to the point. No small talk, just straight to what he wants to know.

“He is. You won’t have a problem from the Kozlov family again. They’ve broken too many deals with the others back home. What we haven’t taken care of, they will.”

“Good.” An announcement cuts off his next words.

“What did you say?” I ask once it’s finished.

“Are you in an airport?” he asks.

“O’Hare.” I catch a glimpse of my mark; she’s in line at the exit doors with her lavender suitcase with the daisies printed on the sides.

She stands out against all of the dark-colored bags. The woman isn’t one to blend.

“Chicago? Why?”

“I have work.” I move up.

Five people stand between me and her. It would be easy to grab her once we get through the doors. People will be scrambling to make their next flights from Chicago to whichever city they are trying to get to. Others will be too concerned to getting outside to the cabs to care about some woman being snatched.

“You have work in Chicago?” Always the questioner.

“Just tying up loose ends. That’s all.”

“When you’re done, come to New York. Meet your sister-in-law. Your nephew will be arriving soon; you could stay for his birth.”

I chuckle. “Always so arrogant. What if it’s a girl?”

“Amelia wouldn’t dare give me a daughter first.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” I walk through the doors, past the last level of security and into the main hallway of the airport.

My mark is quick; she’s made it outside already. A taxi pulls up to her and she’s handing over her suitcase.

Ending the call with my brother, I step outside just as she climbs into the back of the cab and it pulls away from the curb. I catch her eye just for a brief moment when she glances back out the window.

Something must spook her though, because she flips around in her seat and remains looking forward until she’s out of view.

I pull out the card from my coat pocket. She was so preoccupied with her passport and ID back in Moscow, she dropped it out of her purse. I snatched it before she noticed it was gone.

A business card for the Chicago library.

Harper Bennett.

It’s more than enough for me to find her again.

I don’t let loose ends go free.

And Harper is definitely a loose end.

Innocent Brides will continue with book seven,

Stolen Innocence , coming soon!

In the meantime…

If you loved the Innocent Brides Series and want more obsessive alpha-heroes,

check out the Sacred Obsession series.