Page 41 of Devil's Property

“Wait,” the man shouted in English, although his accent was strong.

“You’re here for the cutting agent. Yes?” I jumped in for no other purpose than to move this along. I’d grown bored and that usually meant increased acts of violence if I found no other gratification.

And sadly, Fallon wasn’t here to sate my desires.

The soldier was sweating like a dog, anguish forming lines on his swollen face.

“Scientist,” he gritted out.

“What the hell?” Kruz interjected.

Bingo. Whatever the scientist had produced was worth dying for. If I had to guess, I’d say the product in the vial was simply a perk. The scientist had been here but had gotten wind of a possible attack. “He was here earlier,” I said absently.

“Keep talking,” Jago told him.

After he swallowed, he stared down at his mangled hand. I sensed he was weighing the odds of being let go, already determining the answer. We weren’t the kind of men or players in the dangerous business who would allow a venomous snake to slither away.

Yet he also contemplated how much agony he’d been forced to endure by keeping whatever oath he’d taken for his master.

“We were meeting a scientist.”

“For what purpose?” I moved closer.

He tried to laugh as if the entire mission he and his men had been sent on was ridiculous. “To take him with us.”

Jago stood slowly, backing away and turning toward us. He looked me in the eyes before glancing at Kruz. “Don’t say it. Not a word. We’ll handle my cousin tomorrow. He will talk.”

There was a quick movement from behind Jago.

I reacted instantly, shoving Jago to the floor, yanking my Sig Sauer free and firing off two shots.

Just because I liked to be thorough.

Jago stared up at me from his position on the floor before turning his head toward the dead man. “Well, fuck. I guess I owe you.”

“Yeah, you do. But who’s counting?” I lowered my weapon, lifting a single eyebrow. “This is why I refuse to become involved with a woman.”

While Jago burst into laughter, my phone rang. Sighing, I pulled it into my hand. “Yes?” I answered. After a few seconds, I closed my eyes. “Shit. My night just keeps getting better and better.” No, that wasn’t accurate. My night had just gone from bad to insufferable.

CHAPTER 12

Thirty minutes earlier…

Fallon

A prisoner.

I never thought I’d be a prisoner. The anger was frustrating, keeping me from thinking clearly. It wasn’t just because I’d been locked in a room, although that alone was enough to fuel the rage. I was furious with myself for succumbing to Navarro. Who in their right mind planned on killing someone, only to turn around and engage in fulfilling a carnal need?

This girl.

The crazy one.

The one who’d gone off the deep end.

I’d been a planner, my whole life laid out by the time I was sixteen. I’d known even in my shyness that one day I’d be acelebrated artist enjoying the throes of my real passion while basking in the glory of notoriety.

Had I achieved great success? Not as much as I’d hoped for, but enough to keep a roof over my head and food on my table. I’d followed my dreams, living the life of sacrifice through the years just so I could tell my father ‘I told you so.’