Page 47 of Devil's Property

Neither one of us said anything for several minutes, but just as I was doing to her, Fallon stole several glances in my direction. The more she tried to ignore my presence, the more amused I became.

“I’m curious, Fallon. How did you manage to escape the room?”

“It’s my little secret.”

As I pulled up to a light, I didn’t hesitate, twisting my body and cupping her chin. In the glow of the stoplights, I was clearly able to see the anxiety in her eyes. “As of now, we will have no secrets between us. Besides, I will eventually find out.”

“Why don’t you guess?” She jerked away, but immediately after she slid the index finger of her free hand from one side of my jaw to the other.

Electrifying.

“Alright. Why not? I have some time to kill.” I rubbed my jaw where she’d brushed her finger, able to gather a whiff of her desire. How interesting that with so much hatred there was so much longing. “There’s no way you could have picked the lock from the inside.”

She rolled her eyes. “Too pedestrian anyway.”

Her games were quite amusing. “The window is bulletproof and also with external locks. Not a chance you could shatter the glass.”

When she faked a yawn, I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

How in God’s name had she gotten out? “You didn’t use your feminine wiles and seduce one of the soldiers.”

Her expression as she snapped her head in my direction provided a clear indication of her thoughts on the matter.

Chuckling, with the memory of the room in my mind, I envisioned every inch.

“And here I thought you were a brilliant man,” Fallon cooed.

“Much like I know you’re a resourceful woman.”

“Don’t you mean conniving?”

“That too.” As I turned down the street where Eduardo’s estate was located, I remained furious that I couldn’t figure out the riddle. The woman was enjoying herself far too much. I’d never been bested by anyone, certainly not a woman. With her two near escapes, Fallon had managed to make me look bad. I didn’t know whether to thrash her bottom or remain amused she’d discovered tactical maneuvers around intense security.

Then it finally dawned on me. “I’ll be damned. You scaled the heating vent.”

The lilt in her sarcastic laugh should be annoying, but as with everything else about the woman, I found the sound and her attitude endearing. “You win a prize. A selection of furry creatures to enhance your playful side.”

“I can see I’ll need to utilize far different methods for keeping you under control.” I slowed as I neared the property, lifting my eyebrows as I passed the mutilated fence. “You do realize you could have gotten yourself killed.”

“Your soldiers weren’t going to shoot me.”

“You underestimate their loyalty.”

“You said so yourself. They’re not your soldiers. They have no loyalty to a man from another country.”

The woman knew the business better than I’d thought, which was another reason my initial respect remained strong.

After pulling in front of the estate and sliding the gear into park, I unfastened my seatbelt. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Fallon. Hide and seek is beneath you and I suggest you keep something in mind. Other than the three men I brought with me on this sordid trip, the soldiers serving this house and this regime all work for a man with little or no finesse.”

“What does that mean?”

Wearing no expression, I unfastened her seatbelt, cupping her jaw as I’d done before only this time, I wouldn’t allow her to break free of my hold. “It means they are true savages. Their only loyalty is to their drug lord and to themselves. Anyone else is fair game.”

I pulled her closer, allowing our lips to briefly touch. Her sigh was an instant and very sweet reward.

However lighthearted I’d presented myself, I was angry with her, furious she’d defied my orders while also coming close enough to endangering her life.

“I’m going to make something painfully clear to you, Fallon. I am well aware you haven’t provided the full truth about your situation or your father and whatever dangerous position he found himself in. I’ve been more than patient with you, more than I have for anyone. Contrary to what you believe, I do have feelings for what you’ve gone through in searching for your sister, but my patience and hospitableness does have a finite end, which you are reaching.”