Page 27 of Lethal Vengeance

My shoulder lifts, unwilling to give him an answer.

The slight movement is like waving a red cape. Hard lips capture mine in a demanding kiss, but unlike our first one, this one has a possessive edge to it. Every stroke of his tongue is intent on owning my lips, until the thought and feel of another’s kiss is nothing but smoke.

Booted footsteps filter through the closed door. They stop. Start again.

Cruz’ lips refuse to release mine. My heart beats faster.

A radio crackles. The guard stops, but after a second, he takes three more steps. The handle jiggles. He curses. Keys jingle.

Cruz pulls his mouth from mine and reaches behind his back for his gun.

I shift to give him room for the shot.

Another voice calls out.

The guard in front of our closet answers, but the words are muffled.

Keys jingle again, but this time, he moves away from the door.

We listen for a minute, but he doesn’t return.

Eager to get out of the closet, I reach for the handle.

An arm locks around my body, pulling me back. His breath caresses the shell of my ear. “Quinn.”

Hearing the need in his voice makes me smile with satisfaction. “I went home and finished myself.”

“Always twisting the knife, aren’t you?” he asks, with a low chuckle.

With his own quick twist, he unlocks the door and turns the handle.

Light from the hallway filters into the dark closet.

I pull up my phone. “Unlike the last one, this guard was exactly on time. There are two more patrolling on the east side of the building. Once we confirm their movements, we’ll be done. Let’s go.”

* * *

We finish mappingthe timing and route of the guards. Cruz moves toward our exit, a side door near the back of the building. Suddenly, the sound of feet pounding the ground outside has us scrambling for cover.

Cruz’ head swivels and stops. He points up and cups his hands.

After a brief glance, I take a few steps back to get momentum, step into the cradle, and spring up. I grab the steel beam and haul my body on top of it.

Once he’s sure I’m secure, he runs up the side wall and catches the same beam I used and lifts himself up. He quickly scans our surroundings until he finds a corner with more cover. One long, elegant finger motions for me to move.

With arms held straight out, I carefully stand. Looking across to the next beam, I realize they’re farther apart than I can comfortably step. I’ll have to jump. Taking a half step back until my toes are the only thing on the back of the twelve inch beam, I spring off the back, hit the front with the other foot, and quickly launch myself across each one until I get to the corner. Using the ceiling for balance, I turn and face Cruz, an exhilarated smile on my face.

Intense brown eyes flicker with heat. He stands and steps forward, long legs easily reaching the next beam.

The exit door below me flies opens, and I press my back into the corner, praying the guard doesn’t look up.

Cruz freezes.

The radio in the guard’s hand squawks several times, but I only catch a few words before he disappears down the hall. Girl. Missing.

My eyes dart to Cruz.Fuck. I hope it’s not one of our girls.

One minute, he’s standing in front of me, the next, he’s gone. Silently disappearing like a mirage in the middle of the desert.