Page 28 of Three

I turn to find a slightly heavy-breathing Hunter staring at me. I can see fire in his eyes, but I don’t know if it’s caused by the fight or something else. His guy is lying face down on the floor. Hunter’s big boot lifts from the guy’s broken neck—I bet he only had to stomp on it once. So fucking hot.

“Okay?” I ask him. He nods, seemingly unaffected by the situation. His eyes run quickly down my body as if he’s checking for injuries and pause on the cut on my shoulder. That makes an unfamiliar, not sexual feeling spread in my guts.

Grizzly turns the dead body over and takes the mask off the guy.

My merciless succubus is at it again, and soon, my just acquired senses disappear. Still, I have a matter at hand to take care of.

I take a picture of the dead dudes’ faces and ask Serena if she can find a match in the database. “Check ex-military as well.” Their buzz cuts and the way they fought screamed Marines to me—in addition to their boots andfashion style.

“What are you into?” Hunter growls.

“They weren’t here for me, Grizzly.”

“Malcom?”

“Maybe. This one,” I point at Pepé, “seemed to really like you. But I’m not sure. Need to dig more. How about you tell me everything that can be related to this over a coffee?”

“Who are you? Apart from a rich game developer?” he asks, instead of accepting my invitation.

“Aww, you really checked me out? I’m honored.” I wink at him.

When Serena starts talking, I activate the speaker on my bracelet. “Jim Sears and Morris Frank, ex-Navy.” Navy not Marines, close enough. “Dishonorably discharged on suspicion of espionage. They were mercenaries accepting jobs on the dark web.”

“Do they have any connection to Malcom Bindy?” Hunter asks, leaning his body toward my wrist.So cute.

“Serena, check that and also if there’s any link with August Baker.”

“The guy you kidnapped? What does he have to do with this?” He points at the dead mercenaries. “The hell is going on? Since I met you, I’ve been attacked four times.”

“Like your life was all roses before!” I send him a firm look that dares him to refute it.

“Are you always this…”

“Fabulous? Gorgeous? Magnificent?” I offer him some adjectives that would fit perfectly my marvelous self.

“Annoyingly evasive?” His gruff voice and unwavering gaze make my dick twitch, uncaring of his words.

“I do my best, Grizzly.” I give him a big smile. “Look, I’ll tell you what I know, but not here.”

“Fine, but let’s do it quickly,” my bear relents. He turns and strides off without waiting for me. Hunter is a step away from giving it to me. He just doesn’t know it yet.

I send a quick text to Uri, telling him to come here and take care of the bodies since he owes me big, and to keep an eye on Malcom. I need to interrogate him when he’s sane again.

four

RAMIEL

I stop my car in the café parking lot and get out. I look around until I find Hunter leaning on a red motorcycle, phone in hand. When I get close enough, I realize that there’s a green, egg-shaped seat attached to his bike.

I whistle. “It’s a sidecar.” I have never seen one in real life. Only in a couple of old movies. The bike is sturdier than I thought, and bigger, while the seat is quite small and uncomfortable looking.

“Let’s go,” he rumbles, disregarding my interest.

“O-kay,” I say… to his back. He enters the café, pausing to hold the door for me, and then moves to the counter.

The barista straightens from his relaxed position. His scrutinizing eyes go from Hunter’s serious expression to smiling, approachable me. He decides I’m a better target and undresses me with a dirty look in the few seconds it takes to reach him.

“Hey, Noah,” I greet him, placing my tumbler in front of him. Lori had a quickie with him a few months ago. He’s good-looking withhis dark, mussed hair, golden skin, and smiling blue eyes.