Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55606 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Stay.” A command.
Eyes locked on Robert, she waited. More was sure to come, she knew it.
She held Lance’s gaze then gave him a small nod before retreating to her spot along the wall. Wonder if he’d have a heart attack if he knew that I’d fucked his man. More than once.
“You can’t fucking be serious right now. You’ve been in for almost two-plus years. Suddenly this girl comes in and you think she’s your way in? Stop thinking with your dick. You want to fuck the slut, go ahead. But she will not be part of this.”
“She already is and don’t fucking call her a slut. Dusan bought her as my girlfriend.”
“How?”
She waited for the retelling of her going after him with an ASP.
Caro would like that story. Maybe. Probably be a bit worried then she would laugh. She missed her sister, even though they weren’t the closest twins.
“It is what it is,” Lance growled. “If it came down to it right now, I’m sure he would take her over me. She gave him some information he wanted.”
A derisive snort. “Of course she did.” Robert’s glare hit her. “Sell your soul?”
“I leave all that to you and your mentor, Satan.” She stared at her nails before pushing that hand back in her pocket.
“You fucking gave up cops to that asshole?” Robert thundered as he stomped toward her.
Lance edged between them, his hard body protection she didn’t want or need.
“Stop this.” His order came to her low and graveled. “We can’t waste time fucking around your past issues.”
“I didn’t give up cops. I gave him two of his son’s men who are ratting to cops. Unlike you, Robert, I don’t betray those whose back I’m supposed to have. Again, something that is far more up your alley than mine.”
Anger flowed in her veins. All the years of trying to let it go faded away and it was as if her history had happened to her yesterday. Dropping her hand to the ASP at her side, she lunged toward Robert only to be brought up short. Lance had a hold of her around the waist and he drew her against him. At least she got the pleasure of seeing Robert flinch back in fear.
She lowered her hand with the weapon in it. Lance plucked the ASP from her grasp and slipped it back into her pocket.
“Let’s not do this. We have to be going, Robert. I’ll send information when I can, letting you know the when and where.”
She wouldn’t trust the fucker as far as she could throw him. Biting her tongue to keep her personal opinion contained, she stepped away from Lance’s touch. Only once she had retreated to the wall did her breathing come a bit easier.
Jasmine knew herself to be better than this. If you hate a person, then you’re defeated by them. Repeating one of the many Confucius quotes she’d memorized, she eventually was back in a place of workable rage.
Keeping her comments to herself as they finished talking, she left without hesitation when Lance sent her the silent communication. She maintained her distance while he and his handler had their lover’s quarrel, but she returned to his side when he beckoned.
Jasmine didn’t allow her mask to slip, not for a single instant. When the trio parted and the two of them were walking on the way back to Lance’s place, he dropped his arm around her shoulder and brushed a kiss over her cheek. Damn her body for standing up and waving for more. It was nothing more than a game, and if he didn’t need her help, this wouldn’t be happening.
My life isn’t destined for what Caro has. It’s to be alone and looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.
Still, she knew how the game was played, and when they stopped at a street vendor for hot dogs, she didn’t argue who paid, or the second kiss he took. They ate quickly and disposed of the trash before he held out his hand for her. Ignoring her voice of self-preservation that yelled this was going to hurt in the end, she took it.
Back at his place, they did another sweep before he turned on the radio, some oldies station, and tugged her into the small kitchen.
“Want to tell me what that was all about?”
“Nope.”
“Tough shit.” He gripped her chin and brought her face around to meet his. “I need to know.”
Cutting off her arm may be less painful than revisiting these old memories. He was right, she owed it to him. Okay, that wasn’t true, she didn’t owe this man anything, she was doing this to help him, not because he was helping her.
Orgasms not withstanding.
“I’m going to need a drink.”
He got her a beer and popped the top on it prior to handing it over. Her body trembled from the ever-so brief contact with his. Eyes locked to Lance’s, she took a long slow drink, buying herself a bit more seconds before it came time to rip off that scab.