Target: Hard Target Part 9

Oh, and snipers could be hiding behind the love seats placed in small alcoves, waiting to blow our heads off.

I honestly don't know how anyone can live this way. This is way worse than growing up as a fugitive moons.h.i.+ner's daughter. It's just prettier to look at than a rundown shack and a dirt yard. But at least I was alive in that rundown shack and dirty yard. And all I had to worry about was keeping my nasty cousin, Roger, from messing with me.

There, if someone had a problem, they'd let you know up front, but here...

By the time we get to our room, I'm a mess. Tears are threatening to fall at any second and my throat is so tight that I'm all but blubbering when I tell Ben that I need to use the restroom.

I slam the door behind me, then rest my hands against a granite countertop that looks as though it's shot with gold. A chandelier dripping with crystals sprays rainbows all over the room. This is probably the most beautiful bathroom I've ever seen in my life and I can't enjoy it one bit.

I sniff back the tears, staring at my mess of a reflection. My eyes are rimmed in red and, though my hair is pulled into a bun, frizzy wispy pieces frame my face, making me look like a crazy woman. Or like I just wrestled a wild boar. My only saving grace is that I haven't smeared my make-up all over my face.

But that's only because I'm not wearing any.

There's a knock on the bathroom door.

"May I come in?"

Sagging against the counter, I say, "Sure."

Ben's head appears first, then the rest of him fills the doorway. While the bathroom is large, his presence is bigger. "I know you wanted to get this over with, but you needed a break."

I stare pointedly at the shadows under his eyes. Shadows that don't detract in the least from his s.e.xy face. "You needed one too."

"I do. I haven't lived this life in a while. Takes some getting use to."

"Are you going to punch a wall again?"

"Not for at least another hour or so." He moves closer, joining me at the sink. "We will get through this."

"I'll have to trust you on that."

He grabs the hem of my sweater and pulls me over to him, settling me between his legs. His hand sweeps across my forehead, pus.h.i.+ng back my hair. "I haven't given you much to trust, have I?"

I consider his words for a minute or two while he waits patiently for me answer him.

"You've saved my life. That's a pretty trustworthy thing to do."

He begins to ma.s.sage the tight muscles of my shoulders and despite myself, I moan. "I asked the concierge to send up some clothes for you. They should fit, I based the size on what you're wearing now."

"Bless you, but is that safe? I can wear this skirt and sweater set until they can stand up on their own, if need be."

He smiles a little. "Dmitry is watching our backs."

"While I trust you, I don't know your cousin. He's never saved my life."

"Not yet he hasn't." He stops kneading my shoulders. "I'll take the sofa. You can take the bed."

"We're adults. We're allowed to sleep together," I point out.

"Sofa is by the door. I'll be able to protect you better that way."

"Is there a window in the bedroom?"

"A balcony."

I raise a brow. "Couldn't bad guys crash through it?"

He rubs his jaw. "I suppose so."

"Then you'll have to sleep with me. Get Dmitry to sleep on the sofa and watch the door."

"Much better than his car." Ben pulls his phone from his pocket. "I'll text him."

I fist my hands on my hips. "Are you trying to be a gentleman now?"

His head cants from one side to the other. "It had occurred to me to keep my distance."

"But we've seen each other naked."

"Tonight, we'll keep on our clothes."

"You announced to the entire main floor that I was..." I tap the side of my face a couple of times, glancing to one side as if trying to recall his exact words. "Oh, yeah... riding your c.o.c.k tonight."

He coughs a little. "About that. I was trying to put you at ease."

"If at ease you mean turned on, frustrated, annoyed, and scared to death, then you are right on the money," I blurt.

"I wasn't trying to be on the money. I only..." He slashes his hand through the air. "We were putting on a show, but if it bothers you so much, I'll stop. Okay?"

"Fine." I move to the door, then glance over my shoulder. "Ben?"

"Yes?"

"After we drop the flash drive at the bank, I fully expect a no clothes in bed kind of night." Call me crazy, but I need something to look forward to. A happy thought to keep me going. s.e.x with the man standing so very close to me is the happiest thing to happen to me a very long time.

His gaze slid down my body before meeting mine. "Count on it."

Chapter Eight.

Benjamin True to my word, I allow Dmitry to sleep on the sofa by the door while I share a bed with Morgan. I convinced her to take a shower-alone-and to take her time. I think she spent the greater part of an hour in there and when the door opened, steam billowed out. But it was good for her. Her eyes had lost much of the haunted look, and her body seemed less tense.

Now, she's in my arms, snuggled up to me and breathing deeply. Sleeping peacefully while I stare at the shadows on the wall. I can't remember the last time I held a woman like this. Honestly, I think Morgan has ruined me for other women, more than the last serious relations.h.i.+p I had ever did.

h.e.l.l, that relations.h.i.+p doesn't touch this.

That's not a slam to Kate, but rather a revelation on my part. I wanted too much, too fast, and I was too newly disconnected from the Bratva. They couldn't trust me on my own yet, no matter what Grandfather had promised. While I didn't think they would hurt her, the Bratva would scare her... make sure she would never betray us.

In the end, none of that mattered because that d.a.m.nable woman went her own way.

Morgan s.h.i.+fts, pulling a shapely thigh over mine. The heat of her scalds my skin, ratcheting my desire to touch her, to give her pleasure, and hear her soft moans.

I can't have her and not because Dmitry is close by either. I don't deserve to touch her under these circ.u.mstances. While I know that Morgan taking the flash drive to the lab was circ.u.mstance, I can't help but feel like everything that happened after that is completely my fault. Yet, if I hadn't gotten involved, she would be dead. Her lifeless body found on the floor of the lab.

Her lips blue.

Her skin grey.

Blood pooling beneath her.

I close my eyes and pull her tighter against me. The flash drive that hangs from the chain around my neck seems to weigh me down, my own, personal albatross.

I can't risk removing it though. It's our only hope for survival.

The next morning comes all too quickly. The three of us head down to breakfast in the hotel's private cafe for VIP guests. I check my messages while Morgan and Dmitry alternate eating with eying each other across the table. Only Maxim has responded, saying that he can help us in London only. Outside of that, we're on our own.

"f.u.c.king brilliant."

Morgan's lashes flick up, her blue gaze a.s.sessing. She doesn't say a word as she covers my hand with hers, attempting to comfort me. I don't push it away. I crave the contact she so willingly gives me.

"Maxim is a no, I take it," Dmitry asks.

"He's a yes for London."

Dmitry grunts. "That is of no help."

"Thank you, Captain Obvious."

Morgan taps my hand. "Don't be so grumpy."

"Who is Captain Obvious?" Dmitry asks with a serious face, but there is a gleam of humor in his eyes.

"Shut up." I throw my napkin at him.

Dmitry flashes his gun.

"Boys," Morgan says with a pointed glare. "Mind your manners and eat."

I shoot off another email to Violet, then dig into the food. Who knows when we'll be able to stop and eat again.

The television captures my attention and I can't take my eyes off of it. I fully expect to see our image with the word wanted appearing underneath. But that never happens. Instead a morning cooking show fills the screen.

"Have you heard from Violet, yet?" Dmitry asks.

"No. It's not like her to be silent for so long."

"Who is Violet?" Morgan asks.

"Hacker with a background in biology. I thought she could decipher what's on the drive."

"Oh," Morgan says lightly. "Are you close to her?"

I don't miss the flash of jealousy in her blue eyes. "We've never met, actually."

"That doesn't mean anything. People have online relations.h.i.+ps all the time," she points out.

"I don't even know her real name."

"So?"

"She's a respected colleague in the hacker community."

"Which means that you do know her."

Dmitry keeps eating, his gaze landing on us every so often as he scans the room.

"You're welcome to cut in at any time, mate."

"You've got it handled." He smiles at me, then winks at Morgan. "Go on, dig deeper, cuz."

She blinks at him, like she's just been dazzled. I can admit that my cousin is a handsome bloke. Women like him well enough, but I loathe the look on her face. Normally, that look is reserved for me. All right, so over the past four days that look has been for me alone.

White-hot jealousy flashes through me and I stand, grabbing Morgan's hand as I do. "Come with me."

"Why?"

"I need to take your mind off Violet."

I stride across the room, my steps so long and quick that she nearly has to run to keep up with me.

"I was done with breakfast. Thanks for asking," she says as we step inside the elevator.

"I didn't ask."

"You're so obvious."

Releasing her, I cross my arms and lean against the wall. We are the only people in here. I could f.u.c.k her right now and no one but the security cameras would be the wiser.

However, I won't take her now.