Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87618 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
She’s still talking, but I can’t hear anymore. My heart’s hammering now and blood rushes to my head.
This can’t be happening. There’s no way this is happening right now.
I pull away but grab onto her hand. I pull her along, dragging her from the dance floor. “We need to talk,” I snarl, hurrying away from the reception. I know it’s making a scene, but fuck, fuck, fuck.
I have to be wrong.
“What are you doing?” she says, looking back over her shoulder with a frown.
Tigran starts coming toward us, but I wave him off. I take her down a back hall and toward the bathrooms, and once we’re alone, I spin around to face her.
“Show me,” I command, holding out my palm.
She stares at me like I’ve lost my mind.
And honestly, I’m about to. I’m vibrating from head to toe, ringing with horror.
“Are you joking right now?”
“Please. I need to see it.”
“You just dragged me from our wedding because I stole a watch? I knew you were crazy—”
“I don’t give a shit that you stole something,” I say, and maybe it’s the desperation in my voice because her face softens with surprise. “Please, Riley. Let me see it.”
“I don’t know why this is such a big deal,” she says, awkwardly reaching down into her dress. She fishes around at her hip before pulling it back out, wriggling to get her arm back through the sleeve. “It’s just some crappy old thing. Do you know Fong or something?”
She dangles it by the chain.
I touch it gently. The watch spins, catching the light.
Burnished brass. Made to look old, although I know it was made only a few years ago. I weigh it on my palm. “It’s heavier than I thought it’d be,” I say quietly, mostly to myself.
“You really know this thing?”
My stomach is an empty black pit. A deep, existential bleakness fills me as the gravity of our situation becomes horribly clear.
“I was hired to find this,” I tell her, letting it go. I touch her cheek, and she stares at me with confusion. “I’ve been looking for you for a couple of weeks now.”
“I don’t understand.”
“This isn’t an ordinary watch, and Jeremy Fong isn’t just some average consultant.”
“Who is he then?”
I shake my head and lace my fingers into her hair. She lets out a little, confused whimper as I pull her close, brushing my lips over hers, unable to help myself.
“He’s the man who will kill us both if I don’t figure out a way to stop him,” I whisper.
Then I bury my mouth in hers.
Chapter 10
Riley
His mouth feels like heaven. His lips are soft as they dominate mine, and his tongue slips into my mouth with a hungry growl. He tastes like whiskey and fire, and I push myself against him, heart racing, every inch of skin glowing with pure, stupid need.
I have no freaking idea what’s going on, but I like kissing him.
We stay locked like that in the dim hallway. His hands roam my body, touching me, exploring my legs and ass. I gasp, wanting more, impulsive enough to let him drag me into a bathroom and fuck me right there on the sink. But as quickly as he started, he breaks the kiss off.
I gasp, staring as he raises the watch.
“How did you—?” I start, looking down at my hands.
“You’re not the only thief in the world.” He steps back, his expression dark.
“Did you kiss me as a distraction so you could steal that back?”
“This is for your own safety.”
“Fuck that.” I snatch at it, but he holds it up above my reach. Bastard, he’s a great kisser and he’s really tall, which is such a pain. “Give that back.”
“Don’t you get it? You stole this from a Black Mantis member.”
I frown a little. “That name sounds familiar.”
“It should.” He uses his fingernail to pop open the case and pushes down on a hidden latch. The whole watch opens, and instead of intricate gears, I’m staring in at what looks like electronics. “They’re one of the most vicious criminal organizations in the world.” He fiddles with a part of the circuit board until something small and silver pops off.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking out the battery.”
“And why are you doing that?”
“So it can’t keep transmitting your location.”
I feel my feet go numb. “It’s been doing that?”
“It’s been trying, at least.” He puts the watch back together, minus the battery, and shoves it into his pocket. He’s about to say something when a couple of guests come toward us, heading to use the bathroom.
Alexan steps close, one hand on my hip, his mouth down against my cheek. Almost like we’re stealing a little private time.
The woman smiles at us, and I feel my cheeks turn bright red. It’s not what you think, lady. But I actually don’t know what it is myself.