Torture.
Kill.
Those were the steps in his plan. And step one would be put into motion before the night’s end.
For now, however, he would stay in the shadows. Watching tonight’s target until the time came to do more.
Aurora Danielle Tennison.
The sexy brunette had porcelain skin, striking blue eyes, and a body that would make any man in here hard as fucking steel. She also appeared to be smart, both in the ways of life and in business.
At thirty-two, the marketing and graphic design specialist was well on her way to building a very successful business. He’d seen her work first-hand and knew what a talented and savvy vixen she was.
It was a shame he was going to have to kill her.
With his eyes following her every movement, he kept his gaze locked onto his target as she turned and said something to the woman sitting to her left. Megan King, also thirty-two, was the sister to Delta’s second-in-command. She was also Aurora’s best friend from childhood and engaged to her live-in fiancé, Christian Hunt—the private security team’s lead operator.
He blinked as Aurora pushed herself away from the table and stood. Leaning down, she said something into her friend’s ear before pushing in her chair and turning away.
His feet shifted, preparing to move when the opportunity arose. A few minutes later, he saw his chance…and smiled.
1
Minutes earlier…
“Did someone say shots?”Aurora Tennison balanced the round tray full of drinks in her hands as she approached the most important people in her life.
Careful not to spill the near-overflowing shot glasses in her care, she squeezed herself between her empty seat on the right and her best friend.
“Ro! You bought an entire round?” Megan King studied the tray and its contents with a set of wide, hazel eyes and arched brows. Speaking loudly, she turned her brown brows inward with a look of disapproval. “You didn’t have to do that. I told you when I invited you, tonight’s on Delta.”
“I know I didn’thaveto, and I know that’s what you said. But Cade only turns thirty once, and his latest drink was getting close to empty.” She gave her friend a casual shrug. “Figured he might be getting thirsty.”
Ro glanced to the birthday boy sitting two spots down from Megan. Though it was hard to tell with the unfocused look currently spread across his attractive, drunken face, the hunk was a top-notch sniper for R.I.S.C.’s Delta Team—one of four teams that made up the most elite private security empire in existence.
Tall. Built. Attractive. Funny. Loyal.
Deadly.
That was Cade Ellis…and every other man currently sitting at their table.
Though she had no other personal connection to the group of former military badasses, Ro and Megan were as close as if they were actually blood related. Since she spent most of her time with the other woman—and she pretty much got along with everyone as long as they didn’t piss her off—it hadn’t taken long for Christian and the other guys on the team to become her friends, too.
Not a massive hardship given how tall, dark, and mouthwateringly sexy they all were. Of course, there was only one member of R.I.S.C.’s Delta Team that truly made Ro’s insides quiver and her heart flip.
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—the sexy former SEAL she dreamed about at night saw her as nothing more than a friend.
And I get to spend the entire night tonight pretending that’s all I feel for him, too.
“Hey, Cade!” Ro elevated her voice so the man they were celebrating could hear her over the music and constant buzz of conversation. “You good?”
His blank stare, heavy lids, and intoxicated sway—combined with a wide, lazy smile—said he was far better than good.
“I’m…grrreat!” The former Green Beret gave her a lazy thumbs-up.
His slow-motion movements and slurred response made Ro and the others burst into laughter.
“Dude you sound like that cartoon tiger from that one cereal commercial,” Liam Cutler, the team’s technical analyst, teased from his seat across from Cade’s.