Conor’s eyes narrow on the car with lethal intent. His voice is clear and controlled. “I don’t speak beep, Evanoff. You want to talk? Let’s talk. No guns. No snipers. Just you and me.” He pauses. “I’ll even come to you.”
“What do you think you’re doing?!” I hiss at him. “You’re going to get yourself killed, Conor!”
“I think you’ll want to negotiate with me!” he calls out, ignoring me. “Especially since I have something you want.”
My eyes widen as he pulls the Fabergé egg from his back pocket.
Chapter Sixteen
CUFFING SEASON
Conor holds theNécessairealoft.
It’s dazzling in the sunshine, refracting a hundred rainbows in every direction.
I can’t help gasping — at its beauty, but also at the fact that he has it in his possession. I’d thought it lost for good, after my poor treatment of it.
Before I can ask how the hell he managed to track it down, the door to my convertible opens. I flinch at the sound of Lefty’s voice.
“Kitchen. Five minutes. Come alone.” He pauses. “Any weapons, the girl dies.”
With that, the garage door begins to close with a shriek of metal gears. Tense with nerves, Conor waits until it’s fully shut before rushing forward in a burst.
“Don’t!” I exclaim, holding out my hands to stop him. “It’s not safe.”
He ignores me —what else is new?— closing the distance between us in three massive strides. He hovers scant inches away, as close as he can physically get without touching me. His eyes are locked on the vest.
“Okay. Okay, we’re going to get you out of there soon, Hunt.”
I nod. “That would be good. Before my bladder explodes.”
His eyes fly to mine.
“Bad joke,” I say weakly.
“Not funny. At all.”
“I really do have to pee.”
“You’re gonna have to hold it for a bit.” He reaches out for the vest.
“Hey!” I step hastily out of reach. “What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Can’t figure out how to get you out of the damn vest if you don’t let me look at it a little closer.”
“No! You could get yourself blown to smithereens, standing too close to me.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Sure. Fine. Whatever.” I pause. “Now back off. Ten feet, minimum.”
“Hunt, don’t be stubborn.”
“Me, stubborn? What about you?”
He ignores me, brow furrowed as he stares at the vest with intent eyes. “Strange. I’ve never seen a circuitry pattern like this before…”
“And you’re suddenly some bomb expert?”