I glance up and see Laurent at the top of the wall, one leg thrown over the edge. He’s looking down at us. Locking eyes with him, I lift my middle finger and he responds with a cocky salute, then he disappears from sight.I’m going to kill that asshole.
Movement in my peripheral vision catches my attention. “Hey! What’re you doing in here?”Shit.It’s the guard.
“Time to go!” I whisper-hiss as Delaney jumps off me. I quickly calculate the best route out of here and decide to head right out the front door. Er, in this case, the front drawbridge. Delaney must agree, because she stays right by my side and, as we race past the startled guard, I swipe the card clipped to his belt. The shocked look on his face is almost comical. He’s a typical mall cop kinda guy, overweight, out of shape and used to quiet nights with no drama.Sorry, buddy.
The guard’s all access card allows us to zip through any and all doors we encounter. In moments, our feet pound across the drawbridge and we head straight to where we stashed the car. It’s not too far away, and I have to give the guard credit because he attempts to chase after us. Well,for about ten seconds. A quick look over my shoulder confirms he’s doubled over, huffing and puffing.
I’m also keeping a lookout for Laurent. I wouldn’t put it past him to launch a surprise attack and try to steal the diamond back again. But he’s a ghost. Long gone, and thank God. I’ve had enough of that French fool to last a lifetime.
Delaney and I strip off the wetsuits and jump into the car. Suddenly, I’m so damn mad at her for risking her life. Twice. It was bad enough when she put herself between me and Laurent’s gun. But hearing that bag tear…Fuck. She almost fell to her death, right in front of me.
What if I hadn’t been there? What if, right now, she was lying in that castle courtyard? Dead. A pile of broken bones. Her beautiful face and body nothing more than a smashed-in, twisted mess. Like a jack-o-lantern splattered on the pavement by some punk-ass kid on Halloween night.
My knuckles tighten around the steering wheel until they turn white. “What if I hadn’t been there?” I grit out, voicing my fear.
“But you were there.” She sounds so nonchalant, and it irks me further.
“What the fuck, Delaney?” I growl. She shrugs a shoulder, and I keep getting more and more pissed off. “Are you always this careless on your heists? And I’m not just talking about tonight.” She arches a brow, turning in her seat and defiantly crossing her arms.
“Whatareyou talking about?”
“How about the way you burst in on me at the gym? All you had was a lousy stun gun, while I could’ve had a real gun.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Yeah, but I could’ve overpowered you at any time.”
“Oh, please—”
“Any. Fucking. Time,” I interrupt, barking each word. “You’re reckless, careless. Way too quick to take chances. We don’t even know if that diamond’s the real deal, yet you were willing to risk your life on a guess.” I huff out an annoyed breath.
“Are you done lecturing me? I’d call you Dad, but my dad never even yelled at me like that.”
Fuck. This.
I slam on the brakes, pulling off to the side of the road, tires kicking up gravel. The abrupt, jerky movement causes Delaney to slap her hand against the dashboard and let out a surprised squeal. Turning to face her, our gazes clash, and I’m ready to let her have it… in more ways than one.
Those gorgeous, blue-green eyes of hers flash lightning and her chest heaves with every breath.
“Don’t you ever—ever—risk your life like that again. Do you hear me?” I rasp, unable to look away from her mouth. Her lush lips part and my dick twitches.
“Let’s get one thing clear. I don’t take orders from anyone.” She leans closer, shoving her index finger against my chest. “Especiallyyou. I’m the boss of me. No one else.And I’m used to doing things alone. I’m a solo act. Always have been.”
My hand shoots out, fingers snake around her slim wrist, and I drag her closer. Until she’s hovering over the console, a mere breath away, our noses practically touching. My eyes narrow and I pull in a deep breath. Fragrant jasmine fills my flared nostrils. I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry and so turned on at the same time.
“Not anymore.Youpulled me into this. That means we’re a team. And when it comes to keeping your beautiful, infuriating ass safe, youwilllisten to me. You will take every fucking order I give you, Delaney. Or so help me—”
I don’t finish my sentence. Don’t tell her how I’ll spank her bare ass until it’s fire-engine red. Because instead of the expected comeback, she shocks the hell out of me when she simply… deflates.
“Why do you even care?” she whispers raggedly.
Releasing her wrist, I lay my palm against her face, gently cupping her cheek, soft and warm against my skin. My anger melts away at her forlorn tone. I’ve been lucky in always having a team to back me up. It never occurred to me that she had no one to rely on except herself.
Well, not anymore. Now she has me. “Because I think you’re the most challenging, most infuriating, most amazing woman I’ve ever met. And I refuse to lose you before telling you that.”
Those juicy lips part in surprise at my confession, and before she can utter another inflammatory word, I slam my mouth against hers.
Chapter Eleven: Delaney