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  “What the hell are you doing?” he asks.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Capturing you.”

  “Like hell, you are.”

  I try to pull off another stab, but his grip is far too tight. He refuses to release me and easily yanks me closer, spinning us both around to pin me to the mattress.

  “Drop it,” he warns, holding me down.

  I push upward but the stick just shakes between us. He’s far too strong for me to overpower him alone.

  Fuck.

  Fuck, fuck, fuck—

  “I said, drop it.”

  He pries it from my grasp and tosses it to the floor.

  I look at his exposed erection still pointing at me.

  He notices and fear passes over his face. “Don’t you dare—”

  I smash my knee into his groin. He instantly loses his balance and groans in pain as I shove him off me and reach for the second stick still poking out of my hair.

  “No—”

  Archer grabs at it before I can so I sink my teeth into his forearm.

  “Bloody hell, woman!”

  He juts downward and slams our heads together.

  White light floods my vision and we both recoil in pain.

  “Fuck me…” I whine, feeling the harsh throbbing between my eyes.

  “Not after this stunt, love,” Archer says, pushing me back toward the pillow.

  I blink repeatedly to curb my double vision, but he’s already clamped another cuff around my free wrist by the time I can think straight again. I kick at him. He easily jumps back to avoid each blow.

  “Calm down,” he says, stuffing his cock back into his pants.

  I try to pull myself free, but I’m latched to the headboard. “Uncuff me now and I promise I’ll make it quick.”

  Blood falls down his chin from his nose. He wipes it off but even more comes spilling out. “No.”

  “Now.”

  He takes a single step closer and smirks. “No means no, love.”

  I growl and pull at my cuffs again. The bed frame smacks the wall but it’s far too resilient for me to break apart without help.

  I search for anything within reach to free myself with, but it’s no use.

  Archer Allen, the bounty hunter.

  He caught me.

  Chapter 8

  Archer

  I caught her.

  I may have broken my nose in the process, but it was worth it.

  Lilah stares at me from the bed, half-naked and seething with hatred. I can’t really blame her, though. She takes as much pride in her work as I do in mine — and she just failed miserably.

  I fetch my jacket off the floor and reach into my pocket for my phone and Enzo’s card. A bit more blood rolls down my chin from my right nostril and I wipe it away before dialing the number.

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ve got her,” I say, drawing even more of Lilah’s attention. She holds her breath and tilts her head, trying to listen in on the call.

  Enzo chuckles. “Allen, you beautiful bastard. Where?”

  “St. Louis. I can deliver her tonight.”

  “Make it tomorrow night,” he says. “Don’t bring her to the casino. Take her to the silos, just north of town by the river. I’ll meet you there at nine. Don’t be late.”

  He hangs up. I glower at his lack of phone etiquette.

  “Deliver me where?”

  I smirk at her, but I don’t answer.

  “Who sent you?” she asks.

  Again, I stay quiet as blood continues to trickle from my nose. That head-butt may not have been the best idea…

  “Archer!”

  I scan her room. “Do you have any tampons?”

  Her brow twitches. “Excuse me?”

  “It’s not a trick question nor am I making an immature remark about the origins of your current attitude,” I say, pinching my nostrils. “I just need to stick something up my nose until it stops bleeding and we both know there’s one product that gets that job done better than any. Now, do you have any tampons?”

  She scoffs and juts her chin toward the corner. “Duffel bag. Front pocket.”

  “Thank you.”

  I walk over to it and yank the zipper open to find a small stash of feminine products stuffed inside. She sits there, watching me with slow, controlled breaths, most likely thinking hard about how she can turn this entire thing around. There’s no doubt in my mind that she can — and will — if I give her even the slightest opportunity. My guard has been up since the start but now it’s fortified with solid steel.

  I tear open the tampon package and shove the thing up my nose, biting down to fight the pain vibrating into my brain. The string tickles my lips, annoying the hell out of me, but I’ll just have to live with it until the bleeding stops.

  Lilah hums a quiet laugh in response to my pain, but she’s got her own new bruise forming along her forehead.

  I return to the bed, pulling up a chair to sit on. “Now that the foreplay is out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff,” I say. “Why did you just try to kill me?”

  “Why did you just try to capture me?”

  “Look around you, love.” I chuckle. “I did a little more than try.”

  “That’s a real odd choice for your last words. Care to try again?”

  I smile at her. “Enzo Zappia.”

  She rolls her eyes. “That guy sent you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Seriously?” I sit back and wince as I shove the tampon even deeper into my nostril. “You and your brothers made a real mess of his daddy’s casino.”

  “Boo-fucking-hoo. They have to replace some carpet. Big deal.”

  “And his little brother?” I ask. “Are they supposed to replace him, too?”

  “Marty was a waste of the air in his lungs,” she says. “You don’t know the whole story, Archer. His death was justified.”

  “I’m not interested in justice, Lilah. I do a job and I get paid. Makes no difference to me who is right and who is wrong.” I lean forward. “Or are you going to argue that you question every job you’ve ever done?”

  Her jaw flexes in frustration. “So, Enzo wants payback, huh?”

  “Yes. Dante killed his brother.”

  “And he wants me taken out in revenge?”

  “No, he wants Elijah taken out in revenge.” Her expression shifts. “An eye for an eye. Brother for a brother. You… he just wants.”

  She frowns. “Are you going after Elijah next?”

  I don’t answer. I stare at her, watching with interest as the concern passes through her eyes. “Hmm…”

  “What?” she asks, glaring back.

  “You care about them.”

  “I care about my brothers? Yeah. A lot.”

  “Hmm,” I mutter again.

  “This shocks you?”

  I shrug. “Enzo said you were a monster.”

  Her mouth slowly closes. The slightest twitch plagues her brow as her eyes look straight ahead at the wall behind me.

  “Generally speaking,” I say, clearing my throat, “he’s a Zappia. That’s rather pot and kettle if you ask me.”

  She keeps her head down and doesn’t say a word. It’s not the reaction I expected. I figured she’d roll her eyes again, maybe let out a witty retort. This is Lilah Hart. Brutal, deadly. History books may call her far worse someday, and yet, here she is, sitting quietly in obvious offense.

  I stand up and move toward the bathroom, slowly pulling on the tampon string. I toss the bloody thing away and rinse my skin clear with water from the sink. Her scent lingers on my fingers. I take a second to inhale a deep breath of her before washing it off.

  I grab her duffel bag off the floor and dump the contents out onto the bed beside her.

  “What are you doing?” she asks.

  “You seem awfully calm,” I note, sifting through her stuff.

  A few shirts. Another sundress like the one she’s wearin
g now, only green. Panties and a make-up bag. A cell phone, which I promptly turn off.

  “So?” Her head tilts. “You disappointed that this isn’t my first time?”

  I slide my hand into the empty pockets, feeling slowly along the inner seams. A lump in the bottom corner stops me. Hard and small. No larger than a pebble.

  I glance at her and she squints with annoyance.

  “This isn’t my first time either,” I say, smiling as I tear the GPS tracker free. I drop it in my palm, admiring the tiny tech before tossing it across the room. “Who’s keeping tabs on you? Snake Eyes? Your brothers?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Nope. Just curious.” I stuff her belongings back into the bag. “For my next trick, you’re going to accompany me downstairs. We’ll walk through the lobby hand-in-hand and out into the parking lot, calm and steady-like...”

  “Why would I do that?”

  I glance at her impeccable breasts and the tattoo above her navel. “I’m a licensed bounty hunter. You’re a Snake Eyes agent wanted by every law enforcement agency in the world. Please. I dare you. Make a scene. Or do you want to know what happens to terrorists in federal custody?”

  She goes silent again and looks away from me.

  I know she won’t try to run. Not yet, anyway. The longer she sticks with me, the more chances she’ll have to escape. That wouldn’t be true if the FBI ran in here and snatched her up. She has no choice, but I can’t get too cocky just yet.

  I step closer to her. “Ready?”

  Lilah looks at me with those fiery eyes. “As I’ll ever be.”

  My lips curl as I bend over but my guts twist as I lay the gun against her head. “The bounty was dead or alive,” I lie. “I’d prefer the latter but I’m more than willing to cash in the former.”

  She nods, showing no fear at all, but it doesn’t make me feel any better about it. I’m a hunter, not a killer, but she doesn’t need to know that.

  I reach into my pocket for the handcuff keys, fixing my eyes on her as I reach around to free one hand. She leans forward slightly, pressing her nude torso against me. I try to ignore her smooth skin and that seductive scent of her before it makes me do something stupid.

  As the cuff slips off her wrist, I quickly latch it onto mine and shift backward before my obvious erection becomes even more obvious.

  “Stand up,” I say.

  Lilah moves slowly, scooting her rear toward the edge of the bed and planting her bare feet on the floor. I guide the shoulder straps of her dress back up to cover her breasts and she smirks at me.

  “Thank you,” she says.

  I pull her up to stand and entwine our fingers to keep her from slipping free. Her nose turns up with annoyance, but she says nothing. I fetch my gun off the table nearby and stash it in her bag as she steps back into her shoes.

  We move into the hallway, walking together toward the elevator. I keep one eye on her the entire time, watching for the slightest twitch. She remains calm and steady, as we agreed.

  The elevator doors open. We make eye contact for a second before I force her to step on.

  “Your turn,” I say.

  She stares straight ahead at the closing doors. “For what?”

  “We know why I went after you. Why did you try to kill me?”

  Her lips curl. “Because you were my target.”

  The elevator stops and opens on the golden lobby. A line of men stands outside, waiting to board with young women stashed beneath their arms. I pull Lilah off and wait until they’re out of earshot before digging for more information.

  “Your target?”

  She keeps her smile. “Yes.”

  “Who sent you?”

  “My employer.”

  “Right, but who paid for it?”

  Lilah presses her lips together in silent amusement without breaking her stride.

  I stop in my tracks and give her arm a slight yank. She spins back and flutters her dark lids up at me.

  “Who wants me dead?” I ask.

  “Is that a long list or something?”

  I search the lobby, ignoring the snarky quip. If Lilah was sent here on official Snake Eyes business, then she wouldn’t be alone.

  “Where’s your other half?” I ask.

  Her shoulders bounce. “I haven’t the slightest idea.”

  My chest sinks as my ego dissolves. “You lured me to that bar, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “I didn’t entice you upstairs at all, did I?”

  “No, you did not.”

  “Dammit…”

  I tug her along with me. Hairs stand on the back of my neck. That adorable front desk girl frowns at us as we pass by. I give her a kind nod, but she quickly twists away.

  “If it makes you feel any better,” she says as we enter the parking lot. “I’m sure your dashing blue eyes would have melted the panties off a lesser woman.”

  “Don’t get too high up on that horse, Lilah,” I say into her smirking face, desperate to win back any piece of dignity I can. “You were dripping more than a wet sponge up there.”

  “Over the thought of watching you bleed out onto the carpet? Of course, I was.”

  We reach the edge of the lot and I throw open the door to my motor home. “What was that about you being a monster again?”

  She flexes her jaw in anger as I lift her inside. I keep strong hands on her in the dark, guiding her toward my bed in the back. I sit her down on the edge and quickly uncuff myself to latch her left hand to the custom bars of my headboard.

  “Lie down,” I tell her.

  Lilah doesn’t move. She stares up at me with hateful eyes but I’m in no mood to play games. I push her down onto the mattress and slide her back myself, straddling her to keep her in place while I cuff her right hand.

  Those deep, brown eyes. Still calm as ever like she knows something I don’t. It’s frightening, to say the least. I’m not out of the woods here until she’s in Enzo’s hands and my bank account is full.

  Her back arches slightly and she makes the slightest moan as she squirms beneath me. “Kinky.”

  I shake my head. “You’re a real piece of work, you know that?”

  “I’ve been called worse.”

  “Of that, I have no doubt.”

  I slide off her, desperately trying to think of anything other than that perfect body lying before me. My cock twitches with disappointment in my jeans, finally settling into its natural, flaccid state. If I didn’t make my move at that moment, I’d be dead. I may have gotten inside of her for a brief, wonderful second. There are worse ways to die, I suppose.

  She bends her knee, slightly raising her hip, and her skirt inches upward toward her panties. My eyes fall to her thighs, as smooth and enticing as every other piece of her, but I force myself to lock onto her eyes instead.

  “Do you really think that’ll work?” I ask.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

  I chuckle as I step away from the bed. “Get comfortable, love. You’re going to be here a while.”

  She blinks slowly, keeping her eyes on me as she wiggles her hips and settles deeper into the mattress. “What’s the matter, Archer? You might not want to kill me but surely you’re a bad boy in other ways?”

  I bite my inner cheek and walk over to her side. She licks her lips as I lean down, drifting so close I can feel her warm breath on my cheek.

  “Not that way,” I whisper, taking a quick step back.

  She rolls her eyes and pushes herself up to sit. “Fine. Don’t take the bait.”

  I sigh and wander into the front to grab a drink from my fridge. “Just out of curiosity, how many men have you fooled with that wounded lamb routine?”

  “I lost count years ago.”

  “Very few moments have made me more ashamed to be a man than this one.”

  She shrugs. “I do have to give you some credit. Most would be balls deep inside of me right now.”

  “Hypot
hetical question.” I pop open a can of soda and take a sip. “If I were, how would that help you?”

  “I’d throw my legs over your shoulders, grip your neck between my knees, and twist.”

  I swallow hard. “Bloody hell.”

  “Then, it’d be a matter of finding a key to get myself out of these cuffs, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”

  I cant my head. “When you get there?”

  “Oh, come on…” She smiles. “I’ve got until tomorrow night to break out of this. If you think some handcuffs and a fancy headboard are going to hold me here then you have no idea who you’re fucking with, Archer.”

  My heart skips. I’m not sure if I’m terrified, turned on, or both. She doesn’t just have the perfect body. Her senses are perfectly tuned to everything. She heard every word of my conversation with Enzo, meaning she was just playing dumb before. How much has she picked up on since we met at the hotel bar?

  “You might want to get some sleep,” I say.

  She doesn’t respond. Lilah just sits still, staring straight ahead at me with those dark, predatory eyes. Maybe she is the monster Enzo claims she is. I almost don’t want to turn my back on her, but I spin around and make my way to the driver’s seat up front.

  Four hours to Chicago.

  It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.

  Chapter 9

  Lilah

  Archer Allen is better than I thought he was.

  He learned quickly from his mistakes back in Los Angeles. It was a bit foolish on my part to assume he’d be just as easy to manipulate this time.

  I have to wait this out. My brothers and I have a system in place for this kind of thing. Soon, Elijah will realize I’m not where I’m supposed to be. He’ll call Dante and they’ll track down where I am. They always have before, even without GPS trackers sewn into the seams of our bags.

  Archer finding that was an unfortunate mishap, but it’ll only slow them down by a few hours. Now, whether they’ll figure it all out before I’m handed off to be filleted by Enzo Zappia…

  Well, I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.