LITMIR.BIZ

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his old man, Tobias had chosen someone else. That’d been the last straw for Gabriel. In the ugly, accusation-filled fight on the night of his departure he’d vowed not to have anything to do with his father until he’d proved he was better than the old man by outearning and outconning him. Caleb had called him a stubborn ass. Maya had told him to get over himself. Which had cemented his determination to prove himself.

      And now he was back. As a failure. How freaking fabulous. He’d have to find a special way to thank Danita, he mused, giving her a hard look before storming up the walkway.

      He didn’t know how she kept up with him given that she was wearing those do-me heels, but Danita was around the car and had her hand curled over his before he was halfway up the cobblestone walk toward the manor.

      They didn’t make it two feet through those wide doors before a goon stopped them. Dressed in an ill-fitting suit, ugly shoes and an uglier expression, the guy hulked inches over Gabriel’s six foot two.

      “The manor’s closed,” the guy grunted.

      “Where’s Ham?” he asked, ignoring him. Instead he addressed the other guy, this one just as ugly but with a better suit. “I’m an old friend with an open invitation to stay here anytime. So why don’t one of you boys run out and find him. He owns this place, and he’ll vouch for my welcome.”

      “There’s no vacancy right now. Private event this weekend,” the taller guy said. With a jerk of his chin, he indicated they get the hell out.

      Even though a foot separated them, he could feel Danita tense. She glanced at her fingernails as if inspecting her manicure, then gave him a bored look. But her hand edged toward her purse.

      “Ham’s an old buddy,” Gabriel said, irritated at having to repeat himself. “I’m sure he can squeeze us in.”

      Before he could blink, the guy by the door shifted. He took two giant steps forward, grabbed Gabriel by the bicep and shifted, pulling his cheap jacket aside. At his waist was a gun. A big, ugly one that looked like it’d make an equally big, ugly hole in someone.

      “You were told the manor is closed,” the man growled.

      Shit.

      Every nerve in his body screaming run, Gabriel forced himself to grin as if being threatened with a gun was an everyday occurrence.

      That, and a quick glance at Danita assured him that this was some serious shit.

      His mind raced, perceptions adjusting at the speed of light. Suddenly this bullshit situation was a high stakes game.

      And his father really was in trouble.

      Gabriel was a lot of things. A con, a thief and a liar topped the list. But despite the disappointments and problems over the years, he was also a son with an unshakeable love for his father. And he’d be damned if he was going to let a gang of thugs drag his dad down.

      “Gentlemen, is this necessary?” he asked with a charming smile that hid his fury. Despite his hatred of all things violent, he reached up and with two fingers, lifted the goon’s hand off his own arm.

      “I’m Gabriel Black. I’m here for the meeting.” He waited a heartbeat, watched the goon and his keeper exchange looks. Then, with a quick, painful thump of his heart, Gabriel committed to the game. Reaching out, he curled his fingers around Danita’s wrist and pulled her tight against him.

      “My understanding is that we’re welcome to bring our own entertainment.” Gabriel didn’t take his eyes off the taller guy in charge. Ignoring the gun, and Danita’s tension, he lifted her hand to his lips. “She’s my entertainment.”

      The guy’s eyes slid over Danita with a look so oily, Gabriel was surprised it didn’t leave a grease slick.

      “She available to entertain anyone else?” the guy asked with a smirk.

      A possessive sort of anger that he refused to call jealousy surged. It was all Gabriel could do to keep from punching the goon in the face.

      “For the moment, she’s exclusive.”

      “And later?”

      “Son, I don’t think you can afford her,” Gabriel said with a shrug. “Now if you don’t mind, check the guest list or confirm it with Ham, and give me my room key. I’ve got a few things to do before we get started.”

      “You got some attitude on you,” the goon said, obviously not appreciating being told what to do. The guy was clearly loyal to whoever was in charge.

      And just who was that?

      Time to get the game going so he could find out.

      “Watch it, son” Gabriel warned. “Before this weekend’s over, I’m gonna be your boss.”

       3

      DANITA DIDN’T BREATHE easy until the hotel room door closed, leaving the goon who Gabriel had charmed into carrying their bags locked on the other side. She’d been in shoot-outs and hostage situations before, and hadn’t broken a sweat.

      But getting through the front door of a quaint small town manor, past two gun-toting goons with a cocky guy like Gabriel? Between the cold February air and the sweat soaking through her sweater, she’d be surprised if she didn’t catch a darned cold.

      As soon as this case was closed, she was telling Hunter that she never, ever wanted to work with a civilian again. Especially not a cocky, criminal one who made her palms sweat and her knees weak.

      Although maybe she’d keep that last little bit to herself.

      She gave the room a quick glance as Gabriel set their bags next to the dresser. One bed. She knew it was a necessary part of their cover. But, she mentally fanned herself, oh man, this was going to be tricky.

      “Well, isn’t this the prettiest room I’ve ever seen? And so expensive, Gabriel. I like expensive,” Danita said in a husky tone. She gave him a bland look before adding, “I can’t wait to show you just how much I like it.”

      “You’re kidding, right?”

      The look he shot her was a combination of irritation and confusion. She held up a finger to silence him before he could put either into words, though. Without much hope, she tapped one finger to her ear to indicate listeners.

      Brows drawn together, he gave the room a sweeping glance. He grimaced, then leaned one shoulder against the wall next to the door, rolled his eyes, then said in a natural tone, “Blondie, you prove to me you like it enough and I’ll buy you a flashy piece of glitter before the weekend’s over.”

      Clever. Danita kept her face angled to hide her grin. So he wasn’t just a pretty-faced liar. He was a smart pretty-faced liar. Who knew?

      “What’ll it take to get me two bits of glitter?” she asked, her words low and teasing. As she asked, she carefully unzipped the outer lining of her purse to show a clever array of electronic toys. She chose a wand the size of a ballpoint pen, sliding it from its case.

      “Maybe the two of us on that bed with a bowl of whipped cream and cherries, followed by a hot-oil tango in the shower,” he deadpanned, not shifting from his spot holding up the wall.

      The image was so easy to imagine. The two of them, naked on that four-poster bed, rolling over the wedding-ring quilt. Their bodies slick and hot. Desire was like a wave, hitting her hard and fast and damned near sweeping her feet out from under her. Since opening the window to let in cool air would tip him off, she sucked in a discreet breath and forced herself to focus on the job.

      And to pretend her hand wasn’t shaking.

      Like a phone addict looking for cell reception, she ran the tiny wand around the room. It wasn’t until she reached the bedside table that the light on the end flashed red. With a warning look at Gabriel, she crouched down and ran her fingers along the side and back of the rich wood. Underneath, she found it. A tiny round bug. She aimed the

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