LITMIR.BIZ

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his slacks. “I anticipated a private moment with you.”

      Far from enjoying her touch, Trace didn’t trust her not to mutilate him. He grabbed her slender wrist and squeezed the delicate bones. Though he knew he caused her pain, her lips parted and her eyelids went heavy.

      She licked her lips and searched his gaze. “If you were naked, I would have my nails in you right now.”

      Which was a damn good reason not to get naked with her. Trace smiled in triumph. “But not this time, Hell.” He removed her arm by squeezing until she gasped and her fingers opened. He tossed her aside. “I have work to do.”

      “Trace?”

      On a sigh, he turned back to her. “What?”

      “I want you to take me shopping.”

      “Not in my job description, doll.”

      “It is—if Murray orders it.” She rubbed her reddened wrist over her breasts. “And Murray will order anything I want.”

      Having nothing to say to that, Trace turned away from her and stepped into the elevator. When the doors closed, he let out a breath of relief.

      Since he’d infiltrated the organization three weeks ago, posing as a bodyguard, Hell had been the toughest part of maintaining his cover. Eventually he’d have to deal with her. As a medicinal chemist, she supplied any and all drug persuasions that Murray might need for his human trafficking venture. Lackeys captured the women and Murray, the bastard, sold them to the highest bidder—after Hell ensured their compliance through risky drugs.

      Trace looked forward to the moment when he’d deal with her.

      When it came to annihilating the scourge, he didn’t discriminate against women. Helene Schumer had to go; the world would be a better place without her.

      PRISCILLA PATTERSON SIMPERED and feigned distress as two hulking brutes tried to bully her toward a secluded conference room of the office building. What they intended to do to her there, she couldn’t say.

      They were not gentle, making her show of defenselessness difficult to maintain. Her arm got twisted; someone pulled at her ponytail, making her gasp.

      And then suddenly, a quiet but stern voice spoke up. “Let her go.”

      Just that easily, she was free. She twisted to find a face to go with that deep voice, and froze.

      Wow.

      Unlike the Neanderthals who’d taken pleasure in manhandling her so roughly, this man looked smooth and debonair and … sexy.

      He strode toward them with a frown that brooked no arguments. Standing easily six feet tall, he was muscular but not overly bulky, clean-cut but not in a too-polished GQ way. Very fair hair, straight and a little too long, contrasted sharply with the most piercing golden-brown eyes she’d ever seen. He wore khakis and an obviously expensive black T-shirt. She detected the bulk of a Kevlar vest beneath the shirt.

      A black-leather shoulder holster held his gun. The belt around his waist carried two extra magazines, a stun gun, baton and mace. His black lace-up steel-toed boots could be deadly.

      The man was ready for anything.

      But maybe not ready for her.

      That bright caramel gaze drifted over both of the hulks with contempt. “I’ll handle her from here.”

      Grumbling, the men moved away.

      He took her arm. “Come with me.”

      Priss tried to resist, but he was far more physically persuasive—without really hurting her—than the other men had been. “Where are we going?”

      “Farther away for privacy.”

      “Oh. Okay.” In her flat shoes, she hustled along beside him, feeling very short and suddenly unsure of herself. “You work here?”

      He didn’t reply but drew her around the corner, shielding her from prying eyes. He, on the other hand, stayed in view, and Priscilla assumed it was so he could keep an eye on the others.

      Cautious and suspicious—qualities she appreciated.

      He gave her a very slow perusal, from her dark reddish-brown hair in its high ponytail, to her crisp blue blouse and her over-the-knee, old-fashioned skirt, to her flat-heeled Mary Janes … and then back up again. “What are you doing here?”

      “Oh.” She pretended to be flustered by his direct stare. And truthfully … she was. But only a little. This was too important for her to fudge it.

      She hugged her big satchel purse to her chest and said with just the right quaver, “I came to meet Murray Coburn.”

      “Why?”

      She widened her eyes. “Well, that’s actually private.”

      He stood there, waiting, his gaze unflinching, direct.

      Ha. He didn’t know her fortitude if he thought a little stare-down would discomfort her. Pasting on what she hoped was a winsome smile, Priscilla blinked her eyes at him. “Oh, I should introduce myself.” She held out a hand. “I’m Priscilla Patterson.”

      He looked at her hand, and his left eye twitched.

      He didn’t touch her.

      “Yes, well …” She tucked her hand back in close to her body. “Will you please tell Mr. Coburn I’m here?”

      “No.” And then, striking an exasperated stance, he asked again, “Why do you want to see him?”

      When she started to look away, he caught her chin and lifted her face. “I don’t have time for this, so stop the coy act.”

      This time her eyes widened for real. He knew she was acting? But how?

      Shaking his head, he released her. “Fine. I’ll have the men show you out.”

      “No, wait.” She caught his arm—and was stunned at the unyielding strength there. It was like grabbing thick rock. “Okay, I’ll tell you. But please don’t make me leave.”

      He crossed his arms, which effectively shook off her touch. “I’m listening.”

      “Murray is my father.”

      So still that he looked like a stone statue, the man stared at her. Only an infinitesimal narrowing of his eyes showed any reaction at all. “You’re fucking with me.”

      Okay, so coarse language didn’t really shock her, not anymore, not at twenty-four when much of her life had been spent on the sordid side of survival. She still gasped. “Sir, really.” Fanning her face as if to alleviate a blush, Priscilla frowned at him. “I assure you that I’m serious.”

      A noise at the front of the lobby drew his attention, and after a quick look, he cursed low. Catching her arm, he dragged her farther out of view and bent close. “Listen up, lady. Whatever harebrained plan you have to cozy up with Coburn, forget it.”

      With complete honesty, she said, “Oh, but I can’t.”

      He snarled, and then he shook her. “Trust me on this—you don’t belong here. You don’t belong in this building, much less anywhere near Coburn. Be smart and take your pert little ass out the door and away from danger.”

      Pert little ass? Frowning, she looked behind herself. From what she could see, her ass—pert or otherwise—looked nonexistent thanks to the shape of the skirt.

      A deliberate choice.

      But because he looked genuinely concerned, which was surely at odds with the duty that would be assigned to him, Priscilla shrugged. “Sorry. I didn’t come this far just to walk away.”

      Footsteps sounded behind them. His jaw tightened. “There’s a back exit. Go down the hall, hang a left, go through the—”

      So stubborn! “Excuse

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