LITMIR.BIZ

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given a damn then, and she didn’t give a damn right now.

      She needed someone on her side. Someone she could trust. Someone she could reach out and grab—unlike The Falcon, a nameless, faceless contact spitting orders at her.

      The banging of the door made her jump. She smoothed the blouse over her hips and straightened her spine. Time to get to work.

      She exited the bathroom and almost ran into Hunter, dangling a bag of ice from his fingertips.

      “You looking for another black eye?”

      “I don’t think I’m going to get a black eye, but I can see a bruise forming on my cheek.” She took the bag from him and pressed it against her face with a shiver. “You have toiletries in the bathroom.”

      “Thanks, I’ll grab them, and then we’ll get out of here.”

      “Did you check his phone?”

      “Password protected.” He patted the pocket of his button-up shirt. “We’ll figure it out.”

      Sue stepped over their conked-out guest on the floor on the way to her boots. Perching on the edge of the bed, she pulled them on. “You have everything? Do you need to check out?”

      Hunter stuffed his toiletry bag into his suitcase, along with the wrapped-up gun, and zipped it. “I’ll call the hotel later and tell them I had a change of plans. I don’t want housekeeping coming up here anytime soon, not until our friend wakes up and gets out of Dodge.”

      “Do you have another place in mind?” She strode to the credenza and grabbed her purse, her own weapon stashed in the side pocket.

      “Your place?”

      Her head whipped around and she swallowed hard. “No.”

      “From the outside, the place looks big enough for the two of us.” He drew a cross over his heart. “I promise not to undress you and put you to bed anymore—unless you need it.”

      She snorted. “I’m not going to need it, and staying at my place would be a bad, bad idea. You don’t think these goons…whoever they are…know where I live?”

      “Your building looks secure and we’re both armed.” He tipped his head at the man on the floor. “I think we can handle anything that comes our way.”

      Hunter wouldn’t be able to handle anything in that townhouse.

      “I think it would be best if you found yourself another hotel.” She hitched her purse over her shoulder. “I may even join you.”

      Hunter’s blue eyes darkened. “Does this mean you’re gonna work with me to figure out if the guys who snatched you are the ones working against Denver? ’Cause you were dead-set against that before this guy came along and pulled a gun on you.”

      “Exactly. He made me change my mind.”

      “Maybe I should thank him—or at least make him more comfortable.” Hunter returned to the bathroom and came out swinging a hand towel.

      He crouched beside the man and wrapped the cloth around his head, pressing it against his wound. Then he jerked back.

      “We need to leave—now.”

      “Is he coming around?” Sue lunged for the hotel door and plucked the hanger from the handle.

      “His color is coming back. It shouldn’t be too much longer now.” He stepped back from the body on the floor and grasped the handle of his suitcase. “Lead the way.”

      Sue held the door open for him as he wheeled his suitcase into the hallway. She eased the door closed and slipped the Do Not Disturb sign onto the handle.

      When they got to the elevator, Hunter punched the button for a floor on the parking level.

      “You have a car?”

      “A rental. Do you have any suggestions for my next stop?”

      “Is money a consideration, or no?” Her gaze flicked over his expensive suitcase, black leather jacket and faded jeans, which told her nothing except the man was still hotter than blazes.

      “No.” He lifted one eyebrow toward the black hair swept back from his forehead.

      “Then I’d suggest the Hay-Adams. It’s in the heart of everything, too crowded for us to stand out, too busy for us to be accosted at gunpoint in the parking lot, too expensive not to have security cameras everywhere.”

      “That’s where your friend, Dani, was taken last night.”

      “Exactly. Maybe we can do a little research on those two guys from last night.” She patted her purse. “I didn’t tell you I took a picture of Jeffrey.”

      “A selfie of the two of you?”

      Her brows snapped together. “Insurance in case he raped and murdered me.”

      “Quick thinking. I didn’t get a good look at either one of them when I snuck into the bar last night for surveillance.”

      “Not very good surveillance, then.” She clicked her tongue.

      “I didn’t want to out myself by staring.”

      The elevator dinged, and Hunter jabbed at the button to hold open the doors. “After you.”

      Once he loaded his bag into his rental car and pulled out of the parking structure, she directed him to the next hotel. He maneuvered through the busy streets like a pro, and they left the car with the valet in front of the hotel.

      She hovered at his elbow as he checked in, drumming her fingers on the reception desk. She’d played up her fear over returning to her own place, as there was no way in hell she could have him inside her townhouse, but she’d have to explain somehow that she felt perfectly safe returning home on her own. She couldn’t stay in this hotel with Hunter—not again.

      She had very little self-control when it came to this man—and she needed her self-control.

      “Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. Let us know if you need anything.” The clerk smiled as she shoved a key card toward Sue.

      Sue blinked and then swept the card from the counter and pocketed it.

      As Hunter wheeled his suitcase toward the elevator, she hissed into his ear, “Who the hell is Mr. Roberts? Or Mrs. Roberts, for that matter?”

      “That would be us, dear.” He winked at her. “You’re not the only one who knows how to play spy. I have a whole new identity for my stay in DC. I told you that I’m not here on official duty and I don’t want my actions to be tracked.”

      “You have all the credentials?” She tilted her head. “Driver’s license, credit cards?”

      “I do. Mr. Roberts even has a passport.”

      She held the elevator door open for him as he dragged his suitcase inside. “I feel so humbled now that I know how easy it is for anyone to fake a new ID.”

      “Spare me.” He nudged her shoulder. “As if you don’t know all about that. Half the time the Agency can’t locate someone, it’s because he or she adopted a new identity.”

      “Just like I’m sure Jeffrey on my phone is not really a Jeffrey.”

      “He must’ve followed us back to my hotel and notified the second shift…if he was in on it.”

      “I’m pretty sure that was no coincidence—passing out and then the attempted abduction this morning. They didn’t expect you to be there, that’s for sure.”

      The elevator settled on their floor, and they exited. Sue got her card out when they reached the room and slid it home. She poked her head inside before widening the door for Hunter and his bag. “Just making sure nobody is here before us.”

      “They were good last night, but not that good.” He wheeled

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