“If they find it, they’ll stop us.” He says it with a big grin, because we’re already one hundred yards from the door. I grab his hand, trying to look like a couple. One of the armed men is watching us. I crack and pop the gum I’m chewing, and flip my hair over my shoulder. “Did you just flip your hair?”
“Shut up,” I grumble. “See honey, I told you it was here,” I say in my best Chicago accent. My mom’s family is from Chicago, I’ve been there enough times.
I smile up at him, and his eyes widen. Tony, Tony, Tony, I remind myself.
“How did you hear about us,” one of the guards asks. The other two are too busy looking at my tits.
“My cousin has a friend who works at the jail,” Killian lies smoothly.
“What’s his name?” he asks. He looks at me, and I smile at him. Then, his eyes travel over my face to my boobs. Dressing like a bimbo is very effective. Why haven’t I tried it before? Oh, that’s right, I remind myself. I wear pantsuits and finger fuck girls who dress like bimbos.
“De Santos?” Killian asks. The guard tears his eyes away from me. “De Soto.”
“Yea,” the guard says. “We gotta frisk ya.”
“Are you gonna buy me dinner first?” I ask, as I pop my gum.
“Maybe,” one of the other guards says with a smirk. I smile at him, and raise my hands over my head. He pats my waist, and my hips, then takes my purse. There is a bundle of one hundred dollar bills inside.
“She wants to sit up front, so she can be real close to the action,” Killian explains.
“That can be arranged,” the guard says, and takes all of the cash except three of the bills, and hands it back to me. “You’ll want to buy drinks.”
“Thanks, but I rarely buy my own drinks,” I purr. “Maybe I’ll bet. Who is your money on?” Thank God he didn’t find the gun.
“Beast, he’s a monster. He was injured, but he’s back, and the Roman guy doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Dude, did you see him last week?” The first guard asks, as he’s patting down Killian. “He literally stood there, picked the kid up off the ground, and held him there with one hand, by his throat until he strangled him.” The guard’s shoulders shake as he says it. “And he looked into the kid’s eyes the entire time. That’s stone cold. A dude like that is scary.”
Killian glances over at me wordlessly, but he doesn’t need to say what he’s thinking. I already know. He’s thinking maybe we shouldn’t save him. Well, Killian Burke will leave without him over my dead body.
“Yea, but the Beast weighs like four hundred pounds. Roman won’t pick him up!”
“Thanks,” Killian says when the guard is done, and finally leads us to the front row of the arena. The contestants aren’t here yet, but the room is already half full of spectators. He points toward a temporary bar in the back, and leaves to return to his post.
“Told ya they wouldn’t find it,” I gloat, with a huge grin. But deep inside, yea, I was a little nervous.
“You want a drink? I mean, since you paid for the tickets. Where did you get that wad of cash?”
“Water,” I say. “And, my parents are rich, remember?”
“Yea,” he replies with a nod, then makes his way toward the bar.
I get the chance to look around at the crowd, which I couldn’t really do from the VIP section. I catch an obviously foreign guy in a designer suit, with several other guys, checking me out. I glance at him, and quickly look away. He takes it as an invitation to join me. He’s average looking, but he has the confidence that only money gives a man.
He smiles at me, and says, with a very exotic accent, “Would you like to go to dinner with me tomorrow?” When I open my mouth to say no, he continues, “In Paris?”
“Damn,” I say, before I can stop myself. I mean, I know Doctor Dad is rich, and my mom’s parents have money, but are there really people who do that?
“Or Rome, or New York?” He continues. “Do you need a drink?”
“I, um…” I’m a little stunned, and have no idea what to say, so I blurt out, “My date is actually bringing me a water, because I’m pregnant.”
“For you, I could overlook that,” he grins, and stares at my tits.
“I’m flattered, really flattered, but I can’t.” When Killian joins me, the man nods at him.
“You’re a very lucky man,” he says, and walks away.
Killian stares at me for several minutes, and I can’t even talk. He hands me my water, and I take a sip. Finally, I tell him. “He wanted to take me to dinner, in Paris.”
“I swear to God, Lani, if you’d dressed like that just once in the two years we were dating, I would have flown you to Las Vegas that night.” I think he’s half serious.
“I hope Tony likes it,” I say, as I smooth the skirt and sit down.
“Where are you hiding it?” he asks as he sips his beer. I already miss beer.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I tease. Hip hop music is playing in the back ground, and a woman begins to circulate around the front row. As she’s talking to the foreign guy, I see that it’s Louise Drake, all dressed up. “I have to go,” I say, and nod at her slightly, “to the bathroom. Text me when she’s gone.”
I find it, and open the door, but three women are in there smoking pot. I sigh, and walk toward the bar. There’s another table beside it, and they’re taking bets. Beast is the odds on favorite, at 4 to 1. If I thought this fight was going to finish, I’d bet on Roman. I stand in line for another bottle of water, which is ten dollars and not even sparkling. Finally, Killian texts me, giving me the all clear. As I’m walking back toward the cage, Louise Drake walks right past me, talking to a different obviously rich man. Then I realize, he’s a fucking state senator. She barely notices me.
I return to Killian, and notice the lights are getting low, and the room is filling up. I touch the cage before I sit down. I’m not the only one doing it. Men have died here. Tony will be here in minutes. “I think I just saw a state senator. This is going to be very bad,” I say.
“I can’t believe this is actually happening. I think I just saw Batman,” he replies.
“Someone dressed up like Batman?”
“No, the actor who plays Batman,” he explains.
“The first one, or the second one, the new one, or the really bad one?” I wonder aloud, because I’m basically so nervous I’m going to say anything.
“I don’t know,” he says. “I’m just having a hard time believing we’re really here, that this is really happening.”
Loud rock music begins to play. A spotlight shines toward one of the exits, and everyone stands up. I try to look around, but we’re sitting at the wrong angle. So I have to wait, as the crowd starts to scream. I’m so nervous I really need to pee right now. Then I see him. Time literally stops for me. His beard is shaved, and his black hair is short. He’s being led, handcuffed, toward the ring.
“This is happening. This is really happening,” Killian repeats several times. I feel the exact same way. “Breathe,” he says, when he looks over at me. I exhale as the gate is opened ten feet in front of me. I see Tony glance around the crowd, and his eyes rove around the front row and over me, stops momentarily, then sweeps past me. The guard removes Tony’s cuffs, then closes the gate. Tony walks around the ring once, then stops right in front of me and hits the cage. He glances down at me and his eyes narrow, then at Killian beside me. He hits the cage again, then turns away.
“Fucking shit, he’s scary,” Killian states the obvious.
I think he’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in my life. The smile is gone, and he’s obviously older, but he looks the same as he did in the pictures. The pit of my stomach literally aches, and the muscles in my pussy tighten. He walks away, hits the cage on the other side, roars once, then turns back around.
“I think he’s looking at me,” Killian says. “And I’m about to piss myself.”
The spotlight leaves him, and shines toward the exit again. He a
lmost smiles at me. He’s playing it totally cool, giving nothing away, but he knows I’m here, and he knows what’s coming.
Tony
I saw the blonde standing in the front row in the red dress, of course. Everyone is looking at her. Who could miss her? I glance at her, and then I see it. Her green eyes. Her green, doe shaped eyes are looking at me, and I know it’s her. She’s with her fed ex-boyfriend, and that pisses me off. But she’s here, and I know, they’re coming. I hope she doesn’t always dress that way, because I will have to kill someone. But I realize, everyone is looking at her, and no one recognizes her. If I look too long, they might know it’s her. So I walk toward the other side of the cage, and begin pulling on it, as the crowd is looking toward the other guy coming in.
I see him, but I can barely believe him. At first glance he looks fat. But his legs are nothing but solid muscle, and his shoulders might be twice as big as mine. I hope to God I don’t really have to fight him. I don’t know if I could win, but I refuse to let Lani see me die. As soon as he joins me in the cage he steps right to me, trying to intimidate me. He’s about five inches shorter than me, and outweighs me by at least one hundred fifty pounds. I wonder how many meals they feed this guy a day. He’s big, blonde, pale, and shirtless, and I can see where the cast was on his right arm. If I have to fight him, I’m going after it.
I refuse to feel threatened. I straighten my posture, and look down at him. Then I do something crazy. I rip my shirt off. I puff up my chest, lift my arms over my head, and flex a little. Okay, I flex a lot. And I roar. I know she’s looking, and so is her ex.
Lani
“It’s a go. I repeat, it is a go. Now, now, now,” he says. In about thirty seconds, I hear the helicopters, but I’m not sure if I’m imagining it because the music is so loud. “Team A, cover the bar. Team B, cover the betting table. Do not let these people get away. Holy shit, he just ripped his shirt off. He’s fucking huge.”
“You know everyone can hear you,” I remind him.
“Is he that big all over?” he continues.
“You’re embarrassing yourself,” I point out the obvious. “And you don’t want to know the answer to that question.” I smile when I say it.
“Fuck, I have no hope,” he says.
“Nope. But do you know what you do have? A girlfriend.”
“Rappelers are in position. Task force is still two minutes out. Alpha team is in place.” The music stops, and I hear gunfire. So does everyone else. People are starting to look around. “Go. Give me your gun, Lani.”
“Get your own damn gun,” I reply.
“Give me the gun now,” he orders.
I sigh loudly, reach under my skirt, and take the gun out of its holster. “Here,” I say, as I hand it to him.
“It’s a go. Lani, unless you are threatened, you do nothing,” he reminds me.
“You have my gun. I can’t do anything!” I feel defenseless in a room full of feds, and armed gunmen, and the one person who I am most worried about is inside a locked cage. He’s a fucking sitting duck. I slowly pull on the silver chain, and have the laminated card in my hand.
I hear a door slam open, and the gunfire is now obvious. Killian stands up on his chair, pulls out his wallet, and screams, “FBI, nobody move!”
Everyone fucking starts screaming, and yelling, and running. Gunmen dressed in black with huge lights on their guns storm into the venue, and then suddenly the lights come up in the building.
Tony is staring right at me. “Get down on the floor,” I scream at him. He falls over like a chopped tree. The next thing I know, the Beast is lifting his elbow, and making a move toward Tony. “Look out!” I scream, and he rolls over just in time to see the Beast get shot in the chest, and fall over onto him.
“Who has the lock cutter?” I scream at Killian.
“Blue team, cut the lock on the cage. Escort Roman out to protective custody.” Tony bench presses the dead weight off of himself, and rolls over onto the mat on his stomach. I run to the gate, and the team isn’t there yet. People are screaming, and trying to run. I turn toward Killian, and he’s got his gun aimed right at me. I fall to the floor a second before I hear a shot, and from behind me I hear gunfire being returned. I hear another shot, and someone falls to the ground behind me. I turn to find the guy who had escorted Tony into the arena dead. I crawl over toward him, and grab his key ring and his gun.
I crouch down and look around. I can’t at this moment see anyone else with a gun who isn’t FBI, but I know they’re out there. I walk over toward the gate, and I see Killian walking toward me. “What are you doing with that?”
“Men with guns, and one of them is dead behind me. I should think it’s all obvious.” I show the key ring to Killian, but there are ten keys on it, and no way to know which one unlocks the gate.
“Blue team is thirty seconds out,” he tells me. “Armed FBI consultant with red dress is standing guard at the cage. You can’t miss her,” he says into his mic. “I’ll go to the other side. Team A, Team B, do you have your men.” He nods before he runs off.
“You are so fucking hot,” I hear from directly behind me. “But I don’t like the hair. I hope it’s a wig.
“It’s not,” I groan, as I turn toward him. He’s so close to me, and yet we’re still separated by chain link. He puts his fingers through one of them, and I kiss them quickly. Then I hand him the keys. “Well, I like your haircut. Try to get the gate unlocked.”
I turn my back to him, watching for anyone who might try to come toward him with a gun, or shoot him like they did the Beast. “I got your cards,” he says. I hear keys rattling.
“Did you get today’s card?” I ask.
“You smell like it,” he replies. “You’re always with me? Didn’t you think they’d know what you meant?”
“They didn’t, did they?” I say it with a smile. “Where is Killian’s blue team?”
I hear shots again, from behind us. I turn quickly to make sure he isn’t hurt, but I see blood dripping from his arm. “Jesus Christ, you’re shot!” Just as I say it, the gate is opened and I race through it. I grab the shirt he tore off, and I hear gunfire again. I’m being pulled down onto the mat, and I feel Tony on top of me. “I’ve been dreaming about this moment.”
“Yea, me too. I just didn’t expect to be shot when it happened.” He looks down at his shoulder, and blood is pouring out of it. I place the shirt over it, and apply pressure. “You’d better never wear that dress again, unless you’re out with me.” I turn my head to find him staring into my eyes, and his are as dark and shiny as onyx.
“Well, you’re bleeding all over it, so I probably can’t now regardless.” I reach my free hand up to the back of his head, and I pull him down to kiss me. It feels weird without the hair, but it also feels fantastic. In two seconds, Killian’s blue team is at the gate, along with Killian.
“We have the warden, and what’s left of her armed guard,” he says.
I don’t stop kissing Tony, until he pulls away. “I’m not going to resist, but I’d rather not be cuffed while I’m shot in the shoulder,” he calls out.
“No problem, big guy,” Killian replies. “Just stand up, and walk toward me. Hold the shirt on your shoulder if you need to.”
“You smell great, and you look ever better,” he whispers, and then in two seconds he’s standing. I follow after him, but I’m not as graceful in the dress and heels. Killian is watching as one of the other agents helps Tony onto an ambulance gurney.
I flip the gun around in my hand and give it to Killian. “Can I have my gun back?”
Chapter Eighteen
Tony
Before the doors close to the ambulance, Lani joins me. They’ve cuffed me to the gurney, and it’s a bit tight because her ex and a paramedic are already in here.
“Hi, Bob,” she says when she sees the paramedic.
He reaches out to shake her hand, and says, “How you doin’, Lani?”
She nods, and looks over at me, then b
ack at Bob. “I’m good. How’s the patient?”
Bob’s acting like he’s never seen a girl before. He’s even blushing, when he replies, “I’ve stopped the bleeding. We’re taking him to General Hospital.”
Lani’s gaze returns to me, and I feel the most ridiculous feeling of pride and amazement. She’s gorgeous, and tough, and not afraid of gunfights or blood. She talked tough when she was locked in the cell with me, a man she’d witnessed killing someone with his bare hands. But now, I believe she could back it up. She’s staring at my left arm, which is bandaged and in a sling. “I’m so sorry,” she says, as she grabs my other hand. I hold hers as best I can in the handcuffs.
“Hey, it’s not your fault. You tried to protect me. I’ve never had a gorgeous girl in a red dress as a bodyguard before.” I glance over at her ex as I say, “It’s pretty hot.”
“She got this ball rolling. She might have saved your life tonight,” the ex replies. “I’m Special Agent Killian Burke. She’s probably going to get me a big fat promotion, if that state senator doesn’t get me fired.”
I thought I saw some politicians, and even a movie star in the crowd. I find it hard to believe those people knew they were coming to watch someone get killed. “Did I see Batman, or was I imaging things?” I ask. .
“No, I think you saw Batman,” Killian says with a nod.
“Which one was it?” Lani asks. I have no idea what she’s talking about, and I look over at the ex. “Never mind,” she huffs. I hold her hand tighter. I feel like she and her ex are speaking a language I don’t understand. So this might be the right time to introduce myself. “I’m Antony Roman. I’d shake your hand if I could.”
Prisoner and Together: All of You series complete set Page 13
