Once again, Benson nods, letting out a light cry when he glances at me and the gun in my hand. I’ve never seen a man sweat so much in my life and I wonder if the vest he’s wearing is waterproof. God help us if it isn’t.
Reaching out, Aiden takes the laptop bag from me and enters the vault, spending less than thirty seconds in there before coming out and closing the door. “Hold your breath and count to five,” he says with a smile. “Those doors are about to go ‘boom’.” Realising that Aiden has just placed explosives in the vault, poor Benson’s eyes grow to the size of saucers.
Grinning, Aiden places a finger against his lips and listens until a soft popping sound is heard from the other side of the vault door. I would have thought there’d be more noise, but the vault door obviously trapped the sound.
“Let’s see what we’ve got in here,” Aiden says as he opens it up again. Smoke billows out, causes us all to cough as we wave at the air to clear our vision.
I glance at Benson, the colour has all but vanished from his face as he surveys the destruction of the vault. Aiden places his arm around the frightened man’s shoulders. “You’re doing great, Benny,” he says, giving Benson a slap on the arm before he heads back into the vault.
I keep the gun trained on Benson and glance inside the vault, letting out a low whistle as I see the mess of money and busted safety deposit doors lying all over the floor.
Aiden pulls out box after box, emptying their contents into the canvas bags we brought with us. Three in total. Big enough to fit an adult inside if we had to. He puts in cash, he puts in jewellery, he puts in all the papers he can find and when one bag is full, he tests the weight of it and drops it by my feet. “Can you carry that?”
I reach down and lift it. It’s fucking heavy and the straps press into my hands, but I nod.
He fills the next two in much the same manner, checking his watch periodically for time. And when he’s done, he moves back over to poor Benson, who, I’m pretty sure, has peed his pants by now.
“You’ve been a wonderful help, Mr Tanner. And there’s just one more thing you need to do.” Aiden grips his shoulders and moves him inside the safe.
Benson shakes his head. “No, no. Please don’t put me in here. Without the power–”
“You won’t run out of air, and you’ll be out before you know it. Now, you can give me back the vest now. I’m sure you’re tired of it.”
Benson nods, instant relief washing over his face when Aiden takes it back. “Now, Mr Tanner. Once I close you in here, you’ll be stuck for exactly thirty minutes. Then the power will come back on and your safety features will be back online so you can get out. Do you understand?”
“Y–yes.”
“Good.” Aiden holds out his hand, taking Benson’s in his in a firm handshake. “Thank you for your help today, Mr Tanner. I’ll be sure to recommend your services to all my friends. This has been a wonderful experience.”
With that, we shut a very frightened looking Benson inside the vault and walk out, me carrying one large bag, struggling under its weight, and Aiden carrying two either side of him as if they weighed little more than a few shopping bags.
We glance at Leah who lifts his hand to scratch his head, which is the signal that all is clear. Then we head to the front door and we don’t look back.
I’m sure that someone thought it odd that we were carrying such huge bags. And I’m sure that it crossed someone’s mind that we were carrying duffels of cash. But the calm way in which we did it must have made them think twice about questioning us. After all, people collected things from their safety deposit boxes every day…
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chloe
WE DRIVE away from the scene. I want the car to go faster. I want Aiden to plant his foot and get as far away as fast as we can. But that’s not the plan. We need to drive at the speed limit. We can’t draw unwanted attention.
Finally, we’re out of the city, and I get a call from Jared. “Congratulations. Everything is still quiet. You did a perfect job.”
I thank him, and he disconnects. My heart is still beating so hard that I feel almost sick from it. Laying my head against the back of the seat, I take a deep inhale and run through everything that just happened in my mind. Finally, I calm down and turn to Aiden, a massive grin creeping over my face.
“Oh my fucking god! We did it!” I squeal. “We fucking did it!”
“Yes we did. You were perfect in there,” he grins, reaching over and grabbing the back of my neck, planting a quick kiss on my mouth before concentrating on driving again.
I squeal again, the kiss feeling strange with my stage makeup and facial hair on. “You just kissed a boy!” I laugh.
“You’re a fucking sexy boy. I’d switch teams for you, sugar. Especially after watching you handle our hostage in there. Perfection, babe. You did everything right.”
“I was perfect? Oh my god, Aiden. You were amazing. So in command. So in control. There is no way I would have gotten this done without you. No way in hell.”
He reaches over and grabs my hand, bringing it to his lips to kiss my fingertips. “We did it. Now we just have to hope those papers you need are in there and we can get that Goldsmith for the scum he really is.”
“Oh, they’re in there. I’m sure of it.”
I look ahead, thinking about what has to happen next in this process of doing wrong to make right. We drive in silence, Aiden holding my hand, his thumb stroking over my hand soothingly as he watches the road.
“I really do love you, you know,” I say suddenly. “I didn’t just say it before because I was scared.”
“I know,” he says, his thumb still rubbing gentle circles on my skin. It doesn’t bother me that he doesn’t say it. I’m not expecting it back. I just want him to know. It’s important that he’s sure of it. But suddenly, he takes his eyes off the road to look at me. “I do too, sugar,” he says, his voice a little quieter than normal. “Love you, I mean.”
Nodding my head, I place my other hand on top of his and give it a squeeze, suddenly fighting the urge to burst into tears. He wasn’t supposed to say it back.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Aiden
CHLOE HAS fallen quiet by the time we hit the car park where we’re to switch out cars. She’s just been holding my hand between hers and breathing slowly like she’s trying to calm down. She claims that she’s ok but I think she might be in a bit of shock from the spike of adrenaline the job would have given her. She’ll calm down once we’re home and I’ve got her safe in my bed.
“Level three, right?” I say, winding my way through rows of parked cars and up the connecting ramps. While the floors are full with parked cars, there isn’t anyone around, which is why we chose this place. It’s a park and ride – a place where commuters can drive to and then catch buses the rest of the way into the city to keep from paying the exorbitant parking fees that the city charges. It’s perfect.
“Yeah. Level three. It’s quieter up there.”
Making sure that no one is watching, I pull up next to our change over car and Chloe and I get out and transfer the bags into the trunk. She then leans into the getaway car and wipes a rag over every surface, making sure we’ve left nothing behind. Then with a quick check of our surroundings, we grab a bottle of spray bleach and coat the tires and the interior to completely ruin any sort of samples they could get from us.
“I think that’s it,” I say, scrunching my nose up at the strong smell. “It stinks like a hospital now.”
She nods and once again, I ask her if she’s ok. “Chloe?”
She doesn’t respond, and the squeaking of car tyres catches both of our attention. I turn and look over my shoulder, frowning when I recognise the car. “What the fuck? Is that Leah?” I ask, turning my head back to her briefly as I wonder what the hell he’s doing here. “He was supposed to dump that car and meet us back at the warehouse.
The car pulls to a stop beside us and Leah leans out. “Hurry up,” h
e commands Chloe, completely ignoring me.
Anger flares within my stomach. This wasn’t part of the plan. I realise I’ve been played–but why? None of this benefited me. It was all for her. All for Chloe. What is this?
“Don’t,” I growl, giving Leah a look of warning as I slide my hand behind me, reaching for my gun. I grope around, finding nothing. I spin around, looking to Chloe for some sort of explanation, but all I find is her standing there, tears streaming from her eyes as she holds both her gun and mine in front of her, aiming at me.
“Don’t do this,” I half command, half plead.
“I’m sorry,” she sniffs. “I have to.” She cocks my gun, the click echoing off the walls in the massive concrete structure and I hold up my hands.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s the only way,” she whispers, a tear sliding down her cheek as she squeezes the trigger and a blinding pain hits my chest.
“Chloe,” I groan, as I drop to the ground, clutching at my chest, my mind reeling as I try to work out what the fuck just happened. She went from promising me that she loves me to shooting me in the chest. What did I miss? What did I…
“Hurry the fuck up!” Leah calls to her.
“I’m sorry,” she cries again, her voice beginning to sound muffled as my vision blurs and the world begins to fade away.
“Chloe.”
Chapter Thirty-four
JUNE, 3 years before
“WHAT ARE you doing?” he asked, his brow furrowing as he discovered her pressed in the corner next to the emergency stairwell.
“Hiding,” she grinned. “But I guess you found me.”
A smile curled the edge of Aiden’s lips as he stepped toward her. “Are you playing games with me, Miss Donovan?”
She lowered her lashes, looking up at him through them, her voice low and soft when she spoke. “That depends. Are you enjoying it?”
“Immensely.”
“Then I’ll keep playing. It’s a game of temptation.”
He stepped closer. “I find you very tempting.”
“And do you know where we are?” she whispered as he closed in.
“We’re in a blind spot,” he answered, lowering his head toward hers.
She tilted her head up, bringing her mouth just a breath away from Aiden’s. “Imagine all the things one could do in this…blind spot,” she murmured suggestively, and his cock hardened as she pressed herself against him. She then took a hold of his tie and pulled on it, lightly running her hand down the silk as she stepped out from the confines of one of the very few camera free zones in the entire Donovan building, leaving him feeling more than a little tempted.
Aiden chuckled, leaning against the wall as he felt the need to adjust his pants.
“You’re going to be the death of me, Chloe Donovan.”
She gave him a wink. “What a sweet way to die.”
END
The Fire & Lies Series continues with Played, releasing December 30. Preorder now, or continue reading for your exclusive sneak peek inside.
Shocked? Desperate to talk about what just happened? Enter my facebook reader group to find other readers like you –
https://www.facebook.com/groups/438800699591852/
PLAYED
Fire & Lies, Book Two
by Lilliana Anderson
SYNOPSIS
Be careful whom you trust…
It’s something I thought I knew but with Chloe Donovan, all of my reasons seems to fly out the window the moment I’m around her.
Blinded by lust, persuaded by love. I hedged my bets on our forever. Twice. And both times, I lost. She’s gone. And once again, she’s ruined my life.
Stuck helping a federal agent by the name of Drake Jefferson, I’m biding my time until I can find where she is.
I won’t be giving up my partner in crime to the authorities. I’ll be dealing out my own brand of justice, and when I’m done, I don’t care if I rot in prison for it.
Chloe Donovan had better start sleeping with one eye open. Because I’m coming for her.
She played me.
I let her in, and she played me. If she sees me. She’d better run.
I won’t be trusting her a third time.
***
EXCERPT
“Holy shit, Aiden,” Chloe gasps as she flicks the lounge room light on and finds me sitting on her couch. “You shouldn’t have come here.”
Slowly, my eyes travel over her body, taking in every part of her that I’ve loved with such intensity, that I still have the urge to go to her and reclaim her as mine. But I stay where I am–the wound in my chest seems to ache at the sight of her. It’s as if it’s reminding me of who she is and what she’s capable of.
Staying silent, I watch her place her handbag and keys on the side table as she reaches down to take off her heels and pushes them against the wall with her stockinged feet.
“Can I get you a drink before you head off?” she asks, as if me breaking into her house and waiting for her in a darkened room is something that happens between us every day.
As if seeing the man who wants an explanation as to why she double-crossed him is something that happens every day.
Studying her as she heads to the kitchen and takes two beers out of the refrigerator, I have to wonder if she’s some sort of sociopath. She shows little emotion at the sight of me, which is shit, because I’m feeling a whole range of emotions at the sight of her…
She stands in front of me and holds a beer out, and I set my jaw, looking up at her but refusing to take it. Pressing her lips together, she withdraws the bottle and leans to the side to place it on the chrome and glass lamp table beside me.
“You’re angry with me,” she states, taking a seat across from me as she crosses her legs and smooths out the length of her skirt.
“More than angry, Chloe. There isn’t even a word for how I’m feeling toward you.”
She nods and places her bottle on the table next to her, keeping her eyes on mine. Watching me. Gauging what I’m about to do. Why is she so damn calm? She should be scared as fuck at the sight of me after what she did.
“Is my life in danger?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On what your answers are.”
“Ok.”
“You shot me in the chest.”
“I did.”
“I know how good a shot you are.”
She nods, waiting for me to continue, although I’m sure she knows exactly what my question is.
“Why didn’t you kill me?”
FIND OUT THE ANSWERS TO THIS AND MORE IN PLAYED, Fire & Lies, book two. Available for preorder now!
Books by Lilliana Anderson
The Confidante Trilogy
Confidante: The Brothel
Confidante: The Escort
Beautiful Series
Too Close
A Beautiful Struggle
Phoenix
A Beautiful Forever
Commitment
A Beautiful Melody
A Beautiful Rock
Devotion
Entwined Series
Our Hearts Entwined
Our Lives Entwined
Drawn Series
Drawn
Drawn 2 – Obsession
Drawn 2 - Redemption
For information on upcoming releases visit
www.lillianaanderson.com
About the Author
Lilliana Anderson
Bestselling Author of the A Beautiful Series, Alter and the Confidante Trilogy, Lilliana has always loved to read and write, considering it the best form of escapism that the world has to offer.
Australian born and bred, she writes New Adult Romance revolving around her authentically Aussie characters as well as a biographical trilogy based on an ex-Sydney sex worker, named Angelien.
Lilliana feels that the world should see Australia for more than just it’s outback and tries to show characters in more of
a city setting.
When she isn’t writing, she wears the hat of ‘wife and mother’ to her husband and four children.
Before Lilliana turned to writing, she worked in a variety of industries and studied humanities and communications before transferring to commerce/law at university.
Originally from Sydney’s Western suburbs, she currently lives a fairly quiet life in suburban Melbourne.
Visit my website at www.lillianaanderson.com
Connect with me:
To read some of my books while I write them, follow me on Wattpad –
http://www.wattpad.com/user/LillianaAnderson
For updates or to ask questions/ send comments,
you can contact me at [email protected]
follow me on twitter @Confidante_Lili
visit my website www.lillianaanderson.com
or facebook where I am most active—
http://www.facebook.com/pages/LillianaAnderson-Author/444649528938470
http://www.facebook.com/lilliana.anderson.12
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my work. I hope to have a very long writing career, producing books and characters you’ll come to love.
If you enjoyed reading, please take a moment to let someone know. Use the social media options on your device to share this book on Facebook or Twitter, and if you have time, leave a rating and review – I love to read your comments.
Partners (Fire & Lies - One) Page 17
