Page 32 of Jonas

I glanced at Cooper to see if he looked as dumbfounded as I felt. He didn’t, but he did look harassed at the prospect of his wife going to Delcon for an interview.

“Just drive to Daryl Barnes’s hotel and knock on his door, that’s your plan?”

Derrika shrugged. “Why overcomplicate it? The simplest solution is oftentimes the easiest to execute.”

“Occam’s razor doesn’t apply when people are in the mix,” I told her, referencing the problem-solving principle she mentioned. “The simplest solution could quickly turn complex when some asshole pulls a Crazy Ivan and decides to shoot us instead of sitting down for a chat.”

“He’s not going to shoot us through the door of his hotel room,” she went on like a dog with a bone.

“You’re sure about that?”

“Sure, I’m sure. Why would he?”

There were a lot of reasons. But I didn’t take the time to ponder on them all, and focused on the obvious.

“Maybe because he doesn’t want you to know why he was in front of your building. Or more to the point, who sent him.”

Derrika glanced around the room and blew out a breath like she was suffering through torture and not a conversation about her safety.

“I’m up to take the chance if you are.”

Translation: I’m going to speak to Daryl; whether you come or not makes no difference to me.

Fuck my life.

“You staying here with KK?” I asked Coop.

He glanced at his wife who was already deep into her searches, not paying a lick of attention to the world around her.

“Yup.”

Smart.

The house could catch on fire and Kira wouldn’t notice.

“Let’s roll.”

When Derrika didn’t immediately move, I turned to see what was holding her up. That turn proved to be the nail in an already tightly closed coffin. The look of satisfaction that she’d gotten her way, mixed with the shock that I’d given in so quickly, meant her lips were parted but tipped up, her eyes were soft but astute, her shoulders were set and determined. All of that equaling strongminded beauty—the likes of which I’d never witnessed but right then decided I wanted to see more of. And as the hammer pounded the nail deeper, I couldn’t find it in me to stop it.

If Derrika Layne continued to shine her stubborn loyalty down on me, I’d blindly ride with her into the unknown.

CHAPTER TEN

“So…” I started and lamely let that hang.

“So?” Jonas repeated as he merged onto the 267.

I was surprised to find we were staying only a few miles from Dulles. It made sense Zane Lewis would have a safehouse close to one of the busiest international airports in the region, but I was shocked we weren’t that far from my apartment.

“Sorry,” I grumbled, then admitted, “I ramble when I’m nervous.”

“How’s that work for you when you’re undercover?”

I stopped staring out the window and focused on the man driving. Or more specifically, his big hand curled around the steering wheel. And why was the way he drove with his left hand at the ten o’clock position, his right elbow on the center console, totally at ease but in control so sexy? The only thing that would make it sexier was if his hand was resting on my thigh, or if he was holding mine. And don’t get me started on the way his bicep stretched the cuff of his sleeve or the pair of Gatorz hiding his eyes. Jonas Lang was a walking Cool Guy advertisement.

“Dee Dee?”

Gah.