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Maybe I wanted both.
The engine roared to life as my head spun, my thoughts taking me over so completely that I didn’t even realize I’d driven the entire way back to her apartment until I saw the turning for it.
Fuck. I’d just spent the better part of fifteen minutes completely trapped inside my own head.
“Thank you,” Lena whispered, unclicking her seatbelt. “I really appreciate what you did for me.”
I grunted in response, afraid that if I opened my mouth, I’d ask her to stay. And I couldn't do that. I couldn't let her get between me and my plans.
She waited a beat then opened the door, but didn’t push it enough to get out. “Do you do this often?” she asked.
I whipped my head around, finally looking her in the eyes. “Do what?”
Her chest lifted as she hauled in a breath, then she whispered, “Save people.”
For a second I was sure I heard her wrong, but when I realized that I didn’t, I shook my head and gripped the steering wheel harder. “I’m not the good guy here, Lena.” She blinked, her green eyes darkening. “I’m the bad guy. I’m the reason you lock your doors at night and install security cameras.” My voice was getting louder, my tone brooking no room for an argument. “I’m not the hero you’re looking for. I’m the wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
She tilted her head, her gaze tracking from my hand, up my arm, then back to my face. “You might think you’re all bad,” she murmured. “But deep down, there’s a side of you that you don’t let anyone see. I can sense it.” She shuffled across the seat, half getting out of the car. “I see it.” She pushed out completely then bent at the waist to look back down at me. “See you around Theo.”
Chapter Seven
LENA
My gaze scanned the darkness in the club, making sure that I spotted every possible exit. It wasn’t something that came naturally to me, but I’d learned to be more inconspicuous over the last few days. It wasn’t something that they taught in the Academy, but we were expected to know how to do it. When I really thought about it, it should have been easy, but I swore the easy things were always the hardest for me.
Hit dead center of the target while at the shooting range? Sure, I could do that with my eyes closed.
Find the missing clues in cases. Yep. I got that down pat.
But scanning for exits? Not so much.
My fingers itched as I thought about the shooting range. I never went more than a few days without doing some practice, but it had been nine days since I’d last gazed at a target.
I hadn’t spoken to my Chief in nearly a week, and I hadn’t seen Theo in five days. Part of me had hoped that he’d make contact after he’d dropped me home, but deep down I knew he wouldn’t. He wasn’t the type of person who did the chasing. Too bad for him that I had no intention of letting this go.
I had a job to do. I had evidence to collect.
Holding my drink in one hand, I swayed at the edge of the dancefloor, scanning for anybody I recognized. But all I could see were random patrons and an empty booth. Maybe he wasn't here tonight. Maybe I’d missed my opportunity and they’d already done their next job.
Shit. Shit, shit shit.
I’d tried my best to stay in the shadows and to do intel, but I was coming up empty. Coming here tonight felt like a last resort, and he wasn’t even here.
Rolling my shoulders, I was about to give up but then…the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, the atmosphere in the club changing within an instant. The music seemed to dull, the lights getting brighter, but I knew it was my imagination.
He was here.
Theo Black. My target.
I wasn’t the only one who felt the shift, not if the turning of heads were anything to go by.
You weren’t a twenty-something living in this city if you didn’t know about Theo Black.
Tall—six foot three to be exact—good looking, in that bad boy vibe kind of way, and stubble on his cheeks that I wasn’t sure was intentional or just because he hated shaving. But it was the almost black eyes that told me he had secrets he was hiding. Eyes that I’d been inches away from only a few days ago.
My fingers lifted to my lips involuntary, feeling the tingle that was left there from him. He’d marked me and I had no idea how to get rid of it.
I tried not to be too obvious as I watched him sit in a booth. He was on his own, but he didn’t seem to care. This was my chance. I could go over there, talk to him, and see if I could gain more traction with him.
