forced on her.
She flew at him, and whacked his chest with the heel. She felt it gouge in. She did it again.
“You asshole! You shot my man. You put me in this cheap dress.”
Volkov staggered. She whacked him in the arm and his gun went flying. She stabbed the shoe again, hard enough for the heel to break skin.
With a cry, he fell backward and Haven leaped on him, slapping his face.
Rhys kicked Volkov’s gun well out of the way. “Okay, Wonder Woman.” He lifted her off the man.
Volkov curled into a ball on the floor.
“I’m not done,” she bit out.
There was a noise at the door and Vander strode in.
“You’re late,” Rhys said.
“Sorry, ran into a little trouble.” He eyed Volkov, his eyebrows rising. “What happened?”
“Haven beat the shit out of him.”
She tossed her head back. “And I’m not finished.”
Vander’s lips twitched and he crouched down, binding Volkov’s hands. “Stabbed with a high heel?”
“Beaten up by a beautiful woman,” Rhys added.
Vander shook his head, dragged Volkov up, and shoved the man into the chair Haven had been tied to. With a few zip ties, Vander had Volkov immobilized. “Move and I’ll shoot you.”
Volkov swallowed and stayed silent.
“I’m glad you two find this so amusing,” Haven said. “He shot Rhys in the chest!”
Vander’s face turned serious and he rose. “You okay?”
“Vest caught the brunt of it.”
“Still hurts like a—” Vander looked at Haven “—a lot?”
“I’ll deal with it later, but first…” Rhys gripped Haven’s arms. “What the hell were you thinking, attacking him like that?”
Her eyes widened. “You’re mad at me?”
“He had a gun to your head,” Rhys barked. “He could’ve killed you.”
“And he could have killed you! He’d already shot you, and I wasn’t letting him shoot the man I love again.”
She froze. Oh God, she’d just said that aloud.
Rhys stared at her and something moved through his eyes. Then he yanked her into his arms and kissed her.
Haven stayed frozen for a second, then kissed him back. His tongue plunged into her mouth, and she sank her hands into his hair. More. She needed more.
When he finally broke the kiss, she was panting. He pressed his face to her hair, his arms tight and secure around her.
“At least you won’t complain about my shoes or shoe shopping again,” she said quietly.
He shook his head and smiled.
“Where’s the Water Lilies?” Vander asked.
Haven stiffened. “Volkov took it out of here. Didn’t you find it?”
Vander shook his head and touched his ear. “Saxon, any of you guys got eyes on the painting?” He must have gotten a response because a second later, Vander shook his head.
Oh, God. “Volkov said the buyer arrived. Please don’t tell me the asshole took it already.”
“No vehicles have left since we arrived.” Vander toed Volkov. “Where’s the painting?”
“Fuck you,” the man said back.
Vander crouched and murmured something too quiet for Haven to hear.
Volkov’s eyes widened and his lips trembled. “Cellar level. The buyer drove in to collect it, and we completed the deal.”
“Let’s move,” Vander said.
Haven kicked off her other shoe and followed the men out. Rhys was keeping her close.
They jogged down the hall.
“Ace, I need fast access to the cellar level,” Vander said.
In the living room, Saxon, Rome, and Easton joined them.
“Haven.” Easton hugged her.
“I’m okay.”
“This way.” Vander led them through a massive kitchen. The appliances and countertops all gleamed. He opened a door and wide stairs led downward, lights flicking on automatically along gorgeous stone walls.
In the cellar level below, one long wall was lined with impressive shelving filled with bottles of wine. There were also several stacks of large barrels, and as they continued on, they passed a tasting room with a long table and chairs.
At the end of the corridor, Vander pushed through a door. Just beyond it was a delivery area, with doors open, revealing a driveway leading up. A van was parked inside, its back doors open wide.
Two men turned around and saw the Norcross team. They instantly lifted their hands in the air.
“The buyer is some tech billionaire,” Haven said.
“Where’s your boss?” Rhys asked.
The men shrugged.
“The painting?” Rhys asked.
“Mr. Allcroft hasn’t come back with it yet.”
Vander cursed and reached in and yanked the keys out of the truck. “Spread out,” he told his team. “Find him.”
Rhys turned to Haven. “I want you to find a place upstairs and stay—”
“Nope.” She turned, heading back toward the stairs. “I’m going to find that damn painting, Rhys.”
He glared up at the ceiling, and it looked like he was fighting the urge