the line of fire.
All because she wasn’t strong enough to stand up to him. To tell him no.
Mona managed another deep breath. “Okay.” She leaned into Pierce, resting her head on his shoulder as his arms came around her. “How do we do that?”
“I’ve got no fucking clue.”
“Hey.”
Mona lifted her head toward the open door whereHeidi was practically bouncing in place.
“We found him.”
Pierce turned, keeping one arm around Mona. “Where?”
“Not far from the townhouse Eva rented when she first came here.” Heidi glanced down the hall as a few men ran past. “Rogue and Shadow are already gearing up.”
Pierce’s eyes came to hers.
She knew what he was going to say before he said it and it rolled her stomach.
“I have to go with them.”
Mona reached out to run her hand down the vest he still wore over his dress shirt. “You should probably go get changed then.”
It was not what she wanted to say. She wanted to knock him unconscious and tie him up and hide him away until all this was over.
“Go.” She pointed to the door. “Get it over with.”
He smiled at her. “I love you.”
“I’m going to be so mad if that’s the last thing you ever say to me.”
He leaned into her ear as he unhooked his vest. “Then I will leave you with this.” Pierce dropped the vest from his arms. “When I get back I plan to make good on my promise to stretch you across my bed.” His voice went a little deeper. “And my intention to fill you until I can’t fill you anymore.”
He turned, pausing to pull the gun still tucked into his waistband free. He passed it to her. “Put this back in my top drawer.”
And then he was gone, running down the hall with his vest hooked over one arm as he undid the buttons on his shirt.
“Damn it.”
Mona stood up and rounded the desk, pulling open the drawer. It was padded with a spot specifically for the pistol in her hand.
She rolled her eyes.
Who had a drawer custom made for their gun?
Pierce did.
“Hey.” Heidi was back at the door. “You ready?”
Mona shivered. “I’m going to run to my room and grab another sweater. I’ll be back before they head out.”
Mona closed the drawer and started toward the door. She stopped and glanced back at the bookcase leading to the hidden stairwell leading underground.
The tunnels hadn’t worked well for her last time.
This time she was sticking with the halls.
CHAPTER 23
THE BUILDING WAS quiet as Mona hurried to her room on the second floor of the rooming house. As usual there were a couple of fully-geared men stationed in the hall outside her room.
She gave the men a wave. Both were from the team that was previously in charge of watching Amelia which meant she didn’t know them, but they were men who Pierce trusted implicitly.
And that was good enough for her.
Mona swiped her badge and rushed into her suite, going straight for the bedroom. Something caught her eye as she went, slowing her pace.
The bowl of fruit from Pierce’s kitchen was in the middle of her counter, fully stocked.
Including fresh bananas.
She couldn’t help but laugh. The man bought out a flipping greenhouse thinking she liked plants.
Filled the building with them.
And now he brought down the fruit tray she perused every time she was in his kitchen.
Mona snagged a banana and hurried to her room, grabbing an oversized sweater, pulling it on over the clothes she already wore as an added layer.
Maybe it was nerves making her feel so cold.
Or maybe it was the fact that the temperature outside was well below zero.
Either way, she was much cozier in the added layer. Mona peeled the banana and tossed the skin in the trash on her way out the door.
She wanted to be back before they arrived at the address Heidi and Harlow found. Not that she could do anything but watch.
Her stomach turned as she swallowed down the bite of banana.
At least it wouldn’t be terrible if it came back up.
Mona pulled open her door, forcing in another bite of banana just as the door next to hers opened. Helen jumped out, her eyes going up and down the hall.
“Is everything okay?” Mona glanced in the same direction.
“I can’t find Amelia.”
“What?” Mona turned to the men in the hall. “How could she have gotten past them?”
“I don’t know.” Helen pressed one hand to her head. “That girl’s been testing the hell out of me lately.”
“Maybe she just went to get