blow sent her crashing into a dumpster with a clang. She dropped heavily to her knees.
Her gun was just a foot away, lying on the dirty concrete. She recovered and pounced.
Damn. We couldn’t run out of the alley because the shooter could still be on the street.
Instead, I leaped on Jackie. We rolled through some trash, each trying to gain the upper hand. I poked at her eyes, and she grabbed my hair and yanked.
With a grunt, I shoved and pushed her away. I rose to my knees and found myself with a gun pointed at my chest.
The woman smiled, those soulless eyes staring at me, her finger tightening on the trigger.
Oh, God.
“No!” Liam growled.
“Stay still, rich guy, or you’re both dead,” Jackie snapped.
A shot echoed off the walls.
I jerked, but there was no searing pain. The woman yelped, dropped the gun, and clutched her hand.
A man emerged from the shadows, holding a Sig Sauer with experienced ease.
I tensed until he flicked me a glance, then he moved over to Jackie. I noted he moved with an easy, liquid stride and didn’t make a sound. He was a man in full command of his body. He had dark-brown hair with the hint of a curl, and wore a flannel shirt over a black T-shirt, well-worn jeans, and a tan-leather jacket.
He yanked Jackie’s hands behind her back, and pulled out some zip ties.
Liam helped me up.
“You okay?” The man’s voice was deep, gravelly.
“Yes,” I said. “Thanks.”
Eyes of whiskey gold met mine. “Let’s get out of here.”
16
Usually Quick on My Feet
Liam
“Company will be coming,” the man said. “Move.”
Liam nodded, keeping his hand on Aspen’s arm. “What about her?” He glared at the tied-up Nexus woman.
Aspen sniffed. “Leave her.” She stepped over to the woman. “I’ll be giving Doyle an update. Take this as a lesson, Jackie. I’m always prepared.”
The woman just glowered at them, fury twisting in her blue eyes.
“Through here.” Boone led them into a building. They hustled down a dark hallway, and somewhere, Liam heard a baby crying.
They came out at a stairwell.
The man turned. “I’m Boone Hendrix. Vander sent me.”
Liam had suspected as much. “You have excellent timing, Boone. I’m Liam.”
They shook hands. “I know who you are.”
“And I’m Aspen.”
Boone nodded, dark-brown hair falling across his forehead. “Vander briefed me.”
“We got some extra information on the treasure,” Liam said. “We need to search my warehouse in the Bronx tonight.”
The man lifted his chin. “You need back up. I’m there.” He cocked his head. “You’re bleeding.”
Liam touched his temple, and his hand came away with blood on his fingers.
“Oh, my God.” Aspen pushed in close, her face panicked. She yanked his head down. “Oh, my God.”
“I must’ve got nicked by debris when the bullet hit the bricks.”
Boone held out a clean handkerchief.
Aspen snatched it, then pressed into Liam’s temple.
“I’m okay,” he said.
“You’re bleeding.”
“Darling, I’m fine.”
She let out a shaky breath, nodded. “Your shirt isn’t, though.”
He glanced down and spotted the blood. He sighed. “I’ll run out of clothes by the time we finish with this.”
A smile flirted on her lips. “Lucky you can afford to buy more.” Her smile faded. “I don’t like seeing blood on your skin.” She dabbed at him again.
“I’m fine,” he repeated.
“My place is just around the corner. I’ll clean you up there.” She looked up at Boone. “Can you meet us at the warehouse at 9:30 PM?”
The big man nodded. “Text me the address.” He gave them his cell number.
With a wave, Boone disappeared. Liam let Aspen drag him out of the building. They walked two blocks, then she led them into a nice, pre-war, brick building.
“You’ve got a good building, here,” Liam said. It was second nature for him to assess a property.
“My father’s parents left me this place.”
“Very fortunate for you.”
“Absolutely, or I couldn’t have afforded to live in this part of the city.” She shot him a teasing look. “We can’t all buy fancy penthouses.”
They walked up the central, open staircase, and he heard a door open.
“Aspen, is that you?” a shaky voice asked.
“Shit,” Aspen muttered, pausing on the stairs. Then she raised her voice, half shielding Liam with her body. “Yes, Mrs. Kerber. How are you today?”
“I’m fine.” The old lady squinted at them. She held a white cat tucked under one arm, and Liam could have sworn it glared at them. Shit, the thing looked evil.
“How’s Skittles?”
“Oh, he’s in his cage today. Do you have a young man with you?”
Aspen made a strangled sound while Liam tried to think if