The Mercenary Next Door (Rogues and Rescuers #2) - Lucy Leroux Page 0,72
report in a halfway civil tone. She thought it promising, considering how angry he was, but once they had dropped off the others, he continued to drive in stony silence.
It stretched and stretched, making her skin feel tight.
“How did you figure out what we were up to?” she asked, desperate to break the tension stifling the air.
“Ransom called me because one of his tasers was missing,” he said, jaw tight. “No one but Rosamie has been in his place. When you didn’t pick up your cell, we put two and two together. I canceled today’s practice session, then drove like a bat out of hell to get here. Ransom met me out front. No one was at the desk, so we just went in—past a disabled security camera.”
“You noticed that, huh?”
His lips pursed. “I’m not about to compliment you for taking precautions when what you did was flat-out insane. What would have happened if Joseph woke up? He might still realize you were the one who came by and swiped the phone. You could be arrested.”
“With the hangover he’s sure to have, he’ll think he lost it himself. Plus, I took back up,” she protested weakly. “Also, I did have the key.”
That and the person who had given her that key had still been texting her as of yesterday, begging to see her.
“Then you should have given it to me.”
“You going in would have ended much worse, and you know it,” she argued. “If you’d seen Joseph in the flesh, you would have dragged him out of bed and beat the crap out of him,” she said, finally snapping. “Go on and tell me I’m wrong.”
Mason’s mouth firmed, his profile tightening until it was almost ascetic in its severity. But he didn’t argue with her, not until several miles had passed.
When he turned to her, his light blue eyes were luminous, as if lit from a fire within. “If you ever put yourself at risk like that again, I will put you over my knee.”
Laila scrunched down into the seat. “Now, you’re stealing Ransom’s lines.”
Mason exhaled very loudly and deliberately. “Laila, don’t test me.”
Deciding silence was the better part of valor, Laila stopped trying to defend herself. Mason was too worked up. That and it was hard to truly argue with him—not because she was afraid of upsetting him, but because part of her still couldn’t believe she’d done what she had.
Laila wasn’t stupid. She was aware she had taken a big risk. But she also knew she had the best chance of finding out whether Joseph had anything to do with Jasmine’s death. She was the only one with access.
The rest of the drive passed in silence. Laila alternated between telling herself she did the right thing and panicking the police were going to be waiting at Mason’s with handcuffs.
His phone buzzed. He picked it up, keeping one hand on the steering wheel. After glancing at it, he handed it to her. There was a text from an unknown number.
Item copied and returned.
Instructions to download the file to follow.
This message will self-destruct.
JK. Delete this if you know what’s good for you.
Sighing with relief, Laila hugged the phone to her, deleting the message as instructed. A few minutes later, Mason pulled into his driveway.
Laila hurried inside, intent on getting to her room before he could start another argument. She made it to the bedroom door when Mason grabbed her and spun her around. His arms wrapped around her, his mouth covering hers before she could think.
It had taken one touch for his anger at Laila to transform into desire. All he’d meant to do was stop her from running and hiding in her room, but the second his hand touched the bare skin on her arm, he clutched her to his chest and kissed her—hard.
Too hard.
He broke the kiss, pulling his head back. “Your lip—”
“Is fine,” Laila said, reaching up to pull his head back down. Her mouth covered his, her small tongue breaching the seam of his lips.
Her taste, both exotic and sweetly familiar, filled his mouth, making his pulse pound and igniting a sharp hunger for more.
Something that felt like relief swept over him. Laila was here, and she was warm and willing in his arms. Mason could indulge as much as he wanted.
A little whimper escaped Laila. He stopped, inhaling deeply because it wasn’t a protest. It was a sound that spoke of a need almost as strong as his own.