when the familiar voice filtered through his earpiece. Finally, the secondary security team had arrived. Well, at least one member had. The one he knew was most motivated to keep his current charge safe. The lovestruck gaze Reinaldo aimed at the boss’s daughter left little doubt the man would stand guard while Bull took care of these men.
“We’re on the sixteenth floor. Don’t use the north stairwell.”
“Please tell me she’s safe.” The winded sound of his voice was surprising, likely a result of him sprinting up the stairs. There was little doubt in Bull’s mind the man was racing up sixteen flights of stairs like a knight on a mission to rescue his princess. Daddy dearest would likely castrate the man if he suspected the secret love between his little girl and his right-hand man.
“Don’t offend me,” Bull responded with a huff of a chuckle.
Within seconds and after Bull’s confirmation that the floor was clear, Reinaldo pushed through the door of the southside stairwell and immediately stalked over to him, scanning side to side until he joined him in the alcove. “The others are on their way.”
With a nod, Bull quickly led Reinaldo to Annamaria’s hiding place. He pushed open the door to the small storage room and spotted his client’s daughter huddled in the dark corner. Bull barely had a chance to say a word when Reinaldo shoved him aside and landed on his knees in front of her, pulling her into a tight hug. They clung to each other as they whispered words of affection and thankful praise to the heavens.
An eye roll was imminent, but Bull held back the urge. It would take a force greater than a snow blizzard in hell to drop him to his knees like that for someone.
“Can you keep her safe while I nip this shit in the bud?”
Reinaldo held her close as he looked over his shoulder. “With my life.”
It took every ounce of effort to steel his reaction. He wanted to scoff at the clichéd response, but the sudden tightness in his chest shut him up. If he had someone who stared back at him with that much devotion, maybe he’d understand the desperation in their embrace.
Determined to wrap things up tonight, he pushed out the door of the storage room as the young couple still lingered in his mind.
Letting the eye roll finally escape, Bull entered the south stairwell and climbed the steps leading to the roof.
At thirty-eight, he hadn’t felt that squeeze of heart most would call love, but he had been in a few long-term relationships that might have become serious. The last two relationships had left the strongest sting. Justin hadn’t cared about anyone but himself, and Amelia was all about filling her sex quota for the week, even if he wasn’t around to satisfy that itch.
So much for commitment.
Each time, Bull had left without a second of hesitation. It had hurt, but the realization of how easy it had been to walk away hurt even more. Maybe Cupid’s arrows weren’t strong enough to pierce his armor? He shook off the thought. Those magical arrows had made their way through Aidan’s armor—his friend and fellow brother-in-arms. If arrows could spear that tough heart, anything was possible.
Returning his attention to the mission, Bull carefully turned the handle to the last door at the top of the stairwell and inched the door open, ignoring the instant bite of cold Chicago air slapping his face.
Damn, he missed Miami.
The distant sound of voices traveled through the otherwise silent night.
He opened the door a little more and squeezed through. Keeping his body low, he worked his way closer to the chatter, taking cover behind the rooftop air-conditioning units.
The men stood together. He counted off…two, three…where was the fourth—
He sensed the presence before he heard the click of the gun cocking behind him.
Crap.
Bull whipped around and gripped the barrel of the man’s gun with his left hand and delivered an upper cut with his right, knocking the guy unconscious. He quickly stepped forward, hooking his arms under the guy and lowering him to the ground. Bull turned in time to see the remaining men split up, likely on the hunt for him and seemingly unaware of their comrade’s takedown. He sighed. This was going to take longer than he had hoped. He holstered his gun, preferring to use his fists when possible. He wouldn’t let a random shot cut through the night sky and hit an innocent bystander.