Page 100 of My Temptation

I wasn’t getting much from this conversation, nothing that would make any difference in a case against him. I needed them to exchange the money.

Smiling, I looked around the room. “Where do you want me?”

Samson grabbed my arm and pulled me back to stand beside him, but his focus was on Miles. “We have a deal, or you leave.”

Miles’s expression filled with hatred. Obviously, he was used to calling the shots, and he resented that Samson was in control of this situation. Eventually, he jerked up his chin and reached into his pocket. I wasn’t surprised when he pulled out a roll of cash and, with one final glance in my direction, handed it to Samson.

“Half up front.” Miles jerked his head to the door. “You’ll get the rest when I’m done.” His eyes slid to me again. “If I’m happy with the purchase.”

I smiled slowly, and it was obvious he thought that smile was for him, but he wasn’t aware that smile was for Nick. I couldn’t have scripted that better myself. I never actually thought he’d say the word “purchase,” but he did, and that was all they needed.

They’d only just exchanged the money when an alarm sounded. I watched Samson pull his phone from his pocket and swear. “Son of a bitch.”

“What the hell is going on?”

“Fucking cops are outside.”

Miles took a step closer to Samson, and his voice dropped to a growl. “Are you setting me up?”

“Absolutely not.” He snorted. “Cops get called to bars all the time. Maybe there was a fight, and someone called them. It’s nothing. Steve will handle it.” Samson gestured toward a door on the opposite side of the room. “As a precaution, go out the side door. Tim’s waiting outside to escort you to your car.” With a nod, Miles grabbed my arm, but Samson stopped him. “I’ll find you later tonight to finish the purchase.”

Playing along, I attempted to pull my arm free when Miles grabbed me. “I’m not leaving here with you.”

He quickly turned to face me and slapped me across the cheek. I wanted to fight back. I wanted to kick him hard enough in the balls that he’d feel it for days. It took everything in me not to react, but I couldn’t blow my cover. Not yet. There was too much on the line, and until I saw Ethan’s face, I wasn’t jeopardizing the assignment.

Still attempting to pull my arm free, I allowed Miles to pull me toward the door, but I was definitely slowing him down. Over my shoulder, I saw Samson pull open the door to the hallway, but then take a step back a moment before Ethan pushed through, wrapped his hand around Samson’s neck, and shoved him until his back hit the wall.

Ethan glanced around the room, but when he saw me, fury filled his expression, and he shifted his glare to Samson. “We had a deal, fucker.”

Samson couldn’t answer him. As a matter of fact, Ethan had so much pressure on his neck that he began gasping.

“Ethan.” I called out his real name sharply, trying to get his attention before he did something Elite couldn’t fix.

When Miles began pulling me toward the door, I was done. I twisted out my arm and shifted my body until he was forced to turn his to face me. Once he did, I lifted my leg and jammed my knee against his crotch. He swore loudly and fell to his knees, but my attention was back on Ethan.

“Ethan, let him go.” His head jerked in my direction, and I pointed at Samson. “We can’t finish this unless he’s breathing.”

Something I said must have registered because he slowly loosened his hold, and Samson slid down the wall.

Then all hell broke loose.

“FBI!” My eyes widened, and I stared at the open doorway as they continued talking. “Everyone on the ground, hands up!”

Within a second, about half a dozen FBI agents rushed into the room.

“FBI,” I said aloud, shocked that they were raiding this place.

“Where is he?” One of the agents met my stare, and I realized he meant Miles.

Looking down, I swore when I saw he was gone. I was so focused on what Ethan was doing that I didn’t even notice he’d moved. There was only one other way out of this place, so I pointed at the door in the back corner. “Out there.”

I shifted to the side as two agents moved quickly past me and watched two other agents handcuff Samson, who was now face down on the floor.

My eyes once again found Ethan, who was watching me, but something had changed.

I had no idea what it was.

But I knew it wasn’t good.

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