Page 20 of Securing the Odds

“Fine, Shawn and Gus.”

“Who?”

She issued a small huff, and his eyes were drawn to her tits that were, quite literally, right in front of his face. “Haven’t you ever seen Psych?”

He shook his head, reluctantly pulling his gaze from her chest and back to her face.

She waved a dismissing hand. “It doesn’t matter. The point is, I’m going with you.”

He turned back to the glovebox and moved his hand around until he felt cool steel and pulled out his handcuffs. “You’re waiting in the car. Every takedown has the potential to be dangerous. I don’t want you getting hurt.” Not to mention, what he was about to do was technically illegal and he didn’t want her involved.

Sitting up in his seat, he opened his door and got out before leaning back into the car to tell her, “Lock up after I leave.” He slammed his door and waited to hear the lock engage then took off across the street.

He should’ve been suspicious when she hadn’t protested further.

No sooner had he reached the elevator, than the main door of the apartment building opened, and Tammy came strolling in.

He watched her progress across the lobby, a frown pulling at his brow. “What part ofwait in the cardid you not understand?” he growled as she sidled up to him.

“The wholeI can’t believe you thought I’d listen to your bossy demandpart of it.”

He couldn’t help it. As pissed as he was that she hadn’t listened, that didn’t stop the laugh that erupted from his chest. “Fine.” He pressed the elevator call button. “But you’ll do exactly as I say.”

“Yes, ole bossy one.” She executed a smart-ass salute, and he latched on to her wrist, tugging her arm to pull her into him.

Her head tipped back as his tipped down. “You’re very lucky you’re so cute.”

“Cute?” Her nose scrunched, and he had the urge to bite it. “Don’t you know women hate being called cute?”

He leaned forward until their foreheads and noses touched. “Then stop scrunching your nose and beingcute. You’re making my dick hard.”

Pecking her lips before standing fully erect, he kept her glued to his side with an arm around her back, his hand covering her perfect ass. The elevator doors slid open, and he steered them in.

He felt her eyes on him. “What?”

“I changed my mind. You can call me cute.”

He squeezed her to him just as the elevator stopped at their floor. The doors slid open, and he halted her as soon as they stepped out. “When we get to the door, I want you to stand off to the side. Don’t move, no matter what happens.” He remembered how she’d tried to come to his rescue at the bar and added. “And don’t interfere, especially if things get physical.”

He led them down the hall, and when they neared the door, he released her and nodded, waiting until after she got into position before he banged on the door.

About thirty seconds passed before he heard a muffled male voice, sounding far away, ask, “Who is it?” and a female voice, sounding closer, answer, “Some guy. I don’t know who it is.”

And that was his cue. “Babe!” Jake banged the door again. “Open up.”

Then the female voice said through the door. “I think you have the wrong apartment.”

“Carmen, babe, quit fooling around and open the damn door.”

“What the fuck!” That was the prick’s voice again.

“Honey, I swear, I don’t know who it is.” Carmen sounded frantic.

One more time should do it. “Carmen, who the fuck you talking to? Open the damn door. Now!”

“I swear to Christ, Carmen, if you’re fuckin’ around on me…”

The door flew open, and Jake was face to face with the asshole. The two years since Jake had last seen him had not been kind. Gray dusted his temples, and deep lines made crow’s feet at the corners of his bloodshot eyes. He’d stripped his shirt off since he’d arrived, revealing a bare chest that was flabby and a small beer gut that hung over his waistband.

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