Page 75 of Illicit Temptation

Fuck, is that why Kieran did the deal now? Fury races through me. Reaching into the duffel I found, I take out a roll of duct tape. “Where’s your car, mate?”

“Two blocks away.”

“You alone? If you lie to me,to my face,my lubed-up dick slapping your mouth is the last memory you’ll have on this earth before I blow your head off and throw you into that ocean behind us.”

His eyes go wide. “My boss in Vegas is waiting to hear a status report from me.”

“When was your last check-in?” I know how thesethings work.

“This morning.”

“How often?”

“Every twenty-four hours.”

It’s coming up on ten p.m. “I’m getting your car for you. You’re gonna leave here and go to this motel and check in.” I shove my phone under his nose.

“Got it.”

“Keys?”

“Pocket.”

I cringe touching this guy, but I fish out his keys. “What kind of car?”

He gives me the make and model. A rental.

“Close your mouth.” I tape his mouth around his head so hopefully clumps of hair come out when he peels it off.

I lock him inside the cottage and do a quick perimeter sweep. The fucker wisely told me the truth. There’s no one else here. He didn’t come to hurt Shea. He came to gather information. He attacked me because I tackled him. I’d do the same on a surveillance job.

For a moment, I sympathize with him. We’re the same. Just working for different bosses. It’s not his fault he’s working for a man who thinks he’s got claim tomywoman.

I roll his car in front of Shea’s three-bay garage. Once I’m sure all of her cameras are filtered out with stock video, I carry this asshole to his car. But I put him in the passenger seat and drive several blocks away. To be fucking nice, I find his rental agreement and with a pen, write down the name of the motel.

I pull down the tape so he can speak and slice the ropes.

“Here’s where you’re going, fucker,” I remind him and hammer home how goddamn serious I am.

“Yeah, yeah. Okay, but...”

I use his knife to slice my finger and in blood scroll out:Or you’re dead.

“You’re crazy.”

“Keep that in mind, if you think about coming back here. Have a nice night.” I get out and leave him in the car.

Under a sharp moon, the crisp breeze reminds me I’m still shirtless. I hoof it back to Shea’s and pass the gate. I secure it with the lock code and if nothing else, this made Shea being promised to Scava fucking real. I have so much on my side, though. I’m technically her husband. I just have to get someone with the last name O’Rourke to bless our shite Vegas marriage.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Trace

Two weeks later my blood boils listening to Shea on her office phone with Jillian, asking her if she wants to go to Vegas. Her husband, Eoghan O’Rourke, apparently can’t go due to ameetinghe can’t get out of. Odd. And Rhys needs to be with him.

That’s code for he’s killing someone and needs his guard for protection and doesn’t want his wife to see him covered in blood. Hmmm. I wonder if my wife will mind me coming home covered in blood? A lot. Someone else’s blood.

With all the new O’Rourke wives walking around, Shea seems to be the only one available for her new sister-in-law in need. She lights up on the phone and looks at me with a huge grin on her face.

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