Page 4 of Centurion

“You're welcome,” Ronnie said as they waited for the press of people to clear.

Con said a few choice words before adding, “My computer is back at the hotel. Without it, I’m dead in the water, but I can get this processed if she’s down.”

Ronnie knew Con’s words were heard through her mic, so she didn’t bother to repeat his offer to help.

Joseph barked, “Centurion, you and Con, get out of there. Ask Con if he can hook up securely from his hotel.”

Ronnie relayed the question, and he nodded. “There’s a government building next door to the hotel. I’ve hijacked their encryption, but Jewell will have to let me past that monster of hers.”

“He said yes,” Ronnie answered.

“No, he didn’t. He droned on for a fucking hour answering a simple question,” Joseph grumped.

“Both of you get over to his hotel. Button, do I need to bring in others?” Archangel asked as Ronnie motioned for them to leave. Con, bless his big body, made a hole in the masses, and they headed out of the building.

“No.” Jewell sighed. “I’m fine. As soon as I see him, I’ll confirm and grant access.”

“You don’t sound fine,” Ronnie said as she and Con moved with the spooked crowd.

The night air was cool as they stumbled out. Con grabbed her hand. “This way.” He pointed toward the back of the compound that was hosting the gala.

“The back?”

“I always park at the back at these things. Parking for the staff always has extra spaces. That way, I don’t have to wait for my car to be brought to me.” Con walked faster than she could in her high heels.

“Hold on.” She stopped and slipped off her shoes, hooking the straps on one finger. She nodded. “Okay, let’s hustle.” Ronnie lifted her skirt, and they ran to the back entrance. The lights on a McLaren flashed, and Ronnie headed to the car. Con got in at the same time as she did. The engine fired, and he floored it. The car careened around the corner and was through the gate as stunned employees still flooded out of the back exits.

“What’s wrong with Jewell?” Con glanced at her for a second before his attention returned to the road.

“I don’t know, and they haven’t said.” She put her shoes back on. “Do we have anything on what happened in the corner?”

Archangel answered her question, “No. That will be Con’s job when he gets online. And by the way, you can stop kicking yourself; this was a surveillance-only situation. We should have had a team there to support you.”

“Copy.” Archangel was right; she was kicking herself over losing Abrasha, and yeah, maybe she should’ve had backup. It eased the sting of not being able to move when there was zero lighting.

Con shifted and then looked over at her. “What did he say?”

She looked at Con and shook her head. “You’ll have to do it when you get online.”

CHAPTER 2

Con drove as fast as he dared. The police vehicles they’d seen so far were all running code and heading toward the opulent compound where the gala was being held. As far as he could tell, other security at the gala was nonexistent—not that it mattered.

He glanced at the woman sitting next to him.Of all the gin joints in all the towns …He’d been searching for her for almost a year. There was nothing on her. He’d used backdoors that should have revealed something about her, but there was nothing. The more roadblocks he hit, the more determined he was to find her. “Is that earpiece muted?”

She reached up and tapped her comm unit. “It is now.”

“I looked for you.” Con wanted her to know and understand the kiss they shared wasn’t a fluke. He felt the chemistry, and by the way her pupils had blown, she knew it, too.

“We know. Thankfully, you didn’t do anything illegal … well, anything too illegal; otherwise, you would have been slapped. Hard.” She turned in the seat to look at him. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did you look for me?”

“You’re asking that after the kiss we shared tonight?” Con shook his head. “I think the why is evident. It was evident on the island.”

“So, sex is your reason.” She stared at him.

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