Page 54 of Centurion

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to lose my shit. Four men with guns. You could have gone the other way.” Con sighed dramatically.

“Would Harbinger have gone the other way? What about Fury? Would he?”

“I don’t know, and I’m not falling for or having sex with that grumpy ass either,” Con grumbled. “Turn right at the next intersection. There’s an accident ahead of you.”

“Thanks.” She put on her blinker and stopped at the light.

“Holy shit. Look at your face!” Con yelled again.

“Con, I’ve got a bit of a headache.”

“You look like you’ve been through nine rounds with a heavy-weight boxer.”

Gabby cocked her head and stared at the camera on the post at the corner of the intersection. “Ah … thank you … I think?”

“That wasn’t a compliment,” Con growled. “If they weren’t dead, I’d kill them for doing that to you.”

Gabby turned and smiled, although it hurt to do so. “Are we getting protective of the assassin?”

“No, I’m getting protective of the woman I’m dating,” Con grumbled.

“Well, I guess that’s authorized.” She chuckled. “I like that by the way.”

“What? Me freaking out?” Con chuffed the response.

“No, the fact you’re falling for me.”

“I told you you’d always know where I stand. I can’t barricade my emotions out of sight of everyone.” He sighed. “You’re going to have to let me know if I’m alone in this.”

She blinked at that. “I told you my real name.”

Con was silent for a moment. “Baby, was that your way of telling me you’re all in?”

Gabby nodded, although he couldn’t see it. “I’ve made myself as vulnerable with you as I’ve ever let anyone see me. I don’t know how to tell you any clearer than that.”

“How about, ‘Con, I’m falling for you. I want you in my life. Don’t go back to the States. Stay here in London with me’.”

She blinked a couple of times, but she wasn’t misting up. No, the punch to her jaw had probably messed with her eyes, which was why she was seeing things through a haze. She swallowed hard. “Yes, that, what you just said. I want that.” She managed to articulate the words without sounding like a blabbering idiot.

Con chuckled. “You have the most beautiful way with words.” Gabby laughed, and Con joined her. “I’ll watch you all the way home. Pay attention to traffic and be careful.”

“Yes, dear,” she said, and he laughed again. She heard the tiny click indicating he’d switched back to the main comms and wiped her cheeks. Damn it, shewascrying. How long had it been since she’d cried? She couldn’t remember.

CHAPTER 22

Con waited at the door for Gabby. He watched as she got out of the car and jogged to the apartment. He shut the door behind her and turned her around. His hand went to her chin. “You need to put ice on that bruise. What happened here?” He tapped her other cheek near a red mark that ran laterally across her cheek.

She toed up and kissed him. “I’m not sure what happened there, the heat of the battle and all that.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “I don’t think I believe that. You’re not telling me what happened on purpose.”

She placed her hands on his chest. “And that’s why people call you a genius. Here.” She reached down her shirt and pulled the film canister out. He did a double take at the cleavage where she hid the device but took the item from her. “It looks exactly like the canister we saw in the video.”

He nodded and dropped his hand from her waist. “It does.” He examined the device and popped off the top, which revealed a round drive with a USB port. “USB.” He frowned. “Old school.”

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