Page 57 of Rugger: The Huntress

I pushed into the stairwell with my elbow against the handle. Two-by-two, I took the stairs down fourteen flights and exited the same door I’d entered. I quickly joined the trail leading to the other wing ofHotel Kosm. Just as I fell in line, my heart swelled twice its size.

Red blood splatter disguised the beauty of the right side of her face. Calculated steps and extensive limbs pushed her closer to her destination much faster than the others around her. Her eyes were trained on the building ahead, allowing me to slip up on her.

Our shoulders brushed against each other. Electricity surged through my veins. My fingers expanded, anxious to grab ahold of her. Needing tofeelher. Needing totouchher.

“Excuse me.”

I cherished my life. And, I refused to let it end without fully experiencing the woman who’d surely end it if I grabbed ahold of her.

I said nothing as she continued on her path. The manners she’d shown weren’t out of remorse, but more so from theinherited moral compass stored in her complex brain. It exited her body automatically. She couldn’t have stopped those words if she tried.

The rigidness in my pants brought a smile to my face. Her grit was tantalizing. Her tenacity was addictive. Her aim was compelling. Her accuracy was thrilling. She’d tightened her grip around that lifeless heart of mind, successfully reviving it with her unorthodox CPR tactic.

No medical instructor could teach her those skills. She’d been trained by a master marksman. It was time she was tamed by one.

FOUR

There were twenty-four hours before the contract went into full effect. I didn’t have twenty-four hours to wait. Tonight, Gideon Miles would take his last breath.

Tonight, I was his judge and juror. Tonight, I was reclaiming my power. Tonight, Gideon’s death would be one of a double homicide. Tonight, I would be vigilant. Tonight, I’d end the charade once and for all. Tonight, I’d stop avoiding my brother’s calls because I didn’t want to hear the disappointment in his tone and return the two I’d missed.

I removed the compact mirror from my purse to freshen up the gloss on my lips and get a clear view of the restaurant patrons in their respective seats. Tables were reserved weeksahead of time. Though I didn’t have one linked to an alias, I still made my way through the door and to the bar after assuring the staff I was with the Jefferson party.

The common last name and the fact that I had access to their guest list prior to my arrival got me past the two pointless security guards dressed in black suits. Had there been an issue with my presence, they’d understand how replaceable they were.

Within forty-eight hours,Langford Chop Housewill have sent their mothers flowers and positioned two new guards where they were tonight. Business would continue as usual–for the restaurant and for me.

The clear liquid slid across my lips like butter. It coated them well, giving them a glassy effect. I rubbed my lips together as I scanned the room. Slowly, I mentally captured one angle after the other until I laid eyes on my target. His placement was no surprise. I’d studied the reservation list and seating arrangement since I’d acquired it.

Bingo.

I lowered the mirror and stuffed it inside the mini Chanel bucket bag and grabbed the martini from the wood-topped counter. I spun around and pressed my back up against the bar. As fate would have it, my eyes landed on Gideon, whose eyes had already landed on me.

Naturally, my right eyelids sealed momentarily. The wink was enough to garner a smile. There was an empty seat at the table he shared with two colleagues. It was my destination.

I placed one foot in front of the other, inviting myself over. Powerless is what I deemed victims from the moment their names came across the database. Fortunately, most men of power were aroused by the idea of losing total control behind closed doors.

I was almost certain Gideon fit the mold. Inviting myself to his dinner table would have his dick rock solid. If it waspromising enough, I’d entertain him long enough to feel it in my uterus. Otherwise, his demise would be swift and uneventful.

Mid-way through my journey, a familiar fragrance halted my frame completely. The potency inflated my chest and caused my nostrils to flex. Crinkle lines wrinkled my forehead. Upon realizing I was wearing my thoughts on my face, I relaxed my muscles.

Two additional steps and I was seated at a table twenty feet from my self-appointed seat. A cream-colored box with the word Huffington embossed in gold foil in the center sat across the table from me. The Storm Compact from my leg holster settled in my right hand as my breath caught in my throat.

“Good evening, Rugger.”

I chugged the martini and sat the glass on the table. Things had gotten quite interesting in an unexpecting turn of events. To say I was baffled would be an understatement.

The facts of the case I was building in my basement began coming together. In a matter of seconds, I had come to a conclusion after searching for answers for two full weeks. Under the radar, I’d been secretly digging up evidence to build a case my superior had told me to bury.

The secrecy forced me to practice the patience I’d been taught as a child. Because I knew the results would be worth it, I didn’t mind the wait. But, things became crystal clear as his baritone penetrated the air.

“Ps–”

“Medium-well filet mignon, topped with fresh scallops and lumped crab. A side of lobster mac and cheese. Also, sauteed garlic parmesan brussel sprouts,” cheerfully, the waitress interrupted me to inform me food I hadn’t ordered had arrived.

My stomach rumbled underneath the table. The aroma was persuasive. But, I craved the repulsive stench I tried to mask more than anything on my plate. I wanted death not dinner.

“And, Château Lafite to quench your thirst.”

---