Page 6 of Deadly Holiday Kiss

Just as I'm about to tie his last arm to the sofa, the sound of the door slamming shut startles me and snaps me out of my thoughts. My head jerks in the direction of the source, where my eyes meet dark brown ones staring back at me.

Chapter 5

Ethan

A sigh slips from my lips as I take another sip of my whiskey, leaning one elbow against the bar as I listen to the story of one of my colleagues.

"...and I'm telling you, the guy didn't even see it coming." His voice grates on my nerves. I give him a nod and an acknowledging grunt, pretending to listen, but my focus is elsewhere. I spotted my target minutes ago, disappearing towards the VIP rooms, right into the lion's den. I was wondering when he would show up, but I had hoped it would take a little longer as I would have liked to spend some more time with Harlee.

On the subject of her. My attention falls on the glass of Champagne on the counter. The bubbles have already lost their fizz. She is waiting for me, probably wondering where I am. Worst case, she might think I dumped her. I let my eyes wander over the crowd again, slower this time, looking for a flash of red and blonde hair. But she's nowhere to be found. My stomachchurns with irritation and I take a deep breath. The night is young, I can still spend some time with her before I take out my target.

I take another sip of my whiskey, the alcohol burning as it slides down my throat, and I let out a another sigh, turning my attention back to my conversation partner.

"Hey, Lyle," I interrupt his chatter. "Sorry, man, but I really got to go." I nod towards the glass of champagne on the bar.

"Oh, you have someone waiting for you, huh? Don't let me keep you." A teasing grin spreads across his face.

With the promise of being able to leave, I ask the bartender for another glass of champagne, which he sets down in front of me. Then I bring my free hand down to Lyle's back with a firm slap. "Try not to bore anyone else to death for the rest of the night," I mutter, earning a laugh from him.

"You're such a crank," he teases. "Enjoy your night, Ethan."

"You too," I say, grabbing the new glass, bidding farewell and walking in the direction where I left Harlee.

The closer I get to my destination, the clearer the new situation becomes. Great. She is gone. My fist clenches around the champagne flute, the thin glass dangerously close to shattering under the pressure. I let out a slow breath, trying to suppress the anger bubbling up inside me. I finally had her. After months of circling her in the dark, waiting for the right moment, I'd finally gotten close. And now? I let her get away.

I turn, scanning the room for any sign of her in the sea of meaningless faces. I twist my wrist and check my watch, the second hand ticking loudly in my mind. Maybe she just went to the bathroom, I tell myself, forcing myself to stay where I am. I lean back against the wall and look down at the champagne glass in my hand.

I shift my weight from one foot to the other and repeatedly check the time, until another ten minutes have passed. My eyesdart to the hallway leading to the restrooms. I don't think she's there. Where the hell did she go? Was I too aggressive? No, I couldn't have misread the signs. She pushed back the same way. Although surprised by my revelation that I know her secret, she seemed more intrigued than put off.

I guess I’ll deal with my target first, and then I’ll track her down. If she’s not here, I’ll wait for her at her apartment and make sure she never pulls a stunt like this on me again.

I hand the two glasses to a waiter who maneuvers through the crowd. Then I pull my ticket from the pocket of my suit jacket and approach the security guards standing by the VIP back rooms, showing them my ticket. Without further questions, they let me through.

I pull my phone out of my pants pocket, open the tracker app, and check the exact location of my target. Glancing down the hallway leading to where he is, I find a staircase to the basement where another employee is standing behind a desk. After a quick chat with the man, I learn that my target has disappeared into one of the private rooms with only a woman , meaning I have nothing to worry about. Kick her out and get the job done. Easy enough.

I walk down the stairs into the dimly lit hallway, dodging every person that comes my way, and as soon as I reach the door with the number twelve on it, I check my phone again. The red dot is now right in front of me. I slip the phone back into my pants and reach for the handle, but it doesn't move.

Pulling a small tool kit from the inside pocket of my jacket, I squat down and get to work. After a few quick turns, the old lock pops open with a faint click. Rising to my feet, I shove the tools back into my pocket and pull my gun from the holster concealed beneath my jacket. With the weapon in my hand, I reach for the handle again and carefully push the door open, revealing the room and the people inside.

I take a step inside and my eyes widen at the scene unfolding in front of me. The same woman who just disappeared on me is straddling the unconscious man I am supposed to kill, lying on the decorative antique sofa, and is in the process of tying his arm to one of the legs. On the small coffee table next to them lies a hunting knife and what looks like a roll-up bottle. So my suspicion was right. My heart leaps at the sight. Not only does she look absolutely stunning on top of a man, although I would prefer her to be on top me, but to witness her murderous nature, which I've only ever admired from afar, right in front of me is a sight to behold and one I want to engrave in my brain.

At the sound of the door behind me falling into the lock, her head whips in my direction, her eyes meet mine across the room, and her hands fly up in surrender the second she catches sight of my gun aimed at her.

"It's not what it looks like," she says, keeping her hands up as she climbs off the unconscious man while I keep aiming at her.

"Then what is this, beautiful?" I bark, trying to hide my fascination with irritation as I take a step forward. "Some fucked up sex thing?" I snort and take another step forward as she takes one back, hands still raised, circling the coffee table away from the sofa.

"Oh God, no, nothing sexual," she says in a voice that almost sounds offended.

"Good, because I should let you know that I don't like to share."

"Aw, you already put a claim on me?"

"For tonight? Yes, you're mine."

"Am I really? Maybe you bored me, so I ran away."

"I doubt it." I nod in the man's direction. "So I was right, you're out of colors, it seems." I cock an eyebrow and a grin spreads across my lips as her eyes widen.

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