Page 99 of Peyton's Price

Peyton flinched as Matthias landed a punch across the man’s jaw with a sickening crack. Travis staggered to his knees, his head lolling. He fell to the floor, slumping over.

Moved to tears by relief, she put out her hand, starting to call out, when movement just below caught her eye. The top of another man’s head moved into view, coming around the corner. He was holding a gun. And neither Liam nor Matthias had seen him.

She didn’t stop to think. Screaming bloody murder, Peyton threw herself over the edge, aiming for the asshole’s head.

* * *

Matthias was never goingto forget the moment he turned to see the assailant pointing a gun at Liam. He died a thousand deaths in that split second, but it was nothing compared to the jolt he’d experienced when he saw Peyton flying through the air, tackling the bastard and knocking the gun out of his hand.

“It was two fucking stories, Peyton,” Liam snapped as the female EMT poked and prodded at her ankle. The swelling was obvious. The only question that remained was whether it was broken or merely sprained.

“I wasn’t going to let him shoot one of you.” Peyton sat up on the gurney to scowl at him. She was shoeless, her hair was a mess, and her face was red from too much sun, but she had never looked more beautiful.

“Two stories—” Liam began.

Matthias didn’t want to think about what might have happened if Peyton hadn’t decided to play Superwoman. He pulled his partner toward him, kissing him hard—almost desperately—before resting his forehead against his. “Just say thank you.”

“I…” Liam cleared his throat as tears pooled in his eyes. “You’re right. Thank you, Peyton.”

Matthias leaned over to kiss her, too, surprising the hell out of the EMT.

Peyton cocked her head to the side. “Yes, they’re both mine,” she bragged to the woman.

The EMT blushed. “Wow,” she said, putting her hand out for a high five. They clapped hands before bursting out laughing.

“Always making friends, this one,” Liam observed, leaning against him for support before scanning the crowd that had gathered in front of the house.

Mason was off at the other end of the yard, talking to the other agents. Not only were high-level Interpol directors present, but reps from MI5andMI6 had shown up. He snorted. God knew how many other agencies were milling around out there…

The EMT excused herself to check on her partner. He was treating Travis’s injuries before they transported him to a holding cell.

Peyton rubbed her wrist. “I think they took off the charm bracelet when I was being transported here. I was so worried they had dropped it at the hotel, and you wouldn’t be able to find me.”

Matthias blinked.Oh, shit.

“You knew about the tracker?” Liam flushed guiltily.

“Of course I knew,” Peyton said weakly, gingerly touching the sore spot on her head. The EMT had wanted to do a scan for a concussion, but Peyton had insisted on waiting for Mason to give them an update.

“How?” Matthias asked.

“How do you think?” She laughed.

Both men shrugged.

Peyton cleared her throat, straightening her skirt as if readying for a long lecture. “See, there are these things called GPS bug detectors. I own several—”

“Why?” Matthias frowned.

“To scan your cars. I’ve been doing it for years. I started at the Caislean in Boston. I used to have all your vehicles scanned at least once a week. Maggie and Trick’s, too.”

“You did?” Liam looked stunned.

“Of course,” she said with a dismissive wave. “Well, technically, security did it, but since we’ve been traveling so much, I decided it would be a good idea to take over.”

They stared at her with identical expressions of disbelief.

“What?” she said. “I love Maggie and Trick like family. I couldn’t risk anyone kidnapping them—although, honestly, the groupies were the biggest threat. They used to lie in wait at the hotel, ready to ambush you and Patrick.”

---