Page 100 of Dangerous Rhythm

“How is this going to help me?” Curtis asked.

“Sometimes you need to help someone else first before they can help you,” Lina said. “But we still need to do some recon before we set this up. Confirm a hunch I have.”

Curtis studied her with a deep frown, wanting to know more. But Lina had nothing else yet to give him. Not until her questions were answered.

“Do you trust me?” Lina asked him.

He nodded with a solemn smile. “Always.”

“Then give me a day or two, and let me do what I do best,” she asked.

“You’re not doing this without me,” Curtis insisted.

“Curtis,” Lina warned. “You’re not leaving this apartment until we know—”

“Whatever you’re gonna do, I’m doing it with you.” He didn’t budge.

“I thought you trusted me.”

“I do. You don’t trust me. I promised your family I’d watch your back.”

Lina could see Dean’s speculating eyes as he listened to the conversation. Ken and Marcus were exchanging looks.

“I’m supposed to be protecting you, Curtis,” Lina said.

“Is that all I am to you? A client?” he demanded.

Lina pursed her lips, peeved. “We’ll discuss this later.”

“I don’t think discussing it later will change his mind, Lina,” Dean said with a small smile. Then he looked at Marcus and said, “You’re right. Love renders us idiots.”

“Let’s hope these two prove us wrong,” Marcus said.

thirty-nine

Lina put away the supplies Marcus had sent. She was still fuming at Curtis’ insistence on joining her to do some recon on Sofia Stiletto. Whether or not he liked it, she was still responsible for his safety. He shouldn’t have put her on the spot in front of Marcus and Ken—and Dean Rowland, for crying out loud.

“Hey,” Curtis walked into the kitchen.

Lina continued putting things away, ignoring him.

“You’re still upset?” he asked.

She didn’t answer.

“Okay, you are.” He leaned on the counter next to the fridge as she stored the perishable items.

Lina just gave him a quick glance.

“Come on, stop sulking. This isn’t you,” he said. “I said I’m sorry if I embarrassed you in front of your bosses.”

“I do not sulk.” Lina jammed the orange juice box into the door slot and closed the fridge.

“I’ve done my share of sulking. I know a sulk when I see one.” He grabbed her arm to pull her to him. Lina rotated her arm to release herself.

He attempted again, but Lina blocked his hand before he could even touch her. The man took it as a challenge as he tried to catch her around the waist with his other arm instead. Except he wasn’t a match to her in the art of evasion, even after the training they’d had this morning. She simply spun out of his reach and walked away.

“Come on!” Curtis pled. “Lina, please. You wouldn’t let me go out and do this on my own, either.”

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