Page 68 of Lethal Game

“Are you okay? You look like you’re hanging on to her pretty hard.”

Con eased off on his grip a little. “I’m fine. As soon as we’re past the first checkpoint, go look for Smoke.”

River nodded, but still looked uneasy as he glanced from Con to Sophia.

People were running toward them and past, hopefully to fight the fire. Con and River assessed everyone moving in their direction, obviously looking for threats. She wondered what they were looking for, what they saw.

Was it a specific posture, or tilt to a person’s head that said,I’m not an American or I’m not safe?

“Your hair is coming loose,” Con said to her, his tone calmer than before, though there was still a thread of violence that made her shiver.

She quickly tried to stuff it all back into the cap she wore, but as many strands as she tucked in, that many slipped out. Finally, she held the stray strands in her left hand at the back of her head.

They reached the first checkpoint.

River turned and looked at Con. “I’m going after Smoke. See you inside. Stay frosty.”

Con’s teeth flashed white in the darkness. “Yeah, it’s getting hot.” Then River was gone, and Con was tugging her toward the second checkpoint.

“Why are we in such a rush?” she asked him.

“Because you’re not safe yet.” He tugged her a little harder.

“You’re going to rip my arm off.”

He stopped and deliberately released her.

They arrived at the second checkpoint and passed through. There were extra guards at this one.

They entered the lab building, passed by Eugene’s desk, which was empty, and went straight into Sophia’s office. He shut the door, locked it, then pulled off her cap and began checking her over for injuries with fast hands.

She tried to shove his hands away. “I’m fine.”

“Shut up,” he growled at her.

His order made her so mad she put both hands on his chest, pushed, then snapped, “You shut up.”

He growled at her, grabbed her, and kissed her hard. His lips forced hers open and his tongue surged into her mouth like he was desperate to taste her. His hands slid around her, pulling her body into full contact with his, and he groaned into the kiss.

When he finally let her suck in some air he whispered in her ear, “I thought I’d lost you.” Panic and worry gave his voice a brittle quality she never thought she’d hear from a man who’d survived what he had. He’d seemed so strong, so self-contained.

Pleasure at his obvious worry—he cared about her—warred with concern that he’d care too much. Maybe she was being selfish.

She was going todie. She had no business pursuing a relationship of any kind.

Stupid,stupidgirl.

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