Page 43 of Scarlett Thief (Criminal Underground 2)

We were in a precarious position and my senses were on high alert. So, when a man stepped around the corner and cut her off mid-sentence as he aimed a gun in our direction, I reacted a split second before a ping hit the wall above our heads. I jerked her behind me, simultaneously yanking free my weapon to point it at our assailant.

The man, dressed as security, stalked forward with a casual smile. "That was just a warning shot," he said, waving the gun as if he wasn’t at all afraid that I now, too, had one trained on him. "Silencer, see?"

I saw it all right, but who the hell was this asshole? I glanced back at Scarlett to make sure she hadn't been hit and found her concentrated on the man before us. Her lips were pressed together and her hands clenched into fists at her sides, and that's how I knew—this was the reason she'd been spooked. This was the reason she thought we were compromised.

I turned my attention back to the man. "Who the fuck are you?" I growled.

He tsked and smiled past me to Scarlett. "You didn't tell him about me, darling?" he asked. "I thought we were close, you and I?"

"We don't work together anymore, Jaxson." It didn't surprise me that Scarlett's voice was so even. What did surprise me, however, was feeling her hand on my back. Her hands shook as she searched for the gun holster there. I'd taken the gun in my hand from the front holster hidden under this stupid monkey suit jacket.

"You left before I had the chance to convince you of the benefits of our mutual relationship," Jaxson replied.

I didn't like how close he was getting, and almost as if he could sense my mounting irritation, he paused several feet away. I didn't like how his eyes roved over what could be seen of Scarlett, and if the flare of his nostrils was anything to go by, he certainly appreciated what he saw.

"Why are you here, Jaxson?" Scarlett demanded as her fingers found the gun and gently slid it out of its holster.

My thoughts were running a hundred miles a minute. She knew this man.Had she known he would be here? What was their relationship? Is this a double cross?No, the last question was asked and answered. She was far too frightened of the man in front of us to use him in a double cross. Plus, she had a lot riding on this operation as well. Somehow, I knew she wouldn't do that.

"Working a job, just like you, I bet," he replied, gesturing with his gun.

“Not anymore,” I said. At least not tonight. There was something about this man that told me Scarlett’s earlier assessment had been right. We needed to leave. I cursed myself for not listening to her to begin with because now we were trapped and he was standing between us and freedom.

As much as I wanted that diamond—as much as I wanted Miranda safe—she wouldn't be if we were killed here tonight and instincts told me that this man was more than willing to kill me to get to the woman behind me. He had hardly glanced at the gun in my grasp even though minutes had gone by and it was still aimed at him.

"I suggest you step aside and let us leave, and maybe I won't blow your head off."

Jaxson laughed. "Oh, I don't think you'll be doing that," he replied. The door behind us—the one we'd just come through opened again and I glanced back, cursing as I realized his game. He'd been waiting. He'd just been a distraction. Two men moved into the hallway, turned, and shoved the emergency lock up that would prevent anyone from getting in. Jaxson grinned at me. "Should've used that while you had the chance, brother." He pointed his weapon at me. "You're outnumbered. Put it down and maybe I'll think about letting you live. I assume you're a recent add on to my girl's charade?"

Oh, I didn't like that 'my girl' bullshit. I didn't like that at all.

Scarlett moved against my back, turning to face the two new men, and I knew that since her hand remained against my lower spine that she hadn't yet revealed her gun. We still had a chance. They didn't realize it, but locking that door was going to work in our favor. The only difference between us and them—and it was a fucking big one—was their guns had silencers. The second we got a shot off, it would be loud. It would be heard—probably even over the party just beyond that door. That was why I hadn't shot him. I was still hoping we could get out of this.

"You have to chance it." Hadrian's voice came in my ear. "Shoot them. I'll create a diversion."

As soon as he said that, there was a loud boom in the speaker system on the other side of the wall—the soft classical music that had been playing just low enough for people to have conversation suddenly turned into hard rock guitar and was ramped up several ear-bleeding notches. That was the distraction. I didn't hesitate, I aimed and fucking fired on the asshole.

Jaxson dove to the side and grunted as my bullet grazed him, the quick little fucker. Behind me, Scarlett had jerked her hand around and the ricocheting sound of two gunshots echoed in my ears as well as the two bodies that hit the floor. They'd been closer. There hadn't been any chance of her missing. Jaxson was half a hallway down and though I'd gotten him, he still had his weapon. I had to think about her. She could still get hit. I pulled the trigger again, but just as I did, Jaxson fired and I cursed as his bullet hit my gun and sent it skidding behind me several feet. In the next second, Scarlett moved, grabbing my arm and slipping in front of me, leaving me blinking down at the rich brown curls on the top of her head with shock and righteous anger. If we lived through this, she was so getting the spanking of a lifetime.

Jaxson froze, his expression going slack as if he, too, was startled by her actions. "Move, darling," he said in a cold tone. "You're not my target."

She backed up, placing her body between his and mine. "Shoot him," I ordered her. She still had her weapon.

Scarlett lifted it and pointed, but she didn't pull the trigger.What the fuck is she doing?

Jaxson smiled. "She's not going to shoot me," he said, taking a step forward. "Are you, dear?" Scarlett's hand trembled in front of her, the fine shakes moving up her arm, making it unsteady. I reached for the gun, but she stepped forward—away from me. "I know all of your dirty, little secrets, Scarlett. I know who you really are."

"We're leaving," she said, her voice calm. She managed to keep it that way, but the reality of her emotions was visible in the way she stood. Her entire focus was on the man in front of her. Her arm was shaking. Her stance was barely restrained, pulled taut like a bow about to break. It was as if she wanted nothing more than to turn and run in the opposite direction, but in front of this man, she recognized a new kind of threat. You didn't turn your back on a serpent about to strike, you slowly backed away.

That's what she was doing, I realized. She backed up a step and I moved with her. "I didn't expect to see you here, Scarlett," Jaxson said. "Put the gun down and let's talk. That's all I want, to take you away from that steroid of a bodyguard you have behind you there—a rather poor one at that if you're the one protecting him—” I was going to grind this motherfucker under my goddamn boot. I wanted to bash his head in, kick him in the gut, and wail on that pretty boy face until there was nothing left but blood and broken bones. “—and talk."

"I have nothing to say to you, Jaxson," she replied. "And if you were going to shoot me, you would've by now."

“You have me at a disadvantage,” he said. “I won’t shoot if I have a chance of hitting you, dear.”

“But I can shoot you,” she replied.

“Then do,” I snapped. What was wrong with her that she wouldn’t do it?

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