Page 26 of Sinful Negotiations

With one foot, he kicked the door open. A masked man had his arms locked around Tessa from behind. She struggled to break free, but the man dwarfed her smaller frame. Frantic eyes happened to flick his way as she lifted one foot and dug her heel into the top of her assailant’s right foot. He grunted momentarily, losing his grip on her.

Aidan dove headfirst into his body, taking him to the ground with a thud, rolling him over, and pinning him to the cement floor by sheer force.

“I need a rope, Tessa. Find one.”

She scurried in the room they’d met in so many times before and tossed a long piece of rope to him. Aidan bound and tied the assailant in less than a minute, turned him over, and yanked the mask off. “I want answers, and I want them now. Why Tessa?”

“I’m not telling you shit,” the man barked.

Aidan hit him so hard the man’s jaw cracked. “Try again.”

“Her. The boss wants her, and he’ll get her one way or another.”

“Why?” Tessa yelled.

“Let him go, Aidan. We’ll take it from here.”

Aidan lifted his gaze to Lexxa, but quickly snapped to Tessa. “Get your things. We’re leaving.”

“Aidan,” Lexxa interrupted. “The agency will provide a safe place for her. You’re crossing the line.”

“No.”

He cringed when Lexxa moved toward Tessa. “My name is Lexxa Thomas. I’m an agent with the FBI. I know you’ve been through too much, but a decision must be made right now for your safety. These people won’t stop. We need to move you to a safehouse.”

“I won’t go anywhere without Aidan. I only trust him.”

Lexxa sighed but faced him. “The cabin?”

“As long as necessary.”

“A team will surround your place. You’ll be lucky if you aren’t removed from the case.”

His gaze met Tessa’s. “My identity hasn’t been compromised. She’ll be safe.”

Chapter 22

When she heard footsteps behind her, she’d assumed it was Aidan. The message on her new cellphone came from him. How wrong she was, and how did they tap into both their phones? Arms like bands of steel quickly locked around her waist, and a masked stranger dragged her backwards. Had Aidan not intervened, she’d likely be kidnapped, raped, or worse.

She didn’t like violence but was thankful for Aidan’s strength and protection. There was nothing to consider when presented with the choice. She’d always choose Aidan. FBI? The government agency he worked for now had a name. But why their involvement, and what did her uncle have to do with it?

“Let’s go.”

His warm hand clasped hers, and he propelled her along the corridor to the elevator. It dinged, opened, and in a flash, she was plastered against the wall with Aidan’s hands on either side of her head, and his blue eyes boring into hers. “I want answers, Aidan.”

“I work for the FBI. Marco Dentzi wants you, but I don’t know why yet. My team is close though.”

“I want to see everything.”

“No, Tessa. It serves no purpose, and it’s against regulations.”

Her chin lifted under his dominant stance and stare. How dare he after what just happened. She’d tolerated his attitude, the abrupt dismissals, the treating her like a common employee in the office, the rudeness, the secrets, and his overbearing nature. “Fuck you. If you weren’t such a good lay, I’d have gone with the other agent. I almost…I don’t even know what, so tell me everything.”

She didn’t expect the naughty grin or the knowing glint in his eyes. When he licked his lips, her gaze dropped to his mouth. Adrenaline surged in her system, or shock, or both, heighteningevery emotion to a dangerous level. The full length of his hard body pressed into hers, and she sharply inhaled. “Stop.”

“You chose me.”

“Fuck you, Aidan,” she whispered, before licking his lips and placing her hands on his hips. “Fuck you for bending the rules and hiding the truth and fuck this thing between us. I want to leave the state. I need to go far away. You’re in danger. I’m in danger. They tapped into both our phones somehow. That’s why I came downstairs. It won’t stop.”

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