Page 11 of Pucker Factor

“Well, same goes double for me.”

“That doesn’t even make sense!”

I glanced around and noticed others were starting to get in line to board. I must have missed the announcement. “I have to get on the plane now. We’ll talk about this later.”

“Don’t you dare forget to send that wallet back.”

“Fine,” I said grudgingly, hanging up my phone and then sticking my tongue out just to give it to her one last time. I quickly got in line and waited my turn to board. After getting in my seat, I sighed in contentment until a man sat next to me. A handkerchief was hanging out of his pocket, still neatly folded, so I was pretty sure he hadn’t used it. As he bent over to grab a magazine, I slipped it from his pocket and quickly stuck it in my purse. Then I leaned back in my seat and enjoyed the flight.

4

ELI

Pounding on the door had me jerking awake. I could feel the lines from the edge of the bed embedded in my face. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I rolled over, only to fall off the bed, forgetting I was already on the edge.

There was more banging, and then Red was shouting. “Eli! Get your ass out of bed!”

“Fuck,” I grumbled, hauling my ass off the floor. I stumbled over to the door and flung it open, glaring at Red. “What the fuck do you want?”

“We gotta move,” he said, shoving his way inside. He glanced around the room, probably looking for Lori. I hadn’t even heard her leave, but I couldn’t say I was disappointed to wake up alone. It saved me the awkward conversation that was bound to happen. The truth was, while she was fantastic in bed, I knew it was a mistake to sleep with her. The warning signs were all there. Thankfully, we lived worlds apart, so I didn’t have to worry about running into her again.

“What’s going on?”

“New client. Sensitive intel, possible threats to his life…the usual.”

“Right,” I mumbled, walking over the chair where my clothes were neatly folded. I grabbed them and stuffed them in my bag, then pulled out fresh clothes. “Are you going to stand there while I get dressed?”

“Do I need to?” he asked.

I looked at him, wondering why he was asking. “I think I got this, man.”

He grunted and turned around. After dressing, I dug through my bag for my wallet, but it wasn’t there. I patted down my pants again, wondering how I missed it when I picked up the clothes, but it wasn’t there either.

“What the fuck?” I said, looking everywhere for it.

“What’s going on?”

“I can’t find my wallet.”

I got down on my knees and searched under the bed, but it wasn’t there either. I tore the covers off, but still came up empty. Red joined in the search, but by the time the place was torn apart, it was clear it was nowhere in sight. I turned to face Red, my face mottled in rage.

“I’m gonna kill Kavanaugh. She actually fucking stole my wallet!”

“What are you talking about?”

I ran my hand through my hair, still trying to process the fact that the woman I slept with last night had actually fucking stole from me. “That woman I took back here, she fucking took my wallet. I fucking told Kavanaugh this would happen!”

“Yeah, that really sucks, but…” He jerked his thumb toward the door. “Bad guys, threats…sort of more important than your missing wallet.”

Shaking my head, I followed him out of the room. As much as it grated on me, I had to remember that there was a life or death situation out there that had to be dealt with first. “Fine, but when I see Kavanaugh, I’m gonna shoot him,” I said as we stepped onto the elevator.

“Wait until after the job. Who knows, maybe he’ll get shot and the situation will resolve itself.”

He had a point.

I hauled my bag over my shoulder and headed downstairs with him. Everyone else was waiting in the vehicles, ready to take off for the airport. “Where are we headed?”

“Chicago.”

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