Page 8 of Nobody But You

As I sat reviewing the footage from the restaurant. I reveled as she walked down the hallways unnoticed. When she couldn’t avoid being seen, she kept her head down out of the camera’s vision. I studied her as she expertly took down the waitress, dragging her to the storage closet and exiting wearing a waitstaff uniform. She stopped before entering the private dining room to push up her breasts, but she didn’t need to do that. She would have gotten the attention of every man in the room, even if she was still wearing that damn coat she had also discarded in the closet. I reviewed the feed until she left Porter’s. She hadn’t made any mistakes to the naked eye. To me, she’d made two.

One I caught as I was scanning the video for the third time. Standing at the bar to see if she could locate the bartender, she held her head up a little too long. I could freeze frame her side profile enough to plug and scan inside my facial recognition software, Bio Scan. It was an underworld program similar to one used by the government, but better. Few had access, which included the original three tops and me. I’d invested millions into its creation with Devin. It had flaws because it didn’t know everything, only what it could find online, and its tracking reach was US-based only. I didn’t use it much and didn’t feel the need to, but for this scenario, it was perfect. I put the partial face scan in the software and waited for it to return the results.

Her second mistake was that I’d seen her, and I never forgot a face, especially not one that fucking beautiful. Who was she there for? Was she working alone? If not, who sent her? What did she know?

More fucking questions that need answers.

The ding interrupted those questions, letting me know the software had rendered its results. I sat staring at a photo of the beauty I’d committed to memory.

What the fuck?

I knew he had a sister, but I’d never met her in the two years I’d been acquainted with the man. The need for introductions had never come up. She wasn’t a part of this side of the business, even though I knew she helped her brother from time to time. I’d only heard that she did through Demitri. He called her the muscle. Like ours, her identity was to remain anonymous, especially from underworld members. Devin felt I should accept and offer the same trust I gave him. However, this fucked me up. My face immediately balled up in disgust.

Jourdan Nichelle Washington. Code name: The Lioness. Gun for hire. Are Brice and his sister trying to take me out?

CHAPTER 4

Jourdan

Istormed into my office after finally making it home. I ripped the Porter’s Steakhouse uniform from my body, watching the buttons fly across the room. As I continued in my fit of rage, the syringe and pills I’d placed there flew out when I’d ripped the sleeve over my wrist, along with that damn eyelash.

You have got to be kidding me!

That further increased my anger. I was pissed. I’d left Porter’s without accomplishing a damn thing. I went in there on a mission and failed, and I never failed a mission.

That beautiful fucking bastard!

I knew that calling a man beautiful was unorthodox, but damnit, fine, wasn’t strong enough for the feelings he provoked in me. It didn’t help that while the sexiest man I’d ever seen stood before me, my faulty false eyelash had become the main character in my act, the irony of it all.I’d forgotten to fix my damn makeup. I wanted to scream and punch the air because I’d let that man see mefrazzled. I’d never felt this way about a man; I couldn’t trust them aside from my brother. They were all the same in my world. I’d witnessed men spending years weaseling their way into your lives. They’d gain your trust through a false sense of loyalty only to shoot you in the back... literally.

As I plopped down in my office chair, I pulled my hair out of the bun and scrunchie to let it cascade around my face. It was plush, but not enough to ease the tension I felt. I teased my hair through my hands, grabbing the roots and tugging. I groaned and internally scolded myself. I should have gone with my first thought that security was there. I’d let my eagerness win because I would have been one step closer to my goal. This wasn’t me; I was a trained killer, a gun for hire. I would typically have it all planned out and would have anticipated his presence, but tonight, I didn’t. I was moving off my emotions.

When he stood, I was taken aback. He was tall, around six feet and four inches. His muscular build was accentuated by smooth, tawny brown skin, which I assumed was covered in deep black ink. I could tell by the tattoos on his neck underneath his white button-down shirt. The top buttons were undone, further teasing my vision of what was underneath. Then there were those kissable lips surrounded by a close-cut but thick beard that led to his slick black hair, which held curly ringlets. I wanted to run my fingers through them.

Ugh!

It was his eyes that made me grab at my chest. I’d never had a man look at me that way. Even though he was teasing, he lookedat me like he had all the answers to my questions or would do anything to help me find them. I couldn’t control the damn goosebumps that appeared on every inch of my skin and the arousal that his gaze caused. Then he chuckled, and his ass had the nerve to have dimples. It immediately pissed me off. That, and I wouldn’t be getting my answers from Burks, at least not tonight. Nonetheless, those eyes holding me captive also held amusement and danger. They told me that he wasn’t about any bullshit, and I believed him.

Backing down from anyone, man or woman, would never cross my mind, but this man gave me pause. I didn’t know why, but I would figure it out. I finally powered up my laptop, starting my investigation. I began with Porter’s by hacking their database and pulling up their security feed. Which only took me a few minutes. Not that a steakhouse needed top-notch security, but it had been child’s play to crack.

What the hell?

There was nothing there. The computer server had been wiped clean; the only explanation was that he had beaten me to it.

Shit! Who in the hell is he? Ok, maybe he’ll pull up in a quick internet search.

My fingers moved in rapid succession as I typed in local private security. As I scrolled down the list, one caught my attention: Rockwell Security. I clicked on the link to open the webpage. I’m not even sure how this entity garnered any business because the webpage was shitty.

I wonder if they’d let me fix it. Shit, don’t get sidetracked,JoJo.

As I continued to peruse the site, I saw that Rockwell Security wasn’t just a local firm; it was nationwide. Before I could click on the “about us”section, my cell phone rang; it was Tayla.

“Hello,” I answered dryly.

“Eww, what in the hell has your panties all in a bunch?” I took a deep breath. I swear, Tay and Brice had a knack for calling when I was distressed. I took another deep breath to calm myself. I hadn’t planned on telling her my business tonight, if ever.

“What’s the deal, Jourdan? You know I will keep asking until you tell me anyway,” she goaded. I didn’t feel like fighting her on it.

“I failed a mission tonight,” I huffed out.

---