Page 25 of Sensual Surrender (The Serafina: Sin City 2)
Ellie cursed and turned away from him, as if disgusted. “That’s so stupid. Now you’re dragging me down with you. And all because of your big mouth. Why am I not surprised?”
“If I remember right, you used to like my mouth.” The softly spoken innuendo made Jay’s blood turn icy.
Turning away from the sight of them, he continued scanning the area while listening to their conversation. Bejar had taken up a spot on a bench directly across from them on the other side of the fountain. He was too far away to hear anything but close enough that Jay didn’t like it. “Anyone see anything else?” Jay asked the team. Focus. He had to stay focused on the mission, not that bastard’s words to Ellie.
As everyone murmured negative responses, Ellie made a disgusted sound to Murrell. “I was seventeen and stupid.”
“So what, you think you’re too good for me now?”
“Are you kidding me? I thought you wanted information, not to dredge up the past. Your big mouth got us into this mess and I’m walking away. I don’t have time for this.” Ellie stood, her willingness to walk from him a solidification of her cover.
Kevin reached out and grabbed her forearm. On instinct Jay reached for his SIG. Not like he could do anything with it from here. Another smart reason why he’d been relegated to the bell tower. If he’d been close, Jay might not have been able to stop himself from making a move. It didn’t matter that he’d had the best training in the world. Seeing another male’s hand on Ellie like that made all his training and control dissipate.
Ellie didn’t yank away, but sat back down, her body rigid. “Get your hand off me or I’ll rip your nuts off.”
The threat was so un-Ellie like it made Jay smile. Hell yeah, that was his woman.
Murrell released her, but moved in close. Too close. “You give me what I want and my money and we’re even.”
“I’ll give you the plans you need, but that’s it. It was damn hard getting these. If you take this file, then I’m out. I’m taking that money and starting over somewhere. If you let this drop I’ll give you the cash and you can leave town. If not, I’m not sticking around waiting for Christiansen to take me out.”
“Your boss is really like that?”
Ellie snorted indelicately, as if Murrell was stupid. “He didn’t get to be so wealthy playing by the rules, and he’s a former Marine. What do you think?”
That was actually true, Jay knew. Not the part about him killing people, but Wyatt definitely didn’t play by the rules.
“I think I want that file and my money,” Murrell growled low in his throat, his words barely audible on the scratchy audio feed.
“You get one or the other. You choose,” Ellie said, all confidence but Jay knew this was hard on her.
When Murrell paused, Jay could actually feel the tension from the rest of the team members as they waited for his response. They were all ready to strike at Murrell if he made one wrong move. Not that it did anything to ease the clawing, aching fear he experienced every second the woman he loved was sitting next to that piece of garbage.
Finally Murrell sighed. “How’d you get this information anyway? And how do I know it’s good?”
“You’ll know as soon as you look at it and it’s none of your business how I got it.”
“How?” There was a warning note in Murrell’s voice that made all the hair on Jay’s neck stand on end. What he wouldn’t give to end the guy’s life right now.
“I have full access to my boss’s computer. I found some backup files on there. And it wasn’t easy to access. I covered my tracks, but he’ll eventually figure out it was me who leaked them. I…also included some other information for you. It should help if you decide to do this asinine thing. Now what’s your choice?”
He paused again, but this time the silence was much shorter. “The file. And if you double cross me, I’ll kill that pussy you’re living with and make you watch.”
Ellie laughed, mocking Murrell. “You’re an idiot,” she said, seemingly unfazed. But Jay recognized the underlying thread of emotion she was trying desperately to hide. Fear. For him. Throat tight, he looked away and did another scan of the perimeter and exits as they continued to talk.
“So what’s his deal, anyway?” The question sounded casual, but Jay watched the subtle way Murrell tensed, turning his legs and body toward Ellie. He wanted the answer to this question, the nuances of his body language giving him away.
She reached into her jeans pocket and smoothly slid it into Murrell’s palm as if they were simply shaking hands. “I’m not talking about my personal life. Now this is it. You do whatever you want with it, I’m not helping you anymore. Now that I know you’re working with De Luca I know you won’t tell him about that money. And it’s mine now. I’m taking it and leaving since you chose the stupid option.”
Murrell grabbed Ellie’s jaw in a tight grip. “You’ve got a fiery little mouth on you now, bitch.”
Jay headed for the exit, ready to race down the stairs, but froze at Iris’s words. “Stay put, Jay. She’s okay.”
Before he could respond, Murrell made a gasping, choking sound. Then he heard Ellie’s voice, loud and clear. “I told you not to touch me again.”
“Your girl just grabbed his junk and twisted,” Roman said under his breath, awe in his voice.
Relief slammed through Jay with the intensity of a fifty cal. He resumed his post, using the shadows to cover him as he moved back to the opening. As he slid back into place Jay saw Murrell limping away in the same direction he’d come. Bejar left his seat at the same time, going with Murrell, not in Ellie’s direction. Lucky for him.
“I’ve got eyes on him. I’ll tail him until he leaves the parking lot,” Iris said.
“V and I are shadowing Ellie until she gets to her car,” Wyatt said quietly and Jay watched as he stood from the nearby bench, moving ahead of Ellie.
It still stunned Jay that his boss had managed to disguise himself as an old man so well. Even though nothing would completely relieve Jay until Ellie was back in their hotel suite and in his arms again, some of his tension fled as he watched her head to her rental car, Wyatt and V nearby in case anything happened. They’d have to blow their cover to protect her, but that was a risk they were all willing to take.
Now that the first part of their plan had been put into motion, they just had to wait for Murrell and De Luca to make their move. Unfortunately they couldn’t pinpoint exactly when they’d strike so they’d have to be on guard 24/7 until De Luca and Kevin were completely out of the picture. Until that happened, Jay knew he’d never relax again.
Chapter 16
“What the hell was that all about?” Tadeo asked the second they shut the doors to the minivan.
Still seething, Kevin unclenched his jaw, struggling to take a breath. He couldn’t believe Ellie had grabbed his junk like that. She was nothing like the quiet, docile girl he remembered. He shifted against the passenger seat, trying to get more comfortable, his balls protesting in pain as he moved. Stupid bitch. “Needed to remind her who was in charge.”
“How’d that work for you, mano?” Tadeo rolled his eyes as he steered out of the parking lot.
Kevin didn’t bother responding as he turned in his seat to see if they were being followed. He doubted it since no one had made themselves known when he’d grabbed Ellie’s jaw. And she hadn’t been looking around for backup. No, she’d just gone straight for his goods. “You see anyone out of place back there?”
“Don’t think so. Besides, when you manhandled her like that we’d have known if she had backup.”
“Yeah.” It was partially why he’d grabbed her like that, but mainly he’d wanted to wipe that obnoxious look off her pretty face. He couldn’t believe the way she’d talked to him. If they hadn’t been in public he’d have done a lot more than grab her. Taking his aggression out on this new version of her could be very therapeutic.
Tadeo shook his head, chuckling as he continued. “Can’t believe she grabbed you like th
at. It was crazy. You shoulda seen your face. You at least get you what we need?”
Kevin wanted to knock that stupid smile off Tadeo’s face, but he kept his cool. Until he had his own crew to back him up, Tadeo was one of his few allies in Vegas. He could let a little disrespect slide, especially since he knew Tadeo wasn’t being malicious. “Let’s find out,” he said, pulling out the stolen laptop he’d brought from under his seat. His balls still hurt, but the pain was already fading.
Flipping it open, he waited for it to boot up before plugging the flash drive in. In case she’d decided to plant a tracking device in it, he copied all the files. Soon he’d destroy the flash drive and toss the remaining pieces.
As file after file popped up, his heart rate increased and his anger began to fade. She might be a bitch now but it looked as if she’d come through. He quickly scanned the standard building plans, then the additional plans that showed all the security measures Christiansen had put into place. The information on the extra security was gold. He’d have to go over everything more in depth once they had more privacy but at first glance he knew exactly how to steal the jewels.
Continuing through the rest of the files, he paid special attention to the security schedule she’d given him. And that was how he knew she wasn’t lying. He didn’t have all the guards’ routines yet, but the ones he did have matched perfectly with her information. If she’d lied it would have made him more suspicious.
Looked like this was going to work out in his favor. He might have made a mistake by running his mouth in front of one of Tadeo’s cousins—who had then relayed everything to De Luca—about being able to rob Christiansen, but everything was going to work out. That was what happened when you thought big.
Eventually he’d take over De Luca’s territory, but for now he’d create a name for himself with this robbery. He’d become known in certain circles and it would give him the credentials he needed to start his own crew. And Ellie was definitely going to die after the heist.
He hadn’t been sure before, but now he didn’t care what De Luca did to her, especially after the way she’d disrespected him. He still wanted his money too, but if he had to give it up for this information, it would be worth it in the long run.
