Page 106 of Extradition (Mobsters + Billionaires 1)
JOE
Edgerton’s guysfrom the lobby surround us and usher Hopper and me into Rand’s private elevator. The one with the constipated look on his face hits a series of buttons, and the car ascends quickly. Much faster than is typical.
The doors open, and we’re greeted by Edgerton and a very worried-looking Rand. I’m half-convinced that he’s about to kick me out, but then he pulls me into a strong hug, burying his face in my neck. I barely choke back a sob of relief.
“You have no idea how scared I’ve been. I didn’t know if I would see you again,” he whispers into my ear.
“I’m here, my love. I ain’t going nowhere.”
He pulls back and kisses me, no fucks given about who sees what.
“Everything secure?” Edgerton asks the constipated one.
“Yes. Nothing going on downstairs. Not even a RICO crew or nothin’.”
I glance at Hopper at the mention of a RICO crew. He seems disappointed, and I briefly wonder about this agent he’s so gone over. A stone-faced Edgerton dismisses the crew then leads us into the living room.
As grateful as I am to have Rand in my arms, that doesn’t mean I forgot what happened. “What the hell went wrong tonight?” I ask, not bothering to keep the anger out of my voice. “Where the fuck was your team?”
Edgerton holds up a finger to me as he brings the phone to his ear. Rand squeezes my hand, and it is only through sheer force of will that I don’t attack Edgerton where he stands.
There’s a lot of head-nodding, yesses, and nos, and his face is like granite. His eyes snap to mine for a brief second, then he refocuses on the conversation in his ear. “I understand,” he says, ending the call.
Taking a beat, he taps his forehead before squaring up to me. “What can you tell me about tonight?” he asks with no emotion at all.
“They nearly took Rand, you motherfucker. Where. Was. Your. Team?”
Edgerton’s granite expression finally cracks. “We were attacked on two fronts. My men by the loading dock were ambushed after giving James the all-clear. By the time you and Rand arrived, they were dead, their bodies tossed in the dumpster you passed.”
Something about seeing the cold fury and pain under that fucking mask of his makes me feel better somehow. Like maybe this night took as much from him as it did from me.
“How many of your men?” I ask, uncertain about the last man I killed at the museum. “Any museum security?”
Edgerton’s jaw tenses as he shakes his head. “Three. And no museum security.”
Rand looks at me, eyes popping out of his head. “You killed the guys who killed his team?”
I run the backs of my fingers across his cheek. “They were dead the second they put their filthy hands on you.”
He leans in for a soft kiss, and I nearly lose myself in it, even with anger warring in my chest. I turn back to Edgerton, needing more answers. “You said you were attacked on two fronts?”
He nods. “Our surveillance team came under attack, but I don’t think they were expecting us to be prepared. We quickly neutralized them.”
I notice, belatedly, the deep scratch on his neck. And I wonder how many people he killed personally.
Edgerton clears his throat. “What about your father?”
“Dead.”
Rand swallows and tightens his grip on my arm. I don’t know why, but that breaks through the numbness even more effectively than the anger. There’s not a chance in hell I’ll shed tears in front of Edgerton and this crazy bastard Hopper, but it’s close.
I lean in for a fast, hard kiss, and he kisses me back, just as hard.
I push down the grief and need, turning to Edgerton. “The only warning I got was from Luca Fucking Stefano and this serial killer motherfucker right here.” I turn to Hopper. “No offense.”
He grins, rocking on his toes. “None taken.”
Edgerton looks at his phone, shaking his head. “When did you speak to Luca tonight?”
