Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries #11)(65)

“It’s not like that. We’re serious about each other.” She wasn’t sure why, but she felt like she had to defend…herself? Case? What they had?

What did they have? He seemed serious about her. He’d told her he wanted her in Dallas with him. He wanted to put the past behind them and move forward together. He’d promised not to walk away from her again.

“When he disappoints you, know that you can call on me to help.” A shudder ran through him. “I have to go. I don’t like it here anymore. Don’t trust any of them. Not a one. They’ll all turn on you in the end. This isn’t your fight, Mia. Go home and protect yourself. I don’t know what they’ll do if they catch you.”

“Who? If who catches me?”

Tony stared at something behind her. “Or perhaps they already have. Good-bye, pretty girl.”

She turned, trying to see whatever had spooked Tony. Her heart started to race. Who was after her? Who was this mysterious someone?

All she saw was Case starting up the beach. His head turned, obviously searching for someone. Her. She watched as Ezra appeared. She hadn’t seen him before. He’d blended in with one of the parties. There were twenty or so young people dancing and drinking beer and playing volleyball. They didn’t seem to mind that Ezra had joined them, but Case frowned as he put a hand on his arm.

She looked back to reassure Tony, but he was gone.

How the hell had he done that? Did the dude have like a silent helicopter or something to whisk him away? It was weird and unnerving, but then the whole conversation had been unnerving.

How many people were after Theo?

Case shook off Ezra and started jogging toward her.

She held her hands up. “I followed instructions.”

He pulled her into his arms. “I know, but it doesn’t make me less worried.” He held her tight for a moment. “Come on. Let’s get you back inside. We have a lot to talk about and I’ve got a massive favor I need from you.”

She looked up at him, not happy with how tight his jaw was. “What happened?”

He kissed her forehead before wrapping her tightly in his arms again. He looked over her shoulder as if still trying to find Tony. “I’ll tell you all about it, but first you have to tell me if you’re ready to play spy for a night?”

Now that sounded like fun. “Absolutely.”

He grimaced and Mia couldn’t figure out how he made that terrible expression so damn sexy. “Somehow I knew you would say that. Let’s go. I’m only not killing Fain because you’re alive.”

“I was watching her the whole damn time. She wasn’t in any danger,” Ezra complained.

“You were too far away,” Case shot back. “And you were drinking on the job. Don’t think I didn’t see that beer in your hand.”

“If I hadn’t stayed back, he would have made me, *.” Ezra shook his head as he started back up the beach. “And I wasn’t drinking it. I was blending in.”

What the hell had Case said to the man to put him in such a shitty mood? “He was just doing his job, Case. I met with Tony and he had a lot to say.”

Case nodded. “And I want to hear it all, but first, I need to talk to you about what I found. Mia, I think I might know where my brother is, but I need you to check it out. You’re the only one I trust. We found the place I think Hope McDonald is using as her base of operations. You won’t go in alone and you have to know that I’m going to take care of you. I’ll be watching the whole time and I won’t be far away. I’ll be able to get to you if anything happens.”

She handed him the note Tony had given her. “Is it here?”

Case nodded. “Yes. That’s the place. They’re having a fundraiser tonight in the building. Hutch got you tickets. All you have to do is distract a couple of security guards so Hutch can slip into the business offices. I don’t want to send you in, but I can’t think of another way. Like I said, I’m going to be watching you the whole time, and not in the crappy way Fain was watching you. I’ve got some high-tech equipment that will allow me to basically be there with you. You can do this, Mia.”

Tony was wrong. Case cared about her. She wasn’t just a body in his bed. He trusted her and to a man like Case that was practically a declaration of love.

“I’ll do it.” She would do anything for him. Maybe that made her a silly girl, but she was okay with that.

Case slid his hand into hers as he started to lead her back toward the motel.

They were together. They could do anything, take on anything. As long as he was by her side, she would be okay. She just knew it.





CHAPTER NINE





“I’ve changed my mind. We can do this another way.” It was a horrible idea. He needed to rethink the entire plan because Mia looked exactly like what she was—a gorgeous, delectable distraction.

She was perfect. The plan was perfect. It was an easy get in, let Hutch do his thing, get out. So why was he hesitating? He wouldn’t think twice if this was Charlotte or Phoebe or Eve standing in front of him. Hell, the job was so simple, he would likely send Grace in. All Mia had to do was look charming and give Hutch a chance to do his job.

All he could think about was the fact that her boobs were his and he shouldn’t be using them to distract other men. His. His caveman brain couldn’t think past her boobs.