From Sanctum with Love (Masters and Mercenaries #10)(88)

Somehow being in love with Kai made everything seem possible.

Mia sniffled. “They would want me to be happy. My friend would want me to be happy. But Kori, until I figure this thing out, be careful.”

She leaned over, giving her friend a hug. “I will.”

Mia straightened up and smiled. “I’m going to go ask that cowboy to dance. Can you hold my purse?”

It was the job of a good girlfriend. “Will do.”

Kori took Mia’s little bag and followed her out, sure at least one thing had gone right tonight.





Kai watched as Kori walked out with Mia. She looked over and gave him a wink and that was when he realized what she was carrying. Mia’s purse. It was one of those tiny things that was mostly a wallet with some bling on it. It wouldn’t carry more than some cash, credit cards, and her phone. He was only interested in one of those things.

Mia stopped in front of Case and held out her hand.

Shit. Kori had done it, and she looked so happy for her friend.

Kai’s gut twisted.

“What is she doing?” Jared asked, staring out on the dance floor where Sarah was commanding attention.

“I think she’s dancing, man,” Squirrel said as he stood up and slapped Jared on the shoulder. “Face facts. You lost that one. Guess you can’t win ’em all. I’m going to grab a beer from the bar. A real beer. All the crap they have in the VIP lounge is artesian crap. I’ll be back.”

“Have you seen the others?” Jared glanced around as though he realized his crew had deserted him.

Squirrel shouted over the music. “They’re out and about, brother. Don’t worry about them. Find another lady and have some fun. I know that’s what I’m going to do.”

Kori sank down beside him, settling her purse and Mia’s away from him. He would have to reach over her to get to it. Damn it. He wanted to tell Case to f*ck the whole op. He wasn’t doing this. If Kori found out, she could get hurt, and the most important thing in the world to him was that Kori didn’t get hurt.

But he owed more than Kori. He owed them all. He had to make this work.

Case stood up, taking Mia’s hand in his. He towered over the blonde, and even from where Kai was sitting it was easy to see how the couple leaned into each other, how their bodies couldn’t seem to stay apart. The smile he gave Mia wasn’t all about the op.

Case looked over at Kai and nodded. “We’re going to go dance for a while. Be back in a bit.”

Mia clung to his hand, looking up at him like he was everything she wanted. She winked Kori’s way.

“I think that’s going to work out,” Kori whispered in his ear. “Thanks for pointing it out to me. I hope at least one of my friends finds a happy place tonight.”

Actually, it looked like Sarah was doing a pretty good job herself. The brunette beauty was commanding the dance floor, with not one but two guys vying for her attention. Her hips moved sensually, her eyes flashing.

And Jared couldn’t look away. Kai noticed all the women had given up and walked off while Jared frowned toward the dance floor. “Does she know either of those men?”

Kori flashed an impish grin. “It depends on what you mean by the word ‘know.’ Because the way she’s twerking on that one dude, she could know him biblically soon.”

What was he going to do? How long would Case keep Mia on the dance floor? He only needed a few minutes to properly upload the software to her phone if the device Hutch had rigged was half as good as he said it was. He had a small thumb drive attached to one end of the device. It contained the upload information and a program designed to get through any security she had on her phone. He would plug it into the phone’s port and it would upload the cloning application while it downloaded any information she had on her phone. In minutes they would have all her contacts, her e-mails, texts, pictures, anything and everything a person kept on their phone. If she used one of those training and fitness devices, they could potentially know when she was asleep.

It was a scary invasion of her privacy, but if she knew where Theo was or had any contacts who might know, they had to take the chance.

He wouldn’t get that chance if Kori kept sitting next to him.

It ran through his head to tell her. He could tell her everything. She wouldn’t break his trust, but doing that would violate Ian’s and Case’s. It could potentially put her in danger.

He had to find a way to keep her out of this altogether.

He leaned over to his brother. “Are you sure you’re all right with letting her get away? Sarah’s not the kind of woman who will hang around and hope you notice her.”

Jared’s jaw firmed stubbornly. “It’s better this way.”

“Really? Because it looks like the lady is going to have fun with or without you,” he pointed out. “I saw you with her the other day when you scened. Are you going to find another sub to practice on?”

Jared’s hand tightened around his water bottle. “She’s drinking. She can’t make a proper decision while she’s drinking and she’s my responsibility. She came here with me. I’m not going to allow her to go home with someone she doesn’t even know.”

Now he was thinking like a Dom. Of course, according to the FBI, Jared had been one for years. “Maybe you should talk to her. Or better yet, get out on the dance floor and ease up to her. Women love dancing. You can tell her you were wrong to ignore her. If you’re worried about hurting her feelings, I think you hurt her more by not being honest with her.”