A Matter Of Justice (Grey Justice #4)(30)

Grey stood at a street corner and let his eyes roam. This beautiful, fascinating city held so many good memories. Irelyn had hated leaving. She’d made some friends here. Grey had hoped that if he couldn’t find her, he could find at least one of her friends who might have seen or heard from her. Andre was the fifth and last of those friends. None of them had had contact with her in months.

She’d had an apartment here, where they used to live. He’d gone there yesterday and learned she no longer owned it. He’d been struck by how the area had improved since they’d lived there. Their rat-infested apartment building had been torn down and replaced with an elegant apartment complex and a small, upscale shopping center.

For a woman who claimed to have no sentimental attachment to anything, Irelyn was charmingly sentimental. The fact that she had given up the apartment bothered him. Was she cutting every tie she had with everything and everyone or just with him? Either way, that deep pit of dread inside his gut caved open a little more.

The light changed. He stepped off the curb and, along with dozens of other pedestrians, crossed the street. His eyes continued to roam as his mind searched for another way to find her. If he didn’t locate her soon, he’d have to dig deeper. Whether Irelyn wanted it or not, she needed his help. Damned if he would let her down again.

He was about to cross over to another street when he spotted her. She was standing on a corner, looking directly at him. She wore a long-sleeved dark emerald sweater dress and three-inch heels. Her hair was pulled back into a chignon, highlighting her beauty. A small purse, large enough for her cellphone and possibly a small handgun, was wrapped around her shoulder. It took only a second to take in her appearance, but it was the expression in her eyes that held him mesmerized and unmoving. They gleamed with both fury and need.

His legs finally moved, and he went toward her. She remained at a standstill, waiting. When he was only inches away, he murmured softly, “It’s about damn time.”

“Why are you here, Grey?”

“You really need to ask?”

“You told me you wouldn’t follow me. That you wouldn’t look for me.”

He glanced around. Having this conversation surrounded by strangers was one thing. They both knew how to convey a message without raising their voices. However, standing out in public when there were enemies about was another matter. Making it easy for a killer to strike was just damn stupid. Spotting a darkened alcove next to a gift shop, Grey took her arm and pushed her forward. Thankfully, she didn’t seem inclined to protest.

When they were out of sight and had some semblance of privacy, he answered her question with one of his own. “What are you working on, Irelyn?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re cutting ties, saying goodbye. What the hell’s going on?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Grey.”

“Your apartment here in Paris. You let it go.”

“How did you know I even had…” She shook her head. “Never mind. That was a stupid question. You know everything.”

“Not everything. Why did you tell Kennedy about our past?”

“It seemed the right thing to do.”

“Why now?”

“She’s my friend. She has a right to know.”

“Know what, Irelyn? That you were once an assassin, or that you’ve become one again?”

Her smile was slightly twisted. “Apparently, you’ve heard the news.”

“Hell yes, I heard. Did you think I wouldn’t? What are you doing? Why would you even go near that place again? What are you—”

She took a quick step back, away from him. “This third degree is ridiculous, Justice. What I do and don’t do is my business. Not yours. We’ve severed our ties. They need to stay that way.”

“Like hell we have.” Pushing her farther into the darkness, against a wall, he pressed his body against her and slammed his mouth onto hers.



His taste. Oh, sweet mercy, she could never forget the taste of Grey. Sometimes, late at night, she would remember and she would yearn. It was weak of her, but she couldn’t allow this opportunity to go by. Opening her mouth, she took him deep, gentling him and at the same time giving herself incredible pleasure. No one could kiss quite like Grey.

She heard a deep growl, and then he pulled her closer and gave her everything she needed. Grey was a generous lover—her pleasure was always his number one concern. The kiss was tender and passionate at once, stirring her desire and reminding her of the heat and the pleasure that were hers for the asking. She could have him anywhere at any time. Grey was that giving.

A warning alarm blared in her brain. No…just no. She could not do this. She had an agenda, and it could not include Grey. This moment of weakness had to end.

She pushed his shoulders hard. He didn’t have to let her go. Grey was strong enough to keep her penned against the wall, but that was not his style.

His breath ragged, he leaned his forehead against hers. “Come home with me. Whatever you’ve got going, we can work on it together.”

“No.” Inwardly wincing at the weak, breathless refusal, she put more strength into her next words. “It’s over, Grey. Stop following me. Stop digging into my life. Our relationship is over.”

He took a step back, glared down at her. “So that’s it, huh? I can just go about my business. Find another woman, marry, have children. We’re through forever.”