Live Wire (Ramsey Security #2)

The elevator opening thwarts my desire to climb into his powerful arms. Even with our rooms on a secure upper floor, I get edgy when I see a man standing down the hall.

With his face hidden behind dark shoulder-length hair, he retrieves a card key to enter his room. I press the button to hold the elevator doors open. Brad moves to walk out until I gesture for him to step back.

"What's wrong?"

"I enjoy paranoia."

Brad smiles and leans against the wall. "You're so sexy when you're professional. Painfully sexy."

Despite smirking at Brad's comment, I remain focused on the stranger fumbling with his card key. Nothing about him feels out of the ordinary, yet I refuse to look away. My gut never lets me forget that I'm on the clock.

The stranger drops his key and crouches down to pick it up. I keep my gaze on him and my finger on the door open button. I want to do my job, but my mind keeps lingers the flesh between my legs aching for relief. I imagine Brad and I disappearing into my hotel room for a few hours.

My mind clouded by desire, I nearly miss the stranger glancing at me. The moment he realizes I'm waiting for him is when I realize he's waiting for me. Our gazes meet for only a instant, but we both understand. Brad is unaware until I push him farther back into the elevator.

The man pulls a small gun while my new Glock 42 is already out. Normally, I'd shoot him between the eyes and end the threat. Fighting this urge, I aim at his wrist holding the gun. The bullet tears into his flesh, yet he gets off a single shot from his gun that goes wild.

Running down the hall towards him, I shove his larger body into the wall and kick the back of his left knee. The target crumbles to the ground while reaching out for me. I feel his long nails scratch at my leg before he hits the floor hard.

"Stay down," I order, pointing my gun at the muttering target.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Brad rushing out of the elevator. The big beluga's male ego insists he help me. While he means well, his proximity to the target sends my heart into my throat.

When the bleeding target reaches for his weapon with his good hand, I stomp on his fingers. Hearing his bones cracking, I kick away the gun.

"On your stomach!" I yell at the target and then focus on Brad. "Go back to the elevator."

Exiting her room and running down the hallway, Minka announces she called the police. All I need to do is keep the target disabled until they arrive. No one will die, and I won't be forced to answer too many questions from the authorities.

"Are you alright?" Brad asks, staring at where the target ripped my tights.

Brad's proximity sets off the target.

"Death to the demon!" he yells before lunging for me.

I nearly fall when he wraps his arms around my leg. Bearing his teeth, he's ready to bite into my calf when I pull the trigger. Fuck logic and the police. I'm Little Maven, and there's no way in hell that I'll allow a wild freak to bite me.

Yet the heat of his blood and brain matter splashing against my legs returns me to a reality where I'm retired and on a legal job in America. The cops can make life very difficult because I screwed up.

"Are you alright?" Brad asks again.

"You should have waited in the elevator."

Brad looks at me as if I'm fucking insane. He can't understand why I don't want him playing the hero. He's the client while I'm the contractor, but he still wants to save the damsel and win my heart.

"Get away from me," I mutter and walk to the now closed elevator.

Minka checks the target for a pulse, but she knows the headshot immediately ended the idiot's life. Even on accident, I know how to kill someone nice and tidy.

The police arrive with a burst of energy. They take my gun and stand over me while I sit on a bench in the hallway. I answer every question with as little information as possible, but they just repeat the questions, wanting more detail. I finally hide my face in my hands and pretend to be upset over taking a man's life. This lie makes them back off. After all, I am a petite woman, so I'll likely cry a lot soon.

The lie isn't completely untrue though. I'm rattled and can't settle down. Why do I care if I killed a threat? How many lives have I snatched away? I don't even know how many. What is one more?

I still find myself shaking.

Am I afraid of the cops? Or having my Visa revoked? Doubtful since I'm perfectly willing to go on the run, change identities, and return with false papers. The law means nothing to me. I've made my own laws for most of my life.

Yet I can't stop shaking.

Nearby, Brad leans against the wall and stares at me. His lack of subtly is both frightening and invigorating. He seemed so sweet when I first arrived at his house. Now he's a man starving for my attention. What have I unleashed?

In contrast to my edginess, Minka bounces around happily in the hallway. She allows Brad to answer a few questions before shoving him into his room. Once he's out of sight, she returns to entertaining the cops with her babble.