Page 49 of Disavowed

That infuriating surfer-dude charm was already driving her nuts. But what really bugged her was that she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just been played.

Chapter Thirteen

Dom closed the door to Daisy’s office and leaned back against the wall. He hadn’t been all that confidant she’d buy into hiring him. Now that she had, he’d be working side by side with Jack, getting real-time intel on the Pyramid’s next move, along with the added benefit of watching over her.

He didn’t like using her this way, and he hated himself for doing it. But Jack had put her in the middle of this op, and it was the best way to position himself where he needed to be. If only Jack kissing her hadn’t made him want to smash his fist into the guy’s teeth. It was Jack’s way of staking his claim and sending him a message: she’s mine.

Fuck. That. No way would she ever be Jack’s.

One way or the other, he’d make sure as shit that Jack’s presence in Daisy’s life would be fleeting. Small consolation. There would always be someone else drooling after her. Gray was right. She was a beautiful woman, inside and out, and any man who didn’t want her was a fool.

So what does that make me? Dumb and dumber.

Getting close to a woman…falling in love again… He shook his head, trying not to count how many times he’d had this conversation with himself. Can’t do it. Too much pain. That and he needed to concentrate on the job at hand. Too many lives were riding on his ability to focus.

Back there in Daisy’s office he’d intentionally behaved like a jackass in order to piss her off and push him away. If that’s what it took to create the distance he needed, then it would be worth every one of her derisive looks and sharp words.

He smiled. Despite her cutting remarks, she’d been as affected by their encounter just now as he’d been. Her body had betrayed her. Hell, their bodies had betrayed them both. When he’d held her arms, steadying her, her nipples had jutted through her blouse and he really, really wanted to lean down and take them into his mouth. Truth was, he’d been nearly overcome with the urge to peel off every stitch of her clothing, piece by piece, and put his lips all over her luscious body.

With a groan, he pushed from the wall and found his way to the shop’s storeroom where Jack was emptying a bag of dark soil into an enormous three-foot-wide planter. Next to the planter was a small palm-like tree, its root ball wrapped in burlap.

“Well?” Jack continued emptying the bag of soil. “How’d it go?”

“I’m hired.” He went to the stack of soil bags and hefted one to his shoulder, carrying it to the planter.

“Outstanding.” Jack cut open the bag with a knife. “Now we can really get to work.” He glanced at the door and lowered his voice. “These trees go inside the hotel ballroom and the lobby. After we get them planted and dump soil in the pots, we’ll deliver them and take our time so we can do recon. So many dignitaries got invites to this shindig, security’s tighter than a camel’s ass. This might be one of our last opportunities to get inside and look around without hotel Gestapo breathing down our necks.”

“What kind of hardware we using?” He dumped the bag of soil into the pot, which Jack tamped down with a flat tool on the end of a wood pole.

“Two SIG rifles, handguns with silencers.” Again Jack shot a furtive look to the door.

“Only two rifles?” He grabbed another bag of soil and slit it open with his pocketknife. “Who’s taking the kill shot?”

“The boss.”

His hand stilled. This was a hugely valuable piece of intel. The boss taking the kill shot pretty much confirmed his suspicion that this job was personal. Finding out why it was personal could very well identify the targets.

“The other rifle,” Jack continued as he began muscling one of the palm trees closer to the planter, “is a backup in the event of a malfunction. Give me a hand. These fuckers weigh a ton.”

Dom got on the other side of the tree and helped Jack lift it into the planter. “If the boss is taking out the target himself, what does he need us for?”

“Cover. Diversion. He doesn’t want anyone getting in his way. Luckily, the hotel has forbidden any cops inside, including UCs pretending to be guests.”

“I heard the mayor is attending,” he said. “What about his security detail? They’re NYPD.” And there was no fucking way he’d let the Pyramid take out the mayor’s detail.

“Taking them out isn’t part of the plan.” Jack sliced open another bag of soil. “Unless something goes totally to shit. Get me another bag.”

Fuck. There was every chance something could go to shit, and he didn’t like those odds.

Dom hefted another bag of soil and opened it. “So the mayor’s not the target?” If he was, that would put a whole different spin on things.

“No. That was the first thing I asked the boss, and the only question of mine he answered.” Jack took the bag from his hands and emptied it into the planter. “Start tamping down the soil.”

Dom grabbed the tool and began pushing the soil against the roots. He cast a quick glance at Jack. “You think there’s something personal at work here?”

When Jack didn’t answer right away, Dom looked up to find Jack watching him through narrowed eyes.

“I’ve thought the same thing,” Jack said. “But since I don’t give a shit who the boss takes out, I didn’t ask.”