Amy Atwell - Lying Eyes

He nodded toward the exit sign down the hall. “Go.”

They moved quickly but quietly, entering the stairwell. Iris’s heeled sandals clicked on the stairs.

“Take your shoes off, hold the rail and go as fast as you can. If you hear anything, don’t look back.”

Her eyes widened, but she did as she was told without question. They made it down the stairs in record time. At the bottom, Mickey stopped her long enough to make sure the exit was safe. She’d saved his life tonight, and he intended to make damn sure nothing happened to her.

Sam Turner stood in the empty apartment and swore. He’d passed Jock and Pebbles down in the parking lot arguing over how to change a flat tire, but Jock had assured him he’d find Kincaid and the woman waiting here. Those idiots down there had outlived their usefulness. He’d deal with them as soon as he took care of more pressing matters.

He removed his gloves and pulled his cell phone from his shirt pocket. This was one call he didn’t want to make.

“Yes?” Donovan answered with expectation.

“I got here, but the place is empty. They’ve escaped, sir.”

There was silence. Then- “My mistake for giving too much responsibility to Jock and his giant friend.”

“I’ll take care of them, sir.”

“They’re negligible. Find Kincaid and the Fortune woman.”

“What do you want me to do with them?”

“Kincaid’s an untrustworthy liability.” Donovan gave a harsh laugh. “We don’t even have proof that he ever killed Fortune. I suspect he’s working with the magician and the daughter. Kill him.”

With pleasure, Turner thought. Mickey always had been a little too much of a hotshot. But he wouldn’t be an easy target. No, Turner would have to track him down and find the right time and place.

“What about the woman?”

“Keep an eye on her. I think we’ll find Cosmo Fortune is still alive and still has the real jewels. Once we find him, I intend to up the stakes.”

“I think you’re nuts,” Iris said as Mickey slid the key into her apartment door. She snuggled Edgar to her for warmth against the chilled hallway. “They kidnapped me from my shop. Don’t you think they know where I live?”

Mickey pushed the door open, reaching a hand in to find a light switch. “Turner’s too much of a pro to come here. Too many potential witnesses. Besides, didn’t you notice the squad car parked on the curb? Turner won’t touch this place tonight.”

She hadn’t noticed the police cruiser, but then Mickey probably had a built-in radar for spotting them. Maybe he’d pulled that chambray shirt over his black tee to better hide his gun in case anyone stopped them. Eagerly, she brushed him aside, but Mickey stopped her from entering.

“Let me check it out first.”

“I thought you just said-”

Placing a finger against her lips to silence her, he regarded her with such serious intent that it rekindled her fear. He left her and Edgar standing in the doorway while he pulled his gun and prowled through the living room on silent feet then disappeared down the darkened hall toward the bedrooms.

She waited with jumpy anticipation, the effect of exhaustion overrun with adrenaline. It was close to midnight, she hadn’t eaten in over twelve hours, she’d been kidnapped, tied up, her life threatened-but they’d escaped. She’d never felt more alive.

She should go to the police, but feared what that would mean for Cosmo-and Mickey.

He returned through the darkened room. “It’s clear.” He stuffed the gun into the rear of his jeans.

“Now what?” She ran her hand along Edgar’s collar to make sure it was secure before placing him on the carpet.

“We get some sleep.” He scrubbed his stubbly chin and stifled a yawn.

She put up a hand. “We?”

A self-satisfied smile lit his lips and eyes. “This morning you seemed to like my coffee. And I liked your shower. And earlier this evening, I mean, we were both a little tied up, but-”

Her face warmed. “Fine. You can sleep on the couch.”

“I’m not much of a couch man,” he said in that cajoling tone.

“Too bad. It’s the best I can do.”

His smile faded. “Do you still think I killed Cosmo?”

“I…I don’t know what to think anymore.” Iris stepped away. “When I see you standing there, I can’t bring myself to believe you could coldheartedly kill.” She tripped over the last word but recovered enough to continue. “But when you leave me, I start to imagine things, and I believe it’s possible.”

“Possible.” Mickey touched her cheek and met her eyes. “But not probable.”

“No, not probab-”

The ringing of her phone interrupted her.

Mickey stilled. “Answer it.”

Any call at this hour would be important. She hurried to the kitchen extension where she saw SecureLink registered on the caller ID screen. A break-in? “Iris Fortune.”

“Miss Fortune, this is Randy from SecureLink Systems. Can you verify your pass code for me?”

She recited the numbers under Mickey’s watchful gaze.

“We show an after-hours entry using your pass code, with the alarm reset thirteen minutes later. Was that you?”

She turned away from him as tears stung her eyes. Cosmo. He was still alive. “Yes, Randy. Sorry about that. It was me.”

“I’m making a note of it, ma’am, and I see you did the same thing the other night. You’re paying top dollar for our services, you might want to call us when you re-enter the building.”

“I know. I promise I will from now on. But thank you for calling.” Iris hadn’t been this close to crying in years. Damn his eyes, when she caught up with her father, she was going to kick his ass.

“You’re welcome. Good night, Miss Fortune.”

“Good night.” She hung up the phone and gulped down a sob of relief.

“Hey.” Mickey approached her. “Is everything all right?”

She threw herself into his arms. “Cosmo’s alive!” Her relief that Cosmo was apparently unharmed was only matched by the knowledge that this man had told her the truth-he hadn’t harmed her father.

Mickey gathered her close and kissed the top of her head. “Was that him on the phone?”

“No, my security company for the store.” She clung to his strength, the safety of his arms, the incredible earthy, woodsy traces of his cologne. “Someone entered-then left-after hours using my pass code. Cosmo’s the only other person who has it.”

“I should try to find him.” He pulled away.

Iris refused to let go. “No. He reset the alarm already, and he’s gone. By the time you get over there, there won’t be any trace of him.”

“I should try-”

“No. Stay with me.” In case he didn’t understand her completely, Iris stood on tiptoe and captured his lips.

She’d surprised him, she could tell by his hesitation, but that only lasted a heartbeat before he crushed her to him. She knotted her fingers behind his head, feeling the crisp dark curls she’d found so alluring. His lips were gentle, warm, as they moved provocatively across hers, his tongue caressing her mouth, fueling the fires within her.

This, this, was the way to celebrate life. After the day she’d had, she deserved this.

His lips withdrew from hers to blaze a trail down her throat. One of his large hands crept up her waist, past her ribs to cup a breast, and she arched to meet him with a moan of desire. His other hand palmed her hips, pulling her against him to feel his heat.

Near her ear, he whispered, “Iris, don’t do something you’ll regret.”

She pulled back just far enough to take hold of his jaw between her two hands and stare him in the eye. “I could have died tonight. So could you. Don’t talk about regrets. For once, I’m going to do precisely what I want.”