Lora Leigh - Guilty Pleasure

Shayne’s expression never changed. The amused condescension was firmly in place.

“Try choosing one who will put up with your demands as I do,” Shayne laughed, as he lifted the fingers on one hand and began counting. “Forget about her heart. Don’t touch her unless you’re present. You’re to know every move she makes. He shook his head. “Hell, I know there’s more, but it’s beginning to piss me off.”

The limo came to a stop on the street in front of Marty’s apartment, just behind her father’s car.

“Wait here, Abdul,” Khalid ordered without deigning to acknowledge Shayne’s mocking reference to the rules Khalid had established.

Throwing the door open, Khalid and Shayne exited the vehicle and strode purposely to the secured door of the building. The lock clicked open as Khalid reached for the handle, the security guard on duty recognizing him immediately.

“Good evening, Mr. Mustafa.” The guard nodded as they moved toward the elevators.

Khalid nodded in return before hitting the elevator button and waiting impatiently.

“Any rules for this little meeting?” Shayne asked mockingly.

“Shut the hell up before I break your damned neck,” Khalid said as the doors slid open.

The elevator moved swiftly, depositing them on Marty’s floor in time to catch her as she slid the key in her lock.

Turning her head, she stared at them for long moments before rolling her eyes and turning the key.

“You know, this on-again, off-again stuff is going to get on my nerves,” she stated as they neared her. “I’m really tired, Khalid. Would you be good enough to take your friend and go away for a while?”

Khalid paused within inches of her. “I would suggest you pack a bag,” he told her. “You’ll be staying at the estate for a while.”

He ignored Shayne’s heavy sigh.

“You know, Marty, I really thought you had better taste in men.” Amusement filled the other man’s voice as Marty’s gaze remained locked with Khalid’s. “This one isn’t exactly the kind and gentle sort, you know.”

“I really thought he had better sense,” she said mockingly.

“It would appear he doesn’t.” Shayne shrugged as Khalid crossed his arms over his chest and stared back at Marty demandingly.

Shaking her head, Marty pushed the door open.

Khalid had only a second’s warning. He saw the shadow from the corner of his eye gaining speed as it moved toward the door and toward Marty.

There was that split second that adrenaline tore through him, that strength rushed through his body. Gripping her arm, he jerked her back, threw her into Shayne, and tried to block the intruder rushing toward them.

“Fuck!” Shayne yelled behind him as Khalid felt a bulldozer plow into his chest, throwing him into Shayne and he heard Marty yelling about guns and getting down.

A rapid, muffled retort of gunfire had him trying to throw himself over her. Unfortunately, she was one step ahead of him and Shayne.

As the black-garbed intruder threw himself around the corner of the hall, Marty was chasing after the fleeing form, a weapon held closely against her thigh as she rushed past them both.

Jerking the Glock from beneath his jacket, Khalid was on her ass, with Shayne running fast behind him as they all stopped at the corner.

Raising his hand, Khalid glared at Marty as she began to duck and peek around the corner.

Bending low, Khalid also gave a quick look, jerking back as gunfire sounded from the open window and the fire escape outside.

With a quick gesture indicating he was heading to the next floor via the stairs, Shayne rushed from his position and pushed through the stairwell doors.

“Now what?” Marty turned her head and arched a brow tauntingly.

“You go low, I’ll go high.” Adrenaline coursed through his body as she flashed a bright, honest-as-hell smile before giving a quick nod of her head.

Behind them, apartment doors were opening, voices were demanding explanations, and all Khalid could do was feel a strange, unfamiliar sense of completeness.

He’d never had a lover who could match this side of him. That side that hungered for danger.

“High, low,” she mouthed back. “One. Two…”

On three, they moved.

Marty threw herself to the floor, rolled, and came up across the hall with her weapon aimed at the now empty window and unoccupied fire escape.

Almost simultaneously they were up and running at the same time to the window. Marty went low, he went high. They both stared at the empty fire escape for a long moment.

“Bastard’s gone,” Shayne called out from the level below them. “No car, no nothing, just gone.”

Gone. That meant that whoever the hell was after Marty was still out there.

“Get up here,” Khalid ordered, his voice harsh as he gripped Marty’s arm and began pulling her back along the hall.

Residents at the open apartment doors stared at them in curiosity and shock.

Ignoring them, Khalid continued to draw Marty back to her apartment.

“Everything’s fine.” Marty waved them back toward their apartments. “You can go back to your homes. Have a drink for me. Don’t worry, this is your building’s owner. Nothing to fret about.”

“Shayne will be here in a minute.” His voice was harder, demanding. “Get some clothes together or do without them, it’s your choice, but hurry.”

The door slammed closed behind them.

“Of course you would.” Marty jerked her arm out of his grip as she bit back the need to roll her eyes at him. “Let me guess: A club member can help you out of this under the right circumstances.”

She moved to her bedroom and jerked the overnight bag she kept handy from beneath the bed. It was filled with several changes of clothes and needed supplies, as well as an extra weapon and ammunition.

“Your fathers can take care of anything I need where the police are concerned,” he informed her. “I’d just prefer to be on home ground.”

“Fine. I’m ready.” She slung the strap of the heavy backpack over her shoulder as she turned to face him. “Let’s go.”

His gaze flicked to the backpack, but he surprised her when he didn’t make a comment. Instead, he held out his hand to her.

Marty stared at that hand for a long moment before placing hers in it. Feeling his fingers curl around hers as he drew her quickly through the apartment back to the door sent a strange feeling of warmth surging through her.

He hadn’t gripped her arm and pulled her along. He’d extended his hand and invited her to go. There was a difference, and that difference sent a wave of unfamiliar emotion washing through her.

“Abdul has the car waiting.” Shayne met them at the elevator as the doors slid open. “I called Joe Mathews. He’s chomping at the bit to race out to your estate, but I convinced him to hold off until morning. Someone will be coming out for his car tonight.”

The ride to the lobby was made quickly. As the elevator doors slid open, the manager rushed from the security station toward Khalid.

“Mr. Mustafa, security has been sent to Miss Mathews’s floor and the police called.”

“Cancel the call to the police and get security back in place, everything’s fine,” Khalid ordered, as he led the way through the lobby at a quick pace. “I’ll be in contact with you soon.”

“But Mr. Mustafa…”

Khalid pushed the door open and led Marty outside.

Marty felt the strangest sense of unreality as they passed through those doors, as though she had entered another world rather than simply left a building.

Abdul waited by the limo, concern marking his face as they rushed inside. The door closed behind them, enfolding them in privacy as he quickly slid behind the wheel and put the vehicle into drive.