Chapter 13
N avarro
I’d be damned.
On top of her other skills, Fallon could find herself in the driver’s seat of a racecar. While I’d call her driving skills somewhat reckless, she’d managed to evade several soldiers who were trained to follow and stop anyone attempting to escape.
Maybe I was giving Eduardo’s men way too much credit.
This woman, this beautiful and infuriating, self-assured and reckless woman could eventually get herself killed.
Not by me and certainly not today.
Fallon wasn’t backing down even though I was headed right for her.
With a steady foot on the accelerator, she made me believe she was considering running into the SUV.
When I’d asked how in the hell had she gotten out of a locked room, let alone steal a Jeep from the garage, Santos didn’t seem to have a freaking clue.
He had admitted she’d run through the gate, taking one side completely off its hinges.
She was fearless and so goddamn stupid with her careless actions, my hand was itching to provide her with another lesson in obedience.
Gritting my teeth, I continued to play chicken, although easing up on the gas. My intentions hadn’t been to cause a wreck. I’d simply wanted to scare her then stop her from disappearing into the city. If she managed to do so, the odds were against me finding her.
With both hands on the steering wheel, I refused to back down. If there was one thing about Fallon’s personality, it was that she remained committed to tracking down her sister. She’d need to remain alive to make that happen.
Maybe I was just as reckless as the dark-haired beauty, but with the engine roaring, the closer we came to a head-on collision, the more intense my arousal.
Yes, I was a twisted fuck.
Ten seconds to collision.
Five.
I was ready to veer to the side, which would piss me off.
Thankfully, she had the common sense to back down in the brutal power exchange.
I roared past just as she veered toward a group of trees.
It was another impressive moment when she managed to skid to a hard stop only inches away from catastrophe.
I slammed on the brakes, turning the wheel at the same time, gunning the SUV until the vehicle was mere feet away from the Jeep. The moment she tossed open her door, I’d already planted my feet on the asphalt, taking the two long strides in her direction.
Fallon still attempted to run. Obviously, she had no understanding of how powerful and determined I was. “You’re not going anywhere, Fallon.”
My growl was dark, likely a tone she’d consider unacceptable.
“Fuck you, Navarro!” She pounded her fists against my chest.
With a grin on my face, I retrieved her purse. Other than securing her phone, I’d missed an excellent opportunity before to check her identity. That mistake wouldn’t happen again.
I certainly couldn’t underestimate her. At this point, I needed clear and direct answers.
Laughing, I wrapped one arm around her waist, hoisting her off the ground.
“Trust me, halcón seductor , that will happen time and time again. Now, be a good girl and stop fighting the inevitable.” I moved to the passenger side of the SUV, throwing open the door.
Even before I placed her onto the seat she was fighting, even kicking me.
She had no idea how crazy she made me or how many filthy thoughts had centered on punishing and fucking her.
However, I was thankful I’d brought my work bag with me to the warehouse.
The plain duffle contained some of my favorite weapons as well as various items that had proven useful over the years.
Including a pair of handcuffs. I ripped them from my back pocket, snapping one cuff around her wrist, the other around the handle above the window.
“What the hell are you doing?” Fallon hissed and jerked the chain.
I leaned down, staring her directly in the eyes, and fastened her seatbelt just in case. “Keeping you locked down. It’s apparent I can’t trust you.”
“Likewise, Navarro.” Such a feisty woman. She’d felt it necessary to give me the middle finger with her shackled hand.
My balls tightened in response.
As I headed around to the driver’s side, I pulled my phone into my hand, dialing Silvio. Jago and his band of merry men had agreed to cozy up in the oversized SUV, giving Silvio and Alonzo a ride so I could deal with Fallon myself.
“Did you find her, boss?” Silvio answered.
“Yes. You’ll find one of Eduardo’s Jeeps parked precariously. Drop by and pick it up while I handle my guest. I’ll text you the address.”
He laughed. “Yes, sir. We’ll take care of it.”
Ending the call, I provided the needed information before sliding onto the driver’s seat. I expected her to throw a punch or try to rip out an eye. She did neither, her chest rising and falling in silence as I tossed the phone onto the dashboard.
When I pressed down on the accelerator, she muttered something under her breath that the powerful engine silenced.
Perhaps she was planning my demise or determining another method of escaping my clutches.
If I knew her, I’d need to assume both. While the electricity was at least as strong and enticing as before, her reservations about me were increasing.
Not only as if whatever she was holding back from me was killing her, but that perhaps the recognition I’d seen in her eyes was growing hour by hour.
She’d soon be required to let me in on the backstory. If not, she’d learn I wasn’t a very agreeable host.
Neither one of us said anything for several minutes, but just as I was doing to her, Fallon stole several glances in my direction. The more she tried to ignore my presence, the more amused I became.
“I’m curious, Fallon. How did you manage to escape the room?”
“It’s my little secret.”
As I pulled up to a light, I didn’t hesitate, twisting my body and cupping her chin. In the glow of the stoplights, I was clearly able to see the anxiety in her eyes. “As of now, we will have no secrets between us. Besides, I will eventually find out.”
“Why don’t you guess?” She jerked away, but immediately after she slid the index finger of her free hand from one side of my jaw to the other.
Electrifying.
“Alright. Why not? I have some time to kill.” I rubbed my jaw where she’d brushed her finger, able to gather a whiff of her desire. How interesting that with so much hatred there was so much longing. “There’s no way you could have picked the lock from the inside.”
She rolled her eyes. “Too pedestrian anyway.”
Her games were quite amusing. “The window is bulletproof and also with external locks. Not a chance you could shatter the glass.”
When she faked a yawn, I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
How in God’s name had she gotten out? “You didn’t use your feminine wiles and seduce one of the soldiers.”
Her expression as she snapped her head in my direction provided a clear indication of her thoughts on the matter.
Chuckling, with the memory of the room in my mind, I envisioned every inch.
“And here I thought you were a brilliant man,” Fallon cooed.
“Much like I know you’re a resourceful woman.”
“Don’t you mean conniving?”
“That too.” As I turned down the street where Eduardo’s estate was located, I remained furious that I couldn’t figure out the riddle.
The woman was enjoying herself far too much.
I’d never been bested by anyone, certainly not a woman.
With her two near escapes, Fallon had managed to make me look bad.
I didn’t know whether to thrash her bottom or remain amused she’d discovered tactical maneuvers around intense security.
Then it finally dawned on me. “I’ll be damned. You scaled the heating vent.”
The lilt in her sarcastic laugh should be annoying, but as with everything else about the woman, I found the sound and her attitude endearing. “You win a prize. A selection of furry creatures to enhance your playful side.”
“I can see I’ll need to utilize far different methods for keeping you under control.” I slowed as I neared the property, lifting my eyebrows as I passed the mutilated fence. “You do realize you could have gotten yourself killed.”
“Your soldiers weren’t going to shoot me.”
“You underestimate their loyalty.”
“You said so yourself. They’re not your soldiers. They have no loyalty to a man from another country.”
The woman knew the business better than I’d thought, which was another reason my initial respect remained strong.
After pulling in front of the estate and sliding the gear into park, I unfastened my seatbelt.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Fallon.
Hide and seek is beneath you and I suggest you keep something in mind.
Other than the three men I brought with me on this sordid trip, the soldiers serving this house and this regime all work for a man with little or no finesse. ”
“What does that mean?”
Wearing no expression, I unfastened her seatbelt, cupping her jaw as I’d done before only this time, I wouldn’t allow her to break free of my hold. “It means they are true savages. Their only loyalty is to their drug lord and to themselves. Anyone else is fair game.”
I pulled her closer, allowing our lips to briefly touch. Her sigh was an instant and very sweet reward.
However lighthearted I’d presented myself, I was angry with her, furious she’d defied my orders while also coming close enough to endangering her life.
“I’m going to make something painfully clear to you, Fallon.
I am well aware you haven’t provided the full truth about your situation or your father and whatever dangerous position he found himself in.
I’ve been more than patient with you, more than I have for anyone.
Contrary to what you believe, I do have feelings for what you’ve gone through in searching for your sister, but my patience and hospitableness does have a finite end, which you are reaching. ”
“You’re threatening me. Again. You’re very good at that.”