Chapter 10
Chapter Ten: Ryder
Fucking Laurent!
The French thief is a rival who always seems to show up at the most inopportune times.
He’s sly and untrustworthy. On more than one occasion, he’s also proven to be an ally, which makes him extremely unpredictable.
Right now, his eyes are focused on the Phantom Orchid while mine are zeroed in on the gun pointed at us.
“Hand it over,” Laurent orders, his vivid green eyes flashing. “Now.”
“You’re such a pain in my ass, Laurent,” I grumble, slipping the diamond back into the bag and shoving it at him.
He grabs the gem, tucking it into the messenger bag slung across his body.
I don’t miss the way Delaney tenses, as if she’s preparing to launch an attack.
Before she does something incredibly asinine—because she’s one hundred percent focused on that diamond—I shift my body in front of her.
We can get the gem back, but if he shoots her, there’s no guarantee I can get her back.
“Get out of my way, Ryder,” she seethes between gritted teeth. “And you’re not going anywhere, Laurent.”
Laurent chuckles, his dimples popping. “I’m the one holding the gun, Miss Diamond. Or did you miss that?”
He casually waves it back and forth, and now I’m the one who’s rigid. Especially when Delaney steps around me, recklessly putting herself in the line of fire.
“How the hell did you find out about these tunnels?” Her hands clench into fists, and I have the horrible premonition she’s going to do something really fucking stupid.
“A little birdie told me.” His smile fades. “Now back up.”
I step back, pulling Delaney with me. “You’re dry.
” It took me a moment to realize that, and it means he snuck in here some other way.
Probably good information to have. This guy appears and disappears like a wraith, so I wouldn’t be surprised to find out he fucking teleported. “How did you get in here?”
“Scaled the castle wall,” he reveals, sounding almost gallant. I’m actually a little disappointed to hear that was it. He smirks, most likely misreading my expression, then says, “I’ll leave the dirty moat for you.”
“That diamond is mine,” Delaney states, refusing to back down. Dammit, as much as I love her fire, I’m scared it’s about to get us both burned. Or, in this case, shot.
“That’s where you’re mistaken, mon diamant.” Laurent moves out of the small room, reaches over and turns the stone. My heart sinks as the door begins to creak closed. “Give Addie my regards.”
“No!” Delaney launches herself at him, but the door shuts in her face.
Well, fuck. Could we be in any shittier of a position?
Delaney pounds a fist against the rock door, venting hard as she unleashes a string of expletives that would make even the roughest, toughest military man blush.
Meanwhile, I’m still trying to wrap my head around how that sneaky SOB was able to outsmart us.
After the incident at the safe house, I knew someone was after us.
But I don’t think Laurent had anything to do with that.
Tear gas isn’t his style—he’s too slick—so that means we very likely have another enemy looking for us. We need to be damn vigilant.
With a frustrated screech, Delaney spins around. I don’t miss the angry tears in her eyes or the look of defeat on her face.
“It’s not over yet,” I tell her, moving past her and homing in on the door. More specifically, trying to figure out the inner mechanism that makes it work.
“You have an idea?” Hope fills her voice, and I nod, sliding my fingers along the door’s edges. “How can I help?”
“Locks are meant to keep people out of places. Once you’re inside, it’s simply a matter of knowing how the lock works to get back out. There should be a reverse trigger mechanism somewhere.” She frowns, watching me closely. “Like a small handle that opens the door.”
“How do you know that?”
“I studied more than computers in school. Engineering was my minor.”
“Aren’t you just full of surprises?”
“Right back at you, babe.” We share a smile.
“Laurent’s full of surprises, too,” she grumbles. “He’s lucky I didn’t get my hands on that gun.”
My fingers find exactly what I’m looking for, but I hesitate before pushing it. I need to make sure she’ll stay with me, not run off and attempt to foolishly face off with our sneaky adversary. “Would you have shot him?”
She thinks about my question for half a second. “No, but I would’ve shoved that gun right up his arse and given it a nice French twist.”
A laugh bursts from me. God, she’s a pistol, and I love it. “We’re going to get the diamond back. Together.” I lock eyes with her. “You with me?”
“I’m with you.” Zero hesitation.
I hold out my hand, and she takes it. Then I push the hidden button and the door creaks open.
“Ryder McKay, I’m so glad I kidnapped you,” she declares.
I squeeze her hand. “Me, too.”
We step back into the tunnel, and I tug her toward the stairs that will most likely lead us up to the main keep. If Laurent scaled the wall like he claimed, his best point of entry and egress will be there.
Taking the steps two at a time, we haul ass up, exiting a door to the courtyard.
I spot Laurent climbing up a rope anchored to the top of the stone wall.
He’s about halfway to the top. I’m thinking we should sneak out through the main entrance and meet him right as he drops down to the ground on the other side, but apparently Delaney has other ideas.
She lets go of my hand and takes a flying leap at the rope.
Shit.
Above her, Laurent sways precariously. Pausing, he glances down, rolls his eyes and picks up his pace. Good thing, because Delaney is like a fucking circus acrobat. She scales that rope faster than an elite athlete, and all I can do is stare in complete awe.
Until panic flares in my gut. Because she’s going to catch up. If he kicks her, she could fall. Racing over, I prepare myself to catch her.
They’re almost to the top, but not quite. That’s still almost thirty feet in the air, and when Delaney puts on a burst of speed and launches herself at Laurent, I break out into a cold sweat.
Fuck! She let go of the goddamn rope!
I’m expecting her to latch onto him—maybe his leg—but she grabs the messenger bag instead, stalling Laurent in his tracks.
With her full weight pulling the bag down, he still manages to climb a little higher, but then he stops.
My heart is thundering against my ribs as they start fighting over the damn bag.
I want to yell, but I don’t want to alert the guard.
Plus, startling Delaney could cause her to lose focus and fall anyway.
Dangling above me, struggling with a man probably one hundred pounds heavier than her, my little English rose turns into a hellcat. How I can be proud and terrified at the same time, I have no idea. All I want is for her to put those lovely feet back on the ground.
We can always steal the diamond back. But if she falls, I can’t put her back together.
Then my greatest fear actually happens. A loud tear fills the quiet air as the messenger bag’s strap rips. No, no, no!
Laurent makes a mad grab for Delaney as she falls—or maybe he’s just trying to grab the bag back—and I hold my arms out, ready to catch her, driven by sheer panic. I will fucking catch her, because there’s no way I’m letting her hit the hard ground.
It all happens so fast. One second, she lets out a startled cry and is falling through the air. The next moment, she’s in my arms. The hit knocks the breath out of me, and we fall to the ground, rolling across the dirt. My shoulder takes the brunt of the impact, but I don’t care. She’s alive.
I’m on my back, arms wrapped around her, and I can feel her chest heaving against mine. Opening my eyes, I stare into her wide blue-green gaze. “You’re crazy,” I rasp. “You know that?”
“Maybe. But I got it.” She lifts the bag, her fist clutching the torn strap like a lifeline, voice full of triumph.
“Christ, Delaney. You almost gave me a fucking heart attack.”
“Sorry.”
I glance up and see Laurent at the top of the wall, one leg thrown over the edge. He’s looking down at us. Locking eyes with him, I lift my middle finger and he responds with a cocky salute, then he disappears from sight. I’m going to kill that asshole.
Movement in my peripheral vision catches my attention. “Hey! What’re you doing in here?” Shit. It’s the guard.
“Time to go!” I whisper-hiss as Delaney jumps off me.
I quickly calculate the best route out of here and decide to head right out the front door.
Er, in this case, the front drawbridge. Delaney must agree, because she stays right by my side and, as we race past the startled guard, I swipe the card clipped to his belt.
The shocked look on his face is almost comical.
He’s a typical mall cop kinda guy, overweight, out of shape and used to quiet nights with no drama. Sorry, buddy.
The guard’s all access card allows us to zip through any and all doors we encounter.
In moments, our feet pound across the drawbridge and we head straight to where we stashed the car.
It’s not too far away, and I have to give the guard credit because he attempts to chase after us.
Well, for about ten seconds. A quick look over my shoulder confirms he’s doubled over, huffing and puffing.
I’m also keeping a lookout for Laurent. I wouldn’t put it past him to launch a surprise attack and try to steal the diamond back again. But he’s a ghost. Long gone, and thank God. I’ve had enough of that French fool to last a lifetime.
Delaney and I strip off the wetsuits and jump into the car. Suddenly, I’m so damn mad at her for risking her life. Twice. It was bad enough when she put herself between me and Laurent’s gun. But hearing that bag tear… Fuck. She almost fell to her death, right in front of me.
What if I hadn’t been there? What if, right now, she was lying in that castle courtyard? Dead. A pile of broken bones. Her beautiful face and body nothing more than a smashed-in, twisted mess. Like a jack-o-lantern splattered on the pavement by some punk-ass kid on Halloween night.
My knuckles tighten around the steering wheel until they turn white. “What if I hadn’t been there?” I grit out, voicing my fear.
“But you were there.” She sounds so nonchalant, and it irks me further.
“What the fuck, Delaney?” I growl. She shrugs a shoulder, and I keep getting more and more pissed off. “Are you always this careless on your heists? And I’m not just talking about tonight.” She arches a brow, turning in her seat and defiantly crossing her arms.
“What are you talking about?”
“How about the way you burst in on me at the gym? All you had was a lousy stun gun, while I could’ve had a real gun.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Yeah, but I could’ve overpowered you at any time.”
“Oh, please—”
“Any. Fucking. Time,” I interrupt, barking each word. “You’re reckless, careless. Way too quick to take chances. We don’t even know if that diamond’s the real deal, yet you were willing to risk your life on a guess.” I huff out an annoyed breath.
“Are you done lecturing me? I’d call you Dad, but my dad never even yelled at me like that.”
Fuck. This.
I slam on the brakes, pulling off to the side of the road, tires kicking up gravel. The abrupt, jerky movement causes Delaney to slap her hand against the dashboard and let out a surprised squeal. Turning to face her, our gazes clash, and I’m ready to let her have it… in more ways than one.
Those gorgeous, blue-green eyes of hers flash lightning and her chest heaves with every breath.
“Don’t you ever—ever—risk your life like that again. Do you hear me?” I rasp, unable to look away from her mouth. Her lush lips part and my dick twitches.
“Let’s get one thing clear. I don’t take orders from anyone.” She leans closer, shoving her index finger against my chest. “Especially you. I’m the boss of me. No one else. And I’m used to doing things alone. I’m a solo act. Always have been.”
My hand shoots out, fingers snake around her slim wrist, and I drag her closer.
Until she’s hovering over the console, a mere breath away, our noses practically touching.
My eyes narrow and I pull in a deep breath.
Fragrant jasmine fills my flared nostrils.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry and so turned on at the same time.
“Not anymore. You pulled me into this. That means we’re a team. And when it comes to keeping your beautiful, infuriating ass safe, you will listen to me. You will take every fucking order I give you, Delaney. Or so help me—”
I don’t finish my sentence. Don’t tell her how I’ll spank her bare ass until it’s fire-engine red. Because instead of the expected comeback, she shocks the hell out of me when she simply… deflates.
“Why do you even care?” she whispers raggedly.
Releasing her wrist, I lay my palm against her face, gently cupping her cheek, soft and warm against my skin. My anger melts away at her forlorn tone. I’ve been lucky in always having a team to back me up. It never occurred to me that she had no one to rely on except herself.
Well, not anymore. Now she has me. “Because I think you’re the most challenging, most infuriating, most amazing woman I’ve ever met. And I refuse to lose you before telling you that.”
Those juicy lips part in surprise at my confession, and before she can utter another inflammatory word, I slam my mouth against hers.