CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
JONAH ANDERSON
Chaos ensues after the gunshot. Coffee shop patrons scream, while Luca yells into my earpiece, letting Mathias and I know that he and Hugo are searching for the gunman.
Instinctively, my hand grabs Valerie’s, and we race toward a large service van parked a few doors down. The vehicle’s wide berth should provide enough protection from another bullet, but I’m fucking pissed at how close the first shot came to killing Valerie.
Based on the trajectory of that bullet, she was the target. Not me or Mathias or even Allison.
“Who else knows about your digging into Anderson?” I demand, casting a narrow gaze over the surrounding buildings, searching for clues as to who fired that shot.
“My editor. A couple of coworkers who were in the meeting when I pitched the idea to him.” Valerie swallows hard and clings to the leather bag clutched between her white knuckles. “You think someone tried to hurt me?”
“Someone tried to kill you,” I correct. “Injuring you won’t stop your article from going to print. Once you recovered, you could start investigating again. This was meant to end the threat of exposure permanently.”
She pales at the explanation.
“Oh my god. We need to go to the police. Let them know…”
“What? That a mystery shooter tried to take you out? We don’t have proof they’re connected to Anderson or you. The cops can write it off as a random act of violence, especially without an actual person in custody.”
“But…”
“Trust me, the cops can’t help you.” But I can. I’ll reassign a security team from Blackthorn to watch over her.
“Jonah, we think the shooter’s gone. Hugo found his likely hiding spot. There was a cigarette butt left behind with a shell casing. Fucking amateur,” Luca scoffs in my ear.
The assailant may not be a high-caliber professional, but his mediocre skills got him too close for comfort.
“Even an amateur’s bullet can kill,” I remind him. “I’ve got Valerie. How are Mathias and Allison?”
“Safe.” Mathias’s commanding tone enters the conversation. “Hugo, collect evidence from the site. Maybe we can track down a DNA match or fingerprint off them. Jonah, get Valerie to safety then meet us back at the manor.”
“On it,” Hugo says before signing off.
“Copy that. See you soon.”
With the coast clear, I help Valerie unfold from her crouched position and guide her back onto the sidewalk. Police cars have set up a barricade in front of the coffee shop, and a couple of uniforms are cordoning off the space while a man and woman question café employees.
“It’s safe now. The shooter is long gone.”
“Because your backup says so?” She points to her ear, deducing that I’m wearing a comms piece after hearing me talking to myself.
“Yep. I’ll walk you to your office building, but you’ll need to be more careful going forward. Be aware of your surroundings.” Because it’s going to take a little time to organize a team I trust to watch her.
“I can handle myself, but thank you. I’ll let you guys know if I find anything else out about your dad, and in the meantime, you have my email address and phone number. Give me a call if you learn something I can add to the article.”
Grunting in agreement, I herd her closer to the buildings we pass, keeping my body between her and the street on our way to Mass News.
The steel and glass architecture gleams under the bright sun, blinding in its brilliance. A revolving door allows guests to enter and leave at will, and Valerie extends a hurried farewell before hightailing it toward the entrance.
She’s tall for a woman. With thick curves perfectly outlined in her tailored outfit. She handled meeting Mathias and I—two of the notorious Blackchapel Bastards—with aplomb and didn’t freak out once bullets started flying.
I like a woman who can keep her cool. I like her even better when she’s determined to reveal my father for the corrupt politician he is, too.
Fuck it.
Before Valerie steps out of reach, I snake my arm around her wide hips and use her momentum to swing her back to me. Slamming my mouth down on her cherry red lips. Too tempted to sample the fire and sass within her prettily curved package.
And in the middle of the damn sidewalk, too.
Now isn’t the time to be distracted by a woman, but what’s one kiss?
A devil’s kiss.
Because that’s what I’d be for her.