him. Frustration and anger boiled through him like hot lava.
He’d put a bullet in one of Christine’s new friends, but hadn’t been able to stick around to enjoy her reaction. No doubt, she’d suffered, but he’d had to scurry off like a thief in the night.
He’d rushed home to his laptop, counting on a front-row seat to her suffering. What a disappointment that had turned out to be. The camera had recorded her protector trying to keep the new friend alive. The ambulance and cop cars had obliterated part of his view. And when the EMTs loaded the stretcher, it was obvious the man wasn’t dead. Apparently, DaVinci hadn’t shot the bastard in the head.
But the worst part? Christine had stayed indoors most of the time, depriving him of seeing her reactions.
It was her fault he’d torched the house. He’d paid dearly to have the big guy followed and a tracking device placed under his car’s fender. When he’d discovered where they’d gone, he’d had no recourse but to take action.
Again, she’d messed up his plans.
By the time he’d arrived, she and her new friend were gone. No matter, he’d tossed his homemade Molotov cocktail through the front window and driven away.
Then he’d received a text from Michelangelo. A challenge. It was indeed DaVinci’s turn to create, but who had time? This meant he couldn’t keep track of Christine for hours.
He pushed off the couch, called his lady in Austin, and arranged a rendezvous. Michelangelo wanted a masterpiece? Well, he’d get one.
****
Marcus pulled out of the Burger Heaven drive-through and onto the freeway. Neither he nor Chris were hungry, but following his own advice, he’d ordered more than enough.
Traffic was light, but the sun had gone down, which made it difficult to keep an eye on a specific vehicle. As soon as he reached Interstate 30, he took the ramp that dumped them into downtown Fort Worth. Most of the streets were one way, so weaving in and out was easy. He doubled back, cut over to Interstate 35 and headed to the country. The drive was a hell of a lot farther this way, but in this instance, safety outweighed distance.
Chris laughed at something the dog had done. Marcus took a quick glance her direction. God, add a little humor to her expression, and she became stunning. Even after the day they’d had, she could enjoy something funny.
“Dog,” she exclaimed. “You are a thief.”
He really couldn’t blame Diablo for overreacting. The car smelled like greasy food heaven. The dog’s nose had started twitching the minute he’d handed Chris the sack of food. Poor mutt started wagging his long tail and whining.
“I warned you not to give in.”
“How could I not?” Diablo hung over the seat and slobbered on her arm. “You should have seen him take the burger out of my hand. In two chomps, it was gone.”
“I always buy him a couple. One to inhale and the other to enjoy. You might as well give it to him.” Marcus surrendered to the moment and laughed at her and his dog.
“You should do that more often.” Her tone had softened. This time when he glanced at her, his heart clenched.
“Not much has been funny for a long time.” Oddly enough, he didn’t feel stupid admitting that to her.
“We’ll have to work on that. Won’t we, Diablo?” She took a napkin from the sack and wiped her arm before unwrapping the second burger. This time she held it out, open-handed, and let the dog have the whole thing.
“Diablo, down.” Marcus spoke in a solemn tone to pull the animal’s attention to him. “Stay.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
“With me or the dog?”
“I’d have to say both.” Her tone was like sunshine on a chilly day.
Marcus had seldom been stunned into silence, but he didn’t know how to respond. He’d asked a leading question, and she answered with honesty. At least, he thought she was sincere.
Even though she’d been his client for only two days, hearing her laugh eased the
He’d put a bullet in one of Christine’s new friends, but hadn’t been able to stick around to enjoy her reaction. No doubt, she’d suffered, but he’d had to scurry off like a thief in the night.
He’d rushed home to his laptop, counting on a front-row seat to her suffering. What a disappointment that had turned out to be. The camera had recorded her protector trying to keep the new friend alive. The ambulance and cop cars had obliterated part of his view. And when the EMTs loaded the stretcher, it was obvious the man wasn’t dead. Apparently, DaVinci hadn’t shot the bastard in the head.
But the worst part? Christine had stayed indoors most of the time, depriving him of seeing her reactions.
It was her fault he’d torched the house. He’d paid dearly to have the big guy followed and a tracking device placed under his car’s fender. When he’d discovered where they’d gone, he’d had no recourse but to take action.
Again, she’d messed up his plans.
By the time he’d arrived, she and her new friend were gone. No matter, he’d tossed his homemade Molotov cocktail through the front window and driven away.
Then he’d received a text from Michelangelo. A challenge. It was indeed DaVinci’s turn to create, but who had time? This meant he couldn’t keep track of Christine for hours.
He pushed off the couch, called his lady in Austin, and arranged a rendezvous. Michelangelo wanted a masterpiece? Well, he’d get one.
****
Marcus pulled out of the Burger Heaven drive-through and onto the freeway. Neither he nor Chris were hungry, but following his own advice, he’d ordered more than enough.
Traffic was light, but the sun had gone down, which made it difficult to keep an eye on a specific vehicle. As soon as he reached Interstate 30, he took the ramp that dumped them into downtown Fort Worth. Most of the streets were one way, so weaving in and out was easy. He doubled back, cut over to Interstate 35 and headed to the country. The drive was a hell of a lot farther this way, but in this instance, safety outweighed distance.
Chris laughed at something the dog had done. Marcus took a quick glance her direction. God, add a little humor to her expression, and she became stunning. Even after the day they’d had, she could enjoy something funny.
“Dog,” she exclaimed. “You are a thief.”
He really couldn’t blame Diablo for overreacting. The car smelled like greasy food heaven. The dog’s nose had started twitching the minute he’d handed Chris the sack of food. Poor mutt started wagging his long tail and whining.
“I warned you not to give in.”
“How could I not?” Diablo hung over the seat and slobbered on her arm. “You should have seen him take the burger out of my hand. In two chomps, it was gone.”
“I always buy him a couple. One to inhale and the other to enjoy. You might as well give it to him.” Marcus surrendered to the moment and laughed at her and his dog.
“You should do that more often.” Her tone had softened. This time when he glanced at her, his heart clenched.
“Not much has been funny for a long time.” Oddly enough, he didn’t feel stupid admitting that to her.
“We’ll have to work on that. Won’t we, Diablo?” She took a napkin from the sack and wiped her arm before unwrapping the second burger. This time she held it out, open-handed, and let the dog have the whole thing.
“Diablo, down.” Marcus spoke in a solemn tone to pull the animal’s attention to him. “Stay.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
“With me or the dog?”
“I’d have to say both.” Her tone was like sunshine on a chilly day.
Marcus had seldom been stunned into silence, but he didn’t know how to respond. He’d asked a leading question, and she answered with honesty. At least, he thought she was sincere.
Even though she’d been his client for only two days, hearing her laugh eased the
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