Taken With Trouble (CAUGHT IN CHAOS #2)

3. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Liam

Serena Cruz drops to the floor beside me, her head banging on the hardwood, her gun skittering under the couch. I cringe.

“Was that really necessary?” I ask the brute above us. He snuck in while Serena and I were fighting. It was getting pretty heated, too. He could have ruined a delightful kiss, which annoys me on numerous levels. But I didn’t expect him to knock her out. Though maybe it’s for the best. It’s me he’s after, and hopefully, he’ll leave her, since she didn’t see his face.

The brute turns his attention and gun on me, stuffing the rag into the pocket of his cargo pants. “Come on, pretty boy. You’re coming with me.”

“Sorry, I didn’t get a name.” I extend a hand.

“And you won’t.” He kicks my wrist.

“That’s not very professional.”

His gun clicks. The universal sign for shut up and move .

I sigh. “And the agent?”

His gaze darts to her, and something menacing lights his dark irises. “Don’t worry, she’s coming too. I’ve got something extra special in mind for her.”

I clench my jaw. That doesn’t sit well with me, but I’ll solve that problem next .

I peel myself off the floor, gently nudging Serena off my leg and swiping something from her belt as I do. My gun is tucked in the fruit bowl. My knife is behind the picture frame. All are out of reach at this moment.

I slip her taser behind my back even though I’ve never used one before. I didn’t even know agents carried them. Maybe only Serena does.

“I should probably tell you… you are number seventeen.”

He scowls. “What are you talking about?”

“The seventeenth henchman to come after me,” I say with a shrug. “And I’m still standing.” It’s all a big misunderstanding. I retrieved a jewelry box and a ring worth forty million dollars that belonged to the Winthrops. But they got impatient. It’s been almost three weeks, and thugs keep showing up. I have to move locations every time. It’s becoming tiresome. I can’t even make it to the airport without someone recognizing me and causing a problem. But I will return the ring and jewelry box. The Winthrops deserve that much. I’d like to do so on my terms. Getting rid of these men is nothing I can’t handle.

“You won’t be standing for long.”

I wrinkle my nose. “No, sorry. Arrogance doesn’t look good on you. Didn’t you hear? The bounty has been called off.”

“Nice try,” the brute barks. “I talked to the boss yesterday.”

The boss? As in Robert Winthrop, I assume. “How is dear old Bob, anyway?”

The brute snorts and cocks the trigger, letting it speak for him.

“All right,” I drawl. “Tell me where you’re taking me so I can pack accordingly. I’d hate to be the only one not wearing Versace.”

“You won’t need Versace in Hell,” he sneers.

“Quite the contrary, I believe.”

“Our plane leaves in an hour. We need to go.”

I can’t help it. “Do you really think I’ll be caught dead flying commercial?”

“Oh, you’ll be dead, all right.” He chuckles. “Boss rented you a coffin.”

A coffin? Is he serious? While that wouldn’t be ideal, it is quite creative. Robert was always such a clever fellow. I’ve missed him .

“I hope it’s fully lined. I get airsick,” I say, stretching my arms wide, and then I shoot him with the taser. It’s surprisingly effective… or maybe that’s because I hit his groin. Oops.

His body convulses, and he yelps in pain, collapsing to the floor beside Cruz. I think he’s trying to curse, but the sounds coming from his mouth are unintelligible. Every inch of his skin is bright red, and purple veins protrude from his neck and face.

How long am I supposed to leave this on?

I glance at the little device. Where’s the off switch?

Ah, there it is. I flick off the taser, and the thug’s head hits the coffee table leg. I grimace as he falls unconscious, and hold up the small weapon, admiring its work. I need to get one of these.

I frisk the man, grabbing everything from his pockets, and find a burner phone. There’s an email with the flight info… for an actual coffin. He wasn’t joking. I shake my head. People will be waiting on the ground in London, which means I’ll have to have the coffin rerouted to a different destination. France should be an easy switch.

I continue my search but find no identification. That could have been useful. I suppose I’ll have to activate one of my lesser-known aliases.

I feel like being Devin Sharp today.

I grab my go-bag from under the couch, stick Serena’s gun inside and retrieve the rest of my weapons, then head for the door.

Wait.

Cruz. I should leave her here. But what if the brute wakes first and takes her hostage? She’s a sitting duck. I’m not the kind of man to leave a woman in danger. But should I bring her with me?

Taking her would make everything worse.

Or… it could make things incredibly more fun.

I drum my fingers on my hip. Decisions.

I suppose she could be useful. I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder.