Chapter Six: Get out

Leila didn't know how long the drive lasted.

Ten minutes.

Thirty.

An hour.

She stopped checking.

The black SUV kept moving through Chicago while her thoughts refused to settle.

The attack.

The shattered glass.

The gunshot.

Zane's arm jerks backward.

His cold voice afterward.

Find the shooter.

As if getting shot was a minor inconvenience.

Leila rubbed both hands over her face.

This was insane.

Completely insane.

She should have left when she had the chance.

The problem was that she wasn't sure she had ever been given one.

The SUV finally slowed.

Leila looked outside.

Tall iron gates.

Security cameras.

Armed guards.

The gates began to open.

Slowly.

Her stomach sank.

The vehicle rolled inside.

And for the first time since being dragged into this mess, Leila understood just how rich Zane Rogers really was.

The mansion looked less like a home and more like something stolen from a billionaire's fantasy.

The building stretched across acres of land.

Fountains.

Gardens.

Private security patrols.

Everything screamed money.

Dangerous money.

The SUV stopped.

A bodyguard opened her door.

"Inside."

Leila stepped out.

"Is Mr. Rogers here?"

The bodyguard didn't answer.

That answer was enough.

Her chest tightened.

The fact that she cared irritated her immediately.

He got shot.

That's all.

Anyone would ask.

Right?

The bodyguard escorted her inside.

The mansion was just as ridiculous from the inside.

Marble floors.

Crystal chandeliers.

Paintings are worth more than her entire future.

Leila looked around.

"Does Mr. Rogers actually live like this?"

No response.

Of course.

The bodyguard stopped outside a large bedroom.

"You'll stay here."

The door opened.

Leila walked inside.

The room was bigger than her apartment.

The door shut behind her.

She sat on the edge of the bed.

Then stood again almost immediately.

Five seconds later, she was pacing.

Curiosity got the best of her.

Again.

"Damn it."

Why couldn't she stop thinking about him?

The answer came immediately.

Because he got shot.

Because people don't normally get shot in front of you.

Because—

Because she wanted to know if he was okay.

Leila froze.

"No."

She slapped both cheeks lightly.

Absolutely not.

She was stressed.

That was all.

Nothing else.

Five minutes later, she was wandering through the mansion.

Curiosity had won.

Again.

The hallway stretched endlessly.

Every corner looked identical.

Leila had absolutely no idea where she was going.

Which became obvious when she pushed open a large door at the end of a corridor.

The moment it opened—

She froze.

Inside sat Zane.

Shirtless.

A doctor stood beside him.

Several bodyguards guarded different positions in the room.

The conversation died instantly.

Every eye turned toward her.

Leila immediately tried to close the door.

Too late.

Zane's gaze locked onto hers.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

"Who was supposed to be watching her?"

His voice was calm.

Which somehow sounded worse than shouting.

Leila swallowed.

"Good question."

Several bodyguards looked away.

One looked ready to resign.

"I was walking," she added weakly.

His eyes narrowed.

"You got lost."

"...Maybe."

The doctor coughed suspiciously.

Zane turned his head.

The doctor suddenly became fascinated with his equipment.

Leila's gaze drifted back to Zane.

Against her will.

The bullet wound sat just below his shoulder.

Fresh stitches crossed the injury.

Dark bruises were already forming around it.

He looked annoyed.

Like being shot had interrupted his schedule.

Leila was about to apologize and retreat when he spoke.

"Get out."

She blinked.

"What?"

"I said get out."

Something inside her snapped.

Maybe it was the attack.

Maybe it was the adrenaline.

Maybe it was the fact that everyone kept ordering her around.

"Fine."

Then she stepped farther into the room.

Several bodyguards looked horrified.

The doctor quietly took a step backward.

Smart man.

Zane stared at her.

Leila stared right back.

Even though every survival instinct she possessed was screaming.

"You don't get to order me around."

The room went silent.

Deathly silent.

Zane's eyes narrowed.

"Excuse me?"

"I agreed to work with you."

Her voice rose.

"I didn't agree to become your property."

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

Nobody ever spoke to Zane Rogers like that.

Apparently, Leila hadn't gotten the memo.

For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.

Then Zane stood.

Everything changed.

He was taller.

Closer.

More dangerous.

The room suddenly felt much smaller.

"You're off the mission."

Leila blinked.

"What?"

"You're off the mission."

His voice sharpened.

"Tomorrow, you'll collect your payment and leave."

For a moment, she thought she had misheard.

Then she laughed.

Once.

Disbelieving.

"No."

His eyes narrowed.

"No?"

"You can't just decide that."

"I can."

"I almost got killed because of this mission."

The doctor nearly choked.

One bodyguard looked at the ceiling.

Another suddenly found the floor fascinating.

Zane stared at her for a long moment.

Then something unexpected happened.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

Leila frowned.

For a second, it looked ridiculous.

Which somehow annoyed her even more.

"You think this is funny?"

"No."

"You look amused."

"I'm not."

He looked like he didn't believe her.

He opened his mouth to speak—

The office door burst open.

A man walked in like he owned the building.

Tall.

Blond hair.

Casual clothes.

Far too much confidence.

"Zane!"

The newcomer stopped.

His eyes landed on the bandages.

Then—

He burst out laughing.

The tension shattered instantly.

"Oh, my God."

Zane closed his eyes.

Not because of pain.

Because of him.

"You got shot."

"I can see that."

"You actually got shot."

The laughter got worse.

Leila stared.

The newcomer finally noticed her.

His grin faded slightly.

"Who's she?"

Nobody answered.

The man looked at Leila.

Then at Zane.

Then back at Leila.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"Oh."

Leila immediately disliked that smile.

The man walked over and extended his hand.

"Carlos."

She shook it automatically.

The man was annoyingly handsome.

And judging by his grin, he knew it.

"Leila."

Carlos looked at her.

Then at Zane.

Then back at her.

Something clicked behind his eyes.

Something entertaining.

"Oh."

This time, he said it much more slowly.

Zane sighed.

A long-suffering sigh.

"Carlos."

"Relax."

Carlos grinned.

"I'm just introducing myself."

Leila wasn't convinced.

Not even a little.

As she left the room, she had the strong feeling Carlos was the type of man who created problems for fun.

And judging by the look on Zane's face—

Was she probably right?