Page 19 of To Catch a Sub

“It was.” She let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Blackmailing Interpol does seem stressful.”

“Aww, Landon… That wasn’t blackmail.” She leaned towards him, as much as she could, and lowered her voice to a whisper. “If I blackmail you, you’ll know it.”

His jaw muscles jumped, and for a moment his fingers tightened on her wrists to the point it was almost pain.

“You think you played me, but I’ll figure out what con you’re running.”

“You’re getting far more out of this deal than I am,” she countered. “I’m giving you two cases—missing diamonds and human trafficking. You should be grateful.”

“What is it?” He leaned down, bringing their faces dangerously close together. “Are the people in Novgorod your competitors? Or maybe you use their services to move the things you’ve stolen, and you found a better deal with some other criminal organization, and now you want your former partners out of the picture?”

The accusation stung. “I would never partner with someone like?—”

Colette cut herself off and exhaled the anger, annoyed that she’d let him get a rise out of her.

She met his gaze, holding it with her own. He may have her pinned, he may be in control of this physical situation, but he didn’t control her.

His gaze shifted, softening from anger to something hungrier. Colette took a deep breath, her breasts brushing his chest. Need, hot and sharp, flared through her. She licked her lips, and watched his attention drop to her mouth.

Was he going to kiss her?

It had been years since she’d felt his lips on hers. The attraction was still there, stronger than she’d anticipated. It shouldn’t have been a factor, but given how and where he was going to protect her…

It was a bad idea, but she didn’t care. She wanted to kiss Landon Malik, the only man who’d ever come close to catching her.

The only man who’d ever tempted her, however briefly, to abandon the life and career she loved.

Colette pushed up onto her toes, bringing her lips within millimeters of his, but waiting for him to close the distance. He gripped both her wrists in one hand, his other hand braced beside her ribs.

Landon’s lips slid along her cheek to her ear, the rough stubble of his beard scraping her jaw.

“You may think you’re a better class of criminal, but you’re still just a thief.”

Colette jerked back, her head smacking against the brick, eyes wide.

His dark gaze glittered in the shadows. “You fooled me once, but you won’t do it again.”

Colette hated that he’d played her. Given that she’d done the same to him, her outrage was probably misplaced.

And maybe he thought her reaching for his lips was another ploy.

He had no reason to trust her, but her life depended on being able to trust him.

“You think you’re in control of this situation.” He brought her hands down, easily controlling her arms no matter how hard she yanked at his hold. “But you’re not.”

He finally released her and stepped back, smirking. The sun must have set, because the silvery daylight that filled the mouth of the alley had darkened to gray, making the shadows around them almost black.

“And given where we’re going,” he said, “you’re going to learn exactly what it means to not be in control.”

Relief may have numbed concern earlier, but now alarm shivered through her.

“I’ll pick you up at noon. There’s a flight to London that leaves at three. I hope, for your sake, you have ID that says ‘Colette Beaumont’ and your name isn’t another lie.”

Colette pushed herself off the wall, reaching up to rub the back of her head. She resisted the urge to rub her hip. She wasn’t sure since she couldn’t see him, but for a minute she thought Landon looked concerned for her.

It was probably wishful thinking.