Free A View to a Thrill (Masters and Mercenaries Book 7) by Lexi Blake Page B

without a damn laptop.” She dug her heels in.
    He turned and hoisted her up and into his arms. He wasn’t going to listen to her complaints a second longer. He couldn’t afford to. He had no idea how long it would take the man on the end of that line to send his thugs their way, but he doubted it would be long. The man obviously had operatives in Dallas and they understood Chelsea’s circle.
    “Put me down!”
    Chelsea was spitting bile his way, but he ignored her. She struggled with being out of control, but this was one case where he couldn’t give it to her. She didn’t understand. Despite her horrible upbringing, she was a little naïve. She’d never really been in the field. Yes, she’d been forced to run, but from what he understood, she’d never had to fight the way she would have to now. She didn’t understand how quickly things could go bad. She’d been able to hide behind her screens, but Simon knew the truth. At some point a man or woman’s past always caught up with them.
    And Chelsea had a hell of a past. It was always just a matter of time before someone came after her.
    “I need that computer.”
    He made it to the door and snagged his keys, though he’d have to dump the car before long, too. Again, it was lucky for her he was a man who planned ahead. He simply needed to pick up a few things and then he’d check them into one of four motels that would likely scare the crap out of her, but they were off the grid and accepted cash. He needed a couple of hours to figure out a plan of action before they made a move.
    “I need it.”
    He stopped because he was an idiot. She sounded scared and tired and she clung to that stupid laptop like a soldier to a gun. “We have to leave it. I promise I will get Adam working on the case as soon as I can.”
    “There’s too much information on it. Please.”
    “Chelsea, I can destroy it but I can’t allow you to take it.”
    She would hate it. She would loathe not being in control, but he couldn’t give it to her. The look on her face made him feel like he’d been kicked in the gut. It was an actual physical bloody ache to not give her what she wanted. Some Dom he was.
    “You’re sure?”
    “It has to be this way. They’re on their way. They’ll be here any minute and I can’t risk losing you.”
    She took a long breath and nodded. “You can let me down. I’ll do it.”
    It would be easier if he had both hands, but still, she could be mean. “I swear if you pull anything, I’ll haul you to Ian’s so fast it will make your head spin.”
    She smiled as he eased her to the floor. “Like last time?”
    It was stupid. He couldn’t help but smile back, that first time they met fresh in his mind. “Except I’m ready for your right hook now, love. You won’t find me so easy to take out this time.”
    Her eyes rolled as she straightened her ridiculously large T-shirt. It was at least two sizes too big for her and utterly hid her slender curves. Unlike him, she didn’t dress quickly. She held her hand out, silently asking for the SIG. “Yeah, you were so easy, Weston. If I recall you were an unmovable mountain and I was the little gnat trying to get your attention.”
    She’d had his attention from the moment she’d attacked him. He didn’t bother to mention that while her little fists hadn’t really hurt, his cock had been aching for hours afterward. He’d turned her in to Ian that day. He didn’t intend to make the same mistake again. “I’m trusting you.”
    She took the gun and flipped the device over so the underside was exposed. She proved she was proficient with firearms, quickly placing two holes in her laptop. “That should take out the chips.” She passed the gun back to him, and Simon released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “I’m ready.”
    Trust. At least she trusted him this much. He led her to the door, hoping they hadn’t wasted too much time.
    He worked the alarm, releasing and resetting it so it