The Payback (Team Zulu 2)

I clutched my chest and almost fell to my knees. She was alive.

Alive, but unhappy to see me.

She was wrapped in only a white towel. Drops of water glistened on her skin, and her long wet hair hung over her shoulders. Intense brown eyes remained glued to mine, and her chest heaved with each deep breath she drew.Goddamn. She was an image better than any fantasy I could conjure. Which might explain why I was a little slow to address the .44 Magnum she aimed at me. As inappropriate as it was, I found that sexy as hell, too.

I raised my hands. “Sage, put the pistol down.”

“Answer me!” she snapped as she shifted on her feet.

I reminded myself she must be rattled from Dante’s visit, which meant I needed to be careful here.

“I knocked. When you didn’t answer, I thought you were in trouble.”

She sneered. “Because I didn’t open the door fast enough for you?”

“No. Because I know who was here earlier. I saw it on my security camera. I’m here to make sure you’re all right.” Slowly, I brought my hands down but kept them where she could see them.

She remained silent while considering my words.

“Sage, please talk to me. Are you okay?”

She lowered the weapon, and her shoulders slumped. “I’m fine.” After placing the pistol on the dining table, she scrubbed one hand over her face, then propped it on her hip. “Jesus, Brandon. What the hell were you thinking busting through my door? I almost shot you.”

That was the first time she’d used my name. It wasn’t the one I was born with, but still, I liked hearing it.

“I was worried. Did Dante or Maxim hurt you?”

She rolled one shoulder and winced. “Might have a couple of bruises, but I’ll live.”

Only then did I notice the blue-and-purple patch on her creamy skin.

I was going to fucking murder them. Slowly.

Sage tightened the towel around her torso. “How do you know those guys, anyway?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

She jerked her chin. “I asked you first.”

Silence lingered between us while I pondered how much I could tell her. “They’re suspects in a case I’m working on.”

Her brows shot up. “You’re a cop?”

I shook my head. “I’m not law enforcement.”

“Then what are you?” She folded her arms. “Not an IT consultant, that’s for damn sure.”

“I work for myself. And I am an IT consultant…of sorts.”

“Well, that’s confusing as hell.”

“I’m sorry I can’t tell you any more than that, but the less you know, the better. Especially with Dante and Maxim poking around.” I glanced about Sage’s apartment. Nothing broken. They hadn’t turned the place over. “What were they doing here?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Actually, it is. When mobsters show up practically on my doorstep, it makes you, this apartment, and everything that just went down with Dante and that Russian bastard very much my business. And I know what those sons of bitches are capable of, Sage. You could use an ally right now.”

“I don’t do teamwork. You need to leave.” She pointed to the door, which hung crooked on its hinges.