She tried to smile when she got to the door, handing over her boarding pass, but it was difficult. Her face still burned, and she felt totally ridiculous. She walked down the passenger boarding ramp, her stride quick. She wanted to get away from this tremendous pain in the ass. She was going to friggen kill Nobu when she got back. She didn’t need this extra distraction nor stress. She was going to do a termination for Christ’s sakes. What had Nobu been thinking?
“Honey, wait up. Wait for me babe.” She heard him call and she quickened her pace. By the time she got to the plane, her face was beet red, she was sure. She felt the heat flushing off of her and she wanted to turn around and kick the living shit out of Haiden.
She went to her seat and sat down, her mouth a thin line of anger. She watched as Haiden boarded and smiled at the welcoming flight attendant. He walked past Imani and she began to relax when he backtracked and grinned down at her.
That bastard was laughing at her! He was having a good goddamn laugh at her expense. He began to sit in the seat beside her and her arm shot out.
“Honey, this is my seat, see?” He whined loudly again. God if she could have killed him on the spot, she would have.
“You fucker.” She hissed low and she got a snigger from him and watched as his shoulders shook and his dark brows waggled, he was having fun at her expense.
“Look, I’m here, so get over it. Besides, I have some news for you and if you aren’t nice to me, I won’t tell you.” He said smugly.
“Fuck off.” She hissed low and looked behind them to see if anyone heard. No one had. She sat back and ignored him, looking out the window.
“Ima…” She cut him off with a look.
“Gwen Chance asshole, get it right.” She snapped.
“Gwen cuddly wuddly,” He began and she cut him off again.
“If you don’t stop that shit and I swear, I will go to fucking prison after I slit your goddamn throat.” She snarled and he blinked at her, and mumbled an apology.
“Look Gwen, I need a vacation as well. And, it doesn’t hurt that I’m watching your back. Nobu is right. We don’t know how long this guy’s arm is.” Haiden said in a low voice, trying for a conciliatory angle.
She wasn’t fooled. She also knew Nobu’s hand in this had nothing to do with her safety. She’d done hundreds of these jobs. That little wanker was trying to play matchmaker. She knew it to the marrow of her bones. He was as bad as her mother.
“Fine, but here are the ground rules and there is no negotiation on this or the mission is a scrub. I work alone. If I were to work with you, then it would have been planned out well before. You stay out of my way. Are we clear on this Haiden? I mean it. I’m sure you’d not want anyone fucking up your work. I don’t appreciate it and I’ll have a few things to say to Nobu when I get back.” Imani said, her voice now devoid of emotion.
“Absolutely. I agree and understand. I just wanted to tag along, I’ll keep to the back ground, but I will watch your back, make no mistake.”
She let out a low growl and looked out the window. It was going to be a long fucking flight.
Ϫ
Haiden tried not to laugh, the look on her face had been priceless. Nobu had been right, she was going to be ferociously pissed.
“She might just kick you in the nuts and call it a day. But I really would feel better if you went with her. This crap with Lawbreaker has me shook. He’s a Washington boy, and as yet, I don’t know how much power he has, but he’s dropped a lot of money on her with all the jobs she’s taken. So, the guy has resources.” Nobu had said.
“I don’t have anything better to do. Can you check on my cat, Jezebel? She does fine by herself, but if you want, you can visit her.”
“Sure, no problem and also, let Ima know that I have an address for the van. When you guys get back, maybe do a little interrogative work.” Nobu had grinned.
Haiden looked over at Imani, she was staring out the window and hadn’t talked to him for over two hours. They had another eight hours together. He had to make peace with her and get her out of the dark mood. He’d caused it, but she looked so darn cute in the wig and glasses. She was very pretty with or without makeup. But with it, it enhanced her eyes and mouth.
“Come on Gwen, don’t be mad. We have a long time on this flight. And a few days in Rome. Why not enjoy ourselves. Please. I’ve been to Rome many times, but I’ve never really enjoyed it like a tourist. Pleassseee.” He said.
“Jesus, if I say yes, will you quit that whiny shit. I hate that.” She said darkly.
Haiden laughed. “Yeah, Nobu said I should do that, said it drove you crazy. He says that’s how he gets his way.”
Imani laughed, “He’s such an asshole.”
He laughed with her, he could tell she cared deeply for the guy.
“He wanted me to tell you that he just got an address for the van. Said when we get back, we might want to do a little interrogation.”
“Good, I want to route out those bastards and cut the supply line.” She said, steel in
