Mission: Out of Control by Susan May Warren

needed the contact info to intercept the shipment and shut down Mubar’s money flow.
    And Ronie needed to complete the mission in orderto keep her end of the deal with Bishop—a deal that ended with Kafara being rescued from Mubar’s army.
    She turned and stared at herself in the mirror. Sooty-black hair, bloodred lips, and fear in her eyes. She had to go back out there, slip the computer back into Damu’s pocket, and find his cell phone.
    Her hands shook as she slipped the phone back into her sleeve.
    She took a breath.
    Opened the door.
    And wouldn’t you know it, there stood the Boy Scout on the other side.
    â€œGotcha,” Brody said, without a hint of a grin on his face.

SIX
    O f course she’d run to Damu Mubar’s birthday party. Because of all the places Ronie could run off to—a disco, a concert, even a late-night sushi place, the den of Damu Mubar, the son of the man who had threatened to kill her, seemed the most crazy.
    Apparently, Miss Schizophrenia was back.
    â€œThis is off the charts, even for you, Ronie.” He blocked her exit from the bathroom, even as she tried to step around him.
    Yep, he now recognized the starlet from the elevator and wanted to throttle her—or himself, perhaps—for not seeing right through her “I’m so tired, I just need a good night’s sleep” routine.
    â€œGet out of my way.” She stared up at him and for a second, fear flashed into her eyes. Wait—was she afraid of him?
    No, there was something else, too. She held herself strangely, her arms around her waist. “What are you hiding?”
    Again fear, covered fast by anger. “Nothing. Except not wanting to be antagonized by my bodyguard. I told you to stay out of my way.”
    â€œNo, you told me you were going to bed. You lied to me.”
    A muscle pulsed in her throat as if his words actually hurt her. She again tried to step past him, but he backed her into the bathroom and shut the door.
    She moved backward into the shower, her eyes wide.
    â€œOh, calm down. I’m not going to hurt you.” He winced even as he said it—didn’t she know him well enough by now?
    Apparently not well enough to trust him. She still had her arms wrapped around herself. “What’s going on? What are you doing here?” He tried to keep his voice low. It came out more wolf than whisper.
    â€œI—I—Damu is a friend. He invited me.”
    â€œHe’s the son of the man who wants your father dead. Didn’t you think, for one second, that this might be a trap? That he’s been using your friendship to bait you? C’mon, Vonya, be smarter than that. Or aren’t you?”
    She flinched. “You…can’t talk to me that way. You…you’re fired. ”
    Her words lacked in oomph, but the hatred in her eyes made up for it.
    Well, so be it. They weren’t supposed to be friends, anyway, and he’d been only fooling himself by letting down his guard.
    Wow, was he an idiot.
    â€œYou can’t fire me. That’s the point. Now, we’re leaving.”
    Outside, the music pulsed, the beat loud. He’d been nearly frantic when he arrived at the penthouse door, probably something that worked in his favor inconvincing Mubar’s bouncer to let him in. Trying to find Vonya in the mass of humanity out there—well, it was a good thing he’d seen her on the dance floor. With Damu.
    Which nearly made him lose his mind.
    â€œGet out of my way.” She came at him again.
    â€œNot on your life, Party Girl. You’re leaving. Now. With me.”
    That set her jaw on edge. She narrowed her eyes at him. And for the first time since he’d stopped her at the threshold, she seemed to stop trembling.
    â€œBrody, I know you won’t understand this, but I have to stay and dance with Damu. It’s…important. I promise, I’m not in any danger.” She took a breath.