Page 85 of The Movie Star and the Spy
He only laughed. “Go ahead. In case you didn’t notice, this house is pretty secluded. No one can hear you.
Muscles tensed, poised to lunge, but he aimed the gun straight at her chest. “Don’t move or I’ll shoot. It’ll be a waste, but I can’t risk it. Believe me, I’ve done it before.”
Damn it.If the women weren’t at stake, she might take the chance she could somehow overpower him. But she had to remain alive to save the others. “You’re not going to like what happens when they catch you. If you surrender now, you can avoid–”
“Save your breath.” He waved the gun. “Lady, they’re not going to catch me because they’ll never find you. The boss has a nice secret space, and we’ll keep you so busy you won’t have time to escape. They’re sending a car over right now. While we wait, you can–”
A roar splintered the air.
It startled both of them. The criminal pivoted, but it was too late. Something – or someone – flew at him with dizzying speed, slamming him back into the wall. The gun soared across the room.
Cheyenne lunged after the weapon. She wrapped her hands around it, aimed, but the men were hurdling off each other like a movie action sequence, preventing a solid shot. Finally, with one last thunderous punch, the newcomer knocked the criminal tothe ground. The victor stood tall, like a warrior straight from the silver screen.
Julian.
He pivoted toward her, dragged his eyes over her barely clothed state. “Are you all right?” He didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he captured her in his arms. “What happened? This can’t be how it looks.”
“Of course not.” She had endured tough situations before, survived close calls, but never had she delved so close to tragedy. Yet she must remain strong, for the danger that still threatened untold women. “You have to let me go.”
“I’m not planning on ever letting you go, whoever you are.” He disengaged only long enough to take off his jacket and place it on her shoulders. It engulfed her, falling to her knees. He grasped her once more. “Who areyou?”
She attempted to lean back, but he was having none of it. Her cover was compromised, the investigation now requiring her true identity. Every choice but one disappeared.
It was time to reveal the truth.
How do you tell the man you love you’ve lied about everything? That you are nothing like the woman you purported to be? Her heart galloped, sending fresh blood to every muscle. “Julian, I’m an undercover agent.”
That finally had the power to get him to loosen his hold, although he didn’t release her. He blinked. “What?”
A deep breath of courage. “I’m a detective for the Miami-Dade Police Department. The role was a cover for my true mission – to catch a criminal. Now I have.” She gestured at the unconscious man on the floor. “Thank you so much for your help, however there’s another criminal, someone far more dangerous, and we have to move quickly. I have to contact my superiors.”
He stared, as if they had just entered an entirely different world. Even as she took the criminal’s phone and dialed the police department, explained the situation and requested backup, he watched her. And continued to do so when she was placing zip ties on the criminal, who was now stirring. “What’s your name?”
She wiped her hands on the jacket as she stood. “I guess you never believed Destiny Dane. It’s Cheyenne Kirk.”
“And you’re an undercover agent? You work for…”
“The Miami-Dade Police Department,” she said softly. “I’ve been a cop for years.”
“And everything on your resume?”
“Fabricated.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Why did you target the set?”
Sirens sounded in the background, as red and blue lights flashed against the trees outside the window. Their time was almost up. “I can’t give details, or I could compromise the case. You should see something in the paper tomorrow.”
His lips tightened, drawing a severe slash. “Won’t you be giving the explanation, if not now, then tomorrow? Or were you planning to leave without a goodbye?” His voice rose with every syllable, power present and defined. “Was this all part of the plan?”
“Of course not.” How could she explain that despite everything, she still couldn’t be with him? That she couldn’t risk her heart with another actor? “Once the assignment is over, Destiny Dane must disappear.Ihave to disappear. Otherwise, you could be in danger.”
“I don’t give a damn about danger. I care about you,” he growled. “Was I part of your assignment?”
How could he think that?“Our relationship nearly ruined my assignment. I was supposed to be an ordinary extra, thetype of woman the criminal would target, not Julian Starcroft’s girlfriend. I tried to stay away from you, but…”
“I wouldn’t let you,” he finished. It would be an easy out, a claim to destroy their relationship, but she couldn’t let him believe what they’d shared was fake. Only how could she explain what was keeping them apart? “Listen, Julian…”
“Detective Kirk?” A door slammed open, as pounding footsteps thundered from the front. Rapid conversation followed, from no less than a dozen men. Backup had arrived, signaling the end of any and all explanations.
