Targeted Risk (R.I.S.C. #7) - Anna Blakely Page 0,1

between him and Juliet in three, long strides.

“Questioning?” She swung her gaze back to his and then to Fuller. “For what? And I go by Farrow, not Volkov. Farrow is my mother’s maiden name.”

“He knows that, Jules.” Resting his hand on her lower back, Mike glared at the man in front of them. “He’s just being an asshole.”

Ignoring him, the asshole in question directed his next comment to Juliet. “I’m Special Agent Fuller, Miss Farrow. We’ve been led to believe you hold pertinent information that will help with the case against your father.”

“My father?” Her laugh held no humor. “I haven’t spoken to Alex in years. I certainly don’t know anything about whatever it is you think you have against him this time.”

The arrogant agent shrugged. “Our intel says otherwise.”

“Yeah?” Mike stared the other man down. “And what intel would that be?”

Because it sure as shit wasn’t the intel he’d given them. His latest job had been to turn Juliet’s brother, Mikhail, against their father. If Mikhail agreed to testify against Alexandar Volkov, they’d finally be able to put the piece of shit behind bars for good.

Getting close to Juliet had been Mike’s backup plan. One that began to fall apart the second he’d first looked into those spellbinding blue eyes of hers.

According to what Lopez had just relayed over the phone, they already had Volkov. So why had these guys just busted Jules’ door in?

“That’s none of your concern, Mr. Br...uh...Reynolds.” He eyed Mike up and down. “Nice ink, by the way.”

Seriously? The asshole damn near gave away his cover and he was complimenting his tattoos? The entire, shady scenario caused the pit in Mike’s stomach to grow at an alarming rate.

Ignoring Lopez’s earlier demand that he play nice, Mike said, “I want to see the court order.”

“Sure.” Fuller handed him the folded papers. “We’ll head to the car while you’re reading that over.” Grabbing Juliet by her upper arm, he began pulling her toward the door.

Mike lost his shit, then, shoving the agent with both hands. At the same time, Juliet managed to pull herself free from the dickhead’s grasp.

Fuller turned his narrowed gaze on him. The prick snapped his fingers, sending two of his men into action. They went for Mike, then.

Taking a swing at the closest one, he laid Tweedle Dee out with one punch. Unfortunately, Tweedle Dum had anticipated the move. Taking advantage of Mike’s split focus, the guy cranked Mike’s hand behind his back, simultaneously kicking the back of his knee, sending him straight to the floor.

“No!” Juliet yelled. “Leave him alone! Jay has nothing to do with this!”

Ah, baby. I wish that were true.

He wished a lot of things were true.

With fire in her eyes, the brave woman actually jumped onto the agent’s back, trying to get Tweedle Dum off of Mike. At the same time, the other agent still standing nearby grabbed hold of Juliet’s shoulders.

Wrong move, asshole.

“Get your fucking hands off her!” Mike growled as he fought to get free. A useless endeavor given that Tweedle Dee had risen to his feet and joined in the effort to keep Mike subdued on the floor.

The two men shoved him the rest of the way down.

“Like Agent Fuller told your girl...” Tweedle Dum spoke calmly. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

“Fuck you.”

Using more force than necessary, the man still holding onto Juliet pulled her roughly toward the door.

“Jay!” she called out for him, the terror and confusion in her voice ripping his heart to shreds.

With one side of his face now smashed against the cool, hardwood floor, Mike lifted his eyes to meet hers. God, he hated the fear he found there.

“It’s okay, baby,” he told her again. “Just go with them. I’ll be okay.”

“No. I’m not leaving you!” She kept fighting against the man’s strong hold.

“Not your choice.” Fuller picked up the court order that had fallen to the floor during Mike’s struggle. To the man holding onto Juliet, he tipped his chin and said, “Get her out of here.”

“Wait! You can’t do this. Just...wait!” Juliet’s pleas went unanswered as she was dragged out of the doorway and away from Mike’s sight.

Knowing she couldn’t hear him—and no longer caring, even if she could—Mike shot Fuller a seething glare. “You son of a bitch. I’ll have your fucking badge for this.”

“You can try.” The man’s lips curled into an arrogant smirk. “But I’m just following orders, Bradshaw. Just like you were when you started playing house with our target’s