Without another word, she headed for the door.

I followed close behind. “You know, you have a killer ass.”

“Must you be such a pig?” she asked, looking back at me and glaring harshly.

I shrugged. “Guess it’s just in my nature.”

“No wonder Stacey hates you.”

I tensed up at the sound of my ex-girlfriend’s name. I had ended things as soon as she was knocked up, thinking I’d be a horrible father. What child wanted a criminal as a dad? She was better off without me. At least, that’s what I’d told myself.

In silence, we walked to her car, a sleek, black BMW.

“Nice ride.”

She didn’t respond, instead disappearing into the driver’s seat. If I’d wanted to, I could have made a break for it – if it wasn’t for the damn ankle bracelet. I would need to figure out a way to get it off. I had a friend who could help, but with Cassandra riding my ass, it would be nearly impossible for me to give her the slip.

Sighing and with no other choice, I got in.

As soon as I closed my door, she was off, driving with one hand on the wheel and the other on the shifter. There was a serious expression on her face.

In all honesty, she was pretty damn cute. Fairy-like features, flawless skin, and this hidden innocence that was driving me wild. Left to my own devices, I had no doubt that I could make this woman sing. Oh, there were so many things that I wanted to do to her. She’d become my little vixen.

“What are you staring at?” she snapped.

“What? Is it a crime to look at a beautiful woman? Damn. Who stuck a stick up your ass?”

Her jaw tensed.

I seemed to have struck a nerve. I smirked to myself, easing into my seat and enjoying the silence, knowing that I had won this time around.

* * *

After a thirty minute drive, she pulled into a parking lot. “A shooting range?” I asked, looking up at the sign. “What are we doing here?”

“First part of your training is to figure out how good of a shot you are.”

“I bet I’m better than you,” I challenged. “I was the best in my squad.”

“So was I,” she returned. “But talk is cheap. I want to see you put your money where your mouth is.”

“Alright,” I smirked. Together, we got out of the car and headed for the building. As I walked a few steps behind her, I drank in the sight of her sexy little body. Even though she was petite, she had curves to spare. All I wanted to do was place my hands on her hips and take a bite. I bet she tasted sweet.

Inside, the man behind the counter seemed to recognize her, tipping his head in her direction. “Miss Cassandra.”

“Carl.”

He turned his gaze in my direction.

“Fresh meat?”

“Yup,” she answered. “How long do you think this one is going to last?”

He studied me for a moment. “A month. Tops.”

“You two know I’m standing right here, right?”

“Yup.” Cassandra grinned, throwing her red locks over her shoulder before she grabbed the needed equipment from Carl. “Come on.”

The last thing I wanted to do was take orders from a little girl, but it wasn’t like I had a choice. I was VanGuard’s prisoner now. I had chosen my fate, all to help an ex-girlfriend who didn’t give two shits about me.

“Fifty yards. Aim for the bull’s eye,” she said, thrusting the gun into my chest.

“I’ve already told you I’m not stupid, so stop treating me like I’m some fucking five-year-old,” I growled.

“Then stop acting like one.” She held her ground, holding my gaze.

In the end, I was the one to look away first, angrily placing the ear muffs on my head, causing the world to grow silent. I then lifted the gun, steadying it in my hand. With one eye closed, I took aim, the cool metal feeling good against my fingers. I tightened my grip on the trigger, my heart quickening in anticipation. It had been so long since I had fired a gun.

Bang!

The recoil slithered up my arm, making it tingle.

“Close but no cigar,” Cassandra taunted, shoving me out of the way.

Effortlessly, she took aim and fired.

Bang!

Her bullet tore through the middle of the paper. Dead center. She really was a good shot. In shame, I noted just how far I had missed the target. Had I lost my touch?

“So, what were you saying about being better than me?” she asked with a smirk, pulling her muffs around her neck. “Let that be a lesson for you – cockiness isn’t going to get you anything with me.”

“Oh no?” I asked, raising an eyebrow, taking a step closer to her, and pushing her against the wall, the space between us almost nonexistent. I could feel the heat rolling off of her body. “Well, there goes all the fun…” I whispered, leaning down like I was about to kiss her.

In a flash, the butt of her gun came crashing down on my head.

“Ow! Fuck! That really hurt!” I shouted, stumbling back and holding my head.

“Well, you should have thought about that before you acted like a pervert. I don’t have time for your little games.”

“There’s nothing about me that’s little, baby.”

She growled. “One more smart-aleck remark from you, and I’m going to make you swallow your tongue.”

“Are you sure you want to do that? Then how I am supposed to eat you out?”

She grumbled something under her breath that I couldn’t quite catch. Her cheeks had turned red, and she looked slightly flustered.

I smirked.

“You know, you’re pretty cute when you pout like that.”

She turned and glared at me. If looks could kill, hell, I’d be dead ten – no, a hundred – maybe even a thousand – times over.