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connected. “Hey, mind the merchandise.”
    “A man’s got a right to get a little of his own back,” Massey insisted, pulling against Peyton’s grip, but without success.
    Peyton shook his head. “I’m bettin’ whoever wants this little princess wants her in good shape.” Peyton looked over his shoulder at KT. “And that one’s in exceptionally good shape.”
    Massey jerked his arm and Peyton let him go. “Okay. Point made.” He touched the back of his head gingerly. “What the hell did she hit me with any way?”
    Peyton jerked his chin toward the backpack where it leaned against the wall. “Laptop.”
    “Damn.” Massey looked around. “Where do you think she keeps the aspirin?” He stopped and looked at Peyton. “Your kind does take aspirin, don’t you?”
    Peyton ignored the dig and glanced around. “Course we do. We’re human.” He gestured toward the hallway. “Bathroom’s probably back that way. Check the cabinet. I’ll check the kitchen.”
    He and KT had cleaned up all signs of their fight. The hand towel he’d used and empty salipen were stuffed in a suitcase in the bottom of her bedroom closet. He headed for the kitchen while Massey headed for the bathroom.
    Peyton opened and shut cabinets until Massey shouted out he’d found the aspirin. Peyton opened the refrigerator and peered inside. Bottled water, yogurt, a couple of white Chinese take-out boxes and an assortment of deli meats and cheeses filled the shelves.
    He looked at the door and grinned. “Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about.”
    Micro-brew stouts, lagers, and ales glittered in the narrow shelves. He selected a pale ale for Massey and a stout for himself. He flipped the door closed and smiled at the muffled chiming of the bottles.
    Who would have guessed a princess like KT would enjoy a good brew? Stephanie and her friends had preferred champagne and fruity high-alcohol concoctions. Many a time, he’d had to haul her, puking and incoherent, from some hoity-toity club. Those were days he didn’t miss.
    He carried the two bottles into the living room and set them on the coffee table. The fall of hair across KT’s bruised face shifted ever so slightly with every breath.
    What kind of princess uses initials instead of an elegant name like Katarina? Or lets herself be used as bait in a “just crazy enough it might work” kind of plan? Even unconscious on the floor of her apartment, KT Marant continued to surprise him.
    The toilet flushed. Massey sauntered back down the hallway, a couple of prescription bottles in his hand. He held them up and rattled them in Peyton’s direction.
    “Looks like our little Collector’s Item’s been feeling a little stressed.” As Massey read off the names of the prescription drugs, Peyton winced inwardly.
    “Just like a princess, taking a pill instead of just dealin’.” He turned to reach down for Massey’s beer and give himself a moment to think.
    If KT’s metabolism was suppressed by prescription drugs, the sedative may be more effective than planned. Of course, if everything went according to plan, it might actually work in his favor. She might not wake up until after the arrest. His impression of KT did not include her sitting by passively during the take-down.
    His stomach tightened. Conversely, if things went wrong, then it wouldn’t matter when she woke up, would it?
    Max’s snarl of denial matched Peyton’s own feelings.
    Peyton wiped all emotion from his face before he turned to hand the beer to Massey. “Well, at least she has good taste in beer.”
    Massey grinned, twisted off the cap and took a long swig. He flipped the cap toward the trash basket, but it clattered on the floor far short of target. Unconcerned, he dropped onto the couch and slammed his heels on top of the coffee table.
    He gestured toward the flat screen TV. “Find the remote. With her bucks, she’s gotta have everything. May as well get comfortable. Gonna be a long wait ’til