“You train me. Properly. No half-assed ‘stay in the car’ crap.”
His gaze drags over me, slow and heated.
My heart trips.
“And Term Three…” I lean in, close enough to smell his aftershave, to feel the electricity between us crackle.
“If you tell me no…” I tap the drive. “…the world gets a front-row seat to every illegal thing you’ve done since April.”
Knight’s nostrils flare. “You’re blackmailing me.”
I smile sweetly. “I’m encouraging your growth.”
He stands abruptly, pushing away from the table like he needs distance.
Not to think.
Tostay sane.
“You are chaos,” he says.
I hop off the counter and saunter toward him. “And you? You’re control.” I stop inches away. “Imagine how deadly we’ll be together.”
He swallows.
Hard.
I tuck the USB into his hand and pat it twice. “We start tomorrow.”
He whispers, “I haven’t agreed to anything.”
“You will.” I head to the door, swinging my bat over my shoulder. “See you at 7 a.m., Knight.”
“You don’t have access to our HQ.”
I wink. “I’ll find the key.” The door clicks shut behind me.
And I know he’s standing there, staring at the USB drive in his hand, totally losing his mind.
Good.
Let the games begin.
FIVE
OFF-LIMITS LOOKS A LOT LIKE HER
KNIGHT
Our “HQ” is a converted office that’s a closed-down print shop that still smells faintly like toner and broken dreams.
Arrow calls itRiversidebecause it overlooks the river.
I call itevidencethat we’re all one bad decision away from a felony conviction.
The stairwell light flickers as I climb, the metal door at the top guarded by a pin pad, a deadbolt, and the illusion that we’re in control of any of this. I hear the faint sound of music before I punch the code.
The lock clicks.
