She doesn't flinch, but her stance shifts to defensive.
Cautious.
Smart.
"Careful now, huh?" I taunt. "You were bold enough to ambush me. Drain my blood. Sell it like fine wine. But face the real predator, and suddenly you're second-guessing your every step."
"You talk too much," she snaps, and lunges.
Blades slash toward me. I dodge one, but the second kisses my arm. Shallow cut. In return, I crash into her, slamming her into the back wall hard enough to rattle the windowpanes. One of her blades clatters to the floor.
I'm about to finish it.
Then—
"Stop."
His voice cuts through the chaos.
I turn.
Darius Hawthorn stands in the doorway, untouched by the wreckage and the blood. Like he's about to offer me a glass of brandy and a fucking seat at the negotiation table.
"You're here for me, aren't you?" he says evenly.
"I am," I growl. "But I have some unfinished business first."
"You don't," he says, cool and flat. "If you want to speak with me, you'll come to my office. Otherwise, we're done here."
Then he turns to Darlene, who's staggering up with blood on her lip. "Clean up the mess. Get the authorities off our scent. I won't have complications."
She hesitates.
"Now," he snaps.
She glares at me, pure venom, then storms off, grabbing a radio from the receptionist's desk as she goes.
"Please," Darius says, holding the door open with that same patronizing elegance, "Mr. Darrow. Shall we?"
Fucking bastard.
But I step inside. Because whatever this is, it's not done untilIsay it is.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kayden
"Big windows with a view, mahogany desk… all you're missing is a bust of some dead Roman tyrant to complete your 'billionaire douchebag office bingo card,'" I sneer, my gaze sweeping the room as Darius calmly shuts the door behind us.
"I'll be sure to pass that note to my decorator," he replies dryly.
He moves across the room with a sense of ownership. He thinks he owns everything. Her, too.
I don't sit. I don't blink. I watch every damn move.
He pours two glasses from a crystal decanter and offers one to me, like this is some civilized fucking after-hours party.
I scoff. "I didn't come to share a drink with you, goat man."
