She’s trying to wound me, and as much as I love our sparring, this does sting. She’s right. I’ve spent my life alone, surrounded by people who will never understand what I am. I keep my bland billionaire mask fixed in place to bait her. “And what am I, Detective?”
“A serial killer. Someone who thinks he’s above the law and who rigs the justice system like it’s his own personal slot machine.” Red spots appear on her cheeks. “You tampered with evidence.”
“Allegedly.”
She stares at me, her shoulders rising and falling with her rapid breaths. “How could you do this?” Her appeal weakens me. She feels this injustice deeply. The deaths of her parents gave her the gift of great empathy, while the deaths of mine taught me that justice is a fraud.
“You killed three men and framed a random gang. Innocent men will go to jail.”
“Innocent,” I snap. The beast inside me refuses to be baited any longer. “They’re far from innocent.” I loom over her, crowding her as if the physical intimidation will force her to bend. “Shall I show you their rap sheets? The list of hate crimes they’ve carried out or planned?”
She faces me, unmoved. “You tampered with evidence.”
Now that I’m close enough to feel her silky breath on my face, I let my voice drop to a purr. “Evidence that was for your eyes only.”
She closes her eyes. She knows I manipulated this outcome from the very beginning. I almost feel sorry for my little bird, so small and fragile, trapped in thorns she can’t fight. “And you expect to get away with it.”
I pull away to give her space. “I know I will. I’ve done it before.” I don’t like that I can manipulate the justice system so easily. But if it can be manipulated, I might as well be the one doing it.
“How did you do it?”
“A bribe here. Bit of blackmail there.” I glance back to watch her face as I crush any flicker of hope. “Jordan resisted for a long time, but he has a daughter he’d do anything for. And she has a bright career ahead of her because of the scholarships that the Roy Foundation has given her. It’s so easy to manipulate people when they care for someone else.”
Her eyes are full of pain. Does she grieve her beloved justice system? Or the man she hoped her dom would be?
This is who I am. The world says I must be ruthless to survive and thrive, so ruthless I will be.
It’s time we stop pretending.
“Why did you come to me, Inara?”
“You say you fight for justice, but you’re making a mockery of it. I can’t be complicit. Any more than I already am.”
“You’re not complicit.”
“You have taken over my life. Every aspect. I thought about it. . . going to the lead detectives, telling them everything I know. All the surveillance, all the times we met. Everything you said.”
Rage courses through me at the thought of her offering up those precious, private moments to a bunch of career-hardened, cynical cops.
“I won’t let you do that. It would mean the end of your career.”
She gives a half shrug. “I’d sacrifice anything for justice. Even myself.”
“I won’t allow it,” I vow. I’ll do everything to prevent her from wrecking her own life.
“It wouldn’t matter anyway. Who are they going to believe? A crazy lady who thinks she’s psychic? Or you, a paragon of society, wealthy beyond belief, and a major donor to the force.” Her eyes have dulled, lost the spark she had at the beginning of our fight. I’ve crushed something in her. “Congratulations, Rex. You’ve won.”
The triumph rolling through me at her admission dissipates at her lifeless tone. She grabs her jacket and turns on her heel, heading for the door.
I’m across the room before she can take more than a few steps. She reaches for the door handle, and I slap my hand on the sturdy wood, holding it shut. Now I’m the one breathing hard while her face holds no expression.
“Rex, I’m not going to fight anymore. It’s over.”
“It’s not over.” There’s no winning unless I’ve wonher.“You’re not leaving.”
She tugs the door handle. “Let me go.”
“Never.” I pull her back, and she gives me only a token struggle. The beast is pleased, but a more careful part of me wonders if she planned this. Did she come here to sever our relationship? Or is she playing another game?
