"Giveme coffee and access to the raw data,"Isay, keeping my voice utterly steady. "AndI’llfind every penny."
Loganstudies me, his black eyes assessing my worth. "Alright.Seventy-two hours.Butshe stays in theVault.Noone in, no one out until it's done.Ifthere's a mole, we can't risk her talking to anyone."
"Agreed,"Eliassays.
"I'lltake first watch," the leaner biker offers, pushing off the table. "Makesure she doesn't run."
Eliassteps in front of me.
Heplaces his body between me and the rest of the room, cutting me off from the world entirely.Hisbroad shoulders block out the overhead lights.
Hisgray eyes darken as they drop to mine, swirling with raw, possessive intensity.
"No," the massive biker growls, the deep vibration traveling through the floorboards straight into my chest.
"No?"Loganraises an eyebrow.
Hismassive, scarred hand hooks around the nape of my neck, thick fingers digging into my hair with a bruising, territorial weight.Hedoesn't just hold me; he marks me.Histhumb presses hard against the jumping pulse in my throat, pinning my head back soI’mforced to look up into those cold, storm-gray eyes.Ican smell leather, cold air, and the heavy, male musk of his skin.
"She'sin my custody,"Eliasgrowls.Thesound is feral, vibrating from his chest directly into my palms where they’re pressed against the cold leather of his cut. "Shegoes into theVault.Shestays under my guard.I’mthe only one who touches her."
"Elias,"Loganwarns. "You'vebeen up for three days straight.Youneed sleep."
"Idon't need sleep,"Eliassays, his intense gaze never leaving mine. "Ineed the numbers to balance."
Histhumb drags slowly across my skin, an intentional, heavy stroke that sends a violent spike of heat straight to my clit.Ifeel a sudden, treacherous heaviness between my legs, my core turning hot and heavy under the weight of his stare.Standingin his shadow, dwarfed by his massive build while the club watches his blatant claim, my knees go weak.I’mnot just a consultant;I’mhis.
"She’smine to break,"Eliasrumbles, his gray eyes darkening until they’re almost black. "AndGodhelp the man who tries to take her beforeI’vehad my fill."
Logansighs, though a smirk tugs at the edge of his lips. "Alright,Treasurer.Takeher to theVault.Clockstarts now."
Eliassteers me past the main bar, guiding me down a long corridor toward a heavy steel door at the end of the hall.Hepunches a code into the keypad.
"Move," he commands as the locks disengage with a mechanical clunk.
Myknees shake, and my racing pulse thunders in my ears.I’djust sold my soul to a beautiful, terrifying devil.Wedescend into the bunker, the temperature dropping as we head underground.
Theheavy steelVaultentrance clangs shut behind us, the deadbolts dropping into place, leaving me completely consumed by the heavy heat of his hand on my neck and the absolute finality of the wordmine.
2
ELIAS
Thelock engages with a heavy, final thud that vibrates through the reinforced steel floor.Fourinches of tungsten and titanium seal us in.Therest of the world—theFeds, the club, the snowstorm raging outside—ceases to exist.
Ozone, gun oil, and old paper layer over thesteady hum of the server banks.Beyondthe servers, a heavy partition separates my workspace from the back quarters where a sink, two military cots, and a massive gun locker sit in absolute order.Butmy focus is entirely on her.Mia.
Shestands in the center of my underground sanctuary, clutching a battered leather satchel against her chest.Theskin strains tight over her finger joints.Herbreath hitches visibly.
One.Icount her next inhalation automatically, then track the second and the third.Alingering tic from the fire that took my parents demands the counting.Numbersprovide absolute safety, whereas people act as chaotic variables thatinevitably get you killed.
Miabrings a vibrant splash of color into my gunmetal-gray world.Ashocking pink cardigan wraps around her shoulders, clashing violently with the filing cabinets and the starkLEDstrips overhead.Theharsh contrast should irritate me.Myteeth should ache with the desperate need to restore order.
Instead, my fingers twitch at my sides.
Iwant to tear that sweater off her.Myheavy leather cut, thick with theBrokenHalospatch, belongs on her shoulders until the only colors she wears are black and gold.
"Isthis..."Hervoice trembles, bouncing off the metal walls.Sheclears her throat, digging for the spine of steel she showed the agents on the highway. "Isthis standard procedure?Lockingthe auditor in a bunker?"
