“You better be, you piece of shit.” He pressed his thumb into the dip of the man’s throat. “Now, stop looking at her.”
The guy squeezed his eyes shut, his throat bobbing beneath Killian’s fingers. I marched toward them before my partner in crime completely lost his mind and killed this man for no good reason.
My fingers wrapped around Killian’s bicep in a lame attempt to haul him off the guard. “Stop. Please.”
He didn’t even budge, but his eyes swung to me, fury pounding through their emerald abyss.
“Let go of him, and let’s get out of here. He’s not worth it.” We were the ones trespassing in his office anyway. I hoped my narrowed glare communicated the thought.
The tendon in Killian’s jaw was going berserk, fluttering like an angry snake coiled in a deadly fury. I tightened my hold on his arm and gave a little tug. “Come on.”
With a snarl, Killian finally released him and wrapped his hand around mine. “I’ll be speaking to Mr. Banks about how his staff treats his most honored guests.”
The poor guard paled, raising his meaty paws. “Please, don’t. I really need this job, man.”
“Then let’s keep this whole fiasco between us.”
“Sure thing.” The security guard’s head bounced up and down.
I was impressed. I couldn’t deny it. Not only was Killian terrifying, he was also damned smart. He always had been, but now it was in a scary way.
Killian tugged on the back of his jacket, concealing the file still tucked into his pants, and dragged me out the door.
“Shit, damned zipper.” I stared at my reflection in the mirror as I wriggled and squirmed, trying my damnedest to get out of this slinky dress. The tight, little black number was not made for Latinas with curves.
A sharp knock sent my head spinning over my shoulder. “What are you doing in there? I have to take a piss,” Killian shouted.
“Nothing. Geez, can’t I pee in private?”
“I don’t hear you peeing.”
“Get away from the door, Killian! Stop eavesdropping.”
A sinister chuckle seeped through the thick timber. “Are you indulging in some self-care? I wouldn’t blame you after earlier...”
“No, you asshole,” I gritted out, my frustration level reaching a boiling point. “I’m stuck in this freaking dress.”
More laughter.
“You’re such a dick. You know what? The old Killian was ten times the man you are, and he was only a boy.” He’d helped me out of many a scandalous outfit when we were just kids. The downside of not having a mom around...
The handle jiggled, the wild creaking ratcheting up my pulse. Then a sharp keening sound sent it into overdrive. “Open the door, Red, or I swear I’ll break it down.”
“And do what?” I hissed.
“Take a fucking leak. And besides that, I still owe you a punishment for disobeying me back at the party. I vividly remember telling you to stay put.”
“I’m not your fucking plaything, Kill. You drag me to some party and don’t tell me shit, other than it has something to do with your perverted stepdad. What did you expect me to do when you went MIA?”
“For your own safety, I expected you to listen to me.” A hint of fear laced the deep tenor, and an unwanted flutter battered my chest. “You have no idea what those people are like.”
I had a pretty damned good idea, considering what I’d suffered under Stan’s hand.
“I was only trying to protect you.” Killian’s words were so faint I wasn’t even sure I heard them right.
Biting my lip, I crept to the door and pressed my palm against it. I could practically feel Killian on the other side, his forehead resting against the dark teak. I could almost hear his heartbeat pounding, his breaths coming fast and uneven.
“Now, open the door, and I’ll help you out of the dress.”
