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“I can’t trip over a lie I haven’t told,” I say, and she nods. “I speak with Felton, but only privately. Stay behind me, don’t speak unless spoken to, never answer back. Keep your head low, don’t antagonize anyone.”
She scowls. “I don’t antagonize.”
“You had six jobs over summer after high school. Six.”
“My bosses were assholes!”
I grip her chin gently. “You need to be the exact opposite of the woman you are and you’ll survive this.”
She nods curtly, and we leave the room with her close behind me. I roll up the sleeves of my shirt to my elbows as we stride through the sunlit glass walkway. In the morning light I’m able to see more of the property, and beyond the windows, the surrounding land is filled with lush greenery. Armed men patrol the perimeter, and I spot four just on our short walk from our bedroom to Felton’s office.
I passed this room last night, so I know where I’m going, though it’s hard to miss the loud classical music Felton is playing. The door is open, and he’s behind his desk—texting. At least I know where he’s keeping some cell phones.
“Morning, Big Guy.” He drops the device into a drawer to his left and closes it. “Good morning, Sunday.” He purrs, standing and resting his fists on the desk as his gaze drops down her outfit. “Not quite the arrangement we had, is it?”
“No,” she says quietly. “It isn’t.”
“I hope you’re being a good girl. I know how sharp that tongue of yours is,” Felton says, and Sunday remains quiet. “Keep Cage here happy and you’ll be home safe and sound tomorrow night. Then your dad is free to take out more debt that you’ll need to pay off.”
“Lucky me.”
Fuck me. We’ve not even made it two God damn minutes.
I turn on Sunday, and she looks up at me, eyes widening as I advance on her. She steps back, raising her hands. “I’m sorry.” An apology won’t be good enough for Felton, and I hate that I have to do this. Sealing my hand around her neck, she shakes her head. “I’m sorry, I won’t speak out of turn again. Please.”
Felton will want me to hurt her. Hit her. Bruise her. But he’s also never seen me with a woman, so maybe he’ll accept that whatever he thinks I’ve done to her behind closed doors is punishment enough.
“Stand outside, Sunday,” Felton says, and I release her neck so she can leave quickly, the door closing behind her. “You sure picked a fiery one.”
I flex my fingers, her warmth still pressed into my palm. “Apparently.”
“Ah, the deep timbre of your voice returns,” he sighs and takes his seat again. “I swear I get hard when you speak. If I had a voice like yours, I’d be whispering in women’s ears all god damn day.”
“Shame you sound like you do then.” I take a seat in front of his desk, and he tosses a pen at me playfully.
“You haven’t said thank you for your gift. She might be fiery but she’s also hot as fuck. It’s lucky I love D as much as I do. Every time Sunday has worked for me, I’ve had urges, y’know?” He wiggles his fingers at me. “It’s those eyes of hers. I bet they look good when she cries.”
I crack my neck. “She’s a biter.”
He whoops. “Nice. What’d she bite?” I give him a pointed look, and he howls out a laugh, slapping his thigh. “I might love that woman. Don’t tell Darcy. She won’t just bite down, she’ll bite the damn thing off.”
I’m surprised she hasn’t already. “What’s this news?”
“Well.” He leans back in his chair. “Daddy Maddox was very happy with the tragic loss of Chip. Send one up.” He points to the ceiling. “He wants to meet you.”
I school my features into indifference, but two years of working in this hellscape could finally be paying off. “When?”
“God, I love you. You’re like a tree. Unmovable, no emotion, alive but you can’t fucking tell.” He pauses, as if waiting for a laugh that he’ll never get. “Anyway, Dad is on his way.”
This is it. I’m coming face to face with the man I’ve been hunting. I bring in Maddox, and this is over.
And then … what?
Another job? More years undercover taking down monsters?
Or…
Maybe Sunday being here isn’t an accident. This could be a sign that I should leave this mess behind, start a life with her.
