Page 75 of Bad Enough

When TB turned, it was to see that Steel was still seated at the table, leaning back in his chair, hands laced and resting at his waist, his ice-gray eyes staring at him.

“Flame is stronger than you think.”

“Possibly. But it feels like I’m about to destroy her.” He looked at his teammate. “Interrogation is all about using the subject’s weakness against them. That means I’ve got only one tool in the toolbox.”

Concern fell into Steel’s gray eyes. “What are you going to do, hermano?”

“Flame sees me as a hero. I’m going to give her what she wants: her white knight who will save her. I’ll use her romantic nature to break her down. Then, and only then, will she trust me enough to tell me what we want to know.”

“Just tell her the truth. You think she can’t handle it?”

“She’ll see it as a betrayal.”

Steel shrugged. “I think you see Flame how you want to see her and not how she truly is. For all her ‘enchantments’—the hearts and flowers, the unicorns and rainbows—she is remarkably practical. I think she sees reality far more than you believe she does. She’s certainly capable of discerning what is reality and what is fiction.”

“You’re wrong, Steel. She’s exactly as she appears. A young woman with her head full of impossible dreams, just like her books.”

Steel chuckled. “You obviously have not read one of her books.”

TB grimaced. “No. Not my thing.”

Steel had a gleeful smile on his face, something TB rarely saw. He groaned. “Don’t tell me you have, too.”

“Waters brought us each a copy of the newest one last night.”

“Seriously?”

“She’s a very good writer. I advise you to read one. I highly recommend Nature of the Beast, her most recent. I think you will find it very…” He searched for the word. “Enlightening. Page one hundred thirty-four to one hundred forty-seven included. Might help with your ‘interrogation technique.’”

TB snorted. “Highly unlikely. Reciting poetry about the color of her hair and eyes or some other romantic notions are not going to help me.”

Steel stood up and pushed in his chair. When he got to the door, he turned back to TB, who was rooted in his same spot. “Don’t be a narrow-minded ass. Read the book,” he reiterated. “You might learn a few things about her that will surprise you.”

“Whatever.”

“Could be I’m wrong. It happens. But I sincerely doubt I’m wrong when I’m telling you that your querida is more than you think she is. Waters thinks so. You would, too, if your truth radar wasn’t so jammed up right now.”

“Well, trust me. You’re wrong this time.”

With a blank expression, Steel asked, “How can I trust in you when you can’t trust in yourself?” And with that, he walked out of the room without a backward glance, leaving TB to stare at the quietly shut door.

26

JUNE 16TH

Sylvan

A pair of warm hands came down on her shoulders, startling her and causing her to twist around. “Great balls of fire, TB! Don’t do that.” She quickly reached behind her and shut the lid of her laptop.

“Writing something sexy you don’t want me to see?” he teased.

“Hmph. As if you’d actually read it. I wouldn’t want to taint your darkness with my sunniness.”

His hands left her shoulders. Immediately, she missed his touch, and she was mad at herself for being a grouch to him. Being light on his feet was ingrained as part of his job. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “That was uncalled for.” She wiggled in the chair and tried to stretch out. “I’m going to blame this blasted chair. All the money your boss has, and he can’t buy more comfortable furniture?”

TB chuckled. “No offense taken, sweetheart. And I think he purposefully bought these back-breakers so that we’d go back to our offices and work through lunch. We learned quickly. Now, to piss him off, we go out to lunch and take extra time. Or we order in and eat in someone’s office and don’t bring him anything back.”

“It’s not like any of you ever see him to give it to him,” she pointed out.

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