Page 60 of Any Means Necessary

“He was a threat, so I fixed it,” he says simply with no remorse. Like it’s just that easy.

“You fixed it,” I repeat with a bitter laugh.

“That’s what I do, Dewdrop.”

“And at what point are you going to fix me?”

“I only fix problems. There’s no running from it, you’re in this now.” Suddenly it feels like he’s talking about a lot more than just a job. Something much heavier and more terrifying. “You’re not done.”

“Let go of me.” The feeling of his solid body against mine should be sickening. The same hand that pulled a trigger to end a life not five minutes ago touching my skin should repulse me. Instead I’m fucking turned on. Our chemistry is buzzing between us as sparks fly and it’s infuriating. Because I shouldn’t want this man to be touching me at all.

But I do.

“Go back to the car and wait for me,” Callum orders before taking a step back, making my burning blood boil. He turns his head to address the man I hadn’t realized had joined us in the alley, his eyes never leaving me. “Roscoe, go with her.”

“I don’t need a chaperone,” I snap, reaching down to snag the medical kit off the dirty ground. With the rage that’s powering through me at the moment not even Satan himself could challenge me and win. Whatever’s waiting for me in the shadows can do their worst.

Callum’s struggling against his restraint, his expression flickering between cold indifference and fierce intensity. His hands starts twitching at his sides, moving to reach out to me once or twice before he thinks better of it and pulls them back. I can practically see him wrestling with the urge to throw me over his shoulder like a caveman. The man’s computer brain is glitching. I’d probably find it amusing it I wasn’t so damn pissed.

“Have fun dealing with the body,” I say bitterly as I step around him to stalk back into the wretched building. Walking straight past Roscoe, I shoot a glare at him when he attempts to open the door for me. He’s not innocent in this either.

The inside of the warehouse passes in front of my eyes unseen as I stomp back to where Callum parked the car. I’ll admit I slammed the car door shut behind me a little harder than I should have. There’s no calming me down, even sitting alone in the silence. Wrestling out of my scrubs until it’s just my dress, I whip the balled up fabric into the back seat.

It’s a good thirty minutes before Callum climbs into the driver’s seat beside me. The car ride is spent in an uncomfortable silence and the tension grows thicker by the second. The elevator ride up to the penthouse is even worse. I feel like I’m in a room with a ticking timebomb. I’m not sure which one of us will explode first, but it will be catastrophic either way.

Turns out the sound of the elevator ding when we reach the top floor is the last straw. Something shifts in the air that feels final and unforgiving—the point of no return.

As soon as the doors slide open I’m making my escape—rushing into the apartment and heading to the nearest door to close. I end up in the guest bathroom in the entryway. Callum is right on my heels before I slam the door shut in his face and flip the lock.

“Open the fucking door, Lexie. Don’t make me break it down to come get you.” My heart hammers in my chest at the dark threat in his voice. He means it, he’ll come in after me. Anger flares in me, my defiance mixing with dread. I have two options here; open the door myself, or let him break it down. Both end the same—with me face to face dealing with the wrath of a furious Callum.

Hand trembling slightly, I flip the lock and slowly open the door. There’s no way I’m gonna show him how rattled I really am, so I square my shoulders to face him. Callum’s storming the door the second it’s open, stalking towards me until I’m backed against the wall. He doesn’t stop until we’re chest to chest and I’m forced to tilt my head back to look up at him.

“You’re a sociopath.” My barb hits him without inflicting any damage. His eyes move across my face in dark possession, sending potent lust pooling between my legs as my heart rate jumps.

“What pisses you off more, hmm? The fact that I’m a killer? Or that it doesn’t stop you from getting wet for me?”

“I hate you,” I snap angrily, shoving against his chest to put some space between us. It’s pointless, the man is as moveable as a mountain. He catches my wrists and pins them to the wall above my head, taking a step closer just to make a point. He’s bigger than me, stronger than me, and a sadistic control freak who needs to assert his dominance. My pulse jumps, breasts heaving with each dramatic breath.

“You’re a terrible liar, Dewdrop,” he states, his observant gaze on me is full of heated intent.

“I wish I never met you.” This time it’s not a lie. This man has completely taken over my life and turned it inside out. He’s turned me inside out.

“Regret is a waste of time, there’s no going back. You’re mine now.” His deep voice rolls over me as he presses closer, his knee pushing between my legs to spread them open and rub against me where heat is already starting to pool. Anger and frustration radiates from him, mixed with something in his eyes that I can’t quite decipher. He’s so close, leaning over me with his face just inches from mine. “There’s no pretending. You want me as much as I want you.”

“Don’t.” There’s no conviction in my voice as it trails off, my eyes latched on his lips.

“Don’t, what? Touch you?” Callum challenges, pressing closer. The intent in his gaze dares me to end this. “Tell me to stop.” He leaves one hand to keep my wrists pinned against the wall above my head, the other slipping under my jaw to take hold of my throat possessively. Desire pulses through me from the pressure of him as my head tilts up just a fraction, bringing my lips a breath away from his.

“Would you even listen?” I ask, not even bothering to hide how aroused I am right now. I need him, every inch of my body is screaming to feel every inch of his.

“Abso-fucking-lutely,” he says without hesitation. “I don’t want a woman who doesn’t want me.” His meaning is clear, and if that doesn’t make him even hotter. His eyes are roaming over my face like I’m a meal he’s about to devour.

“Good.” I’m practically breathless. “I don’t want a man who doesn’t take what they want.” This man is going to take me, rough, and hard, and without mercy. And god, do I want him to.

“I’m going to do so much more than take you, Dewdrop.” His voice vibrates through me, tickling every nerve ending in my body. “I’m going to own you.” When his mouth lowers to mine, he doesn’t kiss me—he devours me. His lips take mine in an all consuming kiss that doesn’t allow me to catch my breath.

The hand on my throat wanders downwards until he’s palming my left breast greedily. Even through my dress and bra, his rough hands seem to burn straight to my skin. A moan escapes me when he squeezes my aching breast almost painfully. The discomfort just adds to my bliss with his assault on my senses.

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