Page 141 of Forbidden Heroes

I tighten my grip slightly when she tries to step away.

“Uh-uh. I gave you a chance to leave. That window has closed, angel. You’re not going anywhere until I say. No, tell me more of the dirty little plan that mind of yours has cooked up.”

I grin to soften the blow of my dominance. I know I can be controlling and I don’t want to scare her away before I win her over completely. In the time it took to build Savage Ink I’d hardly ever had time for women. But suddenly I had all the time in the world on my hands.

“Hire me. Use your own company rules against my uncle. That and the proof I have…let’s just say we’ll both be safe from his nasty vengeful tendencies.”

“Meaning?”

Her movements quickened as she paced a step away and then turned on her heel to face me.

With a raised finger she ticked off her points.

“Your company has a policy. Right? Right.”

Up went another finger.

I nod once.

“If an employee within Savage Ink can prove foul play to a fellow board member or employee of the company, that proof is immediately reviewed. Right? Right.”

She added a third finger.

“And offending board member is placed on unpaid leave, during said review time. Right? Right.”

“I applaud your dedication to learning the inner workings of the company. Hell, you probably know more than your uncle by the sound of it, but what is your point here, sweetheart?”

A tight smile pulled at her lips and I loved the spark of a challenge that lit her eyes. At the same time her expression grew stern and the amount of concentration drew my full attention. She’d obviously put a lot of effort into her actions.

“Hear me out. All petty cash and company credit cards are frozen pending said investigation and if legal action is required, then you pass all documentation of the crime against your company and its employees and charges are pressed. Right?”

She straightened her shoulders and if I didn’t know I already was falling for her, the woman standing in front of me would have won my heart in that instant. Damn, I was so fucked.

“Hire me as a trash collector, window wiper, hell stuff me in the mail room, I don’t care. I have the proof you need to show malicious intent against you and your company. Together we can take down my uncle and he can once and for all release the hold he has over me.”

She has spunk and drive, I’ll give her that. “No one in their right mind would shove you in some basement with no windows to sort mail when your beauty should be seen by all. Seen, not touched,” I reprimand.

For a second she looked confused but hopeful.

“But no. I’m not about to paint a target on your ass. I can handle Shade on my own, but I’m intrigued by the way your mind works, nonetheless.”

With a half frown, half scowl she crosses her arms over her ample chest and I didn’t want to be the one to tell her it didn’t have the effect she’d wanted.

Warm light from the fire casts a soft glow of light around her and for a second I’m tempted to do anything she wants if it keeps her close to me.

She pulls her phone out of some hidden pocket in her costume and her delicate thumbs fly over the screen. In the next instant, she looks up at me with an accomplished smile and dread of what she’s done grips my balls.

Now look who’s playing chess.

“There. Now you’ll have no choice in the matter. Either accept my terms or the audio I just sent to the cloud gets sent to local news stations. Remember the comment of fucking me under your Christmas tree. Nice one. That should get the attention of a few people. Plus, I just messaged my uncle that I’m out. He can do his own dirty work. That target you spoke about has been firmly painted on my ass. Now it’s all on you. What’s your move?” She wasn’t playing chess anymore with strategic moves and well-laid plans. No, a game of chicken was more like it.

She bites her lip, giving away the nervousness she tries to bury under a false bravado.

“The only thing that is going to touch that ass is my hand.” The little minx wants to blackmail me like this is some game of double jeopardy? I grit my teeth and narrow my eyes, my expression stone-cold.

“You don’t know how to play the game you’ve started, angel.” I growl, feeling my anger rush to the surface. Not the same anger that fuels my aggressiveness in business. I could never direct my wrath her way. No, the anger that has me clenching my fists and making my back molars ache from me gritting my teeth is toward anyone who would want to hurt her and the asshole that put her in this predicament in the first place.

Seeing my anger, she tries to pull away and retreat.

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