Page 46 of Shadows of Justice

He rises from his chair so fast that it quickly rolls back, slamming into the desk behind it.

“Were you not fucking listening to me?” he shouts. “This is where gang members do business. What exactly about a blonde-haired white girl showing up there is going to look inconspicuous?” He roughly rakes a hand through his hair and then points at me. “You’re not stepping one foot near that club.”

My eyes narrow as my temper flares. Oh, he did not just throw my appearance in the way of me doing my job and then give me an order like my father.

Consider my buttons pushed.

“Oh, ‘I’m not?’” My volume climbs to match his, and his eyes blaze. “I’m sorry, but last time that I checked, I don’t take orders from you.”

The muscles in his jaw flex, and he’s visibly trying to keep his anger under control—I can tell. His hands clench into fists as he takes an intimidating step toward me, but I stand my ground.

“Viv, this is fucking stupid. We can’t do this on our own. We need the help of your precinct. You’re not going!”

“You’re a fucking coward,” I growl, and he cocks his head at me, daring me to push him. “You hide behind your aliases and your cash and your secrets, but you don’t truly do a damned thing to make the difference that you claim to want to. You’re fucking scared, hiding away in this metal cage.” I’m so angry I’m seeing red, and I feel my lips twist into a snarl. “You say you do all this to avoid handcuffs, but how is this any different than prison? It’s just as cold, just as lonely. It’s just you and your money. That’s all.” I scoff. “It’s fucking pathetic.”

Surprise crosses over his face, mixed with a little hurt, but I don’t care. I’m done being pushed around by men that think they know better than me, when their own lives and decisions prove to be just as abysmal. It’s been happening my entire life, and I’m not going to take it anymore.

And I’m starting with Leo.

“You don’t know a thing about me,” he growls through clenched teeth.

“Oh, of course not. Your top-secret ‘obligations’ have that taken care of for you.” I wave him off and turn to go. “I’ve heard this one already.”

I pull the door open, but he’s suddenly right behind me, his palm smacking it shut again. I turn to face him head on, completely prepared to scratch his eyes out.

How dare he?

His heaving breaths wash over me in gusts, the yawning depths of his dark eyes ready to swallow me whole. He looks like a man unhinged.

He takes an imposing step into me, and my back presses against the door. His masculine scent engulfs me, tinged with a hint of gasoline. I can feel his warmth, his anger; he’s like a bubbling volcano about to erupt.

“I’m going,” I growl. He shakes his head, the movement done with slow, lethal calculation on his face, like he’d kill me before he’d let that happen. “I won’t stand by and let this fall through the cracks.”

“I won’t let you do this,” he says. “I can’t . . .”

“Can’t what?” I grit out, when he doesn’t finish his sentence.

His eyes search mine, and I’m screaming on the inside for him to finally say what I know he’s wanted to for weeks. To stop pretending like he doesn’t feel this thing hanging in the air between us. For a few racing heartbeats we’re suspended there, waiting on words that will never come. And then with a frustrated roar he slams his hand into the metal door by my head and shoves off, turning his back to me.

The instant loss of his closeness is jarring, enough to reignite the rage inside me.

“See?” I scoff, disappointment coursing through my veins. “Fucking coward.”

He whirls on me and launches forward, gripping a fistful of my hair at the nape of my neck and pulling on it until he forces me to look up at him. I gasp, at both the violent wrench of my hair and the fierceness in his onyx eyes.

“Coward?” he breathes.

The new and improved Viv holds his burning gaze, mustering the courage to nod, even as the act pulls against the fisted strands.

The next moment he pulls my mouth onto his. The kiss is blistering, a claiming brand that ignites all of the repressed tension in my belly that’s been churning since the first moment I laid eyes on him. I’m grateful for his weight pressing me against the door, because without it, I’m certain that my knees would give out. I melt into him, opening my lips to give him full access as he takes my mouth like a man possessed.

One hand still in my hair, he brings the other up to cup my cheek and stroke, brushing over my neck and collarbone. I arch my breasts into him, rolling downward as my hips seek the friction I’ve been dreaming of. A primitive sound releases from deep within him and he bites my lower lip, drawing my face away to look at me with feverish pleasure simmering in his eyes.

I fist my fingers in his shirt, inwardly cursing its existence. I would tear it in half like a superhero if I had that sort of strength, but all I can manage is to tug on it lamely as every one of my nerves is awakened by the delicious sensation of Leo’s roaming fingers hungrily exploring my body.

I’m a panting, quivering mess, my shaking hands pulling at the fabric of his shirt and jeans.

I want them off. Burned. This man should not waste time ever wearing clothes.

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