Page 39 of The Firefighter's Fate

She’s got my boys wrapped around her finger. She’s undermining my authority, and I can’t have that.

I turn my attention to the smirking journalist.

Damn, she really fucking annoys me.

“You did this?” I ask her, incredulous.

I get back nothing from the girl but a cheery smile and a...

“Yep, I did.”

“You boys should know better than to accept bribes from journalists,” I snarl at my team. “What have you said to her? What have you revealed?”

Eric rolls his eyes.

“Nothing about you, Connor. Don’t you worry.”

“Oh, I am worried.”

I march toward the center of the room, reaching for a spare croissant on the table. If she’s brought in a load, then at least I can steal one.

But Ember talks before I even lay a finger on the delicious-looking pastries.

“You’re not allowed one unless you talk to me, Connor,” she says. “No answers means no croissants.”

I growl and turn back to her.

“You really want me to talk to you?”

Ember is not folding to my glare. Her goddamn annoying smile is plastered on her face.

Her charms might work on my guys, but they won’t work on me...

“Yes, Connor. I want to find out your side of the story. Then, and only then, you can have an almond croissant.”

I let out another growl.

“I’ll go hungry, then.”

“You’re missing out on the best croissant in America,” the journalist smirks. She’s a pro at pressing the right buttons.

She’s wearing something more casual than her normal attire today – a button-up pink shirt with high-waisted skinny jeans. Can she put on something that doesn’t make me want to rip off everything and devour her?

I would love to see her ass in those jeans.

Stop it, Connor. Control yourself. Control your lust for this parasite.

“Leave, Ember.”

My voice is dark and low.

But, instead of being intimidated, the girl simply shrugs and takes a final sip from her coffee before she’s heading to the door. The firefighters seem sad for her to go – their faces hang low. It’s the final proof I need to identify that she’s clearly wriggled her way onto their good side, despite my very best intentions to the contrary.

Well, she ain’t on mine...

Stopping at the door, Ember spins back and winks at me.

“When you do finally decide to speak to me,” she says, “then I’ll buy you a croissant. Deal?”

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