Page 30 of Hot Chocolate & Hitmen

That's it! Maybe the guys could use a sweet treat to boost their mood. I'll put together a little cookie and cocoa platter to surprise them. Nodding decisively, I tie my robe tighter and slide my feet into my fuzzy red slippers.

Time to spread some holiday cheer!

Humming along toDeck the Halls, I arrange an assortment of frosted sugar cookies and thumbprint jam tarts on a red glass platter, then whip up four mugs of rich hot chocolate topped with peppermint sticks and a generous dollop of whipped cream sprinkled with crushed candy canes.

Perfect!

Tray loaded with sweets in hand, I make my way up towards the tense voices echoing down the hall, the smell of chocolate and cinnamon preceding me.

I hope my yummy offerings will lift their spirits. Surely, even interrogators need to take a snack break now and then!

I step through the doorway with a bright smile, taking in the scene before me. Atlas has the hostage–a squirrely man in a wrinkled suit–tied to a chair in the center of the room. Dried blood crusts the man's swollen nose and his split lip. He definitely looks like he’s been through the wringer.

Teddy paces slowly behind the prisoner, spinning a wicked-looking knife between his fingers. He angles the blade just so, to make it catch the light with each rotation. Key perches nearby, boots kicked up on a side table as he casually shuffles a deck of cards. His apparent nonchalance is betrayed by the eager glint in his tawny eyes that remain fixed on Teddy and the prisoner.

All three men look up when I enter, Teddy pausing his slow prowl to raise a questioning brow.

"Who wants cookies?" I sing, holding out the platter with a grin. My entrance seems to break the tension as chuckles sound all around. Looks like my sugar rush was just what they needed! Warmth swells in my chest as I straighten even taller.

Filled with pride, I breeze farther into the room, pleased when Atlas snags a cookie off the tray with a grunt of thanks. Even Teddy pauses his intimidation routine long enough to grab one of the mugs.

My smile slips, however, when the hostage pins his bloodshot eyes on me. His lip curls in a sneer, his beady gaze raking insultingly over my body.

"What's a tasty little piece of ass like you doing with this trash?" He rasps, tilting his head toward the guys. "Why don't you ditch these losers, and I'll show you what a real man can do."

His lewd words have fury flashing through me. How dare this creep speak so crudely!

He spits towards the platter in my hands, flecks of blood and salivanearlymarring my cookies. The guys bristle, no doubt gearing up to jump into my defense, but a blazing anger steals through me first.

I calmly set the tray aside. Heart racing, I keep my face smooth as I stride toward a wayward mound of Christmas decorations. Selecting a sparkling handful of tinsel, without a word, I march right up to the foul-mouthed prisoner and stuff the entire thing into his gaping mouth.

He gags, eyes bulging as I pat his scruffy cheek.

"There, much better! No more nasty words now," I chirp sweetly and pull away, accidentally knocking against something hard.

His resounding groan of agony has me looking to see the hilt of a knife sticking out of his shoulder. A knife I just knocked on my way past. “Oops.”

Glancing back at the guys, I give them a proud smile and say, "we won't stand for that kind of foul language here."

Atlas barks out a laugh while Key whistles. Even Teddy cracks a reluctant grin.

Turning back to the hostage, my smile falters as something tugs at the back of my mind. Something about the despondent and almost absent look he has in his eyes. It’s like he’s goading them to try and end things. There’s fear in his dull brown eyes, but not for himself. For someone else. It’s like he’s trying to protect someone.

Before I can ponder on it any further, the laughs and whistles from my boys shift into something more heated, distracting me. Their eyes track me hungrily as I saunter back over after collecting my platter of treats, a new sort of tension charging the air that has nothing to do with interrogation.

Atlas reaches me first, plucking the tray from my hands and setting it aside before gripping my hips. His strong fingers flex, tugging me closer.

"That was hot as fuck, baby." His gravelly voice drops even lower. "Didn't know you had such fire in you."

A thrill races through me at his approving rumble. I bite my lip coyly as his heated perusal sweeps down to my mouth.

"She's full of surprises, our girl." Teddy prowls closer, fire glinting behind the icy blue of his eyes, now banked with desire. His large hand trails teasingly down my arm, raising goosebumps in its wake. I shiver under their palpable focus, heart stuttering when Key joins the fray.

"Mmm,if this is the result, I may have to get Sugar here angry more often."

Key slides behind me, breath hot on my ear as his arms slip around my waist. His dexterous fingers flirt with the sash on my robe.

"Gotta admit, that flash of temper was sexy as hell. Makes me wanna see what other passionate reactions we can drag out of you..."

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