Page 29 of The Devil's Conflict

“And what makes you think that?” I force out. “I think you’re running scared and butt hurt because you don’t like to face the truth. And I think you talk a big game, but we both know you can’t live up to it.”

“Is that because I apparently have a heart condition or because I have such a small dick?” he asks silkily. “Is that the game you’re talking about, baby girl?”

“Can’t forget that hip replacement,” I gasp out. “That’s an important one. One wrong thrust and you’ll be down for the count.” He lets out a low growl and I don’t stop the smile that overtakes my face. “Besides, we both know you’re all talk. You won’t do anything to or with me because I’m too young for you, remember? That ten-year gap is apparently too much for you to handle. Just like it was back then, wasn’t it? Or did you think I didn’t notice you constantly watching me? Constantly picking on me because it was the only way you could get close to me?”

He stiffens at that, and I know I’ve struck a little too close to home. “I was your superior officer,” he says tightly. “There was nothing romantic or longing about the way I dealt with you.”

“Liar,” I taunt, turning my head to look at him. He’s staring at me with a mixture of anger, resentment, and lust. It’s an intoxicating, and empowering feeling realizing I’ve caused that.But I’m not stupid, or silly enough, to think I have the upper hand with this man. I’m just knocking him off-kilter a little. It’s going to take more than this to push him completely off balance. “Then what are you doing now?”

“I’m dealing with a brat that doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut,” he responds instantly. Then he releases me, steps back and turns away from me. I turn around quickly and see him running a frustrated hand through his hair as he walks back over to his desk. I don’t move, just continue to watch him, even though I should be hightailing it the hell out of here. Being around Sniper is a recipe for disaster.

“I’ve never kept my mouth shut, so I would think you would be used to it,” I tell him when he finally turns back to look at me when he’s beside his desk.

“And it’s going to get your ass in trouble,” he snaps. “Just like it did when you were an idiot officer mouthing off.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not a young officer but one that made a name for herself in one of the top Forces teams at the time,” I snap back. “You need to stop seeing me as a young woman that doesn’t know her shit. I’m not that girl anymore. I’ve grown up, I’ve seen and done things that even you can’t imagine, and I’ve put up with men far worse than you.”

“Just like you did today?” he demands. “The fucker who thought he could try to hurt you and pin you to a door?”

“Yes, exactly like that. Do you really think I can’t handle an idiot like that? I didn’t even hurt myself it was so fucking easy. He’s nothing. I’ve gone against men bigger and smarter than him. So I handled it, made sure I didn’t kill him while I bruised his ego, then left. None of that shit requires you or the MC to get involved.”

“It does when one of our employees is put in that situation,” he yells, clearly exasperated.

“So you’d do the same with Shadow or Viper if they had been in that position? Or Hulk? Bowie? Frost?”

“You’re a fucking civilian and it’s not the same and you know it! They are our brothers, and we have different rules. You are not a part of the MC.”

“So, if Eric was out there, you’d have gone and made such a huge stink about it? Or would you have patted him on the back and told him the fucker deserved it and good for him?” The answer is on his face before he can hide it. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. No, because I’m a woman, that immediately means I’m not capable, or I’m going to cry and whine about it instead of just handling it and going on with my day, which is exactly what I did. And what I’m going to do the next time it happens. Because it will. Men that need the kind of services the company provides, they’re always going to be the ones who only see women as a couple of different things, and they’re going to push and push to see how much I can take.”

“You—”

“Nothing,” I interrupt sharply. “There is nothing else you can say, Sniper. The faster you accept it, the sooner you and I can co-exist somewhat peacefully.” I step forward and give him a hard look, the one that my team knew meant they should back the hell off or they would face the consequences. “I’m going to say this one last time. You are not my superior officer, so you have no say in how I handle anything in my work life or my personal life. Whatever issues you have with me or my position here, you need to get the hell over or stay the hell away from me. I’m not going to do this little song and dance time and again. I have far more interesting things to do with my time. And dealing with whatever midlife crisis you have going on in that head of yours is not something I want to deal with.” Then I turn on my heel and stalk to the door.

“Thea,” Sniper says sharply, making me pause when I reach it and glance over my shoulder at him. He looks tortured, almost unsure, until finally, he tells me tightly, “You might be able to handle yourself, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Whether you like it or not, the MC is part of the team, and that includes me. You had your team to help you when you were in the Forces, and we’re just a new version of them. Next time, call one of us in.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “No thanks. My team was a bunch of sexually assaulting, chauvinistic assholes. I’ll take my chances with the dicks I know won’t hurt me just for fun.” Then I wrench open the door and walk out.

“Wait, Thea!” Sniper yells and I hear him coming after me. But I’m done. I’m going home and forgetting all about tonight.

I reach the end of the hall, hearing the music beating and the laughter as people are still going strong despite it closing in on two in the morning. I feel Sniper gaining on me, but I don’t even look back as I quickly step out of the hall and toward the front door. I see Theo look over at me in concern, and then his eyes widen when he looks over my shoulder. Yeah, I can imagine that Sniper doesn’t look all that friendly now with that bomb dropped.

Sniper’s hand wraps around my wrist, spinning me, but before I can show him the error of that decision, an explosion rocks the air, and we’re thrown to the floor.

THIRTEEN

SNIPER

I’m already planning her punishment.

Chaos eruptsand the room is full of smoke, screams, shattering glass, and orders being barked by my brothers as they work to get people out quickly. I don’t even hesitate, already moving, but so is Thea. We let our training take over, and just like we did when we were fighting wars or unknown enemies, we got to work.

The smoke is thick and the panic in the room is as suffocating as I work to get people out of the building. The smell of fire fills my nostrils, and I know shit is about to get bad really quick if we don’t get people out. I look around quickly, assessing if there are flames close by, and I realize they’re coming from the back of the building as well as the front.

Fuck. We’re going to be trapped in here if we don’t get out.

“Go!” I scream at people, pushing them forward when some of them stop, frozen in terror. “Get out. Now!” Maybe it’s the command in my tone, but they scramble forward. I look around for the Old Ladies, and I see they’re already heading out the door, their men with them and pushing them out to safety.

I keep moving people out as I make my way to the bar. Thankfully, both Sandy and Katie are not there, which means they’re out. I make my way through the thickening smoke toward the kitchen, needing to make sure my people are out as well. I can barely see, and I pull my shirt up over my nose and mouth to keep some of the smoke inhalation at bay.

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