Page 15 of Falcon's Prey

Of course she fucking did.

Marcus patted my shoulder as he passed me to go into the elevator. “An ember may be the last thing burning in a fire, but this Ember, she’s the blaze.”

I removed my shoulder so he would stop touching me, then walked into the penthouse. Ember was already on the kitchen island, dropping champagne into the bong and packing it.

“Didn’t you just smoke? The elevator reeked.”

“I put it out after a hit of it. I didn’t want to hotbox it,” she answered without looking at me.

“I looked everywhere for you today,” I said through gritted teeth. I watched her inhale and exhale the drugs in her system.

“Congratula—” She started to cough. “—tions.”

I took a step toward her, mad as fuck that I needed to be reduced to a glorified babysitter. My whole life, I’d been trying to make my way out of the gutters to stop people making me feel inferior, and this bitch did it on day one.

“Congratulations? Are you serious right now? I chased you around town, trying to make sure you were okay.” There was an edge to my voice.

Ember jumped down from the kitchen island. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

I stepped toward her. I towered over her; even in her heels, she was tiny. Breakable.

“Yeah?” I purred my words. “If I hadn’t been at the harbor, what would yourfriendhavedone?”

“Zeke is a dipshit.” She glared at me as if her so-called friend manhandling her was my problem.

“Well, dipshits are usually the ones who end up on the news for raping women,” I growled.

To her credit, Ember didn’t flinch or react. Instead, her eyes went vacant.

“Real monsters don’t get caught,” she mumbled, leaving me too dumbfounded to say anything else.

I watched her leave and didn’t say any more. Once she was gone, I went over to where she’d left her box and looked through her belongings, not able to hide my disgust. She had the world at her feet, and she was here tempting death.

* * *

The next dayI was still in bed, contemplating if I needed this job, when the bedroom door opened. Ember walked in wearing a short dress and heels, her lips blood-red.

“Ah, look, you’re happy to see me.” She smirked at me, looking at my morning wood.

“I was hard, but then you walked into the room and killed my vibe,” I replied.

What the fuck was wrong with me, resorting to childish games?

Ember rolled her eyes at me. “I need to leave, so get let’s go.”

“No.”

When she smiled, I waited to see what would come out of her mouth.

“I’m sure the first thing they teach you in dog school is to obey your master.” She pointed a finger at me. “You, dog.” Then one at herself. “Me, master.”

The blood that was in my dick earlier boiled all over my body.

When she snapped her fingers, I forced myself to keep my face impassive.

“Let’s. Go.” She walked out of the room without looking back.

I dressed quickly, grabbing my guns, and when I came out, Ember was smoking a cigarette in the lobby. I got close to her, and the only thing I could smell was tobacco. Since she was going to make me do everything, I pressed the elevator button while I stared at her nose in the elevator reflection. No sign of cocaine, but who knew?

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