Page 73 of Kings Against the World

Boone’s been owed an ass-whooping from me for a while now. After knowing what he did to Zoe’s sister, after watching him now prey on a Zoe who’s not herself right now, he’s owed a lot more than that.

I want to tear him apart. Rip him to shreds. Make him really suffer.

Boone backs off before my restraint runs out. He strokes Zoe’s shoulders as he finally gets up and leaves.

I make no effort to hide myself. I’m standing out in the open as he heads toward the exit. When our gazes lock, he cranks out a husky laugh and spreads his arms at his sides like we’re the fucking best of buds.

“Oz!” he exclaims. “Why am I not even surprised to see you down here? Lemme guess, it has something to do with a certain lady who wandered down here after hours. Don’t worry, I’ve been keeping her company for you.”

My jaw clenches. So do my fists. I can’t bring myself to say anything as I glare at him and he chuckles some more.

“You might want to drop the ’tude, Oz. You know I won’t stand for it. Your old lady’s a big girl. She can make her own decisions. Let’s just say… she’s embarking on a new role at the lounge. Hope you’re not gonna stand in her way. We might end up having some problems again.”

He’s gone once he’s dropped his warning, though his laughter rings in his wake.

Zoe emerges from the lounge entrance, gaze already set on me. Off her body language alone, she’s no longer on overdrive. The energy she’d been operating on earlier has faded and she’s dealing with the aftermath.

I’m so pissed, so thrown off by everything that’s happened, that I don’t even step to her like I planned.

She walks toward me, holding my gaze captive as she does. But she doesn’t acknowledge me otherwise. She bypasses me and continues to the elevator.

I join her. We ride the elevator in silence that’s taut with tension. We’re in public and can’t express ourselves how we want.

That moment comes when we’re back in our hotel room and I unleash everything I’ve been holding in for the past two hours.

“BOONE?!” I bark, following her deeper into the room. “You were angry with me so you walk out and you seekBoone?!”

“Yes, Boone! I went back to work!”

She whips around, crackling with energy all of a sudden. Any exasperation she’d been feeling downstairs in Boone’s lounge is gone. She’s back to being a bundle of energy as her eyes widen and she speaks with her arms.

“Yeah? And what did you discuss?”

“None of your damn business!”

“I’m involved, which damn sure makes it my business!”

“How many times do I have to tell you, this is my investigation! Mine and mine alone! You have nothing to do with this. You were never supposed to be a part of this. You forced your way in. I should’ve known better than to make you my operative—you had ulterior motives all along!”

My head cants to the side. “Ulterior motives? You’ve gotta be fucking kidding, right? And what ulterior motives would that be? Why the fuck would I subject myself to this?”

“You’re coming out pretty damn well, Gallagher! Pussy on demand. Earnings to pay off your debt. Free stay in Vegas! Take your pick!”

“You think I’ve gone undercover with you to bang you?” I laugh in her face as we’ve gravitated toward each other. It’s a laugh that comes from deep inside my stomach and sounds harsh and loud enough to echo around the room. “You might be a catch, Special Agent, but trust me when I say I can get pussy elsewhere. I could’ve just paid Sugar or some other chick.”

“But you didn’t! You’ve spent this entire time trying to… trying to make me fall for you! Guess what? It’s a lost cause! I’m not interested!”

“You can’t be this out of touch. Anybody ever tell you you’ve got zero self-awareness?” I shout back. “I’ve never given a damn about you falling for me—or anything happening between us. That was never part of the plan. You think I’d ever want some chick like you? What part of you’ve got a stick up your ass don’t you understand?”

“Then why were you going through my things? Why did you sound so excited that… that I was…” she trails off with a shuddering breath as if she can’t bring herself to say the words.

“That you’re just like me? You’re bipolar?”

“This isn’t going to work!” she screams so loudly, I can see the muscles in her throat contract. They’re straining to keep up with the volume. She’s shaking as she steps away from me and starts pacing around the room. “I have to get away from you. This partnership is done. I can’t be around you. I can’t do this.”

“Why? Because you don’t want me bringing up your disorder? You’re embarrassed? Ashamed? You like pretending you don’t got it? It was easier when you could listen to me talk about my issues while you got to act like you can’t relate?”

“THIS IS OVER!”

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